Capota_Book+Review

Giannine Bellisario is an ordinary teenage girl until her 14th birthday, when she asks her father for a gift certificate to the Rasmussen Gaming Center. At every twist and turn, there's something that will keep you reading.
 * H **eir Apparent held me in suspense until I completely finished it!-//Cynthia Capota//

I liked Vivian Vande Velde’s book Heir Apparent because her writing style made the book interesting to read. She made her character Gianinne BellIsario very sarcastic and funny. Heir Apparent was a unique science fiction book. I think that Heir Apparent fit into the science fiction category because it had to do with virtual reality video games. The adventure started when Gianinne gets a gift certificate from her father. This gift certificate allows her to go to the Rasmussen Gaming Center in Rochester, New York, where Gianinne lives with her grandmother. Gianinne chooses to play the game Heir Apparent. In the game, she plays Janine de St. Jehan. In the game, where she can smell, hear, touch, taste, and see everything in the game as if she were really there. She gets to keep trying the game until her time is up if she dies. The only problem is that during her second try, David Rasmussen, the creator of the game interrupts her telling her that protesters have gotten into the Rasmussen Gaming Center and damaged some equipment. There is no physical damage done to Gianinne, but if she cannot successfully complete the game, she will go into an irreversible vegetative state. Can she really do it?

__Characters: __ Gianinne Bellisario: Main character in the book. I like Giannine because she’s very sarcastic. Janine de St. Jehan:She has been named Heir and has to retrieve the dead King’s crown. Wulfgar: Eldest son of Queen Andreanna and King Cynric. Educated away from homes. Has the ability to transform into a wolf. I didn’t like Wulfgar because I think he’s the snootiest of the tree boys. Abas: Second son of Queen Andreanna and King Cynric. Abas is the best fighter and likes to brag. I liked Abas because he made me laugh because of his dim-wittedness. Kenric: Youngest of Queen Andreanna and King Cynric's children. Janine finds Kenric attractive and decides to team up with him in her last time playing the game. I liked Kenric because he's certainly the nicest of Janine's half-brothers. Queen Andreanna: Widow of King Cynric and mother of the king's legitimate children. She was a bit snooty, but she turned nice at the end. Sister Mary Ursula: Janine's advisor. Against magic and believes that all is One on the earth. King Grimbold: Barbarian King and likes Queen Andreanna and wants the crown that King Cynric won unfairly. I liked King Grimbold because he was funny and he made me laugh. Fedorina the Knitter: Midwife in Janine's birth. Gave the ring that made anyone Janine gave it to do what she asked. I liked Fedorina because she was very witty. Saint Bruce the Warrior Poet's statue lived in her home. Nigel Rasmussen: 16-year-old boy who started Rasmussen Enterprises when he was 14 years old. His image was used for Kenric. I liked Nigel because even though he wasn't an important part of the book, he was quite witty. Xenos: Magic guy who helps Janine on her quest to the dragon. Eats centipedes. I liked Xenos because he was odd and funny. Uldemar: Blind old man who uses a scrying glass to find places and people. I liked Uldemar because he was helpful to Janine and he was nice. Orielle: Very pretty witch who gives Janine a potion to make her stronger. I didn't really care for Orielle because she was kind of conceited.

Setting: This book took place in Rochester, New York. I'm not sure when it took place, but I'm guessing that it's in the future because the technology is very futuristic. It's different from today's world because they have talking buses and games where you can control the character with your brain.

I recommend this book to both boys and girls because it isn't way too girlish, but it isn't all gore and death. Read Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde! You won't be disappointed!