Review : The Vampire Stalker By Allison van Diepen

Summary :

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?

Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.

Review :

“Wait a minute— who is Mrs. Alexander Banks eight thousand and twenty-one?"
Uh-oh. He'd spotted the small icon at the top with my log-in name. I felt my face heat up. "It's just, uh, a name. Everyone has to log in under a made-up name."
He turned to me, narrowing his eyes. "Is this your made-up name?” 

The Vampire Stalker is about high school junior Amy and her two closest friends waiting in line at a bookstore for the Saturday release of The Mists of Otherworld, the latest installment of a best-selling series that features Alexander Banks, a vampire hunter in an alternate version of Chicago. 

I found it easy to relate to Amy because Allison Van Diepen uses characteristics that some book lovers display and by doing so I instantly connected with Amy, she felt like one of my book buddies.

After receiving her book, Amy settles down to read the book before she hears any spoilers, only to throw it across the room once she is done, unsatisfied with the ending. 
The initial part of the book is to illustrate how much Amy is infatuated with the fictional character Alexander, which is written in a light-hearted, fun tone. It then picks up pace and the action increases when Amy is suddenly attacked on the way home after a school dance. Her saviour looks and talks like Alexander Banks, but when he introduces himself as THE Alexander Banks Amy feels scared and asks Alexander to prove who he says he is. After Amy checks out all of Alexander’s described scars from the books she believes him.

The aspect I love most about this story is that the author brings a literary character into Amy’s world. Unlike many books out there, the leading guy is not a vampire. Instead, he is a vampire hunter. To me that is a nice change of pace from the scores of vampire books out there now after Twilight’s success. What did disappoint me was the romance between Amy & Alexander. It felt like they didn't have any chemistry. A bit more romance wouldn't have hurt.

The Vampire Stalker was nice, quick read. The story is perfect for young adults, mostly girls, who have ever developed a crush on a literary character. Amy is relatable because she is an average girl, but who also becomes more comfortable with herself throughout the story. How I wish the character I'm in love with would come to life! ;)

Favorite Quotes :

“I must do whatever I can to find the best partners possible."
"Did you kick their butts?"
He frowned. "The buttocks are among the least sensitive places to hit someone."
I laughed. "It's a figure of speech."
"To kick butts. Interesting.” 

“How sad that I felt more of a connection to a fictional character than to a guy in real life.”