Review: Die for Me
May 12
Die for Me by Amy Plum was released in the U.S. on May 10, 2011 in hardcover, eBook and audio formats. It is currently available online at Amazon in all formats and Barnes & Noble in hardcover and eBook formats.
Published by HarperTeen the print edition is 352 pages.
Die for Me is one of the books that can be chosen for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi at TheStorySiren.com.
My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I’m fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family’s—in jeopardy for a chance at love?
***
Kate first saw Vincent across a crowded café. And the moment when her eyes locked with his something inside of her began to wake up from that long slumber she’d been in since the death of her parents.
It was not merely that he was handsome. She felt as if she already knew him. And he had an air of danger about him, which she found intriguing.
Even though Paris is often referred to as the City of Romance, Kate was not about to let herself fall victim to a clichéd love story where two people see each other across the room and instantly fall in love. But try as she might to erase him from her memory, Vincent was not so easily forgettable.
Risking her heart after she’d lost so much already was not something Kate was sure she was ready to do. Under normal circumstances falling in love put her heart on an emotional rollercoaster. And with Vincent, circumstances were anything but normal.
His past, his present and his future were tied to something much greater than the two of them here and now. Something much more dangerous, that would forever be a threat to her already fragile heart and could potentially take from her even more than had already been taken.
But was it already too late for her to walk away with her heart intact, without returning to the brink of despair she had been at for so long before they met? Would loving him be worth the risk to her heart? And would loving him be worth the risk to her life?
***
In Amy Plum’s debut novel Die for Me the writing is beautiful and graceful and enticing, the story is enchanting, the characters are lovable and heartbreaking, and the world she created is completely seductive.
Set in Paris, Die for Me is more than just a love story, although that part of the story alone is enough to make this great. The author introduces a rather unique element which takes this to another level, infusing it with all the danger and excitement and magic that can only come from a paranormal story.
The author gives readers a nice glimpse of Paris through Kate’s eyes as she visits the local cafés and museums and brings into the story some of the less favorable aspects of the city’s past through Kate’s discussions with Vincent.
Die for Me is a truly unforgettable one-sit read. It will so thoroughly captivate and is a story that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a little danger mixed in with their romance, the thrill of a sword battle and the tension and anguish that are ever-present in stories involving matters of the heart.
Die for Me is a definite must read, if only to find out just what makes loving Vincent so perilous.
Reviewer gives this book Like In-N-Out Burger‘s infamous secret menu this one deserves my off-the-menu 6 star rating.
On a personal note:
This story tied me up in knots. It kept me glued to the page. It made me bite my nails with worry. It made me sigh. And oh did it make me smile.
It sent me to Paris. It wrapped me up in a love story. And it gave me so much more.
To say that I was carried away by this story would only be just the beginning. I fell in love. With Paris. With Kate and Vincent and Jules and Ambrose and Charlotte.
But this is more than just a simple love story between two characters. There are obstacles. There is sacrifice. And there is the risk that comes with giving your heart to someone else. But oh, Vincent is so worth the risk and so is Kate.
I developed a huge crush on this story. It couldn’t be helped. I’m a complete sucker for these types of books. There were times when it took my breath away. Nothing about this love story was sappy. Nothing was overdone. It was just beautiful. It had the perfect mix of angst and joy, danger and tranquility.
I loved that the author made me feel like I was as much a part of Paris as Kate was. And I thought it was just perfect that she infused so much of the history of Paris into this story.
I am trying desperately to keep my fingers from typing all that I want to say about this amazing debut book, but for fear of spoilers I will stop now. And I will just say that “I Heart Revenants” too! (Well, at least the good ones anyway.)
***
My favorite quote is by Kate – and it’s not even a romantic one:
“Yeah, right, like Catherine Deneuve has her own hot-guy SWAT team trolling the neighborhood for celebrity stalkers with swords.”
***
The author gives readers a peek at the cut prologue from this book on her website, HERE.
Until I Die, the second book in the series is slated for release in 2012.
Book trailer for Die for Me:
Thank you to HarperTeen and NetGalley for the eARC for review.
Your crushing on the book makes me want to go and read it now.
Ahhh I want to read this book soooooooo badly, it sounds awesome! I had no idea it took place in Paris, which only makes me want to read it more haha
Great review 
@Stacy – Oh you should. It’s such a quick read with quite the twist which I didn’t mention above in case no one heard the buzz, like I didn’t. And I have a mad, mad crush on this book.
@April – Oh it does! Now I really want to go to Paris and read it on the banks of the Seine. Perhaps run into one of those Revenants. Thank you so much! I hope you get to read it soon.
Oh, I want to go to Paris right away too!*dreamy sigh*
As for the book, I’m starting to read it right away. Seems like a perfect read for me and I’m looking forward to meeting Vincent! Awesome review!
@Deea – Thanks! Can’t wait to hear what you think. Ah Vincent… And Kate is an awesome heroine. I wish the next book was out already. The author tweeted that she finished writing it last week. The title, “Until I Die” is making me really nervous.
I got this book yesterday and I can’t wait to read it! I hope I can get to it soon!!
Your review is perfect. This was such an amazing book.
@Kristina – I’m so glad you got it! This book is so amazing. I love it so much and miss being in Paris.
@Jessica – Thanks so much. I tried so hard not to spoil it for anyone who didn’t know what the Revenants were. It was an amazing book. I totally want to go stalk it at the bookstore to see the beautiful cover.
PARIS! I love me some Paris…
I am so gosh darn intrigued by this book! I wanna know what the paranormal element is!
So this sounds dumb… But I totally just discovered that I have had “Die For Me” on my Kindle for over a month. *Kicking myself for not having read it earlier*
@Avery – Whatever you do, don’t Wikipedia Revenants until AFTER you read it! (Okay, I hope no one is doing that. Not only will it spoil the surprise but it is NOT the same as in the book.)
@Avery – Ha! Oh those NetGalley reads
They like to hide in the back. I hope you get to read it now.
OK I HAVE AND ARC OF THIS BOOK SITTING ON MY SHELF…MAYBE I SHOULD PICK IT UP AND READ IT HUH??? =P
@Ashley – Haha, an ARC just sitting there, of this awesome book. Oh, I should totes think you should pick it up! Maybe even read it! LOL.