Taste by Kate Evangelista

Taste by Kate Evangelista
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was excited to start reading Taste as soon as I received it. Ever since the cover reveal a few months ago I have had it on my TBR list. After all I enjoy YA novels and am always looking for something different. You can only read the same old vampire story so many times! Oh and as an added bonus I will be giving away one e-copy of Taste! Just comment below with your first name and email addy, I will be picking a winner at random next Thursday :)




Summary: 
At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

My Take:


Taste was exactly what I was hoping it would be. Kate Evangelista has managed to create a YA world unlike any others I have read before. Her Zhamvy species is a mix of Immortal (almost) and Zombies (eating flesh not brains) There are no mindless characters in this book. There is also an interesting dose of politics in the story line as different factions of the Zhamvy world fight against one another for control of the kingdom.


The story line focuses on three main characters Phoenix, Demitri, and Luca. Demitri is the strong silent type. Worried about keeping his people safe but also pulled towards his own desires to be free and explore the world. Luca appears to be a carefree x-prince but hides he own desire to rule his people. Now Phoenix is her own worst enemy. She is still struggling after her mothers death and seems to have made it a point to have no true friends at her school. Even her roommate who she probably spends the most time with is not really a friend.


In some ways curiosity almost kills the cat and Phoenix manages to get herself into one troubling situation after another. By the end you do admire her for giving all of herself to try to save someone else's race.


Overall I thought this was a fun read. I flew through the second half of the book in one sitting, not being able to put it down. Especially for YA I'd have to say its the sign of a good book when you stay up way too late to finish it!


Now don't forget to leave your name and email address as a comment below so you can get a chance at a free e-book copy of Taste!!!