The Shade of Vampire series is a young adult fantasy romance novel series written by American author Bella Forrest. The series follows the character of Sofia Claremont, a 17-year-old human girl who is kidnapped and taken to a hidden island inhabited by vampires.
Overview of the Series
The Shade of Vampire series consists of 30 books and 9 novellas, with the first book, A Shade of Vampire, being published in 2012. The books follow Sofia’s life after being kidnapped to the secret vampire island called The Shade.
On the island, Sofia meets Derek Novak, the prince of the vampire kingdom. Despite being a vampire, Derek is kind-hearted and treats Sofia well. The two develop romantic feelings for each other throughout the series.
In addition to her relationship with Derek, Sofia encounters many threats and enemies as she tries to survive in the dangerous world of The Shade. She also makes loyal friends who help her along the way.
Some of the other main characters featured in the series include:
- Lucas Novak – Derek’s scheming and evil cousin.
- Ben Hudson – Sofia’s close friend.
- Vivian – A witch who helps Sofia.
- Calera – Derek’s mother and the queen of The Shade.
- Kanade and Kira – Two vampires who become Sofia’s friends.
The books follow Sofia and Derek through many adventures and obstacles as they deal with Lucas’ plots to take over The Shade and rise to power. They must also handle threats from outside the island and make important discoveries about Sofia’s own secret heritage.
Main Character Descriptions
Sofia Claremont – The 17-year-old human protagonist of the series. Sofia is kidnapped in the first book and brought to The Shade against her will. She is kind, compassionate, and resilient in the face of adversity. Sofia develops romantic feelings for Derek Novak throughout the series.
Derek Novak – The brooding but noble prince of the vampires. Derek initially saved Sofia from becoming food and takes pity on her. He has strong principles and does what he believes is right, rather than what benefits him. Derek cares deeply for Sofia.
Lucas Novak – The primary antagonist of the series. Lucas is Derek’s cousin and resents living under his rule. He will stop at nothing to take control of The Shade for himself. Lucas is ruthless, cruel, and conniving.
Ben Hudson – Sofia’s best friend in The Shade. Ben is a human who helps Sofia adapt to her new life. He is brave, loyal, and provides Sofia with emotional support through difficult times.
Vivian – A friendly witch who uses her magic to aid Sofia and Derek. Vivian provides them with magical objects, spells, and healing. She is quirky, mysterious, and knowledgeable about the magical world.
Key Plot Summary and Highlights
Here is a high-level overview of some of the key events and plot points that occur throughout the Shade of Vampire series:
- In the first book, Sofia is kidnapped and brought to The Shade. Derek decides to protect her rather than let her be killed.
- Sofia struggles to adapt to her oppressed life as a human in The Shade. Derek and Ben help her cope and survive.
- Derek and Sofia start developing romantic feelings for one another despite their differences.
- Lucas plots to tell the other vampires about Sofia to turn them against Derek for protecting a human.
- To save Sofia, Derek proposes marriage to protect her status on the island. Sofia accepts.
- In book three, Derek and Sofia consummate their marriage and truly fall in love.
- Lucas becomes obsessed with acquiring Sofia for himself and continues conniving to steal the throne.
- Sofia discovers she has latent powers as a key bearer which helps her defend herself using light.
- Derek’s dark secrets about his past and family origins are revealed over time.
- In later books, Sofia and friends travel outside The Shade and get involved with conflicts with human vampire hunters.
- Sofia learns of a prophecy about her future child with Derek who will be a vampiric savior.
- The series builds to an epic confrontation between Lucas and Derek’s forces that will determine the fate of The Shade.
Major Themes and Concepts
Some of the major themes and concepts explored in the Shade of Vampire series include:
- Forbidden love – The impossible romance between the human Sofia and vampire Derek.
- Fish out of water – Sofia is a human forced to adapt to the unknown world of The Shade.
- Coming of age – Sofia matures from a teenager into an empowered young woman over the course of the series.
- Corrupt power – Lucas represents the dangers of those obsessed with power at any cost.
- Discrimination and oppression – Humans are treated as inferior and controlled on The Shade.
- Prophecy – Sofia discovers she has an important prophesied destiny to fulfill.
- Mysteries and secrets – Sofia and Derek unravel dark secrets about The Shade’s history.
- The battle between good and evil – Derek and Sofia fight against the evil forces of Lucas and his allies.
Significance of the Series Title
The “shade” in the series title refers to the island where the vampire kingdom is hidden away in shadow. It exists in secrecy, shielded from the rest of the human world. The island’s name represents the darkness, mystery, and unseen horrors that await Sofia there after her kidnapping.
“Vampire” indicates that the major characters are vampires who inhabit The Shade. It immediately clues readers into the fact this is a vampire fantasy series. The threats to Sofia will come from the dangerous and powerful vampires that rule the island.
Awards and Reception
The Shade of Vampire books have received generally positive reviews, especially among fans of young adult fantasy and paranormal romance genres. Various books in the series have received awards and recognition, including:
- A Shade of Vampire was #1 on Amazon’s Top 100 list for Kindle eBooks in 2015
- A Shade of Vampire was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy in 2012
- Bitter Thirst (#5) and A Gate of Night (#6) won Wishing Shelf Book Awards in 2016
- A Shadow of Light (#7) won a Reader’s Choice Award from The Romance Reviews
Many praise the series for its compelling narrative, dynamic characters, and imaginative world-building. The vampire nation of The Shade comes alive through rich and immersive descriptions. Fans of vampire fantasy, star-crossed romance, and supernatural adventure have embraced the books.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Shade of Vampire series provides an enthralling long-form narrative for readers who enjoy paranormal romance and vampire fiction. The unlikely love story between Sofia and Derek develops believably across each novel, punctuated by tense action and menacing villains. Author Bella Forrest transports readers into a dark yet intriguing take on the life of a human caught up in vampire politics and magical prophecy.
For vampire fiction fans looking for an immersive world to get lost in, The Shade of Vampire offers creative lore and complex story arcs that unfold over many books. Sofia is an endearing heroine who grows and evolves throughout her journey. The books capture a blend of gothic atmosphere and modern young adult voice. There are still more stories to be told in The Shade, providing a rich fictional universe that readers can keep coming back to.
