Archive for New Vampire Books
Title: Kiss of Death
Author: Rachel Caine
Release Date: April 27, 2010
Pages: 256
Genre: Urban Vampire
So, the two couples set out – Shane and Claire, Michael and Eve – along with Oliver on their way to music fame and fortune. Everyone is so excited because passes out of town are few and far between – you don’t leave Morganville without the okay of the lead vampire, Amelie. It is all going great until they stop for food in a small town that has more than its share of rednecks. When Oliver disappears on some mysterious mission and tells them not to leave the little town, things go from bad to worse. When rogue vampires from Morganville track them down, intent on having Claire and Eve for lunch, rednecks are the least of their worries. As Shane tells the sheriff, “we’re not the bad guys here”.
The writing in Kiss of Death transports you to small town Texas, letting you connect with the unique personality of each character. The story of joy-riding teenagers, happy about their freedom, being sidetracked by hating humans and malevolent vampires delivers an exciting read that never lets up on the action. Rachel Caine delivers yet another great installment in her Morganville Vampire series. If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced, road trip adventure, you’ve got to read Kiss of Death.
Title: Descent into Dust
Author: Jacqueline Lepore
Release Date: March 23, 2010
Pages: 384
Genre: Gothic Vampire Fantasy
In Descent into Dust author Jacqueline Lepore creates a world where ancient Romanian legends meet early twentieth century England. It opens with the protagonist, Emma Andrews, suffering a strange and intense headache as she approaches a relative’s country mansion for a short stay. Constantly haunted by her mother’s past insanity, Emma tells no one of the bizarre and persistent headache.
It’s only after meeting a mysterious visitor to the estate, Valerian Fox, that her headache ceases. Even stranger, when viciously attacked by unknown forces she’s able to aptly defend herself with heretofore unknown skills. It’s clear that Valerian has knowledge that can bring light to these occurrences but he refuses to divulge any information when probed by Emma. But when an evil master vampire threatens Emma’s young cousin, the two adversaries become allies – even though Emma is still fighting with Valerian to get the answers she seeks.
Lepore’s masterfully handles the budding relationship between Emma and Valerian. Emma is a young widow who lost her older husband about a year ago and isn’t ready to give up her independence. Valerian is a man of mystery whose interest in Emma is obviously not just related to their fighting evil together. It should be noted that although Emma and Valerian’s interactions form an appropriate subplot to the book’s primary conflict, the novel’s secondary characters are brilliantly fleshed out and add additional depth to the storyline: there’s the foppish but fiercely loyal Sebastian; the pompous and demanding sister Alyssa; and Father Luke, the warrior priest with a hero complex. All three characters play an integral role in the good vs. evil element present throughout the book.
I found Lepore’s writing style befitting for setting a mood that matches the dark, gothic overtones of the novel. At times her prose is almost lyrical; it reminded me of great poetry. I found myself actually reading some of the passages out loud because I thought they were so beautifully composed.
Descent into Dust is a gothic vampire tale that totally captivated me. I was thoroughly entertained by this book and I recommend it to vampire lovers as well as the fans of gothic romance.
About Jacqueline Lepore
An avid reader of Nancy Drew mysteries, Jacqueline had written several short story collections by her senior year in high school. With the Emma Andrews series Jacqueline returns to one of her first loves: Gothic novels. The second book in the series is titled “The Cyprian Queen” and is slated for a March 2011 release. You can learn more about Jacqueline at her website: JacquelineLepore.com.
Title: Descendant: Chronicles of the Ipswich Witch
Author: Miranda Bachman
Release Date: July 1, 2010
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 268
Genre: Fantasy Romance
In 1780, she devised an elaborate plan to cross the paths of her future granddaughter Raven (twenty generations down her line), with an ancient vampire named Alasdair. Aided by the use of spells, incantations and Uber-shadowing, her plan moved into motion in 1983, when Alasdair discovered Raven and set his heart on making her his companion.
Through a span of nearly seventy years, he guarded her, all throughout her mortal life. However, once he gave her his eternal kiss he ultimately, and without his knowing, led their lives down a path which neither of them had the ability or knowledge to escape from what lay ahead. Does good always conquer evil, or does evil win once in awhile?
Find out in DESCENDANT: Chronicles of the Ipswich Witch.
Title: Kiss of Death
Author: Rachel Caine
Release Date: May 27, 2010
Publisher: Signet
Pages: 324
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
In the book Claire and her friends are given the chance to go past the city limits in order to let their friend Michael make a demo CD in Dallas. They’re psyched until they get their transit papers and find out that Oliver, an enforcer for Morganville’s head vamp, plans to accompany them as an escort. Bummer.
So the two couples (Shane and Claire, Michael and Eve) set out with Oliver hoping for music fame and fortune. Everyone is super excited because passes out of town are few and far between – and you don’t leave Morganville without the okay of the lead vampire, Amelie.
Everything’s great until they stop for food in a small town with more than its share of rednecks. Add to that the fact that Oliver disappears on some mysterious mission and rogue vampires want to put Claire and Eve on the lunch menu and you have a situation that’s quickly turning from bad to worse.
The writing in Kiss of Death transports you to small town Texas, letting you connect with the unique cultural divides between the lead characters and the townspeople. The story of joy-riding teenagers, happy about their freedom being sidetracked by hating humans and malevolent vampires delivers an exciting read that never lets up on the action. And I love how she’s developing Claire’s character into a strong independent young lady.
Rachel Caine delivers yet another great installment in her Morganville Vampire series. This is a well-written fast-paced adventure that kept me engaged throughout. Kiss of Death makes a worthy addition to the young adult fantasy genre.
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Title: Samson’s Lovely Mortal
Author: Tina Folsom
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Publisher: Smashwords
Print Length Equivalent: 324 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
His scruples about taking Delilah to his bed vanish when his shrink suggests it’s the only way to cure his problem. Thinking all he needs is one night with her, Samson indulges in a night of pleasure and passion.
However, another attack on Delilah and a dead body later, Samson has his arms full: not only with trying to hide the fact he’s a vampire, but also with finding out what secrets Delilah harbors for somebody to want her harm.
Samson’s Lovely Mortal is available in:
• Kindle format
• Other e-formats
Title: Insatiable
Author: Meg Cabot
Release Date: June 8, 2010
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 464
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Author Quote: “Insatiable is Girl Gothic, featuring empowered heroines who stand up for themselves and have goals outside of snagging a man (but who still love men, exasperating though they can be at times), and who don’t believe that being dead is a happy ending.”
But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them. Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper is psychic and knows how you’re going to die.
But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets – and then makes the mistake of falling in love with – Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. A dark side that a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.
And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.
Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . . . if she even has one.
Insatiable will be released June 8, 2010 and will be available in both hardcover and Kindle formats.
Christopher Farnsworth has written a vampire book that may start a whole new trend. In “Blood Oath: The Presidents Vampire” we’re introduced to a whole new way of looking at vampires. Nathanial Cade, a vampire, is the President’s “go to” man for missions that require a vampire’s special talents. He’s been doing this for over 100 years.
Some backstory on Nathanial: while aboard a ship as a sailor in 1867 he, and other members of the crew, were attacked by a vampire. Although many of the crew members died, Cade did not. Instead, he’s transformed into a vampire himself. Unfortunately, as a new vampire he’s unable to quell his thirst for blood and ends up killing several of his friends aboard the boat. When the ship arrives in port he’s convicted of murder and would have been killed until the current President, Andrew Johnson, decides that Cade’s special skills could be put to use on behalf on the government.
There’s just one minor flaw with this logic: how do you control a vampire? Johnson solves this problem with the help of a voodoo specialist who puts Cade under an oath that binds him forever – hence the title Blood Oath. Cade, who’s had suicidal thoughts about being a creature damned for all eternity, is more than willing to take an oath that binds him to the President and his staff; it gives him a sense of purpose and redemption.
The primary plot of the story centers around a mission to locate and thwart those intent on assassinating the current President. Cade and his liaison, agent Zach Barrows, have their hands full dealing with all sorts of baddies. But not the type you’re probably imagining. Just know that in Blood Oath, terrorists make use of the supernatural in order to further their causes.
The set up for this book reminded me of reading a great Robert Ludlum spy thriller, but with supernatural elements thrown in. What pulled me in immediately was how Farnsworth incorporated the supernatural into a real world thriller setting – without making you feel like you were reading fantasy. As such the book has major crossover appeal; fantasy, mystery and thriller fans alike will love this one.
Christopher Farnsworth has written a story that flows quite nicely, giving us Cade’s history without bombarding us with too much past information. Combine superb character development with a fast-paced plot and you have a book with the makings of a great Jim Butcher or Simon R. Green novel; the quality of Farnsworth’s writing is that impressive. Here’s hoping there will be more books in The President’s Vampire series – I for one am eagerly awaiting additional installments.
Rachel Caine, the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult Morganville Vampires series, has a new book out called KISS OF DEATH. This is the 9th book in the series and if it’s like the others, it will be a great read for vampire fans.
I first began reading Rachel’s books when she started her Weather Warden series. From there I started reading her Outcast series and then “discovered” her Morganville Vampires books. I like everything I’ve read by her thus far. Rachel writes books that have plenty of action, which I love, but even better her characters are always really interesting. You grow to care about their fate. This is probably because she wisely develops main characters that have flaws, I mean, no one’s perfect right? That’s what I like about her books.
Here’s a snippet about Kiss of Death, the latest Morganville Vampires book:
“Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big time producer who wants him to cut a demo and play some gigs – which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he’s been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael’s all-too-human friends. With that mix of personalities, this is going to be one road trip from hell . . .”
Rachel will be promoting Kiss of Death by visiting bookstores in the US signing copies of her books and answering questions from fans!
Here’s where she’ll be next:
Friday, May 7th
6:30 PM
Murder by the Book
2342 Bissonnet St
Houston, TX 77005
Saturday, May 8th
2:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
1430 Plaza Place
Southlake, TX 76092
For updated information on her schedule and other fun events (like free book giveaways), check out Rachel Caine’s website.
And check out these reviews of Kiss of Death
