Persistence of Memory (Den of Shadows) [Hardcover]

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (Author)

Book Description

Series: Den of Shadows | Publication Date: December 9, 2008

Sixteen-year-old Erin Misrahe just wants to be like everyone else in her new school. But Erin has more to worry about than passing AP Chemistry or making friends. In times of stress, she has always been overcome by her alter ego, Shevaun, whose violent behavior wreaks havoc on those around her. Erin can never remember anything about these episodes, and she’s grateful to have been spared them for a while.

But when a protective friend comes back into Erin’s life, he insists that Shevaun is a vampire who actually exists apart from Erin. Shevaun has dangerous allies, like the handsome witch Adjila—and they’re determined to sever Shevaun’s connection to Erin once and for all.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—Erin Misrahe, 16, has spent almost half of her life in and out of psychiatric wards. With the help of serious drugs, she has managed to stay out of the hospital for more than two years and is attending classes at a local high school. But the dreams of blood and violence and being a completely different person have started again, and it seems that her alter ego, Shevaun, may be something more than just a figment of her imagination. With the help of her shape-shifter friends and Shevaun's longtime lover, Erin and Shevaun fight to separate their minds and memories and try to figure out what happened to connect them in the first place. What sets this novel apart from the current rash of teenaged-vampire-angst fiction are the two narrators—Erin, grown used to, and even comfortable with, the idea that she is mentally ill; and Shevaun, willing to do anything to protect the family she's cobbled together. Secondary characters are equally compelling, and the world that Atwater-Rhodes has created is believable and intriguing. Hand this novel to the multitudes going through Stephenie Meyer withdrawal and they won't be disappointed.—Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library
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From Booklist

Thanks to her arsenal of pills, 16-year-old schizophrenic Erin has kept her violent alter ego, Shevaun, at bay long enough to start public school and make friends. Shevaun, however, is not a construct of Erin’s mind, as she’s always believed; Shevaun is a 500-year-old vampire living with her witch lover, Adjila. When Erin wakes up in Shevaun’s body for the first time in 18 months, Adjila becomes aware of this strange connection and determines to sever it. First, though, they must find Erin and discover why the link exists. Erin’s perspective, skewed through her perceived mental illness, is an interesting one, and Sassy, her shapeshifter friend, adds a refreshing dose of humor. Atwater-Rhodes sets up an intriguing idea—that supernatural powers can be misdiagnosed as mental illness by the mundane world—but ultimately fails to fully explore it. While the link between Erin and Shevaun is fascinating, the particulars are so convoluted and rapidly introduced that the explanation is confusing, as is the resolution. Still, the author’s fans will likely enjoy this supernatural tale. Grades 7-10. --Krista Hutley

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (December 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385734379
• ISBN-13: 978-0385734370
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.8 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #557,009 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes wrote her first novel, In the Forests of the Night, when she was 13 years old. Other books in the Den of Shadows series are Demon in My View, Shattered Mirror, Midnight Predator, all ALA Quick Picks for Young Adults. She has also published the five-volume series The Kiesha'ra: Hawksong, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror List Selection; Snakecharm; Falcondance; Wolfcry; and Wyvernhail. Visit her online at www.ameliaatwaterrhodes.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Her readers will enjoy this book but for me I was disappointed., October 29, 2008

By 

Steph "booklover" (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Persistence of Memory (Den of Shadows) (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

The Persistence of Memory has a little: horror, paranormal romance and mystery. It shows tantalizing glimpses of a paranormal world that includes vampires and sorcerers and reminded me of L.L. Smith writing. The characters were interesting and I did enjoy meeting new ones. However, the only big problem I had was that the author tries to keep the reader in suspense until the very end. This is fine with a mystery or suspense book and that is probably what she is trying to do, but it backfires in this book because so much is withheld. I became frustrated; trying to understand what the heck was going on with the main character, Erin. She is confused, so was I. It would have been nice if more had been explained earlier and the author expanded the story from there.

In this book, the main character is in psychological torment throughout the book. I really liked Erin and wished the other characters would have revealed more sooner so she wouldn't think she was crazy. It was really uncomfortable for me to read her in so much pain and confusion. Her body wasted by prescribed drugs when the other characters could have just explained she wasn't mad and released her of her suffering! I have read Amelia Atwater-Rhodes books before and usually her books are straightforward but the tension in this book felt false, frustrating, and then just confusing and maddening. I think her readers will enjoy this book but for me I was disappointed.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a lot of substance..., December 22, 2008

By 

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

This review is from: Persistence of Memory (Den of Shadows) (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Persistence of Memory is a novel about a teenage girl named Erin who has been through years of mental therapy because she has an 'alter' ego...a persona named Shavaun. Shavaun is a vampiress with a hunky witch for a boyfriend and two other vamps for best friends. Shavaun is also, unfortunately, as real as Erin. Shavaun figures out who Erin is and where she lives and she and her friends travel to confront Erin..to try to sever the connection between the two of them so they can lead their own lives.

The author obviously has a great imagination and this story sounds incredible. Sadly, it falls completely flat. The story hurts itself by being so short (an easy reading 212 pages). Shavaun and friends feel completely underdeveloped. The idea that they are paranormal could have been a thrilling subplot here, but if the story didn't specifically tell us what they were, I don't know that the reader would know. There is an obvious lack of detailing here. It also irrated me that there was a very intriguing premise involving Erin's best friend that seems to have completely dropped, as we never learned more about her and her special circumstances either. There is not much more to say about this book other than the fact that its another tremedously entertaining idea that simply fails upon follow through.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the best Vamp/Shapeshifter Novel around, but some interesting premises..., November 11, 2008

By 

Michelle L. Beck "Always the Devourer of Good... (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Persistence of Memory (Den of Shadows) (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Erin has recently been released from a mental institution to attend a public school. Struggling to hold on to her sanity while trying to figure out why she is suffering from bizarre dreams about a vampire named Shevaun and her lover, Adjila. Talking various psychotic drugs to control her "schizophrenia", Erin struggles to decipher truth from fiction, with the help of a shape-shifting boyfriend, Sassy and shape-shifting friend, Marissa.

While this book held a lot of potential, it fell a little flat. Some of the storylines seemed to be hurried or rushed, and then the author, Atwater-Rhodes, tried to tie it all up in a neat bow, explaining everything in the last few pages. I felt cheated and there were a few things that I would have liked to know or have explained better, like the father, the hunters, and the great "Pandora", to name a few. However, I will say that the character of "Sassy" was one that I enjoyed and would want to see more of.

So, would reading this novel inspire me to read others by Ms. Atwater-Rhodes? No. So with that said, I give this read a 2!