Die for Me (Revenants #1)

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Die For Me was vibrantly romantic and completely able to transport me into the European world of art history and museums; a place full of people reading while sipping on cappuccinos at cozy cafes, the smell of fresh croissants baking fills the air and the undead are beautiful creatures, risking their lives to save others.

Plum's approach to the world of the paranormal was so refreshing and original! Reading about zombie-esque individuals who were able to keep both their minds and their youthful looks was so intriguing. I was constantly trying to wrap my mind around the mechanics, and eventually concluded that whatever forces allowed for Revenants to reanimate was also behind their ability to reanimate at the same age of their first death, rather than growing old. I would have liked a little more Revenant folklore - a little more detail as to the history of the Revenants - but from the conversations between Kate and the Revenants, when it comes to how a person is chosen to be a Revenant, an explanation doesn't seem to be something they have.

I don't often talk about the setting of a book, but I truly feel that this story only works because it is set against the wonder and romance that is the city of lights. Plum obviously has a love for Paris; I was so easily transported into a city I have never visited that I could swear she was reading my memories instead of painting me a picture. Her descriptions of the streets, the cafes, the museums - even Kate's reaction to a painting that moved her! - all allowed for me to feel as if I was reaching in to the recesses of my mind for a memory of me frequenting those same streets, cafes and museums. (It was also a refreshing change from the typical high school setting!) It was wonderful and charming and created such an enjoyable reading experience that the entire story could have been garbage and I still would have walked away with a smile on my face. Fortunately, I'm smiling for more then one reason.

The characters were fantastic. I loved that Kate was not just book smart, but that she had a rational head on her shoulders. Having been broken by the sudden death of her parents, Kate was guarded against opening her heart to potential heartache - something she knew seeing Vincent die over and over might bring about - and so she took time to think about the consequences before making any decision, and I usually agreed with her! It was a nice change from your typical heroine who rushes into everything, leaving you shaking your head or throwing the book down. I also loved that even though she knew her feelings for Vincent were strong, she knew she needed to take things slow so as to develop their relationship, rather then pronounce her undying love before knowing anything of his past. So while there was a sense of love-at-first-sight, it was followed by the awkwardness of the first couple dates, the nervous anticipation of the first few phone calls and the butterflies that accompany seeing your crush waiting for you after school.

I love, love, LOVE that Plum made Vincent a nice guy! He was never anything but honest and sincere with Kate and we didn't have to question his motives - he genuinely wanted to get to know Kate better and see where it would take them. He promised her the truth, and instead of avoiding answering her questions, or giving her non-answers, he told her what he could, without holding back key details. He wasn't an asshole for no reason, and he only disappeared while he was dormant - something he prepared Kate for ahead of time. It was refreshing (there's that word again!) to have a heroine who didn't have to doubt whether her boyfriend cared for her, because Vincent did everything within his power to make Kate happy - including staying away when she said she couldn't handle being with him.

There are definitely things I could take fault with (absent guardians, totally saw the ending coming) but I won't - because they're not things that managed to capture my attention long enough for me to mention. Later I may chalk it up to a guilty pleasure, but I loved Die For Me. The ending had me on the verge of crying happy tears and the lack of cliffhanger has me jumping for joy!

A new concept of an immortal is brought to life. This story had me begging for more, was original, and left me breathless. Amy Plum has def earned a new fan.

loved it

very good

"Would you risk your life for love?" This question is on the cover of the book, and it’s defiantly answered! My.Oh.My! This book was amazing, just the right amount of paranormal fiction and love for me! A job well done Amy Plum!
Let’s start with Kate! She has just lost her parents and to say she’s heart-broken is an understatement! She is crushed and really doesn’t know what to do with herself. At the beginning of the book, she’s this scared girl who doesn’t really know what to do with herself! Yet, she meets an interesting person and she blossoms into this grownup 17 year old who can take down anything that stands in her way!
Then there’s Vincent! OHMIGOSH!! Yes my screaming fan girl comes out! He is everything you would want in a guy all wrapped up in one. Handsome, chivalrous, sexy, and a little or maybe a lot, dangerous! He is this mysterious French man Kate meets in a little cafe that Kate likes. He immediately draws her attention and then boom! She gets thrown into his world!
I absolutely love this book! It’s another one that is going onto my shelf to read again! I hope there will be a sequel so we can continue on with the story! It is worth it to read and if you’re looking for a laugh, or just some romance, then this is the book for you!! Enjoy!!
~~ Sam!!

I must say that it has been a long time since I’ve read a paranormal romance novel that I actually enjoyed as much as the Twilight series. Even if you’re not a fan of the Twilight books, you would still like this book. It’s very fresh and original. The concept of guardian angels falling in love with humans seems to be a little over played at the moment, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment any. The chemistry between Vincent and Kate was so believable that their story sucked me in. I was completely captivated.

The characters in this book are awesome! I loved, loved, loved the fact that Kate was intelligent and strong. Even though she was devastated by her parents’ death, she held on to life. Of course, for a while there wasn’t much to her life, but she overcame that. Kate loves to read (already a plus in my book for lovable characters) and she loves fine art. She is described as an “old soul,” which I find to be the perfect description for her. It seems like the majority of the heroines in romance-type novels seem a little weak or too dependent on a male for security and strength. This was certainly not the case with Kate! She was a fantastic strong, female protagonist.

I also adored Vincent. His description just makes him seem delicious. Dark hair, blue eyes… sigh. His attraction to Kate was simply steamy, yet it managed to stay clean. I do love a boy with virtues in YA novels. The other characters were also enjoyable. Georgia, Kate’s sister, came off as flippant and irritating most of the time. I’m pretty sure that’s how a typical self-absorbed teenage usually acts, so it worked. Jules and Ambrose were nice sidekick types. Both were standoffish in the beginning, but they ended up having a nice supporting role by the end of the book. But my favorite minor characters have to be Kate’s grandparents. They just seemed charming. I loved how “progressive” the grandmother tried to be, but at the same time they were old fashioned. They seemed eloquent, sophisticated and completely in love with one another. I loved their relationship. It gave me tingly feelings like a Hallmark commercial.

Every good book would not be complete without a character or two that you loathe. There were several that I could pick, but I have to express my frustration over Charles. I wanted to punch the little brat. It’s a good day when a book can evoke that much emotion from me to make me envision choking and punching a character. That is certainly how I felt with Charles. Such.a.punk.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to the paranormal romance lovers out there. It’s clean—no X rated material. The characters are well written and well developed. The plot is fast paced enough to keep you reading. (I managed to finish this book in one reading.) The concept was somewhat original, but I am getting tired of angels and demons, vampires, and werewolves. I guess it can’t be escaped in the genre. If you liked Twilight, you should love this book. The connection between Kate and Vincent is every bit as strong as Bella and Edward’s pull on one another. Plus, Kate doesn’t come across as a whiny, irritating, self-pitying baby like Bella did in New Moon. (Her constant pining away for Edward almost drove me away from the series.) This book will be a series, so I am anxious to see what happens with Vincent and Kate. I’m pretty sure the troubles they will face together are just beginning.

Reader reviewed by Brandileigh2003

This is a beautifully written debut, about love and loss. Kate is a great main character. Her voice is compelling and I was drawn into her story, and cared about her almost immediately. Her grief was believable and written in a haunting and memorable way. 
Vincent is mysterious, and the secrets that he guards are hard to swallow for Kate, which makes things seem all the more real though. I really like how she falls for him though, and how things work out. 
The secondary characters like Jules and Charlotte really make this story rounded. They add to the story and have their own personalities and pasts. 
Die for me left me wanting more but at the same time wrapped this storyline up nicely.