Hourglass

When I first read this book It was okay I wasnt as in love with it like i was with the first two. However when I finished reading it I re- read it and when i did that I somehow found the book Amazing. It was also sad too because of what happens with Bianca and Lucas. I can't wait for the next book and its killing me to have to wait. The way Hourglass ended made me want to go get Afterlife right after but its not out yet and now im impatiently waiting. But all in all Great Great Book and Series So Far. I definetly Recommend this to any and everyone. :)

My only regret is reading this book when I bought it, if only I'd have waited until Afterlife came out I wouldn't be so enraged. But as far as Lucas and Bianca and their friends go, this whole story has been good, from start to well here. Continue please I need to know what happens!!

Hourglass is the third book in a four book series called Evernight, with the fourth due out next year. I was very excited about it's release but to be honest I was slightly disappointed for the first quarter of the novel. The first two books in this series were ripe with mystery and intensity and I was in love with the character dynamics and I felt like the first half of this book was one long drawn out chapter with little to no new development. Additionally there wasn't much going on between the two protagonists Bianca and Lucas during the first half of the book to really engage me in their story.

With that said by the second half of the novel I couldn't put Hourglass down! Things began to quickly steam up between Bianca and Lucas in a way that isn't usually written in a young adult novel. Although unexpected what I really appreciated was how the author portrayed intimacy in a realistic, progressive, and innocent way that I wish was more often true of young adult relationships. The reality is teenagers in our society are intimate at a very young age and we do not have enough positive role models to emulate how intimacy should be between two consenting and in-love "adults."

I was disappointed not to have a few of my favorite characters highlighted a bit more in this novel so I am eagerly awaiting the next novel in this series to showcase them more. The final few chapters was where things really got interesting and I found myself frantically turning the pages with the patience of a six year old at Disney. I know a book is good when after I read the final sentence and realize there is no more to read I feel compelled to throw the book across the room.

I gave this book a 3.5/5 because although a good read the book in its entirety didn't have me engaged and I felt that not enough went on outside of the relationship between Bianca and Lucas (aside from something I won't mention due to spoilers but that is quite a crazy twist) . This series as a whole is fantastic and I have high hopes that when the final book Afterlife is released in March 2011 I will have forgotten about anything I disliked in this book.

**Third book in the series so its spoilers galore for the first two books.**

Bianca and Lucas are the star crossed lovers of the Evernight series. This love story that I've come to love has grown into something much more complex than any other Romeo and Juliet stylized story.

Hourglass takes off right where Stargazer left off. Bianca and her Evernight school room mate, Raquel have joined forces with the Black Cross. As we learned before, the Black Cross is a team of Vampire hunters and view all vampires to be the all the same cold blooded killers. In return the vampires think the same about them. The motto seems to be kill first, ask later. This bothers Bianca more than ever before now that she has her nose being rubbed in it, and is being trained to do the exact same thing to beings of her own kind. Bianca's true identity is still hidden from everyone in the Black Cross and even from Raquel. With everyone having such black and white opinions on everything, Bianca stands no chance of ever being accepted for what and who she really is. On the bright side, Bianca and Lucas finally get to be together. Although with this new soldier life style they see less of each other than when they were sneaking around and separated by many miles instead of under the same roof.

Their star crossed lover issues are far from over though. The vampires of Evernight, the wraiths, and Charity and her tribe are all after them with deadly force. People Bianca and Lucas may have trusted in the beginning will fail them at some point in the most surprising ways. With all the danger, there's a natural magnetic sexual tension that burns hot and long between Bianca and Lucas. It makes you root for them every step of the way of their dramatic adventure. Even at the most heartbreaking times and when you think its impossible for them to be in the same place at the same time, hope stays alive. Hope drives their love and makes it burn stronger.

I was frustrated at points of the book, mainly because you're so wrapped up in Lucas and Bianca's raw emotions. To balance it out you have the light hearted and charming Vic with his vampire sidekick, Ranulf. I think everyone could use a Vic in their lives. He sees in shades of gray instead of just black and white. He's laid back and accepting of everything thrown his way and not everyone has such grace under pressure.

Everything got very intense near the end and it really makes you beg for more. What a great read. This is a series in which you start out slow and you might be not all that impressed with the pace at the beginning, but you will not be the least disappointed if you keep reading. Its hitting its own level of greatness with each coming book. Great for all YA paranormal romance readers. Trust me, you'll love it long time.