The Collector (Dante Walker #1)

Victoria Scott has managed to take something off the well trodden path of angels and demons, and transform it into something completely new and shiny. I didn't fall in love with The Collector right away, but rather it was one of those novels that grew on me. By a short way in, The Collector's main character, Dante, had me wrapped around his finger, telling me to finish reading immediately.

Victoria Scott's writing is unconventional. Given the nature of Dante's casual demeanor and way of speaking, her writing reflects this and it was a bit offputting at first, since I was not used to seeing such casual prose. It grew on me as the book went on, since it was so natural to Dante's voice.

The story's other main character, Charlie, is not beautiful. She is at best average, and I loved her strength and wit. She is happy with herself the way she is and I think she is a great example of what more heroines (and heroes) in literature need to be like.

There is something to be said about Victoria Scott's talent as writer, given my investment in the characters. There is a certain character whose well being I am very concerned about, given the nature of the events at the book's end. I really need to know how things are going to work out in book 2, The Liberator, because I am awfully concerned. It is rare for me to feel such emotion for characters after I've turned the last page, which makes books like The Collector a real treat.

I loved the twist Victoria Scott gave to the typical tale of good and evil, angels and demons, Heaven and Hell. It was very different from other novels in the same genre I've read, which was very refreshing.

Victoria Scott manages to tell a story in the perfect blend of contemporary and paranormal that will appeal to fans of both genres. The stakes were high the entire time, which made The Collector a wild ride that was fast paced from the get go. After the first chapter or two, I fell in love with the story and couldn't flip the pages fast enough.

The Collector is a fantastic debut from Victoria Scott. She is certainly an author to watch. The Collector was enticing and real. I am very excited to see what will be next for the fantastic characters of The Collector in its sequel, The Liberator.

What I Loved:
Okay, so Dante is just as rude as he comes off from the description and the cover. Since I hate cocky guys, I expected to want to kick him in the balls all the way through the book, but he really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. He's arrogant, but really no worse than your average pampered, neglected teen. What's cool about his perspective is that Scott takes a risk with him as a narrator. If Charlie narrated this, The Collector would be a standard formula paranormal romance and Dante would appear a nicer guy overall.

See, I feel like Dante's just like a lot of the paranormal heroes in YA, only we have unrestricted access to his thought processes, not all of which are pleasant. He judges women on their appearance, often using derogatory terms like fugly. He also thinks shit like this: "If Charlie doesn't dig my get up, I'll expose her for what she is: asexual." The latter does keep me from ever really rooting for him. On the other hand, I don't completely hate him, because most of what he says and does is polite, even defending Charlie's looks to a rude salesperson, early on enough in the book that it's not because he's matured yet. If you're really in someone's head, you're going to see a lot of non-flattering thoughts, so if you judge Dante on his actions more than his thoughts, yeah, he's still not a great guy, but he's redeemable. This seems more realistic than the mysterious hot new guy finding all of a girl's flaws adorable right from the get go. For the record, though, I don't think he's hot and would never want him to be my book boyfriend.

The best aspect of The Collector is Victoria Scott's talent for humor. A lot of lines made me smile or snort. The tone of The Collector stays pretty light and the book doesn't take itself too seriously, which is another way Scott's novel distinguishes itself from the bulk of paranormal romance offerings.There's an element of tongue-in-cheek to Dante, in which he exaggerates his own personality to make fun of himself and lighten a tense moment. He's not always entirely serious when he says outlandish things, just mostly serious.

Though predictable, I also really appreciated the way Dante learned from Charlie's friend group. She has two best friends, Annabelle and Blue. They let Dante into their group pretty readily, after making sure he knows they'll defend Charlie with everything they've got. The moments where the three of them just hang out together are brilliant, and I especially loved the tentative friendship between Blue and Dante, despite their rivalry for Charlie's affections.

What Left Me Wanting More:
Where The Collector lost me somewhat was everything about Dante's relationship with Charlie. Thought I don't hate Dante, I still don't think they make a good couple, and shipped her more with Blue. The fact that their relationship is forced into such a short time frame only exacerbated my disinclination towards their relationship. Instalove is a huge turn off, especially when I already wasn't digging them as a couple. Sure, Dante didn't like her at first, but Charlie claims to have loved him from the start and falling love in less than ten days is still instalove to me anyway. While I did buy some of Dante's emotional arc, I never felt sold on his feelings for Charlie and they definitely came on too strong and too fast. It's also pretty questionable that they came on stronger in proportion to her attractiveness.

The Final Verdict:
If you're a fan of humorous paranormal romance, you will most assuredly want to seek out The Collector. Though The Collector was not a perfect read for me, I am curious enough to pick up the next installment in the Dante Walker series, The Liberator, if I can get my hands on it.

Excuse me while I fangirl ALL OVER Dante! (while wearing a pair of red converse, of course.)

The rumors are true, Dante Walker is "flippin' awesome", he had me at "finger blades" and he reminds me of a Twix cupcake.

Wait.

A cupcake?

Yeah, I said it 'cuz that's how I roll...

Dante is tall, dark and sinfully delicious, just the way I like my chocolate cake. From the outside he looks like any other confectionery perfection, I mean, did you see those red kicks he's rockin'? But one bite reveals quite a few surprises. Dante's got a rich, multi-layered flavor that is to.die.for, yanno, if he wasn't already a goner. *shrugs* His snarkiliciousness can be a tad crunchy at times, much like the graham cracker that tends to float to the top during baking, but his heart is made of melted goodness that closely resembles the homemade caramel filling. I know what you're thinking - the caramel kinda tastes like liquid sin and, yeah it does, but it isn't all bad and neither is Dante but it's cool, we'll play along with his "Bad to the bone" persona, m'kay?

Dante's job as The Collector seems simple enough - for every sin he "helps" a person commit regardless of size, he gets to tag them and then it's a first class ticket on the "Hand basket Express" for that poor soul, no passing Judgment Day and no collecting a pair of white fluffy wings. See, Dante knows there's a battle being waged for our souls and all those "little sins" add up, but in order for the scales to stay balanced, you gotta decide whose Team you're on, Big Guy's or Boss Man's, the latter of which will most likely earn you a front row seat in "The Collector 101" class.

Being the Boss Man's right hand dude does have it's perks but it also has it's challenges - the biggest one Dante will face is about to come in the form of Charlie Cooper. Now, if Dante is a Twix cupcake, then Charlie is a rainbow funfetti cupcake. At first glance, her vanilla exterior may look as if she's made of "lame" but it isn't long before all that beautiful color hiding inside comes bursting out like, *POW* and when it does, poor Dante doesn't stand a chance. He'll begin to question everything he's ever thought to be true about his job, Boss Man and Big Guy, and more importantly, himself.

Dante Walker may not believe in second chances, but before this fast-paced, action packed romance is over, a second chance just might believe in him. (I believe in you too D, just so you know. *smooshes you*)

Final verdict: I love you SO HARD DANTE WALKER!

Once I read the blurb to this YA paranormal, I knew I HAD to read this book! Entangled is fast becoming one of my favorite publishers.

Dante is filled with ‘tude and thinks he’s all that. He just happens to be soul collector for Lucifer. He’s on top of his game until he meets his latest assignment who’s nothing like he expected. Rather she’s what most high schoolers would consider a ‘loser’. Dante feels this is a no winner. Little does he know what he’s up against!

Love, LOVE the voice of this novel. Dante is one bad boy demon but underneath all that badness hides a vulnerability that Charlie is able to worm into. I admit it. I’m a huge sucker for anti-heroes who are reluctant on their journeys or quests.

Charlie isn’t the stereotypical ‘good’ girl either. Readers glimpse some of her secret hopes and wishes. At first this makes it easy for Dante to slowly give away her soul. Yes, he’s not totally honest but it’s more a case of not volunteering any info.

Charlie’s friends are tight and would do anything for her. And vice a versa. I especially love her BFF Anna who has a Goth girl feel with a heart of gold.

I especially love the revelations about Dante and his own choices he must make. Because this novel is all about that: the choices we have and what we do with them.

Totally in love with Dante! **Fanning self! Can’t wait to see what happens next. Somehow I feel this isn’t the last we hear from Dante.