View source for Vanish by Sophie Jordan

{{infobox1
|title=Vanish
|author=Sophie Jordan
|reviewer=Loralei Haylock
|genre=Teens
|rating=3.5
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-0192756541
|pages=272
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|date=September 2012
|website=http://www.sophiejordan.net
|video=YZa5v_LJyH8
|summary=A stop-gap between the good first book and what could be a good last book, but a little too much love triangle and not enough plot to really keep this reviewer interested.
|cover=0192756540
|aznuk=0192756540
|aznus=0192756540
}}
Events have forced Jacinda back into the arms of the Pride. When her mother took her away from them, it was the last thing Jacinda wanted. But now she's back, she wants nothing more than to spread her wings and fly away. But it's not that easy. Severin, leader of the Pride, has her under virtual house arrest. Tamra, Jacinda's twin, is going through some tumultuous changes, and needs the support of the Pride. And there's Cassian - a permanent fixture in Jacinda's life, the one who brought her back to the Pride, who she is beginning to think cares about her for more than just her firebreathing talents.

But even as things heat up with Cassian, Jacinda keeps thinking of Will. Will the hunter, whose family would kill her if they knew. Jacinda knows it's impossible, but the intoxicating lure of Will is enough to make her consider risking everything...

I think I'm starting to get jaded by second books in paranormal romance trilogies. The old 'love triangle' has become such a stock substitution for plot when the characters can't really face any real peril because there's another book left.

''Vanish'', like many others before it, is so much treading water. Jacinda spends chapters pondering her two love interests and the pros and cons of each, and ways are manufactured to give her alone time with both for plenty of snogging.

There's a bit of exploration of the Pride, but it's very shallow, with a close focus on Jacinda and her troubles. There's no real sense of her decision between the Pride and Will being a difficult one - they come across as two-dimensional villains for the most part.

That's not to say the book is rubbish, because it's fairly well written, and I'm certainly not wishing for the time spent reading it back or thinking of burning it. The relationship between Jacinda and Cassian never feels forced for the sake of drama - there's a believability to Jacinda's conflicted feelings.

But, overall, this is a stop-gap between a good first book and what could potentially be a good last book. I just wish the authors would either just write two books, or find a bit more action and adventure to squeeze out the love triangles in the middle books.

My thanks to the publishers for sending a copy.  We also have a review of [[Firelight by Sophie Jordan]].

If you liked this, you might enjoy [[Unearthly by Cynthia Hand]].

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[[Category: Paranormal]]