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Kiss of the Butterfly
"I sense it even now. People thirst for it; the entire country is mad with desire for it...” A dying man’s cryptic letter to an enigmatic professor launches student Steven Roberts on an unwitting quest, shrouded in mystery, into the war-torn labyrinth of a disintegrating Eastern European country. Steven plunges into the maelstrom to unearth long-forgotten documents holding clues to an ancient Emperor’s deeply buried secret, an inconceivable and long-forgotten evil that has slumbered for centuries. Steven’s perilous journey stretches from Southern California’s sunny beaches, to the exotically dystopian city-scapes of Budapest, Belgrade, and Bosnia, as it plays out against a backdrop of events that occurred centuries before in the Balkans.
Kirkus Reviews wrote: “In the glut of vampire-themed novels now on the market, Lyon’s debut stands out… skillful… authentic… fascinating… inspired… Lyon executes it perfectly... vivid... engaging... highly promising... sophisticated...”
Meticulously researched and set against the background of collapsing Yugoslavia, “Kiss of the Butterfly” weaves Balkan folklore together with intricate historical threads from the 15th, 18th and 20th centuries to create a rich phantasmagorical tapestry of allegory and reality. It is about passion and betrayal, obsession and desire, the thirst for life and the hunger for death. And vampires – which have formed an integral part of Balkan folklore for over a thousand years – are portrayed in their original folkloric form, which differs dramatically from today’s pop culture creations.
“Kiss of the Butterfly” is based on true historical events. In the year of his death, 1476, the Prince of Wallachia -- Vlad III (Dracula) -- committed atrocities under the cloak of medieval Bosnia’s forested mountains, culminating in a bloody massacre in the mining town of Srebrenica. A little over 500 years later, in July 1995, history repeated itself in Srebrenica, when nearly 8,000 people were slaughtered, making it the worst massacre Europe had seen since the Second World War. For most people, the two events seemed unconnected…
From Kirkus Reviews
As Yugoslavia disintegrates, an American bent on investigating Balkan vampire folklore becomes caught up in evils both supernatural and political.
In Yugoslavia on a scholarship to study Balkan ethnography, graduate student Steven Roberts finds his research being directed toward vampires, which have a rich folkloric history in the region. Vampires, he learns, aren’t what Bram Stoker, Anne Rice and Hollywood said they were. For example, the folklore suggests that only newly made vampires are nocturnal, meaning that older ones should be harder to spot—though one of Steven’s professors notes that in 1992 Yugoslavia, it might be hard to tell the vampires from the thugs: “Haven’t you seen all the black jeeps and limousines with darkened windows? If I were a vampire, that would be the ideal way to travel around during daytime.” As Steven delves further into crumbling archives and into an underground labyrinth hiding vampiric secrets, he and his friends get caught up in a perilous confluence of events. Steven must confront his past, his loss of faith and how he might regain it, and his attraction to a mysterious, dangerous woman. He learns the truth about his professor Slatina, who in turn faces a crucial decision that will affect not just vampires but all of the Balkans. In the glut of vampire-themed novels now on the market, Lyon’s debut stands out for its skillful integration of authentic, fascinating myth with the political events of the early 1990s. Linking the horror of the supernatural with the horror of human violence is an inspired idea, and Lyon executes it perfectly. He evidently knows the area, its history and its languages, giving the reader vivid details not just of long-ago history but of the 1990s Balkans: socialist-chic shabbiness, ever-present cigarette smoke, the way every Serb that Steven meets has a cousin in Chicago, and the corrupt Milosevic government. “Slobo keeps prices low so people won’t complain,” a character nicknamed Bear says. “It’s okay if we don’t have gas, just so the gas we don’t have is cheap.” Steven can be irritatingly slow on the uptake, and the ending is less satisfying than it could be, since Lyon is apparently leaving room for sequels. Still, it’s a highly promising start with an engaging cast of characters.
No capes, no glitter: a vampire novel for readers who value sturdy mythology and a sophisticated understanding of history, along with warmblooded, human connections.
Review
Publishers Weekly
"A fast-pacedadventure into a modern heart of Balkan darkness... A truly original take on theblood-sucking undead." -Publishers Weekly
"In the glut ofvampire-themed novels now on the market, Lyon's debut stands out... skillful... authentic...fascinating... inspired... Lyon executes it perfectly... vivid... engaging... sophisticated.... No capes, no glitter: a...
Kirkus Reviews wrote: “In the glut of vampire-themed novels now on the market, Lyon’s debut stands out… skillful… authentic… fascinating… inspired… Lyon executes it perfectly... vivid... engaging... highly promising... sophisticated...”
Meticulously researched and set against the background of collapsing Yugoslavia, “Kiss of the Butterfly” weaves Balkan folklore together with intricate historical threads from the 15th, 18th and 20th centuries to create a rich phantasmagorical tapestry of allegory and reality. It is about passion and betrayal, obsession and desire, the thirst for life and the hunger for death. And vampires – which have formed an integral part of Balkan folklore for over a thousand years – are portrayed in their original folkloric form, which differs dramatically from today’s pop culture creations.
“Kiss of the Butterfly” is based on true historical events. In the year of his death, 1476, the Prince of Wallachia -- Vlad III (Dracula) -- committed atrocities under the cloak of medieval Bosnia’s forested mountains, culminating in a bloody massacre in the mining town of Srebrenica. A little over 500 years later, in July 1995, history repeated itself in Srebrenica, when nearly 8,000 people were slaughtered, making it the worst massacre Europe had seen since the Second World War. For most people, the two events seemed unconnected…
From Kirkus Reviews
As Yugoslavia disintegrates, an American bent on investigating Balkan vampire folklore becomes caught up in evils both supernatural and political.
In Yugoslavia on a scholarship to study Balkan ethnography, graduate student Steven Roberts finds his research being directed toward vampires, which have a rich folkloric history in the region. Vampires, he learns, aren’t what Bram Stoker, Anne Rice and Hollywood said they were. For example, the folklore suggests that only newly made vampires are nocturnal, meaning that older ones should be harder to spot—though one of Steven’s professors notes that in 1992 Yugoslavia, it might be hard to tell the vampires from the thugs: “Haven’t you seen all the black jeeps and limousines with darkened windows? If I were a vampire, that would be the ideal way to travel around during daytime.” As Steven delves further into crumbling archives and into an underground labyrinth hiding vampiric secrets, he and his friends get caught up in a perilous confluence of events. Steven must confront his past, his loss of faith and how he might regain it, and his attraction to a mysterious, dangerous woman. He learns the truth about his professor Slatina, who in turn faces a crucial decision that will affect not just vampires but all of the Balkans. In the glut of vampire-themed novels now on the market, Lyon’s debut stands out for its skillful integration of authentic, fascinating myth with the political events of the early 1990s. Linking the horror of the supernatural with the horror of human violence is an inspired idea, and Lyon executes it perfectly. He evidently knows the area, its history and its languages, giving the reader vivid details not just of long-ago history but of the 1990s Balkans: socialist-chic shabbiness, ever-present cigarette smoke, the way every Serb that Steven meets has a cousin in Chicago, and the corrupt Milosevic government. “Slobo keeps prices low so people won’t complain,” a character nicknamed Bear says. “It’s okay if we don’t have gas, just so the gas we don’t have is cheap.” Steven can be irritatingly slow on the uptake, and the ending is less satisfying than it could be, since Lyon is apparently leaving room for sequels. Still, it’s a highly promising start with an engaging cast of characters.
No capes, no glitter: a vampire novel for readers who value sturdy mythology and a sophisticated understanding of history, along with warmblooded, human connections.
Review
Publishers Weekly
"A fast-pacedadventure into a modern heart of Balkan darkness... A truly original take on theblood-sucking undead." -Publishers Weekly
"In the glut ofvampire-themed novels now on the market, Lyon's debut stands out... skillful... authentic...fascinating... inspired... Lyon executes it perfectly... vivid... engaging... sophisticated.... No capes, no glitter: a...
277 pages, Paperback
First published July 22, 2012
9 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
James Lyon
4 books60 followersJames Lyon is an accidental Balkanologist, who has studied the Balkans for over thirty-four years. He received a Ph.D. in Modern Balkan History at the University of California, Los Angeles (dissertation: The Forgotten Ally: Serbia and the Balkan Front, 1914), an M.A. in International Relations from Brigham Young University (thesis: Yugoslavia’s Post-World War Two Economic Development), and a B.A. in Russian Language and Literature from Brigham Young University. Dr. Lyon directed Balkan projects for the International Crisis Group for ten years: an accomplished analyst, he has written three books, many scholarly articles, dozens of published reports, numerous Op/Eds, and has testified before the US Congress and parliamentary panels of EU member states. He has twenty years experience in conflict/post-conflict areas of the Balkans, worked on EU and USAID projects and with the Office of the High Representative, as well as in the private sector.
He founded the Foundation for the Preservation of Historical Heritage, which is devoted to digitizing archives in Bosnia and Herzegovina. www.fphh.org He is also an Associate Researcher with the University of Graz in Austria.
He has spent the better part of 20 years living in the lands of the former Yugoslavia, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia, and has worked in Macedonia and Kosovo. He has traveled widely, from Africa to Latin America to the Middle East, and throughout Europe. He currently lives in Belgrade and bounces back and forth to Sarajevo.
He founded the Foundation for the Preservation of Historical Heritage, which is devoted to digitizing archives in Bosnia and Herzegovina. www.fphh.org He is also an Associate Researcher with the University of Graz in Austria.
He has spent the better part of 20 years living in the lands of the former Yugoslavia, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia, and has worked in Macedonia and Kosovo. He has traveled widely, from Africa to Latin America to the Middle East, and throughout Europe. He currently lives in Belgrade and bounces back and forth to Sarajevo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 1, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Alternate history/Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: People interested in actual vampire myths and legends
My Thoughts: Having been fascinated by vampires since I was in 4th grade, I was unable to resist the allure of a book that makes use of the actual legends and lore rather than just making stuff up (like sparkling). I was not disappointed – the research and details in this book were amazing, and it was a great story.
Probably my favorite part of the book was a short “interlude” section featuring the vampires finding themselves in the modern world and marveling at all they see. I think an entire book written just about this would be hilarious, personally. This little scene shows them discovering modern firearms.
Background on the Book: Vampires have formed an integral part of Balkan folklore for over a thousand years. "Kiss" represents a radical departure from popular vampire legend, based as it is on genuine Balkan folklore from as far back as the 14th century, not on pop culture or fantasy. "Kiss of the Butterfly" offers up the real, horrible creatures that existed long before Dracula and places them within a modern spectrum.
Meticulously researched, “Kiss of the Butterfly” weaves together intricate threads from the 15th, 18th and 20th centuries to create a rich phantasmagorical tapestry of allegory and reality. It is about divided loyalties, friendship and betrayal, virtue and innocence lost, obsession and devotion, desire and denial, the thirst for life and hunger for death, rebirth and salvation. “Kiss” blends history and the terrors of the Balkans as it explores dark corners of the soul.
Disclosure: I received an e-book review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: "The smell of blood is in the air, I sense it even now. People thirst for it; the entire country is mad with desire for it. And now we are going to war with our brothers because they look like us, and because we can smell our blood coursing through their veins...” A mysterious letter starts a university student on a journey into the war-torn lands of rapidly disintegrating Yugoslavia. Naively trusting his enigmatic professor, the student unwittingly descends into a dystopian crucible of decay, destruction, passion, death, romance, lust, immorality, genocide, and forbidden knowledge promising immortality. As the journey grows ever more perilous, he realizes he must confront an ancient evil that has been once again loosed upon the earth: from medieval Bosnia to enlightenment-era Vienna, from the bright beaches of modern-day Southern California to the exotically dark cityscapes of Budapest and Belgrade, and horrors of Bosnia.
“Kiss of the Butterfly” is based on true historical events. In the year of his death, 1476, the Prince of Wallachia – Vlad III (Dracula) – committed atrocities under the cloak of medieval Bosnia’s forested mountains, culminating in a bloody massacre in the mining town of Srebrenica. A little over 500 years later, in July 1995, history repeated itself when troops commanded by General Ratko Mladic entered Srebrenica and slaughtered nearly 8,000 people, making it the worst massacre Europe had seen since the Second World War. For most people, the two events seemed unconnected…
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: People interested in actual vampire myths and legends
My Thoughts: Having been fascinated by vampires since I was in 4th grade, I was unable to resist the allure of a book that makes use of the actual legends and lore rather than just making stuff up (like sparkling). I was not disappointed – the research and details in this book were amazing, and it was a great story.
Probably my favorite part of the book was a short “interlude” section featuring the vampires finding themselves in the modern world and marveling at all they see. I think an entire book written just about this would be hilarious, personally. This little scene shows them discovering modern firearms.
“It’s strange craftsmanship... nothing I have ever seen before.... It’s engraved with the word Zastava and the year 1956.... Multiple cartridges... and they have attached the ball to a brass casing... and it loads through the breech. This means no more muzzle-loading, no more measuring out powder for every shot, no more ramming the charge home down the barrel, no more forgetting to remove the ram-rod before firing, no more problems keeping your powder dry. They can probably fire several shots a minute with this. An army with this weapon could rule the world!... We have truly met with good fortune: our meal is ... possessed of a superior weapon.”If you, like me, enjoy reading about the legends and lore surrounding vampires, and enjoy a fascinating story that interweaves fact, fiction, and history into an intricate web of a story, then you won’t want to miss this terrific book – recommended!
Background on the Book: Vampires have formed an integral part of Balkan folklore for over a thousand years. "Kiss" represents a radical departure from popular vampire legend, based as it is on genuine Balkan folklore from as far back as the 14th century, not on pop culture or fantasy. "Kiss of the Butterfly" offers up the real, horrible creatures that existed long before Dracula and places them within a modern spectrum.
Meticulously researched, “Kiss of the Butterfly” weaves together intricate threads from the 15th, 18th and 20th centuries to create a rich phantasmagorical tapestry of allegory and reality. It is about divided loyalties, friendship and betrayal, virtue and innocence lost, obsession and devotion, desire and denial, the thirst for life and hunger for death, rebirth and salvation. “Kiss” blends history and the terrors of the Balkans as it explores dark corners of the soul.
Disclosure: I received an e-book review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: "The smell of blood is in the air, I sense it even now. People thirst for it; the entire country is mad with desire for it. And now we are going to war with our brothers because they look like us, and because we can smell our blood coursing through their veins...” A mysterious letter starts a university student on a journey into the war-torn lands of rapidly disintegrating Yugoslavia. Naively trusting his enigmatic professor, the student unwittingly descends into a dystopian crucible of decay, destruction, passion, death, romance, lust, immorality, genocide, and forbidden knowledge promising immortality. As the journey grows ever more perilous, he realizes he must confront an ancient evil that has been once again loosed upon the earth: from medieval Bosnia to enlightenment-era Vienna, from the bright beaches of modern-day Southern California to the exotically dark cityscapes of Budapest and Belgrade, and horrors of Bosnia.
“Kiss of the Butterfly” is based on true historical events. In the year of his death, 1476, the Prince of Wallachia – Vlad III (Dracula) – committed atrocities under the cloak of medieval Bosnia’s forested mountains, culminating in a bloody massacre in the mining town of Srebrenica. A little over 500 years later, in July 1995, history repeated itself when troops commanded by General Ratko Mladic entered Srebrenica and slaughtered nearly 8,000 people, making it the worst massacre Europe had seen since the Second World War. For most people, the two events seemed unconnected…
November 22, 2012
I know there are A LOT of vampire books out there, and most of them claim to be unique and not like the rest. But in this case, I absolutely mean it when I say this is vampire book you most likely have not read the likes of yet. If you don't believe in vampires, this book might just convince you of their existence.
While the story itself is a fictional creation, it carries with it a plethora of facts and information that definitely left me curious to know more, as well as questioning myth and reality. The idea behind the story is that a Student gets sent to many foreign areas on a quest to write his thesis on Vampire folklore. What he finds is an abundance of stories and events that almost tempt him to believe they could be true. When he digs deeper though, is when things get really scary. Some one is not happy about certain facts being brought to light, and this certain someone is quite powerful. So as he unknowingly plows forward on his quest for more knowledge, he is opening doors that are best left shut; and perhaps locked, bolted and boarded in my own opinion.
Not only was this a daring, scary, thrilling adventure, it is packed with so much information. Tons of lore is available to you in this story, with dates, places, events and definite details. If vampires are your thing, you absolutely have to add this book to your list. It's an awesome two for one, because you will learn so much, and you get to have a great adventure while doing so. I'll be honest and say that starting off I felt it was a little slow, and some of the information to be a little too much right away. However, the further I got in the more I wanted to know. Hence, the story seemed to be going by a lost faster because I had this urge to follow his dig into ever darker territory. Not too long after feeling it might be a tad slow, I had a complete change of heart.
Of course no YA or Vampire story is complete without a little bit of romance. There are romantic aspects, but they are not the forefront of the story. Even still, they did play an important role and it was very nicely laid out. The entire story in itself was very well written. It carried a certain elegance with it, almost an old fashioned feeling. You can feel that a lot of work was put into this story, and there is so much knowledge behind and among all the words.
After reading this, I have quite a different view of vampires. Much of what is commonly accepted as a vampire attribute is not according to this story. It's full of new and unexpected details. Some quite eerie and most just really interesting. So yes, I think you should read this book. It is definitely a unique one in an ocean of vampire stories.
While the story itself is a fictional creation, it carries with it a plethora of facts and information that definitely left me curious to know more, as well as questioning myth and reality. The idea behind the story is that a Student gets sent to many foreign areas on a quest to write his thesis on Vampire folklore. What he finds is an abundance of stories and events that almost tempt him to believe they could be true. When he digs deeper though, is when things get really scary. Some one is not happy about certain facts being brought to light, and this certain someone is quite powerful. So as he unknowingly plows forward on his quest for more knowledge, he is opening doors that are best left shut; and perhaps locked, bolted and boarded in my own opinion.
Not only was this a daring, scary, thrilling adventure, it is packed with so much information. Tons of lore is available to you in this story, with dates, places, events and definite details. If vampires are your thing, you absolutely have to add this book to your list. It's an awesome two for one, because you will learn so much, and you get to have a great adventure while doing so. I'll be honest and say that starting off I felt it was a little slow, and some of the information to be a little too much right away. However, the further I got in the more I wanted to know. Hence, the story seemed to be going by a lost faster because I had this urge to follow his dig into ever darker territory. Not too long after feeling it might be a tad slow, I had a complete change of heart.
Of course no YA or Vampire story is complete without a little bit of romance. There are romantic aspects, but they are not the forefront of the story. Even still, they did play an important role and it was very nicely laid out. The entire story in itself was very well written. It carried a certain elegance with it, almost an old fashioned feeling. You can feel that a lot of work was put into this story, and there is so much knowledge behind and among all the words.
After reading this, I have quite a different view of vampires. Much of what is commonly accepted as a vampire attribute is not according to this story. It's full of new and unexpected details. Some quite eerie and most just really interesting. So yes, I think you should read this book. It is definitely a unique one in an ocean of vampire stories.
August 29, 2012
Vampires? Really?
But after having read James Lyon’s “Kiss of the Butterfly” I realized that there are some really great stories to tell in this genre. In fact, while this novel is ostensibly about vampires, it has a richness of detail and character development which elevates this from its peers, making “Kiss of the Butterfly” an excellent read.
The story has elements of a Bildungsroman as we watch Steven Roberts develop from promising student to intrepid adventurer, questioning his heart, soul, beliefs, and understanding along the way. Lyon makes the characters come alive, allowing us to feel for the most nefarious of creatures – even as they scare us to death.
In the background, the historical detail is wonderfully meticulous but not overpowering, making the reader feel that he is really part of the action, no matter when or where it takes place.
This book should most definitely be read. If not for the mere enjoyment, read it to protect your immortal soul!
But after having read James Lyon’s “Kiss of the Butterfly” I realized that there are some really great stories to tell in this genre. In fact, while this novel is ostensibly about vampires, it has a richness of detail and character development which elevates this from its peers, making “Kiss of the Butterfly” an excellent read.
The story has elements of a Bildungsroman as we watch Steven Roberts develop from promising student to intrepid adventurer, questioning his heart, soul, beliefs, and understanding along the way. Lyon makes the characters come alive, allowing us to feel for the most nefarious of creatures – even as they scare us to death.
In the background, the historical detail is wonderfully meticulous but not overpowering, making the reader feel that he is really part of the action, no matter when or where it takes place.
This book should most definitely be read. If not for the mere enjoyment, read it to protect your immortal soul!
October 5, 2022
Definitvno nam treba nastavak ove knjige.
September 13, 2012
I chose to read this book, first off, because it was written by a man. I am always intrigued to read different versions of vampires, and how they are created by the author. I find that male authors tend toward the violent and savage natures of vampires; Lyon is no exception to this. His version of the vampire is based on Balkan folklore as far back as the 14th century. This novel is written during the time of the breakup of Yugoslavia, weaving together the story with flashbacks and real time action. The flashbacks were begun far into the past, and each time we flash back, the time gets a little closer together, closing the gap between past and present until finally we meet up in a denouement of action and heart-pounding resolution.
Lyons gives the reader extensive lessons in Balkan and Slavic history and folklore. We learn of hideous creatures and life forms based on superstition. We are taken through these archives with the main character, Steven, a college student in pursuit of a PhD, guided by his mentor to delve into Vampire mythology and legend through the study of Ethnography. It is through Steven’s studies and innocent presentations to his fellow students that we learn how close he’s coming to discovering the truth about these ‘legends’.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, and was hooked fairly quickly. I like it when the suspense and intrigue is immediate. I found myself getting bored with the history lesson, and kept pushing myself to keep reading, because I knew this had to lead somewhere. Finally, I was rewarded! The action began after what felt like too long to wait, but it never stopped once it got rolling. There were some plot twists I didn’t see coming, suspense, and tragedy. It was a wild ride to the ending, and you needed all that history in order to appreciate what was happening and why. The ending gave us closure, but left enough open ended situations to allow for a sequel. I sure hope James Lyon writes another book in this series; I would certainly buy it. If you liked “The Historian”, you’ll love Kiss of the Butterfly.
Flames: 0 (there is no romance, only the hint of attraction)
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars – I was bored during the beginning, but appreciated that entire trip down the road of Balkan history once I completed the book.
Lyons gives the reader extensive lessons in Balkan and Slavic history and folklore. We learn of hideous creatures and life forms based on superstition. We are taken through these archives with the main character, Steven, a college student in pursuit of a PhD, guided by his mentor to delve into Vampire mythology and legend through the study of Ethnography. It is through Steven’s studies and innocent presentations to his fellow students that we learn how close he’s coming to discovering the truth about these ‘legends’.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, and was hooked fairly quickly. I like it when the suspense and intrigue is immediate. I found myself getting bored with the history lesson, and kept pushing myself to keep reading, because I knew this had to lead somewhere. Finally, I was rewarded! The action began after what felt like too long to wait, but it never stopped once it got rolling. There were some plot twists I didn’t see coming, suspense, and tragedy. It was a wild ride to the ending, and you needed all that history in order to appreciate what was happening and why. The ending gave us closure, but left enough open ended situations to allow for a sequel. I sure hope James Lyon writes another book in this series; I would certainly buy it. If you liked “The Historian”, you’ll love Kiss of the Butterfly.
Flames: 0 (there is no romance, only the hint of attraction)
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars – I was bored during the beginning, but appreciated that entire trip down the road of Balkan history once I completed the book.
November 4, 2012
This is a creepy but in a good way book. I have never been outside of the US, heck I haven’t been any further north than Colorado, and when I do imagine traveling this area of the world isn’t first on my list but I will tell you after reading this book it has moved up in the list strictly because of the history of the region. The conflict that is taking place during the main part of the book happened when I was quite young so I was unsure of many of the details until I looked them up and I really made me appreciate this novel all the more because it is an actual time and place that occurred whether one believes in vampires or not.
The characters are well rounded and not at all flat even the ones we meet for only a short amount of time and I think that speaks volumes about the writing of Mr. Lyon. The description of the past events when described and mixed with the current (for the setting) events is seamless.
Back to the creepy part which as I said earlier isn’t creepy in a bad way but in a good one. The imagery of the folklore of the protection of the past is one of my favorite in this book, I could just see it and while that could freak someone out I found it comforting.
I really recommend this book to anyone who is either knowledgeable about Balkan events in the early nineties or is like me and willing to learn more with the added bonus of a fictional story woven in.
For more reviews check out http://www.memyshelfandi.com/
The characters are well rounded and not at all flat even the ones we meet for only a short amount of time and I think that speaks volumes about the writing of Mr. Lyon. The description of the past events when described and mixed with the current (for the setting) events is seamless.
Back to the creepy part which as I said earlier isn’t creepy in a bad way but in a good one. The imagery of the folklore of the protection of the past is one of my favorite in this book, I could just see it and while that could freak someone out I found it comforting.
I really recommend this book to anyone who is either knowledgeable about Balkan events in the early nineties or is like me and willing to learn more with the added bonus of a fictional story woven in.
For more reviews check out http://www.memyshelfandi.com/
July 29, 2012
Kiss of the Butterfly is definitely the fresh breeze when it come to historical fantasy and vampires novels.
The vampires are very authentic and realistic. I think this book redefines the entire vampire genre and sets the bar much higher. There is none of the silly gothic romance that have now become standard in most vampire books and movies. Instead, vampires are terrifying monsters that gave chilling insights into mankind. Yet in spite of that, there are some great romantic and erotic moments in the book, including several love triangles.
The Kiss is a story about Good vs Evil, Love and Lust, Deception and Eternal Search for Salvation and Faith.
I would strongly recommend this page-turner to everyone.
The vampires are very authentic and realistic. I think this book redefines the entire vampire genre and sets the bar much higher. There is none of the silly gothic romance that have now become standard in most vampire books and movies. Instead, vampires are terrifying monsters that gave chilling insights into mankind. Yet in spite of that, there are some great romantic and erotic moments in the book, including several love triangles.
The Kiss is a story about Good vs Evil, Love and Lust, Deception and Eternal Search for Salvation and Faith.
I would strongly recommend this page-turner to everyone.
August 18, 2013
-Kirkus Reviews wrote: "Lyon’s debut stands out… skillful… authentic… fascinating… inspired… Lyon executes it perfectly... vivid... engaging... highly promising... sophisticated..." https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
-Publishers Weekly wrote: "A truly original take on the blood-sucking undead... effective prose and a great hook." http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0...
Vampires.com wrote: "Immediately gratifying...a worthy addition to any vampire enthusiast’s collection." http://www.vampires.com/review-kiss-o...
-Leading Dracula expert Professor Elizabeth Miller, Ph.D., said: “Well written and at times lyrical… A good read!"
-Publishers Weekly wrote: "A truly original take on the blood-sucking undead... effective prose and a great hook." http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0...
Vampires.com wrote: "Immediately gratifying...a worthy addition to any vampire enthusiast’s collection." http://www.vampires.com/review-kiss-o...
-Leading Dracula expert Professor Elizabeth Miller, Ph.D., said: “Well written and at times lyrical… A good read!"
August 30, 2012
This is a whirlwind of a read, taking us from centuries past and the dark secrets entombed in an ancient fortress to a modern-day quest for truth and enlightenment.
Vampires seem to fascinate us and the more we learn the better. But in this book, a lot of what we think we knew about these creatures gets changed. We can suspend our disbelief and let ourselves be caught up in this tale of intrigue and emotion.
I hope Lyon writes more of this....
Vampires seem to fascinate us and the more we learn the better. But in this book, a lot of what we think we knew about these creatures gets changed. We can suspend our disbelief and let ourselves be caught up in this tale of intrigue and emotion.
I hope Lyon writes more of this....
August 6, 2012
The writer uses his extensive knowledge of the history of Balkans and blends it beautifully with catchy themes. You will find adventure, romance, suspense, history and lots of trivia...and the book has a natural flow. The ending surely suggests there's more to come. Will eagerly wait.
March 9, 2017
Prva knjiga na temu vampira koju sam procitala. Impresivna kolicina napetosti, slikovitih opisa i istorijskih podataka. Odlicna!
August 19, 2021
'No man knoweth the hour or day of his coming ... he cometh like a thief in the night to steal away the souls of Man.'
If there are just a couple of books I have read this year which are worthy of remembering for some time to come, then this is surely one of them! Whether your interest is in the historical and not so distant discord in The Balkans, together with all its attendant atrocities and worldwide moral condemnations, or if it is simply the desire to read an excellent vampire story, unique, intelligently written and certain to keep you on the edge of your seat, then `Kiss Of The Butterfly' surely won't disappoint.
The book has been so thoroughly and expertly researched, both for its accuracy in the region's complicated historical detail, together with its excellent and redefining portrayal of vampires based on factual folklore, that we are left with a cleverly crafted, richly detailed storyline, which has been mastefully written with total authority and maturity by its author, commanding almost unanimous respect and praise from readers and reviewers everywhere.
The seamless blending of fact and fiction, gives this story a unique and original insight into the mythology surrounding the origins and development of vampire folklore, whilst ensuring the reader is kept grounded and focused by the historical connections and influences, which are introduced within the individual chapters as a series of flashbacks and only serve to add to the intrigue, terror and suspense.
The action packed storyline is fast moving, suspenseful, constantly changing and a well balanced mix of character and plot driven events. The many twists and turns in the story left me exhilarated and sometimes trying to think way ahead to the possible outcome of a particular event, only to be brought up sharply when James threw an alternative scenario into the mix, which I wasn't expecting or anticipating, thus changing the whole emphasis of the story.
The characters are complex, well drawn and defined and above all, totally believeable .. even those who are not quite who, or sometimes even what, they appear to be! It takes Steven, the main protagonist in the story, some time to work out, that he is being duped and used by those he comes to think of as friends, when friend and foe become almost as one and indistinguishable, until revealing their true identity is either desirable, or indeed unavoidable!
Corruption and everything not being as it might at first appear, is a theme which runs strongly throughout the plot and indeed throughout the many centuries this storyline spans. From the historical notion that `The Dragon Order' was formed to take on Satan, only to have Satan take upon themselves the name of their adversary, in order to steal its power and turn it against them ... To the concept that the serpent is associated with both good and evil, a symbol of both God and The Devil ... Right through to the almost unbelieveable concept that in folklore, if a butterfly or moth enters a home in the evening it means that someone will die at the hands of a vampire; whilst conversely and once again in folklore, upon death the human spirit will leave the body in the form of a butterfly...
A historic evil of epic proportions, unleashed into an unsuspecting world, turning friends into enemies, dividing families, challenging beliefs and claiming innocent victims ... A military regime inflicting the worst kind of pain and horror, or shapeshifters and lycanthropes coming together in one of the most sinister and terrifying vampire stories written to date.
Apart from making me see the ethereal beauty of a butterfly in a whole new light, New Year's Eve and Good Friday, will never be quite the same again! I am running the risk that I am going to give away too much of the stroyline here, so it's probably best that I stop now.
There are just so many strong and emotional words and phrases which leapt off the pages of this book, that I could have gone on quoting them forever. It is best that you just grab yourself a copy at the earliest opportunity and immerse yourself in the `Kiss Of the Butterfly'!
This is the stuff real nightmares are made of!! ... and remember:-
Butterflies make almost no noise, even when flying in groups.
If there are just a couple of books I have read this year which are worthy of remembering for some time to come, then this is surely one of them! Whether your interest is in the historical and not so distant discord in The Balkans, together with all its attendant atrocities and worldwide moral condemnations, or if it is simply the desire to read an excellent vampire story, unique, intelligently written and certain to keep you on the edge of your seat, then `Kiss Of The Butterfly' surely won't disappoint.
The book has been so thoroughly and expertly researched, both for its accuracy in the region's complicated historical detail, together with its excellent and redefining portrayal of vampires based on factual folklore, that we are left with a cleverly crafted, richly detailed storyline, which has been mastefully written with total authority and maturity by its author, commanding almost unanimous respect and praise from readers and reviewers everywhere.
The seamless blending of fact and fiction, gives this story a unique and original insight into the mythology surrounding the origins and development of vampire folklore, whilst ensuring the reader is kept grounded and focused by the historical connections and influences, which are introduced within the individual chapters as a series of flashbacks and only serve to add to the intrigue, terror and suspense.
The action packed storyline is fast moving, suspenseful, constantly changing and a well balanced mix of character and plot driven events. The many twists and turns in the story left me exhilarated and sometimes trying to think way ahead to the possible outcome of a particular event, only to be brought up sharply when James threw an alternative scenario into the mix, which I wasn't expecting or anticipating, thus changing the whole emphasis of the story.
The characters are complex, well drawn and defined and above all, totally believeable .. even those who are not quite who, or sometimes even what, they appear to be! It takes Steven, the main protagonist in the story, some time to work out, that he is being duped and used by those he comes to think of as friends, when friend and foe become almost as one and indistinguishable, until revealing their true identity is either desirable, or indeed unavoidable!
Corruption and everything not being as it might at first appear, is a theme which runs strongly throughout the plot and indeed throughout the many centuries this storyline spans. From the historical notion that `The Dragon Order' was formed to take on Satan, only to have Satan take upon themselves the name of their adversary, in order to steal its power and turn it against them ... To the concept that the serpent is associated with both good and evil, a symbol of both God and The Devil ... Right through to the almost unbelieveable concept that in folklore, if a butterfly or moth enters a home in the evening it means that someone will die at the hands of a vampire; whilst conversely and once again in folklore, upon death the human spirit will leave the body in the form of a butterfly...
A historic evil of epic proportions, unleashed into an unsuspecting world, turning friends into enemies, dividing families, challenging beliefs and claiming innocent victims ... A military regime inflicting the worst kind of pain and horror, or shapeshifters and lycanthropes coming together in one of the most sinister and terrifying vampire stories written to date.
Apart from making me see the ethereal beauty of a butterfly in a whole new light, New Year's Eve and Good Friday, will never be quite the same again! I am running the risk that I am going to give away too much of the stroyline here, so it's probably best that I stop now.
There are just so many strong and emotional words and phrases which leapt off the pages of this book, that I could have gone on quoting them forever. It is best that you just grab yourself a copy at the earliest opportunity and immerse yourself in the `Kiss Of the Butterfly'!
This is the stuff real nightmares are made of!! ... and remember:-
Butterflies make almost no noise, even when flying in groups.
November 13, 2012
Lyon's book is like the Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter for grown-ups. If you love vampire stories, you have to read Lyon's book, which is based on 'real' vampires. The word vampire comes from Serbia and originated in the 15th century. Lyon's vampires are based on people's beliefs from that time, and not the imagination of modern writers starting with Bram Stoker.
An American PhD student, Steven, is sent to Serbia in 1992 to research Serbian vampire myths. At that time Serbia's society had been turned upside down by its warmongering dictator Slobodan Milosevic. It was a time when young men slept in different apartments every night to avoid the draft; when young girls dated gangsters in exchange for designer bags; when war criminals were worshipped like rock stars; when hyperinflation left hard-working professionals with enough money every month to buy a loaf of bread and an egg; when being intolerant was rewarded and being tolerant was dangerous; when news of terrible bloodshed in Serbia's wars across its borders in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was defended by many as self-defense, applauded by others as revenge for historic injustices, denied by some, publicly denounced by a courageous few, and cast a dark, nauseating shadow over everyone. Serbia in the 1990s is, depressingly, the perfect setting for a story about vampires.
The association between war and vampires is not lost on the three young Serbs who Lyon's hero meets in Belgrade, who see their leaders as metaphorical vampires. Steven and his Serbian friends unknowingly embark on a journey in which they confront the evil forces that tore Yugoslavia apart. Lyon takes them on a Hollywood-worthy adventure into Belgrade's ancient fortress, smoke-filled night clubs where they rub shoulders with gangsters and paramilitaries, on a frantic car chase pursued by Serbia's dreaded secret service and into the heart of superstitions that have gripped Serbia since the 15th century.
Lyon's book is a great story about vampires, but it is also a great story about Serbia's troubled history, and how it brought the world one of its most successful literary and film franchises--vampires.
An American PhD student, Steven, is sent to Serbia in 1992 to research Serbian vampire myths. At that time Serbia's society had been turned upside down by its warmongering dictator Slobodan Milosevic. It was a time when young men slept in different apartments every night to avoid the draft; when young girls dated gangsters in exchange for designer bags; when war criminals were worshipped like rock stars; when hyperinflation left hard-working professionals with enough money every month to buy a loaf of bread and an egg; when being intolerant was rewarded and being tolerant was dangerous; when news of terrible bloodshed in Serbia's wars across its borders in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was defended by many as self-defense, applauded by others as revenge for historic injustices, denied by some, publicly denounced by a courageous few, and cast a dark, nauseating shadow over everyone. Serbia in the 1990s is, depressingly, the perfect setting for a story about vampires.
The association between war and vampires is not lost on the three young Serbs who Lyon's hero meets in Belgrade, who see their leaders as metaphorical vampires. Steven and his Serbian friends unknowingly embark on a journey in which they confront the evil forces that tore Yugoslavia apart. Lyon takes them on a Hollywood-worthy adventure into Belgrade's ancient fortress, smoke-filled night clubs where they rub shoulders with gangsters and paramilitaries, on a frantic car chase pursued by Serbia's dreaded secret service and into the heart of superstitions that have gripped Serbia since the 15th century.
Lyon's book is a great story about vampires, but it is also a great story about Serbia's troubled history, and how it brought the world one of its most successful literary and film franchises--vampires.
February 7, 2018
I'll be honest, before I started reading this novel, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it. Many times a historical novel is either a hit or a miss. But Kiss of the Butterfly is definitely a hit!
The story follows Steven, an American college student on his trip to Europe where he discovers more than he expected.
I loved this book! It was so incredibly interesting, I could hardly put it down. Suffice it to say these are not your teenage daughter's vampires. The vampires in Kiss of the Butterfly are bad, human eating/killing creatures of darkness. Which was awesome!
The historical aspects are there in abundance, everything was very detailed and while the story itself is obviously fiction, the background situations are accurate. It was all very fascinating, including the actual vampire folklore.
Steven was a great main character, very real. I was rooting for him the whole book, which doesn't always happen. In every situation you see him struggle and can relate to his fight on some level. Marko Slatina, Steven's professor was also an interesting character. You can tell he's hiding something but you almost don't know if his intentions are bad or good. Though you discover his motivation and reasons later in the novel. You also feel sort of happy for Slatina at the end, I'd say more but it would be a spoiler. :)
I have to say the ending left me wanting more! I hope there will be a sequel, I would love to see what happens to Steven. :)
~ This review was originally posted on runawaypen.com
The story follows Steven, an American college student on his trip to Europe where he discovers more than he expected.
I loved this book! It was so incredibly interesting, I could hardly put it down. Suffice it to say these are not your teenage daughter's vampires. The vampires in Kiss of the Butterfly are bad, human eating/killing creatures of darkness. Which was awesome!
The historical aspects are there in abundance, everything was very detailed and while the story itself is obviously fiction, the background situations are accurate. It was all very fascinating, including the actual vampire folklore.
Steven was a great main character, very real. I was rooting for him the whole book, which doesn't always happen. In every situation you see him struggle and can relate to his fight on some level. Marko Slatina, Steven's professor was also an interesting character. You can tell he's hiding something but you almost don't know if his intentions are bad or good. Though you discover his motivation and reasons later in the novel. You also feel sort of happy for Slatina at the end, I'd say more but it would be a spoiler. :)
I have to say the ending left me wanting more! I hope there will be a sequel, I would love to see what happens to Steven. :)
~ This review was originally posted on runawaypen.com
May 20, 2013
My rating on this one is actually the average of two ratings: one for writing style, one for concept / research / fresh ideas. Kiss of the Butterfly, so far as I know, is a first novel -- and from time to time, it read like one. In writing style, and even in some of the overall characterization & plotting, it seemed like an average thriller on the horrific side. Lyon definitely kept the pages turning - or, in my case, the screen-swipes & page-clicks going -- but the style was nothing out of the ordinary. Three stars.
Plus five stars for the most meticulously researched take on vampires I've read in a very long time. So meticulous, in fact, that it includes an entire Historical Note section at the end -- in which one can learn that almost every moldering tome, secret vampire-hunting society, & appalling slaughter mentioned in this book is actually real. Names, dates, & titles are provided for anyone interested in researching further.
Authentic Balkan vampire folklore, with a heavy side order of recent history & reasonably compelling characters, make this book a treat for vampire fans jaded by a few too many urban fantasies.
Plus five stars for the most meticulously researched take on vampires I've read in a very long time. So meticulous, in fact, that it includes an entire Historical Note section at the end -- in which one can learn that almost every moldering tome, secret vampire-hunting society, & appalling slaughter mentioned in this book is actually real. Names, dates, & titles are provided for anyone interested in researching further.
Authentic Balkan vampire folklore, with a heavy side order of recent history & reasonably compelling characters, make this book a treat for vampire fans jaded by a few too many urban fantasies.
September 1, 2012
Lyon has linked the seemingly unlinkable, the Balkan wars of the 1990s and...vampires. I was surprised not to find Hollywood-style draculas on these pages, but instead to be spooked by the Balkan 'vampiri', the 'real thing'. Although this is a fictional narrative, I was impressed by Lyon's research and basing his plot on the most interesting historical evidence of reported vampirism in the region over hundreds of years, and the high-profile battles against it. His spin on vampires thriving and perpetuating during times of great evil is cleverly woven into the story of the tragic wars of the 1990s. Dare I say, tongue in cheek, that it offers the missing puzzle for any analyst wishing to interpret the madness of that time. I recommend this very interesting and fun read.
August 15, 2012
This is one of the best novels I have read recently, not just because it was written by my friend James Lyon. If you like Indiana Jones you will like this one too - it contains mystery, vampires, fight between good and evil, love and passion, murder and introduction to Balkan culture and history. It includes explanation of events in the history of my country in a way that nobody has written about in the past, but that makes more sense than anything I have heard. The story is intriguing and a page turner couldn’t put the book down. Can’t wait for a sequel!
September 28, 2014
Great addition to the Vampire genre that is loaded with Historical facts and weaves them with the mythology of the supernatural of the Balkans.. It really gets into the Vampire stories from the Balkans which are very different then Mr Stokers Vampires that most of us grew up on. Wraps the real life tragedies and horrors of Yugoslavia splitting apart in the 90's with the old myths. Would really like to see a sequel or two.
October 24, 2012
I have to say I enjoyed reading this book. It took me a little bit to get into it but once I did I was grabbed and wanted to keep reading. I thought the author did a great job of describing the characters and developing them throughout the story. I would definitely read more books by this author.
August 30, 2012
Kiss Of The Butterfly is a great book, just finished the hunger game series and it is written in the same page turning fashion.
The book does a great job weaving historical and modern day events into the plot.
Looks like this has been set up for 2nd and possibly 3rd book, can't wait to read them.
The book does a great job weaving historical and modern day events into the plot.
Looks like this has been set up for 2nd and possibly 3rd book, can't wait to read them.
September 6, 2015
I have seen this book yesterday in bookstore, by chance...it is great to read interesting subjects, but it is even better to discover (or rediscover) your own neighborhood & region through good research and story from the perspective of one educated and keen mind.
Now, I am waiting for sequel...:)
P.S. to author - leave "other" jobs...just write (and research)...there is no better life
Now, I am waiting for sequel...:)
P.S. to author - leave "other" jobs...just write (and research)...there is no better life
November 24, 2015
Folklore lives!
Well done incorporation of Balkan folklore concerning vampires, unfamiliar to most American readers. The modern portion of the story was a bit slow out of the gate although the older interludes were great. There's clearly a sequel in the works.
Well done incorporation of Balkan folklore concerning vampires, unfamiliar to most American readers. The modern portion of the story was a bit slow out of the gate although the older interludes were great. There's clearly a sequel in the works.
August 18, 2012
Really well written. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Excited to see what comes next.
March 19, 2019
This is an interesting take on vampires that blends historical fact and Balkan folklore to create an interesting story.
August 1, 2021
Definitivno je ovo nešto drugačija knjiga o vampirima. Nije fazon holivudskih vampira. Ovo je balkanski folklor sa primesama horora.
Meni se dopala. Iako je priča plod mašte , skoro svi likovi su verodostojni po verovanju i po istorijskim činjenicama. Dopalo mi se kako je pisac uklopio Vlada III Cepeša u celokupnu priču.
Dala sam 4 zvezdice, samo jer je malo zbrzan kraj.
Meni se dopala. Iako je priča plod mašte , skoro svi likovi su verodostojni po verovanju i po istorijskim činjenicama. Dopalo mi se kako je pisac uklopio Vlada III Cepeša u celokupnu priču.
Dala sam 4 zvezdice, samo jer je malo zbrzan kraj.
September 9, 2012
3.5 Stars
In February 1476, the Prince of Wallachia, Vlad III, leads a conquering army upstream of the Drina River. His 5000 troops can see Serbia on the left bank and Bosnia on the right. The conquerors leave a path of misery in their wake, murdering, raping, burning down villages and destroying crops in each village and town they come across. Prince Vlad is sure his triumph will, at last, give him entrance into the Order of the Dragon as they did his father. He will secure not only his future but that of his son, Dracula.
Five hundred years later, August 1991, in San Diego, Professor Doctor Marko Slatina prepares the students in his Medieval Balkins History class for the year to come. He introduces them to his teaching assistant Steven Roberts, informs them what will be expected of them during the year and even jokingly answers the question from a student as to whether they will be studying vampires in the class with an extra credit assignment to answer some silly questions.
After class he is visited in his office by one of his students, Katrina Lazarevic, a beautiful young Yugoslav who is his god-daughter. Katrina informs him her father has passed away leaving a package for Marko. As Marko looks over the contents of the package, Steven comes to his office to discuss his dissertation. Since the war has broken out in Yugoslavia all grants and scholarships have been frozen, access to the archives in Yugoslavia has been closed, Steven worries he will not be able to finish his dissertation without this access.
Professor Slatina comes up with a solution, he knows of a foundation that will fund research for a year in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia, if Steven will transfer to the study of ethnography. Steven agrees and plans are made for him to leave after Christmas. In the mean time, Steven spends a great deal of time with the Professor and Katrina, by the time he leaves, feelings between the two young people has grown beyond friendship.
Steven’s trip to the Balkins will turn out be much more than he expected. As he gets further into his research he discovers that not everyone is happy with his discoveries. People who have helped him start disappearing and dying, the government seems unusually interested in his research, and he gets cryptic phone calls from Katrina and Dr. Slatina. Where do reality begin and old myths and folklore end? Steven, and friends he has made along the way, will search for the answers and the world they know will never be the same.
Mr. Lyon places the reader right in the middle of current affairs in the Balkan region, showing us the political climate and its effects on the people. Not only do we follow Steven through his research, Mr. Lyon gives us interludes throughout the book taking us back through time in different periods that coincide with what Steven is discovering. Mr. Lyon handles the switches between time and different POVs well; the switches were always clearly defined and easy to follow.
While Steven is the main character, there are a number of secondary characters and I found it difficult at times to keep up with all the names and to keep everyone separate in my mind, but I’m sure part of the problem was just dealing with unfamiliar names. Steven is a smart young man, torn between his feelings for Katrina, his own past heartbreak and his feelings for a young woman he meets while abroad. He figures out early on that things might not be exactly as they seem and quite possibly Professor Slatina had a different motive for sending him than he was told. Throughout the book we get glimpses and hints as to what that motive might be and learn more about Professor Slatina.
This is not your usual vampire book. It shows a different vampire than people are used to seeing; there are times when it isn’t easy to read. A lot of time is spent on history lessons, current affairs, and even a lecture or two in religion. I’ll admit that I actually skipped over a bit, I even had to put the book aside a time or two and just let me brain rest. When one gets past all the lessons though, there is a very good story hidden underneath that is well worth reading. The story itself is rich and fascinating and I’m hoping we haven’t seen the last of Steven and company.
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
In February 1476, the Prince of Wallachia, Vlad III, leads a conquering army upstream of the Drina River. His 5000 troops can see Serbia on the left bank and Bosnia on the right. The conquerors leave a path of misery in their wake, murdering, raping, burning down villages and destroying crops in each village and town they come across. Prince Vlad is sure his triumph will, at last, give him entrance into the Order of the Dragon as they did his father. He will secure not only his future but that of his son, Dracula.
Five hundred years later, August 1991, in San Diego, Professor Doctor Marko Slatina prepares the students in his Medieval Balkins History class for the year to come. He introduces them to his teaching assistant Steven Roberts, informs them what will be expected of them during the year and even jokingly answers the question from a student as to whether they will be studying vampires in the class with an extra credit assignment to answer some silly questions.
After class he is visited in his office by one of his students, Katrina Lazarevic, a beautiful young Yugoslav who is his god-daughter. Katrina informs him her father has passed away leaving a package for Marko. As Marko looks over the contents of the package, Steven comes to his office to discuss his dissertation. Since the war has broken out in Yugoslavia all grants and scholarships have been frozen, access to the archives in Yugoslavia has been closed, Steven worries he will not be able to finish his dissertation without this access.
Professor Slatina comes up with a solution, he knows of a foundation that will fund research for a year in Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia, if Steven will transfer to the study of ethnography. Steven agrees and plans are made for him to leave after Christmas. In the mean time, Steven spends a great deal of time with the Professor and Katrina, by the time he leaves, feelings between the two young people has grown beyond friendship.
Steven’s trip to the Balkins will turn out be much more than he expected. As he gets further into his research he discovers that not everyone is happy with his discoveries. People who have helped him start disappearing and dying, the government seems unusually interested in his research, and he gets cryptic phone calls from Katrina and Dr. Slatina. Where do reality begin and old myths and folklore end? Steven, and friends he has made along the way, will search for the answers and the world they know will never be the same.
Mr. Lyon places the reader right in the middle of current affairs in the Balkan region, showing us the political climate and its effects on the people. Not only do we follow Steven through his research, Mr. Lyon gives us interludes throughout the book taking us back through time in different periods that coincide with what Steven is discovering. Mr. Lyon handles the switches between time and different POVs well; the switches were always clearly defined and easy to follow.
While Steven is the main character, there are a number of secondary characters and I found it difficult at times to keep up with all the names and to keep everyone separate in my mind, but I’m sure part of the problem was just dealing with unfamiliar names. Steven is a smart young man, torn between his feelings for Katrina, his own past heartbreak and his feelings for a young woman he meets while abroad. He figures out early on that things might not be exactly as they seem and quite possibly Professor Slatina had a different motive for sending him than he was told. Throughout the book we get glimpses and hints as to what that motive might be and learn more about Professor Slatina.
This is not your usual vampire book. It shows a different vampire than people are used to seeing; there are times when it isn’t easy to read. A lot of time is spent on history lessons, current affairs, and even a lecture or two in religion. I’ll admit that I actually skipped over a bit, I even had to put the book aside a time or two and just let me brain rest. When one gets past all the lessons though, there is a very good story hidden underneath that is well worth reading. The story itself is rich and fascinating and I’m hoping we haven’t seen the last of Steven and company.
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
February 5, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author James Lyon.)
Steven is doing his PHD in Balkan history, but with the war happening in Yugoslavia, it is difficult for him to do the research he needs to do to write his dissertation.
When his professor suggests that he instead does his dissertation on ethnography, and that he will be able to get him a research scholarship, Steven is immediately interested, and takes professor Slatina’s advice.
Once Steven gets into his research in Yugoslavia, he finds that all his research leads him to folk tales about the existence of vampires.
Vampires were one of the topics that professor Slatina was passionate about, and Steven soon finds that he is passionate about it too, as more and more comes to light.
Soon Steven finds strange things happening though, and finds that people seem to be quite against his research, especially when vampires are mentioned, until even the Serbian police become involved.
Is there really such a thing as vampires? What is Steven getting himself involved in?
I’ve read a lot of vampire books, but this isn’t your average vampire book, and I although I read to the 69% mark, I just couldn’t bring myself to finish this book.
Firstly, to me this was less about vampires, and more about the idea of vampires, and their origins in folk-law. Quite a lot of the book was concerned with Steven’s research, and the things he kept discovering, often things that people were trying to hide from him.
I can’t say that I cared much for Steven, although Slatina was a very interesting character. He really did come across as aging college professor, one who has been about and learned a lot. He also seriously liked the sound of his own voice, although his lectures were actually pretty interesting, he wasn’t the sort of professor who would put you to sleep!
This book is nothing like what I normally read, and it also broaches subjects that I really don’t get on with – history, geography, war. In fact these are topics that I actively avoid! With that in mind I think that there were probably parts of this book that went so far over my head I didn’t even notice them fly by, and the war stuff – I honestly have no idea about this, if someone read it who actually paid attention to the news they might actually glean more from this story than I did!
That being said, I think the mystery element is what kept this book readable to a point for me. If I wasn’t so interested to find out what exactly Steven was going to ultimately discover, I might have given up on this book sooner (believe me, I suck at geography, history and war stuff).
I have to say that I liked the idea that a vampire could turn into a butterfly. How innocuous compared to vampires turning into bats?! Who would ever suspect a pretty butterfly of being a vampire?!
I also laughed at this quote, which I found quite funny!:
“Fortune has smiled on us: we found a rich man.”
“It doesn’t matter,” grumbled Igor, the accordion player. “The rich taste the same as the poor.”
One piece of vampire research that Steven was told did make me go ‘WTF?’ though, tell me what you think:
‘Vampires cannot gather in groups larger than twelve. We tried once to put fourteen of them together in the same room and they all turned to jelly in a flash'
I mean never mind how ridiculous this statement sounds, but what about the logistics? How did they get 14 in a room if you can’t have more than 12? Did numbers 13 and 14 go in together or something? And how do you define a room? If you had vampires in toilet stalls would that be okay, but if you had 13 in a large theatre they would turn to jelly? How is this ‘a room’ rather than a certain proximity? I may be being picky here, this whole thing just seemed a little ridiculous.
I also found the whole – ‘vampires only ever feed from the left side of the body’ thing a bit weird. I just didn’t get it.
Overall; I gave this book a good try, even though a lot of the subject matter wasn’t the sort of thing I usually appreciate. At the end of the day though, this book just wasn’t for me. I’m sure that other people would appreciate this, but I think that my lack of knowledge and interest in certain subjects meant that this book just didn’t really do it for me.
4.5 out of 10.
Steven is doing his PHD in Balkan history, but with the war happening in Yugoslavia, it is difficult for him to do the research he needs to do to write his dissertation.
When his professor suggests that he instead does his dissertation on ethnography, and that he will be able to get him a research scholarship, Steven is immediately interested, and takes professor Slatina’s advice.
Once Steven gets into his research in Yugoslavia, he finds that all his research leads him to folk tales about the existence of vampires.
Vampires were one of the topics that professor Slatina was passionate about, and Steven soon finds that he is passionate about it too, as more and more comes to light.
Soon Steven finds strange things happening though, and finds that people seem to be quite against his research, especially when vampires are mentioned, until even the Serbian police become involved.
Is there really such a thing as vampires? What is Steven getting himself involved in?
I’ve read a lot of vampire books, but this isn’t your average vampire book, and I although I read to the 69% mark, I just couldn’t bring myself to finish this book.
Firstly, to me this was less about vampires, and more about the idea of vampires, and their origins in folk-law. Quite a lot of the book was concerned with Steven’s research, and the things he kept discovering, often things that people were trying to hide from him.
I can’t say that I cared much for Steven, although Slatina was a very interesting character. He really did come across as aging college professor, one who has been about and learned a lot. He also seriously liked the sound of his own voice, although his lectures were actually pretty interesting, he wasn’t the sort of professor who would put you to sleep!
This book is nothing like what I normally read, and it also broaches subjects that I really don’t get on with – history, geography, war. In fact these are topics that I actively avoid! With that in mind I think that there were probably parts of this book that went so far over my head I didn’t even notice them fly by, and the war stuff – I honestly have no idea about this, if someone read it who actually paid attention to the news they might actually glean more from this story than I did!
That being said, I think the mystery element is what kept this book readable to a point for me. If I wasn’t so interested to find out what exactly Steven was going to ultimately discover, I might have given up on this book sooner (believe me, I suck at geography, history and war stuff).
I have to say that I liked the idea that a vampire could turn into a butterfly. How innocuous compared to vampires turning into bats?! Who would ever suspect a pretty butterfly of being a vampire?!
I also laughed at this quote, which I found quite funny!:
“Fortune has smiled on us: we found a rich man.”
“It doesn’t matter,” grumbled Igor, the accordion player. “The rich taste the same as the poor.”
One piece of vampire research that Steven was told did make me go ‘WTF?’ though, tell me what you think:
‘Vampires cannot gather in groups larger than twelve. We tried once to put fourteen of them together in the same room and they all turned to jelly in a flash'
I mean never mind how ridiculous this statement sounds, but what about the logistics? How did they get 14 in a room if you can’t have more than 12? Did numbers 13 and 14 go in together or something? And how do you define a room? If you had vampires in toilet stalls would that be okay, but if you had 13 in a large theatre they would turn to jelly? How is this ‘a room’ rather than a certain proximity? I may be being picky here, this whole thing just seemed a little ridiculous.
I also found the whole – ‘vampires only ever feed from the left side of the body’ thing a bit weird. I just didn’t get it.
Overall; I gave this book a good try, even though a lot of the subject matter wasn’t the sort of thing I usually appreciate. At the end of the day though, this book just wasn’t for me. I’m sure that other people would appreciate this, but I think that my lack of knowledge and interest in certain subjects meant that this book just didn’t really do it for me.
4.5 out of 10.
January 29, 2013
Steven Roberts is a young teacher's assistant to Professor Doctor Marko Slatina. When he learns he unable to get a research grant to finish is Ph.D., Slatina sets him up with a private foundation who will pay for his research abroad in order for him to finish his studies. Steven, of course, jumps at the chance. Only once he is there, his research leads him to the history of vampires and folklore. In fact, every bit of research leads him back to vampires and he can't seem to get away from the subject. This leads Steven down a very dangerous path and now he isn't sure what to believe. He does know that he is in serious danger though, and things are not just going to go away easily.
It's no secret that I don't read a lot of paranormal or fantasy books. I have a hard time with these stories because I just can't seem to force myself into believing these stories are possible. And when that happens, I just can't get let go and get into the story. But back in the day I enjoyed these stories. In fact, I was quite a fan of The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. Since then though, vampires and werewolves and you name it have taken a turn for the worse. But when I was approached for a possible review of Kiss of the Butterfly, I hesitated to say no. I thought this might be the vampire story I was waiting for. And I was right.
Right away I knew things weren't going to go well for Steven. Even after being told to be careful who he talks to, he just can't seem to shut up. He tells everyone he meets about his research and this causes nothing bu trouble for him. Even so, I still liked him quite a bit. He was very genuine in how he reacted to women and I found that refreshing. He didn't take advantage of his situation and I appreciated that. But aside from that, he was also funny and charming and came off as a little innocent.
I wasn't sure how I felt about Slatina at first. I knew he was hiding something but just didn't know what. I didn't like that he used Steven for his own personal gain, but I understood his reasoning.
What I really enjoyed most about this story was that it was 100% believable. I did not doubt for one minute the plot or anything else. There is an incredible amount of history and facts blended into this story that it is nearly impossible to tell which part was fact and which was fiction. This made me turn the pages even faster and it completely sucked me in. It is quite apparent that this author spent an enormous amount of time researching Balkan history and he worked it into this story flawlessly.
I can't say I knew much about Balkan history going into this story, but I definitely do now. There is so much to learn between these pages and one hell of a story. It is creepy, violent and even pretty funny. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series and see where the author takes it. I am so invested in these characters now that I don't think I could stop reading even if I wanted to.
Overall, this book was crazy good. If you are looking for a more realistic and scary vampire read, this is definitely it. You don't want to miss out on this one, trust me!
It's no secret that I don't read a lot of paranormal or fantasy books. I have a hard time with these stories because I just can't seem to force myself into believing these stories are possible. And when that happens, I just can't get let go and get into the story. But back in the day I enjoyed these stories. In fact, I was quite a fan of The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. Since then though, vampires and werewolves and you name it have taken a turn for the worse. But when I was approached for a possible review of Kiss of the Butterfly, I hesitated to say no. I thought this might be the vampire story I was waiting for. And I was right.
Right away I knew things weren't going to go well for Steven. Even after being told to be careful who he talks to, he just can't seem to shut up. He tells everyone he meets about his research and this causes nothing bu trouble for him. Even so, I still liked him quite a bit. He was very genuine in how he reacted to women and I found that refreshing. He didn't take advantage of his situation and I appreciated that. But aside from that, he was also funny and charming and came off as a little innocent.
I wasn't sure how I felt about Slatina at first. I knew he was hiding something but just didn't know what. I didn't like that he used Steven for his own personal gain, but I understood his reasoning.
What I really enjoyed most about this story was that it was 100% believable. I did not doubt for one minute the plot or anything else. There is an incredible amount of history and facts blended into this story that it is nearly impossible to tell which part was fact and which was fiction. This made me turn the pages even faster and it completely sucked me in. It is quite apparent that this author spent an enormous amount of time researching Balkan history and he worked it into this story flawlessly.
I can't say I knew much about Balkan history going into this story, but I definitely do now. There is so much to learn between these pages and one hell of a story. It is creepy, violent and even pretty funny. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series and see where the author takes it. I am so invested in these characters now that I don't think I could stop reading even if I wanted to.
Overall, this book was crazy good. If you are looking for a more realistic and scary vampire read, this is definitely it. You don't want to miss out on this one, trust me!
December 4, 2012
The story revolves around Steven, a university student who with the help of Professor Slatina, receives a scholarship from the Balkan Ethnography Trust so that he can get inside of war-torn Yugoslavia to finish his research for his dissertation. Professor Slatina, however, has Steven researching vampire lore, but there is more to it than what Professor Slatina is willing to admit to Steven. Steven's research not only puts himself but other people in danger. The government doesn't want him uncovering certain truths.
I have to admit that I dreaded writing this review. It's not that I hated the book, not at all, but it was very difficult for me to get into the story. I'd say I was probably half way through the book before it really became interesting. Under normal circumstances, I probably would have given up on trying to read it, if I hadn't agreed to review it.
The factual information that was woven into the story, I enjoyed that to some extent. For some reason though, I felt like I was reading a history book. There are a lot of hard to pronounce names (though granted, there was a small guide at the front of the book that helped with that) and a lot of historical dates offered up. I had a hard time following along at time.
Now, as I've said before, I'm no expert on punctuation and such, but I've read quite a lot in the last few years to feel as though there were quite a few errors in this book. Part of the reason I felt it was hard to get through the book was because of the way it was written. For example, instead of a character's unspoken thoughts being italicized, they had quotes around them as if they were spoken out loud. Occasionally there was a change in scene but no obvious break to let the reader know of the change, which would throw me off. And although this may seem odd to mention, colons were used way more in this book than I've ever seen used in one book before, and I don't believe it was always used correctly.
Having said all that, I do feel that Mr. Lyon has a great way with words. For me though, I suppose that there was just too much, and it interrupted the flow of the story. But I was rather fascinated by the vampire lore, and I really enjoyed the cast of characters that Steven met along the way.
** I received a ebook copy of Kiss of the Butterfly in exchange for a review.**
I have to admit that I dreaded writing this review. It's not that I hated the book, not at all, but it was very difficult for me to get into the story. I'd say I was probably half way through the book before it really became interesting. Under normal circumstances, I probably would have given up on trying to read it, if I hadn't agreed to review it.
The factual information that was woven into the story, I enjoyed that to some extent. For some reason though, I felt like I was reading a history book. There are a lot of hard to pronounce names (though granted, there was a small guide at the front of the book that helped with that) and a lot of historical dates offered up. I had a hard time following along at time.
Now, as I've said before, I'm no expert on punctuation and such, but I've read quite a lot in the last few years to feel as though there were quite a few errors in this book. Part of the reason I felt it was hard to get through the book was because of the way it was written. For example, instead of a character's unspoken thoughts being italicized, they had quotes around them as if they were spoken out loud. Occasionally there was a change in scene but no obvious break to let the reader know of the change, which would throw me off. And although this may seem odd to mention, colons were used way more in this book than I've ever seen used in one book before, and I don't believe it was always used correctly.
Having said all that, I do feel that Mr. Lyon has a great way with words. For me though, I suppose that there was just too much, and it interrupted the flow of the story. But I was rather fascinated by the vampire lore, and I really enjoyed the cast of characters that Steven met along the way.
** I received a ebook copy of Kiss of the Butterfly in exchange for a review.**
April 10, 2013
I chose to read this book, first off, because it was written by a man. I am always intrigued to read different versions of vampires, and how they are created by the author. I find that male authors tend toward the violent and savage natures of vampires; Lyons is no exception to this. His version of the vampire is based on Balkan folklore as far back as the 14th century. This novel is written during the time of the breakup of Yugoslavia, weaving together the story with flashbacks and real time action. The flashbacks were begun far into the past, and each time we flash back, the time gets a little closer together, closing the gap between past and present until finally we meet up in a denouement of action and heart-pounding resolution.
Lyons gives the reader extensive lessons in Balkan and Slavic history and folklore. We learn of hideous creatures and life forms based on superstition. We are taken through these archives with the main character, Steven, a college student in pursuit of a PhD, guided by his mentor to delve into Vampire mythology and legend through the study of Ethnography. It is through Steven’s studies and innocent presentations to his fellow students that we learn how close he’s coming to discovering the truth about these ‘legends’.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, and was hooked fairly quickly. I like it when the suspense and intrigue is immediate. I found myself getting bored with the history lesson, and kept pushing myself to keep reading, because I knew this had to lead somewhere. Finally, I was rewarded! The action began after what felt like too long to wait, but it never stopped once it got rolling. There were some plot twists I didn’t see coming, suspense, and tragedy. It was a wild ride to the ending, and you needed all that history in order to appreciate what was happening and why. The ending gave us closure, but left enough open ended situations to allow for a sequel. I sure hope James Lyons writes another book in this series; I would certainly buy it. If you liked “The Historian”, you’ll love Kiss of the Butterfly.
Flames: 0 (there is no romance, only the hint of attraction)
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars – I was bored during the beginning, but appreciated that entire trip down the road of Balkan history once I completed the book.
**Reviewed by Ariel M. for VampireRomanceBooks.com**
Lyons gives the reader extensive lessons in Balkan and Slavic history and folklore. We learn of hideous creatures and life forms based on superstition. We are taken through these archives with the main character, Steven, a college student in pursuit of a PhD, guided by his mentor to delve into Vampire mythology and legend through the study of Ethnography. It is through Steven’s studies and innocent presentations to his fellow students that we learn how close he’s coming to discovering the truth about these ‘legends’.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, and was hooked fairly quickly. I like it when the suspense and intrigue is immediate. I found myself getting bored with the history lesson, and kept pushing myself to keep reading, because I knew this had to lead somewhere. Finally, I was rewarded! The action began after what felt like too long to wait, but it never stopped once it got rolling. There were some plot twists I didn’t see coming, suspense, and tragedy. It was a wild ride to the ending, and you needed all that history in order to appreciate what was happening and why. The ending gave us closure, but left enough open ended situations to allow for a sequel. I sure hope James Lyons writes another book in this series; I would certainly buy it. If you liked “The Historian”, you’ll love Kiss of the Butterfly.
Flames: 0 (there is no romance, only the hint of attraction)
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars – I was bored during the beginning, but appreciated that entire trip down the road of Balkan history once I completed the book.
**Reviewed by Ariel M. for VampireRomanceBooks.com**
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