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The Eater of Flies
Summer, 1868. London's West End buzzes with a chaotic blend of affluence and moral decay, a place where high society and underworld meet. A valuable box from Transylvania, sealed tight, falls into unscrupulous hands. Its opening releases a vampyr, a wraith-like parasite that hides inside a host – whether young or old, man or woman – and thirsts for human blood.
For those who live and work around Holmwood's music hall, just off The Strand, the vampyr's arrival begins a nightmare of betrayal and death, and a race to return the creature to the grave before others of its kind come to pick the city clean.
The Eater Of Flies leaves traditional vampiric lore behind, offering a chilling Victorian gothic tale laced with crime, pitch-dark humour and, above all, rampant greed: for money, for power … for blood.
For those who live and work around Holmwood's music hall, just off The Strand, the vampyr's arrival begins a nightmare of betrayal and death, and a race to return the creature to the grave before others of its kind come to pick the city clean.
The Eater Of Flies leaves traditional vampiric lore behind, offering a chilling Victorian gothic tale laced with crime, pitch-dark humour and, above all, rampant greed: for money, for power … for blood.
316 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2024
3 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Richard Gadz
5 books7 followersRichard Gadz was bolted together many centuries ago, in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Carpathian mountains. Following a series of bizarre adventures he now lives in the UK, at Keynsham near Bristol, although he spends most of his time in a world of his own.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
November 25, 2024
In a Nutshell: I enjoyed this wild little retelling. Good for vampire fans!
Full Review:
“...[Get] that abomination off my premises! You brought it here, Flemming, it’s your responsibility! Yours! Yours alone!” Both of them had a crawling feeling of dread, but neither were aware of the dark form, which had no form, drifting in the extremities of the room. It surged like an incoming tide , disoriented from months of imprisonment, hungry and searching. p47
The Eater of Flies was definitely not what I was expecting, but I loved it! I loved how much detail author Richard Gadz uses to create the setting– This brooding Gothic mood intersected with the bawdy fun of a theater location, makes the perfect playground for the horror magic of Gadz's vamps.
This retelling of the Dracula myth centers around John Harker's perspective, which gives the author freedom to recreate the Dracula myth into something fresh and never-before-seen. Gadz achieves this end, with vampires that remind me of some of my favorites, like 30 Days of Night meets Phantom of the Opera.
Reading Notes
Five things I loved:
1. In a well-lit street, not far from the Lyceum and the Covent Garden market, stood Holmwood’s Music Hall, its name proclaimed in brightly coloured lettering from which only one of the o’s was missing. Patrons filed into the front of the building, while two young women lifted their skirts to hop-and-step down the muddy side alley that led to the artistes’ entrance. p46 Such great setting details in this book! Gadz provides just enough and just the right details. It makes me feel like I can reach right into that world and touch something.
2. I am really enjoying the theater scenes! I love this place, an old an moody theater, for the return of Dracula. (Or something very much inspired by and that definitely gives Dracula!)
3. This is wonderfully entertaining, like Gothic vampire meets Olde West. And that is just as colorful and bawdy as it sounds!
4. Harker suddenly slammed his fists down on the arms of the chair. He spoke with tightly controlled menace. “Damn you, sir, I have no wish to associate myself with odious predators like you, but you have the ear of the authorities and as a public servant you have public duties. Unless urgent steps are taken, every citizen of London may be in danger. I am in deadly earnest. Do you not understand me, man?” p60 I love this brooding intensity! I've enjoyed every iteration of John Harker.
5. I'm not sure what I expected from this retelling of one of my favorite myths, but it really hits all the notes. It's original, wonderfully Gothic, and actually scary. I love a good scary vampire!
One thing I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I found the plot a little difficult to hold onto through the absolute chaos of some of the scenes. The chaos was intentional and well-written, but all the activity distracts from what's really happening.
Rating: 🪰🪰🪰.5 /5 buzzzzzz
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Nov 20 '24
Format: Audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
🧛♂️ vampire stories
😵 curses
💋 vaudeville
🎻 theater
🗣 retellings
🖤 Gothic tales
Thank you to the author Richard Gadz, publishers Deixis Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE EATER OF FLIES. Translated by Rachel Ward. All views are mine.
Full Review:
“...[Get] that abomination off my premises! You brought it here, Flemming, it’s your responsibility! Yours! Yours alone!” Both of them had a crawling feeling of dread, but neither were aware of the dark form, which had no form, drifting in the extremities of the room. It surged like an incoming tide , disoriented from months of imprisonment, hungry and searching. p47
The Eater of Flies was definitely not what I was expecting, but I loved it! I loved how much detail author Richard Gadz uses to create the setting– This brooding Gothic mood intersected with the bawdy fun of a theater location, makes the perfect playground for the horror magic of Gadz's vamps.
This retelling of the Dracula myth centers around John Harker's perspective, which gives the author freedom to recreate the Dracula myth into something fresh and never-before-seen. Gadz achieves this end, with vampires that remind me of some of my favorites, like 30 Days of Night meets Phantom of the Opera.
Reading Notes
Five things I loved:
1. In a well-lit street, not far from the Lyceum and the Covent Garden market, stood Holmwood’s Music Hall, its name proclaimed in brightly coloured lettering from which only one of the o’s was missing. Patrons filed into the front of the building, while two young women lifted their skirts to hop-and-step down the muddy side alley that led to the artistes’ entrance. p46 Such great setting details in this book! Gadz provides just enough and just the right details. It makes me feel like I can reach right into that world and touch something.
2. I am really enjoying the theater scenes! I love this place, an old an moody theater, for the return of Dracula. (Or something very much inspired by and that definitely gives Dracula!)
3. This is wonderfully entertaining, like Gothic vampire meets Olde West. And that is just as colorful and bawdy as it sounds!
4. Harker suddenly slammed his fists down on the arms of the chair. He spoke with tightly controlled menace. “Damn you, sir, I have no wish to associate myself with odious predators like you, but you have the ear of the authorities and as a public servant you have public duties. Unless urgent steps are taken, every citizen of London may be in danger. I am in deadly earnest. Do you not understand me, man?” p60 I love this brooding intensity! I've enjoyed every iteration of John Harker.
5. I'm not sure what I expected from this retelling of one of my favorite myths, but it really hits all the notes. It's original, wonderfully Gothic, and actually scary. I love a good scary vampire!
One thing I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I found the plot a little difficult to hold onto through the absolute chaos of some of the scenes. The chaos was intentional and well-written, but all the activity distracts from what's really happening.
Rating: 🪰🪰🪰.5 /5 buzzzzzz
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Nov 20 '24
Format: Audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
🧛♂️ vampire stories
😵 curses
💋 vaudeville
🎻 theater
🗣 retellings
🖤 Gothic tales
Thank you to the author Richard Gadz, publishers Deixis Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE EATER OF FLIES. Translated by Rachel Ward. All views are mine.
March 27, 2024
Richard Gadz does it again with his phenomenal monster retellings. This time he revisits Dracula, and it is a masterclass in suspense--anyone can be a victim in Gadz's gorgeously drawn Victorian music halls, but anyone can also be a villain. If you're a fan of the original Bram Stoker Dracula you'll be delighted with the easter eggs you get here, but if you've never read it you won't feel left out: Gadz's story is entirely original in the way he takes on the journeys, the characters, and the deadly, hidden threat.
As ever with Gadz's books, much here is informed by class and power, and London's entertainment district acts as a great leveller, where the washed and the unwashed alike mix, allowing themselves to become enthralled by the stage. Behind those bright lights, though, there are very, very dark shadows. This author simply cannot miss.
As ever with Gadz's books, much here is informed by class and power, and London's entertainment district acts as a great leveller, where the washed and the unwashed alike mix, allowing themselves to become enthralled by the stage. Behind those bright lights, though, there are very, very dark shadows. This author simply cannot miss.
December 5, 2024
3.25 stars
i think the setting and time period of this book was perfect, the grungy and dingy nature of victorian london made it so atmospheric and just assured you that you really didn’t want to be living there
the supernatural aspect was also quite good, the way it interacted with humans and changed individual people in different ways was so interesting
i thought it ended a bit abruptly, and the character we ended with wasn’t particularly active in the story, but I didn’t mind that too much as it showed the younger perspective of someone who wasn’t too involved but still had to live through it all
the characters, i could take or leave. most of the male characters sort of blended together in my brain and i didn’t really find myself caring whether they lived or died or what they chose to do in the plot. i think that most characters being morally reprehensible in different ways was great, though.
i think the setting and time period of this book was perfect, the grungy and dingy nature of victorian london made it so atmospheric and just assured you that you really didn’t want to be living there
the supernatural aspect was also quite good, the way it interacted with humans and changed individual people in different ways was so interesting
i thought it ended a bit abruptly, and the character we ended with wasn’t particularly active in the story, but I didn’t mind that too much as it showed the younger perspective of someone who wasn’t too involved but still had to live through it all
the characters, i could take or leave. most of the male characters sort of blended together in my brain and i didn’t really find myself caring whether they lived or died or what they chose to do in the plot. i think that most characters being morally reprehensible in different ways was great, though.
May 12, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Deixis Press for letting me read your book in return for an honest review.
3.5/5
I review this book as someone who has never read horror. I am familiar with Vampire films.
The story follows a debt collector who goes to recover the money owed from a wealthy businessman in Transylvania. Returning to London from the successful trip, a dark turn of events means the streets of London are even less safer than normal.
London in the 1800's is depicted brilliantly. Dirty and foggy. Focussing heavily on theatre performers and the patrons who visit to view the stage productions. The social observations are sharp with the class divide playing quite a role. There's a level of subtle detail that pops up from time to time in the references of the people, conversations and the surroundings that will raise a smile.
The story is broken up at times with journal entries form various characters offering further insights. (I would have liked more of these please)
Initially I felt a strong resemblance to Bram Stokers as the story was really gothic. Similarities ended when the Story moved to London.
I really did enjoy this book. The characters were at times a little dumb in the decisions made but not having been in their situation I'll have to cut them some slack :P
I am unsure why the book is called 'The Eater of Flies' as only one fly was harmed during the story that I recall.
If I were to be critical. I think 'Clacking of teeth' didn't fit the tone the rest of the descriptions took. Cheapened the mood. Less tongue in cheek references to being hungry "I had a light Lunch" etc , There was a point with Host 2 that the reference to being hungry was borderline annoying.
3.5/5
I review this book as someone who has never read horror. I am familiar with Vampire films.
The story follows a debt collector who goes to recover the money owed from a wealthy businessman in Transylvania. Returning to London from the successful trip, a dark turn of events means the streets of London are even less safer than normal.
London in the 1800's is depicted brilliantly. Dirty and foggy. Focussing heavily on theatre performers and the patrons who visit to view the stage productions. The social observations are sharp with the class divide playing quite a role. There's a level of subtle detail that pops up from time to time in the references of the people, conversations and the surroundings that will raise a smile.
The story is broken up at times with journal entries form various characters offering further insights. (I would have liked more of these please)
Initially I felt a strong resemblance to Bram Stokers as the story was really gothic. Similarities ended when the Story moved to London.
I really did enjoy this book. The characters were at times a little dumb in the decisions made but not having been in their situation I'll have to cut them some slack :P
I am unsure why the book is called 'The Eater of Flies' as only one fly was harmed during the story that I recall.
If I were to be critical. I think 'Clacking of teeth' didn't fit the tone the rest of the descriptions took. Cheapened the mood. Less tongue in cheek references to being hungry "I had a light Lunch" etc , There was a point with Host 2 that the reference to being hungry was borderline annoying.
December 25, 2024
What a fun read!
Based upon the cover, I thought I might be served up an offering of bug-infested horror monsters with trite dialogue and flat characters. Instead, I received a rather fast-paced and quite thrilling retelling of the classic Dracula tale, except with the narrative and the characters slightly . . . changed.
Our action takes place in mid 19th century London, between the Strand, Fleet Street, and some very congested streets of theatre performers, bookshops, and other businesses. Extreme poverty on one end, vast wealth on the other, and greed all around. And into this mess has been transported an ornate, gilded container with a leaded seal, inscribed in a Hungarian dialect that none yet can read. Sir Pompous Ass, our greedy Victorian gentleman, orders the container opened and releases an evil spirit, an undead creature that can slip from one human host to the next.
I really, really enjoyed this Dracula retelling, and all of the little details that went into this book. I had completely forgotten that keeping pet hedgehogs was a Victorian pest control thing until it was mentioned as an aside in this book. The side-pornography business of bookshops. The hustlers on the streets.
I am a new fan of Richard Gadz. My thanks to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for an arc of this book! Kudos!
Based upon the cover, I thought I might be served up an offering of bug-infested horror monsters with trite dialogue and flat characters. Instead, I received a rather fast-paced and quite thrilling retelling of the classic Dracula tale, except with the narrative and the characters slightly . . . changed.
Our action takes place in mid 19th century London, between the Strand, Fleet Street, and some very congested streets of theatre performers, bookshops, and other businesses. Extreme poverty on one end, vast wealth on the other, and greed all around. And into this mess has been transported an ornate, gilded container with a leaded seal, inscribed in a Hungarian dialect that none yet can read. Sir Pompous Ass, our greedy Victorian gentleman, orders the container opened and releases an evil spirit, an undead creature that can slip from one human host to the next.
I really, really enjoyed this Dracula retelling, and all of the little details that went into this book. I had completely forgotten that keeping pet hedgehogs was a Victorian pest control thing until it was mentioned as an aside in this book. The side-pornography business of bookshops. The hustlers on the streets.
I am a new fan of Richard Gadz. My thanks to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for an arc of this book! Kudos!
June 5, 2024
Firstly, I thank NetGalley and Deixis Press for the early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
I give it a 3,5 out of 5!
The first chapter quickly introduces us to the story, without failing to completely drawn us to it!
I was missing this sort of old classic vibe that this book gives us, as well as the anxiety kicks when you don't know what will happen and who will get caught!
There is also the occasional wink to the reader with some references to known characters or others associated with vampire stories, particularly with our very well know Bram Stoker!
This is merely my preference, but I believe it could be a bit more eerie, it could have a bit more suspense. Nonetheless, it is quite a gory story and one that leaves you hoping for more!
I give it a 3,5 out of 5!
The first chapter quickly introduces us to the story, without failing to completely drawn us to it!
I was missing this sort of old classic vibe that this book gives us, as well as the anxiety kicks when you don't know what will happen and who will get caught!
There is also the occasional wink to the reader with some references to known characters or others associated with vampire stories, particularly with our very well know Bram Stoker!
This is merely my preference, but I believe it could be a bit more eerie, it could have a bit more suspense. Nonetheless, it is quite a gory story and one that leaves you hoping for more!
March 30, 2025
RTC
Thank you Netgalley and Deixis Press for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting release date : 24 October 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Deixis Press for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting release date : 24 October 2024
November 3, 2024
The Eater of Flies is my 3rd Richard Gadz novel, so I can call myself a Richard Gadz fan. I'm not usually drawn to horror, but I am drawn to novels that are well paced, with fleshed out characters, a strong sense of time and place, and prose that suits the story and vividly brings the action, if there is action, and in Gadz novels there is certainly action, to life.
I was not surprised to read in the author's note, "...while researching the mid-Victorian period, I became fascinated by accounts of life in the area of London between Trafalgar Square and St. Paul's Cathedral: Fleet Street, the Strand, and all the streets thar surrounded them were...jam-packed day and night, home to every cultural, social, and commercial activity imaginable," because Gadz successfully created a sense of a neighborhood teeming with life and with people, rich and poor, with bars, restaurants, dance halls, and theatres along the busy streets, and nefarious characters in dark alley ways and deep in the historic Adelphi Arches.
The vampyrs we meet in 1867 Transylvania, 1861 China, and then 1868 London possess a living host until the host dies and they quickly seek a new host; they can call other vampyrs to them, and are willing to strike bargains with those seeking power, all of which makes the vampyr difficult to identify and harder to kill.
When a vampyr is accidently released in London it falls to 3 good men, one selfish man, and a woman who makes a living as a petty thief to capture and contain this creature before it feeds. Spoiler alert: it feeds!
This was a thrilling end to spooky season for me, but I highly recommend this to fans of horror and fans of a good story. And for readers looking for a marriage of literary and genre fiction with a dark side I heartily recommend Deixis press
I was not surprised to read in the author's note, "...while researching the mid-Victorian period, I became fascinated by accounts of life in the area of London between Trafalgar Square and St. Paul's Cathedral: Fleet Street, the Strand, and all the streets thar surrounded them were...jam-packed day and night, home to every cultural, social, and commercial activity imaginable," because Gadz successfully created a sense of a neighborhood teeming with life and with people, rich and poor, with bars, restaurants, dance halls, and theatres along the busy streets, and nefarious characters in dark alley ways and deep in the historic Adelphi Arches.
The vampyrs we meet in 1867 Transylvania, 1861 China, and then 1868 London possess a living host until the host dies and they quickly seek a new host; they can call other vampyrs to them, and are willing to strike bargains with those seeking power, all of which makes the vampyr difficult to identify and harder to kill.
When a vampyr is accidently released in London it falls to 3 good men, one selfish man, and a woman who makes a living as a petty thief to capture and contain this creature before it feeds. Spoiler alert: it feeds!
This was a thrilling end to spooky season for me, but I highly recommend this to fans of horror and fans of a good story. And for readers looking for a marriage of literary and genre fiction with a dark side I heartily recommend Deixis press
August 20, 2024
Even bloodier than the original.
A gripping Dracula retelling that takes the original book and twists it on its head. Some aspects are the same such as the formatting of the original, that uses journal entries and newspaper articles, and the writing style itself which feels reminiscent of the classic novel.
If you enjoy the original but want something a bit grittier with more of a modern perspective you’ll probably enjoy this. I would however keep in mind that the content of this one is very different. This version of London and the characters themselves are much seedier. As the author points out “This is a story about greed.” All the characters are a bit morally grey here.
There were many new characters in this one as well as some of the originals who were the same in basically name alone. I did get lost a few times because the POV gets switched very quickly between them, sometimes from one sentence to the next without anything to break it up. Some of the characters POVs that were switched to also felt inconsequential and felt too far off from the plot. This made the storyline difficult to keep up with at times. I still liked reading most of the perspectives, especially the journal entries from one character.
One thing I like about this book is the twist to Dracula themselves. I say themselves instead of himself because this version of Dracula pulls from Chinese mythology, amongst others, and is a spirit like creature that infects different victims. Rather than an immortal being that keeps his own body. Dracula (Dracul) ends up being much more parasitical than the gothically, romantic counterpart from the original. I do still have some questions about their powers and those of the other vampires that appear. I’m not really sure about their strengths and weaknesses, as they differ from the original.
I think my favorite parts of the book were the prologue and the first couple chapters. The ending was fitting and tragic. The middle was delightfully grotesque. A great fall read.
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for this ARC. This is my honest review.
A gripping Dracula retelling that takes the original book and twists it on its head. Some aspects are the same such as the formatting of the original, that uses journal entries and newspaper articles, and the writing style itself which feels reminiscent of the classic novel.
If you enjoy the original but want something a bit grittier with more of a modern perspective you’ll probably enjoy this. I would however keep in mind that the content of this one is very different. This version of London and the characters themselves are much seedier. As the author points out “This is a story about greed.” All the characters are a bit morally grey here.
There were many new characters in this one as well as some of the originals who were the same in basically name alone. I did get lost a few times because the POV gets switched very quickly between them, sometimes from one sentence to the next without anything to break it up. Some of the characters POVs that were switched to also felt inconsequential and felt too far off from the plot. This made the storyline difficult to keep up with at times. I still liked reading most of the perspectives, especially the journal entries from one character.
One thing I like about this book is the twist to Dracula themselves. I say themselves instead of himself because this version of Dracula pulls from Chinese mythology, amongst others, and is a spirit like creature that infects different victims. Rather than an immortal being that keeps his own body. Dracula (Dracul) ends up being much more parasitical than the gothically, romantic counterpart from the original. I do still have some questions about their powers and those of the other vampires that appear. I’m not really sure about their strengths and weaknesses, as they differ from the original.
I think my favorite parts of the book were the prologue and the first couple chapters. The ending was fitting and tragic. The middle was delightfully grotesque. A great fall read.
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for this ARC. This is my honest review.
September 2, 2024
The book opens with a short recount of a vampire attack in a village in Transylvania before the main plot. Then in 1868, a debt collector from London goes to the same village to take possession up to the debt. Unwittingly, he takes a beautiful casket back to London which contains a vampire, Dracul.
The opening chapter is gripping, but after that the pace slows for a few chapters. That is until Dracul is released.
I’ve seen mention this is a retelling of Dracula, but I struggle to agree with that. At a high level, the plot is the same. A man travels to Transylvania to settle a debt, travels back to London, and a vampire “follows” him and begins terrorising the city. There are further nods, like characters sharing names, and a diversion to Whitby. The book even uses epistolary elements like Dracula.
That being said, Gadz excellently captures the writing style and atmosphere of Dracula. This book feels much older than it is, high gothic style, without becoming simpering as many emulations do. And it’s one of my favourite portrayals of a dark, brooding, Victorian London.
While Gadz nods to and borrows from various vampire materials before, there is something new in his take. (At least new to me!) in that his vampire rather than being a physical presence, is a possession. The idea it could inhabit anyone at any time helps to build tension. However the reader is told right away who is inhabited, and the suspense doesn’t last long and it’s always fairly obvious who the vampire will next take on. Perhaps some more unseen action or less obvious possessions would help to build the suspense still further.
Ultimately, I really appreciated the skillful homage to Dracula and gothic literature. It feels familiar but still brings something fresh to the Vampire subgenre.
Thanks to Richard Gadz, Deixis Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.
The opening chapter is gripping, but after that the pace slows for a few chapters. That is until Dracul is released.
I’ve seen mention this is a retelling of Dracula, but I struggle to agree with that. At a high level, the plot is the same. A man travels to Transylvania to settle a debt, travels back to London, and a vampire “follows” him and begins terrorising the city. There are further nods, like characters sharing names, and a diversion to Whitby. The book even uses epistolary elements like Dracula.
That being said, Gadz excellently captures the writing style and atmosphere of Dracula. This book feels much older than it is, high gothic style, without becoming simpering as many emulations do. And it’s one of my favourite portrayals of a dark, brooding, Victorian London.
While Gadz nods to and borrows from various vampire materials before, there is something new in his take. (At least new to me!) in that his vampire rather than being a physical presence, is a possession. The idea it could inhabit anyone at any time helps to build tension. However the reader is told right away who is inhabited, and the suspense doesn’t last long and it’s always fairly obvious who the vampire will next take on. Perhaps some more unseen action or less obvious possessions would help to build the suspense still further.
Ultimately, I really appreciated the skillful homage to Dracula and gothic literature. It feels familiar but still brings something fresh to the Vampire subgenre.
Thanks to Richard Gadz, Deixis Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.
June 14, 2024
An adventurous and gruesome retelling of the story of Dracula, with carnage aplenty. Instead of victims becoming vampires themselves, Dracul is crafted to be a specter/parasite-choosing his victims based on what benefits him the most. He is still the blood-thirsty and brutal destroyer we know so well.
The duo who teams up to hunt him down, Valentine Harker and Alfred Flemming, embodied Holmes/Watson energy, and make a well-oiled machine. They are formidable and cunning, but wrestle with fear and shortcomings. Gadz’s shaping of the team makes them likable, relatable, and you find yourself rooting for them until the end.
One of the things I really liked about this version was the incorporation of different cultures and their take of Dracula-specifically how armies used vampires to their advantage, and left devastation in their wake. It illustrate how the desire for power can lead to ruthless choices.
Ultimately, the heart of this story is how greed can, in the end, destroy you. The desire for more-more money, more power, more prestige-will be your ultimate downfall, and maybe, the death of you.
I enjoyed this reimagining of such a well known story, and how the author gave it new life-bloody and all.
Thank you NetGalley and Deixis Press for my arc. My opinion is my own.
The duo who teams up to hunt him down, Valentine Harker and Alfred Flemming, embodied Holmes/Watson energy, and make a well-oiled machine. They are formidable and cunning, but wrestle with fear and shortcomings. Gadz’s shaping of the team makes them likable, relatable, and you find yourself rooting for them until the end.
One of the things I really liked about this version was the incorporation of different cultures and their take of Dracula-specifically how armies used vampires to their advantage, and left devastation in their wake. It illustrate how the desire for power can lead to ruthless choices.
Ultimately, the heart of this story is how greed can, in the end, destroy you. The desire for more-more money, more power, more prestige-will be your ultimate downfall, and maybe, the death of you.
I enjoyed this reimagining of such a well known story, and how the author gave it new life-bloody and all.
Thank you NetGalley and Deixis Press for my arc. My opinion is my own.
December 31, 2024
Couldn't put this one down. These will always be some of my favorite depictions of Vampires.
June 2, 2024
A retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula which absolutely hit the mark for me.
I’ve never read Stoker’s original but the 1992 Francis Ford Coppola movie adaptation remains one of my favourite films. I loved that the author included reimaginings of the main characters (with a few changes) and even found some laugh out loud moments amongst the grit and gore of the vampyr’s quest in Victorian London.
For me this book was a really easy read. Other reviews cite the slow pace but I really can’t agree with that. I found it gripping and atmospheric and definitely recommend!
This was a 4.5 ⭐️ for me
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this fab book ❤️
I’ve never read Stoker’s original but the 1992 Francis Ford Coppola movie adaptation remains one of my favourite films. I loved that the author included reimaginings of the main characters (with a few changes) and even found some laugh out loud moments amongst the grit and gore of the vampyr’s quest in Victorian London.
For me this book was a really easy read. Other reviews cite the slow pace but I really can’t agree with that. I found it gripping and atmospheric and definitely recommend!
This was a 4.5 ⭐️ for me
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this fab book ❤️
October 14, 2024
"Your blood will gush and flow, your bones will dry. You are lost amid the teeming millions, lost in the ticking clock. You are swarming maggots in the flesh, poison droplets in the foaming oceans. You are a helpless seethe of flies. You are meat and gristle. You are sustenance, and nothing more. Look upon me and know the sorrow of your mortality!"
A vampyr is loose in London, and you may just be his next victim. The Eater of Flies in clearly largely inspired by Dracula and pays homage to its ancestor proudly and abundantly. Instead of simply sucking his victims dry, however, this Dracul also takes over their minds and parades their doomed bodies around like puppets. The author resurrects Victorian London with effervescent theatricality, illuminating its dark and dirty underbelly. A Neo-Victorian tale about the hunt for a bloodthirsty spirit that culminates in a cinematic and properly bloody climax.
The writing style is swift and engaging, with intermittent memorable quotes. There is a large cast of decisive characters that jump into action when required, for better or worse. I especially enjoyed Ruby's character and kept rooting for her. Overall, however, I found most of the characters a little flat and think they could have been fleshed out more.
I would have been more immersed in and gripped by this book if the question of who the vampyr is possessing at this moment was one the reader could share with the characters, rather than being told as soon as a new host is found. Therefore, there was a lack of suspense, as I was always aware of what kind of danger the characters were or were not in, not having to wonder who around them might turn out to be Dracul in disguise. Personally, the look into Dracul's mind and motivations did not make up for that; I would have preferred to ride the emotional rollercoaster of fear and confusion and shock that a supernatural possession story often promises. I also would have appreciated a deeper dive into the connection the vampyrs share with each other and the history of this version of the famous bloodsucker.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital copy of this book for review consideration.
A vampyr is loose in London, and you may just be his next victim. The Eater of Flies in clearly largely inspired by Dracula and pays homage to its ancestor proudly and abundantly. Instead of simply sucking his victims dry, however, this Dracul also takes over their minds and parades their doomed bodies around like puppets. The author resurrects Victorian London with effervescent theatricality, illuminating its dark and dirty underbelly. A Neo-Victorian tale about the hunt for a bloodthirsty spirit that culminates in a cinematic and properly bloody climax.
The writing style is swift and engaging, with intermittent memorable quotes. There is a large cast of decisive characters that jump into action when required, for better or worse. I especially enjoyed Ruby's character and kept rooting for her. Overall, however, I found most of the characters a little flat and think they could have been fleshed out more.
I would have been more immersed in and gripped by this book if the question of who the vampyr is possessing at this moment was one the reader could share with the characters, rather than being told as soon as a new host is found. Therefore, there was a lack of suspense, as I was always aware of what kind of danger the characters were or were not in, not having to wonder who around them might turn out to be Dracul in disguise. Personally, the look into Dracul's mind and motivations did not make up for that; I would have preferred to ride the emotional rollercoaster of fear and confusion and shock that a supernatural possession story often promises. I also would have appreciated a deeper dive into the connection the vampyrs share with each other and the history of this version of the famous bloodsucker.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital copy of this book for review consideration.
November 1, 2024
Having reinvented the Frankenstein narrative with The Workshop of Filthy Creation and the demon/crime genre with The Burn Street Haunting and now he’s done it again. This time it’s vampires.
The setting is Transylvania and after a brilliant prologue, the land still is teeming with vampires. A debt collector arrives at a mansion where an attack took place and ships the dead person’s belongings to London. In one of those boxes there’s a vampire and that gets shipped.
However, London in 1968 is a place filled with dirty dealings , sleaze, lust for money and crime. When the vampire arrives and starts claiming his victims and building his army, it’s up to a gang of people to stop them but then, who are the real vampires in this novel.
Like most contemporary horror, at least in film Gadz uses the creepiness and scares to emphasise the human condition. Sure vampires love blood but so do criminals. The novel questions who are worse? plus aren’t the sleazy people who exploit people for their music hall show vampiric by nature? only sucking out money than blood? and although the book takes places in the late 1800’s, is there any differences or do these modern vampires still exist?
The Eater of Flies not only poses these questions but also has a lot of history on vampire lore, a lot which was new to me, which made it more interesting.
As this is the third Richard Gadz book I’ve enjoyed I’ll wondering what will be next? werewolves? possession? anyway I like the way horror is used to highlight other aspects of society, something I think the genre is excellent at doing.
The setting is Transylvania and after a brilliant prologue, the land still is teeming with vampires. A debt collector arrives at a mansion where an attack took place and ships the dead person’s belongings to London. In one of those boxes there’s a vampire and that gets shipped.
However, London in 1968 is a place filled with dirty dealings , sleaze, lust for money and crime. When the vampire arrives and starts claiming his victims and building his army, it’s up to a gang of people to stop them but then, who are the real vampires in this novel.
Like most contemporary horror, at least in film Gadz uses the creepiness and scares to emphasise the human condition. Sure vampires love blood but so do criminals. The novel questions who are worse? plus aren’t the sleazy people who exploit people for their music hall show vampiric by nature? only sucking out money than blood? and although the book takes places in the late 1800’s, is there any differences or do these modern vampires still exist?
The Eater of Flies not only poses these questions but also has a lot of history on vampire lore, a lot which was new to me, which made it more interesting.
As this is the third Richard Gadz book I’ve enjoyed I’ll wondering what will be next? werewolves? possession? anyway I like the way horror is used to highlight other aspects of society, something I think the genre is excellent at doing.
October 29, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley and Deixis Press for the e-ARC!
This book is a loose Dracula retelling where vampyrs are non corporeal and have to inhabit human hosts in order to feed. Dracul arrives from Transylvania to Victorian London in a sealed box and is accidentally let loose on the people of the West End. Our intrepid heroes have to battle not only the vampire but also human greed in order to save England.
I have to say that this was a nice throw back to more traditional vampire tales while also putting a unique twist on it. Did I need a break from vampires just being leads in paranormal romances? Yes, yes I did and 'the Eater of Flies' definitely hit the mark. The story was well paced and well written. The writing style was reminiscent of the Victorian era while still being easy to read. Our cast of characters didn't get the most detailed development but it was enough for us to care about them. (Or not care about them if they were, in fact, the worst.)
I really liked this book and thought it was a great read for spooky season.
This book is a loose Dracula retelling where vampyrs are non corporeal and have to inhabit human hosts in order to feed. Dracul arrives from Transylvania to Victorian London in a sealed box and is accidentally let loose on the people of the West End. Our intrepid heroes have to battle not only the vampire but also human greed in order to save England.
I have to say that this was a nice throw back to more traditional vampire tales while also putting a unique twist on it. Did I need a break from vampires just being leads in paranormal romances? Yes, yes I did and 'the Eater of Flies' definitely hit the mark. The story was well paced and well written. The writing style was reminiscent of the Victorian era while still being easy to read. Our cast of characters didn't get the most detailed development but it was enough for us to care about them. (Or not care about them if they were, in fact, the worst.)
I really liked this book and thought it was a great read for spooky season.
June 24, 2024
A gripping reimagining of the Dracula story involving the gritty underworld of Victorian London. This novel is full of convincing period detail about music hall, public executions, the divide between haves and have-nots, and the vices of the era. Gadz avoids rehashing the tropes of Gothic horror by inventing a fresh and original take on the vampire mythos with influence from Chinese folklore and cosmic horror.
June 25, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This might be the best vampire novel of all time. The writing has left me totally starstruck. If you're looking for a vampire horror that strikes every chord, this is the one. Best to ever do it. I'd double the stars if I could.
This might be the best vampire novel of all time. The writing has left me totally starstruck. If you're looking for a vampire horror that strikes every chord, this is the one. Best to ever do it. I'd double the stars if I could.
October 28, 2024
Thoughts soon.
June 10, 2024
The Eater of Flies is a loosely based retelling of Bram Stoker's Dracula. You'll find similarly named characters and vampires but the ressemblance ends here.
The prologue really gripped me and promised an interesting and gruesome novel but I just found the writing style extremely boring. The chapters alternate between omniscient third person and journal entries (a wink to the original I suppose). The diary entries worked better than the rest in my opinion because the point of view was stronger. But overall I was just bored and this is never a good thing to be when reading a horror novel.
You are introduced to a lot of characters very fast, some not important at all to the rest of the story, and this multitude of characters was confusing. Since I have read the original Dracula I could differenciate and understand the roles of the main characters more easily (Harker, Murray) but I often caught myself wondering who was that again?
I did think that the change made about the vampire lore was interesting. Making it about a sort of spirit possessing people's body definitely adds to the stake. I think it could have been more interesting not to tell the reader who was being possessed as to built up more tension.
The inclusion of different vampire mythology was appreciated.
The pace was very slow in the first half of the book but it picks up after the vampire is out of the box.
Overall this book was not for me, mainly due to the writing style, but also maybe because industrial London and dirty gritty streets are boring to me.
Thank you Netgally for providing me with an ARC of the book.
The prologue really gripped me and promised an interesting and gruesome novel but I just found the writing style extremely boring. The chapters alternate between omniscient third person and journal entries (a wink to the original I suppose). The diary entries worked better than the rest in my opinion because the point of view was stronger. But overall I was just bored and this is never a good thing to be when reading a horror novel.
You are introduced to a lot of characters very fast, some not important at all to the rest of the story, and this multitude of characters was confusing. Since I have read the original Dracula I could differenciate and understand the roles of the main characters more easily (Harker, Murray) but I often caught myself wondering who was that again?
I did think that the change made about the vampire lore was interesting. Making it about a sort of spirit possessing people's body definitely adds to the stake. I think it could have been more interesting not to tell the reader who was being possessed as to built up more tension.
The inclusion of different vampire mythology was appreciated.
The pace was very slow in the first half of the book but it picks up after the vampire is out of the box.
Overall this book was not for me, mainly due to the writing style, but also maybe because industrial London and dirty gritty streets are boring to me.
Thank you Netgally for providing me with an ARC of the book.
September 24, 2024
⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙊𝙛 𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 - Richard Gadz
Release Date: 10/24/24
Add it to your TBR!! 📖
Recommended for readers who love:
🩸Vampire Stories
🩸Gothic Style Writing
🩸Possessions
🩸Blood, lotsa blood
The writing style is beautifully gothic; Victorian without sounding full of itself. I was immediately drawn in by the descriptive scenes and interesting characters from the first page.
Even though the book starts out jovial, with a festive wedding, things quickly go off the rails. When one of our main characters goes to the mountains to collect a debt, they unintentionally release Hell itself after a mysterious box is opened. They are then thrust into a 'plague' of nefarious ministrations that they may not be able to escape. Lots of teeth clacking (trust me, it's creepier than it sounds), bloody attacks, and piles of corpses.
While the story starts in the Carpathians, it quickly makes its way back to the bustling epicenter in the city of London, which soon becomes wild with fright as people fight for their lives in this fresh and exciting take on the Dracula story we all know and love.
Even though I get heavy Bram Stoker's Dracula vibes from this twisted retelling, it's not a copy, and it's not a quick rehash. This version of events brings a new perspective to the classic by incorporating themes of possession and cursed objects. If you're looking for something spooky and bloody, definitely consider picking this one up in October!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Deixis Press for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
QoTD: What is your favorite Dracula retelling?
🦇⚰️🩸
Release Date: 10/24/24
Add it to your TBR!! 📖
Recommended for readers who love:
🩸Vampire Stories
🩸Gothic Style Writing
🩸Possessions
🩸Blood, lotsa blood
The writing style is beautifully gothic; Victorian without sounding full of itself. I was immediately drawn in by the descriptive scenes and interesting characters from the first page.
Even though the book starts out jovial, with a festive wedding, things quickly go off the rails. When one of our main characters goes to the mountains to collect a debt, they unintentionally release Hell itself after a mysterious box is opened. They are then thrust into a 'plague' of nefarious ministrations that they may not be able to escape. Lots of teeth clacking (trust me, it's creepier than it sounds), bloody attacks, and piles of corpses.
While the story starts in the Carpathians, it quickly makes its way back to the bustling epicenter in the city of London, which soon becomes wild with fright as people fight for their lives in this fresh and exciting take on the Dracula story we all know and love.
Even though I get heavy Bram Stoker's Dracula vibes from this twisted retelling, it's not a copy, and it's not a quick rehash. This version of events brings a new perspective to the classic by incorporating themes of possession and cursed objects. If you're looking for something spooky and bloody, definitely consider picking this one up in October!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Deixis Press for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
QoTD: What is your favorite Dracula retelling?
🦇⚰️🩸
September 30, 2024
The Eater of Flies is the most creative remix of the gothic vampire story I've ever read! Gadz takes the classic vampire and transforms them into an entirely new, terrifying monster.
In a tiny Transylvanian village, an English business man arrives to collect on a debt, and ends up taking home far more than he expected. A bloodthirsty vampyr has been released in new hunting grounds, and it's up to a group of friends to track it down before London falls. But how can ordinary people defeat a monster?
I absolutely loved this book. The author pays homage to the great Gothic classics (especially Dracula) in the setting, so as the reader, you initially feel like you're in a familiar world; but then he pulls the rug out from under you once you are introduced to his new, horrifying vampyre. I was hooked all the way through, and want to read more of this author's books now.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves gothic stories and vampires. You won't be disappointed!
In a tiny Transylvanian village, an English business man arrives to collect on a debt, and ends up taking home far more than he expected. A bloodthirsty vampyr has been released in new hunting grounds, and it's up to a group of friends to track it down before London falls. But how can ordinary people defeat a monster?
I absolutely loved this book. The author pays homage to the great Gothic classics (especially Dracula) in the setting, so as the reader, you initially feel like you're in a familiar world; but then he pulls the rug out from under you once you are introduced to his new, horrifying vampyre. I was hooked all the way through, and want to read more of this author's books now.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves gothic stories and vampires. You won't be disappointed!
July 11, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and Deixis Press for this ARC eBook in exchange for my honest review.
(Publication Date: October 24, 2024)
Ok, so...
If Bram Stoker wrote Dracula in a parallel dimension, it might read something like The Eater of Flies - a novel that puts a different spin on vampire lore. And I ate it up!
The story is set in the mid eighteen hundreds, but what I found so impressive is that it truly feels like it was written in the 1800's.
It felt like reading an unpublished (till now) tale by one of my favorite authors of olde. I was thoroughly entertained throughout, and I also feel it stuck the landing.
It's had horror. It had some gloriously gory greatness. And it had some biting humor as well.
I highly recommend to any fan of Dracula, or vampires in general. Also, certain elements brought to mind Guillermo del Toro's (& Chuck Hogan's??) The Strain, so I'd also recommend it to fans of that series.
I'll certainly be reading more from Richard Gadz myself.
3.75 / 5
(Publication Date: October 24, 2024)
Ok, so...
If Bram Stoker wrote Dracula in a parallel dimension, it might read something like The Eater of Flies - a novel that puts a different spin on vampire lore. And I ate it up!
The story is set in the mid eighteen hundreds, but what I found so impressive is that it truly feels like it was written in the 1800's.
It felt like reading an unpublished (till now) tale by one of my favorite authors of olde. I was thoroughly entertained throughout, and I also feel it stuck the landing.
It's had horror. It had some gloriously gory greatness. And it had some biting humor as well.
I highly recommend to any fan of Dracula, or vampires in general. Also, certain elements brought to mind Guillermo del Toro's (& Chuck Hogan's??) The Strain, so I'd also recommend it to fans of that series.
I'll certainly be reading more from Richard Gadz myself.
3.75 / 5
August 18, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Deixis Press for the e-ARC. The opinion is my own.
Four stars to me.
A retelling of Dracula with an overhaul in its mythology and characters! The first chapter is such a good chapter, unfortunately it did pepper out during the rest of the book and didn't stay at the same level. Still, I liked it.
This author brings a possession spirit as a vampire instead of the typical undead plaguing the streets and here our dear friend Harker was twisted into another character with only the name as its similarity (well, also still traumatized). This happened with a handfull of characters. You will never guess who is Van Hellsing here. He does exist! It's basically just for the cheeky reference but he's here and present in the action. Speaking of, this book has chapters that are third person and then we have the occasional journal entries, again as a nod to the original Dracula I'm assuming.
One thing of the plot I think could have been stretched on was with the bookseller The characters discovered both secrets too fast in my opinion, though Ruby's turn, I think, is very good. A bit confused on the vessel thing though and how the possession truly works.
Now, this is a much faster paced book, with a lot more blood and death happening, so if you expect it to be very similar to Dracula. It is not. It is however a book on its own even while borrowing certain assets and characters names.
Four stars to me.
A retelling of Dracula with an overhaul in its mythology and characters! The first chapter is such a good chapter, unfortunately it did pepper out during the rest of the book and didn't stay at the same level. Still, I liked it.
This author brings a possession spirit as a vampire instead of the typical undead plaguing the streets and here our dear friend Harker was twisted into another character with only the name as its similarity (well, also still traumatized). This happened with a handfull of characters. You will never guess who is Van Hellsing here. He does exist! It's basically just for the cheeky reference but he's here and present in the action. Speaking of, this book has chapters that are third person and then we have the occasional journal entries, again as a nod to the original Dracula I'm assuming.
One thing of the plot I think could have been stretched on was with the bookseller The characters discovered both secrets too fast in my opinion, though Ruby's turn, I think, is very good. A bit confused on the vessel thing though and how the possession truly works.
Now, this is a much faster paced book, with a lot more blood and death happening, so if you expect it to be very similar to Dracula. It is not. It is however a book on its own even while borrowing certain assets and characters names.
December 13, 2024
Dracula is a creature of the night feeding on unsuspecting people, thriving on the blood of the innocent. But what if Dracula was a spirit rather than a creature? And what if he wasn’t alone?
The characters in this book were good and well-rounded. Their motivations and actions made sense with how the author wrote them. However, I feel like the characters were not the main focus of this novel. Especially since certain characters had names that were in the original Dracula but their characters were completely different. I didn’t totally like that because it made the book feel like it was trying to be different from the source material.
The overall plot of the book was both similar and different from the source material. Into the second part of the book, when it deviated greatly from the original Dracula, I thought that the book was really great. However, the beginning of the book seemed like the author was trying to rush through the events to get to what they really wanted to write. I wish that the author would have just taken inspiration from Dracula rather than trying to rewrite it in a new way.
I really enjoyed the book once I separated it from the source material. If you are looking for a really interesting vampire book, this is it. However, if you are looking for a Dracula retelling, I think that this book slightly misses the mark.
The characters in this book were good and well-rounded. Their motivations and actions made sense with how the author wrote them. However, I feel like the characters were not the main focus of this novel. Especially since certain characters had names that were in the original Dracula but their characters were completely different. I didn’t totally like that because it made the book feel like it was trying to be different from the source material.
The overall plot of the book was both similar and different from the source material. Into the second part of the book, when it deviated greatly from the original Dracula, I thought that the book was really great. However, the beginning of the book seemed like the author was trying to rush through the events to get to what they really wanted to write. I wish that the author would have just taken inspiration from Dracula rather than trying to rewrite it in a new way.
I really enjoyed the book once I separated it from the source material. If you are looking for a really interesting vampire book, this is it. However, if you are looking for a Dracula retelling, I think that this book slightly misses the mark.
October 14, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!
A fresh take on the vampire tale, this novel has the blood-drinking undead stem from a fast-traveling parasite. Said entity can possess anyone and flit between bodies, using each host to further acquire more blood. There isn't a secret society of wealthy sanguinites anymore than there is an alluring stranger come to temp the young with debauchery. I'd like to commend the author for writing a vampire novel with a wholly original premise, as I've never read anything quite like this!!
Similar to the vampire classic Dracula we follow a cast of characters via a collection of sources like journal entries and first-hand accounts as things go awry and bloody. The typical classism, racism, and general bigotry of the Victorian English crowd can be found within the pages. As vampirism was a parasitic relationship rather than a paranormal existence, when things went awry—just as when plagues hit the streets—the poor were battered most heavily.
The pov of the vampiric parasite was my favorite to read, the creature using the host's memories to blend into society was fascinating!! Readers of Dracula will have a fun time recognizing names and the remixes of their characters in this novel. Just as I adored Lucy Westerna in that novel, her counterpart here the stage performer Ruby Wester was the most interesting member of the cast. Her final performance was to die for!!
All-in-all I had a really lovely time with this retelling and finished the book in a day. If you're looking for something spooky and bloody that doesn't shy away from the bigotry of the past, maybe consider checking this out!!
A fresh take on the vampire tale, this novel has the blood-drinking undead stem from a fast-traveling parasite. Said entity can possess anyone and flit between bodies, using each host to further acquire more blood. There isn't a secret society of wealthy sanguinites anymore than there is an alluring stranger come to temp the young with debauchery. I'd like to commend the author for writing a vampire novel with a wholly original premise, as I've never read anything quite like this!!
Similar to the vampire classic Dracula we follow a cast of characters via a collection of sources like journal entries and first-hand accounts as things go awry and bloody. The typical classism, racism, and general bigotry of the Victorian English crowd can be found within the pages. As vampirism was a parasitic relationship rather than a paranormal existence, when things went awry—just as when plagues hit the streets—the poor were battered most heavily.
The pov of the vampiric parasite was my favorite to read, the creature using the host's memories to blend into society was fascinating!! Readers of Dracula will have a fun time recognizing names and the remixes of their characters in this novel. Just as I adored Lucy Westerna in that novel, her counterpart here the stage performer Ruby Wester was the most interesting member of the cast. Her final performance was to die for!!
All-in-all I had a really lovely time with this retelling and finished the book in a day. If you're looking for something spooky and bloody that doesn't shy away from the bigotry of the past, maybe consider checking this out!!
December 6, 2024
The book received mixed reviews, but I have to say, I absolutely loved it. There’s something about this time of year, when everything is cold and dark by 4:00 PM, that makes it the perfect setting for a dark horror comedy mystery. The atmosphere really enhances the enjoyment of the story, drawing you into its eerie yet humorous world. Victorian times in England mixed with the allure of vampires creates an intriguing backdrop that has captured my interest. I am thoroughly enjoying the book, as the prose is easy to read and flows seamlessly. The ambience is just right, evoking a perfect literary atmosphere that resonates with my passion for Victorian-themed literature. In fact, I believe this book excels in capturing that essence beautifully. This revisiting of Dracula didn't disappoint and I am sure some other fan of macabre and book will enjoy it lots my love for Deixis press for grant me access to this ARC
December 4, 2024
Sherlock Holmes meets Dracula - written in the style of a Dark Horror Comedy/Mystery. The author uses letters and diary entries to help tell the story from different character viewpoints. You'll also see some familiar names appear in this novel (think the ship Demeter, and Van Helsing).
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I thought the author did a great job of reinventing how the Vampyr infects people - it's a spirit inhabiting bodies as opposed to biting and turning people into vampires.
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Although the prose were really easy to read, I just found most of the writing to be very plain and non-descript. There wasn't much character development, which is really important to me as a reader. The only character I really remember is Dracul, the rest have already fled my mind.
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Ultimately, this wasn't my cup of tea - but I do think it would resonate really well with those that love the dark comedy/mystery genre. I also think that readers new to the horror genre would be able to digest this novel fairly well - I didn't think it was overly gory or scary.
.
I thought the author did a great job of reinventing how the Vampyr infects people - it's a spirit inhabiting bodies as opposed to biting and turning people into vampires.
.
Although the prose were really easy to read, I just found most of the writing to be very plain and non-descript. There wasn't much character development, which is really important to me as a reader. The only character I really remember is Dracul, the rest have already fled my mind.
.
Ultimately, this wasn't my cup of tea - but I do think it would resonate really well with those that love the dark comedy/mystery genre. I also think that readers new to the horror genre would be able to digest this novel fairly well - I didn't think it was overly gory or scary.
November 18, 2024
The Eater of Flies is a dark and twisted romp through Victorian London that delivers a fresh, creepy twist on vampire lore. The gritty setting of Holmwood’s music hall, with its mix of high society glamour and seedy underworld vibes, is vividly brought to life. The vampyr isn’t your typical cape-wearing bloodsucker—it’s something far more unsettling, and I loved the eerie originality.
The mix of gothic horror, crime, and sharp humor kept me hooked, even when the story’s pace slowed a bit. If you’re into atmospheric tales with morally questionable characters and a touch of the macabre, this is a must-read. London has never felt so deliciously sinister!
The mix of gothic horror, crime, and sharp humor kept me hooked, even when the story’s pace slowed a bit. If you’re into atmospheric tales with morally questionable characters and a touch of the macabre, this is a must-read. London has never felt so deliciously sinister!
September 12, 2024
I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this. A gloomy and atmospheric Victorian era story, full of crime and greed, and most importantly - vampires. This unique Dracula reimagining puts an interesting twist on the traditional vampire, but with nods to the original story and vampire lore across the globe. I liked seeing how each of the (very different) characters all came together. The end was extremely satisfying and this was an all around good read.
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