Rating: 3.75 Stars

Publisher: Nazri Noor

Genre:  Urban Fantasy 

Tags: Nephilim, Demons & Angels, Series

Length: 266 Pages

Reviewer: Karen

Purchase At:  amazon

Blurb:

Half human, half angel, 100% pissed off.

My next review will be False Gods (Sins of the Father #2). Let’s see what Mason, Florian, Raziel – and Artemis – get up to.

Rating: 5 Stars 

Publisher: Self Published 

Genre: UF

Tags: Magic, Mythology, Paranormal, Gay MC, Action, Horror, Humour  

Length: 276 Pages 

Reviewer: Karen

Purchase At:  amazon

Blurb:

Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher: Self Published 

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Tags: Magic, Necromancy, Mythology, Entities/Dieties, Action, Gay MC, Series

Length: 273 Pages 

Reviewer: Karen 

Purchase At:  amazon, Nazri Noor

Blurb:

Review:

It’s carnival time in Valero and the Boneyard boys are out enjoying themselves. Dustin is sucking at winning prizes, Sterling doesn’t let him off the hook about it either, and before they know it, their ongoing motto of carpe noctem turns into a shit sandwich. These guys need to learn to stay in.

The Eldest, those pesky and powerful beings that want to control/destroy the earth as we know it, who don’t give one hoot about the veil between the arcane and humans, also don’t care about downtime or fun for anyone.

Right at the outset it’s all hands on deck to keep the shrikes and their overlords from creating havoc, and they do some damage before the Boneyard fight back and the Lorica join in, then comes the obligatory and difficult clean-up, but you know they’re coming back for Dustin. He can’t be let off too easily.

There are some thick and fast attacks by the Eldest. Dustin gets to meet some more entities and supernatural beings like Baba Yaga and Izanami.

  “I fear that terrible things are coming your way, boy,” Baba Yaga said.
“Tell me something I don’t already know. The Eldest are coming, and they mean business this time.” I raised my chin. “And my name is Dustin Graves.”
Baba Yaga scoffed.

In his search for gifts to those who ask for it, for the knowledge Dustin needs, there are some rather specifically disturbing requirements.

Madam Chien was right. Even a bazaar as diverse and – well, bizarre as the Black Market didn’t trade in things like the breath of the dying, or the screams of those in truest pain.

There is also another of the Eldest’s finest coming Dustin’s way.

“The hell is that?” I muttered.
“This one is named Shtuttasht,” Izanami said, her voice laced with both fear and reverence. “The Overthroat.”

Plenty of the regulars are in Last Rites. I always love Sterling, but now I have this massive soft spot for Asher. He has a sweet disposition and he’s also a fierce necromancer, all in the one non-jaded package. Keeping doing you, Asher.

**Personal rant: I’ve noticed a couple of reviews noting a problem with Dustin being gay. No, it isn’t mentioned previously, but why should it be? Newsflash, people of all sexual identities or orientations exist and they’re allowed to get into relationships, and they’re allowed to exist in the UF and fantasy mainstream genres. I’m glad that feelings aren’t completely neglected in any book, but if you’re worried, it’s way off in the background and the action is to the fore. I agree with my sci-fi/sci-fantasy reviewing colleague John’s sentiments – ‘books where there is no personal connection or sentiments, even some sex to relieve tension, are not real, and sexual orientation should never matter, good content should’. The content in this book, this series, is good. Just for fellow readers who want to know, there is absolutely no sex in this series, not even close. There is no fuss about Dustin and Herald in the writing either. Dustin and Herald have feelings for one another. Big deal. Logically, given the number of characters, someone in this series being LGBTQ is on target for the population. I didn’t hear shock or horror about Gil being heterosexual, and a werewolf, and being in a relationship with Prudence, an arcane human. One more thing. Dustin goes to a bar and the Fuck-Tons are the drag queen owners – Imperial and Metric, loved their names. It was a small part of one chapter of thirty-five chapters, and Dustin had been sent there like the Black Market or the Midnight Convocation. It was fun and it was what it was, part of the series that fit the book. Viva diversity in writing and reading! Hopefully it fuels more openness in UF/fantasy writing and reading. To homophobic readers, grow up is my overall sentiment to you. **Personal rant over. 

Dustin definitely has a lot on his plate and sacrifices are made, very painful ones. Ones that make me unsure how certain skill-sets can be compensated for, or if it’s a temporary situation. I can’t say anymore without spoiling the book. The Boneyard has Dustin’s back, and Dustin has grown a big pair along the way, too. The Lorica are proving to be a help and a hindrance as the series progresses, depending on who it is within that organisation we’re talking about. Some of the entities/dieties prove to be frustratingly apathetic in a situation that affects them as well.

Another good addition to the Darkling Mage series, Last Rites leads into a difficult arcane time ahead for Dustin… some interesting connections with those around him as well, and I know it will be painful for Dustin before it (hopefully) gets better, mwahahaha. Run, Dust. Ruuun…. 

Bring on the rest of the series. 4 Stars.

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: D.M. Wolfenden

Genre: Horror

Tags: Contemporary, Dark Humor, Past Abuse, Serial Killer, Graphic Violence

Length: 52 Pages

Reviewer: Cindi

Purchase At: Amazon.com

Synopsis –

Well, hello, Sugar, my name is Joanna… 
That’s the introduction that all my victims get. It’s nice to be polite. 
Even serial killers have manners. 

I know what I do isn’t normal, but I also know that I do the country a service. 
And the world is better off with me in it. You’ll understand. 
See, I was once the victim. 
Hurt by the one who should have taken care of me. 
Let down by the system that should have protected me. 
Now I vow to help others, and if I have to hurt people to do it. I will. 

Review –

This is another book where the reader knows exactly why the so-called bad guy, or girl in this case, is the way they are. Joanna’s entire story comes out slowly as you read the book. When you end it you know exactly what turned her into a serial killer. And, honestly? It’s hard not to sympathize with her.

Hell, it’s hard not to cheer her on. While I’m not saying what she does is right (it isn’t), but who hasn’t wanted to see horrible criminals get theirs?

Joanna only kills the worst of the worst – pedophiles, rapists, those who commit other horrible crimes. She doesn’t just go out and kill at random.

Joanna herself is a victim. At one point in her life she was forced to endure things that nobody should ever have to endure. The justice system doesn’t always work in a victim’s favor, as we see way too often in the real world. This is what happened with Joanna. Her abuser was prosecuted but she didn’t feel that his punishment was severe enough, hence her seeking justice of her own against those who harm others.

The violence Joanna inflicts is on page and it’s extremely graphic. If you’re squeamish this book isn’t for you.

This was an excellent horror short. While I may or may not agree with what Joanna does, I get it. She doesn’t want anybody else to be a victim. Her taking out the ‘bad guys’ is her way of saving others, one at a time.

The cover is perfect.

Note that the author lists victim resources at the end of the book.

Rat

Publisher: Indie 

Genre:  UF

Tags:  Magic, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology, YA/NA Up, Series

Length: 189 Pages 

Reviewer: Karen

Purchase At:  amazon

Synopsis:

Reports of arcane theft and violence are pouring in from all over Valero. They all have one thing in common: a perpetrator who looks exactly like Dustin Graves. But Dust has been hanging in the hideout, barely out of sight of his bloodthirsty companions.

An impostor is clearly on the prowl, and soon a vampire clan, the Lorica, and even Dust’s own allies are giving him hell for crimes he didn’t commit. There’s also the matter of finding an entity powerful enough to reforge Vanitas. But the darkling mage will pull through. Dustin always does. Well… except when he doesn’t.

If you like snarky heroes, snappy dialogue, and a bit of grit and gore, you’ll love the third book in Nazri Noor’s series of urban fantasy novels. Explore the Darkling Mage universe and discover Grave Intentions today.

Review:

Dustin Graves is settling into life working under Carver with not only Gil and Sterling but Asher as well – the necromancer they rescued/retrieved from the Viridian Dawn cult in Dark Harvest. Their team is growing. However, there’s also unsettled feelings around Dustin. Vanitas is in pieces, his spirit missing. He perceives Carver to be less interested in him and his burgeoning capabilities and more interested in Asher’s. Sterling seems a bit snarkier, the reality is that’s just Sterling, Gil has hooked up with Prudence, and Bastion is more than his usual level of angry. Then there’s the fact that Dustin is missing his father more than ever, his need to find where he is becomes ramped up even though it goes against the Veil. He would just like to see him again, to let him know he’s still alive, although alive is a relative term.

On top of the above, Dustin seems to have pissed off a bunch of vampires and their blood witch leader, Diaz, for reasons that make no sense to him. Diaz wants the Heartstopper back that Dustin stole from him. While Dustin is a thief of the arcane on behalf of his employers, first it was the Lorica and now it’s Carver, he has no idea what the Heartstopper is let alone actually stolen the object.

It turns out that Dustin is angering a lot of powerful people, and not just for his usual mouthy tendencies and his ability to freakishly shadow step. It’s because someone that looks exactly like Dustin is stealing possessions that powerful beings aren’t impressed about. A number of the arcane objects stolen belong to dangerous people, family of magical people he knows in some capacity. None of it makes sense until Dustin thinks of the one being who has the most to gain from upsetting him and his precarious balance over this side of the Veil. Could it be them? Or are there are other dark forces at play?

Grave Intentions has a few ongoing arcs, Dustin’s increasing need to seek out his father. His foot in two camps so to speak – the Lorica originally and now Carver’s crew. His desire to restore Vanitas at all costs. Dustin’s major talent of shadow stepping is getting more advanced and is an overarching theme of the series, as is the fact that there are latent talents he possesses that are only having their surface scratched right now. It’s frustrating for him to not quite reach the potential that’s expected of him. Carver is a litch, Sterling a vampire, Gil a werewolf, Asher is a necromancer, so their abilities are easily accessed and clearly defined, Dustin’s are ambiguous outside of the Dark Room, which becomes more involved and darker in this instalment, as does his steadily growing fire skillset.

My love of Sterling grows, he and Dustin bounce off each other so well. He made sure to drop that he had tasted Dustin’s blood, it’s nothing exciting but he likes to stir the pot – especially if it gets a rise out of Dustin or others.

“No. No.” Madam Chien shook her finger for emphasis. “You stay here with me, with Prudence. You help me clean up, close shop. Blood boy and his boyfriend can track down the peach.”

“I swear nothing’s happening – ”

“Come on, sweetheart,” Sterling trilled, slinging an arm over my shoulder. “Let’s go kill your doppelganger.”

I love how Dustin’s friends are loyal and like family, but that’s especially true of Sterling. I had the fright of my life in this book. Let’s just say some Kindle throwing nearly happened over Sterling. I will cut the author a bitch if anything happens to Sterling, it’s bad enough I’m missing Vanitas.

A demon possies himself into this book amongst the gods – Mammon, the demon price of greed – and now he wants a piece of Dustin too. The entities or gods of the previous books make appearances, including Hecate, Amaterasu, who brings her brother Susanoo. This pair do not like Dustin. He manages to keep on the front foot while they throw plenty at him. The wonderful Arachne pops out to play, with her eyes everywhere. Her teasing use of the word ‘sweetling‘ for Dustin is awesome. She does have a soft spot for him. Plus Arachne certainly appreciates a fine looking young man. I love her spy spiders. However, there is only so much a god will do for you without something being expected in return, sweetling or not.

This book has a darker tone than the previous books. Dustin feels a bit unsure of his place in this arcane underground he finds himself in the thick of now, in the Boneyard, the space that Carver’s crew live and hang out in behind Mama Rosa’s Filipino restaurant. Speaking of, Asian cuisine is almost a secondary character in this book. Maybe it’s because I love it so much and noticed,  but I think it’s more because it’s used quite a bit in the background… when people meet up or they need food or comfort.

Dustin starts out with the usual snark and while that never goes away completely, his overall demeanour and mood is shadowed. I can’t say much more because it spoils the story but let’s just say the homunculus don’t help.

In the End:

This is a good series. There’s always plenty of action and good world building in each book, and a bit of gore, and previous characters pop in. Herald plays a more important part this time around. Dustin is still a work in progress, but I enjoyed seeing more emotion from him. I liked the multi-faceted aspects of his nature creeping out. I understand snarky and snappy retorts help him process his life now, that’s Dustin, but I always expect layers of emotional depth, and much to my delight it’s developed more in book #3. I also like my UF with more kick, some more darkness, and Grave Intentions delivers. Definitely recommended for lovers of UF who enjoy good writing and a developing series they can get behind. 4.5 Stars.

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Indie 

Genre: Horror

Tags: Psychological, Dark Humour 

Length: 110 Pages

Reviewer: Cindi

Purchase At:  amazon

Synopsis:

She had no idea why she killed him. Frying pan to the back of his head. Repeatedly. She just finally snapped at the lack of romance in their marriage. The lack of love. Perhaps her subconscious simply thought, ‘If Romance is dead – why shouldn’t he be dead too?’ It didn’t matter why she did it. The only thing that mattered now was to hide her crime. Easier said than done with her neighbours breathing down her neck, asking awkward questions. That and the fact that, in his death, she was finally starting to realise why she loved him in the first place.

Review:

Naomi and Ben don’t have the best of marriages. Sure, it was all nice and sweet early on but as the years have gone by, it’s gotten more than a bit stale. Ben has gone from being a nice, attentive husband to being sarcastic, critical, and just an all around jerk. Don’t get me wrong, Naomi has her moments as well. She nags and nags, and can’t a man catch a break on his one day off? Her cooking is bad, she leaves doors open all the time when he tells her to close them already, and she’s always griping about something. A match made in Heaven, right? *smirk*

This starts with a prologue that sets the story in motion. Naomi and Ben are sitting at their dining room table having dinner and Ben’s thoughts wander, as is his norm when he’s around his wife. Of course this irks Naomi. Hmm… everything irks Naomi. While Ben is having little fantasies of taking care of his loving wife (note the sarcasm), Naomi has decided she has had enough. Can he not even tell her about his day, for God’s sake? It’s like pulling teeth to get more than a one word answer out of the man, and even then, he makes it clear he’s not interested in discussing his day, or anything else, with his wife of about five years.

So, after one too many times of being ignored, Naomi decides to fix things once and for all – with the use of a frying pan.

I said this in one of my updates on Goodreads, but I’ve got to mention it in this review. There is an ongoing running joke between Kazza K and myself about frying pans and our men. It’s been going on for so long that I bought her a tiny, cast iron, skillet and sent it to her as a gag gift for her birthday last year (all the way to Australia). I plan on reading every story Matt Shaw has written, but when I saw the frying pan in the blurb of Romance is Dead, I knew it would be my next one.

Now back to Naomi and her frying pan….

See, Naomi has not been happy with Ben for awhile and the ignoring her at dinner – after she fixed him this overcooked steak and under cooked chips wonderful meal, was her final straw. But she didn’t think things through too clearly before she bopped him on the head with the frying pan – over and over again. But he deserved it, she feels, so there’s no remorse at all… until later. She always wanted a pond in her backyard and Ben fought her on it, so she’ll just dig that pond herself and bury Ben in the hole and then tell the neighbors he ran off and left her. She gets so excited over that thought and all the fish she can put in the pond. It will be the perfect plan!

Maybe not.

Naomi starts to lose her mind regret what she did to the hubby. Sure, he deserved it, but suddenly she’s remembering how things used to be with him. There were good times once upon a time, right? Then there’s the fact that well, Ben is dead, and the dead don’t stay, hmm, fresh, and she’s not exactly getting a move on with that pond digging. Who knew it would be so much work? Then there are the perfect neighbors, Liam and Kelly, who are just too close and too nosy for comfort. How is Naomi supposed to bury Ben’s body if Liam and Kelly can look out their back door at any time to see what she’s doing? Throw in the fact that she’s totally convinced that Ben is talking to her – you know, the very dead Ben who is decomposing in the dining room – and Naomi is quickly losing touch with reality.

Then we get to the ending, and no way in hell would I spoil that for anyone, but it was totally not what I was expecting. I read PORN by this author a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve read enough reviews where folks have stated how he is great about throwing out twists at the end of his books. That was definitely the case with Romance is Dead.

I love books with dark humor and I got that in spades with this one. Yes, it’s about a crazy woman who murders her husband, but you can’t read this book and not giggle more than a few times.

Overall, an excellent read. You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you’ll say what the hell just happened? at the end.

Highly recommended. An easy 5 stars.

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: NineStar Press

Genre: Paranormal 

Tags: Predominantly Werewolves + Vampire, Ghost, Other. Dark & Psychological, Horror, Humour, Ensemble Cast, Subplot Romance, Series

Length: 316 Pages

Reviewer: Karen

Purchase At:  amazon, NineStar Press 

Synopsis:

Outsiders call them False Moons, but Garvey’s kind call themselves Moondogs. Moondogs hunt. Moondogs live free. Moondogs stick together. Moondogs are half-breeds, not completely accepted by those who consider themselves “true wolves.”

Garvey is a Moondog to his bones. He and the unexpected get along just fine. That’s why when Molly, the vampire who should be a mindless eating machine, turns out to be an oddity, Garvey decides to hide her away instead of killing her.

But that leaves him needing another vampire to carry out the schemes of the two powerful werewolf rivals he’s caught between. What’s an improvising Moondog to do other than find some poor sap and create a new one?

Garvey might be a Moondog to his bones, but to defeat his enemies, he must navigate their world and be the stupid, subservient beast they expect. At least on the surface. Behind the scenes, Garvey intends to turn their plans against them and bring the two greater packs to the brink of war.

Review:

**This was my Book of the Year for 2018 at On Top Down Under Book Reviews, so I bought this review across to Dark Hints where I think it suits the blog better. 

I grew up on a diet of vampire books and movies. If werewolves were in the mix, they were generally more primal creatures – we’re talking B&W TV (when it arrived) and early books and movies. While the vampires used their seductive wiles to lure their prey, the werewolves were dark, brooding, shadowy creatures, nothing like the romantic shifters that roam the pages of romance books nowadays. I enjoy a good romance shifter read every now and then, I do, but I prefer darker and bloody paranormal. One of the things that attracted me to The Worst Werewolf, book #1 in this series, was the promise of a darker werewolf based universe. Which it was. They aren’t fuzzy weres, part of alpha/omega shifter verses, with romantic alpha MCs who are more mediators, lovingly using their power for protection of their bonded mate. This series can be harsh. Love, even basic kindness, generally takes a backseat to pack, and even though book #2 definitely has its moments, The Worst Werewolf was a more overall bloody book than The False Moon. It also set up a solid platform for the personalities, events and different packs that don’t like each other but inexorably entwine. The False Moon fleshes and rounds out characters, motivations, and emotion more. And while Garvey and Tovin are absolutely essential characters to the series, and I’m cheering for them, it’s an ensemble cast that fills the pages. At the end of TWW there were some cryptic happenings that promised so much more. That ‘more’ started unfolding in The False Moon.

Once again, this series book is split into parts. During these parts there are different locations and POV shifts to and for corresponding packs and individuals. Whether that be Garvey in relation to what is driving him on behalf of the Moondogs. His wife, a cover for the Moondog pack because Garvey is gay and gay is not something, it appears, the pack likes. Ahhh, the wonderful Mercy. She uses a Southern twang and charm, complete with coiffed hair and nice nails, and she is his co-conspirator in death and mayhem.

“Shoot. If this don’t beat all. I’ll get a tarp in the truck. You, mister—” She poked him in the chest with a short, pudgy finger. “—you owe me cameos at bake sales and competitions. Don’t think I won’t collect.”
“I will be there with bells on, love.”

While Mercy gathered up killing supplies, Garvey briefly wished she were the man he had met out on a Wisconsin lake on a day when the snow made the world white and flat. But the snow had melted, and the land had the curves of a woman.

I mean, the love involved in helping your significant other with all things their job, their life, even if you are best friends and not lovers, is a powerful thing. I can respect that. ‘Hey, honey, let me help you hide the bodies’ – very practical, very loyal.

Garvey’s feelings for Tovin, aka Sweet Treat, the guy he picked up online (book #1) and created a life-changing date from Hell with, were potent from the beginning… but you can’t let sentimentality get in the way. One day Tovin’s working in sales, looking for a little adventure to show his horrid ex he’s not boring, to the next day being a bloodslave in the thick of inter-pack machinations that go off the rails. Adventurous is overrated. Now he’s ensconced, grudgingly for most, in the Isangelous pack. A place where he has to speak as the Alpha Guardian’s pet and socialise with people who have drunk the Kool-Aid about being given immortality after serving as bloodslaves. Tovin is an introverted, geeky human who absolutely hates social interactions, knows the Isangelous lies about immortality for its humans, but now has no choice but to make nice and pretend. He also has a ghost that’s chosen to hang out with him, giving him guidance and support, as cryptic as it is, and he’s not sure why. He’s not even sure for a while if she’s real, but he’s named her Destiny anyway. Destiny is the perfect side kick for my boy Tovin’s dorkiness and humanity. In a sea of apathy to anger, Tovin is suddenly a spreader of moral and shiny. No one in the Isangelous pack believes him about the ghost, they simply believe him to be an even weirder outsider than they already thought; particularly as he now has conversations with someone or something they can’t see. But he’s Eresna’s so they humour him…to a degree. Then there’s the door that whispers for Tovin to touch it and the corresponding death records for people before him who have done just that.

Yuri and Nadine, from the Isangelous pack, have their own issues. Yuri’s a smart wolf. Pack has always, always come first… but then there’s Tovin, a human she has a special attachment to. Pack is pivotal to all the wolves, no matter which pack. Doing her job well has always been of paramount importance to Yuri. She’s been valued for her skills and smarts by Eresna, the Isangelous Alph and Queen, for so long. After Tovin’s ‘extraction’ went badly, and Eresna’s been stuck with him, Yuri has been blamed, ignored, and demoted. No matter that it was Garvey who imploded that ‘extraction’ with all its ripple effects. Nadine is now her boss, and while they have a deep and abiding friendship, something that could have been more, it stings that the reckless and free-spirited Nadine has Yuri’s old position. However, it never gets in the way of their interactions and how they feel about one another. Yuri also knows Tovin has the death records, and this knowledge, her connection to Tovin as well, starts some events in motion that have the ability to create a great deal of havoc.

Amber, another human, and Lavario, werewolf, are at the Varcolac pack, but neither are Varcolac. Both have some highly emotional and challenging moments. Amber’s family were slaughtered by the Varcolac, on Kijo’s command, and the twenty one year old is incredibly hurt and angry. Lavario, who raised Kijo, had no choice but to take Amber in. She’s not happy with Lavario but he’s increasingly hard to to stay mad at. The revenge she has so badly wanted shifts regarding who it is she wants to hurt. Although it’s not particularly simplistic to say her anger has completely shifted. It hasn’t. She thinks of her family every day. Hears her younger sister in her head about where she is and what’s happening to her and what she’d say to Amber if she were still alive. She’s in danger with the Varcolac because Alpha Guardian Mazgan barely tolerates her. While Lavario is intimidating to the pack, and it affords her a degree of protection, it isn’t simple to break down just how Lavario sits within the structure of the Varcolac in a review.

Most wolves who met Lavario slunk away, avoiding eye contact. Those who gave him orders—sweep the floor, drive me here, pick up the dry cleaning—did so in a voice shimmering with hesitation. For good reason. Lavario obeyed patiently, but the look he gave them said, I’ll remember. I’ll collect.

There’s a presence making itself known around Amber as well. Something no one initially understands, but as they do, it increasingly puts an even bigger target on her. Lavario tells her he would kill her if need be, but, in a great and meaningful dichotomy, he also offers her a knife that would kill him if she has to fight for her life. Even with the anger, partly because of that, partly because of daddy issues, Lavario and Amber start a sexual relationship. Their relationship is the most complex of the book. To be honest, anyone Lavario has had any real connection with ends up in a complex relationship with Lavario – Kijo, Garvey, Amber.

He slowly shook his head. “She remembers the woods. You were sloppy.”
All semblance of calm vanished. She transformed. She lifted her lip to show the tips of her fangs. “You don’t understand, Lavario. Amber is very dangerous.”
“Is she now?”

The highly ambitious and aggressive Kijo is now separated from Lavario. She also finds herself being challenged regularly because of Alpha Guardian Mazgan, who has a slash and burn mentality to everything. Either Kijo is by his side and bows to him, something he wants and she won’t do, or she’s taken out by a pack challenger – yeah, good luck with that. Kijo scares Mazgan as she has the brutality and the ambition to take the pack away from him but he fancies her too, but rules are rules when they suit him. Mazgan is a hypocritical coward and I hold a grudge against him. Yes, I do realise he’s fictional – but Hell hath no fury like a reader angered. There are quite a few pack plots occurring and Kijo is involved in numerous situations that are critical. She is power-driven, observant and strategic. Having been raised predominantly within the aggressive Varcolac, she likes the power-plays, always believed she hated the Boo Hag – Isangelous – mentality of pretty and fine things, but learns that nurture can be a bitch. She remains badass throughout both books, usually something I love in female characters, but I find it difficult to like Kijo. While I respect her keen brain and her sheer power and tenacity, she’s too cold for me. However, absolutely anything is possible with her because she’s seriously calculating and enigmatic. She’s also had one interesting father figure and brilliant political and character mentor in Lavario.

Meanwhile, Garvey has several things going on and he’s up to his neck in most dilemmas. In the midst of it all, he cares deeply for Tovin. Maybe there’s a mate connection, maybe it’s just plain old pheromones, lust, and opposites attract. Tovin hasn’t shown his hand exactly, he’s kind of in the middle of new paranormal activity and survival. However, they finally get to be intimate with one another, and I was so happy. And, who knew? Garvey has actual feelings, and for more beings than I thought possible. Occasionally in book #1 his feelings would peek out, but now he’s thinking about Tovin more and more.

“Do you love Tovin?”
Uncomfortable with the personal question, he toyed with a sarcastic response. Typically, Moondogs didn’t share feelings with Boo Hags. In this moment, he wanted to believe they were deathmates if not packmates. “I think so, yes. It’s hard to tell. I want to protect him, and I want to be near him.”
“He’s so moral.” You’re not was heavily implied. 

Yes. Well. Garvey isn’t the most moral and I love him for it. Jerald was such a well deserved, violently loving gift he served up. *Sigh. He also has a vampire on a leash, Molly, that he’s brought through a portal to wreak a little destabilising mojo. His pack, the lesser esteemed Moondogs, or False Moons, are culled every decade – and here comes decade-culling time. Garvey isn’t sitting back waiting. Molly is not your typical scheming and seductive vampire, nope, she is totally ruled by her need to feed. Hungry really is her catchcry. She also says one word only from any sentence Garvey uses, and she’s fond of our Moondog. One Word Molly: I found her adorable, in a totally creepy way. I shouldn’t, she’s a walking death plague, or creator of a lower type of undead, but not one single being is anything less than three dimensional in this series, and Miss Hungry seems to be developing a creeping sentience.

Overall:

I could write a thesis of a review on this book and barely scratch the surface of the world and characters. I’ll finish up by saying that this is a fantastic paranormal series. It’s intelligent, well written, well edited, involved. Each chapter has the best heading, like Dead Asshole Scientists and Annoying, Unless Pets, which always fit the corresponding chapter perfectly. The humour is jaded, noir, hilarious, often youthful. Lavario and Eresna have been around for a while, they’re mature Davis-Crawford pro-level dry and snarky, but they sometimes react in ways that surprise me. The romance aspect of this series is developing nicely but it’s part of a bigger picture. This isn’t MM, it has het sex, for one, as well as gay and fluid moments. It’s paranormal. It’s horror. It’s humour. Romance is a subplot.

Being a character obsessive means I need good, strong characters to enjoy a book. Every character in this series is perfectly nuanced and multifaceted, reflecting lighter and darker aspects of who they are, their very nature as they move through this ‘verse toward their impending and fateful personal and pack intersection. The False Moon is absorbing paranormal reading, adding a progressive and balanced layer upon The Worst Werewolf, which you do need to have read first. I absolutely love this series, so very glad I found it, and I’m sure that whatever comes next will be one hell of a ride. I can’t wait. 5 Stars.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press 

Genre: Paranormal/UF. 

Tags: Violence/Gore, Humour, Romance, Sex (Gay) – Including Aggressive BDSM/Violence, Series   

Length: 411 Pages  

Reviewer: Karen

Purchase: amazon.com, Curiosity Quills Press

Synopsis:

Matheus believes that getting Quin back will help him deal with the pressures of a vampiric war, but his hopes crumble after his soulmate fails to remember him.

The tattered remnant of their mystical connection appears to drive Quin’s erratic suicidal behavior, threatening their bond and their very existence. While Matheus pines for his former love, a hurt and betrayed Alastair must watch the man he loves chase another. Feeling inadequate as a leader, Matheus searches for a way to make Quin remember him, no matter the cost.

With Apollonia is closing in on their home, he must act soon. And to make matters worse, his mortal―and pregnant―sister begrudgingly sets aside her contempt for vampires to ask his help to protect her unborn child from their insane father.

Terrified of losing Quin for good and of facing his father, Matheus faces a damning choice: kill the man he loves or attempt an untested ritual that might destroy them both.

Review:

First of all, this cover seems like a graphic novella or some pop culture YA book. The cover concept is far, far removed from the nature of the story being told, it breaks with the theme of the other covers in the series as well. I didn’t think it was the right book at first when looking to buy it. I simply do not like it. It’s disappointing starting with such a strong negative reaction because for me this is the best book in the series.

Once again book #3 starts immediately after the end of book #2. Quin is back but he is not himself. He was effectively lobotomised by the procedure Matheus’ father uses to turn vampires back into humans – the word human being subjective with what Carsten Schneider does to vampire subjects. Near the end of Real Vampires Do It in the Dark, Heaven let Matheus know there is a way he can turn Quin back into a vampire, which Matheus’ went through with Quin. It works but Quin has amnesia after 1960, which means he has no idea of who Matheus is or what he means to him, how he calms him. Definitely no recall of turning and claiming him, and that they share a bond, which is muted and… off.

“What year is it?”
“1960,” said Quin.
“Christ.” Matheus’s mouth dropped open. He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “You’re about fifty years off.”
“I must have been hibernating,” said Quin.
“You weren’t hibernating! You were out killing people and committing heinous acts!”

The Quin that joins them is physical and brutal, with scant regard for anyone but himself, and it’s clear to see why the others are scared of the seventeen-hundred year old vampire. He bickers and banters with Matheus but for a while he’s nasty and physical with it. He puts Matheus in danger on at least one occasion, something the old Quin wouldn’t ever do to his ‘Sunshine’.

The war between covens and factions continues, as does Carsten Schneider’s sadism in the name of his warped ideas of saving the world and Christianity. That his son is now one of the undead has him more crazed and unstable than ever before. Even loyal Fletcher tells Matheus to look out.

“Was it not enough to kill my son? To mock me with his words and his visage? You had to taint my daughter as well? But you failed, dämon, Die Hand Gottes wird überwunden. The pure soul remains. I shall claim him from the darkness and raise him in the light of the Lord.”

Freddie, a werewolf who joined the coven after proving himself in battle in book #2, has an attachment to Alistair and it’s nice to see someone actually think Alistair is special. Alistair still holds a torch for Matheus, but Matheus cannot give him what he wants. Freddie is a distraction but there are definitely some developing feelings from Alistair toward him too.

Fletcher raised her annoying head again. I’m not bothering with her MacGuffin moments.

While he won’t readily admit it, Matheus loves Quin, even when Quin wasn’t the Quin he got to know after his turning. Ordinarily they are a yin and yang pairing – Matheus can whinge, Quin can be a hard-arse, Matheus is stubborn, Quin is amused, they each give as good as they get. They simply go together.

Matheus really does put himself on the line in the third book. He decides on some scientific experimentation of his own, placing himself in the sun during full daylight because he is all bar sleeping now. This creates even more of a buzz in the coven, and further afield, where they think he is the second coming, at least the original vampire –

Milo pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with his pinky. “You survived a day in the sunlight.”
“I did realize that, Milo,” said Matheus. “I was there.”
“People are saying… Protos.”

When it’s worked out what is wrong with Quin, they sort it, once he gets over wanting Matheus to kill him because of the seeming duality inside his head.  There is a relationship and there is sex in book #3. It is intense and often violent – Matheus loves rough sex and Quin’s not about to dissuade him if that’s what Matheus truly wants. There isn’t a lot of it but it does exist. It’s very rough and violent, and they both like it that way. While there is a consent of sorts, they are vampires and there is dysfunction – for one because of original era born, and for the other it’s family – it’s all relative to this story line. I’m just making it clear for readers who like to know that it isn’t safe or sane, but they’re both pretty redundant words in the overall context of this book.

Once again there was action aplenty in Real Vampires Take No Prisoners. More properties burned down – god, I hope someone had insurance. Crossbows reappeared, some guns this time, assholitry abounded, and the regulars shone quite brightly – Joan is still wonderfully bloodthirsty, and full of revenge, bless her –

“Those bastards put a big-ass hole in my chest. I want some fucking revenge.”
“And you think chainsaws are the way to go,” said Matheus.
“Fuck yeah. I don’t care how immortal your ass is, a chainsaw rips you in half, you’re not getting up in a hurry.”

Milo is as droll as ever, Alistair has deep emotions. Speaking of emotions, I disliked the way this book ended for Alistair, he deserved better. Juliet was her usual intriguing self, is it a compliment? Is it a threat?

“Lenya asks after you, pet. It’s quite troublesome.”
“Oh,” Matheus said in the face of Juliet’s expectant expression. She looked at him as though waiting for the next line in the script. “I’m sorry?”

Quin and Matheus find one another fully when Matheus realises he wants and needs Quin in his undead life. Matheus loving Quin’s calloused hands, hands that always steady him. Quin loving blond, blond hair and someone who won’t just back his ideas no matter what, someone with a stubborn streak a mile wide, and one with a somewhat twisted acceptance –

“Quin?”
“Yes, love?”
“I don’t even care if this is Stockholm Syndrome.”
“I love you too, Sunshine.”

It is all quite romantic. Well, as romantic as this sniping pair can be, and especially as Matheus is more of an ‘I’ll do something for you rather than be romantic’ individual. However, Quin finally explains why he turned and claimed Matheus, and while some of it was quite, uh, random, I won’t explain in a review, the reasons why he called him Sunshine from day one was rather lovely-

The violence and battles, paranormal and UF writing were all appreciated by this reader, I felt satisfied with my well rounded yet bloody fix as it drew to a conclusion, a rather violent one.

I enjoyed spending my time with these characters for over a week as I read over a thousand pages to reach the end. The ending was a tad abrupt but maybe I just wasn’t quite ready to leave this universe. I’m still sticking with Alistair deserved better. Realistically there could be a new adventure for all these characters, but I’m surmising the author wrote this book as a finale for those who waited the three years between books #2 and #3.  I’m very glad Amy Fecteau put the last piece in place for series readers, especially given book #2 ended on a huge cliffhanger, as there’s nothing worse for devoted readers than a series left unfinished.

In the End:  

I enjoyed this series as a whole, I read all three books back-to-back. It wasn’t a cheap series to buy, so you can be sure I was invested. It offered gritty paranormal with bloody vampires, humour, snark, some well written banter – when it wasn’t drawn out – and flawed but infinitely likeable characters, certainly interesting, smattered throughout the ensemble cast. It also provided emotional moments, betrayal, strange family dynamics, and some hard to define camaraderie. That the romance was a subplot made the series stronger. I like the paranormal and UF elements to standout with a balanced relationship ’round and about. The series was finished on the best book. 4.5 Stars.

Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Genre: Paranormal/UF

Tags: Vampires, Violence, Gore, Humour. Some Intimacy. 

Length: 342 Pages

Reviewer: Karen

Purchase At: amazon.com, Curiosity Quills Press

Synopsis:

After his disownment, Matheus finds himself more confused than ever. He lashes out, losing Quin, the one constant presence in his new life. Alone, penniless, and clueless, Matheus is forced to carve out a new (un)life, amid the chaos of a hidden war. Friends and enemies, old and new, appear with secrets, betrayals, and a surprising revelations.

Matheus will need all the help he can get, because he isn’t the only making new alliances. His father, insane and desperate, joins with Appollonia Parker, one of the creatures he’d sworn to annihilate. Appollonia doesn’t take being crossed lightly, and she sets out to exterminate Matheus and his newfound family.

Matheus must risk it all to protect his loved ones, and save Quin, one way or another…

Review:

First of all, I really deliberated hard on whether to read this book. I love Quin and I knew he’d be gone for this instalment. I also knew Alistair and Matheus formed more than a friendship as well, and I wasn’t sure about that because while Alistair was okay, having him as a quasi replacement for Quin was something I considered a tall order.

Book #2 starts immediately after the events of book #1 and the nightmare of Matheus’ father reemerging in all his religious zeal. After Quin’s house is burnt to the ground, their immediate circle becomes scattered. Quin and Matheus are together until they have a particularly acrimonious fight, one where Matheus tells Quin to leave – which Quin does. Matheus wants to find Bianca, his friend from when he was human who has come back into his life recently. Matheus has no clue where Alistair, Juliet, and Milo are either, and he has no money or home. Matheus continues living in a crypt in Hopeside Cemetery where Quin left him, despite hating bugs, but one by one people start popping back into his life. Some for better and some for worse. Eventually they find somewhere to exist outside a, rather ironic, crypt.

This book is primarily about Matheus finding his feet just three months after being turned and claimed by Quin, and without his seventeen-hundred year old Roman vampire there to help. Between hunters chasing them and zealots causing major problems previously, Quin hasn’t shown Matheus much about the otherworld. Besides, Quin’s not much of a teacher, he’s more a baptism by fire kind of vampire. He has a reputation for being rather bloodthirsty and volatile in a world where death is an everyday occurrence, and it’s fairly clear that everyone around Matheus is happier Quin isn’t there.

“Do you know about his maker? Akantha?”
“Some things.” Matheus suspected Quin didn’t go around sharing the details of his time with Akantha willy-nilly.
“Did you know that before he killed her, Quin cut off her limbs and nailed them to the doors of each of the lords of Rome?” asked Eamon.
Matheus had to admit, that did have a certain psychopathic style he associated with Quin.

The ‘lords of the city’ of Kenderton are fragmented. Zeb died in the last book. Grigori has now been murdered by Apollonia’s coven, which means she’s the only ‘lord’ (lady) left in charge. Apollonia is ‘Beverly Sutphin’ on supernatural steroids so naturally things escalate into nasty territory. Especially so when Matheus kills off some of her supporters, saves a few of Grigori’s, and sends another of Apollonia’s minions back to tell her he isn’t going to be taking orders from her. Not now. Not ever. Apollonia may dress like a 1950’s homemaker but she’s not the cutesy, caring type, unless they’re both euphemisms for sadism. She already isn’t keen on Matheus after he insisted Quin get her to release the ”torture twins’ she was holding captive.

Matheus finds himself the inadvertent leader of a ragtag group of vampires, with a few other beings watching on from the sidelines. He loathes being called master or sir, dealing with his own mental yo-yo is enough without others looking to him for advice and leadership. To add to his overall problems, the remainder of Grigori’s coven, the ones who haven’t gone over to Apollonia’s side, pledges itself to him. Matheus is a little self-preservation-lacking at times and leaps into the fray. He also looks out for others without thinking, which makes him appear strong and the likely champion against Apollonia. It doesn’t hurt that he is the “consort” of the “dark one,” meaning Quin, whom everyone fears.

Thoughts:

Certain characters from the first book are fleshed out further in this addition. I did appreciate that because there are more than a few critical characters I needed to know more about. New ones are also added and some are given enough depth, while others make up the numbers.

Matheus stopped annoying me less and less to the point where I respected his loyalty to those his dented heart could embrace. I liked him in his new role as the protector of the coven because he automatically never wants to leave anyone behind  – uncharacteristic for vampires. I was also glad he embraced the fact that he is gay and not use it as another thing that could make him feel like he disappointed his father even more.

Alistair came into his own. He’s a fantastic character. He was a doctor in WWII and occasionally his voice is sure and steady. Commanding. Sometimes his insecurity is on display, making him bitchy, bitingly sarcastic, and other times vulnerable. Matheus may be the one who people follow, but Alistair is the one with the organisational and people skills. He also loves readily and is looking for someone to love him heart and soul in return, to rescue him – and he’ll freely admit that. Where in the first book he could have scratched Matheus’ eyes out, because Quin claimed him when he never claimed Alistair, he falls for Matheus in this book. I thought Alistair to be sad and humorous all at the same time. Lost, and with the fear of eternity alone staring back at him. He could snap quickly between any and all emotions. I also like that unlike Matheus, Alistair owns who he is and could never be called a prude.

“Alistair!” Matheus spun around, the lock forgotten.
Joan snorted.
“What?” Alistair waved an airy hand. “Like Joan doesn’t know we had sex? Darling, everyone knows. Get over it.”

But, having added the above quote, there really is no on-page sex. While there is a romance at the heart of this series, the first two books are definitely not MM romance, in spite of the gay primary characters.

There are three women I think are amazing in this series – Juliet is one of them. Matheus finally discovers what she is, who she is. Her lines are brilliant, chilling, comical. I love her use of the word ‘Pet’ for Matheus because it suits her and never appears condescending. It’s just Juliet. Her daughters, especially Lenya, add an intriguing note. Her character is an otherworld counterbalance to Casten Schneider’s dysfunctional real world father figure. Heaven is another great female character. She’s an extremely old soul with immense power but only a few know it. She talks in riddles about the stars and prophecy and possibilities, seems like a 60’s LSD lovechild, but if she puts on her other face, which appears when it is absolutely necessary, you know she’s not to be messed with. It’s because of Heaven that Matheus initially has the leadership status and power. She likes and trusts him.

“Heaven, if we’re not back in three hours, send someone after us.”
“If the stars will it.”
“Right.” Matheus rolled his eyes. “Thanks so much.”

Then there is Joan, mad as a cut snake, batshit crazy Joan. Chainsaw toting Joan. Hardware store items-as-weapons Joan who revels in a good battle, blood, gore, guts, and decapitation. Modern paranormal/UF Joan of Arc Joan who enjoys to verbally and, at times, physically stoush with another vampire, Blanche, who has a touch of the Blanche DuBois’ about her.

I definitely wasn’t fond of Matheus’ step sister, Fletcher, who works with their father in the experimentation on vampires. I know that she’s portrayed as the other victim of their father, but the reality is she’s more of a MacGuffin than anything else. If she wasn’t there, who would Matheus go back into a TSTL moment for? How could some of the characters disappear then come back all bedraggled after looking after her? Quin had already had his moment of rescue by Matheus so Fletcher came in handy. Because she was a plot device, I found her to be annoyingly wishy-washy.

Meanwhile, Matheus is dealing with his usual existential moments, when not, he’s busy fighting another battle with old and new foes – more crossbows make an appearance or two, and a few swords round that out. He’s trying to keep everyone under his care safe, and while he cringes at being the leader of this coven, being in charge of so many undead, he has no choice. He is also waking up earlier and earlier and it appears there is more than vampire-from-human to Matheus. He’s also embracing the need to kill more readily as the months pass.

Matheus misses Quin but he has an internalised struggle with his feelings because of years of conditioning by his father. Alistair helps a great deal, but after a while it becomes apparent there is a reason why Quin is continuing to stay away. Why there is a daze or a nothingness to the companion bond for Matheus starts to make some sense. This has him determined to find Quin, which means Alistair is cast aside as a lover. Again.

“I’d leave him to rot,” said Alistair.
Matheus jerked up his head. “You would not.”
“I would,” said Alistair with a definite nod. “Quin would do the same to me. Not to you. You’re special.”
Matheus winced. “Right.” He returned to the comforting support of sarcasm. “I’m a unique and beautiful snowflake.”
“And I’m just dime store tinsel.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“No. I did.” Alistair gnawed on his lower lip, gaze fixed somewhere in the distance.

When Quin comes back at the end he isn’t the Quin Matheus knows… and then this book ends on a huge cliffhanger. Luckily for me book #3 was ready and available as I’ve been late to the party for this series.

Niggles:

My issues predominantly revolve around the editing once more – line and content. There are missing words, some weird things like a / during a sentence, and the book could have been trimmed down. I enjoyed the banter, but it can grate after extended periods, and the action isn’t as well paced as it could be. The physical world building isn’t much chop either, however the characters are given priority. This series is narrated solely from Matheus’ POV and I wish it was a two person perspective, but I can see why the author chose this route, especially with Quin MIA in this book. I’ve already noted these things in my review of book #1.

In the End: 

Real Vampires Do It in the Dark is an interesting second book, one I wasn’t sure would work without Quin, but, hey, I’m happy to say I was wrong. Did I miss Quin? Yes. He’s a fantastic character, full of dry wit, sarcasm, general malevolence and psychopathy, plus moments of really deep devotion to one being, Matheus. In spite of this, and much like Matheus, the other characters and the action gave me plenty to engage with in Quin’s absence. I was fulfilled to a certain degree, but, also like Matheus, I wanted Quin back. After that ending I immediately one-clicked book #3. A recommended series for readers who like a grittier, bloodier paranormal and UF, with a subplot of (gay) romance, laced with violence, humour, and vampiric intensity and connection. 4 Stars. 

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Genre: Paranormal/UF

Tags: Violence/Gore, Humour, Elements of Flirtation (Gay) 

Length: 386 Pages

Reviewer: Karen

Purchase At: amazon, Curiosity Quills Press

Synopsis:

Matheus Taylor didn’t ask to be murdered.

To be fair, the percentage of people actually asking to be murdered is probably small enough to be safely ignored, but he felt it was worth stating regardless.

His life might have been ordinary, but it was his life and he wasn’t done with it yet. Quin didn’t care. A seventeen-hundred old Roman, Quintus Livius Saturnius had a different view of morality than most people. Killing Matheus and hijacking his undead existence seemed perfectly acceptable to him.

Now, Matheus spends his nights running for his life, questioning his sexual orientation, and defying a mysterious new threat to the vampires within his city. Not that he set out to do any defying; he just wanted to be left alone.

Unfortunately, that was never going to happen.

Review:

The synopsis gives readers the basics about this book and it was released nearly five years ago so mostly it’s my overall likes and dislikes that form this review.

There isn’t any real lead in to this story. No backstory to either main character. Quin is an old vampire who turns Matheus in an alley one night after he’s effectively coerced him into stealing an item for him. He can’t leave any loose ends and Matheus would be one big one if left alive. He not only turns him he claims him, which is different. Clearly there was a bit more to this, why he sought out Matheus specifically and claimed him – forming a bond – instead of just turning him, the whole fancying blond men aside. Perhaps I’ll see why in the next books in the series.

Matheus is resentful of his new life. He doesn’t like that a decision was made to turn him, that Quin tells him he owns him. He also has problems with the feeding, something he has to do to survive now. He has more problems with Quin ‘controlling’ him from the get-go. We discover that Matheus left a dominating father a decade ago at eighteen. Now he finds himself turned against his will, and entwined with another man whose presence is larger than life, seeming all-encompassing. Part of the reason Matheus railed constantly at anything that appeared as personal direction or an order in navigating the otherworld is linked back to Carsten Schneider, his father. Being turned into a vampire without consent is a pretty big control mechanism too.

There are events that the inexperienced Matheus is thrown into very quickly which don’t endear this new life to him. Other vampires and beings he meets who don’t leave a good impression on him, or Matheus on them. One part of the puzzle as to why Quin likes him so much is that Matheus is stubbornly feisty. He’s had quite a bit of practice at not fitting in easily in his human life and it seems it readily  transfers over into his paranormal one.

Good points:

This is a darker paranormal world. It can be brutal. Quin on a rampage dismembers and tears people apart when necessary and has no remorse. The vampires don’t ‘glamour’, drink a little, then allow their food source to head off. No, they drain and kill their victims, or food source, and you have a glimpse into who the food source is too, something that Matheus struggles with. They only need to feed around every twelve weeks, considerably longer periods apart for older vampires, so feeding wasn’t mentioned that often. Killing by fang is though. This is a hybrid vampire story between the older school vampires and the more modern versions. My favourite vampire stories include sex and blood but this certainly was the second best option.

Quin: I loved him. Aside from the whole turning Matheus against his will thing, but old school vampires, what you gonna do? Otherwise, he was supportive, funny, with the patience of Job, and I felt for some part of the book that he could have chosen better progeny than Matheus, but then Matheus would do something and I’d rethink that part. I’m certain this started out as Anne Rice fanfic with the Louis style complaining of Matheus and the amused frustration of Quin. There were times I liked that Matheus had a definite opinion, like when Quin transferred Matheus’ savings offshore into another account for safe-keeping.  Matheus justifiably wanted control of his money, he had earned it, he should control it even if it’s simply placed in a drawer.

It seems Matheus has a few unique qualities for a vampire. He dreams for a starter, including nightmares. He also wakes up earlier than other vampires, and while daylight is still present. I’m guessing there is a more to Matheus than we know right now.

I enjoyed the dry humour of all of the characters. I actually think Milo, Quin’s tech guy, had the most droll moments and every time he spoke he was consistent in his apathy for anything that wasn’t IT or tech.

The hunt near the beginning, the time spent being hunted in a local forest by some very angry, cultish men with crossbows, and a few grenades for the cheaters, was interesting and action-packed. This sort of thing, this action and edge-of-your-seat reading is what I like so much about UF but it slowed down after that and became more about the mundane aspects of life, which is fine if the world was built more, which it wasn’t. So it could have been paced a bit better. Quips are great but large chunks of them grow frustrating after a while. Then the ending ramped right up again with plenty of action.

Meeting the lords of the city – Grigori, Apollonia, and Zeb – who have to approve of a turning, of newbie vampires, was interesting in the sense that they are definite personalities – Grigori is like a surreal, paranormal Hugh Heffner/Marquis de Sade wannabe. Apollonia is otherworld Beverly Sutphin with that extra sadistic twist, and Zeb is a hoarding academic, one who has an old friend of Matheus’ working for him, Bianca, or Bibi as he calls her. It just wasn’t what it should have been – they weren’t tough on Quin turning Matheus, they didn’t  seem to care about that at all. That was odd.

Matheus holds onto secrets. Quin does talk and he does discuss some things, but he also withholds a great deal more and they’re  important facts. Some of it, probably most of it, is to protect Matheus, to not allow Matheus to be scared off so soon. But as Matheus tells Quin later in the book, he’ll only be more liable to being hurt if he doesn’t know what’s coming or what’s going on.

He managed to be both the most transparent and mysterious person Matheus had ever met. Quin answered his questions, but none of his responses brought Matheus any closer to figuring out his motives.

For all I lament some of the churlish words by Matheus, I could understand where it came from. I also enjoyed the witty banter between him and Quin. I felt for Matheus being thrown into a world he knew nothing of before Quin. That he has issues of his own, particularly dysfunctional family issues that burst into his present, help make him somewhat more sympathetic as a character – he is a mix of vampire with more of his humanity still remaining.

 I’m terrified all the time,” he said, softly, almost unaware that he spoke aloud.
“Of me?” Quin asked.
Matheus shook his head. “Of myself. I’m not strong enough for this. I’m weak. I’ve always been weak.” And his father had never let him forget it.
“Sunshine, you’re too damn stubborn to be weak.”

I’ve also never read a contemporary UF paranormal book with so many crossbows being used by several undead-hating factions. It took a bit of getting used to and then I accepted it and rolled with a different weapon choice in a modern tale.

I especially enjoyed the nickname of ‘Sunshine’ that Quin gave Matheus. There’s a romantic aspect behind this moniker of Sunshine for Matheus. However, there is no romance in this book. There are a few subtle moments of flirtation, sometimes from Quin, and Matheus tries desperately to shutdown thoughts of Quin close to him, around and about him, but nothing is particularly overt.

He didn’t think of himself as homophobic, but he drew the line at cuddling with other men. The strange connection he shared with Quin had to be the reason he wanted to curl closer. 

Matheus is dealing with dreams that morph between Quin and his father. Dreams of his father aren’t pleasant, they’re nightmares, the ones with Quin scare him as well but for entirely different reasons. His subconscious mind is pretty much asserting that the whole I’m not gay line is awfully incorrect. The fact that he sometimes thinks of Quin in more than platonic ways, it really isn’t just the claiming bond, is telling and it’s wholly disconcerting to Matheus that he notices notices Quin.

Interestingly, this book read British more than American. I honestly kept thinking they were in London as opposed to some town, Kenderon, in America. The words used – love, Pet, Sunshine, slag, prat, later twat and twit – are more British (Australian) in nature than American.

There are some potentially interesting characters to march forward into the next series book with, including the sometimes handsy Juliet, who loves to call Matheus Pet, the self-flagellating and dramatically jealous-of-Matheus Alistair, who holds a firm torch for Quin, and they’re just for starters.

Niggles:

The overall editing needed to be tighter, some sections needed to be stripped back, there are quite a few missing words throughout. At the time of e-book purchase, Real Vampires Don’t Sparkle cost me in excess of AUS $8 dollars. I actually expect all the editing to be as tight as a drum for that money.

Matheus could be childish. There is a difference between snappy and snarky dialogue and retorts and juvenile words and actions, Matheus straddled both behaviours – one I liked, the other not at all. When Quin eventually said he had his limits I had to agree with him because Matheus could be too much. It’s one thing to be angry over being turned against your will and to adjust, I understand that, but it’s another to constantly blame/be angry at someone for your problems with another person, in this case Matheus’ own father.

I would have liked a POV from Quin. I know I didn’t get one because he’s the enigmatic, older vampire, and the author has clearly put Matheus front and centre for reasons, but I really, really liked Quin. I also felt things about Quin’s life were not given enough depth.

In the End:

I found this to be a satisfying read. Promising. The world building isn’t so much the environment around them, it doesn’t stamp itself on a place, it’s more about the characters themselves and their individual and collective dilemmas. The darkness of Real Vampires Don’t Sparkle appealed immensely. It’s so hard to find the combination of decently written and dark vampire stories with elements of romance, or a romantic subplot, as is the case with this book, and some fitting humour. The characters are mostly forming here, as happens in a series, but there is a promise of things to come. So I shall move on to the next book and hope for a strong follow up. 3.5 Stars.