Hearts at Stake: The Drake Chronicles [Hardcover]

Alyxandra Harvey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Drake Chronicles | Publication Date: December 22, 2009

On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.

Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.

 

 

Even fans of the genre who’ve seen it all will find a fresh read with kick-butt characters and family dynamics that ring true for all brothers and sisters—vampire or otherwise.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up—There is a touch of classic fairy tale in this action-packed story that's narrated by a teen vampire, Solange, and her best friend, Lucy, a human. It's another book in the slew of novels in which a vampire hunter discovers that not all vamps are evil and forbidden romance flourishes. Solange is the youngest child and only female born in 800 years to a blue-blood clan. As she approaches her 16th birthday, she is pursued by male vamps from all over. An ancient prophecy predicts that she will be queen, thus putting her life in danger from various forces, human and otherwise. Solange's family is trained in martial arts and other types of fighting and her seven older brothers keep close watch over her. When the current queen kidnaps her, Lucy convinces Solange's brother Nicholas to help rescue her, and a frantic search ensues. Kieran, a young Helios-Ra, discovers that his hate for vampires is fueled by lies and helps to save Solange, and a romance develops between the formerly feuding Lucy and Nicholas. This is a coming-of-age story with a tragic heroine and a snarky friend. The two young women try to find some normalcy in a life filled with craziness, resulting in a fun read.—Corinda J. Humphrey, Los Angeles Public Library
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From Booklist

Witty, sly, and never disappointing, this riff on vampire romances for teens unfolds in chapters alternately told by best friends Solange and Lucy. The former is the only daughter in a family of seven brothers, a vampire family in which offspring “turn” from mortal to vampire on their sixteenth birthday. Lucy, totally mortal, has more bravado, an abiding interest in all things vampire, and the baggage of hippie, peace-loving parents. The good-versus-evil plot involves turncoat vampire hunters, power struggles, and Solange’s “turn,” and both girls, as well as several of Solange’s brothers, her debonair father, and warrior mother, are delightfully developed. Each girl’s love interest proves an initial surprise but is credibly realized. Fun, funny, and a relief from Twilight wannabes, this first installment in the Drake Chronicles has lots to offer for savvy readers and gives vampire addicts a nice twist on their usual fare. Grades 8-10. --Francisca Goldsmith

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens; First Edition edition (December 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802798403
• ISBN-13: 978-0802798404
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #301,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another average YA Vampire Tale, November 29, 2009

By 

S. McCullough "pacey1927" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hearts at Stake (Drake Chronicles, Book 1) (Paperback)

(What's this?)

This is the story of Solange Drake, a soon to be vampire. She is genetically a vampire and will completely turn on her approaching sixteenth birthday. Her best friend is Lucy, who has been treated as an extended part of Solange's vampire family. Lucy's parents are going away for a couple of weeks, and as usual Lucy plans to stay with the Drake family. Because female vampires who can breed are so rare, Solange is already been swooned by any and every vampire out there who wants to be a 'daddy'. The Queen of the vampires is also after Solange because she fears Solange coming into powers and believes Solange will soon want to take over her crown. To add to the drama, there is a pack of evil vampires led by a VERY BAD vampire who has also decided to target Solange. There is also a band of rogue vampire hunters who wish to capture Solange because the queen has put a bounty on her head. Lucy gets stuck working with Nicholas, one of Solange's many vampy brothers and they discover they are really into each other. Of course, Solange soon finds a hero herself amidst all the vampire crises. This story was quick and rather entertaining but the fact is that it brought nothing new to the table. The first few chapters were almost too much to take in, with a wealth of information about the vampires and the different versions of bad and good vampires and the various people out to do them harm. This would have been better had it been doled out as needed throughout the story. It was just too much information all at once. Solange, Lucy, and their boys are pleasant enough and teens may well find they enjoy this book. I didn't dislike it but I found that it wasn't anything special to write home (or a review) about.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting Teenage vamp book, December 3, 2009

By 

Jessie Potts "Book Taster" (Terre d'Ange) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hearts at Stake (Drake Chronicles, Book 1) (Paperback)

(What's this?)

So if I had to describe this book it would be.... a mixture between Jessica's guide to dating on the dark side and perhaps the Evernight series.

Solange Drake is the prophesied queen among vampires who are broken up into numerous clans and tribes. As of right now Lady Natasha (crazy little witch) is currently trying to rule them all so obviously Solange's birth is in the way and must be remedied immediately. The chapters switch between Solange and her best and human friend Lucky aka Lucy. Now Lucy is slightly immune to the Vamp pheromones because she's grown up around the Drakes... her number one skill is annoying one of Solange's older brothers Nicholas and making pink rhinestone covered stakes. She also fights for Solange and is her life line in this tremulous time.

The plot moves very fast and I was never bored. The dialogue flowed very easily, and I enjoyed seeing the different perspectives of human vs almost vamp. The different tribes and Hosts vs Hounds can be confusing, but even if you don't understand all the politics you'll love the book. I am curious to see where the second book would go considering how this one left off... who knows....

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent start to a new paranormal YA series, December 9, 2009

By 

DF "avid reader D" (East of the Mississippi) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hearts at Stake (Drake Chronicles, Book 1) (Paperback)

(What's this?)

Solange is a born vampire, and she has a problem. She's been prophecied to be the next queen, when all she wants is to survive her transition to full vampire, do her pottery and live a quiet life. But being the first born girl vampire in centuries, she's being courted by every male she meets, with the exception of her many older brothers. The rest? They're just trying to kill her.

It'll take the full out efforts of her family, her best friend, Lucy, and the assistance of Kieran Black, who might be her worst enemy, to keep Solange alive to see the other side of her sixteenth birthday.

There's so much to love about this book! First, Solange is an ordinary kid, and so is her best friend, Lucy, whose real and despised name is Lucky. Lucy is vibrant, smart, and determined to keep her best bud alive no matter what it takes. Solange is also a fighter, but really prefers the quiet life. But what really makes the story fun is the romantic interest between Nicholas, one of Solange's brothers, and Lucy. The two of them dance around the issue throughout the action and adventure, which is nicely tense with enough doubt about the outcome to have you gripping the edge of your seat.

And Solange seems to have found an interesting fellow to be fascinated with, herself, as the story progresses. The main plot is wrapped up with a satisfying but slightly surprising twist, and plenty of room is left for sequels.