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Pact Arcanum Saga #1
Sunset
An unlikely savior emerges to prevent the advent of mass destruction and genocide descending on the world…
By Day
Los Angeles, 2040. When the terrorist known as Medusa threatens to kill millions with a stolen nuclear bomb, Nick Jameson makes a fateful decision. He reveals himself on global television as a Daywalker - a vampire with a soul. To save Los Angeles, Nick exposes not only his own gifts but three separate cultures based on millennia-old magic.
By Night
The three metahuman races exist in careful balance, working to maintain a fragile peace. Nick and his fellow Daywalkers successfully master their natural bloodlust. The Sentinels, armed with both magic and steel, repress their warlike instincts. And even some Nightwalkers, normally their natural enemies, have deserted the Court of Shadows to join the triple alliance. Nick Jameson is deeply involved with two such Nightwalkers - handsome Lorcan and powerful Rory. Both men love Nick. But neither can protect the new Ambassador to Humanity from the events he has set in motion.
By the Sword
Jeremy Harkness was lured into Medusa's service under false pretenses. A loner with no one and nothing to cling to, he was willing to die for his cause. But the night Medusa tried to obliterate Los Angeles, Jeremy met Nick Jameson, triggering the onset of his own psychic gifts. For Jeremy is the third race of metahuman, a Sentinel, born to kill the Nightwalkers with no quarter asked or offered. And neither Medusa nor the Court of Shadows will settle for peace when they can make war.
Betrayal and treachery lurk around every corner on the road to coexistence, and at every turn, Nick must question who to trust among his metahuman allies, friends, and lovers—before their civilization is plunged into the depths of darkness and bloodshed. With millennia-old magic, emerging romance, and ever-shifting allegiances, this inventive series unveils a scintillating, homoerotic world of Nightwalkers, Daywalkers, Sentinels, and Humans, who battle for world dominance in the not-too-distant future.
By Day
Los Angeles, 2040. When the terrorist known as Medusa threatens to kill millions with a stolen nuclear bomb, Nick Jameson makes a fateful decision. He reveals himself on global television as a Daywalker - a vampire with a soul. To save Los Angeles, Nick exposes not only his own gifts but three separate cultures based on millennia-old magic.
By Night
The three metahuman races exist in careful balance, working to maintain a fragile peace. Nick and his fellow Daywalkers successfully master their natural bloodlust. The Sentinels, armed with both magic and steel, repress their warlike instincts. And even some Nightwalkers, normally their natural enemies, have deserted the Court of Shadows to join the triple alliance. Nick Jameson is deeply involved with two such Nightwalkers - handsome Lorcan and powerful Rory. Both men love Nick. But neither can protect the new Ambassador to Humanity from the events he has set in motion.
By the Sword
Jeremy Harkness was lured into Medusa's service under false pretenses. A loner with no one and nothing to cling to, he was willing to die for his cause. But the night Medusa tried to obliterate Los Angeles, Jeremy met Nick Jameson, triggering the onset of his own psychic gifts. For Jeremy is the third race of metahuman, a Sentinel, born to kill the Nightwalkers with no quarter asked or offered. And neither Medusa nor the Court of Shadows will settle for peace when they can make war.
Betrayal and treachery lurk around every corner on the road to coexistence, and at every turn, Nick must question who to trust among his metahuman allies, friends, and lovers—before their civilization is plunged into the depths of darkness and bloodshed. With millennia-old magic, emerging romance, and ever-shifting allegiances, this inventive series unveils a scintillating, homoerotic world of Nightwalkers, Daywalkers, Sentinels, and Humans, who battle for world dominance in the not-too-distant future.
504 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2011
160 people are currently reading
2329 people want to read
About the author
Arshad Ahsanuddin
67 books208 followersBy profession, I am a hematopathologist, a laboratory physician who specializes in diagnosis of diseases of blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes, such as leukemia and lymphoma. In my off time, I write LGBT Fantasy and Scifi books. Yes, I realize the irony that I write about vampires. ;)
Note: I do not guarantee a happy ending to any individual book within each series.
Note: I do not guarantee a happy ending to any individual book within each series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
July 20, 2013
've been waiting a long time to finally read this book and I was mesmerized by the astonishing world building in this story. It's a sci-fi/ paranormal story where one can see that a lot of planning went into creating a complex and believable world with 3-dimensional characters that truly captivate the reader. There are no explicit scenes, but they are not needed as the author manages to showcase the characters' vulnerabilities and intimacies in other ways. The sci-fi aspects are very creative and work well with the story; they are also very visual and add a lot to the feeling of exploring a very new world that is not known to the reader.
There is a religious aspect that is important but never feels preachy or out of place. It seemed important to counterweight the damned. I would have loved, however, to read about the reactions of the human population in general, especially about the religious implications (existence of a higher power, angels, ...) and learn how foreign governments reacted (like England and France where part of the story took place), as I really did enjoy the political elements of the story.
I know that some people have problems with multiple POVs and I do as well at times, but with the complexity of relationships in this story it helped me a lot to get the whole picture.
I'm usually not a great fan of many flashbacks, but they all added a lot to the story and helped me tremendously to understand the dynamic between the characters and the magical races better. However it always took me a moment to get back to the present afterwards. I also must admit that I am somewhat cautious about the second book, because it seems to be completely in the past and I like to continue a story to the future instead of going back before the events I already read about happened, but since this book hasn't disappointed me that's not gonna stop me from reading the next stories.
One of my favorite aspects beside the great storybuilding and the creative sci-fi aspects are the flawed characters. The story never pretends that any character is beyond reproach. They all have flaws and weaknesses and even the good guys of the story make difficult decisions, can be brutal, wrong, merciless and have to live with the decisions they have made and the consequences of their actions.
Though I wondered:
This is a MUST READ that I can recommend to anyone who wants to read something with substance and complexity that is never the less fun to read and addictive in a way that one doesn't really feel the length of the book :)
There is a religious aspect that is important but never feels preachy or out of place. It seemed important to counterweight the damned. I would have loved, however, to read about the reactions of the human population in general, especially about the religious implications (existence of a higher power, angels, ...) and learn how foreign governments reacted (like England and France where part of the story took place), as I really did enjoy the political elements of the story.
I know that some people have problems with multiple POVs and I do as well at times, but with the complexity of relationships in this story it helped me a lot to get the whole picture.
I'm usually not a great fan of many flashbacks, but they all added a lot to the story and helped me tremendously to understand the dynamic between the characters and the magical races better. However it always took me a moment to get back to the present afterwards. I also must admit that I am somewhat cautious about the second book, because it seems to be completely in the past and I like to continue a story to the future instead of going back before the events I already read about happened, but since this book hasn't disappointed me that's not gonna stop me from reading the next stories.
One of my favorite aspects beside the great storybuilding and the creative sci-fi aspects are the flawed characters. The story never pretends that any character is beyond reproach. They all have flaws and weaknesses and even the good guys of the story make difficult decisions, can be brutal, wrong, merciless and have to live with the decisions they have made and the consequences of their actions.
Though I wondered:
This is a MUST READ that I can recommend to anyone who wants to read something with substance and complexity that is never the less fun to read and addictive in a way that one doesn't really feel the length of the book :)
December 5, 2013
amazing work! The world building in this series in beyond compare. I suggest this to anyone who loves epic stories.
December 17, 2013
Please note: I originally read and reviewed this book in August, 2011. Since my original reading of the trilogy, I have become a beta reader for Arshad Ahsanuddin, and my re-read was of the third edition upcoming of the paperback.
My Thoughts: If I could, I would give this 10 out of 5 stars – this is one of the most amazing things I’ve read in … a long time. I was initially intrigued by Arshad’s description in our forum that it was a “gay vampire” story – but it is SO much more than that. It is a romance of unbelievable beauty; it is an adventure, full of thrills, excitement and terror; it is a science fiction story, part space opera, and has elements of self-sacrifice for the greater good; it is about vampires, and magic-users and humans and how difficult it is for everyone to try to live together – but how wonderful it is when they do. It is about redemption, hope, love and growth. It is … AMAZING. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
The basic plot revolves around Nick Jameson, who is known as a Daywalker, or a vampire who has been redeemed and received back his soul. He is instrumental in stopping a plot that would have destroyed the greater Los Angeles area with a nuclear bomb; as a result, the metahumans are exposed to humans, and Nick is then appointed as the Ambassador to Humanity. We are introduced to the various races – the Nightwalkers, who are the vampires; the Daywalkers (already described) and the Sentinels, who are magic-users genetically programmed to hunt and kill the vampires. In North America, an unprecedented situation has been created where a truce has been put into effect – the Armistice. Opposed to the Armistice are the unaffiliated Sentinels and the Court of the Nightwalkers.
I can’t go into the plot much, because I don’t want to spoil things - I will say that I laughed many times; I cried several times, too, and that is very unusual for me. I felt like these characters had become my own friends, confidantes and enemies – Arshad is masterful at descriptions and characterizations, and you will come out of this book truly feeling like you just returned from another world.
This book is followed by Sunrise and Moonlight, which were the original trilogy. Later was Starlight as well as a number of novellas, which are being incorporated into the 3rd edition paperbacks. I absolutely love this series of books, and it is only lack of time that stops me re-reading them over and over.
Disclaimer: My original review was done after having received a free copy of the first edition of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. This review is only slightly altered to fit in my current standard of reviewing.
Synopsis: Bloodlust, desire, supernatural powers, and conflicting passions ignite on every page of Sunset, the groundbreaking vampire drama by Arshad Ahsanuddin. With millennia-old magic, and ever-shifting allegiances, this inventive new series unveils a scintillating, homoerotic world of Nightwalkers, Daywalkers, Sentinels, and Humans who battle for dominance in the not-too-distant future. In Sunset, the action starts in Los Angeles in the year 2040. The terrorist Medusa and her followers lay siege to a star-studded celebrity awards ceremony, complete with a nuclear bomb. One individual, the vampire Nicholas Jameson, must come forth in all his supernatural might to thwart the imminent mass destruction. As Nick takes on the terrorists, the fragile peace between the races hangs perilously in the balance as the supernatural peoples are exposed. It is up to Nick to uphold the Armistice formed by these tenuous factions. As conflict escalates for the imperiled Armistice, Nick must undertake whatever means necessary to secure peace for his family, friends, and the world as he knows it. Can Nick overtake the dark forces and guide the humans and metahumans into coexistence? As clashes rage and desires smolder, Sunset offers a gripping tale of fantastical political intrigue that is certain to pique the passions of vampire fans and hot-blooded romance devotees alike.
My Thoughts: If I could, I would give this 10 out of 5 stars – this is one of the most amazing things I’ve read in … a long time. I was initially intrigued by Arshad’s description in our forum that it was a “gay vampire” story – but it is SO much more than that. It is a romance of unbelievable beauty; it is an adventure, full of thrills, excitement and terror; it is a science fiction story, part space opera, and has elements of self-sacrifice for the greater good; it is about vampires, and magic-users and humans and how difficult it is for everyone to try to live together – but how wonderful it is when they do. It is about redemption, hope, love and growth. It is … AMAZING. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
The basic plot revolves around Nick Jameson, who is known as a Daywalker, or a vampire who has been redeemed and received back his soul. He is instrumental in stopping a plot that would have destroyed the greater Los Angeles area with a nuclear bomb; as a result, the metahumans are exposed to humans, and Nick is then appointed as the Ambassador to Humanity. We are introduced to the various races – the Nightwalkers, who are the vampires; the Daywalkers (already described) and the Sentinels, who are magic-users genetically programmed to hunt and kill the vampires. In North America, an unprecedented situation has been created where a truce has been put into effect – the Armistice. Opposed to the Armistice are the unaffiliated Sentinels and the Court of the Nightwalkers.
I can’t go into the plot much, because I don’t want to spoil things - I will say that I laughed many times; I cried several times, too, and that is very unusual for me. I felt like these characters had become my own friends, confidantes and enemies – Arshad is masterful at descriptions and characterizations, and you will come out of this book truly feeling like you just returned from another world.
This book is followed by Sunrise and Moonlight, which were the original trilogy. Later was Starlight as well as a number of novellas, which are being incorporated into the 3rd edition paperbacks. I absolutely love this series of books, and it is only lack of time that stops me re-reading them over and over.
Disclaimer: My original review was done after having received a free copy of the first edition of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. This review is only slightly altered to fit in my current standard of reviewing.
Synopsis: Bloodlust, desire, supernatural powers, and conflicting passions ignite on every page of Sunset, the groundbreaking vampire drama by Arshad Ahsanuddin. With millennia-old magic, and ever-shifting allegiances, this inventive new series unveils a scintillating, homoerotic world of Nightwalkers, Daywalkers, Sentinels, and Humans who battle for dominance in the not-too-distant future. In Sunset, the action starts in Los Angeles in the year 2040. The terrorist Medusa and her followers lay siege to a star-studded celebrity awards ceremony, complete with a nuclear bomb. One individual, the vampire Nicholas Jameson, must come forth in all his supernatural might to thwart the imminent mass destruction. As Nick takes on the terrorists, the fragile peace between the races hangs perilously in the balance as the supernatural peoples are exposed. It is up to Nick to uphold the Armistice formed by these tenuous factions. As conflict escalates for the imperiled Armistice, Nick must undertake whatever means necessary to secure peace for his family, friends, and the world as he knows it. Can Nick overtake the dark forces and guide the humans and metahumans into coexistence? As clashes rage and desires smolder, Sunset offers a gripping tale of fantastical political intrigue that is certain to pique the passions of vampire fans and hot-blooded romance devotees alike.
March 17, 2017
I'm not sure I can add something someone else hasn't. Great world building. Told in what felt like sort of a staccato style that was just very fresh for me - it kept me on my toes. Enjoyed learning about the characters - so different, so unique, so not perfect. Absolutely enjoyable. Frankly I want to know more about what happened after and I understand the next book is what happened before -- do these need to be read in order?
September 8, 2011
This is a book that repays some patience on the reader's part. It opens with an action sequence that really involves the reader with the main characters, but then the next 30% of the book is a little thick with multiple POV's. The required elaborate world-building happens too fast, with information often dumped in big blocks in conversations instead of demonstrated by actions and events. There are frequent flashbacks, although segments are well-labeled by date which does help. If you stick with it, however, the world becomes understandable and the characters come clear. The story is imaginative, there is romance (with the sex primarily off-screen) and action and clever plot, and a futuristic SF-meets-fantasy world to discover.
November 26, 2015
Not since Brian Lumley's Harry Keogh-verse, have I found a vampire series of this caliber. The author builds an extremely complex world that at times went over my head, but was always engaging, interesting and supremely intelligent. All of the characters resonated with me. You know a book is good when even the characters you dislike inspire you to think and re-evaluate your position. Nick, the main character, is incredibly multi-faceted and I liked that the author chose to, at times, humanize him and at others show him to be the bad ass that he is. The book is action packed and moves quickly. There is no drawing out of secrets to lengthen the story. You're practically on the edge of your seat the whole time. I shouted at this book, laughed out loud, had minor heart attacks....I was invested! My one complaint is that I hate when authors pair the main character with characters I dislike / find unworthy. Last guy in should not get the man! For the number of people that were in love with Nick, the author's pick was my last choice. For those worried about the m/m aspect of the story, let me assure you that the physical aspect is never really focused on. There are zero sex scenes in this book; they're simply alluded to.
I know that I should read Book 2 next but it's the prequel to Book 1, and I just don't have that kind of patience. It's on to Book 3 for me. I will come back to it but I just need to see if Nick gets with the program in the romance department. Maybe the mortal can have a little accident...fighting Nightwalkers is quite dangerous work after all and Nick has many enemies. :-)
This is a full-length (300 page-ish) book that is WELL worth more than the Kindle price I paid. You will not be disappointed.
I know that I should read Book 2 next but it's the prequel to Book 1, and I just don't have that kind of patience. It's on to Book 3 for me. I will come back to it but I just need to see if Nick gets with the program in the romance department. Maybe the mortal can have a little accident...fighting Nightwalkers is quite dangerous work after all and Nick has many enemies. :-)
This is a full-length (300 page-ish) book that is WELL worth more than the Kindle price I paid. You will not be disappointed.
January 18, 2013
Daywalkers, Nightwalkers, and Sentinels. They are out there.
This was a great book. It was fast paced and well written. The world building was amazingly complex and detailed. The author was able to put his thoughts and ideas into words in such a way that helped to create this stunning portrait for his readers.
The inner structure of the different races was incredibly intricate. It was a bit confusing at times trying to understand the hierarchy within each group and the alliances and rivalries between the vampire species, but it was well thought out and written well.
The characters were great. Nick, the protagonist, was easily likable. All of the characters were complex with deep backgrounds and painful pasts, though I found emotional attachments to the characters difficult, which is one of the only things I found lacking in the book. When I am reading I want to be able to feel for the characters, and it just did not happen here. There were also times throughout the story where it seemed to jump time without warning, and that a bit confusing as well.
Overall, this was an entertaining story.
Interview with author Arshad Ahsanuddin:
Making Connections Blog
This was a great book. It was fast paced and well written. The world building was amazingly complex and detailed. The author was able to put his thoughts and ideas into words in such a way that helped to create this stunning portrait for his readers.
The inner structure of the different races was incredibly intricate. It was a bit confusing at times trying to understand the hierarchy within each group and the alliances and rivalries between the vampire species, but it was well thought out and written well.
The characters were great. Nick, the protagonist, was easily likable. All of the characters were complex with deep backgrounds and painful pasts, though I found emotional attachments to the characters difficult, which is one of the only things I found lacking in the book. When I am reading I want to be able to feel for the characters, and it just did not happen here. There were also times throughout the story where it seemed to jump time without warning, and that a bit confusing as well.
Overall, this was an entertaining story.
Interview with author Arshad Ahsanuddin:
Making Connections Blog
December 20, 2011
second edition moves right on up to 5 stars!!
January 23, 2014
The reasons I give up
And rarely I add a rating, but I must in this case
***the soap opera... Who is in love*** ATTENTION: I Read 60%... So it may change... More people will love someone... It can happen
Blood glucose of readers above the normal level...
"Nick took another deep breath. "Of all the people I care about, you're the last person I would want to hurt". He stroked Rory's cheekbone. "Scott may be my sun, and Jeremy is the moon, but you are all the stars in my sky".
...And rising with each page.
****timeline up to now, 60% read, it's not confusing, it's absurd
Chapter 1 = 0 hour from public exposure of vampires.
(Negative hours/day/week/years will mean before this event, positive hours will be after it)
Chapter 2 = 0 hour
Chapter 3= 0 hour
Chapter 4= 0 hour
Chapter 5= +2h and -3h and again back to +2h
Chapter 6= +5h, -6 years, back to +5h
Chapter 7= -4h and +1h, +6h
Chapter 8= I have no freaking idea. +6h? Because it wasn't updated anymore I think it was +6h.
Chapter 9= +1 day, -5 years
Chapter 10= +1 day, +10 days
Chapter 11= +2 weeks, +3 weeks
Chapter 12=-3h from +3weeks ...so it's +2weeks6days21h
(O_O)~'''HEEEELP and again... +3h of 3weeks
Chapter 13= -7 years, +3 weeks
Chapter 14= +1month, +2 months
Chapter 15= +4 months
Chapter 16= +4 months, -20 years, +4 months
Chapter 17= +6 months
Chapter 18= +6 months and 4h
Chapter 19= +6 months and 1 day, +5 days
Chapter 20= +6 months+6days
Chapter 21= +8 months
Chapter 22=+11 months
Chapter 23= chapter 22
Chapter 24= chapter 22, +11months&2h, 11months+1day
Chapter 25=+13months, +13months&1h
Chapter 26= +1h from chapter 25
**Characters** (just a note for myself)
Takesh
Rory
Lorcan (also called Ruarc)
Nick
Jeremy
Scott
Anaba
Layla (also called Nemesis)
Brion
so yes. This is not a review but my personal notes, adding to explain why I try, try and insist but no.. Will not finish it. It's not for me
2 stars, both for the plot, very good and complex... But too much romanticism and too much time jump that I didn't enjoyed left just those 2 stars, not more
And rarely I add a rating, but I must in this case
***the soap opera... Who is in love*** ATTENTION: I Read 60%... So it may change... More people will love someone... It can happen
Blood glucose of readers above the normal level...
"Nick took another deep breath. "Of all the people I care about, you're the last person I would want to hurt". He stroked Rory's cheekbone. "Scott may be my sun, and Jeremy is the moon, but you are all the stars in my sky".
...And rising with each page.
****timeline up to now, 60% read, it's not confusing, it's absurd
Chapter 1 = 0 hour from public exposure of vampires.
(Negative hours/day/week/years will mean before this event, positive hours will be after it)
Chapter 2 = 0 hour
Chapter 3= 0 hour
Chapter 4= 0 hour
Chapter 5= +2h and -3h and again back to +2h
Chapter 6= +5h, -6 years, back to +5h
Chapter 7= -4h and +1h, +6h
Chapter 8= I have no freaking idea. +6h? Because it wasn't updated anymore I think it was +6h.
Chapter 9= +1 day, -5 years
Chapter 10= +1 day, +10 days
Chapter 11= +2 weeks, +3 weeks
Chapter 12=-3h from +3weeks ...so it's +2weeks6days21h
(O_O)~'''HEEEELP and again... +3h of 3weeks
Chapter 13= -7 years, +3 weeks
Chapter 14= +1month, +2 months
Chapter 15= +4 months
Chapter 16= +4 months, -20 years, +4 months
Chapter 17= +6 months
Chapter 18= +6 months and 4h
Chapter 19= +6 months and 1 day, +5 days
Chapter 20= +6 months+6days
Chapter 21= +8 months
Chapter 22=+11 months
Chapter 23= chapter 22
Chapter 24= chapter 22, +11months&2h, 11months+1day
Chapter 25=+13months, +13months&1h
Chapter 26= +1h from chapter 25
**Characters** (just a note for myself)
Takesh
Rory
Lorcan (also called Ruarc)
Nick
Jeremy
Scott
Anaba
Layla (also called Nemesis)
Brion
so yes. This is not a review but my personal notes, adding to explain why I try, try and insist but no.. Will not finish it. It's not for me
2 stars, both for the plot, very good and complex... But too much romanticism and too much time jump that I didn't enjoyed left just those 2 stars, not more
January 8, 2014
This book couldn't have been better for if the Author sat down and asked what I want in a book from maguic user and vampire to redemption and lot of romance and character developement with all of this is was still a fast paced read that I didn't want to put down but had to because of work. I fully recommend this book to everyone.
March 12, 2012
This 2nd edition with new edits has manged to eliminate the feeling of distance from the characters I encountered in the previous edition. The scene with Michael Danvers' parents now really makes me cry as I feel closer to Nick than i did previously. It is now truly a 5 star read for me.
July 30, 2011
4.5 stars.
Wow! This is a really difficult book to categorize or define, but I loved it just the same! Ahsanuddin's world building is amazing - very detailed and complete. It's based on the world as we know it, until a terrorist attack causes the magical world, until now hidden from mortal eyes, to be suddenly and shockingly unveiled. This world is based on vampires - Nightwalkers; Sentinals - mortals genetically programmed to become supernatural hunters of vampires/defenders of humanity upon first contact with a nightwalker; and Daywalkers - former nightwalkers who have regained their souls (the process of which shall remain undisclosed in this review). All three of these races have access to magic and some form of psychic ability. They are also technologically advanced - AI's, teleportation and space travel in particular - way beyond humanity's progress in the same areas. Ahsanuddin's science/physician's background obviously shows through here as everything is neat and logical without (well, for me anyway) glaring inconsistencies.
The main characters, on the whole, are somewhat on the dark side, with tortured pasts for many of them. One of the key themes throughout this novel is 'Magic requires sacrifice' and that is certainly reflected in many of the characters. Many have painful pasts with heavy emotional or personal losses. Yet there is also a hope for redemption and a hope for love, despite all the struggles, for many of them too. In many ways, the bare glimmer of hope is all they have to continue the struggle through dark times. For me, this is one area I could use a little more emotional connection to the characters. For me, Ahsanuddin's writing left me a little detached from all the turmoil and I personally would prefer a bit more involvement with the characters. Others, indeed, may find they prefer the small distancing effect.
One small quibble - at times I found that significant time had passed from one paragraph to the next (say, for example, 6 months), but the time lapse is not apparent till a few more paragraphs later. I then needed to go back a bit to make sure I hadn't missed something, throwing me out of the story for a time. This may be due to the particular file format I read it in, or it may just be the way it was written; either way I found it a little disconcerting.
I recommend this novel for readers who love fantasy and sci-fi, and also those who like non-traditional M/M romance. Personally, I really enjoyed this novel, and I'm looking forward to the next novel by this author.
Wow! This is a really difficult book to categorize or define, but I loved it just the same! Ahsanuddin's world building is amazing - very detailed and complete. It's based on the world as we know it, until a terrorist attack causes the magical world, until now hidden from mortal eyes, to be suddenly and shockingly unveiled. This world is based on vampires - Nightwalkers; Sentinals - mortals genetically programmed to become supernatural hunters of vampires/defenders of humanity upon first contact with a nightwalker; and Daywalkers - former nightwalkers who have regained their souls (the process of which shall remain undisclosed in this review). All three of these races have access to magic and some form of psychic ability. They are also technologically advanced - AI's, teleportation and space travel in particular - way beyond humanity's progress in the same areas. Ahsanuddin's science/physician's background obviously shows through here as everything is neat and logical without (well, for me anyway) glaring inconsistencies.
The main characters, on the whole, are somewhat on the dark side, with tortured pasts for many of them. One of the key themes throughout this novel is 'Magic requires sacrifice' and that is certainly reflected in many of the characters. Many have painful pasts with heavy emotional or personal losses. Yet there is also a hope for redemption and a hope for love, despite all the struggles, for many of them too. In many ways, the bare glimmer of hope is all they have to continue the struggle through dark times. For me, this is one area I could use a little more emotional connection to the characters. For me, Ahsanuddin's writing left me a little detached from all the turmoil and I personally would prefer a bit more involvement with the characters. Others, indeed, may find they prefer the small distancing effect.
One small quibble - at times I found that significant time had passed from one paragraph to the next (say, for example, 6 months), but the time lapse is not apparent till a few more paragraphs later. I then needed to go back a bit to make sure I hadn't missed something, throwing me out of the story for a time. This may be due to the particular file format I read it in, or it may just be the way it was written; either way I found it a little disconcerting.
I recommend this novel for readers who love fantasy and sci-fi, and also those who like non-traditional M/M romance. Personally, I really enjoyed this novel, and I'm looking forward to the next novel by this author.
November 15, 2012
I don’t quite know what to write. My eyes are still blurry with tears from the end of chapter 45. But never fear, by the end it was HEA... until the next time....
There's a glossary, principal cast of characters, and timeline provided. That was a good place to start.
Thus armed, I begin a 47 chapter journey....
In part one we meet Jeremy and get to experience his undiluted introduction to the world as it really is. Within the span of moments, Jeremy goes from being a terrorist, a devout follower of Medusa, to throwing his lot in with magic wielding vampires and stalwart Sentinels. Believe me, Jeremy did not fall in with the riff-raff this time.
Nick and Scott, Anaba, Layla and Takeshi... so many wonderfully crafted characters.
The economic writing style is amazingly effective, giving a wealth of information at light speed. It's smart, very readable with crisp, clear imagery. The action is immediate, dire, and handled so efficiently it feels like a well choreographed movie.
The depth and history of this veiled society is revealed bit by bit, as well as the relational ties between the players. Flashbacks, as well as small jumps back or forward in time, are clearly identified and strategically placed.
Being aware of each persons numerous titles and standing in the hierarchy is imperative to keep track of the goings on, but hardly a chore, as I became more and more invested in their lives and fascinated by the powers each of them wielded.
The level of betrayal, deceit, and behind the scene maneuvers employed is staggering. So multilayered, the intricacy is a delight to read.
These people’s love affairs are no exception either! With psychic ability, and immortality in the mix, that translates to powder-keg emotion fiercely guarded and dangerously suppressed. When loosed? Oh the drama!
A romantic,science fiction fantasy of epic proportions for sure, one to satisfy the niggling government conspiracy theorist in all of us nerdy folk. I thoroughly and completely enjoyed this. More than pleasantly surprised actually, because I received a copy free of charge for an honest review. I honestly did not expect it to be this good!
(At the end of ch 13, the illustration? Day-um I want that as a tattoo!)
There's a glossary, principal cast of characters, and timeline provided. That was a good place to start.
Thus armed, I begin a 47 chapter journey....
In part one we meet Jeremy and get to experience his undiluted introduction to the world as it really is. Within the span of moments, Jeremy goes from being a terrorist, a devout follower of Medusa, to throwing his lot in with magic wielding vampires and stalwart Sentinels. Believe me, Jeremy did not fall in with the riff-raff this time.
Nick and Scott, Anaba, Layla and Takeshi... so many wonderfully crafted characters.
The economic writing style is amazingly effective, giving a wealth of information at light speed. It's smart, very readable with crisp, clear imagery. The action is immediate, dire, and handled so efficiently it feels like a well choreographed movie.
The depth and history of this veiled society is revealed bit by bit, as well as the relational ties between the players. Flashbacks, as well as small jumps back or forward in time, are clearly identified and strategically placed.
Being aware of each persons numerous titles and standing in the hierarchy is imperative to keep track of the goings on, but hardly a chore, as I became more and more invested in their lives and fascinated by the powers each of them wielded.
The level of betrayal, deceit, and behind the scene maneuvers employed is staggering. So multilayered, the intricacy is a delight to read.
These people’s love affairs are no exception either! With psychic ability, and immortality in the mix, that translates to powder-keg emotion fiercely guarded and dangerously suppressed. When loosed? Oh the drama!
A romantic,science fiction fantasy of epic proportions for sure, one to satisfy the niggling government conspiracy theorist in all of us nerdy folk. I thoroughly and completely enjoyed this. More than pleasantly surprised actually, because I received a copy free of charge for an honest review. I honestly did not expect it to be this good!
(At the end of ch 13, the illustration? Day-um I want that as a tattoo!)
February 1, 2013
If I could, I would give this 10 out of 5 stars – this is one of the most amazing things I’ve read in … a long time. I was initially intrigued by Arshad’s description in our forum that it was a “gay vampire” story – but it is SO much more than that. It is a romance of unbelievable beauty; it is an adventure, full of thrills, excitement and terror; it is a science fiction story, part space opera, and has elements of self-sacrifice for the greater good; it is about vampires, and magic-users and humans and how difficult it is for everyone to try to live together – but how wonderful it is when they do. It is about redemption, hope, love and growth. It is … AMAZING. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
The basic plot revolves around Nick Jameson, who is known as a Daywalker, or a vampire who has been redeemed and received back his soul. He is instrumental in stopping a plot that would have destroyed the greater Los Angeles area with a nuclear bomb; as a result, the metahumans are exposed to humans, and Nick is then appointed as the Ambassador to Humanity. We are introduced to the various races – the Nightwalkers, who are the vampires; the Daywalkers (already described) and the Sentinels, who are magic-users genetically programmed to hunt and kill the vampires. In North America, an unprecedented situation has been created where a truce has been put into effect – the Armistice. Opposed to the Armistice are the unaffiliated Sentinels and the Court of the Nightwalkers.
I can’t go into the plot much, because I don’t want to spoil things - I will say that I laughed many times; I cried several times, too, and that is very unusual for me. I felt like these characters had become my own friends, confidantes and enemies – Arshad is masterful at descriptions and characterizations, and you will come out of this book truly feeling like you just returned from another world. I am eager to get on to the rest of the trilogy - “Sunrise” and “Moonlight.” Watch for my reviews later this weekend.
The basic plot revolves around Nick Jameson, who is known as a Daywalker, or a vampire who has been redeemed and received back his soul. He is instrumental in stopping a plot that would have destroyed the greater Los Angeles area with a nuclear bomb; as a result, the metahumans are exposed to humans, and Nick is then appointed as the Ambassador to Humanity. We are introduced to the various races – the Nightwalkers, who are the vampires; the Daywalkers (already described) and the Sentinels, who are magic-users genetically programmed to hunt and kill the vampires. In North America, an unprecedented situation has been created where a truce has been put into effect – the Armistice. Opposed to the Armistice are the unaffiliated Sentinels and the Court of the Nightwalkers.
I can’t go into the plot much, because I don’t want to spoil things - I will say that I laughed many times; I cried several times, too, and that is very unusual for me. I felt like these characters had become my own friends, confidantes and enemies – Arshad is masterful at descriptions and characterizations, and you will come out of this book truly feeling like you just returned from another world. I am eager to get on to the rest of the trilogy - “Sunrise” and “Moonlight.” Watch for my reviews later this weekend.
July 24, 2020
this was a very interesting book. the development of the story is very well done and I enjoyed it.
I would have loved it to see more of the real relationship developments
but the story was great
I would have loved it to see more of the real relationship developments
but the story was great
December 3, 2018
This book is a cross between a fantasy of manners and a fantasy of protocols, with all the action concentrated in the first chapter. Non stop back and forth time jumping and endless, it seems like, string of lovers is not my thing, it turned out. I couldn’t get into the story and kept losing focus.
Bookwatcher’s review explains it pretty well.
DNFing a bit after 40% and rating that part and that part only 2 stars.
Bookwatcher’s review explains it pretty well.
DNFing a bit after 40% and rating that part and that part only 2 stars.
September 7, 2013
I'm playing a Bingo game in my MM Romance Group. each week our Moderator and Bingo Game Master, Katie selects a category for us to pick a book from to read. Last week category was Gay Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopic. Considering how much I didn't like this category, I actually found a book I had checked off to read on the list. But I had never gotten around to even buying this book. Although GR states this book was only 260 pages, with 47 chapters it seemed much longer.
Knowing how world building can get complicated in sci-fi books had me extra concerned about how difficult it might be to get into this book.
Despite that initial hesitation, I decided to read it. Wow, I am glad I did. The story captured and held my attention from the very first page. I don't think I can write an adequate review for this book. There was so much going on but I'll give it a shot.
The story is set in the future and opens with a terrorist's threat to detonate a nuke in Los Angeles, CA, which would kill millions of people.
Medusa, the terrorist, offered to let a representative from the government come and check out the nuke to confirm it was real. After an agent from the US government looks at the nuke, a mysterious
man appears out of nowhere demanding to look at the nuke. Medusa demands to know who he is and how he got inside the building. That causes Nick to make a decision that will change everyone's life.
In order to stop Medusa's plan, Nick, reveals that he is a Daywalker, a vampire with a soul and he lives in a secret world hidden from humans, by magic and superior technology.
Nick's revelation saves Los Angeles, but in doing so he also reveals the magical gifts of three separate cultures that live on this secret world.
Now that Nick has exposed this secret society, he must work to forge peace between all the different groups of people. This is rather difficult to do when there are opposing forces on all sides who want ultimate control of the universe and are determined to destroy Nick and his people.
The world building is incredible and this is the first E-book I've read that has color illustrations before each chapter.
This story features same sex and hetro relationships between the MC's, and several major secondary characters. However, I never felt the male/male relationships mattered at all. They loved who they loved based on the person not the gender. The prejudice people had centered around what group/culture you belonged to and/or supported.
There's sex, but its not explicit. I usually like graphic sex in my stories. However, this time I didn't mind.
Even if you're not a fan of sci-fi/fantasy/futuristic/urban fantasy stories, I highly recommend this book. I must warn you that there is abuse, rape, torture, violence and death in this epic novel.
Even though there are those dark events, the author does a masterful job of weaving those scenes in that I didn't find it too disturbing.
I will be reading more stories in this series and by this gifted author.
* I heard from the author and he stated that this book was actually 504 pages long. I knew it had to be longer than 260 pages. Regardless, for such a long book it was a quick read because I was captivated and drawn in by the characters and the plot.
After hearing from a teammate that she did a team chain read of the entire series, I went to the author's site to check out the books. There are several books in this series that appear to be almost prequeals to Sunset because they go back in time to explain how some of the characters from Sunset became who they are. There also seems to be another series the author put out that splices all the series books together in chronological order. I am going to have to ask the author which way I should read the series. I don't want to miss any of the details I might get from reading the indivdual back stories if they are cut short in the chronological series.
Despite all of that, I do believe whichever way you decide to read this series will be awesome and you will place this epic novel on your favorite list and recommend it to everyone. I initially gave the book 4.5 stars because I wish there was a glossary at the beginning of the book. But after thinking it over, I think I enjoyed learning about who everyone was from Nick and Ana as the story unfolded. So this is a 5 star read for me, and I would give it more stars if I could.
Knowing how world building can get complicated in sci-fi books had me extra concerned about how difficult it might be to get into this book.
Despite that initial hesitation, I decided to read it. Wow, I am glad I did. The story captured and held my attention from the very first page. I don't think I can write an adequate review for this book. There was so much going on but I'll give it a shot.
The story is set in the future and opens with a terrorist's threat to detonate a nuke in Los Angeles, CA, which would kill millions of people.
Medusa, the terrorist, offered to let a representative from the government come and check out the nuke to confirm it was real. After an agent from the US government looks at the nuke, a mysterious
man appears out of nowhere demanding to look at the nuke. Medusa demands to know who he is and how he got inside the building. That causes Nick to make a decision that will change everyone's life.
In order to stop Medusa's plan, Nick, reveals that he is a Daywalker, a vampire with a soul and he lives in a secret world hidden from humans, by magic and superior technology.
Nick's revelation saves Los Angeles, but in doing so he also reveals the magical gifts of three separate cultures that live on this secret world.
Now that Nick has exposed this secret society, he must work to forge peace between all the different groups of people. This is rather difficult to do when there are opposing forces on all sides who want ultimate control of the universe and are determined to destroy Nick and his people.
The world building is incredible and this is the first E-book I've read that has color illustrations before each chapter.
This story features same sex and hetro relationships between the MC's, and several major secondary characters. However, I never felt the male/male relationships mattered at all. They loved who they loved based on the person not the gender. The prejudice people had centered around what group/culture you belonged to and/or supported.
There's sex, but its not explicit. I usually like graphic sex in my stories. However, this time I didn't mind.
Even if you're not a fan of sci-fi/fantasy/futuristic/urban fantasy stories, I highly recommend this book. I must warn you that there is abuse, rape, torture, violence and death in this epic novel.
Even though there are those dark events, the author does a masterful job of weaving those scenes in that I didn't find it too disturbing.
I will be reading more stories in this series and by this gifted author.
* I heard from the author and he stated that this book was actually 504 pages long. I knew it had to be longer than 260 pages. Regardless, for such a long book it was a quick read because I was captivated and drawn in by the characters and the plot.
After hearing from a teammate that she did a team chain read of the entire series, I went to the author's site to check out the books. There are several books in this series that appear to be almost prequeals to Sunset because they go back in time to explain how some of the characters from Sunset became who they are. There also seems to be another series the author put out that splices all the series books together in chronological order. I am going to have to ask the author which way I should read the series. I don't want to miss any of the details I might get from reading the indivdual back stories if they are cut short in the chronological series.
Despite all of that, I do believe whichever way you decide to read this series will be awesome and you will place this epic novel on your favorite list and recommend it to everyone. I initially gave the book 4.5 stars because I wish there was a glossary at the beginning of the book. But after thinking it over, I think I enjoyed learning about who everyone was from Nick and Ana as the story unfolded. So this is a 5 star read for me, and I would give it more stars if I could.
August 13, 2016
Main Characters: Jeremy Kenneth Harkness & Nicholas Lawrence Jameson Magister
Key Themes: UST, Slow Burn, Deception, Age Gap, Interspecies, H/C, Psychic Ability
Location: Citadel & California
I approached this epic 500+ page space opera with some trepidation; I was either going to really enjoy reading it or it was going to be torture.
Well, it turned out to be both amazing and divine torture (Not only did it take 240+ pages before the MCs even acknowledged any attraction to each other, the story is set up to provide all the pieces of the puzzle, but the reader has to work on putting it all together....I really enjoyed the challenge!)
I love how the story is broken into short chapters and how the author lays the foundations for the story early on.
This story has intrigue, tragedy, romance, betrayal and phenomenal world-building. But it's also a roller coaster ride, literally and figuratively, with its numerous POVs, multiple story lines, and chapter-by-chapter timeline changes. I was really only interested in Jeremy and Nick’s POVs.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I am not sure I am ready to tackle Book 2
just yet…..
Key Themes: UST, Slow Burn, Deception, Age Gap, Interspecies, H/C, Psychic Ability
Location: Citadel & California
I approached this epic 500+ page space opera with some trepidation; I was either going to really enjoy reading it or it was going to be torture.
Well, it turned out to be both amazing and divine torture (Not only did it take 240+ pages before the MCs even acknowledged any attraction to each other, the story is set up to provide all the pieces of the puzzle, but the reader has to work on putting it all together....I really enjoyed the challenge!)
I love how the story is broken into short chapters and how the author lays the foundations for the story early on.
This story has intrigue, tragedy, romance, betrayal and phenomenal world-building. But it's also a roller coaster ride, literally and figuratively, with its numerous POVs, multiple story lines, and chapter-by-chapter timeline changes. I was really only interested in Jeremy and Nick’s POVs.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I am not sure I am ready to tackle Book 2
just yet…..
October 3, 2012
I want to say this was mix of Star Wars with Star Trek and something else, but the something else is totally original to me. Can't think of any other story that even comes close, in my experience. Absolutely superb world-building, story, and characters. Action, suspense, intrigue, romance, good vs. evil in all its glory.
My only complaint is how very complicated it is to keep track of all the characters and details of the universe, particularly when reading the electronic version, where it's difficult to stop reading and go to the reference part at the end. Oh, and there is no on-page sex, it is just alluded to. That, for me, is a bit of a disappointment because I do love reading me some hot man-on-man loving. Call it what you will, like it or not, I really couldn't care less. That's why I read romance as a genre and M/M in particular.
Other than that, this is an experience not to be missed for fans of paranormal and Sci-fi M/M Romance. Even with my niggles on book 1, I'm a sucker for series, so I do plan to read the others. ;-
D
My only complaint is how very complicated it is to keep track of all the characters and details of the universe, particularly when reading the electronic version, where it's difficult to stop reading and go to the reference part at the end. Oh, and there is no on-page sex, it is just alluded to. That, for me, is a bit of a disappointment because I do love reading me some hot man-on-man loving. Call it what you will, like it or not, I really couldn't care less. That's why I read romance as a genre and M/M in particular.
Other than that, this is an experience not to be missed for fans of paranormal and Sci-fi M/M Romance. Even with my niggles on book 1, I'm a sucker for series, so I do plan to read the others. ;-
D
May 13, 2014
This story is like no other in its mix of races. I will not compare it to the classics of sci-fi fantasy but it came close. What I had a hard time with was the huge cast of well developed characters and the many names that they went by. I was constantly flipping back to the glossary. I also found that all of the time jumping between chapters took a lot away from the flow of the plot. Understand that there is a tremendous amount of information that the author had to get across to the reader but I feel it could have been done in a smoother way. I enjoyed the many plot twists and the idea of redeemed vampires. There is a HEA kind of ending for those who need it.
June 4, 2016
4.5 Stars. Fantastic world-building throughout this novel, reads like a movie script. A well-written if complicated plot, I kept referring back to the lists at the beginning. No explicit sex in this one. I do feel drawn to read the follow-up prequel novel.
"Mortals die, Nick. It's what they do." Lorcan's eyes bored into him. "To attach yourself to them is to watch them grow old and feeble while you remain forever young. You will see their love turn to envy, then to resentment, then hatred, as they are forced to confront their own mortality reflected in your eyes."
"Mortals die, Nick. It's what they do." Lorcan's eyes bored into him. "To attach yourself to them is to watch them grow old and feeble while you remain forever young. You will see their love turn to envy, then to resentment, then hatred, as they are forced to confront their own mortality reflected in your eyes."
July 8, 2012
World-building that is, quite simply, genius. The Pact Arcanum series is sure to be a big hit with hardcore vampire fans, who want something more than sparkling paranormals or shallow love affairs. It is a deep and complex tale with political and romantic elements.
October 3, 2024
4.5 - Star
Sunset by Arshad Ahsanuddin was my latest read for the SPSFC-3. This was one of four books passed onto our group from the previous round. The review, thoughts and scores below are my own and do not necessarily reflect my team's overall score or the competition in general.
I've heard a bit of chatter about this one with some mixed feelings. If I'm being honest, after reading the blurb for this one, I wasn't sure I was even going to attempt this one as it didn't seem like something I would enjoy. The full combination of Science Fiction and Fantasy always seems to be difficult to pull off well. And I'm not a big fan of vampire reads either. This isn't to say I dislike vampire stories, I just haven't found myself reading much along those lines.
I have a very good streak going right now with enjoying reads more than I thought I would. I've taken a couple of chances this year and each time they worked out really well for my enjoyment. This is just the latest in that personal trend.
The pacing started off a little slow. I think this is where some of the more traditional epic fantasy aspects shine through. There is a lot going on with a lot of different characters and it is going to take some time to set the scene so to speak. I began Sunset as an immersion read with a copy of the ebook as well as the audiobook narrated by Greg Tremblay. I often times do this as it helps me settle in with narrators who are new to me. That wasn't needed with this one as I'm very familiar with Tremblay's narrations. I just finished up a six book science fiction series that he narrated last year. My biggest hurdle was simply settling into Arshad's world so I could tell the two stories apart with Tremblay's voice. It made it even more difficult because there were major characters named Nick in both. Just my luck! This honestly didn’t' take me long though as these worlds are drastically different than one another.
The world building worked really well for me. When any story includes immortal beings there is a lot of potential to either give us history or fall flat without filling in those gaps. I felt the author did a good job in both setting the scene of current events as well as either giving us out right or eluding to some more of the historical side of things. There is a lot of long game tactics being played in this book which really appealed to me. I really liked the interactions between both the majority and minority players from our three factions. Those factions being humans, day walkers and night walkers. Also in the mix are the Sentinels to play their part as well. As I have already said, there is a lot going on in this story.
The character development was also nicely done in Sunset. We have several good character arcs throughout book one. Many of our characters go through some change in this book. I just want to point out that I loved the entire Icarus scene near the end of the book. The event itself as well as the aftermath of that event.
In wrapping things up, I just want to reiterate again how difficult it can be to pull of a true combination of Science Fiction and Fantasy within the same storyline. I feel that this author pulled that off rather nicely though.
Probably the only aspect of Sunset that I struggled with at times is not just the amount of romance but the scope of things. This goes beyond any traditional love triangle. I'm just not a big fan of romance in my reads in general. I get that it can be a powerful tool to show connections with characters but it's just one of those styles that don't typically work well for me. This aspect is front and center in a lot of this read though. That's one of the few knocks I have strictly on personal preference.
Needless to say, I plan to keep an eye out and continue this series in the future.
Sunset by Arshad Ahsanuddin was my latest read for the SPSFC-3. This was one of four books passed onto our group from the previous round. The review, thoughts and scores below are my own and do not necessarily reflect my team's overall score or the competition in general.
I've heard a bit of chatter about this one with some mixed feelings. If I'm being honest, after reading the blurb for this one, I wasn't sure I was even going to attempt this one as it didn't seem like something I would enjoy. The full combination of Science Fiction and Fantasy always seems to be difficult to pull off well. And I'm not a big fan of vampire reads either. This isn't to say I dislike vampire stories, I just haven't found myself reading much along those lines.
I have a very good streak going right now with enjoying reads more than I thought I would. I've taken a couple of chances this year and each time they worked out really well for my enjoyment. This is just the latest in that personal trend.
The pacing started off a little slow. I think this is where some of the more traditional epic fantasy aspects shine through. There is a lot going on with a lot of different characters and it is going to take some time to set the scene so to speak. I began Sunset as an immersion read with a copy of the ebook as well as the audiobook narrated by Greg Tremblay. I often times do this as it helps me settle in with narrators who are new to me. That wasn't needed with this one as I'm very familiar with Tremblay's narrations. I just finished up a six book science fiction series that he narrated last year. My biggest hurdle was simply settling into Arshad's world so I could tell the two stories apart with Tremblay's voice. It made it even more difficult because there were major characters named Nick in both. Just my luck! This honestly didn’t' take me long though as these worlds are drastically different than one another.
The world building worked really well for me. When any story includes immortal beings there is a lot of potential to either give us history or fall flat without filling in those gaps. I felt the author did a good job in both setting the scene of current events as well as either giving us out right or eluding to some more of the historical side of things. There is a lot of long game tactics being played in this book which really appealed to me. I really liked the interactions between both the majority and minority players from our three factions. Those factions being humans, day walkers and night walkers. Also in the mix are the Sentinels to play their part as well. As I have already said, there is a lot going on in this story.
The character development was also nicely done in Sunset. We have several good character arcs throughout book one. Many of our characters go through some change in this book. I just want to point out that I loved the entire Icarus scene near the end of the book. The event itself as well as the aftermath of that event.
In wrapping things up, I just want to reiterate again how difficult it can be to pull of a true combination of Science Fiction and Fantasy within the same storyline. I feel that this author pulled that off rather nicely though.
Probably the only aspect of Sunset that I struggled with at times is not just the amount of romance but the scope of things. This goes beyond any traditional love triangle. I'm just not a big fan of romance in my reads in general. I get that it can be a powerful tool to show connections with characters but it's just one of those styles that don't typically work well for me. This aspect is front and center in a lot of this read though. That's one of the few knocks I have strictly on personal preference.
Needless to say, I plan to keep an eye out and continue this series in the future.
August 9, 2011
Arshad Ahsanuddin's daring debut novel, Sunset, is the first installment in a breathtaking new series about vampires, vampire-hunters, humans, and, well...their love and lust for each other.
With bold, intelligent language and in true supernatural fashion, Ahsanuddin creates a universe in 2033 and beyond that comes to symbolize many of our current human struggles. I was impressed with the book's complexity and layers of unfolding information; the structure of the different allegiances and governments become known slowly as the author sheds more light on the histories of the characters. The emergence of multiple motivations of different characters kept me interested on an intellectual level.
Sunset is a creative new take on vampires and their capabilities. The mental prowess of some of the supernatural characters is interesting to follow, and particularly inventive. The complex spiritual manifestations of power and weakness catapulted the novel to a new dimension.
During the incredible, glorious action sequences at the beginning of the novel, there may have been some missed opportunities for richer description and character depth. Of course, by the middle of the book, events that may have seemed confusing or rushed at the outset are thrown into sharp relief and become instantly more symbolic and moving.
All in all, Sunset is the beginning of a new world that Ahsanuddin has created; the incredible alliances formed between warring nightwalkers, daywalkers, sentinels, spacers, humans - and more - will keep me up reading at night! I am extremely excited to dig in to the prequel, Sunrise, and the third installment, Moonlight.
With bold, intelligent language and in true supernatural fashion, Ahsanuddin creates a universe in 2033 and beyond that comes to symbolize many of our current human struggles. I was impressed with the book's complexity and layers of unfolding information; the structure of the different allegiances and governments become known slowly as the author sheds more light on the histories of the characters. The emergence of multiple motivations of different characters kept me interested on an intellectual level.
Sunset is a creative new take on vampires and their capabilities. The mental prowess of some of the supernatural characters is interesting to follow, and particularly inventive. The complex spiritual manifestations of power and weakness catapulted the novel to a new dimension.
During the incredible, glorious action sequences at the beginning of the novel, there may have been some missed opportunities for richer description and character depth. Of course, by the middle of the book, events that may have seemed confusing or rushed at the outset are thrown into sharp relief and become instantly more symbolic and moving.
All in all, Sunset is the beginning of a new world that Ahsanuddin has created; the incredible alliances formed between warring nightwalkers, daywalkers, sentinels, spacers, humans - and more - will keep me up reading at night! I am extremely excited to dig in to the prequel, Sunrise, and the third installment, Moonlight.
March 31, 2012
Well, I can honestly say this is the best futuristic, sci-fi, political warfare, gay vampire romance novel I've ever read. I didn't actually know that's what I was getting into when I volunteered to review it in exchange for a free copy as I skimmed and missed "homo-erotic" in the description, but that wouldn't have stopped me. Honestly, I thought it read like an adventure thriller mostly, despite all the fantasy and romance.
The world the author created is amazingly intricate and complete. The book begins with a glossary explaining the different races and I thought it was helpful. Then the glossary covered the different houses, rankings, and I'm not sure what else because I quickly realized there was way too much information to absorb, and I started to wonder what I had gotten myself into. Like I said, he has created something very complex here but after a little full immersion, you sort of ease into things and it's easy to follow.
I enjoyed the novel, but right at the halfway mark, it got a little too romantic for my taste- I'm sure it's just me. I'm a girl who has to cover eyes at romantic parts in movies- but yeah, the middle is when it became more love than sex. Also, I found Nick's love interest completely unlikeable and it made things that much more uncomfortable for me. There is a LOT of unrequited love in this book, as well as a lot of mushy stuff like hand holding and cheek kissing, so if you're into that sort of thing and also like sexy vampires and a pretty heavy dose of sci-fi, I recommend this book to you.
The world the author created is amazingly intricate and complete. The book begins with a glossary explaining the different races and I thought it was helpful. Then the glossary covered the different houses, rankings, and I'm not sure what else because I quickly realized there was way too much information to absorb, and I started to wonder what I had gotten myself into. Like I said, he has created something very complex here but after a little full immersion, you sort of ease into things and it's easy to follow.
I enjoyed the novel, but right at the halfway mark, it got a little too romantic for my taste- I'm sure it's just me. I'm a girl who has to cover eyes at romantic parts in movies- but yeah, the middle is when it became more love than sex. Also, I found Nick's love interest completely unlikeable and it made things that much more uncomfortable for me. There is a LOT of unrequited love in this book, as well as a lot of mushy stuff like hand holding and cheek kissing, so if you're into that sort of thing and also like sexy vampires and a pretty heavy dose of sci-fi, I recommend this book to you.
July 29, 2016
Holy crap!
So this is more of a 3.5 read for me. But I am rounding up to 4 because the way the story is written it totally absorbs you in it. Making you feel like your in it.
This has a love pentagon.
It's a very very sticky mess.
A mess in which the sex isn't on page! What's the point of keeping up with such a love pentagon if we aren't getting to see the fun behind the door. This alone dropped the rating from 5 stars. This is a huge book over 500 pages that's so complicated at least we could of got some loving.
This book as I said was complicated. The shifting between past and present was not in any way helpful at all. I was very glad when it stops around 75%.
Also I vote for the glossary to be at the start of the book. Not the back. By the time you end the book you got it.
I'm glad I had the chance to read this. But, I don't think I will read anymore into this series.
So this is more of a 3.5 read for me. But I am rounding up to 4 because the way the story is written it totally absorbs you in it. Making you feel like your in it.
This has a love pentagon.
It's a very very sticky mess.
A mess in which the sex isn't on page! What's the point of keeping up with such a love pentagon if we aren't getting to see the fun behind the door. This alone dropped the rating from 5 stars. This is a huge book over 500 pages that's so complicated at least we could of got some loving.
This book as I said was complicated. The shifting between past and present was not in any way helpful at all. I was very glad when it stops around 75%.
Also I vote for the glossary to be at the start of the book. Not the back. By the time you end the book you got it.
I'm glad I had the chance to read this. But, I don't think I will read anymore into this series.
November 23, 2012
Note: Book provided by author in exchange for a honest review.
Wow! I must say I was super impressed with this book. The depth of layering and planning in this book were phenomenal and created a seamless reading experience for the reader. Even though the book was interspersed with time jumps throughout, I was never confused as to when something was happening in relation to other events. The book did not drag and was not boring even with all of the political manoeuvring which is sometimes not my cup of tea.
The characters were interesting and flawed. Their interactions with each other were based on their deep emotional ties but were not predictable or boring. The interactions and deceptions of the ruling bodies were a little frightening in their ability and willingness to sacrifice others.
The world was detailed and well planned. Information about the world came fast and furious but it never felt like an overwhelming information dump. There was a lot of world building and the information provided to the reader was always relevant to what was happening.
Congrats to the author for a book well written.
Wow! I must say I was super impressed with this book. The depth of layering and planning in this book were phenomenal and created a seamless reading experience for the reader. Even though the book was interspersed with time jumps throughout, I was never confused as to when something was happening in relation to other events. The book did not drag and was not boring even with all of the political manoeuvring which is sometimes not my cup of tea.
The characters were interesting and flawed. Their interactions with each other were based on their deep emotional ties but were not predictable or boring. The interactions and deceptions of the ruling bodies were a little frightening in their ability and willingness to sacrifice others.
The world was detailed and well planned. Information about the world came fast and furious but it never felt like an overwhelming information dump. There was a lot of world building and the information provided to the reader was always relevant to what was happening.
Congrats to the author for a book well written.
June 3, 2024
2024 Re-Read:
Damn. I sure love this book. My biggest problem right now is that I have a bunch of other stuff I'm supposed to be reading, but now I'm going to work my way through the rest of this series instead.
2019 Re-Read:
Nick sure is a popular guy. Honestly, I spent part of the book annoyed about all the time spent by every single person in the universe declaring their love for Nick and wishing somebody would just start killing off some of the competition.
But then the action started really ramping up and suddenly I was all in. I was laughing and crying and cheering out loud, much to the consternation of those around me. There is a lot going on here. It's very densely plotted, and there are schemes within schemes, but the payoffs sure are fun . . . or heartbreaking, depending on how you look at it.
The fantastic audio narration was a huge help, too.
I never lower a rating on a book if I re-read it, but sometimes I raise it. So this is going from four stars to five, and I'm going to go start the next book in the series.
Damn. I sure love this book. My biggest problem right now is that I have a bunch of other stuff I'm supposed to be reading, but now I'm going to work my way through the rest of this series instead.
2019 Re-Read:
Nick sure is a popular guy. Honestly, I spent part of the book annoyed about all the time spent by every single person in the universe declaring their love for Nick and wishing somebody would just start killing off some of the competition.
But then the action started really ramping up and suddenly I was all in. I was laughing and crying and cheering out loud, much to the consternation of those around me. There is a lot going on here. It's very densely plotted, and there are schemes within schemes, but the payoffs sure are fun . . . or heartbreaking, depending on how you look at it.
The fantastic audio narration was a huge help, too.
I never lower a rating on a book if I re-read it, but sometimes I raise it. So this is going from four stars to five, and I'm going to go start the next book in the series.
abandoned
June 14, 2015DNF... I really did try. This seemed to have tons of potential, and if it was good a whole series to gobble up. Also, this author seems pretty dope. But it was too much universe, too much time hopping and not quite enough character for me to really connect. Maybe I will try again someday, but for now I need to carry on.
April 11, 2020
4.5 stars
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