Lenah Beaudonte was transformed into a vampire when she was a young teen in 15th Century England. Through the centuries she built up her power and reputation and became one of the most respected female vampires “alive.” She became queen to a powerful and deadly coven. The vampire who transformed her, Rhode Lewin, ultimately became her closest friend and confidant.
However, the power she holds isn’t enough; she craves the ability to feel again. Rhode sacrifices his life in order for her to live again. In order to do so, Lenah must hibernate for 100 years, leaving her beloved coven behind.
It’s 2010 when she awakes at the young age of 16. Rowan has created an identity for her at Wickham, a boarding school in New England. Lenah to assimilate herself into the human world in order to remain safely hidden from her coven. Her coven is completely ignorant to what has happened and once they find Lenah her mortal life will be in danger. Vicken, a member of her coven, is particularly interested in her reawakening. Her former lover, he craves to have her by his side again.
Lenah has a difficult time assimilating into the human world. She’s not familiar with 21st century technology. She hasn’t been able to go outside during the day time in centuries. However, when she befriends Tony, a loner himself, things begin to look a little more promising. Lenah’s guard goes down when she falls for Justin Enos, a popular jock who is falling head over heels in love with her.
Infinite Days is beautifully written. I fell in love with the flash-backs to Lenah’s past; I really enjoyed the gothic feel to them. I was drawn to read it based on the premise: a vampire who becomes human again. Hello? Remind anyone of Angel? Ok, not exactly the same since Angel wasn’t “alive”, he just regained his soul. Despite her past, Lenah is a character I really appreciated. She’s in a constant battle between her evil past and her reborn soul.
That said Infinite Days fell a little short with me. Looking at other reviews, it appears as I’m the only one of this opinion. I think it had far more potential. I would have loved to read more about Lenah’s past. The flashbacks were nice but I wanted more. The first part of the book was great, but I lost interest near the end of the book. I think this was due to the relationship between Justin & Lenah. He’s a cocky jock, she’s a goth loner. It’s obvious that he’s attracted to her, but on the surface it appears to be all physical. I found it difficult to believe the strong emotions he felt for her. He brought her home to meet his parents because he felt they had a future together. He didn’t leave her when she revealed her past to him. All a bit too implausible for me.
But without a doubt, it has a very interesting and unique storyline. I give the Maizel kudos for creating something “new” in vampire fiction. It is part of a new YA series; I’m not certain where the next book will take us. Despite the faults I found, I still recommend this book to fans of paranormal fiction, specifically those looking for something fresh and unique.
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