Risika is a 300-year-old vampire, born as a human named Rachel Weatere in 1684; but that was long ago. She has had centuries to adjust to what she has become, and has grown distant from the mortal world. Humans are prey, needed solely for nourishment. Risika cares only for Tora, a beautiful Bengal tiger at the zoo. When Aubrey, a powerful vampire and her age-old enemy, threatens to harm the animal, Risika takes her revenge. As yet another modern vampire tale, the story shares common elements with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Blade, and Rice's Lestat novels, to name a few. The story is derivative, would benefit from structural tightening, and, though spare, manages to meander. What works is Atwater-Rhodes' style. Her use of language is surprisingly mature and polished for a 13-year-old writer, and with it she creates a thick, dense mood. Both the book's subject and the age of the author will ensure its popularity, especially with middle-schoolers, and it may encourage other young writers to pursue the craft.

Living in Massachusetts in the early 1700s, Rachel falls victim to a vampire; three centuries later she walks the streets of Concord as Risika, trying to satisfy an eternal blood-lust. The novel alternates between the time periods. Risika's tale suffers from a confused plot, mundane writing, and a weak conclusion, but the story of Rachel's indoctrination into vampiricism is riveting in this novel written by a thirteen-year-old.

Gr 8 Up-Risika is a vampire of great strength and power, yet she hates and fears Aubrey, who was one of the vampires responsible for her transformation. The novel jumps between the present day, and 300 years ago when Risika was a mortal young woman named Rachel. While thinking that she is defending her twin brother from the evil beings, Rachel herself is taken and transformed into "one of them." Risika still remembers her former life and the morals she held as a human, yet has come to an understanding of her new life as a vampire and tries to find a balance between the two. She believes that Aubrey was responsible for the murder of her twin brother, and her need for vengeance is strong. But is it strong enough to defeat Aubrey? The story is well written and very descriptive, and has in-depth character development. Risika has passionate feelings, strengths, and weaknesses. Taking on the characteristics of a tiger, an animal she admires and respects, she finds the wherewithal to defeat her greatest enemy, self-doubt. This first novel by an author with great ability and promise is sure to be popular.-Kendra Nan Skellen, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.