Drip Drop Teardrop by Samantha Young
This book is about love and death: dRip Drop Teardrop by Samantha Young (German). I read it in English where it contained 166 pages. Originally published 2011. Girls 14 plus.
Avery tries to live her life as normal as possible. But how can she, really, if her aunt, her hero, is dying? Since her parents' death, her aunt has been the most important person in her life... and this is why Avery accepts the offer of her dark and handsome stalker, the creepy man called Brennus – an Ankou, a helping hand of Death: She stays with him for eternity and he will let Caroline of the hook. Because ever since her parents' accident, Death is in love with Avery… and he'd do almost anything to keep her close.
It's a very good idea, Death falling in love and stuff. But I think this story hasn't reached it's real potential. First of all, it's a little too short. That means that Avery's development is a little fast. Second, the plot twist in the end, how she could defeat Brennus' ex, this should have been more obvious. The reader couldn't guess it, it's like the last-5-pages-character in a detective story who turned out to be the murderer. That's sad, because the rest was actually quite good.
As for Brennus, he's interesting. He's both good and evil, he's compassionate and ruthless. I kind of like him, even though you could have made more of him and his love towards Avery. It seems like he only loves her because she should be dead and only wants to own her like a pet. That's not very romantic. It would have been better, if something developed between them, something real. With real parallels between them. Additionally, a reader usually needs time to get over the “he's Death equals he's creepy” way of thought. I don't have any problems with that, but most people actually do. So, a little more space for falling for the second protagonist would have been nice. But his work place was well done – how he shows Avery how he lives and works. Why what he does is necessary.
Avery herself is afraid of any kind of attention – well, if she isn't with Brennus, that is. But she's also loyal and loving. Unfortunately, that's all you can say about her, which is sad. She's a little flat.
Apart from that, there are no mistakes and the style is good. But, like I wrote above, you could have made more out of that story.
In brief:
I give stars for style and ideas.