A review by CJ Dee
A review by CJ DeeThe original vampires Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah Mikaelson have managed to evade their murderous father in New Orleans.
The peace the vampires hold with the werewolves and the witches is tenuous. When the witches and wolves plan to join forces through an interspecies marriage, each original vampire must do their part to protect their family.
I liked The Originals: The Rise. It wasn’t groundbreaking or earth-shattering, but it was an enjoyable modern vampire tale.
The plot is one that I’ve seen in many contemporary supernatural novels. Werewolves and witches and vampires, oh my! Of course there is conflict among the clans and chaos ensues. The Originals: The Rise is a good iteration of the trope though.
The protagonists, even the antagonising ones, are likeable characters. Even the mischievous Klaus who is quick to temper and threats, has a sympathetic side to him. This by no means excuses his actions but it gives them reason.
Unfortunately, the length of The Originals: The Rise does not lend itself to much in the way of character depth or development. It seems as though a certain level of prior knowledge on the source materials (The Vampire Diaries and The Originals TV series) is expected from readers. Unfortunately, I had only a very basic understanding from what I had picked up watching the first season of The Vampire Diaries TV series. <
Overall, The Originals: The Rise is a decent story with an intriguing plot and good characters. With nary a teenager in sight but with the connection to The Vampire Diaries, it is perfect for both YA and adult readers who enjoy contemporary supernatural stories.
Rating: 
3 out of 5 stars
ISBN: 9781444923841
Format: Paperback, 314 pages
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
