Tantalize

Tantalize

by Cynthia Leithich Smith

Candlewick Press, 2007

ISBN 9780763640590

311 pages

3 (out of 5) STARS

Plot Summary

Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her parents are dead, and her hybrid-werewolf first love is threatening to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. Then, as she and her uncle are about to unveil their hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform their new hire into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Can he wow the crowd in his fake fangs, cheap cape, and red contact lenses — or is there more to this earnest face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms, and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything?

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/353016.Tantalize

Critical Evaluation

I hesitant to admit but I did not love this book. Let me mention the things I did not like first and then I will approach the book in a more positive manner.

Not so positive aspects (in my humble opinion)

• On a few occasions the writing style felt a bit stilted. The writing would break the flow of the story and I would be jolted back into reality. One example that comes to mind is whenever Quincie would talk about the moss green decorations at Kieren’s house. Moss green napkins were also mentioned at the picnic Quincie and Kieren took on the anniversary of Quincie’s parent’s death.
• I got quite confused at the end. The different types of werecreatures were confusing. Also what is the town going to do with all those vampires roaming around? And how did Quincie’s uncle meet Brad? And really I would think everyone would be much more terrified if that many people had gone missing or been killed. There were just too many unanswered questions.
• This complaint is probably just whining but I prefer a happy ending for my fantasy books. When I read “problem” novels or realistic fiction I want difficult topics handled that often have sad or unresolved endings. But I did not want Quincie to be a vampire. I realize this is the first book in a series and there is more to come but I did not love the ending.

Aspects that I liked:

• The cover art.
• I was pulled into the story near the end. I was rather intrigued to see what would happen by the end of the book. I had a hard time putting the book down once the restaurant actually opened.
• I liked Quincie’s character. She was independent and strong-willed until Brad wrecked havoc on her life, but still she is a great character.

Reader’s Annotation

Quincie and her uncle are about to reopen their restaurant with a hot new vampire thing. However, strange things start happening in their town.

Information about the author

"Cynthia has worked as a popcorn popper and cashier in a movie theater, a waitress (in a Mexican chain restaurant, and at a country club restaurant and pool), an attendant at a gas station, a receptionist at a law firm, a telephone operator at a bank, a law clerk (for a legal aid, for a small firm, for a government agency, and for a federal appeals judge), and an English tutor for students of migrant farm families. She has also worked as a reporter (for small-town and big city newspapers) and in public relations (for a non-profit agency, for a greeting card company, and for an oil company). In addition, Cynthia has taught legal writing and writing for children and young adults.

Cynthia was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Her previous states of residence are: Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, and Oklahoma. She is a tribal member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Today, she lives in Austin, Texas, with her four cats and her husband, award-winning children's book author Greg Leitich Smith."

(http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/CLS/about_cyn.html)

Genre

Romance. Fantasy.

Curriculum Ties

mythology. current literature.

Booktalking Ideas

*If you could run any business you wanted to as a teen, what would it be?

Reading Level

age 13 and up

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why Included?

This book was one of three assigned novels for this class. It adds a nice edition to the database as a paranormal fantasy.