Die For Me by Amy Plum

Title: Die For Me
Author: Amy Plum
Publisher: HarperTeen (Division of HarperCollins)
Copyright 2011 by Amy Plum
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Synopsis:

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.

Just so you know…Die for Me is definitely in my top 5 books of all times. A love story about Zombies…who would have ever guessed it would be so amazing. Okay, maybe they weren’t your typical Zombies, but, wow! Devastatingly sexy, breathtakingly beautiful, and sublimely tragic…and that’s just the story. How to even begin describing the characters…

• Kate Beaumont Mercier – Broken from the death of her parents; this pale, blue-green eyed, dark brown long-haired beauty finds love in a most peculiar place; only to be forced to relive her parents’ deaths as she learns more about this young man and his friends.
• Georgia Mercier – Kate’s socialite older sister who attempts to draw Kate from the shell she has shrunk into since her parents’ tragedy. Georgia is a party-girl with poor discretion that may endanger both her and her sister’s life.
• Mamie and Papy – Kate and Georgia’s wealthy paternal grandparents whom they move to Paris, France to live with. I have a feeling that there is more to them than meets the eye. Just a suspicion I hope to find out in Until I Die.
• Vincent Delacroix – A raven haired, blue-eyed young man with a deadly secret. Kate spies him in a café and can’t seem to get him out of her mind…or her life.
• Jules – Handsome, smarmy, and flirtatious. He is a love ‘em and leave ‘em artist. His coy lines have little effect on Kate, save embarrassment. I’m not sure how she ignores him…he makes me swoon.
• Ambrose – Muscular, manipulative, and funny. He is the third part of this Revenant Trio.
• Charlotte – The only girl living in a house full of boys. One might envy her…or not. She’s in love with someone who doesn’t seem to return the feelings, or does he? Hmm….
• Charles – Charlotte’s twin brother with a major attitude problem that will only bring him and everyone around him trouble.

Amy Plum wrote an intriguing and beautiful love story, from the invigorating descriptions of Paris to the qualities of her other-worldly Revenants. The chemistry and charisma of all the characters left me wanting more. Much more.


Kate, what she considers, is a perfectly bland normal girl. It is obvious from the very first page, that this is only her opinion. Her sister tells her she is beautiful, she has Come Back From the Dead Warriors stalking her, and both her mother and grandmother recognize that she is an “old soul.” She is far from normal. Her memories from her parents death continue to haunt her – making it hard for her to move on with her life.


Then she meets Vincent. Her world changes, but not in ways she could ever imagine. Can she learn to love without a constant fear of loosing everyone she loves? Hmm…maybe. Vincent is different from anyone she knows, although he assures her that she has probably seen Revenants before, she just didn’t know it. Of course, before she can understand what a Revenant is…she must realize that he is not a criminal.


Living in Vincent’s world means dealing with death on a regular basis. Kate is unsure that she can bear this when her parents passed away so recently. I had a difficult time understanding why Vincent wouldn’t be the perfect option for her, he always comes back to life after he dies, his body rejuvenates while he is dormant, and hey - he's hot…unless the enemy gets to him and burns his body - then he is hot in an entirely different way. This revelation should have set Kate free as opposed to causing her extra anxiety. I suppose I am not in her shoes and shouldn’t be the judge…but come on girl!


And then there is Jules…man, I do not know who I would chose. I think for me, it would be Jules. He is relatively care free and jovial. He is flirtatious and funny. And as the sexy best friend of Vincent, he is always around. He's the one who comes to the rescue. Kate’s rescue, Vincent's rescue, or any number of strangers rescues. I hope he and Ambrose find love for themselves in the future. They definitely deserve it.

As the enemy learns of Kate’s involvement with this group of Revenants, he uses Georgia to get to them. Lucien and Vincent have a long standing feud and it has gone on for centuries. Kate will have to be brave to protect Vincent and her sister from the “numa.” She will also have to prove herself to Jean-Baptiste, the head of Vincent’s crew. JB, as he is referred to, has had the responsibility of protecting his Revenant’s and keeping a low profile. He is very suspicious and un-trusting.


I hope to see Vincent and Kate have a period of frivolity on joy in their relationship. Everything was so intense in this book, which is what makes it a great book, but there has to be time for fun too.