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Perdu
"Perdu" --the first novella in the science fiction and fantasy series, Redire de Vampyrus...
"I hope it was as good for you as it was for me."
Ruth and Eugene Flowers desired the American dream: two kids, a big house, and a dog. But it wasn't meant to be--at least not initially. When a surprise package literally fell into their laps, however, the Flowers would finally get their wish (sort of). Soon, it all goes awry, as mysterious deaths followed by a disappearance permanently disrupt their lives. Meanwhile, many years later, a grown-up Valerie Green, a nearby neighbor's daughter and high-school sweetheart of their son, Zan, hits it huge in the Big Apple, first landing at Columbia University, then at the New York Pioneer, the hottest online periodical in the city. When she is forced to cross the path of hotshot FBI special agent, Dr. Devean Rasr, she doesn't realize she is also wading much deeper into the biggest, most dangerous, and most challenging killing spree in the history of NYC.
"I hope it was as good for you as it was for me."
Ruth and Eugene Flowers desired the American dream: two kids, a big house, and a dog. But it wasn't meant to be--at least not initially. When a surprise package literally fell into their laps, however, the Flowers would finally get their wish (sort of). Soon, it all goes awry, as mysterious deaths followed by a disappearance permanently disrupt their lives. Meanwhile, many years later, a grown-up Valerie Green, a nearby neighbor's daughter and high-school sweetheart of their son, Zan, hits it huge in the Big Apple, first landing at Columbia University, then at the New York Pioneer, the hottest online periodical in the city. When she is forced to cross the path of hotshot FBI special agent, Dr. Devean Rasr, she doesn't realize she is also wading much deeper into the biggest, most dangerous, and most challenging killing spree in the history of NYC.
- GenresVampires
118 pages, ebook
First published November 20, 2012
42 people want to read
About the author
Raeden Zen
14 books329 followersRaeden Zen is a speculative and supernatural fiction author. When he isn't writing, you can find him hanging out with his family and friends, reading, eating exotic foods, enjoying movies, swimming, procrastinating with social media, or watching sports. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 25, 2012
PERDU is the first entry in the VAMPYRUS(Redire de Vampyrus) series. The author's stated goal is to shake up a tired and sappy category(read sparkly vampires for teenage girls, my interepretation of his aims). He's a science fiction and fantasy author that delights in mixing genres. Here SF and horror come together for a story that, I think, successfully meets his expectations.
Two brief sections at the beginning set the scene for tha main portion of the story.
In 1989, a space capsule lands in the waters of a bay surrounded by homes for the wealthy. Ruth and Gene Flowers had wanted lost of children. Gene was soon found to be sterile, likely from prolonged exposure to agent orange in Viet Nan. The couple tried adopting, but Viet Nam veterans of the time, right or wrong, had a bad reputation for going off the rails. Gene finds the capsule, which has an American flag emblem on it, and inside is a healthy two year old boy. The government claims not to know anything about it. A friend of the Flowers arranges for them to adopt the boy.
The second section is seventeen years later.
Zani Flowers, Zan to his friends, has grown into a strong, handsome young man. His lifelong friend, Valerie Green, witnesses him collapse on the beach while playing volleyball. She fears he may be a victim of a virulent rabies going round the area. Wild animals were attacking humans, dying, the humans dying. He recovers, but Valerie soon tumbles onto disturbing news. Zan suffers from a rare disease that requires frequent blood transfusions. He starts ignoring her calls, being away a lot, not wanting to be out except late at night.
She finally confronts him, only to be rebuffed once more, demanding she go away, in almost pleading tones, finally running off into the night, not be seen again. By her or his parents.
The main section of the story is ten years later, 2017. Valerie Green is a journalist who's won the Pulitzer and works for an online news website. Like everyone else, she's covering the story of the serial killer who's been dubbed the Lunar Executioner because he only kills during a full moon. Ten victims so far, five men, five women, all died by exsanguination by femoral artery. The city is in a turmoil and the mayor has been hesitant to call in the FBI for help. She didn't want her police force to look helpless even though they were unable to turn up anything.
But finally...
An expert, known informally as the Mastermind, was coming in to help. Special Agent Devean Rasner was up on the case and Valerie Green was up on Rasner. She was considered something of a expert on the subject and the pair more or less falls into each other's laps.
The story covers their investigations, both's suspicions of who's responsible(ah the wonders of the internet in researching personal histories), and an outcome that I didn't see coming. A very good novella to introduce the series. I look forward to more entries in this series. Me, a man grown tired of vampires. Who would have guessed?
Recommended.
Two brief sections at the beginning set the scene for tha main portion of the story.
In 1989, a space capsule lands in the waters of a bay surrounded by homes for the wealthy. Ruth and Gene Flowers had wanted lost of children. Gene was soon found to be sterile, likely from prolonged exposure to agent orange in Viet Nan. The couple tried adopting, but Viet Nam veterans of the time, right or wrong, had a bad reputation for going off the rails. Gene finds the capsule, which has an American flag emblem on it, and inside is a healthy two year old boy. The government claims not to know anything about it. A friend of the Flowers arranges for them to adopt the boy.
The second section is seventeen years later.
Zani Flowers, Zan to his friends, has grown into a strong, handsome young man. His lifelong friend, Valerie Green, witnesses him collapse on the beach while playing volleyball. She fears he may be a victim of a virulent rabies going round the area. Wild animals were attacking humans, dying, the humans dying. He recovers, but Valerie soon tumbles onto disturbing news. Zan suffers from a rare disease that requires frequent blood transfusions. He starts ignoring her calls, being away a lot, not wanting to be out except late at night.
She finally confronts him, only to be rebuffed once more, demanding she go away, in almost pleading tones, finally running off into the night, not be seen again. By her or his parents.
The main section of the story is ten years later, 2017. Valerie Green is a journalist who's won the Pulitzer and works for an online news website. Like everyone else, she's covering the story of the serial killer who's been dubbed the Lunar Executioner because he only kills during a full moon. Ten victims so far, five men, five women, all died by exsanguination by femoral artery. The city is in a turmoil and the mayor has been hesitant to call in the FBI for help. She didn't want her police force to look helpless even though they were unable to turn up anything.
But finally...
An expert, known informally as the Mastermind, was coming in to help. Special Agent Devean Rasner was up on the case and Valerie Green was up on Rasner. She was considered something of a expert on the subject and the pair more or less falls into each other's laps.
The story covers their investigations, both's suspicions of who's responsible(ah the wonders of the internet in researching personal histories), and an outcome that I didn't see coming. A very good novella to introduce the series. I look forward to more entries in this series. Me, a man grown tired of vampires. Who would have guessed?
Recommended.
December 19, 2012
Raeden Zen has once again proved himself to be a remarkably original literary voice with this unforgetable novella.
Perdu is a fast paced, extremely absorbing book, peopled with characters that, having read Raeden Zen's previous books, highlight the immense skills of this most unique of writers. The action comes fast and furious and there is much complexity in both the prose as well as the plot...from the happy family beginning (the Flowers) to the horror that results from what at first seems a blessing, Perdu draws the reader into a world of fantasy and thriller.
I am very much looking forward to future novellas in this series as the characters of Zan and Dr. Rasr showcase how truly superb Raeden Zen is in creating original and deeply complex characters.
A JAMES MASON GROUP OFFICIAL MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
Perdu is a fast paced, extremely absorbing book, peopled with characters that, having read Raeden Zen's previous books, highlight the immense skills of this most unique of writers. The action comes fast and furious and there is much complexity in both the prose as well as the plot...from the happy family beginning (the Flowers) to the horror that results from what at first seems a blessing, Perdu draws the reader into a world of fantasy and thriller.
I am very much looking forward to future novellas in this series as the characters of Zan and Dr. Rasr showcase how truly superb Raeden Zen is in creating original and deeply complex characters.
A JAMES MASON GROUP OFFICIAL MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
December 1, 2012
Review of Perdu
(Vampyrus #1) (Redire du Vampyrus)
If you’re on the hunt for an unexpectedly imaginative, wildly creative, and “different” type of paranormal/fantasy/sci fi story, stop right here and check out “Perdu,” a novella which presents all of the above criteria. First in a series, “Perdu” starts out with the arrival (from space? We don’t yet know) of a NASA craft-containing a toddler! A wealthy childless couple are allowed to adopt the child, and a decade and a half of good living ensues, during which the youngster (named by his adoptive mother “Zani,” child of God, and nicknamed Zan) grows close to the neighbours’ daughter Valerie. But when they are seventeen, their community is racked by an infestation accorded to a mutated rabies virus; Zan develops a mysterious illness, and must have blood transfusions. Well, that is not all that Zan develops; and he disappears, leaving a gaping hole in the hearts of his adoptive parents and of Valerie.
Years later, in New York City, a serial killer drains the blood of his or her victims, according to the lunar calendar; and Valerie, now a Pulitzer-Prize winning online reporter, nicknames the killer “The Lunar Executioner.” Of course, the FBI sends in a Mastermind profiler, Dr. Devean Rasr, for whom Valerie develops a predilection, setting up a kind of emotional triangle as more and more evidence piles up indicating that the killer may be her long-lost love Zan.
Be ready for the very unexpected twists and turns in this book. You will find yourself eager to read the next in the series.
(Vampyrus #1) (Redire du Vampyrus)
If you’re on the hunt for an unexpectedly imaginative, wildly creative, and “different” type of paranormal/fantasy/sci fi story, stop right here and check out “Perdu,” a novella which presents all of the above criteria. First in a series, “Perdu” starts out with the arrival (from space? We don’t yet know) of a NASA craft-containing a toddler! A wealthy childless couple are allowed to adopt the child, and a decade and a half of good living ensues, during which the youngster (named by his adoptive mother “Zani,” child of God, and nicknamed Zan) grows close to the neighbours’ daughter Valerie. But when they are seventeen, their community is racked by an infestation accorded to a mutated rabies virus; Zan develops a mysterious illness, and must have blood transfusions. Well, that is not all that Zan develops; and he disappears, leaving a gaping hole in the hearts of his adoptive parents and of Valerie.
Years later, in New York City, a serial killer drains the blood of his or her victims, according to the lunar calendar; and Valerie, now a Pulitzer-Prize winning online reporter, nicknames the killer “The Lunar Executioner.” Of course, the FBI sends in a Mastermind profiler, Dr. Devean Rasr, for whom Valerie develops a predilection, setting up a kind of emotional triangle as more and more evidence piles up indicating that the killer may be her long-lost love Zan.
Be ready for the very unexpected twists and turns in this book. You will find yourself eager to read the next in the series.
February 19, 2013
Gene and Ruth Flowers could not have children of their own. So when the opportunity presented itself to raise a child they jumped at the chance never looking back. Zani or Zan Flowers grew up with his neighbor Valarie or Val Green. Zan always been alittle different from everyone else yet it never bothered him until he was in his teens. Zan and Val were inseparable in so many ways. Zan started avoiding being around Val to spare her feelings from what he was experiencing. Years later Val is a journalist with her own blog and twitter but her boss Maddy is a real bitch. Maddy constantly threatens Val's job if she doesn't get the story Maddy wants. Val is tracking The Lunar Executioner along with NYPD and F.B.I. Dr. Devean Rasr is called the Mastermind by the F.B.I. and has great success in cracking their toughest cases. He's asked to consult with NYPD about the case. He meets Valarie Green and is surprised to learn how much information she has on the case. Valarie hopes that The Lunar Executioner isn't Zan. She wants to rule out the possibility for herself. Who is The Lunar Executioner? Where is Zan at? Will Valarie believe it's Zan? What will Dr. Devean Rasr do? Your answers await you in Perdu.
November 26, 2012
Whilst I understand and appreciate the attempt at more a comtemporary and mass market targeted book, in this story I missed this authors special type of brain cell thumping quirkyness.
It was as if his brazen attitude had taken a break or perhaps gone for a long walk.
He needs to combine that innate in your face complexity with a twist of emotion and a subject matter his soul believes in.
Perseverance Mr Zen, perseverance.
The mixture of sci-fi and supernatural elements was interesting, but that sci-fi link withered into the background. I assume it will perhaps become important in the next book in the series.
I enjoyed the fact that there was more warmth and open emotion, despite the fact it still seems to be a new area for Zen to play around with in a literary sense.
Overall for me it was almost flighty, the dialogue and storyline wasn't grounded enough to be able to relate to.
It was missing that certain Zen quality that is apparent in his other work.
It was as if his brazen attitude had taken a break or perhaps gone for a long walk.
He needs to combine that innate in your face complexity with a twist of emotion and a subject matter his soul believes in.
Perseverance Mr Zen, perseverance.
The mixture of sci-fi and supernatural elements was interesting, but that sci-fi link withered into the background. I assume it will perhaps become important in the next book in the series.
I enjoyed the fact that there was more warmth and open emotion, despite the fact it still seems to be a new area for Zen to play around with in a literary sense.
Overall for me it was almost flighty, the dialogue and storyline wasn't grounded enough to be able to relate to.
It was missing that certain Zen quality that is apparent in his other work.
December 31, 2015
Before this week I'd barely given a dozen one star ratings all year, and that's having read 200+ books. Perdu makes three THIS WEEK. Man when it rains it pours.
This book is a mess. There's no identifiable main character. It has no consistent timeline. Characters make absolutely unfollowable leaps of logic. Clues conveniently pop out of nowhere. The villain is a character that literally isn't in the novel until the reveal and then isn't in it after, so a nobody. There are several info-drops, most of which is pointless information that is never utilized. There is constant head hopping. Characters appear and disappear as needed. No one have believable emotions. The dialogue is stilted. The love is unfounded and baseless. Pretty sure I have nothing positive to say about any of it....Ok, it was short.
This book is a mess. There's no identifiable main character. It has no consistent timeline. Characters make absolutely unfollowable leaps of logic. Clues conveniently pop out of nowhere. The villain is a character that literally isn't in the novel until the reveal and then isn't in it after, so a nobody. There are several info-drops, most of which is pointless information that is never utilized. There is constant head hopping. Characters appear and disappear as needed. No one have believable emotions. The dialogue is stilted. The love is unfounded and baseless. Pretty sure I have nothing positive to say about any of it....Ok, it was short.
February 4, 2013
I got this title of Amazon when the author offered it up free for a limited time. It's a well-written short story which neither seemed contrived nor trite. It provided an interesting take on vampiricism as a disease, which I'd not come across before. The only thing I found odd was how Zan arrived on the scene which hopefully will make more sense in later installments. Overall, I was entertained without being annoyed, so that's an A in my book!
December 16, 2012
A great read. Story was very original, the plot and action were fast-paced and kept me turning pages, and the end was really unexpected. It could have been a little longer, and some things could have been explained more, but I'm guessing they will be in the sequel.
December 23, 2012
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
In Perdu , a family who has been trying to adopt a child for a long time receives its wish when a space capsule carrying baby falls into the ocean nearby. They name him Zani, since he was a gift from God. Years later, when Zani and his friend Valerie are teenagers, a strange disease falls upon the town that echoes vampiricism. Zani flees, and Valerie never sees him again. Time jumps forward again to when Valerie is a successful reporter in New York, covering a news story of the "Lunar Executioner" who kills by draining the blood of his victims. When the Feds enter the scene, Valerie suddenly worries that the killer is Zan, and that she is betraying their long friendship by helping the FBI. All the evidence seems to indicate "yes."
I liked the hint of science-fiction present at the beginning of the story. It added an air of mystery that I wish had been more present throughout the story. Although Zan's point of view was probably omitted in the later part of the novel, I think it would have strengthened the story if his emotions and story were written in a way that still left it unclear as to whether he was the killer or not.
However, despite the intruiging beginning (backstory dump mid-chapter aside), the rest of the novel fell a bit flat. I didn't feel enough suspense to keep me turning the pages. Of the cast, I only connected with Valerie, although not as much as I usually do with characters in a story. Consequently, The description, although interesting at times, was often passive and reliant on cliches. I also stumbled over the list of police details of the ten individuals who were murdered by the Lunar Executioner.
Still, the novel does not portray the vampire in the romantic light that it often falls under. I haven't seen many books that treat vampiricism as a disease rather than a curse (or blessing, depending on your point of view). That was interesting. Although the premise was interesting and promising, the story itself could have been better executed.
In Perdu , a family who has been trying to adopt a child for a long time receives its wish when a space capsule carrying baby falls into the ocean nearby. They name him Zani, since he was a gift from God. Years later, when Zani and his friend Valerie are teenagers, a strange disease falls upon the town that echoes vampiricism. Zani flees, and Valerie never sees him again. Time jumps forward again to when Valerie is a successful reporter in New York, covering a news story of the "Lunar Executioner" who kills by draining the blood of his victims. When the Feds enter the scene, Valerie suddenly worries that the killer is Zan, and that she is betraying their long friendship by helping the FBI. All the evidence seems to indicate "yes."
I liked the hint of science-fiction present at the beginning of the story. It added an air of mystery that I wish had been more present throughout the story. Although Zan's point of view was probably omitted in the later part of the novel, I think it would have strengthened the story if his emotions and story were written in a way that still left it unclear as to whether he was the killer or not.
However, despite the intruiging beginning (backstory dump mid-chapter aside), the rest of the novel fell a bit flat. I didn't feel enough suspense to keep me turning the pages. Of the cast, I only connected with Valerie, although not as much as I usually do with characters in a story. Consequently, The description, although interesting at times, was often passive and reliant on cliches. I also stumbled over the list of police details of the ten individuals who were murdered by the Lunar Executioner.
Still, the novel does not portray the vampire in the romantic light that it often falls under. I haven't seen many books that treat vampiricism as a disease rather than a curse (or blessing, depending on your point of view). That was interesting. Although the premise was interesting and promising, the story itself could have been better executed.
December 15, 2012
A interesting opening for a occult/vampire series. It did not really grab me in the beginning, events were happening but no real feeling of attachment to any of the characters. There seemed to be way to much literal description going on with plenty of product placement and name dropping. Val's boss description was like a red carpet voice over for all the expensive crap she was wearing. The intensity of the relationships just did not seem justified without more depth or dialogue between the characters. Adding in a few chapters about Zan and Val interacting as kids would have made me more comfortable with how close they they were supposed to be to each other.
The powers and capabilities of the vampire were off the scale with no seeming weakness or vulnerability. It just made the whole end fight scene an example that there was no way humans could fight these things. Mix in that the vampire was making the whole thing an erotic lap dance and done to music that I have never heard before so the lyrics or beat meant nothing to me. I will give it a caveat that the ending did seem to give hope that a vampire could be fought but I do not want to give any spoilers.
The powers and capabilities of the vampire were off the scale with no seeming weakness or vulnerability. It just made the whole end fight scene an example that there was no way humans could fight these things. Mix in that the vampire was making the whole thing an erotic lap dance and done to music that I have never heard before so the lyrics or beat meant nothing to me. I will give it a caveat that the ending did seem to give hope that a vampire could be fought but I do not want to give any spoilers.
December 7, 2012
I love the style of writing and the unique story line. I absolutely loved the first quarter of this book..But once Zan left, the story went down hill for me. Simply because I don't like to read crime journalists stories.
I would have preferred to follow the Vamp side of the story. Zans side of the story.
I would definitely read this author again, but would have to be a book more suited to me!
I would have preferred to follow the Vamp side of the story. Zans side of the story.
I would definitely read this author again, but would have to be a book more suited to me!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews