Firstly: I am just going to begin by saying, AUSSIE'S REPRESENT. I am stoked that this book, even though it is set in Europe, is predominantly Australian and written by an Australian author. Just sayin'. Okay back on track. So I just finished reading The Aligned by Kristy Berridge and can I just say... Wow. This book is crazy. You think you know what's up with the vampires, Vanators (werewolves) and The Protectors (people with magic) but then Kristy Berridge just goes and throws a spanner in the works. Along with an intense—INTENSE— love triangle, heart racing battle scenes and a sarcastic, stubborn, resilient Aussie teenage girl, this book series is one you have to read. So everybody, put down your Twilight books and your soppy romance novels in favour of a strong, independent, albeit slightly confused heroine who after being kidnapped twice by the enemy, everybody wanting her dead, having to choose between two very attractive moody vamps and having to deal with the fact that she is half-vampire/half-Vanator, still has time to crack a joke. She puts her Protector/Human/Something-else brother Lucas above all and will stop at nothing to find him and keep him safe, even if it's puts her at risk. She will do absolutely anything to protect the people she loves. This series just keeps getting more intense and more complicated, I can't wait for the next instalments to see what happens to these characters. (I'm hoping that Chester and the rest of the jerk Protectors get it at some point. They, especially Chester, are so flippin' irritating and frustrating, I want to punch them in the face so I can't imagine how Elena feels. Oh and Roshan. And Julian. Ugh Roshan and Julian are so creepy. *shudders* Sorry rant over.) If you like horror, action, adventure, wit, a sarcastic and strong heroine, attractive vampires, and an intense love triangle go and pick up The Hunted Series by Kristy Berridge.