In the Forests of the Night.
Dell-Laurel Leaf. 1999.
ISBN: 0440228166
$5.99. Paperback. 147 pages.
Readers Annotation
Risika has been dead for hundreds of years, but that is not stopping her from challenging the vampire who killed her brother so long ago.
Plot
Risika, a shape-changing vampire, has lived for hundreds of years. Although she lives and hunts alone, Risika is consumed with hatred for Aubrey, another vampire, who she blames for her twin brother’s death. Risika, once called Rachel, weaves the story of the past and present like a spell. Made a vampire in 1701 during the time of the witch-hunts, Risika now lives (and hunts) in Concord, Massachusetts. As her anger is reignited she trespasses on Aubrey’s turf in New York. Hunting in New York, she purposely kills Aubrey’s servant in hopes of drawing him out. Although she has challenged Aubrey in the past, Risika has not been successful in her battles. When Aubrey kills her beloved tiger friend at the zoo, Risika is enraged. Knowing that strong emotions can aid in her quest to defeat Aubrey, Risika pursues him to the vampire town of New Mayhem. In a final showdown of strength Risika discovers that she does not need to destroy Aubrey in revenge. She uncovers that her inner vampire strength can defeat the being that has taunted her for years. Finally, Risika recovers the brother she thought had died because of Aubrey. Now, one of the strongest vampires in New Mayhem, she begins to find peace in her status as an undead vampire.
Critical Evaluation
This novel is an amazing work of fiction. Written when she was only 13-years-old, Atwater-Rhodes has created a gritty novel from an insider’s perspective. Her character Risika, a loner vampire, is unforgettable. It is difficult to identify Atwater-Rhodes work with any other authors in the same genre. However, she has stated that she is a fan Laurell K. Hamilton, who wrote the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novels. The earlier novels of Hamilton are unromantic and action packed. This novel has some of those attributes. This book is closer in style to Guilty Pleasures (Hamilton), because it is less sentimental in its treatment of the monsters than the more current Twilight (Meyers). While Edward and Bella are claiming eternal love, Risika is busy attempting revenge on the vampire that destroyed her family so long ago. With this character Atwater-Rhodes has added to vampire mythology by allowing her vampire to be a shape shifter. Overall, she has created a startling addition to the canon of recent vampire novels.
Information about the author
Born in 1984, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes currently attends college and plans on becoming a teacher. You can find out more about her here.
Genre
Paranormal, Vampire
Curriculum ties
None. However, this novel should be read by anyone who loves vampire novels.
Challenge Issues
Violence
Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its contents.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on barnesandnobel.com http://search.barnesandnoble.com/In-the-Forests-of-the-Night/Amelia-Atwater-Rhodes/e/9780613285377/?itm=3&USRI=in+the+forests+of+the+night
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss how Rachel (Risika) became a vampire in 1701.
2. Talk about how Risika blames her immortal enemy Aubrey for the death of her beloved brother.
3. Mention that Risika is also a shape-changer, and how she chooses to assume the shape of her beloved tiger.
Reading Level/Age
Young Adult, ages 14 and up.
Why I included this title
This book is included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd edition (Herald, 2003), as an example of “Paranormal: Vampire Books.”
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