Eternal

March 16, 2009
Smith's latest revisits the dark alternate world of Tantalize
(2007) with a new set of characters. Despite the efforts of Zachary, her guardian angel, Dallas teenager Miranda joins the ranks of the undead as an “eternal” (vampire), courtesy of the current Dracula, their aristocratic ruler. A year passes, and as Dracula's pursuit of power begins to affect his sanity, Miranda struggles to acclimate to her new regal life in Dracula's castle (in Chicago). Meanwhile, Zachary has been cast from heaven for revealing his angelic nature while trying to save Miranda, so he poses as a human—and Miranda's personal assistant—trying to save her. Smith balances the story's bloody details with frequent touches of humor (when Zachary is taken aback by Miranda's enormous SUV, she replies, “We're eternals
.... We are evil. We are not fuel efficient”). The confessional style, alternating between Miranda and Zachary's points of view, is intriguing as a diary—readers should be hooked by this fully formed world, up through the action-packed finale. Ages 14–up.

July 1, 2009
Gr 9 Up-This dark romance is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of 17-year-old Miranda and her guardian angel, Zachary, in an alternate America in which vampires and werewolves exist. Early in the novel, Zachary falls from grace as punishment for materializing in his full radiance in a failed attempt to save Miranda from being bitten by a vampire. The tale resumes a year later with the now-vampire Miranda a revered princess living among vampire royalty and feasting regularly on humans. Zachary, meanwhile, has sunk into a life of aimless debauchery and is resigned to never regaining his wings when an archangel suddenly gives him the opportunity to become Mirandas personal assistant. Determined to save his former ward, with whom he has fallen in love, Zachary takes the job. Miranda finds herself drawn to him, and the murders she has carelessly committed begin to weigh on her conscience. With his help, she is determined to find a way to redeem herself and help him return to grace. The plot is occasionally choppy and frequently grisly, and the dialogue seems forced in places. Neither Miranda nor Zachary is particularly likable, and the ending, while logical, is not one that romance fans will favor. The story lacks the elegance of Stephenie Meyers hugely popular novels, but serious vampire buffs will undoubtedly add the novel to their must-read list."Leah J. Sparks, formerly at Bowie Public Library, MD"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2009
Chosen as Dracula's princess and heir, Miranda spends her nights receiving visitors and performing bloody executions. To earn back his wings, fallen guardian angel Zachary applies to be her personal assistant. Events play out in a parallel Chicago mingling mortal and immortal, damned and blessed. Like the author's delectably demonic Tantalize, this suspenseful and entertaining story is not for the squeamish.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

March 1, 2009
Teen readers have lapped up the steady outpouring of vampire books, most of which feature a forbidden mortal/immortal romance. Here Smith creatively revamps the star-crossed pair as a "newly risen" eternal (read vampire), adolescent Miranda, and her fallen guardian angel, Zachary. Chosen by the current Dracula himself to be his princess and heir, Miranda spends her nights receiving visitors, performing bloody executions, and dressing up for "Father." To earn back his wings, Zachary applies for the job of Miranda's personal assistant. The kitsch factor is high: Miranda notes of her high-end sleeping coffin, "We saved seventy percent by ordering online." But, like the author's delectably demonic Tantalize (rev. 3/07), Eternal is not for the squeamish: Miranda accepts the gruesome practices of castle life (draining blood from semi-starved teens in chains) as wholly as she takes to her new designer clothes and maid service. The suspenseful and entertaining story plays out in a parallel Chicago mingling mortal and immortal, damned and blessed. When the beautiful Zachary awakens the vestiges of Miranda's humanity, together they raise a full-scale supernatural battle against the increasingly unstable Master. Redemption does not come easily, however, and happily-ever-after eludes the couple -- at least for now. An author's note promises a union of the casts of both Tantalize and Eternal in a forthcoming book. This thirsty reader awaits the refill.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)