Review: Vesper by Jeff Sampson

VESPER by Jeff Sampson

Pub. Date: January 2011
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover , 288pp
Age Range: 12
Source: Publisher

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

Sampson definitely created mysterious page turner with VESPER. I read this book in one sitting as it was hard for me to put it down. The transcripts sprinkled throughout the book added more mystery and intrigue to the unfolding events surrounding Emily's strange transformations. I was thrown by one of her personas especially if you go by the synopsis of the book. It was a very interesting turn of events since it deviated from traditional myths which were a great thing. It only made me want to find out more about what was happening to her.

Emily's normally quite shy, geeky, and dresses to keep from being noticed. Then out of nowhere, she's a completely different person where she's confident, brave, and she’s exhibiting some kick-ass abilities. She’s a real Jekyll & Hyde. Her antics were quite entertaining as I followed along while she tried to put the puzzle pieces together surrounding her life and the mysterious murders in her town.

VESPER had so many interesting details layered in mystery and the premise really got my attention. There are so many things I want to know about the characters now especially with how the book ended. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

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Sensational 7 Q & A with Jeff Sampson (Author of Vesper)!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

My name's Jeff. By day I'm a young adult author. By night, I'm a pop culture fiend. Read more about me and my books--including brand new release Vesper: A Deviants Novel--at jeffsampsonbooks.com.

You can find VESPER in store near you!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?

I would love to go back to 1999, mostly because that was an awesome year. I'm totally biased because I came of age in the '90s, but that was the best decade *ever*. Anyway, I'd go there, listen to some vintage Britney and N*Sync when they were fresh and new, maybe watch a few new-at-the-time Buffy episodes, and then find 17-year-old me, take him under my wing, and share all the knowledge I gained in the past 12 years so that he can get his act together sooner. Learning by trial and error *sucks*.

Describe your novel in seven words or less?

Girl loses inhibitions -- first step toward what . . . ?

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

The last fictional person I can remember having a crush on was probably Johnny Tremain when I was in middle school, oh and Taran from The Chronicles of Prydain. As for favorite book, that's a hard question, because I’ve read so many books that it’s really hard to keep track! My personal favorite today is different than it was a month ago. For the record, today's favorite book is Across the Universe by Beth Revis. Last week's was How I Became A Famous Novelist by Steve Hely. I'm sure I'll have a new one next week.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?

I'm going to pick "student in the background #27" from Harry Potter. Some character buried deep in J.K. Rowling's notes who got to experience the whole Hogwarts deal *without* having to worry about a vicious wizard constantly trying to murder him. My name would be something like Bartleby Noxon, and I'd be one of the kids in Ravenclaw, and basically I'd have my own side adventures with lots of cool magic and tons of late nights drenched in butterbeer. Hold up, I'm going to go write this fan fic.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play thelead role as you/ Why?

We look nothing alike, but I'm gonna say James Franco. He seems weird and creative, and I'm weird and creative, so he could definitely pull me off. He'll have to lose the pedo-stache, though.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?

How to Procrastinate Your Way to Success: The Jeff Sampson Story. Because I'm a horrible procrastinator and yet, somehow, manage to still finish books. I honestly don't know how, as I do anything but work *all the time*. But then a deadline will loom, days will flash by in a haze, and I'll wake up drooling and looking like a homeless person . . . and a book will have happened. If this insanity eventually leads to my downfall, the title can still work. It would just be deliciously ironic instead of super earnest.

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?
Geeky guy, oddball humor, pop culture fiend.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**

Vesper is the first book of the Deviants series. Deviants begins deceptively small and insular -- Vesper sticks very close to lead character Emily Webb throughout, letting you get to know her and experience these strange events as she does. By the end, Emily will discover that whatever is happening to her is a part of something much bigger -- and as a result, the following books increase in scope.

Right now I'm finishing up the second Deviants book, and plot wise, things are very much in high gear. In addition I'm working pseudonymously on a couple children's books, and I also have ideas bumping around in my head for another action-adventure YA series. I have lots of stories to tell, so Vesper is definitely just the beginning!

 

Thanks for stopping by Jeff!

For more information about Jeff Sampson and his books, please visit his website here.

Monday Madness (67): Vesper by Jeff Sampson

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

VESPER by Jeff Sampson

Pub. Date: January 2011
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover , 288pp
Age Range: 12

Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely— something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?

Want More?

Take a sneak peek inside VESPER here!

Order VESPER @ Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BooksAMillion, Borders & IndieBound

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Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!