A collection made for nocturnal children, the vampires, the werewolves, the others. Partially inspired by Vampire the Masquerade. Some of them, and similar, also my made, you can witness in action at Maiden of the Eventide videos.
What is left of this collection can be found here: [BLACKWOOD]
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.
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.
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.
Author: Joely Sue Burkhart
Title: Queen Takes Triune
Series: Their Vampire Queen 6
Genre: Vampires; Polyamorous romance
Pages: 315
Rate: 4/5 | Goodreads
Catching up on ongoing series sequels. Today I’ve read “Queen Takes Triune” by Joely Sue Burkhart, sixth book in Their Vampire Queen series. And it continues to be quite not bad.
About the Book: Shara is in a dilemma. A time has come for her to take her rightful place at the Triune, yet none of the prospects seem appealing. It’s all but daggers and malice hidden behind smiles. It seems she’ll have to choose the lesser evil, and hope that Goddess guides her well. Goddess, and her court of monsters.
My Opinion: I love how safe these books filled with monsters feel. Don’t know about you, but I’m tired of drama where liked characters get killed for the sake of plot twist or shock value. Here, even when you have no clue how Shara will find a way out of impossible situation yet again, you can be certain that she will, and she’ll take all of her Bloods (knights) out too. I also enjoy how author manages to write mythology and world building in very well aimed pieces, bit by bit per each book.
It’s a fine series of vampire political court intrigues, and it’s as bloody as it sounds. A firm 4 out of 5 from me.
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.
Author: Vivian Shaw
Title: Grave Importance
Series: Dr Greta Helsing 3
Genre: Urban Fantasy; Vampires
Pages: 397
Rate: 5/5 | Goodreads
“Grave Importance” by Vivian Shaw concludes the wonderful Dr Greta Helsing trilogy. I’m going to miss them all very dearly.
About the Book: Down in hell, Greta’s good friend demon Fass is trying to detangle the mess his predecessor left. Somewhere in all this data there’s an answer as of why is the veil of reality thinning so rapidly, and where it originates from. Lucky for him, their common friend Lord Ruthven catches a nasty curse during his travel with the newly found beloved boyfriend, and only the hell’s very own dr Faust can help; where in return Ruthven can help Fass. Greta, in the meantime, is having her own troubles upstairs on Earth. Entrusted to take care of the mummy resort, she’s overloaded with work and stress. Mummies seem to be having a strange attack of random faintness. All well and good if the mummy is sitting or laying down. But what about those in motion? One such she had to fix for strenuous hours, and swore to herself she’ll reach the bottom of this…
My Opinion: Characters are just absolutely wonderful and lovable, and thus will be very greatly missed now that the great tale of infernal adventures have ended. The story itself is good too, very fitting lazy reading, taking it on a slower pace than it is told, which again makes me sad, for I don’t have another book like this I could take my time with.
A masterful piece. Strong 5 out of 5 and then some.
Author: David J. Skal
Title: Something in the Blood
Series: –
Genre: Biography; Nonfiction
Pages: 672
Rate: 3/5 | Goodreads
My final book on Dracula this year. I followed this resolution of one Dracula book a month fairly loosely, reading books where Dracula was a mere secondary character or, like in “Something in the Blood” by David J. Skal – a product. But all in all this was a strange and fun challenge that got me enjoy one of my most favorite topics. Sadly, this book wasn’t so great of an end to it.
About the Book: David J. Skal attempts to tell us about Bram Stoker’s life, his bed-ridden childhood and an illness of seven years that mysteriously went away. Of his a tad odd family, his work in literature and theater. How vampire Count Dracula came to be, and what he became, evolving through the years, outliving the author himself.
My Opinion: This was supposed to be a biography of Bram Stoker with great interest in Dracula, as title would imply. Instead it was a biography of any and all, sometimes in very great long-winded detail, gothic horror author of Stoker’s times. Sometimes the connection was clear, other times we got to read of a friend’s wife and her life after her husband has died. It’s interesting if you’re curious of how one was supposed to navigate the nuances of literature in Victorian England to not end up in jail. But if you’re just here for Bram, this is too heavy of a book to read.
The book is spread too wide to only have Bram Stoker’s face on the cover. I give it a 3 out of 5 for what was a very heavy and hefty read. If you just want Bram Stoker’s biography, read the authors word at the back of “Dracul” book by Dacre Stoker.
Author: Joely Sue Burkhart
Title: Queen Takes Checkmate
Series: Their Vampire Queen 5
Genre: Polyamorous Romance; Vampires
Pages: 350
Rate: 3-5 | Goodreads
Hmm. It seems to me that often first three books in the series are the best ones. “Queen Takes Checkmate” by Joely Sue Burkhart not being an exception, what with the great culmination towards the battle with the god of light, Ra, and the flop that it felt to be.
About the Book: Shara absolutely cannot live in fear of Ra, the God of Light. Not fear for herself, not fear for others. And so he must die, for a Queen of Darkness cannot pray and receive peace from a God of Light. But how does one kill an immortal god whose very presence causes you physical pain?
My Opinion: The plot relied too much on sex, thus greatly weakening the actual action, sequence of events, battles, fights. Ra was not a misunderstood hero, a villain in someone’s story, no he was a mere old fashioned pig who underestimated women, because they’re that: women. And personalities of characters are falling short too, very rapidly to that. Maybe there’s finally too many of all those Bloods (“knights“).
I still hope it picks up with the next book. This one sadly only gets a 3 out of 5 from me.
Author: Adam Rex
Title: Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story
Series: –
Genre: Vampire Literature; Humor
Pages: 324
Rate: 2/5 | Goodreads
There are two books called “Fat Vampire” out there. Adam Rex wasn’t the one I wanted to read. Well, I paid for my mistake, so you don’t have to.
About the Book: Someone has turned a whole bunch of teenagers into vampires. Their new vampire tutors, here to teach them to be predators who don’t put the family to shame, are trying to find out who, but no one can really remember much. Except that boys mostly agree it was a hot foreigner woman. And while these elder vampires chase the wild goose, newly made vampire teens are to deal with being, well, vampire teenagers, drama in school and all that wonderful stuff. Some soon start having doubts about this whole coolness deal of being a vampire tho. Like Dug, who didn’t even grow more than peach fuzz on his face, and was overweight when he turned. And you’re now saying he has to remain this for an eternity?? Is there really no way out?
My Opinion: Plot was greatly lacking. Like a bunch of random teenage sit-com episodes barely strung together by mysterious turn of the teens that the not-turned side saw as mysterious change in those previously uncool people. Author seems it’s funny that teenagers are all dumb and don’t understand anything, but gracefully adds that adults are also dumb and don’t understand anything. Neither sets of jokes were funny, and the mocking of stereotypes made me roll my eyes, so I just hope both of them are still facing forwards. And as for characters? They’re all so painfully two-dimensional, that side-characters might not even existed.
It’s a no from me. A 2 out of 5.
