The sequel to Ellen Schreiber's popular Vampire Kisses follows goth teenager Raven as she searches for her true love Alexander, whom she's discovered is a vampire.
Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins
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From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up–This sequel to Vampire Kisses (HarperCollins, 2003) continues the love story between Goth-girl Raven and her vampire boyfriend. As this book opens, Alexander has left town and Raven decides she must hunt him down. She finds out that he is probably in a nearby town and it just so happens that she has an aunt who lives there AND it's spring break AND her parents allow her to visit without any real explanation AND Raven's aunt is extremely gullible so that Raven can sneak around and do what she needs to do. After Alexander is located and comes back to town, his evil nemesis, Jagger, decides to get revenge by biting Raven. Goofy high jinks ensue. Every step that the protagonist and her cohorts take is predictable, right up to the cliff-hanger ending. Schreiber's sense of time is extremely skewed and the mentions of bands like the Smiths (Goth fare in the mid- to late '80s) make readers question when the book is actually set until they happen upon mentions of Slipknot and Good Charlotte. Goth girls would certainly be attracted to the book based on the photo on the cover, but only middle school Goth wannabes who are closet Sweet Valley High readers will actually finish the book. Raven is far too saccharine and has no sulky-fierce Goth appeal, and the love story falls flat.–Kimberly L. Paone, Elizabeth Public Library, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
Ellen Schreiber was an actress and a stand-upcomedienne before becoming an author. She studied Shakespearean theater at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, and comedy at the Second City of Chicago. She has had several novels published in Europe.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Hardcover
In case you haven't noticed, Raven Madison is goth. She's also a mournful outsider whom nobody understands, and she's hopelessly in love with a vampire who is basically a male version of her. And while Ellen Schreiber tries to stir things up in "Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins," this sequel to her inexplicably popular vampire romance is more of the same -- hilariously overwrought teenybopper romance, flat characters, and a vampire mythos thinner than tissue paper.
With Alexander gone, Raven has gone emo... or rather, less self-consciously emo than before. And after watching a hokey vampire romance with the cutesy name of "Kissing Coffins," she decides to go searching for him in the neighboring town (which she calls "Hipsterville"). Because in real life, all populations are segregated into "normal" and "weirdo of every variety and degree," and stuck in towns accordingly. Riiiight.
But of course, she runs into an Evil ShockRockerGoth vampire named Jagger at a local cliche goth club -- and he follows her back to Dullsville, where he kidnaps Raven and tries to force her into a vampire covenant ceremony at the graveyard. It turns out he has a hilariously contrived reason to hate Alexander, who arrives in the nick of time to save his beloved Hot Topic Goth sweetie-pie -- and though they're glad to be reunited, Jagger is still planning his revenge on Alexander.
It becomes painfully apparent in "Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins" that Ellen Schreiber is not actually doing an elaborate parody of the vampire-romance genre. She's in deadly earnest, and genuinely believes this to be serious stuff... when, in fact, it makes "Twilight" and its ilk look like deep and emotionally complex classics.
Too bad there's no real plot, just Raven contemplating how GOTH GOTH GOTH she is in every way, and wandering randomly around Hipsterville asking random people about Alexander (like an actor who PLAYS Dracula). Halfway through the book, Schreiber apparently realizes that this is a thin plot even for a teen romance, so she tries to stir things up by throwing a bad guy into the mix, and has Alexander pop out of nowhere to save Raven from a hilariously cheesy vampire "wedding" ceremony... and the plot just sort of sputters out there.
Nor has Schreiber's writing improved much -- she recycles some lame word puns ("knight of night") and views everything through a glass not-so-darkly ("Moss and ivy grew on the roof like a gothic Chia Pet" -- a gothic Chia pet?). And while she attempts to spin up a secret vampire subculture, her bloodsucking mythos is as thin as her plot -- apparently vampires are DEAD, but they can produce similarly dead offspring as well as LIVE human babies... no, it doesn't make any sense to me either.
Raven remains the same selfish, whiny, immature wannabe as she was before, with her contempt for all non-"freaks" and her shallow infatuation with vampirism. Schreiber wildly overemphasizes what a mallgoth Raven is -- every single thing she owns or comes into contact with must be UberGoth (including her TABLE LAMP). Schreiber also tries to flesh out the tepid Alexander... and fails miserably. Apparently he's the offspring of vampire bohemians (wha?) and boohoo, he wishes he were human. Yawn.
"Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins" is a painfully silly, plotless mess of a vampire romance -- and the supposedly eternal true love of Alexander and Raven is as thin and ridiculous as their characterizations. A fangless wonder.
With Alexander gone, Raven has gone emo... or rather, less self-consciously emo than before. And after watching a hokey vampire romance with the cutesy name of "Kissing Coffins," she decides to go searching for him in the neighboring town (which she calls "Hipsterville"). Because in real life, all populations are segregated into "normal" and "weirdo of every variety and degree," and stuck in towns accordingly. Riiiight.
But of course, she runs into an Evil ShockRockerGoth vampire named Jagger at a local cliche goth club -- and he follows her back to Dullsville, where he kidnaps Raven and tries to force her into a vampire covenant ceremony at the graveyard. It turns out he has a hilariously contrived reason to hate Alexander, who arrives in the nick of time to save his beloved Hot Topic Goth sweetie-pie -- and though they're glad to be reunited, Jagger is still planning his revenge on Alexander.
It becomes painfully apparent in "Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins" that Ellen Schreiber is not actually doing an elaborate parody of the vampire-romance genre. She's in deadly earnest, and genuinely believes this to be serious stuff... when, in fact, it makes "Twilight" and its ilk look like deep and emotionally complex classics.
Too bad there's no real plot, just Raven contemplating how GOTH GOTH GOTH she is in every way, and wandering randomly around Hipsterville asking random people about Alexander (like an actor who PLAYS Dracula). Halfway through the book, Schreiber apparently realizes that this is a thin plot even for a teen romance, so she tries to stir things up by throwing a bad guy into the mix, and has Alexander pop out of nowhere to save Raven from a hilariously cheesy vampire "wedding" ceremony... and the plot just sort of sputters out there.
Nor has Schreiber's writing improved much -- she recycles some lame word puns ("knight of night") and views everything through a glass not-so-darkly ("Moss and ivy grew on the roof like a gothic Chia Pet" -- a gothic Chia pet?). And while she attempts to spin up a secret vampire subculture, her bloodsucking mythos is as thin as her plot -- apparently vampires are DEAD, but they can produce similarly dead offspring as well as LIVE human babies... no, it doesn't make any sense to me either.
Raven remains the same selfish, whiny, immature wannabe as she was before, with her contempt for all non-"freaks" and her shallow infatuation with vampirism. Schreiber wildly overemphasizes what a mallgoth Raven is -- every single thing she owns or comes into contact with must be UberGoth (including her TABLE LAMP). Schreiber also tries to flesh out the tepid Alexander... and fails miserably. Apparently he's the offspring of vampire bohemians (wha?) and boohoo, he wishes he were human. Yawn.
"Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins" is a painfully silly, plotless mess of a vampire romance -- and the supposedly eternal true love of Alexander and Raven is as thin and ridiculous as their characterizations. A fangless wonder.
By TeensReadToo
Format:Paperback
First of all, I just want to say that this is the second book in the series, picking up right where the first one left off, so it is highly suggested that KISSING COFFINS be read after VAMPIRE KISSES. Consider that your warning. Now that that's out of the way, on to the book!
Goth-girl Raven has just discovered that her boyfriend, Alexander Sterling, new to the town of "Dullsville," is an actual vampire. Unfortunately, the morning after this startling discovery, he disappears. Raven is devastated, but doesn't dare ask anyone for help for fear they will discover his secret.
She decides to take the matter into her own hands and sets off to look for clues to his whereabouts, determined to find him and convince him that she is perfectly fine with the fact that he is one of the undead. Her search leads her to the Mansion, where she finds a mysterious note in Alexander's bedroom that only says, "Alexander, HE IS ON HIS WAY!" She then takes a trip to nearby "Hipsterville," home of hippies, Goths, starving artists, her aunt Libby, and, hopefully, Alexander.
Following a trail of clues, she visits the Coffin Club (a popular hangout for Goths), the Hipsterville Historical Society (who knew that would be helpful?), and a deserted mansion on the outskirts of town (that's hopefully not really deserted at all).
She also meets the mysterious and slightly creepy Jagger, who offers to help her with her search. But is he just a Goth-obsessed teen like Raven, or is he the real thing? And why does he seem so interested in Alexander?
KISSING COFFINS is a fun, quick read for those looking for a vampire story without the blood and gore. However, the writing is often quite shallow, and the relationship between Raven and Alexander is never really fully developed enough for my taste. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the book, and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
Reviewed by: Andie Z.
Goth-girl Raven has just discovered that her boyfriend, Alexander Sterling, new to the town of "Dullsville," is an actual vampire. Unfortunately, the morning after this startling discovery, he disappears. Raven is devastated, but doesn't dare ask anyone for help for fear they will discover his secret.
She decides to take the matter into her own hands and sets off to look for clues to his whereabouts, determined to find him and convince him that she is perfectly fine with the fact that he is one of the undead. Her search leads her to the Mansion, where she finds a mysterious note in Alexander's bedroom that only says, "Alexander, HE IS ON HIS WAY!" She then takes a trip to nearby "Hipsterville," home of hippies, Goths, starving artists, her aunt Libby, and, hopefully, Alexander.
Following a trail of clues, she visits the Coffin Club (a popular hangout for Goths), the Hipsterville Historical Society (who knew that would be helpful?), and a deserted mansion on the outskirts of town (that's hopefully not really deserted at all).
She also meets the mysterious and slightly creepy Jagger, who offers to help her with her search. But is he just a Goth-obsessed teen like Raven, or is he the real thing? And why does he seem so interested in Alexander?
KISSING COFFINS is a fun, quick read for those looking for a vampire story without the blood and gore. However, the writing is often quite shallow, and the relationship between Raven and Alexander is never really fully developed enough for my taste. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the book, and I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
Reviewed by: Andie Z.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.9 out of 5 stars
53 reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mixed Feelings
Oct 16 2005
By Jane Smith
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing Coffins is a continuation of Ellen Schreiber's first book about a sixteen year old goth girl that is obsessed with Vampires. The girl- Raven Madison- is one of if not the least popular girl in her intire town which she refers to 'Dullsville'. Raven is the only goth in town and she only has one friend named Becky. Raven is the only one who doesn't beat up Becky and that's pretty much the only reason they are friends. In a town filled with Soccer snobs, such as the infamous Trevor Mitchell, tennis clubs, and preps Raven only fits in, in two places. The cemetery and the Benson hill mansion. She ends up going out with a gorgeous goth guy named Alexander Sterling who is rumored to be a vampire. In the end of the first book the rumors dissapear but Alexander ends up really being a vampire. Alexander moves away and Raven is devastated.
In the second book Raven goes to her aunt's town, which she calls 'Hipsterville', to find Alexander. Hipsterville is the exact opposite of Dullsville. There are goths everywhere mostly at the Coffin Club and a store called Hot Gothics (ringing any bells?). Raven meets a guy named Jagger at the Coffin Club and he offers to help her find Alexander, claiming to be a friend of his. In the end Jagger isn't really who he claims to be and the past catches to Alexander.
I thought this book was a worthy sequal. The only thing I didn't like was when Ellen Schreiber kept bringing up how 'goth' Raven was. Gothic shoes, Gothic clothes, Gothic accesories. Blah blah blah blah blah. Otherwise the book was a very good one.
In the second book Raven goes to her aunt's town, which she calls 'Hipsterville', to find Alexander. Hipsterville is the exact opposite of Dullsville. There are goths everywhere mostly at the Coffin Club and a store called Hot Gothics (ringing any bells?). Raven meets a guy named Jagger at the Coffin Club and he offers to help her find Alexander, claiming to be a friend of his. In the end Jagger isn't really who he claims to be and the past catches to Alexander.
I thought this book was a worthy sequal. The only thing I didn't like was when Ellen Schreiber kept bringing up how 'goth' Raven was. Gothic shoes, Gothic clothes, Gothic accesories. Blah blah blah blah blah. Otherwise the book was a very good one.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Jan 11 2007
By TeensReadToo
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
First of all, I just want to say that this is the second book in the series, picking up right where the first one left off, so it is highly suggested that KISSING COFFINS be read after Vampire Kisses. Consider that your warning. Now that that's out of the way, on to the book!
Goth-girl Raven has just discovered that her boyfriend, Alexander Sterling, new to the town of "Dullsville," is an actual vampire. Unfortunately, the morning after this startling discovery, he disappears. Raven is devastated, but doesn't dare ask anyone for help for fear they will discover his secret.
She decides to take the matter into her own hands and sets off to look for clues to his whereabouts, determined to find him and convince him that she is perfectly fine with the fact that he is one of the undead. Her search leads her to the Mansion, where she finds a mysterious note in Alexander's bedroom that only says, "Alexander, HE IS ON HIS WAY!" She then takes a trip to nearby "Hipsterville," home of hippies, Goths, starving artists, her aunt Libby, and, hopefully, Alexander.
Following a trail of clues, she visits the Coffin Club (a popular hangout for Goths), the Hipsterville Historical Society (who knew that would be helpful?), and a deserted mansion on the outskirts of town (that's hopefully not really deserted at all).
She also meets the mysterious and slightly creepy Jagger, who offers to help her with her search. But is he just a Goth-obsessed teen like Raven, or is he the real thing? And why does he seem so interested in Alexander?
KISSING COFFINS is a fun, quick read for those looking for a vampire story without the blood and gore. However, the writing is often quite shallow, and the relationship between Raven and Alexander is never really fully developed enough for my taste. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the book; I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
Reviewed by: Andie Z.
Goth-girl Raven has just discovered that her boyfriend, Alexander Sterling, new to the town of "Dullsville," is an actual vampire. Unfortunately, the morning after this startling discovery, he disappears. Raven is devastated, but doesn't dare ask anyone for help for fear they will discover his secret.
She decides to take the matter into her own hands and sets off to look for clues to his whereabouts, determined to find him and convince him that she is perfectly fine with the fact that he is one of the undead. Her search leads her to the Mansion, where she finds a mysterious note in Alexander's bedroom that only says, "Alexander, HE IS ON HIS WAY!" She then takes a trip to nearby "Hipsterville," home of hippies, Goths, starving artists, her aunt Libby, and, hopefully, Alexander.
Following a trail of clues, she visits the Coffin Club (a popular hangout for Goths), the Hipsterville Historical Society (who knew that would be helpful?), and a deserted mansion on the outskirts of town (that's hopefully not really deserted at all).
She also meets the mysterious and slightly creepy Jagger, who offers to help her with her search. But is he just a Goth-obsessed teen like Raven, or is he the real thing? And why does he seem so interested in Alexander?
KISSING COFFINS is a fun, quick read for those looking for a vampire story without the blood and gore. However, the writing is often quite shallow, and the relationship between Raven and Alexander is never really fully developed enough for my taste. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the book; I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series.
Reviewed by: Andie Z.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A funny and suspenseful sequel to VAMPIRE KISSES
Sep 23 2005
By Teen Reads
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Goth girl Raven is back in this funny sequel to VAMPIRE KISSES. She is still trying to connect with her mysterious true love Alexander Sterling, who has disappeared from his mansion in Raven's small town, which she calls "Dullsville." Raven would like to know, among other things, if he wants to make her a vampire so she can be with him.
She learns that Jameson, Alexander's butler, placed an order for flowers from a nearby town that Raven labels "Hipsterville." Luckily her aunt lives there and she heads over for a visit during her spring break. Hipsterville offers stores specializing in Goth clothes, a Coffin Club night hotspot, and a historical society with clues about local mansions. As Raven tracks down her elusive boyfriend, she draws the attention of another vampire, one who also wants to find Alexander, but for dark reasons of his own. While she is enjoying fitting in with the Goth folks in Hipsterville, Raven does not want to draw Alexander into danger. But danger does follow her back to Dullsville...
In addition to piecing the mystery together, Raven tries to figure out what the future will hold for her and Alexander. She loves him but doesn't know if she wants to become a vampire like him. She knows she will always stand out from her family and her town, but will fitting in with him and his kind be the answer for her? The end of KISSING COFFINS leaves the plot wide open for a third book, which will be welcome for readers of this funny and suspenseful series.
--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio
She learns that Jameson, Alexander's butler, placed an order for flowers from a nearby town that Raven labels "Hipsterville." Luckily her aunt lives there and she heads over for a visit during her spring break. Hipsterville offers stores specializing in Goth clothes, a Coffin Club night hotspot, and a historical society with clues about local mansions. As Raven tracks down her elusive boyfriend, she draws the attention of another vampire, one who also wants to find Alexander, but for dark reasons of his own. While she is enjoying fitting in with the Goth folks in Hipsterville, Raven does not want to draw Alexander into danger. But danger does follow her back to Dullsville...
In addition to piecing the mystery together, Raven tries to figure out what the future will hold for her and Alexander. She loves him but doesn't know if she wants to become a vampire like him. She knows she will always stand out from her family and her town, but will fitting in with him and his kind be the answer for her? The end of KISSING COFFINS leaves the plot wide open for a third book, which will be welcome for readers of this funny and suspenseful series.
--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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