Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

I recently received an advanced copy of Francesca Lia Block's new novel, Pretty Dead. Here's what I thought of it...

Charlotte Emerson is dead, and has been for nearly a century. To everyone else, it seems like she has it all…beauty, riches, no parents. But she is dreadfully lonely. For the past two years she’s lived in LA, and has even gone to school, where she befriended Emily. Then Emily commits suicide, and Charlotte begins to change…

A different take on a vampire romance, Pretty Dead is really an urban fairy tale. The lyrical writing creates a dream-like atmosphere similar to that of an impressionist painting, with each piece of the story slowly brought forth. While the novel lacks world-building and has only brief moments of action, its strength lies in the development of Charlotte’s character. Charlotte’s world-weary attitude disguises a young woman who is evolving into her own person, and the romance between Charlotte and Jared, Emily’s boyfriend, is the next step in Charlotte’s growth. The Los Angeles landscape is the perfect background for this story, for it is both gritty and jaded like Charlotte.