Drink, Slay, Love

By Sarah Beth Durst

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire.fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil. That is until one night she encounters a unicorn and he stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops. Her family doesn't believe her (because obviously unicorns don't exist), but when Pearl reveals she can now withstand the sun, they are thrilled. She can be enrolled in high school, make friends and then lure these tasty snacks to her family!

But Pearl's change is deeper than her family realise. She has started to experience a number of alarming symptoms including feeling sympathy for her meals - the humans. While struggling with balancing high school, her family and her new conscience, Pearl learns that the Vampire King has a seriously evil plot in store for the local humans - and that her good-looking new friend Evan is the were-unicorn that stabbed her through the heart. Pearl is now the lynchpin between the vampires and their hunters, but which side of her will win? The bloodsucker or her conscience?

• Language: English
• Publisher: A & U Children
• Release date: Dec 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781742695464

Sarah Beth Durst

Sarah Beth Durst is the author of fantasy novels for children, teens, and adults. Winner of the Mythopoeic Award and an ALA Alex Award and thrice nominated for the Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction, she lives in New York. Visit her at sarahbethdurst.com or on Twitter: @sarahbethdurst.

Reviews for Drink, Slay, Love

[flashlight_reader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Okay, I loved it. Plain and simple. Pearl is witty and likeable (even if she doesn't want to me). Evan and Bethany are adorable. And the book as a whole is just funny. The dry, sarcastic humor from Pearl is fantastic! I loved her. Let's talk about the characters first... Pearl. What a funny name for a vampire, right? How ironic that she would have such a symbolic name. I mean, Pearl, like the jewel that is the epitome of innocence. And don't forget about the other famous Pearl in literature (Scarlet Letter). Coincidence? I think not. Her name suits her. It captures the change that she undergoes after the unicorn attack in such a clever way. Calling her something like Elvira would never work; it doesn't show that new conscience developing in the lovely little blood sucker. Evan is dreamy. He doesn't initially show that he likes Pearl for anything other than a friend, which is hilarious. It drives Pearl crazy. Evan comes across as a really nice, knight in shining armor sort of guy. Of course, he has one heck of a secret to share. Then there is Bethany. Perky, bubbly, almost annoying Bethany. She befriends Pearl, and it becomes an odd, but endearing, friendship. I can't forget about the would-be vampire hunters (who stink at it) Zeke and Matt. They are a riot. I'm pretty sure there might be a collective IQ of about 80 with these two. The two of them offered great comic relief. Pearl's family dynamic is interesting. She has one uncle that wants to kill her, one that isn't right in the head, and one that only speaks in quotes from Shakespeare. Add that to a mother that is cold and calculating, a cousin Antoinette that seems a lot like the awful historical figure, and another cousin, Charlaine, that hates her. As if it was Pearl's fault she walked into the sunlight and set herself on fire? Vampires can hold such grudges! I would be seeking refuge at high school too if I lived with this family! This was a fun read that I enjoyed immensely. It was such an original story, and very refreshing. On a deeper level, though, it's more than just a fun read. There is actually a lot of stuff going on. I already mentioned the importance of Pearl's name. The effects of the transformation are huge as well: Pearl develops a conscience, makes friends, and actually enjoys being in the sun. Those are not normal vampire qualities. Pearl's transformation make it a story of self discovery and change. After all, at some point in the story Pearl is quoting Kafka's Metamorphosis. Again, not coincidence. I wouldn't be doing to book justice if I didn't mention the irony throughout this book! There were puns galore, and Pearl always pointed out the examples of irony in the various situations she found herself in. I personally LOVE a story that is full of irony. Drink, Slay, Love was perfect! The level of the puns and irony were brilliant, and very well executed. They weren't forced and puny. It was good stuff.I feel like this one is a must read. Plain and simple. I'm not much of a blood and guts kind of reader, so this book didn't gross me out too much. There was minimal blood suckage. It was just funny and delightful. I will be buying this one when it comes out. I actually hope there will be another book featuring Pearl and Evan. I enjoyed them so much!

[bduke_15 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was pretty darned entertaining. A very unusual twist on the regular YA vampire book. A very spunky heroine and wonderful supporting players. Fun, fun, fun.

[taleofnight · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Overall, I enjoyed the story and was really intrigued by Pearl and how she was dealing with developing feelings and everything. But for some reason, it took me forever to read this. The story had it's parts where I was really into it, but then the next few pages I would be thinking about all the other books I wanted to read. My main problem was that I had the whole 'were-unicorn' figured out from the beginning. I don't know if it was really meant to be a mystery or not, but it seemed way to obvious to me and kept me from really bgetting into the story at some points.So, even though my mind wandered a bit with this one, I did really enjoy it, it's just not my favorite by Durst.

[krau0098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Prior to reading this book I had read Ice and The Lost by Durst and enjoyed them both. Durst has been an author that I always enjoy, but I never think her books are absolutely amazing. This book was similar to the others I have read in that aspect. I enjoyed it and thought it was well written. This was a quick and fun read, that was a bit different from other YA paranormal stories out there.Pearl is a sixteen year old vampire, she’s vicious, full of herself, and sees humans as less than...well...human. That is until she is stabbed through the heart by a Unicorn, her first thought is, “where the hell did a unicorn come from” then she passes out. When she wakes up amidst her vampire family she discovers something crazy; she can walk in the sun. Her family quickly takes advantage of this and assigns her the task of luring humans to the King of New England’s Feast. As part of the plan Pearl is supposed to go to High School...seriously. Things are going pretty well until Pearl realizes that being stabbed by the unicorn changed her in more ways than the obvious.I know the premise sounds a bit goofy and this is definitely a more light-hearted read. There is quite a bit of humor, but it also ends up being a sort of coming of age story for Pearl. Beneath all the silliness there is a solid discussion about people becoming who they want to be and not what their family tries to force them to be. There’s also an underlying theme of forgiveness. I was kind of surprised that such a solid heartfelt message was delivered in a story with such a goofy premise.Pearl definitely changes drastically over the course of the novel. Her growth and change is really what propels the story. This is definitely a “high school” paranormal book. Pearl spends a lot of time in high school and some of that is spent learning to quickly navigate the social waters there. Pearl is incredibly smart and fun to read about. I also enjoyed some of the side characters; both the ones she meets in high school and the ones in her vampire family.Overall this was a fun and light paranormal read. It’s a unique premise and it worked well for this story. The story is funny and ironic, while still being heartfelt and engaging. I really enjoyed it and I would recommend to those looking for a light YA paranormal read.

[kelly_mills-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book to no end. I wish it were a series, because I would love to see more of these characters. I love the disparity between the humans & vampires & how Pearl interacts with humans when she first starts her "mission." She is so blunt & matter-of-fact, something not often seen in likeable characters. The humorous aspect makes the book that much more entertaining. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

[shelleyraec · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I couldn’t resist the description of this YA title when it was offered by Simon and Schuster, a vampire gets staked by a unicorn and develops a conscience – what’s not to love? Drink, Slay, Love is a fun, quirky story with surprising wit.Sixteen year old vampire Pearl Sange is stunned when the pretty sparkly unicorn stakes her with his horn in the alley behind the ice cream store and even more surprised when she wakes on the sofa at home, her Family peering down at her. Her chest is sore and she is a little confused but it isn’t until she is caught by a pair of wannabee hunters and forced to face the sunrise that she discovers she is now immune to daylight. Pearl is dazzled by the day, the way light streams through stained glass windows, but is less impressed by the crush of humanity. Her parents see Pearl’s unique ability as the perfect opportunity to gather the bodies they need to provide sustenance at the impending Feast in honor of the Vampire King, so Pearl is made to attend high school. But daywalking isn’t the only side effect of the unicorns attack, Pearl is beginning to see humans as more than food and handing over the entire Junior year as the main course no longer seems to be such a good idea.It’s brave of Durst to step away from the mold and combine vampires with vampire slaying were unicorns, but I think it works in Drink, Slay, Love because she doesn’t discard the traditional mythology completely. This isn’t a story to take seriously, it is generously sprinkled with humour and blissfully free of melodramatic teenage angst. It’s a lighthearted YA novel with snappy dialogue and delightful attitude.The characters might be just a touch shallow but they are fun. Pearl is smart, snarky and fierce, and even as her allegiance transitions from her Family to her friends she doesn’t lose that core of moxie (for want of a better word). Durst manages to combine characters that represent every highschool clique – from the geeky Zeke and Matt to mean girl’s Ashlyn and Tara. Evan has his own secret to keep of course but is a sweetie, I like that the relationship between Evan and Pearl is low key.Durst cleverly gives a nod to the (legions) of adult YA fans with her references to 1980′s teen movies classics Pretty In Pink and the Breakfast Club. For her more age appropriate readership, their are some less than subtle digs at the Twilight Saga.Drink, Slay ,Love was much better than I had expected and I enjoy being surprised by a book. Amusing, clever and fresh its the perfect read for girls that once loved ponies and now swoon over brooding vamps.

[thelostentwife · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Normally, I don’t read these kind of books. I wasn’t a big fan of the book this title plays off of, I’m not a big fan of the new vampire books in general – too.. “sparkly”. Still, I really enjoyed Sarah Beth Durst’s Enchanted Ivy and thought I’d give this one a shot. Although, honestly, had she not contacted me directly, I don’t think I would have gotten it.So the positives – this book can be laugh out loud funny. I’m not sure if that laughing is as a result of the story itself or at myself for reading it, but I did laugh quite a bit. The whole premise is so outlandishly crazy – I mean, unicorns stabbing vampires through the heart – seriously? that I can’t help but chuckle even as a little part of me dies inside.Although it has a predictable plot line (which reminded me of a mix-match of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Drink, Slay, Love has likeable characters and a story that made for a very easy read. I couldn’t help but get the feeling that Durst was poking fun at all the vampire stories circulating around these days and when the story got completely ridiculous, I kind of felt like I was in the “inside circle”, poking fun with her.Overall though, this is a clean, fun read for those younger teenagers looking for something with a shiny cover and fun story.

[nlsobon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’ve been steering clear of vampire novels recently, mainly because the market is over flooded and they all appear to be the same. “Drink, Slay, Love” is different though. It’s hilarious. It’s charming. It’s everything I want in a book. Pearl? She’s just awesome.The story starts out with Pearl, a sixteen year old vampire, while she’s out on a hunt. She’s visiting the Dairy Hut, her favorite place to ‘snack’, when she’s stabbed by a unicorn. It sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous, but given that the story isn’t meant to be taken seriously, it works. After she’s stabbed by the unicorn, she begins to change. She’s able to walk in sunlight now, and her family uses it to their advantage. They’ll be hosting the feast for the Vampire King of New England and they are going to need as much food as possible to serve their hungry guests. They send her to high-school in order for Pearl to make friends (after all, they need to be invited inside of their prey’s homes). But Pearl suddenly begins to develop a conscience – she actually cares about the humans, something she never thought possible. She struggles to maintain her vampire instincts while also adapting to the human world. Not wanting to spoil the story, I’ll just say this: if you like vampires and you enjoy laughing you need to read this book. Plain and simple.I adored Pearl and Evan (oh, Evan). I enjoyed the fact that “Drink, Slay, Love” didn’t take itself seriously. In fact, I don’t think there’s much I didn’t like about this book. It was an incredibly fun read.

[jbronderblogs_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Pearl is the typical sixteen year old vampire that is concerned with fighting, her next meal, and her boyfriend Jadrien. But all of that changes when she is staked by a unicorn. The first thing she notices is that she can go out into the light of day. After enjoying all the wonders that happen during the day, she learns that the King is going to hold his Fealty Ceremony at her families place.The King wants to have the family provide enough humans to feed all the vampires at the Ceremony. But with Pearls ability to go out in the daylight, she is volunteered to solve that problem. Pearl goes to high school to try to find a solution. There she starts learning about the humans and thinking about them as much more than just food. Now she is trying to keep her family and her human friends happy.I was completely thrown for a loop when it came to the unicorn, that was a great twist. I really liked how Pearl comes to think about humans as equals. This is a really good book. I have to admit that I really couldn’t think of anything to grump about. If you like paranormal young adult stories, you need to read this one.I received this from the Simon & Schuster Galley Grab.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a fun take on the vampire story! This one adds unicorns too. Pearl is your typical teenage vampire - beautiful and completely amoral. She and her boyfriend/rival Jadrien are out taking in the night when she decides she wants a final pre-dawn dessert and decides to snack on the boy who scoops ice cream at the Dairy Hut. Things don't quite go according to plan when she finds herself staked by the horn of a gorgeous, mythical unicorn. Next thing she knows she finds herself back home and unable to explain how she got there. Her family refuses to believe that she was staked by a unicorn. After all, they are mythical - unlike vampires.Everyone at home is excited by the up-coming Fealty Ceremony and the visit of the King of New England. Pearl gets involved in the planning too. But Pearl finds out that she is changing. She discovers that she no longer has to fear daylight. She loves the sunshine and the light through the stained glass windows of the Public Library.The morning she discovers that sunlight doesn't cause her to burst into flame is the same morning that she meets Evan who, by his own description, has a Good Samaritan hero-complex issue and a bit of OCD. He is the one who takes her to the library and who attempts to befriend her much to her bafflement. He is also handsome, kind, and very eager to befriend Pearl. While Evan seems like the typical - but hotter - teenage boy, he has secrets too.Pearl's parents decide to use her new ability to be active in the daylight to solve a problem relating to the up-coming visit of the King. They need to provide a feast and send Pearl to enroll in the local high school to find suitable entrees for the party. At first Pearl is uncomfortable consorting with the animals but gradually she develops a conscience, some empathy, and starts to make friends. Evan is there along with his friend Bethany and they help her adjust.I loved the character of Pearl. She was such a snarky character and she had quite a way with words. As she tries to convince her family that she was staked by a unicorn, she uses phrases like a "My Little Pony refugee" and says it looked like "it had jumped off a poster from the bedroom of an eight-year-old girl." When speaking to the unicorn, she suggests it go off and "poop rainbows." This was the sort of book that I couldn't put down. I was enthralled by the characters and the story. I recommend it to readers who like their vampire stories with a bit of humor and who like watching a main character grow and change. Pearl does grow and change a lot in this book and she really isn't happy about it.

[bookratmisty · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this one. I mean, the cover is one of my hands-down favorites of the year, and the teaser synopsis that was released earlier this year is just brilliant (What happens when a vampire is stabbed through the heart by a were-unicorn's horn? She develops a very inconvenient conscience. Oops.) But it was the kind of idea that could have been very, very right or very, very wrong. Thank god, it turned out to be very, very right. Drink, Slay, Love is one of the most purely fun books I've read in awhile. And a big part of this is Pearl. Pearl is one of the most absolutely delicious MCs I've read in recent memory. She's smart - and a smart-ass - and she has this great dark humor to her as a result of being a vampire. I love her reluctant humanity and just-as-reluctant budding romance. But a big part of what makes her so fun is that she works on two levels: there's the Pearl that is very aware and serious about her vampire-ness, and is freaked out by the fact that she's changing and *gasp* growing fond of the food, and there's the part of Pearl that the reader sees that is almost like dramatic irony - there's what Pearl says she thinks and wants, and then there's what she actually does and what the reader can see happening. So her dark humor remains dark throughout, but becomes more humor and less just seriously dark. She's never super cuddly, and even when she realizes what has happened to her, she is just as much pissed off * about it as she is reluctantly pleased. It's so fun to read, and I'm so glad that Durst didn't make her mopey or all that nice. She's a biting character (hardy har har), and I enjoyed that.And Pearl's fun voice extends to the whole novel. Drink, Slay, Love is enjoyable because it's aware of the books that come before it, and it pokes gentle fun at them. I mean, there's a vampire-themed prom with cardboard Cullen cutouts. Pearl laughs to herself when the sunlight through stained glass makes her "sparkle". It's just this great tongue-in-cheek, wink-and-a-nod story that doesn't take itself too seriously, and I love that. I also think it was a wise move on Durst's part to work from the accepted myths of vampires, rather than creating her own. It could have been risky, could have come off as lazy, but it didn't because it was well done and saved on ridiculous info-dumping while allowing her to be playful and have little inside jokes with the reader. It also gave her room to work with the unicorn mythos and play with that a bit more. I absolutely loved the idea of having supernatural creatures (vampires) who don't believe in other supernatural creatures (unicorns), and I loved that the unicorns were the ones to sort of perpetuate their own myths as myths.I keep saying "I loved it, it was fun, I loved it, it was fun" and I guess that's what it all comes down to. This book doesn't make you work for it. It allows you to just have fun, to relax and enjoy the story, and laugh and laugh. But it does so without being throwaway fluff. You can tell Durst had fun with this story, and as a result, the reader has fun too. Highly recommended, especially as a funk-breaker for those reading funks we all go through.*Here's an excerpt of what I mean by this. Pearl finally learns what exactly happened to her and her reaction is very honest and true to who she is, as well as being a good point, I think. But it's slightly spoilery, so..."You still want to save me, even after...what I told you I did.""Of course," he said.Gently, she touched the side of his face, cradling his cheek in her hand. She felt his warmth against her cool-as-a-serpent skin. "But you already have."He quit swaying, and he stared at her with his brilliant eyes, so earnest and pure. "You mean that?"She wished he hadn't asked. It had been such a perfect line. "No." Pressing closer to him, she said in a whisper that was barely above a breath, "You messed up my life in a high-handed, daddy-knows-best, alpha-male way and reshaped me to suit your own ideals without regard for my culture or family background, not to mention my personal wants and needs -- and that's if I'm being charitable..."I adored this. If I didn't already love Pearl by this point, I would have whole-heartedly after this.

[thelittlebookworm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Little BookwormPearl is a fun-loving, blood-drinking sixteen year old bad girl vampire. That is until she is stabbed by a unicorn. Suddenly she is a different kind of vampire, one who can walk in the sunlight and has a reflection. But she is also turning into a different kind of girl, much to her family's displeasure. Now they have given her the task of luring a large meal to the Fealty Ceremony and, for Pearl, that means going to high school.I loved Pearl in a weird way. I love that she was so badass and so out to prove herself and that doesn't change even after the unicorn incident. I love that it was a unicorn of all things that stabbed her. So random and fun. But I loved Pearl's gradual transformation the best and the fact that she went to the library of all places as soon as she could walk in the sunlight. Her fascination with daylight was almost touching. It's something everyone just takes for granted but as a vampire she had no experience with it. Pearl was awesome, even in high school. She was just the coolest. And Evan, the boy, was super sweet and I liked him too. It is a romance-light book which works for the story being told.The story was really fun and I liked this book. The vampires and the unicorns, it's a weird combination but it works in this book. I did have a little laugh at the Vampire King of New England because I mean, come on, what kind of title is that? But the world was built nicely and everything made sense and there were some good light hearted laugh out loud moments in the midst of Pearl's identity crisis. And prom, of course.

[pollywannabook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyDRINK SLAY LOVE is ridiculously fun. I expected the ridiculous part based on the description (vampire slaying unicorns!), but I was I was not prepared for the witty, sly, and smart characters, dialog, and story. I think I’ve been hoodwinked. How did I miss the fact that unicorns are the perfect vampire hunters? Think about it. What kills vampires? Stakes through the heart. What do unicorns have? Giant stakes growing out of their heads. Of course now I’m looking at narwhales in a completely different way too, but that’s not relevant. Still, the whole unicorn vs vampire makes a strange kind of sense, doesn’t it? What also makes a strange kind of sense is Pearl, who was great fun as a character. Her initial response to humans was very arrogant and dismissive (reminded me a bit like Illyria from Angel, but with a strong sense of humor). She doesn’t bat an eye when her dad brings home dinner in the form of a bellhop trussed up on the dinning room table. But what I loved even more was that she wasn’t evil. She didn’t laugh at human fear, she just didn’t even notice it. Like all vampires, she viewed humans in the way we would cattle, a pat on the head and they’re off to the butcher. No big deal. And tasty with ketchup. When she ends up in high school, she just got better. Everything she said was dripping with irony and superiority. And the other students were just as fun. No throw away or flat characters. There were plenty of surprises too that kept me on my toes and just made the story even better.DRINK SLAY LOVE has a sense of humor about itself that never once flagged. It’s full of snappy dialogue that was genuinely clever and funny, a storyline that was wacky but completely enjoyable, and a believable sweet romance. I had a blast reading this book.Sexual Content:Kissing

[pammkydirtgirl68 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I hope your ready to fall in love and laugh. That's what I did when I read this book. The witty lines make this a delightful read. The plot is simply amazing and you get sucked right into Pearl's life. She is trying to live by her family's rules and lifestyle when her world gets turned upside down. She realizes maybe what she has always known may not be right. This book has it alove, laughter, fighting, vampires, unicorns and much more. I recommend it to anyone who wants a YA vampire book you want to sit and read till it's over. Just beware reading around anyone as when you start laughing out loud people may think your crazy.(

[rosa.mill · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cute, funny and exactly what I needed.

[completely_melanie · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Got 12 pages into this and had to DNF it. It was terrible. I thought the story would be funny, but it is just dumb and I did not enjoy the writing style either.

[margaraawr-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“You’ll never make it through life if you let
irrational fears freeze you all the time.”

Brief summary:

Pearl Sange is just an ordinary vampire who takes a sip of blood from humans here and there. One day, she was attacked by a unicorn and it's horn staked her ribs! Now, she finds herself being able to bathe in sunlight! But something more than that changed about her and she's finding out if it's a good thing or not..

The plot:

Ahhh this story was so unique and refreshing. The humor was not forced and it just flowed naturally. Gaah, I find myself giggling and snickering every freaking time. I'm shocked to see that I am entertained by a vampire book very much! I can't tell you guys enough how much I enjoyed reading this!

The characters:

“You’re a teenage boy. I have boobs. What part of the equation is missing?”

Pearl. Ahhh I love this heroine!.She's fun and feisty without being too girly. Look at that quote above, now do you see why I liked her?? Well, I don't think you do just by reading that so read the friggin' book!

Evan touched her shoulder. "Maybe it's not that there's something wrong with you," he said. "Maybe there's something finally right."

Evan. I KNEW IT. Anyway, it's not that hard to guess, really.

This was one of those books that you can't help but liked everybody! All these characters had contributed something interesting in this story. I loved the Sange clan, Matt and Zeke, Bethany and really, just all of them.

The romance:

There's only a little amount of romance in this book and I liked it! It's light, sweet and adorable.

This was so much fun! (Well, I knew I told you that already bit whatever.) I recommend this to anyone who is in need of a good laugh. This is the perfect stress reliever. Gaaah book, you came at the right time.

[annakay21 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So, Pearl is just like any other teenager. But unlike other teenagers it takes her being staked through the heart with a unicorn horn to realize that. And oh yeah, she's also a vampire. But after the mythical incident (which is ironic because she's kind of mythical too). Pearl soon finds out that she is now able to be out in the sunshine. This leads to encounters with Evan and Bethany, two very interesting humans who become her sort-of friends. Pearl has a hard time fitting in with her family anymore now that she's so different. Her parents decide that in lieu of the King coming for a 'feast and tribute', Pearl will be the means of luring the meal. Which means she'll need to navigate the vicious waters of high school and not get to close to the happy meals with legs. This book was so funny. I laughed and smiled my way through it. But that in no way diminished the emotional turmoil that Pearl goes through as she grows up over the course of the book. I loved watching her learn how to have fun, relax, and make friends. Also, seeing Pearl learn what home and family REALLY are was beautiful. Her romances with Evan (a special 'human') and Jadrien (another vampire) are great in their own ways and they each reflect how much she changes by the end of the book. A truly fun book that I would definitely recommend and it was a great Halloween read!VERDICT: 4/5 Stars*No money was exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*

[theepicrat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had been nervous about Sarah Beth Durst’s latest work DRINK, SLAY, LOVE because vampires seemed like a GIANT leap from fairy tales and I did not think it possible to love another book of hers more than I did ICE. Well, dear Readers, I stand here before you a changed mind because DRINK, SLAY, LOVE is made of awesome with all the right sorts of bubbly.THE GOOD BITS{How much more Buffy can you get?} I have read other books before that reminded me of Buffy, but DRINK, SLAY, LOVE has raised the bar in so many ways that I seriously think EVERYONE must read this book for the love of Joss Whedon! Vampires have never been snarkier – and if Pearl and Buffy ever got into a fight, let’s just say that I’m not sure who will come out the victor in strength and clever insults.{So fresh and so clean!} Sarah Beth Durst pulled all the stops with this story, and I definitely did not want to put this book down. EVER. What would Pearl say or do next to insult these humans who refuse to leave her alone? Do unicorns really exist? Does gym class still suck for the undead? Which vampires are friend or fiend? The genius behind DRINK, SLAY, LOVE is the delightful element of surprise and watcing Pearl react to the ridiculousness of her situation. I cannot remember a time when I had more fun with a vampire novel!{Pearl} Snarky, sexy, strong, and toasty marshmallowy inside! Why can’t all female protagonists in paranormal be like Pearl? I know I am quite particular as to what I expect from a book, but it is awfully hard to find a protagonist that simply have it all in spades. So please excuse me when I go ALL-CAPS BALLISTIC when I find Pearl to be BEYOND AWESOMESAUCE. Ka-BOOM goes my dynamite!THE BAD BITS{No sequel?} BOOOO. HISS. While DRINK, SLAY, LOVE definitely can stand on its own spine and sometimes it is best to leave a good book alone, I just have a smidgen of WANT to have more Pearl and company in my life.THE OVERALLICE may have melted my heart, but DRINK, SLAY, LOVE is a big slurp of delicious red velvet cheesecake that I would gladly give up my blood for! This is one book that you absolutely MUST READ (NOW!) - it will renew your faith that vampires are not a thing of the past and prove that Sarah Beth Durst still has aces up her sleeve that are itching to come out. I cannot wait to see what she has cooked up in VESSEL because it sounds and looks stunning!

[maryinhb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

ABSOLUTELY LOVED ITRose is more concerned with beating the heck out of her boyfriend Jadrien, getting her food high by sucking down the blood from the guy who works at an ice cream shop and doing whatever her "parents" tell her to do. One day, she is attacked by a beast and left to die and since Pearl is a vampire, she is pretty much toast (literally!), if left in the sun. Something strange has happened and Pearl wakes up in the sun on her doorstep. I would say hilarity ensues, but not so much, since she thinks her life is pretty much over, especially when her parents decide that she should attend the local high school. As Pearl tries to uncover the beast who has ruined her life, she finds more than she bargained for and finds that humans aren't just a food source.The beast turns out to be a unicorn and unicorns are one of the few creatures that can kill a vampire, so what went wrong or right in this case? Well, I can't tell you that because then I would have to kill you. The story really comes together while her family is planning a Fealty Ceremony for the Vampire King where they plan to feast on the local students. As the plot unfurls, Pearl finds she is gaining a conscious and doesn't want to see her new friends harmed. Pearl is probably one of the snarkiest characters to grace a page in my recent memory. She has a sharp tongue as well as teeth. Finally, an author brought together some of my favorite things in one story. After reading Unicorns VS Zombies, I was really in the mood for more unicorns, so when I was lurking around Amazon and this popped up, I was beyond thrilled! Sarah Beth Durst has taken a vampire story to a whole new snarky level. I was reminded a bit of MaryJanice Davidson's Queen Betsy, but with less shoes. I really hope that this will be a series since I would love to read more about Pearl.

[abookwormshaven · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have enjoyed Sarah’s books in the past and was very excited to get my hands on another title by her. Drink, Slay, Love is about Pearl, a sixteen year old vampire without even a sliver of a conscience. She views humans as her meals and nothing more. And at the same time, she was also hilarious and a refreshing heroine in the YA world. I know that does not sound like it would work but it does. Too often we see the guy coming to the girls rescue and Pearl would never tolerate that. She has always taken care of herself and wants to keep it that way. She is also very happy with her life at the moment; she has a hot boyfriend, a family that is high up in the vampire hierarchy, and her choice of humans to feed on. The problem comes in when she gets stabbed one night by a unicorn and wakes to learn she can now walk in sunlight. Walking out in daytime is not the only change in Pearl’s life though; she begins to grow a conscience and hates every, single, second of it. She does not want to start feeling for the humans that she has to feed on, or see what being her snack does to their body and mind afterwards. The day after for a human is not pretty and Pearl does not like that she is starting to feel sympathy for them. She wants her old life back, so she immediately starts searching for that unicorn and a way back to her old life.Her parents on the other hand, see Pearl being a daywalker as an opportunity and send her to the local high school to gain the students trust. They want her to lure them to an event where the Vampire King of New England will be, so the humans can be served up as dinner. At first, Pearl is okay with this plan, but when she gets to know the students and her conscience starts to emerge further, she is not so sure it is a good idea. As she tries to cope with this new attitude she begins to befriend two students at her school, Evan and Bethany. They always seem to show up when she needs help and go out of their way to make her feel welcome in high school. Bethany is always perky and gets on Pearl’s nerves quite often, but Evan just gets under her skin. She reacts to him every time he is near and she has no idea why. Her bad-boy boyfriend was all she ever wanted, but now Evan, the Good Samaritan, seems to be wiggling his way into her heart. This was another great aspect of the book, the good guy winning out over the bad-boy. How often does that happen in a novel? Not very often in books I have read. I enjoyed seeing the good guy getting a chance and watching Pearl’s idea of a perfect guy change as the story progressed.The vampire mythology in this world was also fascinating. These are not the vampires we typically see in the paranormal world. They are ruthless, heartless and evil. They have no love for humans and want nothing more than to just snack on them and move onto the next one. The idea that a vampire in this world could grow a conscience was fascinating and I enjoyed Sarah’s exploration of this idea and watching Pearl go through a difficult, but necessary transition. The other creatures in this book were unicorns, and not just unicorns, but were-unicorns. I don’t think I have ever heard of that before and soaked up every detail Sarah gave us about them. I did not think that vampires and unicorns could really mix well in the same world, but Sarah blended them together flawlessly. The way the unicorns fight and their purpose were both very interesting. I have never thought of Unicorns as creatures who go on the offensive much, but Sarah has redefined my expectations for them through this book.Another bonus to this book was no teenage angst. No one was sitting up in there room crying over a guy or pondering their next move while pouting. Pearl was a take action girl and not one to sit around and mope. I appreciated Sarah’s ability to have the story be about kids in their teens, without all the whiny behavior and sullen attitudes that can sometimes come with it in the YA world.Overall, I really enjoyed Drink, Slay, Love and LOVED Pearl! She was a kick-butt heroine and had me laughing out loud multiple times throughout the book. I am not sure if this book is part of a series or not, but I would love to see more of Pearl in the future. The way this book ends it could just be a stand-alone, but Sarah has left the door open for the story to be expanded into more. Either way I loved this book and following Pearl through her metamorphosis from cold-blooded killer, to a vampire who cares about the lives of humans. Sarah has written another engrossing world filled enchanting new mythology, an exciting plot and a strong heroine you will be cheering for.

[annesanse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Drink, Slay, Love was cute and sweet with a unique take on mythical creatures, lol. I loved Pearl's dorky friends Matt and Zeke. :) They were super funny. I didn't think it was very predictable either, so that's always a plus. I'm not sure if it's intended to be a series, but I'd read the sequels if it is. I'm interested in how everything plays out. Also, LOVE the cover. It was the main reason I bought the book.

[msjessie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oh man, did I have fun with this book. A teenage girl vampire with a conscience? A vampire stabbed through the heart by a unicorn's horn to gain said conscience? Yeah - I admit I was sold by the premise alone. Far too many authors take their vampires/werewolves/superantural/paranormal creatures far too seriously, and Ms. Durst's snarkily humorous take on the monster was fresh and above all, fun. Somewhere between the characters themselves and the randomly frequent snarky/snide allusions to Twilight, I found myself having more fun with a vampire story than I have for quite a long time.In this very complete world of Ms. Durst's, vampires are both born or made from humans. Pearl is a born vampire, meaning she's never been human, never been in the sunlight, and never had a conscience. Durst stays true to the most original interpretation of the nightwalking bloodsuckers: they're sensitive to Holy Water, repelled by garlic, flammable when exposed to the sun and they do not sparkle. Hunters in every sense of the word, Pearl's Family is a powerful clan aiming to increase their sway through the upcoming Fealty Ceremony. Since the type of vampires in this novel can be born not just made("turned" is the vocabulary here), the induction into a full-fledged vampiress is an important one; indeed, one that the powerful and bloodthirsty King of New England vampires will be present for, and observe closely. Pearl, the before mentioned young female vampire, within the first chapter is stabbed through the heart by a unicorn. This supposedly mythical creature's actions start to change Pearl from the typical prototype vampire. She feels emotions, guilt even, and thus is the only one of her kind to do so. By a fortuitous disaster, Pearl also learns she is the first "daywalker" of her kind: the stabbing the caused her consicence to grow also allows her where no other vampire can go. Thus the young Pearl is selected to "hunt" in the high schools in order to provide a feast for the hundreds of vampires planning to descend on her town for the Fealty Ceremony. Underneath this immense pressure, Pearl emerges as a believable teenager; one I grew warmer to (ha) the longer she remained in the sunlight. I really enjoyed Pearl and reading from her perspective: not too whiny, not too boy crazy and just the right amount of bad-ass, ass-kicking female. Pearl is by far the highlight of the novel: both my favorite character and consistently the most interesting person on the page. I want to read more stories about Pearl now.The characters besides Pearl were also mostly enjoyable, personable and vivid. From wannabe vampire hunters cum comedic duo, Matt and Zeke could be counted on to make me snort with laughter each time they appeared. Bethany, though perhaps a bit too wide-eyed to be entirely real, was a nice counterpoint for Pearl's harsher attitude and perspective. Evan, the love interest, manages to stir up real chemistry with Pearl while maintaining an aura of mystery and keeping his distance. He remains a separate character; one not dependent on Pearl. Once again, I cannot impress upon you how HAPPY it makes me when a real relationship is charted, and matures through the novel. Pearl and Evan don't immediately "fall in love forevaa!!" nor spend three hundred pages pining for one another. It's a nice change from some YA paranormal stories.The interesting set-up, the time-limit and unique proclivities of Pearl make the pace of this novel fly by. It's one of those books a reader picks up to peruse for a minute and is immediately lost within. It may drag on a bit long (in my opinion) after Pearl gains her conscience and before the King arrives, but that is a minor quibble. The secret "twist" about the unicorn was also a bit heavy-handed and obvious but far from the worst offender I've come across in that regard. Ms. Durst has crafted a very-well planned and thought-out alternate universe in which her characters can play; from new ideas on the prevalent-in-literature vampirism ("blood heists", "blood drunk" and of course the crucial, plot essential "Fealty Ceremony") to amusing and rarely used mythical creatures (when's the last time you read about a unicorn in fiction?) this is a novel that should be read and enjoyed by many people. I highly enjoyed this novel, and I think it will find love from a widely varied audience.If you see it on a bookshelf in your near future, buy it, read it, love it.

[sensitivemuse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a joy to read! Pearl’s such a great character and she made the book entertaining. I loved her wit, it provided for the majority of the comedy parts in the plot. Her sarcasm and her attempt to try and fit into school life was absolutely hilarious.The vampires in this book are well done as well. They’re bloodthirsty and ambitious. Just the way I like them! no sparkly ones here! The scheme to get Pearl into high school so she can lure the food to feed her fellow vampires was well done (plus Jadrien is quite the hottie!)Although the plot was pretty good, there were parts that are predictable and cliched. However because of Pearl and her personality (which pretty much is the highlight of the book) it can be overlooked. You pretty much figure out who the unicorn is, and Pearl’s choice on who she decides to be with isn’t a bad choice (although, I’d rather prefer the bad guy, he was your stereotypical bad boy, but you couldn’t help but fall for him.)Definitely recommended for YA lovers. Read it for Pearl! she’s one of the best protagonists you would ever find.