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Arcadia Trust #1
The Beast Without
Reylan is everything a Sydney vampire aspires to be: wealthy, handsome and independent, carefully feeding off companions plucked from the gay bars of Oxford Street.
When one of those companions is killed by Jorgas, a hot-headed young werewolf prowling his streets, Reylan reluctantly puts his cherished lifestyle of blood and boys on hold to help a mysterious alliance of supernatural beings track down the beast. It can’t be that hard... not when Jorgas keeps coming after him.
But there’s more to this werewolf than a body count and a bad attitude. As their relationship grows deeper and more twisted, Reylan tastes Jorgas’ blood, reawakening desires the vampire had thought long dead. And what evolves between them may be far more dangerous than some rival predator in the dark...
When one of those companions is killed by Jorgas, a hot-headed young werewolf prowling his streets, Reylan reluctantly puts his cherished lifestyle of blood and boys on hold to help a mysterious alliance of supernatural beings track down the beast. It can’t be that hard... not when Jorgas keeps coming after him.
But there’s more to this werewolf than a body count and a bad attitude. As their relationship grows deeper and more twisted, Reylan tastes Jorgas’ blood, reawakening desires the vampire had thought long dead. And what evolves between them may be far more dangerous than some rival predator in the dark...
234 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2013
16 people are currently reading
846 people want to read
About the author
Christian Baines
16 books148 followersWriting quirky queer horror and dark fantasy, Christian Baines is an awkward nerd turned slightly less awkward author. Raised on dark humour and powered by New Zealand wine, he is the author of eight novels including gay paranormal series The Arcadia Trust, Puppet Boy, Skin, and My Cat’s Guide to Online Dating. Born in Australia, he now travels the world whenever possible, living and writing in Toronto, Canada between trips.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
June 28, 2016
Beast without was a very interesting and refreshing read. The author has created his own unique world based on fantasy and paranormal elements that are very well known. A world in which nothing is as it seems. He has managed to create something new! Beast without is a dark, complicated, violent, gory plot-centered story with very interesting mysteries hidden in the shadows, nice suspense and enough amount of sexual tension.
There are many interesting species in this world. Species that are present in many paranormal books but somehow have been reshaped into unique and original beings of "Beast Without"'s world. Vampires aren't really Vampires and Werewolves aren't really Werewolves. There are also Withes, Shapers, cloak masters and even invisible beings. All with their own special abilities and characteristics.
I have always been a fan of Vampires but not all Vampires. My Vampires are dark, cold, intelligent and tend to alternate between good and evil, depending on their own benefits and agenda. And that's why I loved Reylan. He is not a Vampire... He hates being called one and finds it insulting. He is a Blood Shade, a species slightly different than what we know as Vampire. In this world, Vampires are urban legends but Blood shades are real. Reylan is old and experienced and has his own sense of morality. He considers his own well-being first and foremost. He is not a cold brutal killer but he kills without hesitation when he decides that he has to. Against his own will, he gets involved in a series of murders and since he is the stubborn type, refuses to back down or do things the way he is told. He prefers to solve mysteries his own way.
I was slightly disappointed when I realized blood shades are not sexual beings and only take pleasure in blood but hey, that's something new. It's a huge risk that this author has taken and it works! And don't be disappointed. with Jorgas's appearance, come great mysteries, newly-awakened desires and of course, violence and gore.
I have always loved Vampire/Shifter stories. These too species have a very intriguing and complicated twisted love/hate relationship and that's exactly the kind of relationship Reylan and Jorgas share. They are both dark and complicated characters sharing a dark and complicated bond.
Jorgas is a Werewolf but like Reylan, he is not considered one. He is called a Flesh master. He is young, lost, angry and confused. He is also violent and brutal and he chooses to rely on Reylan, a blood shade, for some reason that none of them can actually comprehend at the beginning.
"Beast Without" is a very original paranormal book in a sea of paranormal books. Why not 5 stars when I loved this story so much? That's because the story feels unfinished. Reylan and Jorgas reach a certain inevitable point in their complicated violent relationship, a big mystery is solved, they make personal decisions and then story stops there. Why? Their romantic relationship has a long way to go. I see no sequel to this amazing story and no signs that this is actually a series and I can't figure out why. I like it when a book has a mystical atmosphere and not all questions are answered at the end. But "Beast without" feels like a beginning to a wonderful paranormal series. I was introduced to an original paranormal world, to hidden societies and covens, to well-written secondary characters that the author explains in details and to a very intriguing newly-formed alliance of supernatural beings and yet, I don't get to learn more about them. Sometimes they play small parts and then they fade into background. Why share so much information and details if that was going to be the case? If I ever see a sequel to this book, I will come back and add the last star.
There are many interesting species in this world. Species that are present in many paranormal books but somehow have been reshaped into unique and original beings of "Beast Without"'s world. Vampires aren't really Vampires and Werewolves aren't really Werewolves. There are also Withes, Shapers, cloak masters and even invisible beings. All with their own special abilities and characteristics.
I have always been a fan of Vampires but not all Vampires. My Vampires are dark, cold, intelligent and tend to alternate between good and evil, depending on their own benefits and agenda. And that's why I loved Reylan. He is not a Vampire... He hates being called one and finds it insulting. He is a Blood Shade, a species slightly different than what we know as Vampire. In this world, Vampires are urban legends but Blood shades are real. Reylan is old and experienced and has his own sense of morality. He considers his own well-being first and foremost. He is not a cold brutal killer but he kills without hesitation when he decides that he has to. Against his own will, he gets involved in a series of murders and since he is the stubborn type, refuses to back down or do things the way he is told. He prefers to solve mysteries his own way.
I was slightly disappointed when I realized blood shades are not sexual beings and only take pleasure in blood but hey, that's something new. It's a huge risk that this author has taken and it works! And don't be disappointed. with Jorgas's appearance, come great mysteries, newly-awakened desires and of course, violence and gore.
I have always loved Vampire/Shifter stories. These too species have a very intriguing and complicated twisted love/hate relationship and that's exactly the kind of relationship Reylan and Jorgas share. They are both dark and complicated characters sharing a dark and complicated bond.
Jorgas is a Werewolf but like Reylan, he is not considered one. He is called a Flesh master. He is young, lost, angry and confused. He is also violent and brutal and he chooses to rely on Reylan, a blood shade, for some reason that none of them can actually comprehend at the beginning.
"Beast Without" is a very original paranormal book in a sea of paranormal books. Why not 5 stars when I loved this story so much? That's because the story feels unfinished. Reylan and Jorgas reach a certain inevitable point in their complicated violent relationship, a big mystery is solved, they make personal decisions and then story stops there. Why? Their romantic relationship has a long way to go. I see no sequel to this amazing story and no signs that this is actually a series and I can't figure out why. I like it when a book has a mystical atmosphere and not all questions are answered at the end. But "Beast without" feels like a beginning to a wonderful paranormal series. I was introduced to an original paranormal world, to hidden societies and covens, to well-written secondary characters that the author explains in details and to a very intriguing newly-formed alliance of supernatural beings and yet, I don't get to learn more about them. Sometimes they play small parts and then they fade into background. Why share so much information and details if that was going to be the case? If I ever see a sequel to this book, I will come back and add the last star.
June 19, 2024
*I received an ecopy of this book from the author. This has not influenced my review.*
At the time of writing this review, I've already read the first two books in this series, and I felt the second was a lot better and fixed pretty much all the problems I had with this one. That being said, this review is for this book, and I still have to be honest, so...
Things I Liked:
- The story/plot was good.
- The violent/darkish aspects were definitely to my liking. I mean, the sex scene was basically half sex, half beating the crap out of each other. Sex and violence all in one scene, what more can you ask for? ;-) (But just to clarify, the sex was consensual. And the violence was practically consensual too since they seemed to be quite enjoying themselves.)
- The rocky nature of Reylan's and Jorgas's relationship (I use that term loosely as it wasn't romance but rather more of a fascination/one-time sexual thing) gave them an interesting dynamic.
- The turmoil in Reylan (the protag) over always wanting to be alone and being an asexual creature (the vampires in this book are impotent) but then suddenly having some sort of interest in Jorgas and being filled with lust and passion by him was also an interesting aspect of the story.
Things I Disliked:
- All of the above things I mentioned had a lot of great potential, but I felt like it wasn't fully explored to the extent it could've been.
- The dialogue often felt unnatural. It was kind of choppy sometimes to the point that I was left feeling confused as to what the characters were talking about. At other times it seemed like Reylan was having a sarcastic battle of wits with every character he came across.
- Reylan was too judgmental and condescending. I like surly, disgruntled, snarky characters, but he came off more mean than funny to me.
- I didn't like the breaking of the fourth wall. I'm not a huge fan of first person to begin with, and characters talking directly to the reader always takes me out of the story.
Things Neither Good nor Bad but Still Worth Mentioning:
- I've noticed a lot of other reviewers mention how unique this portrayal of vampires was, but, as someone who reads a lot of vampire books, I found this to be a fairly typical, classic, sexy version. I don't mean that as an insult though; every version doesn't have to be "different." I enjoy this version just as much, and I definitely like the pleasurable blood-drinking!
Overall, I felt the positives and the negatives were fairly even, but, as I said, there was a lot of potential in the relationship dynamics and inner turmoil, enough that I decided to continue with the next book, which I did enjoy significantly more. So not a bad read, and I'd recommend the series if it sounds like your kinda thing, but this first book didn't blow me away.
*I’ve read this book multiple times. This review was written after my 1st read.*
2nd Read Update:
I actually enjoyed this more the second time. I wasn't quite as confused by the story and dialogue. I think I also appreciated Reylan's characterization more. He was a judgmental jerk with some very questionable morals, so I can't say I liked him as a person, but he was well-written and interesting as a character. I'm leaving my original review as is, but I've decided to adjust my rating from 3 stars to 3.5 stars.
*Rating: 3 Stars // 1st Read Date: 2016 // Format: Ebook*
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // 2nd Read Date: 2019 // Format: Ebook*
*Rating: n/a // 3rd Read Date: 2024 // Format: Ebook via TTS* (memory refresh skim read)
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes m/m paranormal, a fairly classic and sexy version of vampires, complex relationship dynamics, and some darkness.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
At the time of writing this review, I've already read the first two books in this series, and I felt the second was a lot better and fixed pretty much all the problems I had with this one. That being said, this review is for this book, and I still have to be honest, so...
Things I Liked:
- The story/plot was good.
- The violent/darkish aspects were definitely to my liking. I mean, the sex scene was basically half sex, half beating the crap out of each other. Sex and violence all in one scene, what more can you ask for? ;-) (But just to clarify, the sex was consensual. And the violence was practically consensual too since they seemed to be quite enjoying themselves.)
- The rocky nature of Reylan's and Jorgas's relationship (I use that term loosely as it wasn't romance but rather more of a fascination/one-time sexual thing) gave them an interesting dynamic.
- The turmoil in Reylan (the protag) over always wanting to be alone and being an asexual creature (the vampires in this book are impotent) but then suddenly having some sort of interest in Jorgas and being filled with lust and passion by him was also an interesting aspect of the story.
Things I Disliked:
- All of the above things I mentioned had a lot of great potential, but I felt like it wasn't fully explored to the extent it could've been.
- The dialogue often felt unnatural. It was kind of choppy sometimes to the point that I was left feeling confused as to what the characters were talking about. At other times it seemed like Reylan was having a sarcastic battle of wits with every character he came across.
- Reylan was too judgmental and condescending. I like surly, disgruntled, snarky characters, but he came off more mean than funny to me.
- I didn't like the breaking of the fourth wall. I'm not a huge fan of first person to begin with, and characters talking directly to the reader always takes me out of the story.
Things Neither Good nor Bad but Still Worth Mentioning:
- I've noticed a lot of other reviewers mention how unique this portrayal of vampires was, but, as someone who reads a lot of vampire books, I found this to be a fairly typical, classic, sexy version. I don't mean that as an insult though; every version doesn't have to be "different." I enjoy this version just as much, and I definitely like the pleasurable blood-drinking!
Overall, I felt the positives and the negatives were fairly even, but, as I said, there was a lot of potential in the relationship dynamics and inner turmoil, enough that I decided to continue with the next book, which I did enjoy significantly more. So not a bad read, and I'd recommend the series if it sounds like your kinda thing, but this first book didn't blow me away.
*I’ve read this book multiple times. This review was written after my 1st read.*
2nd Read Update:
I actually enjoyed this more the second time. I wasn't quite as confused by the story and dialogue. I think I also appreciated Reylan's characterization more. He was a judgmental jerk with some very questionable morals, so I can't say I liked him as a person, but he was well-written and interesting as a character. I'm leaving my original review as is, but I've decided to adjust my rating from 3 stars to 3.5 stars.
*Rating: 3 Stars // 1st Read Date: 2016 // Format: Ebook*
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // 2nd Read Date: 2019 // Format: Ebook*
*Rating: n/a // 3rd Read Date: 2024 // Format: Ebook via TTS* (memory refresh skim read)
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes m/m paranormal, a fairly classic and sexy version of vampires, complex relationship dynamics, and some darkness.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
August 30, 2016
Man this was close to being a perfect read!
BUT I had a few issues that made me end at 3 stars.
Nothing in the universe Christian Baines has built, is like any other shifter/vampire/fantasy I've read. This book is dark, gritty, well-written and quite subtly AND in-your-face humorous.
However be warned there is no hanky-panky smexy times in this one AT ALL. And that was freaking annoying, since the chemistry between Reylan and Jorgas was definitely there.
Okay, so Reylan is a vam... Nope, no, I'm sorry he's a Blood Shade and a very independent one at that. He lives with his cat, his polish renter upstairs and hangs out with his friends/protégés Ross and Isobel. He hunts for 'lunch' at different gay nightclubs in Sydney 4-5 times a week to avoid starving. Blood Shades are sort of asexual beings, when the 'change' happens they lose their libido, so to speak. However the people they feed from are caught in a sort of sexual haze and can have an orgasm when they're being chewed on.
One night when leaving with his 'lunch', a Flesh Master attacks them. The Flesh Master is Jorgas, and he is not doing so well with his change.
Jorgas kills Reylan's 'lunch', and this is the first time we get an insight into Reylan. This dude is unapologetic, he's sarcastic, he's rude and quite ruthless. All in all he's a GREAT character, seriously I loved him, BUT GODDAMMIT why did the Blood Shades have to be non-sexual beings? UGH! *stomping my foot*
Reylan lets Jorgas go/looses him that night, and decides: I'm washing my hands of this situation.
But alas, poor Reylan is not finished with this.
Ross tries to get him to go to the Arcadia Trust, a society trying to bridge the gaps between the different species of supernatural creatures and assists in keeping the supernatural community under wraps. Reylan is not at all interested in going, but is brought there by one of the Cloak Walkers (invisible people).
The Arcadia Trust wants help; so far 3 young people are dead (4 if you count Reylan's 'lunch'), and they think that Jorgas did it. Jorgas apparently has an unhealthy obsession with Reylan, and is now following him (again their chemistry... UGH) and thus begins a quite well-written mystery. I did not guess who the bad guy was at all, and there were a few twists that went well with the story and the MCs.
I thought the world building was great, however confusing with all the new expressions used for creatures, that already have established names. And I really really thought that Reylan was awesome, he was so snarky and rude, it was great!
But the lack of smexy times, means that I cannot give it more than 3 stars. It really is MISSING from the story, and it is quite obvious when Reylan and Jorgas get it on, that something is lacking.
The ending is HFN and the relationship between Reylan and Jorgas is tenuous at best. I'm unsure if I want to read the second book, since it took some brain capacity for me to keep all the expressions and origin stories straight. But I'm hoping that maybe the bond between Reylan and Jorgas will change the dynamics for the better....
Yes, I mean for sexy times, apparently I have a one-track-mind!
BUT I had a few issues that made me end at 3 stars.
Nothing in the universe Christian Baines has built, is like any other shifter/vampire/fantasy I've read. This book is dark, gritty, well-written and quite subtly AND in-your-face humorous.
However be warned there is no hanky-panky smexy times in this one AT ALL. And that was freaking annoying, since the chemistry between Reylan and Jorgas was definitely there.
Okay, so Reylan is a vam... Nope, no, I'm sorry he's a Blood Shade and a very independent one at that. He lives with his cat, his polish renter upstairs and hangs out with his friends/protégés Ross and Isobel. He hunts for 'lunch' at different gay nightclubs in Sydney 4-5 times a week to avoid starving. Blood Shades are sort of asexual beings, when the 'change' happens they lose their libido, so to speak. However the people they feed from are caught in a sort of sexual haze and can have an orgasm when they're being chewed on.
One night when leaving with his 'lunch', a Flesh Master attacks them. The Flesh Master is Jorgas, and he is not doing so well with his change.
Jorgas kills Reylan's 'lunch', and this is the first time we get an insight into Reylan. This dude is unapologetic, he's sarcastic, he's rude and quite ruthless. All in all he's a GREAT character, seriously I loved him, BUT GODDAMMIT why did the Blood Shades have to be non-sexual beings? UGH! *stomping my foot*
Reylan lets Jorgas go/looses him that night, and decides: I'm washing my hands of this situation.
But alas, poor Reylan is not finished with this.
Ross tries to get him to go to the Arcadia Trust, a society trying to bridge the gaps between the different species of supernatural creatures and assists in keeping the supernatural community under wraps. Reylan is not at all interested in going, but is brought there by one of the Cloak Walkers (invisible people).
The Arcadia Trust wants help; so far 3 young people are dead (4 if you count Reylan's 'lunch'), and they think that Jorgas did it. Jorgas apparently has an unhealthy obsession with Reylan, and is now following him (again their chemistry... UGH) and thus begins a quite well-written mystery. I did not guess who the bad guy was at all, and there were a few twists that went well with the story and the MCs.
I thought the world building was great, however confusing with all the new expressions used for creatures, that already have established names. And I really really thought that Reylan was awesome, he was so snarky and rude, it was great!
But the lack of smexy times, means that I cannot give it more than 3 stars. It really is MISSING from the story, and it is quite obvious when Reylan and Jorgas get it on, that something is lacking.
The ending is HFN and the relationship between Reylan and Jorgas is tenuous at best. I'm unsure if I want to read the second book, since it took some brain capacity for me to keep all the expressions and origin stories straight. But I'm hoping that maybe the bond between Reylan and Jorgas will change the dynamics for the better....
Yes, I mean for sexy times, apparently I have a one-track-mind!
Read
June 2, 2025The Beast Without is now on Kindle Unlimited, but it won't be on there forever. Catch up now in time for Tears in Time, book four of The Arcadia Trust collection, coming this spring.
1) The Beast Without
2) The Orchard of Flesh
3) Sins of the Son
4) Tears in Time
1) The Beast Without
2) The Orchard of Flesh
3) Sins of the Son
4) Tears in Time
January 29, 2014
I have read many shifter and vampire stories before, but not one that was anything like this one. Calling someone a vampire is an insult. In this book they are Blood Shades and they are born, not made. Then we have the werewolves that are actually referred to as Flesh Masters. Along with these two species, we also get to meet the Shapers and Cloak Masters; they are witches and invisible people respectively. I believe this is one of the more original supernatural books I have read in a while.
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
May 27, 2013
I am left with a couple of questions I wish were answered but I definitely liked this book. That being said, this story is not for everyone. Anyone looking for a sweet vampire/shifter book that is published en mass these days will not find it here. This world is brutal with lots of blood and gore and MC's with poorly functioning moral compasses. I happen to enjoy that though.
August 28, 2014
4.5 star review by The Blogger Girls.
Boy, do I love a gritty paranormal that is different than the norm. In this world, there are vampires and werewolves, though they prefer to be referred to as the less derogatory terms of Blood Shades and Flesh Masters. We quickly learn that everything we know from books, tv and movies is basically a bunch of b.s., especially where vampires, excuse me, Blood Shades are concerned.
Reylan is one such Blood Shade who basically goes about his business until one of his “companions” is attacked and killed by Jorgas the werewolf. Reylan decides he needs to take out Jorgas and is further lured into doing so when he is introduced to the leader of The Arcadia Trust, an organization working for the alliance of supernatural beings. All is not as it seems were the killer is concerned, as Reylan finds out when he catches up to Jorgas.
Reylan, up to this point, has basically been a non-sexual being. He lives to feed with little to no sexual pleasure involved. That is, until he is awakened when he feeds from Jorgas. These two share a sort of bond, but they really don’t embark on any type of relationship as you would expect. They work together to try and clear Jorgas’ name and find many more things are not what they seem. Secrets are being held by more than one person or being, and you never really know who the good guys are.
I found this to be a really interesting story. There is a lot going on with the Arcadia Trust that we really only get a glimpse of at this point. There is a lot more to the myths or background of the Blood Shades and Flesh Masters, but that is only touched upon as well. This ends on a HFN note, and while many questions are answered, there are still quite a number outstanding.
I really liked Reylan. He pretty much makes no excuses for himself, tells it like it is, and is generally a witty, mysteriously sexy being. I felt like we only just broke the surface where he is concerned, and I really wanted to know more about him. He and Jorgas seem to be in a very fragile give and take place with their relationship, and I am really excited to see there is more planned for them, as well as the rest of this world.
The story is very well paced, and reads very smoothly. While writing up this review, I noticed it has a pretty steep price tag which will undoubtedly deter a lot of readers. However, if you can get your hands on this one and are looking for something with more focus on the paranormal, as opposed to a romance, I highly recommend you give it a try.
November 1, 2013
Rating: 2.5 stars
Let me state that the prose is well written. Despite not being a fan of first-person POV, Reylan (thevampire Blood Shade) is an interesting enough character. The world is interesting enough, one that is riddled with the supernatural and societies that seem to govern these creatures living in the shadows of an ignorant humanity.
But overall? Meh.
My eyes were glazing over too much detail. I understand that a richly developed world needs to be detailed oriented and have a nice cast of secondary characters. But do we REALLY need to know so much about Ross, Isobel, Patricia, Sophia and her little 10 yo friend who's name I can't remember, Kelvin, Brett, Father Issac, the drunk girl at that emo club, Rory, Dorotha and other characters that I can't remember off the top of my head? I felt like I knew even LESS of Jorgas, who I originally thought was the other MC in this book. But by how much attention and word count he received, I felt he was more of another secondary character.
And the so called relationship between Reylan and Jorgas? It felt so shallow. Like they hated each other, and then they were having a blood sucking-induced orgasm? Like...really?! Maybe this is the norm for vampire-inspired stories, but apparently this really isn't my thing.
So yeah, the story is very violent and gory. There's a lot of blood involved. Lots of loose ends that makes me think there has to be a sequel (if not, then that's another thumbs down). But overall, I just wasn't impressed.
Let me state that the prose is well written. Despite not being a fan of first-person POV, Reylan (the
But overall? Meh.
My eyes were glazing over too much detail. I understand that a richly developed world needs to be detailed oriented and have a nice cast of secondary characters. But do we REALLY need to know so much about Ross, Isobel, Patricia, Sophia and her little 10 yo friend who's name I can't remember, Kelvin, Brett, Father Issac, the drunk girl at that emo club, Rory, Dorotha and other characters that I can't remember off the top of my head? I felt like I knew even LESS of Jorgas, who I originally thought was the other MC in this book. But by how much attention and word count he received, I felt he was more of another secondary character.
And the so called relationship between Reylan and Jorgas? It felt so shallow. Like they hated each other, and then they were having a blood sucking-induced orgasm? Like...really?! Maybe this is the norm for vampire-inspired stories, but apparently this really isn't my thing.
So yeah, the story is very violent and gory. There's a lot of blood involved. Lots of loose ends that makes me think there has to be a sequel (if not, then that's another thumbs down). But overall, I just wasn't impressed.
Currently reading
March 6, 2016
August 22, 2013
I had an absolute ball reading this novel. It didn't leave my side until I was done. The writer's sardonic wit combined with a modern, self-aware, second-guessing vampire protagonist pulls you into a styled, sexual, brutal and all too real vision of Sydney's underworld. A great cocktail of humour, blood, desire and myth. The characters are intensely vivid and even those who are supernatural, for better or worse are infallibly human. I may have awoken my roommate in a laughing fit at 3am and most definitely have developed a deep understanding of the people reading 50 Shades of Grey on the subway when they come across a steamy scene. If you like your Vampires(Blood Shades) bloody and not to be reeking of apathy or doused in glitter you will love this book. The character-driven plot is an amazing ride and to the writer I simply insist "More Please!!!"
September 1, 2013
4.5 Stars
The Beast Without s a rather complicated book to review. However, I will say it is an interesting, dark at times, snarky and witty at times, paranormal, that has a say on current issues as well. A slightly different slant on vampires and paranormals it is set in my home town - I appreciated the (correct) use of Sydney at night in the context of this paranormal read. Very accurate.
Nice first book and I hope there will be more sooner rather than later from the author. My review at - http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
The Beast Without s a rather complicated book to review. However, I will say it is an interesting, dark at times, snarky and witty at times, paranormal, that has a say on current issues as well. A slightly different slant on vampires and paranormals it is set in my home town - I appreciated the (correct) use of Sydney at night in the context of this paranormal read. Very accurate.
Nice first book and I hope there will be more sooner rather than later from the author. My review at - http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/...
November 3, 2023
I had seen this book (and it's sequels) in my local bookshop a few times, but the cover (which we should never judge upon) left me with no desire to buy it...until one day I did.
What i enjoyed most was the setting; I live where this is set, and to think there are some sexy (Don't call them) vampires, and werewolves roaming around had me hooked. The underlying mystery was great, and the introduction to the world through Reylan was well written. I usually do not care for vampire stories, and throw in some romance? no thank you. But what Christian has done here is given us a brilliant, thrilling novel with a bit of romance in the background, and I can't wait to read the sequels.
What i enjoyed most was the setting; I live where this is set, and to think there are some sexy (Don't call them) vampires, and werewolves roaming around had me hooked. The underlying mystery was great, and the introduction to the world through Reylan was well written. I usually do not care for vampire stories, and throw in some romance? no thank you. But what Christian has done here is given us a brilliant, thrilling novel with a bit of romance in the background, and I can't wait to read the sequels.
June 15, 2023
Interesting paranormal mystery, well written in a well develop world.
March 2, 2017
As a blood shade, Reylan’s life centers around getting his daily fill of blood, which he frequents gay clubs for–but he’s not gay. Reylan just happens to prefer the bolder notes of a man. Sex has little meaning for him, and the rumors that a vampire can’t get it up are not without merit, but who cares about all that sexual nonsense when blood is everything?
One night he has his feast ready to usher off to his apartment, where he’ll satiate his lover’s desires while satisfying his own, when his hookup is brutally murdered in front of him by a raging flesh master. Reylan couldn’t give two fucks for anyone but himself, and despite being cautious and a bit lazy, he’s more than a little affronted at the flesh master’s disrespect. A hard earned meal is fairly won, after all.
He leaves his would-be lover to die and escapes the flesh master’s rage, but against his better judgement he looks into the man behind the beast. The flesh master turns out to be a very young man named Jorgas, and his further investigation leads him into more intrigue than the older blood shade cared to be involved with. But he’s involved now.
On top of that, Jorgas keeps turning up where Reylan least expects, as if he wants to be found, and the two are forced to confront the possibility they may have an unhealthy obsession with one another.
The worldbuilding for this series is somewhat standard for a dark paranormal vampire book. It starts off cerebral, like Gun to My Head by Dira Lewis, and toward the end winds up plot heavy and action-packed like the Nightside by Simon Green. It most resembles Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey. In other words, be prepared for some crazy plot twists and some fucked up gory shit.
This novel was perfect for someone like me. It was gritty, didn’t spoon feed me with telling or unnecessary details, and it was eloquently written. The style of the voice was a engaging. Reylan speaks to us as if he’s recounting a series of events, a bit like Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. He admittedly comes across as vain and callous, but I am a loud and out fan of antiheroes and asshole protagonists and he certainly doesn’t disappoint–let that also be your warning.
Reylan’s moral compass is more lawful neutral than evil, but aligned according to laws we aren’t accustomed to in the human realm. He barely bats an eye as people are ripped limb from limb. If he does raise a brow it’s because it insults his blood shade sensibilities–what an unfortunate waste of a good dinner! Even his friends are more mentees to him than actual friends or family. It’s hard to see him settle down into any sort of normal relationship by our standards.
It comes as a bit of a shock when Jorgas and he develop a sort of attraction, a relationship that is quickly attacked by the entire paranormal community and brings to light dark secrets of the past. As the community comes together to weigh in on Jorgas and Reylan’s extracurricular activities, it stirs up ancient feuds and threatens to tear the world apart. Reylan, old and set in his ways as he is, finds astounding new depths to his stone-cold heart. Maybe it isn’t enough for him to simply endure the tests of time. Maybe there’s something more in undeath to fight for.
One night he has his feast ready to usher off to his apartment, where he’ll satiate his lover’s desires while satisfying his own, when his hookup is brutally murdered in front of him by a raging flesh master. Reylan couldn’t give two fucks for anyone but himself, and despite being cautious and a bit lazy, he’s more than a little affronted at the flesh master’s disrespect. A hard earned meal is fairly won, after all.
He leaves his would-be lover to die and escapes the flesh master’s rage, but against his better judgement he looks into the man behind the beast. The flesh master turns out to be a very young man named Jorgas, and his further investigation leads him into more intrigue than the older blood shade cared to be involved with. But he’s involved now.
On top of that, Jorgas keeps turning up where Reylan least expects, as if he wants to be found, and the two are forced to confront the possibility they may have an unhealthy obsession with one another.
The worldbuilding for this series is somewhat standard for a dark paranormal vampire book. It starts off cerebral, like Gun to My Head by Dira Lewis, and toward the end winds up plot heavy and action-packed like the Nightside by Simon Green. It most resembles Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey. In other words, be prepared for some crazy plot twists and some fucked up gory shit.
This novel was perfect for someone like me. It was gritty, didn’t spoon feed me with telling or unnecessary details, and it was eloquently written. The style of the voice was a engaging. Reylan speaks to us as if he’s recounting a series of events, a bit like Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. He admittedly comes across as vain and callous, but I am a loud and out fan of antiheroes and asshole protagonists and he certainly doesn’t disappoint–let that also be your warning.
Reylan’s moral compass is more lawful neutral than evil, but aligned according to laws we aren’t accustomed to in the human realm. He barely bats an eye as people are ripped limb from limb. If he does raise a brow it’s because it insults his blood shade sensibilities–what an unfortunate waste of a good dinner! Even his friends are more mentees to him than actual friends or family. It’s hard to see him settle down into any sort of normal relationship by our standards.
It comes as a bit of a shock when Jorgas and he develop a sort of attraction, a relationship that is quickly attacked by the entire paranormal community and brings to light dark secrets of the past. As the community comes together to weigh in on Jorgas and Reylan’s extracurricular activities, it stirs up ancient feuds and threatens to tear the world apart. Reylan, old and set in his ways as he is, finds astounding new depths to his stone-cold heart. Maybe it isn’t enough for him to simply endure the tests of time. Maybe there’s something more in undeath to fight for.
February 11, 2017
4.5* Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
This book has been on my to be read list for quite a while now and I’m seriously regretting that I hadn’t read it sooner! From the characters to the setting, I just adored this from start to finish, even when I wanted to knock some heads together along the way. :)
Reylan is a 153 year old Blood Shade (for the love of God, don’t call the man a Vampire) that prefers to be left alone and spends his days either sleeping, eating or spending time with his friend, Ross. His attitude is probably his most defining characteristic and he isn’t afraid to snark at anyone at the slightest provocation. Jorgas has his own set of problems, one furrier than the others, and despite his fascination with Reylan he can’t seem to help but throw out bucket loads of attitude to go along with his anger management issues.
Despite how they met and how they keep clashing when together, I loved seeing these two men interact; they both profess to pretty much hate one another and keep throwing out how they’re each going to kill the other one day but, when needed, that all gets put aside to handle bigger problems. (By the end, the death threats were almost coming across as fond to me and I couldn’t help but smirk a little.) Reyland also went beyond the expected in order to help Jorgas and that spoke to his character more than anything else I’d read about him at that point. The story itself was entertaining and the pacing was great; I loved all the different elements the author wove together. There are also things that were touched on here that I’m hoping will find their way into the next book. :) Either way, this was a great story with fantastic characters that I’m really looking forward to reading more about.
If you enjoy a good paranormal story or are looking for characters that don’t immediately fall into each other’s arms, I’d really recommend you give this one a look.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2017/01/2...
This book has been on my to be read list for quite a while now and I’m seriously regretting that I hadn’t read it sooner! From the characters to the setting, I just adored this from start to finish, even when I wanted to knock some heads together along the way. :)
Reylan is a 153 year old Blood Shade (for the love of God, don’t call the man a Vampire) that prefers to be left alone and spends his days either sleeping, eating or spending time with his friend, Ross. His attitude is probably his most defining characteristic and he isn’t afraid to snark at anyone at the slightest provocation. Jorgas has his own set of problems, one furrier than the others, and despite his fascination with Reylan he can’t seem to help but throw out bucket loads of attitude to go along with his anger management issues.
Despite how they met and how they keep clashing when together, I loved seeing these two men interact; they both profess to pretty much hate one another and keep throwing out how they’re each going to kill the other one day but, when needed, that all gets put aside to handle bigger problems. (By the end, the death threats were almost coming across as fond to me and I couldn’t help but smirk a little.) Reyland also went beyond the expected in order to help Jorgas and that spoke to his character more than anything else I’d read about him at that point. The story itself was entertaining and the pacing was great; I loved all the different elements the author wove together. There are also things that were touched on here that I’m hoping will find their way into the next book. :) Either way, this was a great story with fantastic characters that I’m really looking forward to reading more about.
If you enjoy a good paranormal story or are looking for characters that don’t immediately fall into each other’s arms, I’d really recommend you give this one a look.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2017/01/2...
November 16, 2022
A copy of this book was received free in return for an honest review via the Goodreads Don't Buy My Love program.
5 stars.
When Orchard of Flesh came up for review, I was intrigued. Vampire, werewolf, human. But being it was book two, I asked for one and got it and was very, very glad I took the chance to read these novels. While book two could be read as a stand alone, the reader will have better character background if book one is read first.
I've put these reviews together as I took them as a whole.
The Beast Without
Book one introduces us to Reylan, an approximately 150 year old Blood Shade, the true name of what we call vampire. When “hunting” one night among the clubs of Sydney, Australia he is attacked by a werewolf who cannot handle his shifting. Reylan’s protégé, Ross, in turns reveals he is part of the Arcadia Trust, a group whose purpose is to aid, study, protect the paranormal.
A mystery ensues, characters met and oh so well developed. The descriptions of the city were vivid with keen insights. The fight scenes brutal and bloody. The inner workings interspersed with humor. I barely put these books down, devouring them whole in two and a half days.
The Orchard of Flesh
Picks up right where book one left off. Reylan has taken a human into his household, but threats against the human has him reaching out to Jorgas, the werewolf from book one.
Reylan and the Trust are again up to their eyeballs in conspiracy and paranormal politics. There's a new evil afoot and everyone is on edge, including Reylan’s mentor, a towering Haitian Blood Shade. The witches get prime pages as they help Reylan in his quest to right wrongs.
There's fighting, blood, death. There's mystery and clues. There’s relationships and sex and love. Romance… Maybe not, but feelings develop over time and trust.
I look forward to book three...because there will be. My heart was left in my throat at the end.
5 stars.
When Orchard of Flesh came up for review, I was intrigued. Vampire, werewolf, human. But being it was book two, I asked for one and got it and was very, very glad I took the chance to read these novels. While book two could be read as a stand alone, the reader will have better character background if book one is read first.
I've put these reviews together as I took them as a whole.
The Beast Without
Book one introduces us to Reylan, an approximately 150 year old Blood Shade, the true name of what we call vampire. When “hunting” one night among the clubs of Sydney, Australia he is attacked by a werewolf who cannot handle his shifting. Reylan’s protégé, Ross, in turns reveals he is part of the Arcadia Trust, a group whose purpose is to aid, study, protect the paranormal.
A mystery ensues, characters met and oh so well developed. The descriptions of the city were vivid with keen insights. The fight scenes brutal and bloody. The inner workings interspersed with humor. I barely put these books down, devouring them whole in two and a half days.
The Orchard of Flesh
Picks up right where book one left off. Reylan has taken a human into his household, but threats against the human has him reaching out to Jorgas, the werewolf from book one.
Reylan and the Trust are again up to their eyeballs in conspiracy and paranormal politics. There's a new evil afoot and everyone is on edge, including Reylan’s mentor, a towering Haitian Blood Shade. The witches get prime pages as they help Reylan in his quest to right wrongs.
There's fighting, blood, death. There's mystery and clues. There’s relationships and sex and love. Romance… Maybe not, but feelings develop over time and trust.
I look forward to book three...because there will be. My heart was left in my throat at the end.
June 8, 2014
I've been an avid fan of vampires and other sexy things that go bump in the night. Twilight is NOT what I consider good writing - I couldn't get through the first chapter! But Christian Baines' "The Beast Without" is one of those books you don't want to stop reading. Intriguing and sexy - yes I was turned on immensely by a few scenes - it had both great character development and plot. I don't want to spoil the plot, but I will say that Christian's perspective on gay vampire love, particularly in the eyes of the main character, Reylan, was refreshingly novel and I am itching to read more!
August 2, 2013
Excellent read. started it and didn't put it down till i finished it.
being a Sydney sider it was great knowing the areas it talked about but would have loved it anyway wherever it was set.
being a Sydney sider it was great knowing the areas it talked about but would have loved it anyway wherever it was set.
February 2, 2022
---REVIEW FOR REISSUED NOVEL FEB 1 2022----
“The Beast Without” by Christian Baines turned into a little comparison experiment for me. I just got done reading another series (Youkai Bloodlines) with the same type of theme “don’t call me vampire”!
Blood Shades are born to human parents every few generations, because of a dormant condition in the family line. The condition grants immortality and agelessness and they only seek out blood as a necessity.
Reylan is a “shade”. He’s close to one hundred and fifty years old. He knew he was different at the young age of twenty. He’s likes his life in Sydney as it is. He’s free to do what he wants and seeks out the usual one-nighter only for nourishment. He doesn’t “turn” his one-nighters because he really likes his freedom and solitude. He doesn’t need the hassle of clingy relationships and has no physical desire. He also doesn’t want to expose the supernatural to any humans.
Reylan has two protege’s: Ross and Isobel. Ross and Reylan are best friends and meet up often to go clubbing and just to talk. Isobel, not so much, she stays isolated. But at one time she was a socialite and traveled frequently. She still has notoriety and settled in Sydney.
On an evening of clubbing with Ross, things get chaotic and deathly for Reylan. It brings him in touch with the Arcadia Trust run by Patricia Bakker. Reylan becomes very suspicious about Ross and who he can trust. Reylan has already had a very horrific incident with Jordas a “flesh master” who seems to have left a trail of bodies in his wake.
Reylan reluctantly agrees to bring Jordas to Arcadia, and his visit to the Arcadia library has him gifted with a book of lore about “The Wolves of Varner”. What will Reylan discover about “Blood Shades” and “Flesh Masters”?
Christian Baines brings fast paced action, gore and a look into others of the supernatural world. The tale also has: humor, various emotions, deceit, and just the right amount of steam for Reylan and Jordas. For me it is the perfect start to a different type of paranormal tale. I like the intense relationship between Reylan and Jordas, both have a long way to go and they have a lot to discover about who and what they are. There’s past history about the “Blood Shades” and “Flesh Master” that leaves room for more novels.
There’s also other interesting establishments in the supernatural realm: “House of Blood” that encompasses all touched with mortality. “House of Magick” that is for “Shapers” and the “Scimitar of Light”, fundamentalist humans from supernatural lines.
Along with Reylan, Jordas, Ross and Isobel there’s a host of characters. Deborah who owns cafe Valia and keeps Reylan and Ross’ secret. She’s also enchanted with the supernatural world. Patricia Bakker who was once a nun and leaves me very suspicious. Kelvin, who is a “cloak walker”, he is just plain evil. Mysterious: Sophia and Giorgios. Dorothea, Reylans tenant. Demetrius the very temperamental cat.
“The Beast Without” was entertaining and a page-turner, for me. This is the first book in the “An Arcadia Trust Novel” series and there’s two more books that interest me, “The Orchard of Flesh” and “Sins of the Son.”
“The Beast Without” by Christian Baines turned into a little comparison experiment for me. I just got done reading another series (Youkai Bloodlines) with the same type of theme “don’t call me vampire”!
Blood Shades are born to human parents every few generations, because of a dormant condition in the family line. The condition grants immortality and agelessness and they only seek out blood as a necessity.
Reylan is a “shade”. He’s close to one hundred and fifty years old. He knew he was different at the young age of twenty. He’s likes his life in Sydney as it is. He’s free to do what he wants and seeks out the usual one-nighter only for nourishment. He doesn’t “turn” his one-nighters because he really likes his freedom and solitude. He doesn’t need the hassle of clingy relationships and has no physical desire. He also doesn’t want to expose the supernatural to any humans.
Reylan has two protege’s: Ross and Isobel. Ross and Reylan are best friends and meet up often to go clubbing and just to talk. Isobel, not so much, she stays isolated. But at one time she was a socialite and traveled frequently. She still has notoriety and settled in Sydney.
On an evening of clubbing with Ross, things get chaotic and deathly for Reylan. It brings him in touch with the Arcadia Trust run by Patricia Bakker. Reylan becomes very suspicious about Ross and who he can trust. Reylan has already had a very horrific incident with Jordas a “flesh master” who seems to have left a trail of bodies in his wake.
Reylan reluctantly agrees to bring Jordas to Arcadia, and his visit to the Arcadia library has him gifted with a book of lore about “The Wolves of Varner”. What will Reylan discover about “Blood Shades” and “Flesh Masters”?
Christian Baines brings fast paced action, gore and a look into others of the supernatural world. The tale also has: humor, various emotions, deceit, and just the right amount of steam for Reylan and Jordas. For me it is the perfect start to a different type of paranormal tale. I like the intense relationship between Reylan and Jordas, both have a long way to go and they have a lot to discover about who and what they are. There’s past history about the “Blood Shades” and “Flesh Master” that leaves room for more novels.
There’s also other interesting establishments in the supernatural realm: “House of Blood” that encompasses all touched with mortality. “House of Magick” that is for “Shapers” and the “Scimitar of Light”, fundamentalist humans from supernatural lines.
Along with Reylan, Jordas, Ross and Isobel there’s a host of characters. Deborah who owns cafe Valia and keeps Reylan and Ross’ secret. She’s also enchanted with the supernatural world. Patricia Bakker who was once a nun and leaves me very suspicious. Kelvin, who is a “cloak walker”, he is just plain evil. Mysterious: Sophia and Giorgios. Dorothea, Reylans tenant. Demetrius the very temperamental cat.
“The Beast Without” was entertaining and a page-turner, for me. This is the first book in the “An Arcadia Trust Novel” series and there’s two more books that interest me, “The Orchard of Flesh” and “Sins of the Son.”
December 29, 2018
Parts of it I liked a great deal, in particular the world building which brought some fresh angles to the genre, as well as the hero’s asexuality. However, parts of it I was mystified by.
Firstly, our hero who is supposed to be a strong, intelligent 150 year old being, who has made it through all sorts of challenging times and places, is ...ineffectual at survival. He’s continually beat up, tossed about, nearly losing fights except for dumb luck. And it’s always close to dawn but he’s not gotten around to having a meal yet that night, so he’s weak. It’s like reading a story about a race car driver who’s always about to run out of gas and it’s his own fault.
Secondly, I don’t understand why he chooses his three particular companions over others. None of them are terribly compelling. They’re all, to my mind, dull young men who are under 25 mentally if not physically. Bear in mind, this is a 150 year old asexual hero, so you would think anyone he wanted to hang out with would be really interesting to earn it. Nope.
Thirdly, my favorite character is killed for no damn reason plotwise or in actuality besides random stupidity of males being males.
Lastly, our hero has a dull life. He gets up, he goes to nightclubs full of kids dancing to find someone to feed on, he has a quiet cup of tea with his bestie (who is the mental age of 19) and then he goes to bed. Every night. For years and years. Don’t you think he would have developed any interests, hobbies or skills after 150 years? Instead, he’s oblivious to local PNR politics, anything happening globally, and anything besides a handful of nightclubs and his favorite tea shop.
Firstly, our hero who is supposed to be a strong, intelligent 150 year old being, who has made it through all sorts of challenging times and places, is ...ineffectual at survival. He’s continually beat up, tossed about, nearly losing fights except for dumb luck. And it’s always close to dawn but he’s not gotten around to having a meal yet that night, so he’s weak. It’s like reading a story about a race car driver who’s always about to run out of gas and it’s his own fault.
Secondly, I don’t understand why he chooses his three particular companions over others. None of them are terribly compelling. They’re all, to my mind, dull young men who are under 25 mentally if not physically. Bear in mind, this is a 150 year old asexual hero, so you would think anyone he wanted to hang out with would be really interesting to earn it. Nope.
Thirdly, my favorite character is killed for no damn reason plotwise or in actuality besides random stupidity of males being males.
Lastly, our hero has a dull life. He gets up, he goes to nightclubs full of kids dancing to find someone to feed on, he has a quiet cup of tea with his bestie (who is the mental age of 19) and then he goes to bed. Every night. For years and years. Don’t you think he would have developed any interests, hobbies or skills after 150 years? Instead, he’s oblivious to local PNR politics, anything happening globally, and anything besides a handful of nightclubs and his favorite tea shop.
April 8, 2024
Just don’t call him a vampire
Reylan is a Blood Shade (don’t you dare call him a vampire) and he is definitely one of the most intriguing characters I have read about in a while. This is the first Christian Baines book that I have read and I am excited to have found a new author who has a great imagination. The layers within layers of this story are fascinating to unpack as you work your way through the book. Reylan is not an easy character to like as Mr. Baines does not write him as a typical hero but the was enough there to keep me intrigued and happy to follow him in his adventures. No one else is very likable either, at least in a conventional sense but it doesn’t matter because they will turn around and do something nice or interesting and you keep reading. Baines is a marvelous storyteller and I can’t wait to read more from him.
Reylan is a Blood Shade (don’t you dare call him a vampire) and he is definitely one of the most intriguing characters I have read about in a while. This is the first Christian Baines book that I have read and I am excited to have found a new author who has a great imagination. The layers within layers of this story are fascinating to unpack as you work your way through the book. Reylan is not an easy character to like as Mr. Baines does not write him as a typical hero but the was enough there to keep me intrigued and happy to follow him in his adventures. No one else is very likable either, at least in a conventional sense but it doesn’t matter because they will turn around and do something nice or interesting and you keep reading. Baines is a marvelous storyteller and I can’t wait to read more from him.
April 7, 2024
He is a vampire who has it all and uses gay bars to get his blood fix. It all changes when they start killing, they are a werewolf. He steps in to try to stop them but things are going to be complicated when he realizes life may change forever. Especially when he tastes their blood. What is going to happen? How will it all go? Are they meant to be mates? See how they get on
April 10, 2024
oh the twist of this story will keep you hook with some sexy vampire
January 21, 2014
The Beast Without was a delightfully refreshing paranormal tale. It centers around Reylan, a vampire Blood Shade (oops, Blood Shades hate that v-word) and Jorgas, a Flesh Master (the proper term for werewolf).
Reylan is suitably wealthy, refined, and intelligent. After all, he's been alive for quite some time and being what he is, he's developed a neat little life in Sydney. He feeds regularly, but he doesn't kill the young men he feeds from. He uses his hypnosis to help get them back to his place, gives them a night of pleasure, feeds, and then wipes their memories, leaving them none the wiser.
He has a friend, Ross, another Blood Shade, a favorite little diner with a human proprietor who knows what he and Ross are, and a tenant living above him who meddles, but is generally harmless. Oh, and he has a cat. (For the animal lovers reading, I'll allay all your fears here. Nothing happens to the cat in the book.)
One night, after ensnaring an unsuspecting human for some feeding and casual sex (sex for the human, for Reylan is and has been for years, impotent due to his condition), the two of them are attacked by a werewolf. Jorgas, the lost and frightened Flesh Master, nearly kills the human. Reylan defends himself and Jorgas realizes what Reylan is.
Enter the Arcadia Trust. They're a shadowy organization that contacts Reylan and asks him to bring Jorgas in. They want Jorgas off the street, want to educate him about what he is and how to control himself. But is there more? They're antagonistic and, well...shadowy. They don't trust Reylan, but they know they can use him. Reylan doesn't trust them either, but he reluctantly agrees to help them.
From there, the book takes you on a whirwind of activity. Reylan searches for Jorgas, though the boy seems to find him more often than not. There's danger, near death, clubbing, all narrated in Reylan's sometimes snarky, sometimes arrogant, and sometimes self-deprecating humor.
The mystery of who's killing the club kids is just one part of what makes this book great. There's so very much here that my fingers are crossed that the author will be writing more books with these characters. Who is Patricia? What is Father O'Bear's agenda? Isobel knows something. What is it? Even Ross has secrets from Reylan. And why are Reylan and Jorgas in the center of it all?
The world that Baines has built is rich and dynamic. He's explained the origins of Blood Shades, Flesh Masters, Shapers (witches), and more. Did you know that most of what humans know about Blood Shades is a myth? They don't make other Blood Shades. It's a genetic thing that happens in a person's mid-twenties. Garlic isn't going to hurt them. They do need to avoid the sun and they can be staked. But pretty much all the other mythos surrounding them has been carefully cultivated by them to hide their appearance from humans. Baines' characters are extremely sympathetic in some ways, easy to hate in others, which makes for a fantastic emotional journey for the reader. I admit that when I reached about the 80% mark in the book, I actually put it down for two days because I didn't want it to end. I was enjoying it that much.
From a technical standpoint, the writing and editing are top notch, and there are exactly the right number of answers and unanswered questions on the final page.
This is a highly recommended paranormal read. I'll definitely be following Baines' work in the future.
**This review originally appeared on Author Alliance.**
Reylan is suitably wealthy, refined, and intelligent. After all, he's been alive for quite some time and being what he is, he's developed a neat little life in Sydney. He feeds regularly, but he doesn't kill the young men he feeds from. He uses his hypnosis to help get them back to his place, gives them a night of pleasure, feeds, and then wipes their memories, leaving them none the wiser.
He has a friend, Ross, another Blood Shade, a favorite little diner with a human proprietor who knows what he and Ross are, and a tenant living above him who meddles, but is generally harmless. Oh, and he has a cat. (For the animal lovers reading, I'll allay all your fears here. Nothing happens to the cat in the book.)
One night, after ensnaring an unsuspecting human for some feeding and casual sex (sex for the human, for Reylan is and has been for years, impotent due to his condition), the two of them are attacked by a werewolf. Jorgas, the lost and frightened Flesh Master, nearly kills the human. Reylan defends himself and Jorgas realizes what Reylan is.
Enter the Arcadia Trust. They're a shadowy organization that contacts Reylan and asks him to bring Jorgas in. They want Jorgas off the street, want to educate him about what he is and how to control himself. But is there more? They're antagonistic and, well...shadowy. They don't trust Reylan, but they know they can use him. Reylan doesn't trust them either, but he reluctantly agrees to help them.
From there, the book takes you on a whirwind of activity. Reylan searches for Jorgas, though the boy seems to find him more often than not. There's danger, near death, clubbing, all narrated in Reylan's sometimes snarky, sometimes arrogant, and sometimes self-deprecating humor.
The mystery of who's killing the club kids is just one part of what makes this book great. There's so very much here that my fingers are crossed that the author will be writing more books with these characters. Who is Patricia? What is Father O'Bear's agenda? Isobel knows something. What is it? Even Ross has secrets from Reylan. And why are Reylan and Jorgas in the center of it all?
The world that Baines has built is rich and dynamic. He's explained the origins of Blood Shades, Flesh Masters, Shapers (witches), and more. Did you know that most of what humans know about Blood Shades is a myth? They don't make other Blood Shades. It's a genetic thing that happens in a person's mid-twenties. Garlic isn't going to hurt them. They do need to avoid the sun and they can be staked. But pretty much all the other mythos surrounding them has been carefully cultivated by them to hide their appearance from humans. Baines' characters are extremely sympathetic in some ways, easy to hate in others, which makes for a fantastic emotional journey for the reader. I admit that when I reached about the 80% mark in the book, I actually put it down for two days because I didn't want it to end. I was enjoying it that much.
From a technical standpoint, the writing and editing are top notch, and there are exactly the right number of answers and unanswered questions on the final page.
This is a highly recommended paranormal read. I'll definitely be following Baines' work in the future.
**This review originally appeared on Author Alliance.**
May 22, 2014
Recently, I got to be on a panel at the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival where the topic was Evil and the Supernatural. One of the best parts about being on a panel is meeting new authors (or meeting an author face-to-face for the first time) and this panel meant I got to meet Christian Baines, Marie Castle, and Christopher Rice. When I'm on a panel, I try to read what I can by the authors ahead of time. I'd already read a couple of Rice's books (though I nabbed and read a copy of Blind Fall), I read Baines's novella The Prince and the Practitioner, and I read Castle's Hell's Belle - finishing it just before I had to run to breakfast before the panel.
On the way back to Ottawa, I found myself on many delayed (and one cancelled) flight, and so, having already enjoyed The Prince and the Practitioner I opened up The Beast Without.
I was a quick fan of Reylan, a 'Blood Shade' (read: vampire) who lives in Sydney, and who has an acid tongue and little patience for those around him who do not measure up to his standards (and few do). The enjoyable culture of Sydney as well as the mythology that Baines has twisted just a bit to the right of usual complement the tale: these are not your typical vampires, witches, or other things that go bump in the night. There's enough of the typical that they're recognizable, but in Baines's hands, they're given a refreshingly new vibe. In fact, the world-building Baines did left me wanting more - hints are dropped, and not all of them fleshed out in this one book. I can only hope there will be more.
What Reylan faces is a self-loathing werewolf, Jorgas, who might just be too far gone already, as well as a secret society (even to Reylan) that has come forward at the worst time to get him to help solve the problem of the wild and murderous Jorgas. It all gets more and more tangled as the story progresses, and you're soon left pondering if there's any way that Reylan can make it through unscathed, and without sacrificing any more of his morality - not that his morality is particularly stable as it is.
Fans of the earlier Laurell K. Hamilton books (before they became pretty much horror-erotica) will enjoy this one, as well as anyone looking for a refreshing new take on some older mythology. I'm certainly curious to see what's next from Baines.
On the way back to Ottawa, I found myself on many delayed (and one cancelled) flight, and so, having already enjoyed The Prince and the Practitioner I opened up The Beast Without.
I was a quick fan of Reylan, a 'Blood Shade' (read: vampire) who lives in Sydney, and who has an acid tongue and little patience for those around him who do not measure up to his standards (and few do). The enjoyable culture of Sydney as well as the mythology that Baines has twisted just a bit to the right of usual complement the tale: these are not your typical vampires, witches, or other things that go bump in the night. There's enough of the typical that they're recognizable, but in Baines's hands, they're given a refreshingly new vibe. In fact, the world-building Baines did left me wanting more - hints are dropped, and not all of them fleshed out in this one book. I can only hope there will be more.
What Reylan faces is a self-loathing werewolf, Jorgas, who might just be too far gone already, as well as a secret society (even to Reylan) that has come forward at the worst time to get him to help solve the problem of the wild and murderous Jorgas. It all gets more and more tangled as the story progresses, and you're soon left pondering if there's any way that Reylan can make it through unscathed, and without sacrificing any more of his morality - not that his morality is particularly stable as it is.
Fans of the earlier Laurell K. Hamilton books (before they became pretty much horror-erotica) will enjoy this one, as well as anyone looking for a refreshing new take on some older mythology. I'm certainly curious to see what's next from Baines.
August 12, 2013
4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Reylan is a Blood Shade, he is not a vampire and is likely to rip out the throat of the person who calls him one, he lives his life in the shadows visiting nightclubs to pluck his meals. Reylan is picky about those he chooses and when one is attacked by an uncontrollable werewolf, Jorgas, Reylan decides to do what he must to get the werewolf off his tail. But Reylan discovers that Jorgas' blood reawakens something he thought long lost and he finds it difficult to do what he must. With the Arcadia Trust wanting the werewolf Reylan comes to an agreement with them, but he still doesn't trust them. With his relationship with Jorgas becoming more complicated with every meeting Reylan has hard choices to make.
This is a nicely dark and puzzling paranormal that's refreshing with it's beastly werewolves and unapologetic Blood Shades (vampires). Reylan comes across as quite a vain man, he is very picky about the blood he consumes and is easily offended. Jorgas is a young man who is struggling with a monster inside him, the vampi.... er Blood Shade might be the only one who can help him, but losing control constantly doesn't help his case. With Reylan's friends trying to persuade him to help the Arcadia Trust and Reylan's own reservations, Reylan doesn't know what to do. But he discovers many hidden connections that seem to have the Trust's fingerprints on them.
I found this to be a very interesting read, I though there were many connections that could lead to further books because of the questions left unanswered. While I found it to be brutal in places, it also seemed to have a slight thread of humor to it that lightened it in places. The descriptions of the werewolves and Blood Shades was great, there was no magical shifts but brutal painful changing, there was no incredible speed and sparkles for the vampire and he certainly isn't that charming. The storyline is very interesting and you get pulled in as you try to understand how things are connected, the Arcadia Trust, the church and the strange experience Reylan has with the book. The storyline surrounding Jorgas is vague except his strange attraction to Reylan but it becomes very clear in the last few pages.
I recommend this to those who love the good old fashioned brutal werewolves, vampires without a care in the world, a very interesting storyline with many threads and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Reylan is a Blood Shade, he is not a vampire and is likely to rip out the throat of the person who calls him one, he lives his life in the shadows visiting nightclubs to pluck his meals. Reylan is picky about those he chooses and when one is attacked by an uncontrollable werewolf, Jorgas, Reylan decides to do what he must to get the werewolf off his tail. But Reylan discovers that Jorgas' blood reawakens something he thought long lost and he finds it difficult to do what he must. With the Arcadia Trust wanting the werewolf Reylan comes to an agreement with them, but he still doesn't trust them. With his relationship with Jorgas becoming more complicated with every meeting Reylan has hard choices to make.
This is a nicely dark and puzzling paranormal that's refreshing with it's beastly werewolves and unapologetic Blood Shades (vampires). Reylan comes across as quite a vain man, he is very picky about the blood he consumes and is easily offended. Jorgas is a young man who is struggling with a monster inside him, the vampi.... er Blood Shade might be the only one who can help him, but losing control constantly doesn't help his case. With Reylan's friends trying to persuade him to help the Arcadia Trust and Reylan's own reservations, Reylan doesn't know what to do. But he discovers many hidden connections that seem to have the Trust's fingerprints on them.
I found this to be a very interesting read, I though there were many connections that could lead to further books because of the questions left unanswered. While I found it to be brutal in places, it also seemed to have a slight thread of humor to it that lightened it in places. The descriptions of the werewolves and Blood Shades was great, there was no magical shifts but brutal painful changing, there was no incredible speed and sparkles for the vampire and he certainly isn't that charming. The storyline is very interesting and you get pulled in as you try to understand how things are connected, the Arcadia Trust, the church and the strange experience Reylan has with the book. The storyline surrounding Jorgas is vague except his strange attraction to Reylan but it becomes very clear in the last few pages.
I recommend this to those who love the good old fashioned brutal werewolves, vampires without a care in the world, a very interesting storyline with many threads and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
October 24, 2013
The Beast Without is a story about vampires and werewolves. Wait, how un-PC of me. The proper way to refer to them is Blood Shades and Flesh Masters. There are also Shapers (witches) and Cloak Masters (invisible people). The story takes place in Sydney, Australia.
Reylan, a Blood Shade, lives a solitary life, feeding on the patrons of the local gay clubs. He even makes it a point to never feed on the same victim twice. If you can call them victims; apparently most people seemed to enjoy Reylan’s bite.
Enter Jorgas, a young Flesh Master, who quickly becomes an uninvited part of Reylan’s life. He latches onto Reylan and just won’t go away. Next we have the Arcadian Trust, led by Patricia Bakker. She and the Trust have their own agenda, part of which is to have Reylan deliver Jorgas to them, alive and in one piece. Now that’s all I going to tell you because I don’t want to throw out any spoilers.
I am always pleased to find a book that takes familiar archetypes and approaches them from a new direction. Blood Shades and Flesh Masters are born, not made. Apparently a recessive trait, people are born that way. The gene manifests itself in early adulthood. Once it does, the Blood shades require blood for sustenance, and the Flesh Masters turn into werewolves.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were plenty of times I did not particularly like the main character. Reylan is arrogant and often self-absorbed or self-serving. But then he’ll turn around and say or do something that makes you forgive him. Jorgas is an equally dynamic character. More than once I felt sympathy for him.
Baines did an excellent job of developing the principle characters, as well as some of the less important players. Likewise, he does well at explaining the history of the Blood Shades and Flesh Masters. There were a couple of times when the scene description was a little wordy for me, but that was only because I was eager to get to the good stuff. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Reylan, a Blood Shade, lives a solitary life, feeding on the patrons of the local gay clubs. He even makes it a point to never feed on the same victim twice. If you can call them victims; apparently most people seemed to enjoy Reylan’s bite.
Enter Jorgas, a young Flesh Master, who quickly becomes an uninvited part of Reylan’s life. He latches onto Reylan and just won’t go away. Next we have the Arcadian Trust, led by Patricia Bakker. She and the Trust have their own agenda, part of which is to have Reylan deliver Jorgas to them, alive and in one piece. Now that’s all I going to tell you because I don’t want to throw out any spoilers.
I am always pleased to find a book that takes familiar archetypes and approaches them from a new direction. Blood Shades and Flesh Masters are born, not made. Apparently a recessive trait, people are born that way. The gene manifests itself in early adulthood. Once it does, the Blood shades require blood for sustenance, and the Flesh Masters turn into werewolves.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were plenty of times I did not particularly like the main character. Reylan is arrogant and often self-absorbed or self-serving. But then he’ll turn around and say or do something that makes you forgive him. Jorgas is an equally dynamic character. More than once I felt sympathy for him.
Baines did an excellent job of developing the principle characters, as well as some of the less important players. Likewise, he does well at explaining the history of the Blood Shades and Flesh Masters. There were a couple of times when the scene description was a little wordy for me, but that was only because I was eager to get to the good stuff. I look forward to reading more from this author.
July 15, 2013
I'd never seen True Blood or read a vampire novel. Never wanted to. Not out of snobbishness, but simply lack of desire. The only vampire film I ever enjoyed was Andy Warhol's Dracula (which is actually Paul Morrissey's Andy Warhol's Dracula, but I won't belabour that.)
After a recent Pride reading, however, I was approached by an attractive young man. He complimented me (I like being complimented by attractive young men) and said he'd just published his first novel, a supernatural fiction story. I said I would read it. (Yup, that's all it takes. Sorry.) Happily, surprisingly, I enjoyed it. In the hands of a born storyteller like Christian Baines—especially one with such a wickedly subversive wit—I suspect any story would come alive.
Baines' book gives credence to my theory that genre is the new playground of the literary imagination. (Nothing truly new of course: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a great novel and was so long before we knew there were genres.) Likewise, The Beast Without is sexy, sassy and fun. The story never flags as we follow Reylan, an "out" Blood Shade, as he roams Sydney's gay community.
Ironically, Reylan unintentionally finds himself attracted to a closeted, homophobic werewolf named Jurgas whom he has vowed to kill. What's a boy to do, even if he's 153 years old? The tension and intrigue just keep ratcheting up. Kudos to a new writer who will leave his marks on the publishing world, if not your neck. If genre fiction is in the hands of writers like this then long live the new genre. No stake through the heart can put an end to it.
After a recent Pride reading, however, I was approached by an attractive young man. He complimented me (I like being complimented by attractive young men) and said he'd just published his first novel, a supernatural fiction story. I said I would read it. (Yup, that's all it takes. Sorry.) Happily, surprisingly, I enjoyed it. In the hands of a born storyteller like Christian Baines—especially one with such a wickedly subversive wit—I suspect any story would come alive.
Baines' book gives credence to my theory that genre is the new playground of the literary imagination. (Nothing truly new of course: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a great novel and was so long before we knew there were genres.) Likewise, The Beast Without is sexy, sassy and fun. The story never flags as we follow Reylan, an "out" Blood Shade, as he roams Sydney's gay community.
Ironically, Reylan unintentionally finds himself attracted to a closeted, homophobic werewolf named Jurgas whom he has vowed to kill. What's a boy to do, even if he's 153 years old? The tension and intrigue just keep ratcheting up. Kudos to a new writer who will leave his marks on the publishing world, if not your neck. If genre fiction is in the hands of writers like this then long live the new genre. No stake through the heart can put an end to it.
January 16, 2015
Alright, well that was a jumble of not quite romance [the MC prefers men, but is not sexual--a blood shade (vampire) thing in this world--except for one occasion], violence, gore, a mystery, convoluted passages, and conflicting elements that would have required closer reading than I was willing to give it to fully understand, since I didn't really like the story or the characters much at all.
Plus, besides the sweetness of Jorgas's blood to Reylan [solely based on his identity as a Flesh Master (werewolf), which arguably wouldn't be much different than any other werewolf's blood], there was no other reason I could find for any special attraction between the two, despite Reylan's yearning for someone educated to discuss his favorite authors, artists, etc. with. That was a perfect set up for Jorgas to be similarly educated, and for them to become attracted to each other through their mutual interests, but nope, none of that type of development whatsoever. Or any type of development, come to think of it. *stokes faux beard while looking far off into reaches of memory* Nope, I've got nothing,
Interesting premise and all, but it didn't pull me in, had too much going on every second, and tried to be more than it was. I didn't hate it, but I didn't enjoy it either.
Cover was hot--but that's it.
Plus, besides the sweetness of Jorgas's blood to Reylan [solely based on his identity as a Flesh Master (werewolf), which arguably wouldn't be much different than any other werewolf's blood], there was no other reason I could find for any special attraction between the two, despite Reylan's yearning for someone educated to discuss his favorite authors, artists, etc. with. That was a perfect set up for Jorgas to be similarly educated, and for them to become attracted to each other through their mutual interests, but nope, none of that type of development whatsoever. Or any type of development, come to think of it. *stokes faux beard while looking far off into reaches of memory* Nope, I've got nothing,
Interesting premise and all, but it didn't pull me in, had too much going on every second, and tried to be more than it was. I didn't hate it, but I didn't enjoy it either.
Cover was hot--but that's it.
September 1, 2016
This is quite the creative paranormal tale. I’m going to address one of my favorite parts about this story first. The “labelling” Vampires are Blood Shades, Werewolves are Flesh Masters, Witches are Shapers, and the invisible are Cloak Masters… I hope I didn’t mess that up lol. It seems like a silly simple thing but it really sets the tone for the creativity you’re in for when you read this.
The MC’s of this are Reylan and Jorgas. Reylan is a loner blood shade who is happy with hanging at gay clubs and drinking his fill, leaving his conquests very sated. Jorgas is a flesh master, a young one at that. And he kind of attaches himself to Reylan.
Reylan is ordered to bring Jorgas to The Arcadian Trust alive. And so their adventure begins.
This paranormal has similarities to typical Vamp/Were books but the author absolutely weaves his own creativity through it as you can tell by the names of the Paras.
There’s complex plotting, darkness, sexual tension, and yeah… horror! Now there are some unanswered questions that I’m optimistic will be answered in future books.
This is a brutal magical world. No glitter and sunshine. But it’s beautiful in its creativity. Entertaining, fun, suspenseful!
The MC’s of this are Reylan and Jorgas. Reylan is a loner blood shade who is happy with hanging at gay clubs and drinking his fill, leaving his conquests very sated. Jorgas is a flesh master, a young one at that. And he kind of attaches himself to Reylan.
Reylan is ordered to bring Jorgas to The Arcadian Trust alive. And so their adventure begins.
This paranormal has similarities to typical Vamp/Were books but the author absolutely weaves his own creativity through it as you can tell by the names of the Paras.
There’s complex plotting, darkness, sexual tension, and yeah… horror! Now there are some unanswered questions that I’m optimistic will be answered in future books.
This is a brutal magical world. No glitter and sunshine. But it’s beautiful in its creativity. Entertaining, fun, suspenseful!
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