Blood and Chocolate

Vivian Gandillon relishes the change, the sweet, fierce ache that carries her from girl to wolf. At sixteen, she is beautiful and strong, and all the young wolves are on her tail. But Vivian still grieves for her dead father; her pack remains leaderless and in disarray, and she feels lost in the suburbs of Maryland. She longs for a normal life. But what is normal for a werewolf?

Then Vivian falls in love with a human, a meat-boy. Aiden is kind and gentle, a welcome relief from the squabbling pack. He's fascinated by magic, and Vivian longs to reveal herself to him. Surely he would understand her and delight in the wonder of her dual nature, not fear her as an ordinary human would.

Vivian's divided loyalties are strained further when a brutal murder threatens to expose the pack. Moving between two worlds, she does not seem to belong in either. What is she really--human or beast? Which tastes sweeter--blood or chocolate?

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264 pages

Average rating: 6.85

27 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Anonymous
Apr 02, 2025
6/10 stars
Blood and Chocolate
by Annette Curtis Klause


I read this years ago then saw the movie and did a quick re-read. The blurb sort of gives the basic story. Vivian Gandillion is a sixteen year old werewolf who doesn’t want her destiny. She wants love with a human boy Aiden but apparently she is destined to be the mate of the Gabriel, the werewolf alpha. There is much infighting and back stabbing along the way as every female except Vivian wants Gabriel.

Reading the other reviews it is obvious that this is a controversial book - I can see why. It is not for the faint of heart and though the heroine is only sixteen, it doesn’t seem appropriate as YA, I agree with some of the other reviewers on that.

Though the material is disturbing on many levels (the sexism, the age difference, anti-mixed marriage message, etc.), I have to applaud the originality. They are not your fluffy good werewolves you see today - they are more like mobsters or a gang and they are sometimes vicious. And this isn’t the urban fantasy that is so prevalent today either. There are just werewolves and humans.

The one thing I appreciated the most is the thing they changed the most in the movie version (which honestly wasn’t a very good movie). In the book, the author skipped the trite love conquers all human/werewolf happy ending. The world is more complicated than that and what sixteen year old boy can handle the fact that his girlfriend is a werewolf? Also, that sort first love is glorified far too much already.

I noticed that several reviewers thought that the 24/16 relationship between Gabriel and Vivian was a little creepy because the age different…never mind that the entire genre is full of ancient vampires/demons/angels who are in love with teenage girls. That didn’t start or end with Twilight.
ngocnm
Mar 31, 2025
6/10 stars
Blood and Chocolate
by Annette Curtis Klause


I read this years ago then saw the movie and did a quick re-read. The blurb sort of gives the basic story. Vivian Gandillion is a sixteen year old werewolf who doesn’t want her destiny. She wants love with a human boy Aiden but apparently she is destined to be the mate of the Gabriel, the werewolf alpha. There is much infighting and back stabbing along the way as every female except Vivian wants Gabriel.

Reading the other reviews it is obvious that this is a controversial book - I can see why. It is not for the faint of heart and though the heroine is only sixteen, it doesn’t seem appropriate as YA, I agree with some of the other reviewers on that.

Though the material is disturbing on many levels (the sexism, the age difference, anti-mixed marriage message, etc.), I have to applaud the originality. They are not your fluffy good werewolves you see today - they are more like mobsters or a gang and they are sometimes vicious. And this isn’t the urban fantasy that is so prevalent today either. There are just werewolves and humans.

The one thing I appreciated the most is the thing they changed the most in the movie version (which honestly wasn’t a very good movie). In the book, the author skipped the trite love conquers all human/werewolf happy ending. The world is more complicated than that and what sixteen year old boy can handle the fact that his girlfriend is a werewolf? Also, that sort first love is glorified far too much already.

I noticed that several reviewers thought that the 24/16 relationship between Gabriel and Vivian was a little creepy because the age different…never mind that the entire genre is full of ancient vampires/demons/angels who are in love with teenage girls. That didn’t start or end with Twilight.
Anonymous
Mar 27, 2025
6/10 stars
Blood and Chocolate
by Annette Curtis Klause


I read this years ago then saw the movie and did a quick re-read. The blurb sort of gives the basic story. Vivian Gandillion is a sixteen year old werewolf who doesn’t want her destiny. She wants love with a human boy Aiden but apparently she is destined to be the mate of the Gabriel, the werewolf alpha. There is much infighting and back stabbing along the way as every female except Vivian wants Gabriel.

Reading the other reviews it is obvious that this is a controversial book - I can see why. It is not for the faint of heart and though the heroine is only sixteen, it doesn’t seem appropriate as YA, I agree with some of the other reviewers on that.

Though the material is disturbing on many levels (the sexism, the age difference, anti-mixed marriage message, etc.), I have to applaud the originality. They are not your fluffy good werewolves you see today - they are more like mobsters or a gang and they are sometimes vicious. And this isn’t the urban fantasy that is so prevalent today either. There are just werewolves and humans.

The one thing I appreciated the most is the thing they changed the most in the movie version (which honestly wasn’t a very good movie). In the book, the author skipped the trite love conquers all human/werewolf happy ending. The world is more complicated than that and what sixteen year old boy can handle the fact that his girlfriend is a werewolf? Also, that sort first love is glorified far too much already.

I noticed that several reviewers thought that the 24/16 relationship between Gabriel and Vivian was a little creepy because the age different…never mind that the entire genre is full of ancient vampires/demons/angels who are in love with teenage girls. That didn’t start or end with Twilight.
Ccorsivo
Jan 08, 2025
If you love wolves you'll love this book. I couldn't put this down when I read it. I took the book to the dinner table and everywhere else I went.
Anonymous
Oct 27, 2024
8/10 stars
I read this when I was younger, but it stuck with me. I think it is a wonderful story about a girl with a more dysfunctional family, trying to become independent. It is a book that I know I can always pick up and read if I want something to entertain me!

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