Book Review: Wynne Channing's What Kills Me

As promised, I'm reviewing award-winning national newspaper reporter and young adult novelist, Wynne Channing debut novel, What Kills Me. What I liked best about this book was its uniqueness for a YA vamp lit tale.  

Written in first person from Axelia's (Zee) perspective, our young female hero, is a 17-year-old who has ventured to Italy to study abroad. She's just like any young female, filled with life and energy; ready to experience all it has to offer.  Her naiveté is not her best asset, especially in a foreign country.  One night she sneaks out from her Italian ward's home to meet a mysterious boy.  With the promise of love on the line, the last thing Zee suspects is her midnight rendezvous would result in her untimely death.  Yes, a clandestine meeting with a vampire can do that to a human girl, but not the way you think.  As Zee's running for her life, she ends up falling into a well filled with sacred blood that turns her into an immortal.  Since climbing out of the well, Zee learns she's the prophesied girl who's destined to extinct the vampire race.  And with a future like that, you can bet every vamp in the country is out for blood...Zee's especially. 

What Kills Me is a fast-paced, thriller that follows Zee as she runs and fights to save her new eternal life! The story delves into vampire royalty, young love, destiny and ancient gods. This book was indeed a page turner. And at the very end, I honestly didn't know how Zee was going to get out of her deadly predicament. Don’t you just love it when books are like that?

I found Zee genuinely likable and a true to form teenager. Despite all odds stacked against her, she was strong, resilient and somehow managed to persevere. Her love interest, Lucas, was intriguing as well so if you're one of those readers that needs your YA sauced with romance, I think this one delivers.

I'm not sure where this young adult vampire series is headed, but I have no doubt with Channing at the helm, it will be one of those series you’ll want to continue to devour. For me, What Kills me was easily a 4. Vamp lovers should snag an e-copy while you can. At just under three bucks, this fanged tale is a total steal. Get your copy here or if you want, check out the first free chapters here.

Stop back by on Friday as I reveal the Summer Reads Giveaway Hop's 5 winners of What Kills Me!

Happy Reading!

Mina B.