Taste

Author: Kate Evangelista
Format: eBook
Print Length: 251 pages
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Published: April 29, 2012

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.

My Thoughts

Kate creates a fascinating world that comes alive on the very first page.  Phoenix attends Barinkoff Academy- a boarding school with two types of students: humans and those that are Zhamvy (flesh eaters).  The humans are placed on a curfew- once the sun sets they have to be off campus.  After being caught out after curfew Phoenix begins to have a lot of questions.  Phoenix of course is the typical American having to know the answers to her questions.  So she goes in search of those answers.  She ends up being used by Demitri’s brother in an experiment that could save his people, unfortunately it could kill her.  While the main characters that are Phoenix and Demitri, I could not help but be more concerned about Luka’s story.  Even at the conclusion of the book, I thought hopefully this will become a series because I really wanna know what happens to Luka. 

The world that Kate writes will play out in your head like a movie.  She describes the scenes with color and emotion.  So much so that towards the end you will be saying out loud, “seriously, what are they thinking?”  I really enjoyed reading this book- the details of the surroundings, the characters.  Hopefully Kate will write more books in this amazing world that she created.

Other Characters

Calixta- Demitri’s fiancée, she is kind of a mean flesh eater.

Dray- Demitri’s brother, also the flesh eater’s scientist that is trying hard to secretly save his people.

Preya- Phoenix roommate.

Yuna- Luka’s younger sister, she is a hoot.