The Eternal Dawn (Thirst) [Paperback]

One of the big questions about this book is: "How can it be about the same characters?"

Anyone who has read the description knows it is...and having just finished the book, I can say that I am very pleased--and it actually works. And it helps that the author does not try to explain it more than is necessary.

The reviews of `The Eternal Dawn' are bound to be mixed. Anyone who has only read the `Thirst' books will most likely be disappointed. And anyone who has read all of Pike's novels will fall in love with Alisa (Sita) all over again. But it could go either way.

When I read that `The Last Vampire' series was being re-released as `Thirst,' I reread the series. My big concern was getting through the sixth book again. It had always felt forced to me...like Pike was told he had to conclude the series and move on--or that someone else had written it, except for the epilogue. But it made a little bit more sense when I read the series all at once (but still did not feel right).

When I first read that he was continuing the series, I did not want to believe it. There has always been a rumor that he planned more books; but after fifteen years, I was beginning to think it was a hoax. There was also the rumor that he never wanted to write `young adult' novels ever again....

A lot of people will claim that Pike wrote `Thirst' because vampires are big now. But the truth is that the series was originally released in the mid-1990s and were a huge success with Pike's fans--even the final book (at the time) kept fans waiting for more. Then, in 1997, the author disappeared for seven years. He had left us with mediocre stories like `The Execution of Innocence' and `Magic Fire' and the horrible (my opinion) `The Grave' (which should have ended after the first chapter).

He returned in 2004 with the long awaited `The Blind Mirror' - which was good enough to satisfy a need for new Pike. Then he went into the `Alosha' series. I got halfway through the second book and stopped. When the time comes, I will try again. I have `Falling' but have not read it yet. [I feel that Pike is trying a little too hard when it comes to his adult works. `Sati' and `The Listeners' are recommended. I have not read `The Cold One' - and `The Season of Passage' will require me to reread it because I am one of few fans that said "It's just okay" (good concept, weak payoff) while most people loved it.]

His return to `The Last Vampire' (I hate the new title `Thirst') is amazing. After fifteen years, he still gets Sita's voice perfectly. There are some flaws with `The Eternal Dawn', but I have chosen to overlook them for two reasons. 1) I want to know where Pike is going with this series. 2) I am giving Pike extra credit for making it very difficult to write a review for `Thirst 3' because I want to explain the plot twists so bad!

Appropriate reading age: 15+ (please note that the 15 is because this is a book - as a movie, it would be rated R) for violence, sexual references, drug references, mild language, and themes.

When I saw that there was going to be a 7th book in the Last Vampire series, I first thought I must be mistaken. The 6th book in the series closed off any continuation of the story in a very final way (even for a vampire story).

But it turns out that this is indeed the 7th book in the series and Alisa Perne is back. Her return required a huge retcon of the 6th book, but it's surprisingly easy to buy into. And even more importantly, the characters feel very consistent with the previous books (this is something a lot of authors seem to have problems with when revisiting old characters).

To bring some interest to the story, Pike has to invent even more lethal enemies than the ones in the previous books - and in most authors' hands the power level would have been ludicrous. However I feel Pike pulls this off without any problems whatsoever, and just like in the previous books Alisa is both hunter and the hunted.

I could keep talking about the book but the most important fact is that it's a true continuation of the six previous books. If you have read and loved them, you're more than likely to love this book as well.

When I first heard that Christopher Pike was writing a new sequel to "The Last Vampire", I was both excited and worried. I first thought "Thirst No. 3" would be a prequel to the first book since "Creatures of Forever" ended Sita's tale and left no possibility for a continuation. Perhaps Pike didn't intend to continue Sita's story when the series ended almost 15 years ago but I personally would have found it hard to close the book on this amazing developed character if I was the author. Being a huge fan of Christopher Pike, I wasn't disappointed after closing the book on this novel. Pike has fleshed out this character more than I ever thought was possible. After over a decade long absence of Sita's story, she is still the same character many of us have grown to love over the years. The story picks up ironically, 15 years after the conclusion of the last book and this time we are treated to a completely new and engrossing tale following Sita and her friends. To those of you baffled on how there could possibly be a new story, when the last one tied all the loose ends up and ended so well, you will be pleasantly surprised how well Mr. Pike is able to continue the series. Longtime fans of Pike will most likely not be surprised how he is able to explain and tread new ground when it comes to writing a new story about vampires. The enemies in "Eternal Dawn" are some of the most original and ghastly ones I have seen from this author to date. Just when think you have all the answers, Pike changes the questions. He makes you feel for the characters, old and new. "Eternal Dawn" is not without its flaws but they are far and few in between. Pike is known for his amazing plot twists and surprises and this time around he does not disappoint. Whether you are a fan of this author or not, the majority of the audience will have a very hard time waiting in anticipation for the follow up, "Thirst No. 4."