Book Review and Character Interview: Snow the Vampire Slayer

This week I'm happy to welcome characters from Rebekah Ganiere's new book Snow the Vampire Slayer. But first the gorgeous cover:

BLURB:

Lady Snow Gwyn is tired of playing "mother" to her seven Vampire Slaying brothers. For the past two years, she's yearned to be out there fighting at their side as they hunt for bloodsuckers in the black of night. Snow is as good a fighter as any man, but she wasn't called to be a Slayer. A mere formality in her book.

Prince Sageren, Son of Lothar has spent the last fifty years in exile, awaiting the day when he can finally avenge his family and take back his throne. Barely existing, he's forced to face his inner demons and the monster he once was, compelling him to vow to never drink from humans again. A simple enough task--until he crosses paths with a human who makes his fangs ache to drain her.

When Snow runs into Prince Sage on a late night trip to the woods, she's torn between the urge to kill him and the desire to succumb to the feeling he stirs within her. And when Snow's life is threatened by the same evil that murdered his family, Prince Sage must enlist the aid of Snow's brothers to not only help him save her life, but to also regain his rightful place as King of the Vampires.

If Sage can keep the Slayers from killing him first.

And now I bring you Snow and Sage:

1. If your character were to go to a psychologist – willingly or unwillingly – what would bring them in? Yes, a court order is a valid answer.

Sage: I'm sorry a psy-whatagist?
Snow: A psychologist, Sage.
Sage: (perplexed look) Is that even a real word, love?
Snow: My toth, Sage. A psychologist is someone you go to talk to about your problems.
Sage: (perplexed look) So you're my psychologist then?
Snow: (shakes her head) Nevermind, let's move on.

2. Is the presenting problem one of the main internal or external conflicts in your book? If so, how does it present itself?

Sage: Problems? I have no problems.
Snow: (pats his hand while rolling her eyes) Of course you don't. Like the fact that your uncle tried to kill you and steal your throne and you had to run into the Daemonlands in exile for fifty years. Or how about the fact you are a vampire and my family are vampire slayers? Or what about--
Sage: All right, enough. But I'll have you know those aren't really problems as much as they are... obstacles.

3. It's always interesting to see how people act when they first enter my office. Do they immediately go for my chair, hesitate before sitting anywhere, flop on the couch, etc.? What would your character do?

Snow: I would sit like any Lady of Gwyn Manor would sit.
Sage: (snickers and pats her hand) Of course you would, love.
Snow: What does that mean?
Sage: It means that I've never seen you do anything like a Lady of Gwyn Manor before.
Snow: Well at least I'd have the decency not to walk in and act like I owned the world.
Sage: Why shouldn't I? I do own the world.

4. Does your character talk to the therapist? How open/revealing will your character be?

Sage: Ask away, I'll tell you anything.
Snow: (holds up her hands) Please don't. He really will tell you anything. He loves to see people squirm.
Sage: So I shouldn't talk about the time we were in the woods and I had you pinned to the ground and you--
Snow slams her hand over his mouth and smiles.

5. Your character walks into the bar down the street after his/her first therapy session. What does he/she order? What happens next?

Sage: Well if I went into a bar I would probably order a feisty brunette with a great pair of legs.
Snow: (Her eyes narrow at him) I beg your pardon.
Sage: You love, I'd order you.
Snow stares.
Sage: Honestly, Snow. You know you're the only one I want my fangs sunk into. Don't be jealous, it doesn't become you.
Snow: (faces the psychologist) I'm done here. (She storms out)
Sage: Snow, love don't be like that, I was playing.
Snow:(keeps walking) RAKE, she calls over her shoulder.
Sage: (shakes his head) I guess I better go after her before she gets herself into trouble. He nods and leaves.

6. Since you've already answered my original number 6, I'll ask this time if you did anything different for this new book regarding building characters.

In this book I really wanted to make the villain super bad. And I wanted my hero to have a fun playful sense of humor to cover up his pain. Sage is actually my favorite character of all my characters. I love him the most. I also wanted to add a very human quality to Snow and her brothers. A real sense of family, since Redlynn in the first book had no family. It was important to me that the bonds in Snow the Vampire Slayer, be extra strong.

My review:

I have to admit I rarely read the second book in a series because I have so often been disappointed. However, and I'll use this as my disclaimer for the FCC, I actually requested the review copy of this book because I enjoyed the first one so much. Once again Ganiere managed to strike an urban fantasy tone in a high fantasy setting with a feisty heroine, hot hero, and lots of action.

Lady Snow Gwyn gets to stay at home and cook for her seven feisty vampire-slaying brothers, but early in the morning when they're all asleep, she sneaks out to her cabin in the woods to practice swordplay. One night a handsome stranger surprises her there, and of course they fall for each other, but there are many obstacles between them and their happily ever after that keep the reader turning pages.

I was a little concerned at first when I realized who the "dwarves" would be because wow, that's a lot of character introductions at once, but I was able to keep them generally straight. Enough characters returned from Red the Were Hunter that I felt clever for recognizing them from the first book, but I think new readers to the series could start here and not be confused. The fairy tale retelling was again nicely done with enough elements included to be recognizable but not in a predictable way.

So once again, five glasses of wine, and I'm looking forward to the next one.