Customer Reviews

The Good Ghouls' Guide to Getting Even

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elizabeth "Beth" Frasier has a totally dysfunctional family. Her mother is a lawyer. Her father is a doctor. You would think having successful, well-to-do parents is a GOOD thing. On the contrary, it means they have ZERO time for her. Before they got divorced six months ago, all Beth's parents did was fight and their grumpiness was hard to deal with. Now, the parents are still the exact same way. The only difference is that they live in separate places. However, their indifference toward Beth comes in handy on her sixteenth birthday though. (Yes, Beth's dad forgot all about her Sweet Sixteenth birthday! As for Beth's mom, she simply had her secretary order a gift certificate to a book store and then ending up giving it to Beth a day late!) But this means that neither parent even noticed that Beth never came home that night ... or that Beth had become a vampire!

Beth has a major crush on Stephen Wills, the high school's star football player. So Beth is thrilled when Stephen suddenly seems to take interest in her. Beth never expects Stephen to kill her or turn her into a vampire! But Stephen has a task that only Beth can do. After all, Beth is smart! She's valedictorian. But all Beth wants is revenge against Stephen and the "popular girls" who lured her into Stephen's clutches.

Beth's best friend, Jenny, is on her side. So is Clayton, after he failed to stake her. According to Clayton, Beth can get her life back if she kills her "Creator" (A.K.A. her Master). Problem is that a vampire cant' stake their Master. And once Beth drinks from a living person, she `s doomed for eternity. Should that happen, Clayton and his grandpa would be gunning for her again. Worse, college aged vampire hunters are in the immediate area. What's an undead girl supposed to do?

***** I have not had this much fun with a teen book in a looong time! Beth is not only smart, but she is witty and filled with sass! Her friends are the same, but Beth just has it all in spades! The story is go great that I did not want it to end. So I am thrilled to find that there will be a second novel in this series. Don't worry, this book will NOT leave you hanging. It is fun watching Beth and her friends get even with Stephen and the cheerleaders, as well as, against the various other popular kids who got her turned into a vampire. But the author, Julie Kenner, is a Master at story telling! Again, the ending does not leave you hanging, but it does set up a problem that will obviously have to be handled in a part two. "Buffy" and "Firefly", move over! There is a new show in town. STELLAR! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Elizabeth Frasier is on track to graduate as school valedictorian, is the editor of the school newspaper, and has already picked out her dream college. All is going according to plan until she encounters the school heartthrob, star football player Stephen Wills. Stephen turns out to be a vampire and promptly turns Elizabeth into one as well. Elizabeth's world is turned upside down as her hopes and dreams are lost, and she has to deal with the problems of undead life. With her best friend Jenny, Elizabeth plans to extract revenge on Stephen and tries to find a way to rejoin the living . The Good Ghouls' Guide to Getting Even is an enjoyable, light read that doesn't take itself too seriously. It is a well-written book that contains both action and mild romance, as well as a healthy dose of humor. It's easy to get caught up in Kenner's writing. The book is lighter in tone than many teen vampire themed books with female protagonists , but fans of the genre should appreciate the break, and readers of teen chick lit who don't normally read vampire fiction will still enjoy The Good Ghouls' Guide to Getting Even . The only flaw is that Kenner does not provide a satisfying resolution at the end, so the book can't really be said to stand alone. The ending is clearly written to set up for the sequel as it is clearly set up for a sequel. Still, The Good Ghoul's Guide to Getting Even is a fun, fast, and appealing read, and is definitely worth a look.

I'm a fan of Julie Kenner's books, so I was happy when I saw she wrote a teen book.
I wasn't the least bit disappointed in this book, considering it's target is the teen audience and I'm an adult. I think all teens and even adults will enjoy reading this fun and cute tale of a geeky and unpopular girl named Beth turning into a vampire on her 16th birthday. I cant wait for the sequel!

My recommendations along with this:
Braced2Bite, Fangs 4 Freaks and Dating4Demons all by Serena Robar
Boys That Bite and Stake That! by Mari Mancusi

The publisher of this book provides two cover choices to pick from. A photo one that makes Beth look like Buffy the Vampire slayer and a more cartoon cover with Beth out on the field with football players and cheerleaders.

This is a great story and makes me wish there were more than just two books in the series. Beth is smartest girl in school and soon learns brains isn't always so great in life or death as the vampire football players uses their cheerleader pets to convince Beth to try out for the squad. What Beth thought was a mere cheerleader try out turns into a vampire ambush and Beth waking up digging her way out of the ground a vampire herself. Told if she ever want to enjoy day light again she better come up with the formula for a legendary day walking formula. Now Beth and her human best friend Jenny has to put up with a squad of vampire hunters who are watching her every move; dealing with a new liquid diet and change in sleeping hours. Thank goodness Beth's dad is a doctor so she can get bagged blood over feeding on her friends. All the while working of a day walking formula that may not truly exist. If she can just find the vamp who made her a vampire and kill him than she'd be human again and all would be back to normal.

I read this book in quite a short space of time. The characters as presented are reasonably interesting, and quite believable. I liked the slightly different take on vampires, and how the character has to start struggling with a new problem. Also, the book wasn't too predictable either, I did like some of the surprises.

A solid 4, I'd give 5 if it was a bit longer.

This was a delight fun read, with a likable heroine and tightly paced action. It was everything I wanted in some light summer reading: humor, warmth, and evil cheerleaders.

Hey folks! I just wanted to let you know that I'm actually podcasting this book (but, you know, you should still buy it!). But tell your friends! Tell teens! Tell your neighbor across the street! And hop over to [...] to learn more.

These books are pure fast moving enjoyment. We had a lot of dun reading them and are impatiently waiting for the next book. I would recommend these books to anyone who enjoys reading Sci-Fi Fantasy.

Edited to note: This was supposed to have been rated three stars, it won't let me edit the stars given.

Believable? Nope, not even as far as vampires go. Quirky? Yup. Funny? Yup. Entertaining? Yes,every bit of this quick and light read is wholly engrossing.

Yet, there isn't much to this YA book from Julie Kenner. It reads a lot like her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom books. The main character, Beth is a sixteen year old borderline geek who gets bitten by a studly vampire and made into a cheerleader type overnight. Beth doesn't take too kindly to this messing up her grades and possible college application. She and a cast of fun secondary characters embark on a plan to get revenge upon her football hero vampire master and thereby make herself human again. This book was definately worth the read and I expect to get the next installment soon. However, a word of warning...apparently 'Good Ghouls Do' leaves some cliffhangers also, and according to Julie Kenner's website, there are no plans to make a third installment. This scares me off a little, but I'm one book in, I figure I will read the next one too.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Elizabeth (Beth to her friends) Frasier's junior year of high school was going so well... Until her super crush, Stephen Wills turns her into a vampire! Her parents are divorced, professional, and have no time for her. Beth still manages to strive toward her goals of valedictorian and future NYU student and has good friends who stay true even when Beth gets a pesky thirst for type O-neg.
Stephen Wills has plans for Beth. He's turned most of the football team already and she could hold the key to what he desires most. All Beth desires is getting even with him, and the popular cheerleaders who lured her into his evil clutches! Well, that and keeping her valedictorian status.
Beth has to find out if she can become human again, stop a power mad vampire, convince the vampire hunters she's one of the good guys and still get accepted at NYU! Thank goodness she has her best friend and new would-be boyfriend/fierce academic competitor on her side, or she might not make it through to the next night.
I appreciate Julie Kenner's ability to craft such a well written story with humor and intelligence allowing it to relate well to young adults without talking down to them or resorting to vulgarity. While she captures a teen voice, it's not too trendy. Adults can enjoy THE GOOD GHOULS' GUIDE TO GETTING EVEN just as much as teens. There's the added bonus of being able to read it with your teenager without worrying about turning red in the face!
I found it to be engaging and laugh out loud funny. Kenner spins a great yarn and her pithy dialog has become her trademark. She has a great way of writing paranormal stories and spinning them in a new, fresh way. I greatly look forward to the next in the series GOOD GHOULS DO.