Review: Die for Me by Amy Plum

DIE FOR ME by Amy Plum

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Pages: 352

Publication: May 10, 2011
(Harper Teen)

Source: Netgalley


Goodreads Summary: In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.

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A love story in Paris with a paranormal twist? Yes please! With a hint of mystery, a healthy dose of romance, the promise of a battle between good and evil, and a foreign setting, Die for Me draws the reader in completely from the very beginning with an engaging story that keeps you turning page after page.

After her parents' death and her move to Paris, Kate doesn't quite know what to do with herself. Nothing is the same, and no matter how much her grandparents and her sister try to encourage her to move on, she just isn't ready. But eventually she decides that sitting in her grandparents' house can't last forever, and so she decides to find a cafe instead. That's when she sees him - Vincent. Kate tries not to think of him, but even in a city as big as Paris, she can't help but run into him again. Vincent is just as drawn to Kate as she is to him, and they begin to spend time together. But Kate's instincts tell her that there is something more to Vincent, something dark...and she's seen enough death to last her a lifetime.

There are so many things to love about Die for Me. Kate is a completely relatable character - she uses books and museums to escape from the realities of life. I enjoyed seeing Paris through her eyes, especially since the story focused on some of the lesser-known places rather than just the Eiffel Tower. There are also some French phrases thrown in, and as someone who loves languages, I thought this was a great touch. And then there's Vincent. Perhaps he is a bit too good to be true at times, but he is definitely swoon-worthy. The romance between Vincent and Kate was incredibly sweet, but I appreciated that they actually had to work through problems on their own rather than blithely ignoring their differences. Also, I loved the interactions between Vincent's revenant family; Jules and Ambrose added humor, and Charlotte was yet another character I could relate to. Finally, there were bits of history woven into the different characters' stories, which I found quite interesting. Plum struck a great balance between romance, humor, and action in this book, and it made for an engaging story.

I will say that this book does have a few similarities with another certain paranormal romance book. However, that didn't really bother me while I was reading; there are enough unique aspects of Die for Me to keep the story fresh. I do wish that there had been more explained about the revenant mythology, but I am hoping that will come in the next book. And even though this book did come to a satisfactory end (finally, something that didn't end with a cliffhanger!), there is certainly a call for a sequel.

Die for Me is a great debut novel in which Plum spins a compelling tale of learning to surrender to the power of love. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next in Until I Die, the second book in the trilogy!

Rating: 4 stars