Review: Taste by Kat Evangelista

Title: Tase
Author: Kat Evangelista
Published: April 30th 2012
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
My rating: 3.75 stars

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn't realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Well, this book was a pleasant surprise for me. I wasn't expecting that much on this one and to be honest I had some doubt I'd end up really enjoying it. But I'm pleased to report that this book is actually a very interesting one. It might not have instantly caught my interest during the first parts but as I went deeper to the story I realized that it had eventually intrigued me. The characters and the world Kat created were indeed a very unique and fantastic and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed reading this book.

I first thought this was a vampire book thus explaining my doubt. I was surprised when the world was finally described and explained that I realized how interesting and fascinating it was. It wasn't really a vampire world but a world of "Zhyamvys" or "zombies" as we humans, according to the book, bastartized it. It was rather a fascinating idea - good looking zombies, smart and civilized than just the brain eater we always thought of. It was quite captivating and absorbing to explore this unique world Kat created.

Phoenix, our main character discovered the existence of the Zhamvys when she accidentally overslept in the library of her school pass the curfew. Her curiosity still brought her to discover more of the world of Zhamvy and soon found herself helping some of them in this dangerous secret that might kill this ancient civilization that lived underneath her school.I didn't get well with Phoenix right away. I was actually pretty annoyed with her and some of her actions. Her curiosity I understand but she was impatient and reckless and although those could be appealing attributes on some characters, it felt quite annoying on her. Although as the story went on I saw parts of her that is good and kind and impressive, like when she agreed to help Dray to look for a cure for his people because she understood how it felt not to able to do anything to someone you love. She agreed even if it was dangerous and did extreme sacrifices. In the end, I think she did grow on me. 

Now onto the other main character and the love interest, Demitri. Well, there's a reason why I still haven't read Vampire Academy, Wanderlove and why I didn't continue the Faeriewalker series. 

Long-haired guys. 

I know, I know. Shallow it is. Don't get angry at me but they were just never my type and it turns me off quite majorly whenever I encounter one. However, after reading this I realized that it wasn't really that hard to imagine them to be short-haired. Lol! Seriously, that's the only way I know how I'll be able to continue reading this and still really like it. So in the end, I  was actually able to like Demitri genuinely. And yes, I also did think he was sexy. 

Although I liked the overall, I was a little disappointed with the ending. It felt kinda rush, even some other parts of the book but it was the ending that I wish had been elaborated more. Nonetheless, I think this is a pretty great debut novel and really fantastic for a one-shot paranormal book albeit a little formulaic and predictable at times. I wouldn't mind if there will be a second book actually (or a companion book about Luca). I enjoyed this and I guess it's safe to recommend this.

Thank you Kat Evangelista for providing me a copy of this book!