Not recommended for the faint-hearted, this story of an unlikely romance between a contemporary teenager and a handsome, emotionally tortured 300-year-old vampire successfully combines a comparison of death (that which is sought after and that which strikes unexpectedly) with the requisite gore of any self-respecting vampire tale. Simon seeks death as an escape from the loneliness of his vampire state while Zoe's mother suffers painfully from cancer; together both Simon and Zoe become better equipped to handle their individual dilemmas. Readers of romance and horror alike will appreciate the story of Simon and Zoe's developing relationship while secretly savoring the suspense of the more gruesome events. (Age 13 and older)