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Something Wicked
Infected by the vampire virus on the streets of Dublin in 1886, the search for a cure brought Henry Clayton to London and to the brink of madness. Salvation and friendship arrived in the form of Dougal, an immortal Highlander with a devilish sense of humor and a love of life.
Amidst turmoil in vampire society, Henry returns to modern day Dublin. The Circle, a cult determined to awaken their Celtic blood god, the first vampire, is once again active.
When Henry meets a young American woman who sees past his human pretense, he fears exposure. However, his fear is overshadowed by curiosity. What is the source of the strange energy between them? Why are vampires stalking her? Determined to find answers, Henry takes Ari into his home and under his protection.
As their connection grows, Henry begins to suspect Ari isn't what she claims to be. Their shared history may hold the answers to his uncontrollable bouts of rage and thirst. Perhaps, even a cure for his wicked blood.
Amidst turmoil in vampire society, Henry returns to modern day Dublin. The Circle, a cult determined to awaken their Celtic blood god, the first vampire, is once again active.
When Henry meets a young American woman who sees past his human pretense, he fears exposure. However, his fear is overshadowed by curiosity. What is the source of the strange energy between them? Why are vampires stalking her? Determined to find answers, Henry takes Ari into his home and under his protection.
As their connection grows, Henry begins to suspect Ari isn't what she claims to be. Their shared history may hold the answers to his uncontrollable bouts of rage and thirst. Perhaps, even a cure for his wicked blood.
300 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2015
1 person is currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Carol Oates
9 books222 followersCarol Oates came into the world on Christmas morning, in an elevator. Raised just across the street from the childhood home of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, it was only a matter of time before Carol’s love of all things supernatural would emerge.
She began experimenting with fiction at school and keeps the notebook containing her first unpublished novel in her desk drawer. Over three decades later, all her stories still begin life scrawled on paper.
When not writing, Carol can be found exploring history, old buildings, castles, and tombs.
She began experimenting with fiction at school and keeps the notebook containing her first unpublished novel in her desk drawer. Over three decades later, all her stories still begin life scrawled on paper.
When not writing, Carol can be found exploring history, old buildings, castles, and tombs.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 31, 2014
This one sounds awesome! Love Carol's writing.
January 14, 2015
Another engrossing read from Carol Oates. She is a favorite for her gorgeosu prose and effortless plot twists. This one will make your kindle happy!
February 11, 2015
A vampire. A monster. A killer. A man who has lived for years and struggled against his blood thirsty inclinations. Tragically, he succumbs time after time to his thirst. Not your typical hero, even by paranormal standards. And for this very reason, I loved this book. Henry has done atrocious things in his past and present, but he struggles to retain at least a piece of his humanity. As he struggles, you fall head over heels for him. You feel his pain, you mourn his failures. Henry falls for Ari, a girl that seems like any other human, and yet there is something different about her. He's drawn to her, and it's more than just his blood thirst. This book has mystery, a love story and suspense. My heart sped with trepidation and I swallowed a few times before turning the page. Reading this book was like receiving a Christmas present as an adult. You don't tear into it. You unwrap it slowly, savoring each step, wanting to see what unfolds but not wanting it to end. This book IS the entire package. The writing is tight and beautiful. The hero is tortured without being angsty and the heroine is strong yet vulnerable (and more than a bit kick ass!). Add to this two wonderful side characters (DOUGAL NEEDS HIS OWN STORY!!!!!!) and it is a fantastic read. I can't wait to read the author's other books!
October 11, 2016
4 Stars
Full Review:
This was a very atmospheric, moody, somewhat dark tale of a vampire’s life after being turned and his struggle against the darkness trying to overtake him.
One of the things I loved most was the writing itself. It was beautiful and lyrical, and it worked really well with the feel of the book.
I also liked that somewhat dark aspect that I mentioned. I say somewhat because it didn’t feel emotionally dark, and the parts that took place in the present weren’t that dark, but Henry did have a dark past. He was very much a brooding, tortured hero, but for good reason. Not only did he slaughter his whole family, he became so desperate to get his humanity back that, ironically, it caused him to lose his humanity when his search for a cure became a true obsession and led to him becoming Jack the Ripper.
But that, the whole Jack the Ripper thing, was another thing I liked. It was really fun and a nice touch. At first it seemed it was only going to be a one-sentence mention, but then further into the book it was explained a lot more and we got to see bits from when he was living in London and actually committing the murders (there were kind of dual storylines, one in the present, one in the past). So the author did include things from the real murders, like the prostitutes, the organ removal, and the letters.
The present wasn’t quite as interesting to me in the beginning and middle since it felt very slow-paced and was hard for me to really stay focused on (one of my only complaints), but the pacing did match the atmospheric feel, and the story picked up and surprised me in a great way near the end.
Then there were the characters. I did like Henry because I like brooding, tortured heroes, but Dougal really stole the show for me. The descriptions of him, the little mentions here and there of the things he did, the ways he acted—all filtered through Henry’s mind since it was from his POV—were just perfect. It was brilliant writing, and he was just an entertaining, endearing, and really well fleshed out and described character.
Even better though was the friendship in this. Dougal had seen Henry at his absolute lowest, lower than you can even imagine, yet he was always there for him, always wanting to help, and not willing to leave him.
There were only a few things I didn’t like about the book. I mentioned already that it was a little too slow-paced for me. I was also bothered by the instalove at first, but that became a little more bearable by the end. Last but not least, I also didn’t like Ari throughout most of the book. I grew to like her more by the end, but it aggravated me that she was keeping secrets when lives were at stake and Henry and Dougal were trying to help. And she was kind of a jerk sometimes, especially to Henry.
Overall though, despite the slow pace and few things I disliked, the beautiful writing did a wonderful job of setting the mood, the Jack the Ripper aspect was fun, Dougal was an amazingly well-written character, and I enjoyed reading Henry’s story.
Recommended For:
Vampire lovers. Anyone who likes slow-paced, atmospheric, somewhat dark books. Anyone interested in stories that involve Jack the Ripper.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Full Review:
This was a very atmospheric, moody, somewhat dark tale of a vampire’s life after being turned and his struggle against the darkness trying to overtake him.
One of the things I loved most was the writing itself. It was beautiful and lyrical, and it worked really well with the feel of the book.
I also liked that somewhat dark aspect that I mentioned. I say somewhat because it didn’t feel emotionally dark, and the parts that took place in the present weren’t that dark, but Henry did have a dark past. He was very much a brooding, tortured hero, but for good reason. Not only did he slaughter his whole family, he became so desperate to get his humanity back that, ironically, it caused him to lose his humanity when his search for a cure became a true obsession and led to him becoming Jack the Ripper.
But that, the whole Jack the Ripper thing, was another thing I liked. It was really fun and a nice touch. At first it seemed it was only going to be a one-sentence mention, but then further into the book it was explained a lot more and we got to see bits from when he was living in London and actually committing the murders (there were kind of dual storylines, one in the present, one in the past). So the author did include things from the real murders, like the prostitutes, the organ removal, and the letters.
The present wasn’t quite as interesting to me in the beginning and middle since it felt very slow-paced and was hard for me to really stay focused on (one of my only complaints), but the pacing did match the atmospheric feel, and the story picked up and surprised me in a great way near the end.
Then there were the characters. I did like Henry because I like brooding, tortured heroes, but Dougal really stole the show for me. The descriptions of him, the little mentions here and there of the things he did, the ways he acted—all filtered through Henry’s mind since it was from his POV—were just perfect. It was brilliant writing, and he was just an entertaining, endearing, and really well fleshed out and described character.
Even better though was the friendship in this. Dougal had seen Henry at his absolute lowest, lower than you can even imagine, yet he was always there for him, always wanting to help, and not willing to leave him.
There were only a few things I didn’t like about the book. I mentioned already that it was a little too slow-paced for me. I was also bothered by the instalove at first, but that became a little more bearable by the end. Last but not least, I also didn’t like Ari throughout most of the book. I grew to like her more by the end, but it aggravated me that she was keeping secrets when lives were at stake and Henry and Dougal were trying to help. And she was kind of a jerk sometimes, especially to Henry.
Overall though, despite the slow pace and few things I disliked, the beautiful writing did a wonderful job of setting the mood, the Jack the Ripper aspect was fun, Dougal was an amazingly well-written character, and I enjoyed reading Henry’s story.
Recommended For:
Vampire lovers. Anyone who likes slow-paced, atmospheric, somewhat dark books. Anyone interested in stories that involve Jack the Ripper.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
February 1, 2015
I've been a fan of Carol's writing for quite some time. Something Wicked proved to be just as engrossing, magical, and brilliant as her previous endeavors. I've been reading mostly contemporary for the past year, and SW was a nice vacation from my usual fare. Dark, with a delicious gothic feel, the story centers around Henry Clayton, a tormented vampire who loathes himself almost as much as he loathes his vampire nature. Intent on keeping himself at arms length from humanity, his world is turned on its axis when he crosses paths with Ari, the strange, beautiful girl who works in the coffee shop he occasionally frequents.
Unable to stay away from her, Henry soon finds his desire to know her is every bit as strong as his desire to drink her blood, and as their time together moves forward, they both discover they're not the strangers they believed they were.
I can't say anything more without spoiling the story for you. This is a MUST read for anyone who enjoys dark paranormal romance. With well flushed out characters, beautiful descriptions that paint a vivid picture of both Ireland and Britain, and an epic love story that spans hundreds of years, this story has something for everyone.
Beautifully written. A pleasure to read!
Unable to stay away from her, Henry soon finds his desire to know her is every bit as strong as his desire to drink her blood, and as their time together moves forward, they both discover they're not the strangers they believed they were.
I can't say anything more without spoiling the story for you. This is a MUST read for anyone who enjoys dark paranormal romance. With well flushed out characters, beautiful descriptions that paint a vivid picture of both Ireland and Britain, and an epic love story that spans hundreds of years, this story has something for everyone.
Beautifully written. A pleasure to read!
February 5, 2015
I loved it!! I have read many vampire books and this one is so different. If you like paranormal books then you definitely want to read this book.
February 6, 2015
Jack the Ripper and vampire legend combine for a heady mix of action and suspense that will keep you turning pages well into the night. Carol Oates weaves a tale that travels back and forth through time as one immortal searches for salvation in the form of a cure.
Henry Chase slaughters his family in Dublin after being turned into a vampire in 1869. An older vampire takes him under his wing and helps him learn how to survive despite his guilt. He learns to hunt animals instead of people, but at the same time is obsessed with finding a cure for the virus that causes vampirism. He's sure the answer lies in human blood itself, and conducts experiments thru the ages, seeking answers.
Headings at each chapter tell us where we are in time, as the story jumps throughout the 1800s back and forth with present day 2010, where we find Henry returned to Dublin and intrigued by a young waitress at his local coffee shop.
Ari seems to know Henry is a vampire, and Henry can't understand why she isn't scared, and what it is that draws him to her but won't allow him to kill her. The action scenes intensify both in the past and present as we follow Henry's progression to the end. Will Ari be his salvation, or his ultimate downfall?
Both the action and the psychological drama are nonstop. There are no sparkly vampires or telepathic waitresses in the world Oates creates, closer in feel to a gothic Ann Rice novel than a more modern vampire novel. The anguish Henry feels in his love for Ari has depth and true emotional weight, as does Henry's self-loathing at the monster he has become. There is no head hopping, everything is first person narration from Henry's slightly twisted but starkly realistic point of view.
Oates gives us a new spin on the Ripper legend, which is fascinating in itself (although I would have liked to see more of a resolution to that part of the tale.) Oates also creates a unique spin on the vampire legend itself, with a fully formed mythology, history and obsessive cult bent on world domination. Best of all, the story is a stand alone, with no cliffhangers or unfinished threads to keep you waiting for more in a series. The book wraps up with a satisfying conclusion. All in all, an interesting and bloody read well worth the time. 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommended.
Henry Chase slaughters his family in Dublin after being turned into a vampire in 1869. An older vampire takes him under his wing and helps him learn how to survive despite his guilt. He learns to hunt animals instead of people, but at the same time is obsessed with finding a cure for the virus that causes vampirism. He's sure the answer lies in human blood itself, and conducts experiments thru the ages, seeking answers.
Headings at each chapter tell us where we are in time, as the story jumps throughout the 1800s back and forth with present day 2010, where we find Henry returned to Dublin and intrigued by a young waitress at his local coffee shop.
Ari seems to know Henry is a vampire, and Henry can't understand why she isn't scared, and what it is that draws him to her but won't allow him to kill her. The action scenes intensify both in the past and present as we follow Henry's progression to the end. Will Ari be his salvation, or his ultimate downfall?
Both the action and the psychological drama are nonstop. There are no sparkly vampires or telepathic waitresses in the world Oates creates, closer in feel to a gothic Ann Rice novel than a more modern vampire novel. The anguish Henry feels in his love for Ari has depth and true emotional weight, as does Henry's self-loathing at the monster he has become. There is no head hopping, everything is first person narration from Henry's slightly twisted but starkly realistic point of view.
Oates gives us a new spin on the Ripper legend, which is fascinating in itself (although I would have liked to see more of a resolution to that part of the tale.) Oates also creates a unique spin on the vampire legend itself, with a fully formed mythology, history and obsessive cult bent on world domination. Best of all, the story is a stand alone, with no cliffhangers or unfinished threads to keep you waiting for more in a series. The book wraps up with a satisfying conclusion. All in all, an interesting and bloody read well worth the time. 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommended.
February 13, 2015
This gets a thumping five stars from me! Normally I don't read stories about Vampires - my love affair with them began and ended with the great Anne Rice - I just found everything 'vampirish' I read after that came nowhere near and so went onto other things. The Twilight series I disliked too, so all in all, vampires are not my thing. But, having read Carol Oates before and enjoyed her books, I thought I'd give her new release a go. The link with Jack the Ripper fascinated me too. All hail the return of the vampire! Well, Henry Clayton to be precise, turned against his will in the late 19th century - although the main bulk of the story begins in 2010. A dark and intense figure, intent on finding a cure for 'vampirism' he is indeed 'something wicked' but he is also very human and as flawed as a human being can be. Having carried out heinous acts in the past, he is now trying to live on animal blood but is prone to dark thirsts and rage. Ari, whom he encounters in a cafe, has a strange, almost calming effect on him and slowly they learn how their destinies entwine. Ari it took me a while to warm to but then I did - she's a great heroine, brave, loyal and selfless. But it's Henry's Scottish-born vampire sidekick, Doug, who steals the show. Not only is he the bearer of some great one-liners he's brave and loyal too - between the three of them what's not to love?!
I'm not going to go into the mechanics of the story, you'll have to read it yourself for that but suffice to say, Oates writing is some of the best I've encountered in a long while. It's not fast-paced, it's almost leisurely, the prose in places poetic. Normally I veer towards the fast-paced but I found myself slowing down, not just reading every word but savouring it. It was a delight to return to day after day. Will I continue to read more vampire books? Probably not. I still think it's been done to death. Will I continue to read Carol Oates? Most definitely, this book has made me a convert.
I'm not going to go into the mechanics of the story, you'll have to read it yourself for that but suffice to say, Oates writing is some of the best I've encountered in a long while. It's not fast-paced, it's almost leisurely, the prose in places poetic. Normally I veer towards the fast-paced but I found myself slowing down, not just reading every word but savouring it. It was a delight to return to day after day. Will I continue to read more vampire books? Probably not. I still think it's been done to death. Will I continue to read Carol Oates? Most definitely, this book has made me a convert.
March 20, 2015
This is a different kind of vampire story with a rich atmosphere that truly transported me. It weaves together myths and lore in a way that culminates in an AWESOME twist that had me rushing through the last 100 pages to see where it would all go. And ah the ending ... I won't give anything away but will say that THIS is the kind of ending I've been dying to read in a vampire novel.
Favorite character in the book: Dougal. He's fantastic - funny & interesting with a huge heart. Would love to know even more about his back story.
Favorite character in the book: Dougal. He's fantastic - funny & interesting with a huge heart. Would love to know even more about his back story.
March 13, 2015
3.5 STARS I adored how this story was woven from the past to the future. What a brilliant way to connect history with lore! This story has depth and an intimate look into the mind of a vampire who fights his very, violent nature. There were moments where I stopped and said, "Yeah. I bet that is exactly how this would feel." Things that I had often wondered how to put into words were done so here and so elegantly written, as well. And to see such a vile creature be redeemed? I am in awe of how accepting I was to this change.
March 8, 2015
This book has now become my personal favorite. It was absolutely amazing from start to finish and well worth the read. Carol hit a homerun with this one! My favorite quote from the book: “A lover’s first kiss should be like a dying breath, a last terrifying gasp before the inevitable. It should also be a glimpse of something so beautiful, so brilliant and inescapable, that whatever comes next, you’ve already lost yourself to it.”
March 1, 2015
great story, everyone! please read it.
February 12, 2015
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. It has everything it takes: an intricate plot line, interesting characters and gripping descriptions.
June 11, 2015
Reminiscent of Anne Rice, Carol Oates created an engrossing story that combines vampires and Jack the Ripper. The combination of well developed characters and plot kept me reading late into the night. My favorite kind of story.
January 26, 2015
DNF 21%
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews