The Year of Disappearances

After reading the "Society of S" I was left with some very important questions unanswered and "The Year of Disappearances" answered most of them. This was an EXCELLENT sequel and well worth reading. I finished it almost as quickly as the first book (48 -vs- 24 hours), but to be fair I was on vacation when I read the first book and working when I got this one. I'd like to see more books with these characters. I felt as if I knew them and they were good friends. Well worth the cost of the book. All in all a very good read.

There is a secret society. They live in plain view. They seem very much like you and me. But, if you look very closely, you may notice that the person you're speaking to doesn't have a shadow. There are vampires living amongst us. They are highly evolved; not at all like the vampires you've grown up with. They work and play in the daylight, they are friendly and educated, and a growing number of them have never tasted human blood and have no need for it. Ariella Montero lives in the chasm between our two worlds. She is half-human, half-vampire and is struggling to find her place in both societies. She can read minds, hypnotize people, and make herself invisible. But can she establish real relationships in the human world and escape the dangers that threaten her in the vampire world? Years ago Ari's best friend was murdered. Ari remembers the night. Her father was engaged in a battle with another man. And there was a fire. Now, Ari is living a new life with her mother in Florida. But strange things are beginning to happen. It started when the honeybees began to die. Then Ari noticed a man in a van following her. A new friend was murdered and another friend disappeared. It is all too coincidental to ignore. Is Ari to blame or is she being preyed upon? THE YEAR OF DISAPPEARANCES offers a unique concept of what it is like to be a vampire in modern society. It is a cleverly written story line that easily leaves the possibility for future books. Although this title follows THE SOCIETY OF S, it can easily stand alone. And, I can only hope that author Susan Hubbard decides to develop the story of Ari and her "kind" into a long-running series! Reviewed by: JodiG.

The Year of Disappearances takes off where The Society of S left us. Ariella Montero faces many trials and mysteries in her quest to find out more about her family and where she belongs in this world. Susan Hubbard has outdone herself in this latest book. Her characters are believable and have depth. The story is riveting, and in parts, quite chilling. She masters the technique of just telling enough and leaving the rest to the imagination so that the book stays with you. I can't wait for the next book in this series! Pass the raw oysters, please.

In The Society of S we met a young girl, Ariella Montero, being raised by her brilliant, but most eccentric father. She discovers she is half human, half vampire. What part of her will be the dominant? Time will tell. These are vampires who get their sustenance from tonics, and blood like flakes they put over their food. There are also factions of Vampires that differ on this practice. Ari is now with her mother and she sees a 'harbinger' - a a foreteller of what is to come - one of her father's talents - right after that, a new friend Ari met disappears. Ari is somehow suspected. And begins Ari's 'coming of age' stage as she starts to experience what it is like to be a vampire in a human world, with feelings and reflects of both species. Darker and more complex actions are at work in this book, but I will not spoil this - I found it most innovative and a touch of brilliance by Hubbard. If you enjoyed S you will continue to be fascinated by Disappearances. What comes for Ari and her family next, I hope Ms. Hubbard is hard at work figuring out.

This is an incredible sequel to The Society of S--the first novel to introduce Ari--an amazing, young heroine who's part-human/ part-vampire. If you love Stephenie Meyer's books, then you will love The Society of S and The Year of Disappearances. They are beautifully written, fast-paced, and hard to put down! These are must buy novels!