How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Splashed across the cover of Youngblood was a glamorous, slinky young girl with white skin, black hair, and ruby-red lips. She wore high-heeled boots and lots of black leather, as well as an ammunition belt. Her canine teeth were long and pointed, but she was stunningly beautiful nonetheless. (1.8)
Say hello to Zadia Bloodstone, the fictional character that Nina's devised. Is there a wee bit of escapism and wishful thinking going on here? Probably. Zadia's drop-dead gorgeous and looks competent, while Nina is at best cute in an undead kind of way.
Quote #2
Her hands on the keyboard were like chicken's feet, all scaly and dry. Her skin was the color of a maggot's, and her legs were so thin that her tights were wrinkled around the knees. (1.13)
We don't know what color a maggot is, and we don't really want to. The point has been made: Nina's skin is gross (do vampires get eczema?) and she looks malnourished. Girl's she's not really what you'd call good-looking.
Quote #3
She had the hoarse rasp and yellowed fingertips of a chronic smoke, her hair looked like a frayed clump of steel wool, and her scarlet lipstick was bleeding into the cracks around her mouth. (1.18)
Nina's mom is seventy-six years old, and she's not looking so hot. She's a smoker and a former barmaid, so that explains a bit of it. And we guess it might be stressful if your only kid is turned into a vampire against her will. Oh, and she has dentures—let's not forget that alluring detail. This book doesn't make getting old sound like it'll do wonders for your physical appearance.