Amanda Hocking (2010)
Genre
Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
12 Minutes
Key Themes
See below
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Torn between a brooding vampire and her brother's safety, Alice makes a devastating choice that affects both the supernatural and human worlds.
Alice Bonham tries to find a normal life, but her life is far from normal. She has a complicated, on-again, off-again relationship with the vampire Jack. He constantly pushes her away for her safety, which she both appreciates and resents. His brother, Peter, a more unpredictable figure, stays nearby, his intentions unclear but appealing. Her brother, Milo, keeps her connected to human life. Meanwhile, a mysterious, fast-spreading illness called 'the flu' takes hold of their town, causing panic and deaths. Alice, with her link to the supernatural, feels an unsettling premonition about the crisis, suspecting it is more than a common sickness.
The 'flu' becomes terrifyingly real when Alice discovers Milo has it. His condition quickly worsens. Human doctors cannot cure him or slow the disease. Alice feels fear and helplessness watching her brother suffer. This desperate situation makes her realize conventional medicine is failing. She must consider dangerous alternatives to save Milo. Her world, already close to the supernatural, is now fully in its grim reality as she searches for a way to save the one person who represents her last tie to a normal life.
As Milo's condition worsens, Peter, always present in Alice's darkest moments, proposes something shocking. He says he can save Milo, but at a huge cost: Alice must become a vampire. This offer puts Alice in an agonizing situation. On one hand, it is Milo's only hope for survival, a chance to save him from death. On the other, it means leaving her human life and future to embrace the existence she has both feared and been drawn to. The decision weighs heavily on her, forcing her to face her deepest fears and desires, and the true extent of her love for her brother.
After a difficult internal struggle, Alice decides to accept Peter's offer. Her love for Milo outweighs her fears about becoming a vampire. The transformation is a brutal, painful process, a shedding of her human self for a new, terrifying existence. As she changes, she feels both relief that Milo will live and deep sorrow for the life she leaves behind. This moment is an irreversible turning point, cutting her ties to the human world and pushing her fully into the supernatural, with all its dangers and moral difficulties. Her choice has huge consequences, setting the stage for a new chapter of her life.
Alice wakes to a transformed world, not just because of her new senses, but by the overwhelming hunger that now defines her. The transition is disorienting and terrifying. She struggles to control her new strength and speed, and the constant craving for blood. Peter, who helped her transform, guides her through these initial, difficult hours, teaching her to manage her urges and understand her new life. Her human memories and emotions clash with her vampiric instincts, causing an internal conflict that makes her feel alienated from her former self. The weight of her sacrifice for Milo is immense, and she realizes the true depth of the changes she has undergone.
As Peter promised, Milo makes a miraculous recovery from the 'flu.' Alice's relief is immense but short-lived. When Jack discovers Alice's transformation, he reacts with shock, betrayal, and rage. He had always tried to protect her from his world's dangers, and now she has willingly embraced it, and worse, by his brother Peter. Their confrontation is explosive, filled with accusations and heartbreak. Jack feels she sacrificed her humanity needlessly and was manipulated by Peter. This rift between them is deep, threatening to break their already complicated relationship and leaving Alice feeling more isolated in her new, immortal life.
As Alice adjusts to being a vampire, she starts to understand the truth behind the mysterious 'flu' that ravaged her town. She discovers it was not a natural illness but a supernatural plague, intentionally unleashed. Her investigation leads her to a chilling realization: Peter was not just offering a cure but was involved in creating or spreading the disease, or at least knew its true nature from the beginning. This revelation complicates her feelings for him, adding manipulation and deceit to his seemingly selfless act of saving Milo. Alice realizes she may have been a pawn in a larger, more sinister game, and the true extent of Peter's schemes begins to unfold.
Despite her growing distrust and anger towards Peter, Alice is in an impossible position. To understand the 'flu's origins and protect her town and brother from future supernatural threats, she needs Peter's knowledge and power. He is the only one who seems to have the answers she desperately seeks. A reluctant, uneasy alliance forms between them, driven by necessity rather than trust. Alice is aware of the danger Peter represents, but also of his undeniable influence and capability within the supernatural world. This partnership forces her to navigate a treacherous path, constantly questioning Peter's motives while relying on him for survival and understanding.
As Alice goes deeper into the supernatural underworld with Peter, she uncovers a terrifying prophecy: an ancient war between different supernatural groups is coming, and the 'flu' was just a prelude. To her shock, she learns that her transformation and unique heritage (hinted at but not fully revealed) place her at the center of this conflict. She is not just a new vampire; she is a key player in the escalating supernatural politics. This revelation burdens her with immense responsibility. She grapples with the idea that her personal tragedy was part of a much larger, more dangerous game, and her choices will have far-reaching consequences for everyone.
With the threat of supernatural war, Alice must confront the hidden truths about her own family and her connection to the ancient groups. She discovers her human family, the Bonhams, have a deeper, more complicated history with the supernatural world than she imagined, explaining her appeal to both Jack and Peter. This new understanding of her past empowers her, even as it terrifies her. She realizes she cannot escape her destiny. With Peter by her side, still an enigma but now a necessary ally, Alice prepares for the inevitable conflict, knowing her choices will determine her fate and possibly the fate of the entire supernatural world. The stage is set for a climactic battle.
The Protagonist
Alice transforms from a human struggling with supernatural influence into a powerful vampire, learning to control her new abilities and accepting her pivotal role in an impending war.
The Supporting
Jack's protective nature is tested and shattered by Alice's transformation, forcing him to confront his own limitations and the changing dynamics of their relationship.
The Antagonist/Supporting
Peter evolves from a mysterious, manipulative figure to a reluctant, essential ally, revealing deeper layers of his involvement in the supernatural conflicts.
The Supporting
Milo's illness and subsequent recovery serve as the primary motivation for Alice's transformation, cementing his role as her moral compass.
The Supporting
Ezra remains a steadfast source of wisdom and information, his role primarily to inform and guide the other characters.
The Supporting
Mae remains a static character, her primary function to highlight Alice's transformation and the world she leaves behind.
The Antagonist/Supporting
The Council's influence expands as the threat of war grows, becoming a more direct, antagonistic force.
The main theme is Alice's sacrifice to save her brother, Milo. Her decision to become a vampire, though born of love, has huge consequences, changing her identity, relationships, and future forever. The theme explores the cost of such a choice, the loss of humanity, and the unforeseen effects beyond the immediate goal. It asks if the ends justify the means and the burden of living with a decision made under pressure, showing that even selfless acts of love can lead to deep personal suffering and moral uncertainty.
“'I gave up everything for him. My life, my future, my very soul. Was it worth it? For Milo, yes. For me... I don't know yet.'”
This theme explores Alice's struggle with her changing identity as she becomes a vampire. It covers losing her former self, the overwhelming urges of her new nature, and trying to balance her human emotions with her vampiric instincts. The change is not just physical but psychological, forcing her to redefine who she is and where she belongs. It examines how outside forces can reshape one's self-perception and how one adapts to a completely new existence, questioning if a person's core can survive such a radical change.
“'Every beat of my new heart was a reminder of what I'd become, and what I'd lost. I was Alice, but not entirely.'”
The complex mix of love and betrayal drives much of the story. Alice's love for Milo leads to her sacrifice, but Jack sees her transformation as a betrayal. Peter's actions, seemingly from love or concern, are mixed with manipulation and deceit, blurring the lines between genuine affection and selfish motives. This theme explores the many forms of love—familial, romantic, and conditional—and how it can inspire great devotion and profound feelings of betrayal, ultimately shaping the characters' relationships and their understanding of trust.
“'You chose him. You chose this. After everything I did to keep you human, you threw it all away.'”
The novel examines different types of power: the power of choice, the power of sacrifice, and the dangerous power of the supernatural. Alice gains great physical power as a vampire, but also deals with the power others have over her and the power she has over her own destiny. The theme explores how power corrupts, how it is used for good or ill, and the responsibility that comes with having it. It also touches on the political power dynamics within the vampire world and how individuals navigate or challenge established hierarchies, highlighting the appeal and danger in strength.
“'With every beat of this new heart, I felt a strength I'd never known. But it was a strength that came with a terrible hunger, and a greater fear.'”
A supernatural plague that acts as the primary catalyst for Alice's transformation.
The 'flu' initially appears as a mundane, rapidly spreading illness, but is later revealed to be a supernatural plague. Its true origin and purpose are gradually unveiled, revealing it to be a strategic move in a larger supernatural conflict. This device serves as the primary catalyst for Milo's illness, which in turn forces Alice's agonizing decision to become a vampire. It raises the stakes of the narrative, introduces the immediate threat, and ultimately serves as a gateway to the deeper supernatural world and its politics, pushing Alice into an irreversible path and revealing Peter's manipulative nature.
Alice's choice to become a vampire to save her brother.
This classic literary device is the central driving force of the plot. Alice's willingness to give up her humanity and embrace a monstrous existence to save Milo's life underscores her deep love and establishes her as a selfless protagonist. However, this sacrifice is not without its heavy price, creating internal conflict, strained relationships, and unforeseen consequences that propel the rest of the story. It transforms her and her world, setting up themes of identity, love, and the moral complexities of her new life, ensuring that her decision resonates throughout the narrative.
Alice's emotional entanglement with the contrasting vampire brothers, Jack and Peter.
The love triangle between Alice, Jack, and Peter is a potent source of romantic tension and conflict. Jack represents protective, albeit often distant, love, while Peter embodies dangerous allure and manipulative charm. This device highlights Alice's internal struggle between safety and excitement, normalcy and the supernatural. It complicates her emotional landscape, influences her decisions, and creates dramatic confrontations. The dynamic shifts significantly after her transformation, as her relationship with each brother is irrevocably altered, reflecting the deeper power struggles and loyalties within the supernatural world.
Hints of an impending supernatural war and Alice's pivotal role in it.
The subtle introduction of an impending supernatural war and Alice's unexpected, central role within it serves as a powerful plot device. This foreshadowing elevates the stakes beyond personal drama, hinting at a grander narrative and a predetermined path for Alice. It adds a layer of destiny to her transformation, suggesting her sacrifice was not just for Milo, but also for a larger, unknown purpose. This device creates suspense, drives Alice to seek more answers about her heritage, and positions her as a key player in the unfolding conflict, giving her journey greater significance than just her personal choices.
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Amanda Hocking is a prolific author of young adult fantasy and paranormal romance. She gained significant popularity through her self-published "Trylle" series, including "Switched" and "Torn," which were later picked up by a major publisher. Her work is known for its fast-paced plots and relatable characters, resonating with a large readership in the genre.
