Title: Blood Ties (Oliver Nocturne #3)
Author: Kevin Emerson
Published: June, 2009 by Scholastic
Pages: 224
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

To avoid the summer sun, the Nocturnes head for vacation at Isla Necrata, a resort whose location always changes, putting it near a geologic calamity- most often a volcanic eruption. As a bonus, Oliver is allowed to bring Dean along, the only catch being that he has to pretend to be Oliver’s servant. Before they get there, the Nocturnes must endure a particularly uncomfortable visit with Oliver’s extended, Old World vampire family, who live in Morosia, a vampire city underneath Rome.

At the same time, Oliver discovers that Emalie has stowed away, believing that Morosia may hold clues to her mother’s whereabouts. Oliver must keep his family from finding out about her, sneak out of family obligations to meet up with her on the surface, and search for the oracle that predicted his destiny, which he learns is in the Asylum Colony, somewhere deep beneath Morosia.

Final Thoughts:
More of the same if you’ve read this series before. Oliver’s off on family vacation tracking down information on his vampire prophecy. Dean’s zombieness made is enjoyable enough to get through.

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they’ve received in the past week. They can be from stores, contests, tours or publishers!

• The Twilight Saga: Official Illustrated Guide by Stephenie Meyer (purchased)
• Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (purchased)
• Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (purchased)
• Oliver Nocturne: Blood Ties by Kevin Emerson (library)
• Conspiracy 365: February by Gabrielle Lord (library)
• Unnatural by Michael Griffo (purchased)
• The Morganville Vampires Vol III: Lord of Misrule & Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine (purchased)

So these are the books I’ve bought & borrowed out this week. I read Hush, Hush a few weeks ago from my local library and loved it but they didn’t have Crescendo so I decided to get them both online. I found the shiny hardbacks cheap on AmazonUK so I quickly snapped them up. My copy of Unnatural arrived looking like the front corner had gotten wet in the post (it was dry when it arrived, but warped), but I couldn’t be bothered sending it back to the UK and waiting for a replacement to get to me so I guess I’ll just live with it (plus I’ve read it now. see my review). Another Morganville bind-up arrived this week as well, I really have to get back to reading them soon. If only I didn’t have university textbooks to read as well.

Link up to your mailbox and I’ll be sure to check it out!

Title: The Sunlight Slayings (Oliver Nocturne #2)
Author: Kevin Emerson
Published: August, 2009 by Scholastic
Pages: 224
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

Oliver Nocturne finds himself reunited with Emalie’s cousin, Dean, who has returned as a zombie. Dean has information on something that is shaking up the vampire community – vampire children are mysteriously being turned to dust. Oliver and Dean reconnect with Emalie, and the three of them set out to solve the mystery and in the process encounter the Fallen Brotherhood, a human group fighting against vampires. And the Brotherhood has some news for Oliver ….

Final Thoughts:
If you enjoyed the first book, The Vampire’s Photograph, you’ll most likely be kept entertained with this second instalment. Oliver, Emalie and Dean are all back, yes Dean too. There’s plenty of rodent eating, unnecessary secret keeping and a little bit more insight into Oliver’s destiny. I’m not in the target age group so it did leave a lot to be desired for me, but if I were still a tween I’d be all over this.