Review: Die For Me (Revenants, #1) by Amy Plum

Die For Me (Revenants, #1) by Amy Plum

Author: Amy Plum
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 341
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy
Source: Bought it
Description from Goodreads:
In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.
When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.
Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.




Review:

     In a stupor of grief, after the tragic accident that claimed their parent's lives, Kate and her sister Georgia move to their grandparent's home in Paris, France to start over. Living in the old romantic city of Paris, each sister goes about their sadness in their own way. Georgia parties the nights away while Kate is left a barely functioning zombie that's just trying to get through the day until she can crawl back into bed again. But Kate begins to bear witness to strange and inexplicable events that quickly catapult her out of her slump and into a paranormal side of Paris that she never even knew existed.

     Set on the sprawling rooftops of Paris, with the iconic Eiffel tower in the backdrop and a beautiful girl overlooking everything - this gorgeous cover gives you an idea that it's a very romantic and innocent setting. It's a cover that draws you in (especially that red dress) with encircling vines, but it gives absolutely nothing away about the darker undertones of the story. 

     At first I wasn't quite sure what to think of Kate. In her grief she was monotonous, but soon it became apparent that I could really connect with her and she was pretty much my geeky twin. She's a total escapist in the form of books or museums. I like that she's smart enough to deduce, rationalize and question things until she gets to the truth of it and everything clicks into place. There wasn't too much of running backwards in denial.  She's quiet and a bit curt in her interactions sometimes - but this definitely works out when she's paired with the very charming Vincent.

     Vincent really personifies what you'd think a french gentleman would be like. Polite, smart, cultured, absolutely beguiling and witty! His bantering responses to Kate's straight faced answers completely loosen up the dialogue and move the story along in a very upbeat and thoroughly enjoyable way. It even starts to rub off on Kate as they grow closer together. But he lives a mysterious double life and it was thrilling to see how he would juggle his attraction to Kate and his duties.

     I've never heard of Revenants before reading this book. But according to Wiki, basically they're a ghost or reanimated body that comes back - usually for a specific purpose. In this case Revenants are inexorably destined to die repeatedly saving people. It was so refreshing to read about a supernatural entity that I had no knowledge of lore to compare to! Since they're immortal the characters come with a long and rich history that spans era's, whose reveals I always eagerly anticipate.

      Plum does an incredible job creating her Parisian setting. She uses landmarks and specifics to create a vivid vision of Paris for anyone that hasn't been. I went to Paris years ago, and whenever something familiar came up - it gave me an instant rush back to my trip. She even manages to slip in little Parisian life tips too, my favorite one was that everyone riding on the metro checks everyone else out (it's so true!). 

     While these Revenants are ultimately the good guys, they of course have to have an arch nemesis. The strength of Kate and Vincent's adorable relationship (he's an absolute sweety, I'm a total sucker for his charm) is tested when a dangerous storm filled with secrets starts brewing and old enemies show up to settle the score. 

Overall: 4/5 Hot Cups of Tea!

It started out a bit slow, but once everything's set up and revealed the action gets rolling and I couldn't put this book down until I was finished! It's such a perfect blend of action, adventure, the paranormal and it takes a hard look at what you're willing to sacrifice for the ones you love. Until I Die (the sequel) here I come!