Thirst No. 2: Deepest Desire, Instant Remorse

I LOVED THIS SERIES. I KEPT WANTING MORE. ALISA KICKS BUTT. SHE BRINGS LOVE, HEARTACHE, DANGER, ADRENALINE, SEXINESS, HARDCORE, CUTHROAT, AND COMPASSION ALL IN ONE WOMAN. I HOPE THERE IS ANOTHER BOOK IN THE SERIES. CHRISTOPHER PIKE HAS A #1 BEST SELLER IN MY OPINION IN THIS SERIES. THE BOOK HAS ROMANCE, DRAMA, DANGER, ACTION, AND DEATH. THROUGHTOUT IT ALL SHE KEEPS TO THE BEST OF HER ABILITY TO STAY TRUE TO HER PROMISE TO KRISHINA. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. IT KEPT ME WANTING MORE! I WOULD HAVE TO JUST GET TO A NEW CHAPTER AND JUST STOP. SOMETIMES I WOULD STAY UP TILL 3 A.M. READING.

I got hooked on "creatures of the night" type books after reading the "Twilight" series. I thought after I read those 4 books I could never find another book that would be as good. (As I REALLY enjoyed them!) The Thirst series was alot more bloodthirsty, but once you get to know the characters you find yourself really getting into it and hoping she gets out of whatever situation she's in alive! Definitely a good read, I wouldn't recommend it to a younger child though.

I read Thirst part one when it came out last August and loved it. Waiting months to find out what happened to Sita in part two was excruciating but well worth the wait. I read the entire book in three days. And everyone is right the ending was really cool. Christopher Pike does a great job in keeping the story as interesting as the first book with lots of twists and turns along the way including Sita's old love reappearing. There isn't quite as much romance as there is in the Twilight books because Sita is pretty busy trying to keep the world safe but I think if Edward ever met Sita that Bella might finally have some competition. Anyway this book is also full of action and has some cool religious slants. I even found myself dreaming I was a vampire because it crept under my skin. I've heard that Christopher Pike's Alosha books are really good too so I'll probably read those next.

I've read (and enjoyed) just about every popular YA vampire series on the market (Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Morganville, House of Night ... get the picture?) and Thirst is my absolute favorite--no contest. Sita is a five-thousand year old vampire, so while she has never been one to chew on bubblegum social issues, her struggle to find personal and spiritual maturity will intrigue any deep-thinking teenager (or adult, for that matter). The Thirst series doesn't waste time. This vampire's storytelling is concise, always suspenseful, heartfelt and a little ironic. Thirst No. 2 opens with Sita discovering she's human once again. With this she realizes her opportunity to create a child. A blessing that soon becomes a fast-paced nightmare--because after all, once a vampire, always a vampire. Her baby is born thirsty, and Sita's destiny, it seems, is to always be the hunter who is hunted. Without spoiling the wonders of this story, know this: the birth of Sita's child propels her toward a profound understanding of her life, opens her up to an inspired last adventure (a journey into her past!) and ultimately gifts her with an ending that is astonishing and poetic. Once the final pages have turned, I guarantee you'll miss her. Sita is a vampire unlike any other. And frankly, I wish this was not the end of the series, that she would continue to tell the stories of her long life forever. And ever.

The story of Sita continues, picking up where Thirst No. 1 leaves off. This is technically books 4-6 of the original series, and I'm glad these have been released in a compilation. The novels aren't very long and the action passes quickly, making this format preferable to the separate books. In the second half of Sita's story, Pike retains what I think makes these books so enjoyable: Sita's contemplative introspection. Sita is different from other vampire genre characters I have encountered, in a very good way. Her introspective monologues are written in such a way that one can actually believe she has lived as long as she has. There are frequent flashbacks to her history, with each one relating (somehow) to her present predicament; I find this blend of the past and present highly satisfying and very realistic. It's nice to read and understand why she does what she does, and not simply read that she does it. Be aware that this second half introduces a lot of "new age" themes, and perhaps gets a little too sci-fi. On the other hand, this is a book about vampirism, immortality, and spirituality, so this isn't necessarily surprising. It's simply a matter of personal taste. In spite of my personal feelings for such things, Pike has crafted a memorable tale. The ending is touching and absolutely wonderful, bringing Sita's story full circle. I read these books years ago, but I still think of them often. I really cherish them, and I'm sure you will as well.