In the sequel to her acclaimed debut novel, The Society of S, Susan Hubbard continues the adventures of Ariella Montero, who, in the midst of the ongoing presidential campaign, discovers that a leading contender for America's top political office just happens to be a vampire surrounded by the demons of lying, cheating, and murder.
The Year of Disappearances traces Ariella Montero's fourteenth year, during which she is accused of lying, cheating, and murder (twice). Her education continues, but instead of literature, science, and math, she learns folklore, the art and craft of journalism, and most important, the nature of personal demons. The book's themes involve masks and the duality of the self, the evil of hypocrisy, and the perpetual conflict between the desires of the flesh and those of the spirit. As Ari comes to question her own authenticity, listeners may begin to question her. Could the accusations against her be justified? Is she a reliable narrator? Or is someone else at work, telling us her story?
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"This is the sequel to "The Society of S," and was just as enjoyable. I'm really not sure how to classify it. Yes, it's a vampire novel, but it's not really about vampires, and the vampires are not like any that you might have run into before. Mostly they're nice people who don't drink blood. The protagonist is a 14 year old girl, so it might be classed as "young adult," but it doesn't read that way. Mostly I think it's about looking at people and society through a different set of eyes."
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Marciealana (4 out of 5 stars)