Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes


Released: December 2008
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal
Pages: 224
Source: Library


Rating: ♥♥♥

Sixteen year old Erin Misrahe just wants to be like everyone else in her new school. But Erin has more to worry about than passing AP Chemistry and making friends. In times of stress, she has always been overcome by her alter ego, Shevaun, whose violent behavior wreaks havoc on those around her. Erin can never remember anything about these episodes, and she's grateful to have been spared them for a while. But when a protective old friend comes back into Erin's life, he insists that Shevaun is a vampire who actually exists apart from Erin. Shevaun has dangerous allies, like the handsome witch Adjila - and they're determined to sever Shevaun's connection to Erin once and for all.

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Amelia Atwater-Rhodes was the first author to introduce me into the vampire paranormal world back when I was in high school. I still remember opening up Demon In My View when I couldn't sleep the night before my first day back at school my junior year. And freaky enough - the main character Jessica also couldn't sleep and was awaiting her first day at school as a senior. Except when I went to school the next day there wasn't any hot vampires named Aubrey (he was my first vamp crush - sorry Jasper) waiting around for me. *sighs* Another fun fact about the author to know is that she first got published when she was 15! We're about the same age, so I always thought that was really cool, since I didn't even have the nerve to let most of my friends read my writing back then. Now, I wouldn't show those stories to anyone cause they're embarrassing, but that's on a whole other note.

So when I found out that after a five book series based on shape shifters (not really my cup of tea), I was pumped to find out that Amelia had written a new semi-vamp story. Just like all the books from the Den of Shadows, I instantly got into the story line. It was also really nice seeing old places like SingleEarth around.

Erin is a girl that suffers from schizophrenia, and finally has been given the chance at a "normal life". No longer is she stuck in a hospital, but is attending a real school and even making a friend. All of that starts closing in when she finds herself being jumped into her alter ego Shevaun's world. One that I wish sometimes she would have stayed at longer, because I enjoyed her and Adjila's relationship.

Debating on whether or not she's going crazy, other things start happening, and luckily the only person she can turn to is her old friend Sassy. I still don't really like that as a nickname for a guy, but it did fit his personality well. You never knew what that character was going to say, and it's obvious how much he cares for Erin's well being. Her other friend, Marissa, was a good side character to have, but I felt her story was pushed back some. Same thing with Shevaun and Adjila, it seemed like there could have been more light shed on their world. Who knows, maybe there is another book to come with their story? *wishful thinking*

The plot of the story was good. I was afraid dealing with two different people, I might get confused, but there was a great even flow about things. While the beginning and the middle had me sucked in like I knew it would...that really, really bad thing happened towards the end...I started loosing interest. The big finale seemed to be rather bland. I wish I could say more, but that would completely spoil it. All in all it was a good read, but the ending was kind of meh.


♥amber