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Bloodrush
David Rucker wakes up to a scene of shocking violence. Blood and body parts are everywhere. At first, he has no memory of who he is or how he wound up unconscious in the midst of all this carnage The mental fog engulfing him begins to clear and recognition dawns. The bodies of the dead belonged to people he loved. As he absorbs this information, a series of increasingly devastating revelations soon follow, including the realization that he is no longer alive. At least not in the technical sense. He is a monster. A killer. A vampire. At last he remembers something even more disturbing—Narcisa, the ancient and beautiful vampire queen who turned him and set in motion the events that led to this tragedy.
There's still more David needs to remember, but first an even more crucial piece of the puzzle needs an answer—where the hell is Narcisa?
There's still more David needs to remember, but first an even more crucial piece of the puzzle needs an answer—where the hell is Narcisa?
207 pages, Mini-Hardcover
First published July 1, 2011
9 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Smith
104 books761 followersBryan Smith is the Splatterpunk Award-winning author of more than forty horror and crime books, including 68 Kill, the cult classic Depraved and its sequels, as well as The Killing Kind, Slowly We Rot, The Freakshow, and many more. Bestselling horror author Brian Keene called Slowly We Rot, "The best zombie novel I've ever read."
68 Kill was adapted into a motion picture directed by Trent Haaga and starring Matthew Gray Gubler of the long-running CBS series Criminal Minds. 68 Kill won the Midnighters Award at the SXSW film festival in 2017 and was released to wide acclaim, including positive reviews in The New York Times and Bloody Disgusting.
Bryan also co-scripted an original Harley Quinn story for the House of Horrors anthology from DC Comics. He has worked with renowned horror publishers in both the mass market and small press spheres, including Leisure Books, Samhain Publishing, Grindhouse Press, Death’s Head Press, and more. His works are available wherever books are sold, with select titles also available in German and Italian.
68 Kill was adapted into a motion picture directed by Trent Haaga and starring Matthew Gray Gubler of the long-running CBS series Criminal Minds. 68 Kill won the Midnighters Award at the SXSW film festival in 2017 and was released to wide acclaim, including positive reviews in The New York Times and Bloody Disgusting.
Bryan also co-scripted an original Harley Quinn story for the House of Horrors anthology from DC Comics. He has worked with renowned horror publishers in both the mass market and small press spheres, including Leisure Books, Samhain Publishing, Grindhouse Press, Death’s Head Press, and more. His works are available wherever books are sold, with select titles also available in German and Italian.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 10, 2015
Now Vampire stories fall in two tidy little boxes in my world, you have the ones to be avoided at all cost, the ones that focus on the lovey dovey smutley side of things in Twilightesque fashion.
And the ones where vampires are violent animals, killers with no remorse that can jump in trampolining stylie to the top of buildings with 30 days of night on the mind.
So Twilight or 30 days.
Well I have to say Bryan Smith has veered toward Twilight and its taken him well under 30 days to get there, unfortunately. There's the usual Smith sex and violence with an undertone of compelling power from female quarter but yeah there's too much WTF going on.
David Rucker is ensnared by a fantastically attractive (aren't they all), yet ancient (aren't they all), luscious and freakishly powerful (aren't they all), and do you want to live forever as my sex slave babe (you have no choice), type of vampire.
“You can come with me to my secret place.”
“You mean... your home?”
"Yes. We can go there now, be there in a matter of moments, if you accept my offer. I'll show you pleasures beyond anything you ever dreamed possible. You’ll have power. You’ll live forever.” A hint of a smile. “In a manner of speaking.”
Beam me up Scotty, no sorry you can't have vampires traveling by teleportation, it's just not fucking right, to magically appear and disappear at will, no I'm not having it.
No definitely No.
And this switching into Hoover suction mode to drain every last drop of blood out of your victim, repeatedly. Sounds more like a kitchen appliance to me.
Shoot me now and put me out of my misery.
The only good vampire in my opinion apart from the decapitated type is one that kills and kills and kills not shags and shags and shags with a bit of killing post coital.
So Fuck the review I’m a gonna give you a vampire joke instead.
3 vampires are having a competition to prove who's the most vicious vampire amongst them.
The strongest one started first.
"Watch this," He said as he flies so fast, about 100 miles an hour. After only 10 minutes, he comes back with blood all over his mouth. "what happened?" they asked. "did you see that house over there?" "yes?" "well.. I killed the entire family and sucked the blood dry!" "wow!? fascinating, as expected from the strongest vampire"
Then the eldest one takes the next turn.
"Watch and learn," he said as he flies even faster, about 120 miles an hour. After only 5 minutes, he comes back with blood all over his mouth and his neck. "what happened??" they asked. "did you see that village over there?" "ye..yes?" "well.. I killed every last person in that village and sucked the blood dry!" "wow!? magnificent! truly amazing, we can expect no less from the eldest one!"
Finally the last turn belongs to the fastest one.
"Don't blink or you'll miss it" he said as he flies really fast, even faster than the other two, about 140 miles an hour. After only a mere 30 seconds, he comes back with blood all over his mouth, his neck, and a broken nose. "wh..what happened???" they asked. "did you see that big fucking tree over there?" "ye..yes?!" "well.. I didn't"
Pretty crap yeah, sums it up nicely.
And the ones where vampires are violent animals, killers with no remorse that can jump in trampolining stylie to the top of buildings with 30 days of night on the mind.
So Twilight or 30 days.
Well I have to say Bryan Smith has veered toward Twilight and its taken him well under 30 days to get there, unfortunately. There's the usual Smith sex and violence with an undertone of compelling power from female quarter but yeah there's too much WTF going on.
David Rucker is ensnared by a fantastically attractive (aren't they all), yet ancient (aren't they all), luscious and freakishly powerful (aren't they all), and do you want to live forever as my sex slave babe (you have no choice), type of vampire.
“You can come with me to my secret place.”
“You mean... your home?”
"Yes. We can go there now, be there in a matter of moments, if you accept my offer. I'll show you pleasures beyond anything you ever dreamed possible. You’ll have power. You’ll live forever.” A hint of a smile. “In a manner of speaking.”
Beam me up Scotty, no sorry you can't have vampires traveling by teleportation, it's just not fucking right, to magically appear and disappear at will, no I'm not having it.
No definitely No.
And this switching into Hoover suction mode to drain every last drop of blood out of your victim, repeatedly. Sounds more like a kitchen appliance to me.
Shoot me now and put me out of my misery.
The only good vampire in my opinion apart from the decapitated type is one that kills and kills and kills not shags and shags and shags with a bit of killing post coital.
So Fuck the review I’m a gonna give you a vampire joke instead.
3 vampires are having a competition to prove who's the most vicious vampire amongst them.
The strongest one started first.
"Watch this," He said as he flies so fast, about 100 miles an hour. After only 10 minutes, he comes back with blood all over his mouth. "what happened?" they asked. "did you see that house over there?" "yes?" "well.. I killed the entire family and sucked the blood dry!" "wow!? fascinating, as expected from the strongest vampire"
Then the eldest one takes the next turn.
"Watch and learn," he said as he flies even faster, about 120 miles an hour. After only 5 minutes, he comes back with blood all over his mouth and his neck. "what happened??" they asked. "did you see that village over there?" "ye..yes?" "well.. I killed every last person in that village and sucked the blood dry!" "wow!? magnificent! truly amazing, we can expect no less from the eldest one!"
Finally the last turn belongs to the fastest one.
"Don't blink or you'll miss it" he said as he flies really fast, even faster than the other two, about 140 miles an hour. After only a mere 30 seconds, he comes back with blood all over his mouth, his neck, and a broken nose. "wh..what happened???" they asked. "did you see that big fucking tree over there?" "ye..yes?!" "well.. I didn't"
Pretty crap yeah, sums it up nicely.
January 29, 2013
Kobo~
1 Star
I totally disliked this unrealistic book and am disappointed that the author did not, I'm assuming, write to the best of his ability. If someone handed me this book and told me it was from an anonymous author, I would have given it 2 stars for a first time author.
From the first page you get self indulgent writing.
David is a guy who is out shopping for a ring for his girlfriend Janine. "His gaze drifted to the white price tag beside it. Written in blue ink was a figure so astronomical it seemed impossible, the stuff of science fiction." The writing just doesn't fit. He then feels someone following him, a girl. He approaches her and from there he becomes this total idiot/slave. Narcis goes from being a girl in his thoughts to a woman when he kisses her, then back to a girl when he's not thinking of her sexually.
Again, the writing is not good. You are mine, she says. Yes, I am, he says.
Not Good~ I want my money back :(
1 Star
I totally disliked this unrealistic book and am disappointed that the author did not, I'm assuming, write to the best of his ability. If someone handed me this book and told me it was from an anonymous author, I would have given it 2 stars for a first time author.
From the first page you get self indulgent writing.
David is a guy who is out shopping for a ring for his girlfriend Janine. "His gaze drifted to the white price tag beside it. Written in blue ink was a figure so astronomical it seemed impossible, the stuff of science fiction." The writing just doesn't fit. He then feels someone following him, a girl. He approaches her and from there he becomes this total idiot/slave. Narcis goes from being a girl in his thoughts to a woman when he kisses her, then back to a girl when he's not thinking of her sexually.
Again, the writing is not good. You are mine, she says. Yes, I am, he says.
Not Good~ I want my money back :(
Want to read
October 27, 2016This book is copy 1 of 15o hardcover books signed and numbered by Bryan Smith.
July 12, 2011
This is now my second Smith title that I have read and reviewed, and at this point, I can safely say that I am simply not a fan. Although I rated his previous work DARK ONES at one star, I gave him a bit of a pass because it was my introduction to his work and I didn't want to be overly critical in my assessment.
Well... I think at this point, I firmly understand what kind of writer Smith is and the things I really don't like about BLOODRUSH and DARK ONES. As a positive though... I did feel like BLOODRUSH was marginally better than DARK ONES. I say marginally because DARK ONES felt like less of a story and more of a series of scenes of way over the top sex and violence loosely linked together by a "plot".
With BLOODRUSH, this novella felt like it actually went somewhere, but it still carried the same dismaying feeling as his other work, in that the gore fest existed for itself and the plot and character development was just secondary. This kind of storytelling doesn't do much for me and certainly does not evoke any kind of horror in my mind. Perhaps Smith was trying to convey a sense of irony with this one... if so... it was completely lost to me.
As a positive observation, I will credit Smith for attempting to return the vampire archetype to its previous bloodthirsty and brutal god-like predator status. I have to wonder at this point if the vampire archetype in our current pop culture can still evoke a sense of horror. Likely not, given the influences of TWILIGHT and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but kudos to Smith for giving it a go.
On a less positive note, some of the dialogue used throughout the book was pretty cringe-worthy. I understand that the author was probably trying to convey on over-the-top-complete-disconnect-from-humanity feel to the David Rucker character, but some of the exchanges just wanted to make you squirm a bit.
For instance, when David Rucker and his mistress are in a dinner, engaging in wholesale slaughter, he makes the following comment to one of the women pleading for her life in the following passage:
"Her eyes filled with tears and looked even redder than before. 'Please… I have a kid.' David smirked. 'Your kid had a mom.' He chuckled. 'Notice the tense I used.'"
One other concern was the prose or more precisely, the point of view in which the story was told. The prose in general was about what you could expect with this kind of story. Although Smith wrote his descriptions of scenes and characters in the third person, it was odd at times because I think he may have really intended this story to be written from the main character's (David Rucker) first person POV. Perhaps if Smith had simply written from the 1st person POV, we would have gotten a much more genuine feel for the Rucker character. Anyways… I think this is a minor issue compared to the other concerns I have about the entire narrative.
Here is the thing, this type of story and form of story telling just doesn’t work for me on really any literary level. But that is ok. From what I have heard, Bryan Smith has a nice following of readers that enjoy this type of story and I will certainly not begrudge anyone their fun nor cast any value judgments on Smith fans or other fans of this kind of over the top sex and violence sub-genre. We all have our own tastes.
Let’s just say that Smith is not my cup of tea.
Well... I think at this point, I firmly understand what kind of writer Smith is and the things I really don't like about BLOODRUSH and DARK ONES. As a positive though... I did feel like BLOODRUSH was marginally better than DARK ONES. I say marginally because DARK ONES felt like less of a story and more of a series of scenes of way over the top sex and violence loosely linked together by a "plot".
With BLOODRUSH, this novella felt like it actually went somewhere, but it still carried the same dismaying feeling as his other work, in that the gore fest existed for itself and the plot and character development was just secondary. This kind of storytelling doesn't do much for me and certainly does not evoke any kind of horror in my mind. Perhaps Smith was trying to convey a sense of irony with this one... if so... it was completely lost to me.
As a positive observation, I will credit Smith for attempting to return the vampire archetype to its previous bloodthirsty and brutal god-like predator status. I have to wonder at this point if the vampire archetype in our current pop culture can still evoke a sense of horror. Likely not, given the influences of TWILIGHT and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but kudos to Smith for giving it a go.
On a less positive note, some of the dialogue used throughout the book was pretty cringe-worthy. I understand that the author was probably trying to convey on over-the-top-complete-disconnect-from-humanity feel to the David Rucker character, but some of the exchanges just wanted to make you squirm a bit.
For instance, when David Rucker and his mistress are in a dinner, engaging in wholesale slaughter, he makes the following comment to one of the women pleading for her life in the following passage:
"Her eyes filled with tears and looked even redder than before. 'Please… I have a kid.' David smirked. 'Your kid had a mom.' He chuckled. 'Notice the tense I used.'"
One other concern was the prose or more precisely, the point of view in which the story was told. The prose in general was about what you could expect with this kind of story. Although Smith wrote his descriptions of scenes and characters in the third person, it was odd at times because I think he may have really intended this story to be written from the main character's (David Rucker) first person POV. Perhaps if Smith had simply written from the 1st person POV, we would have gotten a much more genuine feel for the Rucker character. Anyways… I think this is a minor issue compared to the other concerns I have about the entire narrative.
Here is the thing, this type of story and form of story telling just doesn’t work for me on really any literary level. But that is ok. From what I have heard, Bryan Smith has a nice following of readers that enjoy this type of story and I will certainly not begrudge anyone their fun nor cast any value judgments on Smith fans or other fans of this kind of over the top sex and violence sub-genre. We all have our own tastes.
Let’s just say that Smith is not my cup of tea.
January 13, 2012
This is the story of David. He wakes up to a scene of slaughter. Body parts and blood are everywhere. his girlfriend and her family have been massacred and he has no recollection of how he got there or what happened.... Slowly things come back to him and he realizes he has become a ferocious killer, a vampire. How did he get to this place in his life?
If you have read Bryan Smith before then this story will come as no surprise. If you like your horror on the dark side and unrelenting and you haven't read any of his books before you are in for a treat. This is vintage Mr Smith, lots of shock, thrills, gore and blood. I could not put the book down and read it in a couple of hours. From the moment David woke up to the slaughter, to the end paragraph I was hooked. His transformation from mild mannered man to vampire and the changes that came with it were stark and gutwrenchingly described. The ending seemed to be left open for more?
In short this is a must, for Bryan Smith fans and fans of graphic horror alike.
If you have read Bryan Smith before then this story will come as no surprise. If you like your horror on the dark side and unrelenting and you haven't read any of his books before you are in for a treat. This is vintage Mr Smith, lots of shock, thrills, gore and blood. I could not put the book down and read it in a couple of hours. From the moment David woke up to the slaughter, to the end paragraph I was hooked. His transformation from mild mannered man to vampire and the changes that came with it were stark and gutwrenchingly described. The ending seemed to be left open for more?
In short this is a must, for Bryan Smith fans and fans of graphic horror alike.
April 17, 2012
If you think:
-setting up the scene is a unnecessary drag,
-more horror means higher piles of body's,
-every scene should be stuffed with dismembered body parts, preferably naked ones,
-motives for characters actions are not important,
-having a plot is boring....
then you're going to love this!
From the moment you start this book you find your self in the center of carnage and it doesn't ease up until the end. First few scenes i was like really shocked and wondered what is happening and so on. Then it got old...fast!
Because there is nothing to get into or figure out. Its all there, in your face non-stop over the top gore-fest every second of the way! Not much plot or development here. Zero subtlety or finesse.
This style doesn't agree with me. And it definitely doesn't provoke any feeling of horror in me.
-setting up the scene is a unnecessary drag,
-more horror means higher piles of body's,
-every scene should be stuffed with dismembered body parts, preferably naked ones,
-motives for characters actions are not important,
-having a plot is boring....
then you're going to love this!
From the moment you start this book you find your self in the center of carnage and it doesn't ease up until the end. First few scenes i was like really shocked and wondered what is happening and so on. Then it got old...fast!
Because there is nothing to get into or figure out. Its all there, in your face non-stop over the top gore-fest every second of the way! Not much plot or development here. Zero subtlety or finesse.
This style doesn't agree with me. And it definitely doesn't provoke any feeling of horror in me.
August 12, 2015
Having read quite a few of Bryan Smith's novels, I am definitely becoming a fan.
I began Bloodrush with enthusiasm, ready for the debauchery I've come to expect from the author.
Well, I got the debauchery part, but that is really all this book is.
The story is uninspired, dull and predictable.
There is gore and blood aplenty, but nothing to fill it out and make it worth reading.
I didn't buy the unrealistic elements either.
Teleportation? Nope, sorry.
A big disappointment from an author I really like.
I'm being generous giving two stars, but I did like the ruthless vampire aspect.
The potential was there, but the author really missed the mark, and leaves us with a book that feels like it was written in a hurry and without heart.
Give this one a miss.
I began Bloodrush with enthusiasm, ready for the debauchery I've come to expect from the author.
Well, I got the debauchery part, but that is really all this book is.
The story is uninspired, dull and predictable.
There is gore and blood aplenty, but nothing to fill it out and make it worth reading.
I didn't buy the unrealistic elements either.
Teleportation? Nope, sorry.
A big disappointment from an author I really like.
I'm being generous giving two stars, but I did like the ruthless vampire aspect.
The potential was there, but the author really missed the mark, and leaves us with a book that feels like it was written in a hurry and without heart.
Give this one a miss.
August 10, 2015
An excellent story but incomplete. Boy meets hot sexy lascivious cruel powerful vampire, boy falls in lust with conflicted feelings--humanity vs vampiric sensuality, hot vampire vs hot but bland girlfriend. Unfortunately, after the story begins, it abruptly ends. Add 200 pages, and this could have been better.
July 26, 2011
another great book by bryan smith. though he could have gone further would love to know what happened to david and janine.
February 19, 2012
The ending of this book made me mad. Granted, some of my favorite books have endings that are the opposite of what I want because I'm often rooting for the real villain of the story and for that truly unhappily ever after ending.
If you think all vampire tales have been told - are the same, then drink this one in and be both surprised and shocked. Not for the faint of heart it's much more realistic in it's horror than the typical "vampire" story. I mean, they are monsters after all...
When your dead and ripping out throats to feed - what IS off limits? Why hold back? Morals and restraint are as nonexistent as your pulse, and there are no repercussions cause your already going to hell...just not for a very long time.
The first book I've read from this author, it has me thirsty for some of his more graphic and terrorizing tales.
If you think all vampire tales have been told - are the same, then drink this one in and be both surprised and shocked. Not for the faint of heart it's much more realistic in it's horror than the typical "vampire" story. I mean, they are monsters after all...
When your dead and ripping out throats to feed - what IS off limits? Why hold back? Morals and restraint are as nonexistent as your pulse, and there are no repercussions cause your already going to hell...just not for a very long time.
The first book I've read from this author, it has me thirsty for some of his more graphic and terrorizing tales.
July 10, 2013
Bloodrush has an interesting setup with a mysterious and dangerous female antagonist. However, once her motivation and events begin to unfold, the story seemed too familiar and predictable for me. Author Brian Smith is effective at moving the pace and painting graphic descriptions, but ultimately this feels like standard genre fare sprinkled with a handful of suspenseful moments.
The main character's psychological torment was the strongest element of the story and it is the main reason to pick this one up. And while the writing was strong enough for me to recommend, this was not Smith's best outing. Readers wanting a finite conclusion might be frustrated with the author's opening for a sequel. But overall, this was a good read, but nothing extraordinary.
The main character's psychological torment was the strongest element of the story and it is the main reason to pick this one up. And while the writing was strong enough for me to recommend, this was not Smith's best outing. Readers wanting a finite conclusion might be frustrated with the author's opening for a sequel. But overall, this was a good read, but nothing extraordinary.
August 1, 2011
Review to follow...
August 16, 2011
sick dark book..But I found this thrilling at the same time!!!!!!!
April 21, 2012
Quite enjoyable vampire story with lots of gore and violence.
October 11, 2015
Really gory!
April 15, 2014
Not a bad horror quick adrenaline rush of a read. When you're in the mood for some horror comic book gore this should hit the spot - nothing more than that and nothing less either.
January 26, 2015
Short but sick
August 2, 2016
A SHORT VAMPIRE TALE IT IS...
Hello, this is an okay little vampire story. Probably would have been better if it had been longer. Just not enough words. Thanks.
Hello, this is an okay little vampire story. Probably would have been better if it had been longer. Just not enough words. Thanks.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews