Hardcover
352 Pages, 5.81 x 8.53 x 1.13 in
352 Pages, 5.81 x 8.53 x 1.13 in
March 1, 2010
Harper Teen
0061284416
9780061284410
9780061284410
Available from: Chapters, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, The Book Depository
List Price: $17.10 CAD, $11.55 US, $12.23 US, $16.99 US, $11.49 US
Rating: 5/5
Rating: 5/5
After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, an elite group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend—the vampire Balthazar—all her secrets threaten to come out.
Soon, Bianca and Lucas have orchestrated Balthazar's escape and are on the run, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they run, Bianca can't escape her destiny. Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything—but can it survive what's to come?*
The secrets out. The Evernight series is about vampires...and vampire hunters. Bianca: vampire. Lucas: vampire hunter. Born to hate each other, destined to love each other. Yes, I know. I was trying my best not to put it out there but at this point it seems almost impossible. I hope that the people who read this will have read the first book, but if not then this is my apology. I'm sorry!
Hourglass is the third book in the Evernight series and from what I have heard it is a favourite among fans. After reading it in record time I must say that I agree wholeheartedly with the general consensus. This book is nothing short of incredible. I have always loved the idea of being on the run, of packing up what is most important to you and not knowing what is going to happen. It's thrilling. Claudia Gray must feel the same because with Bianca and Lucas on the run there is this powerful suspense that carries the book from beginning to end. Uncertainty plagues the two main characters throughout the book and will into the next. As well, all of the minor characters that readers love will also make an appearance in Hourglass and their stories will just add fuel to the fire.
With Bianca and Lucas running from the leaders of Evernight and Black Cross, they have a lot of time alone in this book. This is really the first time that readers get to spend a significant amount of time reading about their relationship on a day to day basis. The description of the raw passion that exists between Bianca and Lucas is wonderful. It was so vivid that I could clearly picture Bianca and Lucas tangled up together. As much as I loved their tender moments together, the description of their arguments is just as good. The relationship they have is so realistic because they are given the opportunity to argue. Although the affinity that Bianca and Lucas have for each other is brilliant, I believe in their relationship more because they care enough to argue with each other. The concern they have for each other manifests itself in the fights that they have and is thus a great way to truly understand how they feel towards one another.
One element of the series that I have yet to mention is that of astronomy. I am not sure how I even managed to escape this in my reviews of the other two books but somehow I did. The passion that Bianca has for stargazing is something that uniquely defines her character and is an element that links the pieces of the story. In addition, as I have mentioned previously I love that the theme of Romeo and Juliet is carried throughout the series. It is something consistent that readers can look forward to as they continue to understand the relationship between Bianca and Lucas. In Hourglass, the themes of astronomy and of Romeo and Juliet are clearly tied together with the use of this quote from Shakespeare's most famous play:
Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun.
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 2
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun.
Romeo and Juliet, 3. 2
The quote is uttered in an intimate discussion between Bianca and Lucas and I found it to be a really beautiful moment. I will never tire of the references to this play in the series because it captures the story accurately. Really though, the feuding families of the Capulets and the Montagues are nothing in comparison to the one burning between vampires and those who hunt them.
It has to be said, Hourglass is the best book in the Evernight series thus far. The last few chapters will make your jaw drop and the cliffhanger will no doubt leave you anxiously awaiting the fourth book. If you have not read the series yet I hope that you will, and when you do you can wait with the rest of us to read more about Bianca and Lucas in Afterlife, out March 2011.
*For more information on the Evernight series you can visit Claudia Gray's official website here.
I love love love the Evernight series cant wait for Afterlife.
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