The Emerald Talisman

Before this review officially begins, I feel the need to make a statement. I love vampires. My adoration is so strong in fact that it creates difficulty for me when reading vampire based novels. As a girl who grew up reading Anne Rice, my vampires have a certain image to uphold. They need to ooze bloodlust, emit perfection and have no qualms with doing whatever they need to in order to survive. Vampire sexiness if you will? So, I was a little concerned when I saw the words “bloodthirsty stalker”. What would I find on the pages? Let me tell you, I shouldn't have worried one bit.

Brenda Pandos weaves a vampire story that will pull you in and mercilessly toy with your feelings. One filled with stunning vampires that seem to fly off the page. I can't even begin to describe how refreshing it was to read this book! From the moment the action picked up, I was so completely hooked that I couldn't bear to pull my eyes away to do household chores. So invested was I in Julia's battle that I read on voraciously, savoring each and every page. All other vampire based books that had disappointed me in the past were instantly forgotten.

If you haven't yet had the opportunity to read this book, I won't ruin some of the finer aspects of it for you. There is a lot in this story that I wasn't expecting, and that really added to my enjoyment! What I will do is peak your interest by mentioning that there is a very intriguing and handsome male character who also happens to be Julia's love interest. This character was a perfect mixture of raw power and utter sweetness. I fell in love with him instantly! It really should be illegal for characters like him to exist. How much perfection can really fit on one page?

The one thing that was lacking in this book for me, was more information about Julia's empathetic abilities.The synopsis made it seem, to me, that it was a key part of the story. Every page I read through was spent looking for more about where this gift might have come from. Don't misunderstand, Julia's character is extremely well developed! I'm simply saying that since Julia's gift was one of the key parts of the synopsis that caught my eye, I was a little saddened when it wasn't really explained. I'm hoping that the next installment brings more insight into Julia's mysterious ability and where it stems from!

Long story short, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book. If you are a lover of vampires, or even just a lover of paranormal intrigue, this book will hook you as well. Brenda Pandos is a superb writer, and as I said I cannot wait to dive into her next installment! She has restored my faith in vampire kind.