This is the sequel to Insatiable by Meg Cabot (see my review here for this book). I won’t hold back so I’ll come right out with my opinion of this book. I didn’t enjoy reading it as much as the first book.

I appreciated that it was shorter than Insatiable (I am someone who prefers shorter novels so this was a huge plus for me). Though this comes with pros and cons.

Pros

I liked that the book was broken up into parts. Visually this helped me read through it faster. The events happened within about a three-day timespan as Meena and her friends try to solve the mystery of flesh-eating vampires unleashed in New York. A restrictive time-frame should easily create a thrilling read, right? Ehhhh…

The opening scene – banger! The creative use of historical events to contribute to the vampire lore – banger! I enjoyed Jon’s (Meena’s brother) and Abraham Holtzman’s (Meena and Alaric’s supervisor) sooooooo much more than the main characters. But that’s where the positives really ended.

Cons

But with the book almost 200 pages shorter, the characters didn’t undergo as much development as in the first novel.

The set up to the climax and resolution weren’t enticing to me. The plot was obvious and the twists thrown in at the end seemed random written. There wasn’t enough buildup of and depth to the subplots or character’s relationships throughout the story to justify the ending. The pacing felt slow. Despite having great action scenes scattered throughout the story, it wasn’t consistent enough to keep me riveted and immersed in the story’s world and heroine’s issues.

My Thoughts on the Lucien-Meen-Alaric Love Triangle

Which brings me to my biggest point. I’ve never read Dracula and maybe that story doesn’t have a happy ending either. So if Insatiable and Overbite honors Dracula’s story, I can at least understand why this series didn’t have traditional happy endings.

I already was iffy about this series when Cabot originally set up the romance to be between Lucien and Meena then abruptly shifts it to Alaric and Meena when she finds out Lucien’s the prince of darkness, decides to stop their romance and join forces with the organization trying to destroy the dark prince. At this point, I felt hesitant with how the rest of the story was going to progress…

In Overbite, Meena clearly cares about Lucien still, wanting to prove to everyone that he’s a good person. But ironically, Meena also won’t give him a fair chance in their romance. Despite him confessing and showing genuine love and care for her, clearly Meena doesn’t want another relationship with Lucien.

In fact she seems to feel traumatized by Lucien and his past actions. That makes sense. Lucien did some shitty things. He acknowledges that and wants to makes amends to his beloved. She doesn’t give him the benefit of the doubt yet seems to fail to see the flaws in her current love interest Alaric Wulf. Makes no sense to me!

Overbite is darker and more angsty than Insatiable. Our poor, broken dark prince is real depressed and lost. He pretty much gives up fighting the good fight and becomes okay with succumbing to his dark side. Which is weird…because he didn’t strike me as someone who would easily give up. The charming, intriguing yet kind of dangerous history professor we fell in love with in Insatiable isn’t like that in Overbite. Lucien was just sad. Meena didn’t seem happy either. Alaric…is Alaric. Really only Jon (Meena’s brother) seemed content and had something positive in his life.

Entertain me for a moment and let’s see how this story could have been played differently. Lucien was a successful history professor. Charming. Well-liked by peers and feared by his minions. He was a decent leader, issuing orders for the Dracul not to kill humans. His heart seemed in the right place. He meets Meena, falls in love with her and gets his heart broken. Call me a romantic but having Meena at his side, supporting him, morally grounding him, could have been a huge plus for everyone – though not sure if the rest of the Dracul would like her as their leader too.

Lucien became depressed and obsessed with getting Meena back that he didn’t care anymore to preserve his good side. Rather welcoming his dark side with open arms! He lost everyone and everything that he willing siphoned power from the dark master in order to charge himself back up. Not to mention after all this crap, he doesn’t get the girl and he dies in the end! Sure it’s justified that Lucien is happy to be free from the physical world and to possibly becoming a guardian angel spiritually (this part is implied? Wasn’t clear what happened to Lucien in the end). I was upset. They did Lucien dirty. My sweet boy didn’t deserve this. If there was a scene showing Lucien reunited with his mother (presumed to be an angel) in heaven or the afterlife, one that shows him happy (instead of just telling the audience he’s happy without any reasons why) because he’s free of his dark side and now can focus on doing good or whatever, I can sympathize with Cabot killing off the dark prince. But no…Lucien dies…Meena runs into the arms of Alaric.

Was the prince of darkness that crappy that Meena felt such relief at his death? Am I not understanding the bigger picture and message of what Cabot is trying to convey? I’m a Lucien supporter so Meena with Alaric didn’t make sense to me. Then again, maybe they deserve each other because I didn’t care for either in this book.

And then there’s the Alaric issue interrupting any progression for Lucien and Meena’s relationship. I loved Alaric in the first book. At least he was a lovable douchebag. In Overbite, he just feels like a douchebag. No overtly redeemable qualities. I admire his knowledge, skills and care for his team. What I don’t understand is the romance Cabot is forcing between him and Meena. He admits he cares for Meena, who only wants to keep things strictly professional. She cares for him, though it wasn’t written well enough to reveal reciprocated romantic feelings she has for Alaric. They run around the entire book hunting Lucien and also trying to figure out who the hell is turning people in New York into flesh-eating vampires that there weren’t many moments to show romantic development between Alaric and Meena. I can respect pushing these two as a couple if there’s reason to make me believe they fit as a couple. She tells him at least TWICE to keep it professional. They kissed ONCE in the entire series. Then in the end, Meena suddenly kisses Alaric and wants to run away with him (assuming this is the happily ever after).

Meena has built intimacy with Lucien. She kisses him multiple times, acknowledging she enjoys their physical interactions together. They’ve been through the wringer – they’ve experienced each other’s flaws and troubles. They mentally and culturally fit better together – their short date at the museum in Insatiable. Lucien watches out and protects her. Meena still tries to convince everyone he’s good and protects him. Yet…she ends up with Alaric.

Overbite misses the charm and intrigue that Insatiable had. Overbite barely mentions the colorful cast developed in the first book. This made me sad. I missed the various personalities. We really only get Alaric, Meena, Holtzman and Lucien in this book. Overbite didn’t have the excitement, suspense, tears of pain and joy and triumphant victory I was hoping for for the series finale. Felt more like the book was written in a rush. Not sure if this series is a great representation of Cabot’s skills (doubt it). I feel Cabot’s books are well-known for being enjoyable and memorable. Sadly, the Insatiable series is forgettable…