Series and Sequels
Ninth Grade Slays #2
Vlad begins a new year at school that is starting out just as bad as the previous year. He is hiding his truth about being a vampire from everyone except his best friend Henry and his Aunt Nelly, he is still being bullied and he still has a thing for Meredith. Otis takes Vlad on a trip to Siberia where they meet up with Vikas who helps Vlad learn more about his abilities. During this time, he learns of the myth of the Pravus and wonders if he could be the vampire from the prophecy. Upon arrival home, Vald has to add another thing to his list of complications to his life - he is being hunted by a vampire slayer.
Vlad is worried when Otis who has been off on his own adventure seems to be not responding to his communication. Henry has also stated that he would like to be released from his duties as Vlad's drudge. Vlad's changing, he is growing into a young man and with that brings many questions and uncertainty. Henry is also growing and with that he has more to say for standing up for himself and searching for independence from Vlad. Eddie Poe is following Vlad around trying to get a good photo of him to expose his secret to the school and Joss is the slayer trying to kill him. D'Ablo is trying to discover a way to steal his powers. Vlad couldn't imagine his life getting any more difficult - but as usual, it has.
Eleventh Grade Burns #4
I have always loved books that are in a series. I much prefer them than stand alone books. I think the reason for this is that a series is able to expand on the characters, peel away at their layers so there is more of an understanding of who they are and why they have made the decisions they have. I also am a fan of the cliffhanger and the anticipation of the next story to expand on the characters and events of the last story. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have several per-order books at a time in my Amazon.com book cart. Sometimes, I think I am still a kid at Christmas with all the anticipation and excitement I have over the next book in the series. It could be frightening to one who doesn't share that same thrill. I guess I can compare it to having a favorite television series and being left at the end of the season with a cliffhanger and the fate of the characters up in the air and then having to wait months for the new season to begin to find out the fate of the storyline. Yes, I know it may sound silly, but when a writer has created great characters in a setting that can be absorbed by the reader, then they have done their job well, and the reader is hooked until that story is played out. Call me crazy, but I love a great series.
Below I have listed each book in the CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD series by Heather Brewer. There are five books in the series with each getting better with the writing and the twists and turn of events. The final book ends with a bang and all the loose ends are tied up and we come to grips with the remaining characters and the conclusion to the story line. This was a great series and I would recommend it to any and all who enjoy series books and books with great characters.
CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD
Eighth Grade Bites #1
Bibliography:
Brewer, H. (2008). Eighth Grade Bites. New York: Scholastic
Vlad is fourteen and lives in Bathory with his Aunt Nelly. His best friend is Henry and they enjoy video games and hanging out. Vlad's English teacher disappears and the substitute is a man named Mt. Otis who seems to know things about Vlad that a stranger wouldn't. After doing some searching through his old burned house, where his parents died five years ago, Vlad discovers his father's journal in the attic. As he is reading the journal, Vlad is able to slowly piece together events from the night his parents died - or as he finds out - murdered. Vlad and Henry are are now drawn into a vampire society, a place called Elysia, and people more powerful that they could ever imagine.
Ninth Grade Slays #2
Bibliography:
Brewer, H. (2009). Ninth Grade Slays. New York: Scholastic
Tenth Grade Bleeds #3
Bibliography:
Brewer, H. (2010). Tenth Grade Bleeds. New York: Scholastic
Vlad is worried when Otis who has been off on his own adventure seems to be not responding to his communication. Henry has also stated that he would like to be released from his duties as Vlad's drudge. Vlad's changing, he is growing into a young man and with that brings many questions and uncertainty. Henry is also growing and with that he has more to say for standing up for himself and searching for independence from Vlad. Eddie Poe is following Vlad around trying to get a good photo of him to expose his secret to the school and Joss is the slayer trying to kill him. D'Ablo is trying to discover a way to steal his powers. Vlad couldn't imagine his life getting any more difficult - but as usual, it has.
Eleventh Grade Burns #4
Bibliography:
Brewer, H. (2010). Eleventh Grade Burns. New York: Scholastic
Uncle Otis is staying in Bathory this year, so Vlad thought things would settle down. The Elysian Council is trying Uncle Otis for crimes against vampires, but it was because he was saving Vlad from D'Ablo and Vlad is terrified that he is going to loose his uncle. Uncle Otis is teaching at the high school, which is good, but Joss, who tried to kill him last year is moving back to Bathory. Vlad discovers that D'Ablo has secured a seat on the Council of Elders, which can only bring difficulties. The walls are closing in on Vlad and he will have to use all the skills he has been taught to get through this next set of events and if he does, there will have to be a final showdown at some point in the future.
Twelfth Grade Kills #5
Bibliography:
Brewer, H. (2011). Twelfth Grade Kills. New York: Scholastic
The Elysian Council had given Vlad only weeks to live and that's only if his friends and the Slayer Society doesn't kill him first. This is the final countdown. Vlad must deal with the Pravus prophecy and enslaving Vampirekind and the human race. Oh, and his dad may be alive after all these years. The Council wants Vald to turn over his father to them, but is he still alive, and if so, where has he been this whole time? The ultimate fight between Vlad and the Council and the Slayer Society will leave Bathory a mess, with enemies that have made agreements, friends who have become enemies and death of loved ones. The story is wrapped up well and all the loose ends are put together for the conclusion of this novel and the series.
