ISBN-13: 9781416534587Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: April 2008
304pgs
"Love is a form of biological cooperation in which the emotions of each are necessary to the fulfillment of the other's instinctive purposes." ~ Bertrand Russell (Quoted from The Society of S - pg 104)
She often wonders about her mother and though she has lots of questions in her mind, her father either gives vague replies or only indulge little information whenever she asked him about her mother. She only knows her mother has gone missing after giving birth to her. Aside from this, she also has questions about her father's project in his laboratory and then, about her identity since she knew her father is a vampire.
Sensing her loneliness and feeling she is in need of friends, Mrs McG finally convinced Ariella's father to let Ariella come home with her to meet her family. This acquaintance opens a whole new world to Ariella as Kathleen introduced her to things she has not experienced. They soon became fast friends.
Alas, these happy moments do not last for long when murder took her friend away. Feeling loss and with a dozen questions in her mind, Ariella decides to leave home to search for her mother. And so this begins her journey she will not forget as she will soon learn about the secret of her family history and the answer on her real identity.
While reading The Society of S, I was most fascinated by the gothic premise and how it breaks away from the stereotypes. Susan Hubbard has a unique voice and I really enjoyed that anticipation feeling as the story slowly unfolds and the mystery about her mother finally reveals in the last part of the story.
I was most intrigued by Ariella's parents due to their secret past; and Ariella is a likeable character whom I find her intelligent and very independent for her age. She impressed me with her vast knowledge of Edgar Allan Poe's poetries and I enjoyed reading those scenes where she recited them with her father during the lessons.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the sequel, The Year of Disappearances, where this intriguing tale shall continue.
Other blog review:
Bookgirl's Nightstand
(Let me know if I have missed your review.)
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This really sounds good, Melody, and like something I would like. Vampires and all. :-) Thank you for the great review!
Poe and Kerouac! Vampires! This one's going straight to my wishlist!
Wendy - I really enjoyed this book, as you can tell. Vampires sure are alluring 'creatures', aren't they? ;)
Nymeth - Oh, that's great! I can't wait to hear your thoughts if you get to it! :)
I'm beginning to develop a liking for gothic tales and this one sounds really good. It's going into my wish list, Melody. :D
Alice - I can't get enough of gothic tales! Dark, alluring and always intriguing... that's my kind of reading. ;P Glad you add this to your wishlist too!
I actually bought this a while back; it was on a bargain table somewhere. But I honestly hadn't thought much about reading it anytime soon. I think you just changed my mind! Thanks for the great review, Melody!
great review. it sounds like a moving read. I like gothic, darker tales.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
Sound like a good book! Great review!
By the way, I did the meme..come check it out :)
Ooh I'm intrigued! Lots of interesting elements and I really tend to enjoy just about anything with vampires in it ;o)
Thank you for linking my review Melody. I really think Hubbard managed to come up with an inventive story. It's hard with vampires not to fall into all the stereotypes.
I especially liked the beginning... when she goes to look for her mom I thought it sort of stalled a bit but I still really enjoyed this book. I have the second book waiting for me. Ugh... I want to read everything now! :)
So, Melody, is this YA fiction?
The gothic premise sounds intriguing.
Shana
Literarily
Debi - I'm glad you've this book in your pile! Now you just have to read it soon! ;)
Naida - I guess it's the gothic feel (and the intrigue) of this book that draws me in! ;)
Julia - Thanks! Will check in a moment. :)
Jen - Yeah! I can't get enough of vampires stories! ;P
Iliana - I too think the same thing about this story being so different from the others out there. And that's why it makes this a refreshing read IMO. Plus the premise is great! I'm going to add the sequel to my wishlist! ;)
Shana - Well, I can't say it's entirely a YA fiction, although it might seems like one because of the young protagonist. If you ask me, I'll say it's more like a literary mystery (the writing is beautiful IMO!). ;)
I enjoyed this book, too...and the sequel. Except I have a hard time with Ariella being so young...I picture her more like 16 or 17.
Softdrink - Oh, you've read the sequel! I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as the previous instalment. At first, I've a hard time picturing Ariella being that age too, but I think it fits the story perfectly. :)