Review – Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

Pretty Dead
By Francesca Lia Block

Rethink everything you thought you knew about the life of a vampire. According to Charlotte Emerson, the least of her problems are perfect skin, perfect hair, and living a luxurious life in vintage fashions. Instead, Charlotte finds herself surrounded with everything a girl could want, but wishing for something she can’t seem to find. For her, the life of a vampire has only brought her death, sadness, and a loneliness and emptiness she was “born” (as a Vampire) with. Nothing for her will change as she tries to cope. That is, until the day she breaks a fingernail. Vampire’s nails don’t break, and this is only the first sign of events to come involving her growing feelings for a human and the need to face her past.

In this wildly different vampire love story about Charlotte, author Francesca Lia Block asks, “What if a vampire doesn’t want to live forever?”

Pretty Dead was a compelling read. I found it difficult to put down since I wanted to learn about Charlotte’s past and what was happening to her. While this book is a small book, it is a mature read and only recommended for older and mature teen readers. If you enjoy vampire stories and are open to a new interpretation, this novel is worth trying.