Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Ellen Schreiber (Author), rem (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Vampire Kisses | Publication Date: September 25, 2007

The absolute last thing goth-girl Raven and her vampire boyfriend, Alexander, need is another hitch in their nighttime-only romance—but dark trouble hovers on the horizon when Raven and Alexander discover four freshly dug graves filled with empty coffins. When a crew of sketchy vampires takes up residence in Dullsville's lonely graveyard, Alexander finds this motley bunch led by his very own blood-sucking cousin, Claude Sterling. Shocking! Claude and his creepy crew can only spell out more problems for the pair, especially when Raven finds them in daylight in the very last place she could ever imagine. What could Claude and his invaders be doing—or searching for—in Dullsville?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ellen Schreiber was an actress and a stand-up comedienne before becoming a writer. She is the author of the first book about Celeste and Brandon, Once in a Full Moon, as well as Teenage Mermaid, Comedy Girl, and the bestselling Vampire Kisses series, which includes Vampire Kisses, Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins, Vampire Kisses 3: Vampireville, Vampire Kisses 4: Dance with a Vampire, Vampire Kisses 5: The Coffin Club, Vampire Kisses 6: Royal Blood, Vampire Kisses 7: Love Bites, and Vampire Kisses 8: Cryptic Cravings. She is also the author of the fully illustrated manga series about Raven and Alexander, Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives and Vampire Kisses: Graveyard Games.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061340812
• ISBN-13: 978-0061340819
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Manga > Science Fiction
  • #87 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Social Issues > Dating & Intimacy > Fiction

More About the Author

Ellen Schreiber was an actress and a stand-up comedienne before becoming a writer and moving to her own Dullsville. She is the author of Teenage Mermaid, Comedy Girl, and all of the books in the Vampire Kisses series. Vampire Kisses is an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, and an IRA/CBC Young Adults' Choice.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better Than the Books, October 9, 2007

By 

Sarah Siekman (St Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Ellen Schreiber's Vampire Kisses definitely translates well into Manga. I've read the first three books in her series, and reading all the meticulously described clothing gets kind of old. Not to mention how after a while it just feels like overused goth sterotypes in her written works. I was worried that the Manga wouldn't be better than the novels. I was wrong.

The Manga has a good flow, it's cute and funny. It introduces a lot of new characters, meaning it isn't necessary to have read Schreiber's Vampire Kisses novels - so far Alexander, Raven and Becky are the only characters to get lots of play in both the novels and Manga. The art is good (although that's coming from someone who's never read Manga before).

The length was the only part I could fault. It was a very quick read, and it didn't feel like it got deep enough into the story, although it did set up a good foundation and background.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Art, Good Find., October 6, 2007

By 

tragicomedy1390 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Raven has an idyllic relationship with her boyfriend, Alexander. The one catch--they can only be outside at night, because he's a vampire. This fact doesn't deter the Gothic sixteen year-old Raven, in fact, she wishes she was a vampire herself! Their cemetery escapes are abruptly halted one night when they encounter four upturned graves, and Alexander finds a toy from his past...

I'm pretty new to the world of manga--even graphic novels, and this one was the first one I ever bought. It didn't leave me very disappointed, except for the size of the book. I really wish it was longer, because by the time I really got to know the characters it was nearly done [I have yet to read the series this is based on]. Also, the size of the book didn't let the story develop, and like the characters, by the time I got into the story it was nearly done. However, the art is really nice, and it added a lot to the plot.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I liked it so much I actually spent money on it, September 27, 2008

By 

Cari Corene (WA state) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I really liked it. I read it at a public library, having never read any of the novels, not being very interested in vampires, not caring about goth fashion ... and I liked it. So much so that I bought it later on, despite having already read it.

Over all:
-> I understand the plot with no back knowledge.
-> It was sort of cliche, but Raven is very lovable.
-> I totally loved Rem's art.
-> I am buying volume 2.