IF I SHOULD DIE (Revenants #3) by Amy Plum-a review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 7, 2013
I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.
Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.
It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.
After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?
REVIEW: IF I SHOULD DIE is the third installment in Amy Plum’s Young Adult Revenant-Die For Me series.
A bit of background into the storyline: Revenants are immortal, re-animated humans who feel the need to continuously sacrifice themselves to save humans. As part of their immortality, the Revenants must enter a once-monthly hibernation where their spirit becomes Volant and they have the ability to separate mind from body, and communicate with other Revenants while not in corporeal form. And in these cases-their bodies are protected from harm by family and friends.
If you have not read the first two storylines, this review may be a bit spoilerish as the events of this particular book focus on re-animating a Revenant whose body has been destroyed by their enemy. Believing he is the Champion who would have saved the Revenants from certain destruction, his powers were to be used in the war between good and evil-stolen by a one time Revenant who had plans to usurp control of former kindred and friends. But this particular Revenant is not the Champion and his Volant spirit is continuously pulled towards his final death. When the true Champion is discovered, the aura will be a beacon for others to follow.
As the Paris House of Revenants prepares to go to war with the Numa, they struggle with their feelings and emotions. Once again unrequited love will force two of their household members to make decisions that will affect the lives of the others, while another will sacrifice himself to save a friend. In the end, the Paris Revenants numbers will dwindle as two will face the final death and another must come to a decision regarding who and what it is he wants.
Amy Plum has written a storyline that has brought some finality to this particular ARC of the series but has also opened up several potential avenues for a spin-off series for a couple of former Paris Revenants. Amy has taken the world of Revenant’s and Volant’s and, written a storyline for the young and the young at heart. As a YA storyline, Amy (thankfully) avoided the messy love triangle although there was a definite possibility for a heartbreaking end. The love between Vincent and Kate is strong enough to withstand death and it would have withstood competition from one of their own.
The world of the Paris Revenants is awash in French history and the sights and sounds of Paris at night: and more of the history of the Revenants and the Volant is revealed when the search for a way to save one of their own requires a history lesson that dates back hundreds of years if not more. Amy reunites the characters from her previous storylines in a final struggle against a common foe and along the way, reintroduces the readers to a Revenant who has struggled to find his place among his kind.
The storyline is fast paced. There is rarely any down time to consider what has happened as the plot pushes forward with the impending war between the Revenants and the Numa. The central characters are likeable and the reader is able to relate to and empathize with their sorrow and pain.
Overall, IF I SHOULD DIE is a fitting conclusion to this particular series. There is nothing overwhelming or philosophical in its presentation but in the grand scheme of love and ever lasting life-what would you sacrifice to save your one and only?
Reading Order
1. Die For Me
2. Until I Die
2.5 Die For Her
3. If I Should Die
Reviewed by Sandy
