book review | Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith | 1

Author: Seth Grahame-Smith
Title: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
Series: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter 1
Genre: Historical Fiction; Vampires
Pages: 336
Rate: 4-5 | Goodreads

I’ve read “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” by Seth Grahame-Smith, which I didn’t particularly like. But recently, as I found out that the pretty okay movie “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is too based on this author’s novel – I had to pick it up, and hope for the best. Or at least for better.

About the Book: Author who has abandoned his writing and is now working in a general store gets a strange parting gift from his mysterious client. It turns out to be a bundle of notes, diaries that seemingly belonged to no other than the 16th President of the United States. We all know him as the man who finally abolished the slavery. What we, and the author, didn’t know is that he was the best vampire hunter in America too.

My Opinion: The book, as alternative history, is written in a serious tone. Vampire hunts and killings soon become absolutely brutal and breath-taking. The story is well written too, with nothing overbearing, nor lacking. And yet, this balance, left it very mediocre. Which I guess is better than outright dull, but still. When taking it, you have to keep in mind that this, much like Dacre Stoker’s “Something in the Blood” is a take on writing a fictional biography that is loosely based on facts. It still reads as a biography. Meaning there’s a lot of attention to personal things – love, marriage, children, home. Where, if this was written just as a novel, and excerpt of Abraham Lincoln’s life, we would’ve had more action, more adventure.

What I find strange is that the first half of the book is so much better than the second half. Usually it’s the opposite. This one gets a mediocre 4 out of 5 from me. I suggest you watch the movie first and then decide if you care enough to read it. It’s not bad. It’s just not good either.

book review | Love Bites by Ann-Katrin Byrde | Thicker than Water 1

Author: Ann-Katrin Byrde
Title: Love Bites
Series: Thicker than Water 1
Genre: LGBT+ Romance; Vampires
Pages: 289
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads

Oh boy. Read “Love Bites” by Ann-Katrin Byrde, first in Thicker than Water series. This was very, very far away out of my alley.

About the Book: Vampires and witches are barely keeping up the fragile peace they have by hating the common enemy – dhampirs. Half witches, half vampires. It was Talon’s job to hunt them and kill them on his master’s orders. Until he met Collin. Instead he chose to hide the man by erasing himself out of his memory. Twice. Unsuccessfully. The gorgeous man doesn’t even know what trouble he’s falling into and dragging Talon with him.

My Opinion: Again, vampires and witches at each others throats. Again, a pair of would be rivals – fall for one another. Again, there’s lost or hidden memories that, upon revelation, show one of the parties in incriminating situation that somehow wrecked the life of the other one. Sounds bland, familiar? Don’t worry, it’s all spiced up with male pregnancy. I wish all romances, straight or lgbt always came with pregnancy trigger warnings.

Nope. A 2 out of 5, sorry. Basic, simple, points only for smooth author’s writing. There’s definitely skill in that, so as long as they like their own work, my opinion doesn’t matter.

book review | The Necromancer’s Dance by S.J. Himes | The Beacon Hill Sorcerer 1

Author: S.J. Himes
Title: The Necromancer’s Dance
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance; LGBT Literature
Pages: 284
Rating: 3/5 | Goodreads

I’m determined to make a dent in my TBR, so here goes the quarantine reads. Finished “The Necromancer’s Dance” by S.J. Himes, first book in the series. A book that fell in my lap during my sudden fascination with Necromancers. For which I blame Elder Scrolls Online.

About the Book: Angelus and his brother Isaac are the only Salvatores who survived the attack of vampire army. Brothers then took different paths in life. Isaac chose to abandon magic. While Angelus had to pick it up for two, to protect himself and his brother. Because during the war Angelus killed dozens of vampires, a feat unheard of. Many would like to have a weapon like that. And many more would like it gone forever.

My Opinion: This is a semi-interesting book with good world building, great magic system, and a superbly woven plot against the protagonist. The story itself is mediocre, with little to no new to offer, but it’s still readable and is entertaining.

It’s alright, definitely not bad. 3 out of 5.

book review | The Vampire’s Club by X. Aratare | 5

Author: X. Aratare
Title: The Vampire’s Club
Series: The Vampire’s Club 5
Genre: Vampires; M/M Romance
Pages: 151
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

Finished fifth “The Vampire’s Club” book by X. Aratare. It still reads like chapters, but at least it’s easy to read.

About the Book: Lucas is trying to settle in Club Dyavol as his new home. All would be great and easy were it not for unfinished business outside the club. It seems he only needs to take a step through the door and trouble comes running. All the while Konstantin is trying to resist the perfect temptation to turn Lucas into a vampire. Truly, all the pros, and not a single con against it. But due to witches constantly trying to get in through Club Dyavol’s doors, his suspicions are up, and so he must resist.

My Opinion: Witches are coming in rows, and I don’t really get why they started doing that. It’s clear why they’re doing it now though. But there’s apparent and growing gaps in logic scattered through the plot, filled with angry, stupid, and ever plotting characters. Which isn’t a bad thing until they start acting completely irrationally, to a point where you can’t even write it down as natural behavior. And yet… The books are easy to read, and are entertaining enough in a gay vampires telenovella kind of way. So, I remain.

These aren’t bad books, really. 3 out of 5. Might be easier to real all as one big book though.

book review | Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir | The Locked Tomb 1

Author: Tamsyn Muir
Title: Gideon the Ninth
Series: The Locked Tomb 1
Genre: Fantasy; LGBT Literature
Pages: 448
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

This might be the first time I call a book atmospheric. In the best sense of the word. “Gideon the Ninth” by Tamsyn Muir is something entirely else, and everything I ever wanted from a book about necromancers.

About the Book: There lies a stone on a tomb, placed there by a God Emperor, and nine houses of necromancers pray daily it never rolls away. Nobody knows what or who lies within, but they all know Emperor could only save Universe this once. Yet… The houses are crumbling, power is getting diluted, weaker, if appears in the lineage at all. So when Emperor calls his necromancers and their cavaliers for a trial that could grant them power and immortality, not one hesitates. Among them stands the mysterious living reverent daughter Harrowhark of Ninth house, and her cavalier Gideon the Ninth. They might just need this resurrection of power the most. But the game requires the pair to work together. And these two loathed one another from the cradle…

My Opinion: Epic Fantasy and Sci-Fi. Necromancers who are afraid of travel in deep space for there is just no death there. A murder house with no one to trust. And desperate need to get this power, to wash away the sins, the stains of their name. Schemes, secrets, all kinds of buried nasties, and locked away constructs. It was like a good Agatha Christie book, but with planet-wide clans, and constant requirement of bones and blood to be present, accompanied with deep atmosphere weather. It sounds like a lot, but it really wasn’t. Author successfully contained it all within one house, and well timed confessions.

I can’t wait to lay my hands on the next one. 5 out of 5 for this one, and I highly recommend it to those who want a different tale.

book review | The Vampire’s Club by X. Aratare | 4

Author: X. Aratare
Title: The Vampire’s Club
Series: The Vampire’s Club 4
Genre: Paranormal Romance; Vampires
Pages: 151
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

I’m not having much luck with the books this week. Finished “The Vampire’s Club“, fourth in the series of the same name, by X. Aratare. And it was… Mild.

About the Book: Time for revelations has come, it seems. Lucas step-father makes a hard pass on him, raving about a man he once knew, who looked so very much like Lucas. Konstantin tries to “fix” this situation, but only manages to find out there’s great magic surrounding not just Lucas, but his home too. Soon after this a couple of witches, out of all people, show up at the Club’s door, and too claim Lucas looks like someone they knew. The tangled web of magic and blood is finally getting loose around the knots. Yet Konstantin and Lucas can only hope they won’t get strangled in it.

My Opinion: Most plot revolved around asking Lucas to tell Konstantin things, and asking Konstantin to do something about Lucas. And while Lucas seems to not grasp the situation just yet, Konstantin is in denial about it. Plot ended up being a bit mild, with characters not acknowledging repetitiveness, or them only serving to propel the plot onto the next tile. But all in all, there were good moments, and secrets were presented in such a form that I am, absolutely, interested to read more.

Definitely readable. 3 out of 5 so far.

book review | Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab | Cassidy Blake 2

Author: Victoria Schwab
Title: Tunnel of Bones
Series: Cassidy Blake 2
Genre: Paranormal Literature
Pages: 304
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads

I don’t know what it is with Victoria Schwab, but so far I have loved all her books. Therefore I am quite happy there’s still some books I’ve not read. Like “Tunnel of Bones“, second book in Cassidy Blake‘s series.

About the Book: Cassidy’s parents have a unique opportunity to film a show of paranormal places. And so the girl is spending her summer vacation in Paris. In catacombs. Filled with restless spirits. With only her ghost best friend to watch her back, and warn her. One of the spirits, that of a little boy who seemingly died down here, grows different upon contact with her. He grows stronger, more powerful, apparently now able to manipulate real world in a much larger scale, and even pull her into the veil. Cassidy must find a way to send him on, and do so very, very fast.

My Opinion: It was a very nice and light read, full of very well written characters. And while the book is meant for a much younger audience, it was plenty entertaining to me too. There’s just that little something about Schwab’s works.

I liked it a great deal. Victoria Schwab has a very unique writing style that, luckily, isn’t as polarizing as Murakami’s, where you hate it or love it, and there’s no in between. I’m sure there’s something in her vast bibliography that would suit everyone. A strong 5 out of 5.

book review | Bloodlist by P.N. Elrod | Vampire Files 1

Author: P.N. Elrod
Title: Bloodlist
Series: Vampire Files 1
Genre: Vampires; Mystery
Pages: 160
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

A detective novel of former journalist turned vampire going against gangsters who killed him. Such is “Bloodlist” by P.N. Elrod, the first in Vampire Files series, and, I admit, it was pretty good.

About the Book: Jack can’t remember what exactly happened. He just knows he was killed, and is now driven by vampire instincts and desire to find what was on that mysterious list gangsters demanded from him all the way to his death. After all, he was a journalist in his first life. Down this hellish road, luckily, he meets allies: an almost sherlockian detective, and, naturally, a girl…

My Opinion: While not the best detective you will ever read, it will sure do its best to entertain. Noir atmosphere, gangsters and cigar smoke, charming women hiding their strength, a disguise master detective, and… a vampire.

The book was easy to read, entertaining, and not too predictable either. I can give it a very firm 4 out of 5.

book review | The Last Astronaut by David Wellington

Author: David Wellington
Title: The Last Astronaut
Series: –
Genre: Sci-fi; Horror
Pages: 400
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads

The very first book to properly get me into reading was “Reckoning Infinity” by John E. Stith. It was strange to read a tale so very similar, as “The Last Astronaut” by David Wellington. And a bit sad I didn’t like it all that much.

About the Book: First contact. An alien object entered the solar system and started moving towards Earth. With no communications coming from it, NASA did what they could. They sent out a handful of their best to investigate the now parked object, so terrifyingly close to Earth. But in space as on Earth, astronauts got only silence, and nothing on the looming surface, definitely alien, answered any questions either. So they made a call to go knock on the neighbor’s doors before they, the aliens, battered Earth to oblivion for this or that resource.

My Opinion: The story is sensible, but neither very interesting, not captivating. Horror aspects fell short, for anything in pitch black, with only a light on an astronaut suit, could look scary and alien. And so we got a lot of ascending, descending, walking through corridors without any clear sense to it, just the idea from observed gravity. And while characters each were unique, serving their own purpose in the story, the latter one got really predictable real fast, and you knew exactly who’s going to go mad, and who’s going to be a hero.

It’s an okay book. Not great, not bad either. If you enjoy long walks in pitch black alien things with writhing stuff left, right, and one with teeth behind you, it might be for you. I give it a solid 3 out of 5.

book review | The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings by Lily Morton | Black and Blue 1

Author: Lily Morton
Title: The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings
Series: Black and Blue 1
Genre: Paranormal, LGBT Romance
Pages: 301
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads

“The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings” by Lily Morton, not even a full chapter in, became my slow read. It wasn’t bad, no. It was just full of angry, murderous ghosts!

About the Book: Levi Black inherited a beautiful house in York. Abandoned due to scary reputation it stood there waiting to sooth the man after a painful break-up. Levi’s joy to have a home like that stands firm when contractors run scared, and guests flee before dark. Even the clear footsteps, all enveloping darkness, and strange chuckling heard from it are barely getting through at him. But once locked doors start swinging open, things slam into walls, and it becomes evident the house owner, the dead one, yes, wants him out – dead or alive – Levi looks around for some help. Lucky for him, the blue haired man leading Ghost Tours past his house might just have an answer or two.

My Opinion: At times the plot seemed a bit dragged, and the cliche events for character development, such as “let’s argue because we misunderstood one another” and “a wild ex appears, uses charm” didn’t help either. But then, the story is filled with thriller-like detective, scary ghosts, characters running for their lives, barricading themselves in rooms, and otherwise having scary kind of fun.

In general, I think it’s worth it to forgive the current hiccups due to this being the first book. I can give it a 4 out of 5, and will read the next.