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Channeling Morpheus/Sweet Oblivion #1-5
Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary Ebook Box Set
Michael is a waif in eyeliner who's determined to wipe vampires off the face of the earth.
Wild Bill's got the hots for Michael, and will stop at nothing to go home with him.
Forget about moonlit castles and windswept moors. These bad boys haunt all-night diners and cheap motels, cut-rate department stores and long, lonely stretches of the Interstate. Ride along with Wild Bill and Michael as the twists and turns of Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary unfold in America's Heartland.
Wild Bill's got the hots for Michael, and will stop at nothing to go home with him.
Forget about moonlit castles and windswept moors. These bad boys haunt all-night diners and cheap motels, cut-rate department stores and long, lonely stretches of the Interstate. Ride along with Wild Bill and Michael as the twists and turns of Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary unfold in America's Heartland.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
20 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Castillo Price
138 books2,129 followersAuthor and artist Jordan Castillo Price writes paranormal sci-fi thrillers colored by her time in the Midwest, from inner city Chicago, to various cities across southern Wisconsin. She’s settled in a 1910 Cape Cod near Lake Michigan with tons of character and a plethora of bizarre spiders. Any disembodied noises, she’s decided, will be blamed on the ice maker.
Jordan is best known as the author of the PsyCop series, an unfolding tale of paranormal mystery and suspense starring Victor Bayne, a gay medium who's plagued by ghostly visitations.
Jordan is best known as the author of the PsyCop series, an unfolding tale of paranormal mystery and suspense starring Victor Bayne, a gay medium who's plagued by ghostly visitations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
September 9, 2015
Written June 15, 2015.
4 Stars - Fascinating, sexy and pretty bloody. A real yummy wild vampire tale
Novella part #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
I'm once again on a Jordan Castillo Price wagon. Wacky, amusing, twisted, romantic, mysterious and raw sexy. Possibly more smex than story in the beginning but I liked anyway. It will soon be more.
Half done and it is worth four fascinating stars.
*********************************************************
A day ago I finished my listening to the 7:44 hrs audiobook narrated by Gomez Pugh including novella #1-5:
=
There are all in all all 10 full serial novellas in this 'Channeling Morpheus/Sweet Oblivion' series. Stories about the young beautiful vampire-hunter Michael 21 and the tempting goodlooking vampire Wild Bill (23 year back in 1987) and a lot (I mean very much) of smexy filthy gay-sex, blood-drinking and wild adventures.
★★★☆☆ - #1 - Payback
★★★☆☆ - #2 - Vertigo
★★★★☆ - #3 - Manikin
★★★★☆ - #4 - Tainted
★★★★☆ - #5 - Rebirth
Payback was a first short teaser to Michael and Wild Bill's future adventures. The second Vertigo was about their second meeting and still mostly an hilarious amusing PWP shortie. Two parts and I learned that this 21 years old Michael is a quite smart and clever youngster. The vampire Wild Bill is awesome cute too.
The next (third), Manikin led us up to a new (better) level. Finally!! — I got some explanations, more non f@**ing time and we have a couple of lovebirds. Tainted , the fourth, was the most angsty and emotional so far. I was really nervous there for a while but thanksgod it kind of solved itself.
Then was it time for the last fifth novella part Rebirth in my audiobook box. ~ And I must say it was a splendid good one. More story, more answers, some suspense and they earned a place in my heart for ever. Really good.
*********************************************************
The audiobook edition and the narrator
In my taste and opinion is Gomez Pugh simply AWESOME good. His voice is kind of theatrical mesmerizing. He (together with the author of course) makes me care for these "boys". He has done this to eight (very quick) really memorable listening hours.
Maybe is he also a favorite of JCP because he is also narrating PsyCop books. I just hope he really soon will make an audibook edition for A Bitter Taste of Sweet Oblivion as well. ~ Pretty please!
*********************************************************
Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary is a good vampire-tale, but honestly not dazzling overwhelming (not PsyCop class yet). Nevertheless, enticing insistent tempting. ~ Looking forward to read novella #6-10 later on.
I LIKE - Yummy weird JPC characters
******
BUDDYREAD with a bunch of girls. Start 12th June with book 1-5 and #1 - Payback.
4 Stars - Fascinating, sexy and pretty bloody. A real yummy wild vampire tale
Novella part #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
I'm once again on a Jordan Castillo Price wagon. Wacky, amusing, twisted, romantic, mysterious and raw sexy. Possibly more smex than story in the beginning but I liked anyway. It will soon be more.
Half done and it is worth four fascinating stars.
*********************************************************
A day ago I finished my listening to the 7:44 hrs audiobook narrated by Gomez Pugh including novella #1-5:
=
There are all in all all 10 full serial novellas in this 'Channeling Morpheus/Sweet Oblivion' series. Stories about the young beautiful vampire-hunter Michael 21 and the tempting goodlooking vampire Wild Bill (23 year back in 1987) and a lot (I mean very much) of smexy filthy gay-sex, blood-drinking and wild adventures.
★★★☆☆ - #1 - Payback
★★★☆☆ - #2 - Vertigo
★★★★☆ - #3 - Manikin
★★★★☆ - #4 - Tainted
★★★★☆ - #5 - Rebirth
Payback was a first short teaser to Michael and Wild Bill's future adventures. The second Vertigo was about their second meeting and still mostly an hilarious amusing PWP shortie. Two parts and I learned that this 21 years old Michael is a quite smart and clever youngster. The vampire Wild Bill is awesome cute too.
The next (third), Manikin led us up to a new (better) level. Finally!! — I got some explanations, more non f@**ing time and we have a couple of lovebirds. Tainted , the fourth, was the most angsty and emotional so far. I was really nervous there for a while but thanksgod it kind of solved itself.
Then was it time for the last fifth novella part Rebirth in my audiobook box. ~ And I must say it was a splendid good one. More story, more answers, some suspense and they earned a place in my heart for ever. Really good.
*********************************************************
The audiobook edition and the narrator
In my taste and opinion is Gomez Pugh simply AWESOME good. His voice is kind of theatrical mesmerizing. He (together with the author of course) makes me care for these "boys". He has done this to eight (very quick) really memorable listening hours.
Maybe is he also a favorite of JCP because he is also narrating PsyCop books. I just hope he really soon will make an audibook edition for A Bitter Taste of Sweet Oblivion as well. ~ Pretty please!
*********************************************************
Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary is a good vampire-tale, but honestly not dazzling overwhelming (not PsyCop class yet). Nevertheless, enticing insistent tempting. ~ Looking forward to read novella #6-10 later on.
I LIKE - Yummy weird JPC characters
******
BUDDYREAD with a bunch of girls. Start 12th June with book 1-5 and #1 - Payback.
December 31, 2024
Absolute Perfection!
Some Thoughts Specifically on the Audio Book:
I'd like to thank Jordan Castillo Price for sending over an audio-book of this box set and completely shattering my lackluster experience with the medium.
I admit that I haven't indulged in a whole lot of Audio-books - There are several reasons for that:
1. I read ridiculously fast, faster than a narrator, and I have trouble immersing myself audio.
2. I prefer to use my own imagination when it comes to character voices.
3. Oftentimes a narrator winds up killing a book for me... Since I review books based on the story, and not on an audio-book narrator, I generally stick to good ol' fashioned print...
I had heard tales of the glorious narrator, Gomez Pugh, whom Jordan Castillo Price uses to narrate both this series and the Psycop books. I stand before you today to tell you that rumors of Gomez Pugh's talent were not exaggerated. He has perfect pacing and I really enjoyed his characterizations. Everyone had a unique cadence, the details of which sucked you into the story completely - It was like having this sexy, bloody, Urban Fantasy world injected right into your brain.
If you're like me, and you haven't had the best luck with audio books. Or, if you're looking for the perfect title to pop your Audio cherry - wait no more. This is the opportunity you've been waiting for.
I should probably also mention that Amazon is currently running an Audible FREE Trial promotion - Two free audio books for zero dollars for a limited time. Worth looking into.
Book One - Payback
Goth Clubs, and Vampires, and Three-Ways! OH MY!
Somehow all his carefully laid plans go awry and he's wrapped up in the middle of an impossibly hot three-way with a vampire and a complete stranger.
This is the introduction to Channeling Morpheus.
We meet Michael, who had the sole POV of this dark and sexy tale.
We learn about Scary Mary and why Michael decided to take up Vampire hunting.
And most importantly, we meet Wild Bill...
This book was ridiculously, unapologetically HOT and sets the dark tone which carries throughout the series.
Book Two - Vertigo
Hello flip POV!
Wild Bill.
Wild Bill was a twitchy, aggressively sexual fellow who wound up saving Michael's life that night. at the end of book one, Michael was left at a bus station, coming down from the rohypnol, with Wild Bill on the brain.
Imagine my surprise when I started this story to discover that Wild Bill held the sole POV. What an incredibly fascinating character. Turns out, Ambrose Grey was the Vampire who turned Wild Bill into a bloodsucker. He's been hunting down Grey with singular focus and Michael just so happened to wander into the scene.
Michael... Who Wild Bill can't stop thinking about.
Michael... Vampire heroin.
Michael... Who managed to track down Wild Bill and follow him into a feeding frenzy at a park in Minnesota.
The first thing Wild Bill has to do is get Michael away from the pack of hungry bloodsuckers who hunt willing prey in the park. The second thing he has to do is get the fuck away from this goth kid before he becomes completely attached...
Unfortunately, Michael is a temptation impossible to resist.
Luring Wild Bill with his body and blood...
Seems Michael set out to seduce Wild Bill, and when the Vampire's control shatters, we're treated to a gloriously sexy episode set in the dark woods...
The first book in this series was wonderfully hot.
This book was on fucking fire.
Wild Bill's deliciously deviant POV was an absolute pleasure - he's a perfect compliment to Michael.
Book Three - Manikin
A little bit darker & a lot more bloody...
When we open with this book, Michael is in the process of taking down a vampire named Marushka... Sort of... More like, she's divesting him of every inch of body hair with a straight-razor and he's not-so-patiently waiting for the rohypnol to kick in.
Naked, shivering, bald-assed, and chained to a bathtub with an unconscious vampire at his side.
That's how Wild Bill finds Michael for the first time since Minnesota when he was drugged by the little fucker and left inside a park bathroom to wait out the daylight.
Seems Wild Bill is always getting Michael out of tricky situations, even if the vampire pretends to exist in a world of complete nonchalance.
Marushka's, um... Dollhouse... was a particularly twisted scene... JCP has a gift for spinning gorgeous macabre details which get the reader absorbed into the story. I think I felt about as chilled as Michael when it finally hit home exactly how close he had come to being a permanent addition in her gory masterpiece.
Seems pretty obvious that Michael is going to get himself killed sooner rather than later if he continues hunting vampires with his clumsy execution. It also seems pretty obvious that Michael and Wild Bill should pair up to take down the vampires that go on murder sprees.
Well, it seems obvious to the reader, anyway...
And maybe even to Michael...
But Wild Bill won't join up without a fight.
Wild Bill is still trying to convince himself that he's only interested in Michael's body - his suddenly smooth and hairless body... The sex is increasing in intensity between the two, and it's obvious that Wild Bill is completely infatuated with Michael...
Once again, it seems obvious to the reader, anyway...
Wild Bill would never admit such a thing...
And Michael is awestruck and a little baffled by the attention...
There was a great deal more humor in this episode of the series - I laughed out loud several times. That's not to say that the previous episodes were devoid of humor, they weren't. I think the dark and twisted scene at Marushka's simply brought the playfulness into sharp relief.
Book Four - Tainted
We delve into the science of vampirism in this episode of Channeling Morpheus...
...but we also got a hefty dose of the warm fuzzies...
It's been several weeks since we left off with Michael and Wild Bill in Manikin. They've been traveling about the country in their van and fucking like bunnies...
Michael's body is a canvas of bruises and scabbed-over cuts where Wild Bill slices into his skin to feed. He's gotten thinner, his ribs are on show like a rock star heroin junkie... And that's with Wild Bill being careful with him.
It's a constant struggle for Wild bill to keep his control in check around Michael, and he's increasingly worried about his health, safety, and his humanity. It's no secret that Wild Bill resents being a vampire, and he doesn't want the same for Michael.
How can you prevent what you don't understand?
What exactly causes vampirism?
What transmits it, what exactly triggers the change?
Michael finds a researcher who has been studying vampires for more than half a century, and our boys go to pay him a little visit.
The man has answers, but not the ones Michael and Wild Bill were hoping for...
Lot's of sex and angst in this installment, all of it given a rough edge by Bill's gritty POV.
Book Five - Rebirth
Home is where the heart is...
Just, ya know, don't let your boyfriend drive a stake through it...
He's been on the road,
Killed some Vampires,
Hooked up with Wild Bill,
and became an Almost-Vampire...
Not that he can share much of that information with his judgy, assholish family. To them, he returns as the filthy gay goth kid with no future prospects...
Seriously, around the time Michael's sister came into the picture I was all:
The horrible homecoming underscored the tenderness that Michael and Bill have cultivated between them. They're still hot and heavy (and oh so dirty) when the situation calls for it, but there's so much love in the air now.
There's about a million reasons why a romance between a Vampire and a Vampire Hunter shouldn't work out... But Michael and Bill make it work for them. It becomes clear that Michael won't be returning to his old life, but staying on the road isn't the most healthy lifestyle for them either.
Michael finds a Vampire Commune, and instead of putting on his murder pants for once, he's hoping that he and Bill can find a safe place to settle. A family of their choosing...
An awful lot went down in this story and almost all of it was spoilery...
But guess what? Before the end of this book, we learn Wild Bill's real name!
These books just flew by, and I can't wait to find out what happens next!
***Audiobook provided by the author in exchange for an honest review!
"You'd almost make a good vamp-hunting wingman, the way you wear your heart on your sleeve. Pain, longing, loneliness... especially loneliness. Vamps feed off that just as much as the blood. We can see it shining in the darkness. It calls to us. You're like one of those backyard bug zappers. Irresistible."This was a phenomenal set of stories - completely addictive - the kind of narrative you want to binge read and then read again because you're having so much fun. My personal experience with this box set was made twice as amazing because I had the opportunity to experience it in audio..
Some Thoughts Specifically on the Audio Book:
I'd like to thank Jordan Castillo Price for sending over an audio-book of this box set and completely shattering my lackluster experience with the medium.
I admit that I haven't indulged in a whole lot of Audio-books - There are several reasons for that:
1. I read ridiculously fast, faster than a narrator, and I have trouble immersing myself audio.
2. I prefer to use my own imagination when it comes to character voices.
3. Oftentimes a narrator winds up killing a book for me... Since I review books based on the story, and not on an audio-book narrator, I generally stick to good ol' fashioned print...
I had heard tales of the glorious narrator, Gomez Pugh, whom Jordan Castillo Price uses to narrate both this series and the Psycop books. I stand before you today to tell you that rumors of Gomez Pugh's talent were not exaggerated. He has perfect pacing and I really enjoyed his characterizations. Everyone had a unique cadence, the details of which sucked you into the story completely - It was like having this sexy, bloody, Urban Fantasy world injected right into your brain.
If you're like me, and you haven't had the best luck with audio books. Or, if you're looking for the perfect title to pop your Audio cherry - wait no more. This is the opportunity you've been waiting for.
I should probably also mention that Amazon is currently running an Audible FREE Trial promotion - Two free audio books for zero dollars for a limited time. Worth looking into.
Book One - Payback
Goth Clubs, and Vampires, and Three-Ways! OH MY!
Mallet? Check. Wooden stake - hickory, of course? Check. Crucifix? Well, yeah. Like five of those. Rohypnol? Check. Holy water? Check. Eyeliner? Check.You can't help but feel a bit sorry for Michael - he's just a goth kid looking to avenge the death of his best friend, but nothing seems to be working out the way he imagined it.
Yeah, eyeliner. It looks good on me. Scary Mary used to say that...
Somehow all his carefully laid plans go awry and he's wrapped up in the middle of an impossibly hot three-way with a vampire and a complete stranger.
This is the introduction to Channeling Morpheus.
We meet Michael, who had the sole POV of this dark and sexy tale.
We learn about Scary Mary and why Michael decided to take up Vampire hunting.
And most importantly, we meet Wild Bill...
This book was ridiculously, unapologetically HOT and sets the dark tone which carries throughout the series.
Book Two - Vertigo
Hello flip POV!
He was vamp-heroin and he wanted to know f he tasted good. Unbelievable. "Look, you're great eye candy and all, but I can tell you'd be way too high-maintenance for someone like me. Besides, you've got that pointy hobby of yours. And I've got my special diet - humanitarianism."The first story in the Channeling Morpheus series was told first person from Michael's POV. He's a twenty-one year old goth kid turned ammeter vampire hunter. His best friend was killed by a group of vampires, and Michael set out to avenge her death. In the process of tracking down one of her killers, Ambrose Grey, Michael found himself entangled in someone else's vendetta.
Wild Bill.
Wild Bill was a twitchy, aggressively sexual fellow who wound up saving Michael's life that night. at the end of book one, Michael was left at a bus station, coming down from the rohypnol, with Wild Bill on the brain.
Imagine my surprise when I started this story to discover that Wild Bill held the sole POV. What an incredibly fascinating character. Turns out, Ambrose Grey was the Vampire who turned Wild Bill into a bloodsucker. He's been hunting down Grey with singular focus and Michael just so happened to wander into the scene.
Michael... Who Wild Bill can't stop thinking about.
Michael... Vampire heroin.
Michael... Who managed to track down Wild Bill and follow him into a feeding frenzy at a park in Minnesota.
The first thing Wild Bill has to do is get Michael away from the pack of hungry bloodsuckers who hunt willing prey in the park. The second thing he has to do is get the fuck away from this goth kid before he becomes completely attached...
Unfortunately, Michael is a temptation impossible to resist.
Luring Wild Bill with his body and blood...
Seems Michael set out to seduce Wild Bill, and when the Vampire's control shatters, we're treated to a gloriously sexy episode set in the dark woods...
The first book in this series was wonderfully hot.
This book was on fucking fire.
Wild Bill's deliciously deviant POV was an absolute pleasure - he's a perfect compliment to Michael.
Book Three - Manikin
A little bit darker & a lot more bloody...
"I'm going to keep hunting bad vampires."Things are heating up in this series. We were back to Michael's POV with this book and everyone's favorite goth kid amateur vampire hunter is in a tight spot.
He snorted. "And here I thought you'd rather be a dentist."
Fine. Mock. Better than him shutting down and going all quiet, like he'd been in the kitchen. "You can do it with me."
"My guidance counselor told me that my serial killer skills were totally lacking..."
When we open with this book, Michael is in the process of taking down a vampire named Marushka... Sort of... More like, she's divesting him of every inch of body hair with a straight-razor and he's not-so-patiently waiting for the rohypnol to kick in.
Naked, shivering, bald-assed, and chained to a bathtub with an unconscious vampire at his side.
That's how Wild Bill finds Michael for the first time since Minnesota when he was drugged by the little fucker and left inside a park bathroom to wait out the daylight.
Seems Wild Bill is always getting Michael out of tricky situations, even if the vampire pretends to exist in a world of complete nonchalance.
Marushka's, um... Dollhouse... was a particularly twisted scene... JCP has a gift for spinning gorgeous macabre details which get the reader absorbed into the story. I think I felt about as chilled as Michael when it finally hit home exactly how close he had come to being a permanent addition in her gory masterpiece.
Seems pretty obvious that Michael is going to get himself killed sooner rather than later if he continues hunting vampires with his clumsy execution. It also seems pretty obvious that Michael and Wild Bill should pair up to take down the vampires that go on murder sprees.
Well, it seems obvious to the reader, anyway...
And maybe even to Michael...
But Wild Bill won't join up without a fight.
Wild Bill is still trying to convince himself that he's only interested in Michael's body - his suddenly smooth and hairless body... The sex is increasing in intensity between the two, and it's obvious that Wild Bill is completely infatuated with Michael...
Once again, it seems obvious to the reader, anyway...
Wild Bill would never admit such a thing...
And Michael is awestruck and a little baffled by the attention...
There was a great deal more humor in this episode of the series - I laughed out loud several times. That's not to say that the previous episodes were devoid of humor, they weren't. I think the dark and twisted scene at Marushka's simply brought the playfulness into sharp relief.
Book Four - Tainted
We delve into the science of vampirism in this episode of Channeling Morpheus...
...but we also got a hefty dose of the warm fuzzies...
Michael. Deadly Michael.This episode was told from Wild Bill's POV, and I'm loving his character more with each book.
I'd been combing through my vocabulary for a word that meant lust-smacked. And skinless. And fucked up, and scared, and invincible. But I'd come up empty-handed.
All I could say was, "I love you, you know." Because that was about as close as I could come with words.
It's been several weeks since we left off with Michael and Wild Bill in Manikin. They've been traveling about the country in their van and fucking like bunnies...
Michael's body is a canvas of bruises and scabbed-over cuts where Wild Bill slices into his skin to feed. He's gotten thinner, his ribs are on show like a rock star heroin junkie... And that's with Wild Bill being careful with him.
It's a constant struggle for Wild bill to keep his control in check around Michael, and he's increasingly worried about his health, safety, and his humanity. It's no secret that Wild Bill resents being a vampire, and he doesn't want the same for Michael.
How can you prevent what you don't understand?
What exactly causes vampirism?
What transmits it, what exactly triggers the change?
Michael finds a researcher who has been studying vampires for more than half a century, and our boys go to pay him a little visit.
The man has answers, but not the ones Michael and Wild Bill were hoping for...
Lot's of sex and angst in this installment, all of it given a rough edge by Bill's gritty POV.
Book Five - Rebirth
Home is where the heart is...
Just, ya know, don't let your boyfriend drive a stake through it...
Listening to Wild Bill talk was like peeling an onion. Layer after layer of truth, wrapped in sarcasm, wrapped in truth, covered with a wry twist of his lips and a flippant delivery.Michael goes home to check in with his family for the first time since he set out to avenge Scary Mary's death.
He's been on the road,
Killed some Vampires,
Hooked up with Wild Bill,
and became an Almost-Vampire...
Not that he can share much of that information with his judgy, assholish family. To them, he returns as the filthy gay goth kid with no future prospects...
Seriously, around the time Michael's sister came into the picture I was all:
The horrible homecoming underscored the tenderness that Michael and Bill have cultivated between them. They're still hot and heavy (and oh so dirty) when the situation calls for it, but there's so much love in the air now.
There's about a million reasons why a romance between a Vampire and a Vampire Hunter shouldn't work out... But Michael and Bill make it work for them. It becomes clear that Michael won't be returning to his old life, but staying on the road isn't the most healthy lifestyle for them either.
Michael finds a Vampire Commune, and instead of putting on his murder pants for once, he's hoping that he and Bill can find a safe place to settle. A family of their choosing...
An awful lot went down in this story and almost all of it was spoilery...
But guess what? Before the end of this book, we learn Wild Bill's real name!
These books just flew by, and I can't wait to find out what happens next!
***Audiobook provided by the author in exchange for an honest review!
September 1, 2016
Lots of sex, fab narration by Gomez Pugh.
October 14, 2016
So, this probably would be better read individually with a bit of time between each section because the story is character oriented with the emphasis on sex as the meeting point between Michael and Wild Bill. It's great, hot, dirty sex, but it's a lot to take in.
Part 1: Payback
HOT. Gritty hookup ending with a new trail.
Part 2: Vertigo
Words unsaid, they were said. Another steamy segment of Michael and Wild Bill.
P.S. Sauce for the gander is sauce for the gander.
Part 3: Manikin
New town, new vampire to kill. This one rated pretty darn creepy. Nothing until this point really gave me the heebie jeebies, but yeah, this pegged the meter--classic horror. NICE. And Wild Bill and Michael are sexy as always.
Part 4: Tainted
Round and round we go--SURPRISE! This one has an interesting development or two in Bill and Michael's relationship, a sweetness that had been missing.
Part 5: Rebirth
This ends this part of the series in a good place with a sense of acceptance. Sometimes you try for things and they don't work out, but sometimes they do and that's why it's worth it.
I liked the characters and interested in reading where they go from here, but I need a break from the nookie.
Favorite passage:
Overall, UF vampire sex oriented stories.
3.5 stars rounded up for the voice resonance.
Bookie Nookie Erotic Lending Group loan.
I did my best to play it cool, but the gut-churning jealousy I’d been feeling turned to lust at the idea of my not-boyfriend killing someone just for touching me.
Part 1: Payback
HOT. Gritty hookup ending with a new trail.
Part 2: Vertigo
Words unsaid, they were said. Another steamy segment of Michael and Wild Bill.
P.S. Sauce for the gander is sauce for the gander.
Part 3: Manikin
New town, new vampire to kill. This one rated pretty darn creepy. Nothing until this point really gave me the heebie jeebies, but yeah, this pegged the meter--classic horror. NICE. And Wild Bill and Michael are sexy as always.
Part 4: Tainted
Round and round we go--SURPRISE! This one has an interesting development or two in Bill and Michael's relationship, a sweetness that had been missing.
Part 5: Rebirth
This ends this part of the series in a good place with a sense of acceptance. Sometimes you try for things and they don't work out, but sometimes they do and that's why it's worth it.
I liked the characters and interested in reading where they go from here, but I need a break from the nookie.
Favorite passage:
I flicked the tip of the match with my thumbnail, watched a couple of sparks drop toward the ground and fizzle out before they hit, and took a breath tinged with sulfur. There was a pause where maybe the flame would catch, maybe not, as if Fate needed a second to think about whether she’d give permission for a single lick of flame to come to life. And then the match head flared, bluish white, then bright yellow, and then flame.
Overall, UF vampire sex oriented stories.
3.5 stars rounded up for the voice resonance.
Bookie Nookie Erotic Lending Group loan.
Currently reading
July 18, 2015asdfghjkl!
Thanks to my friends for an awesome Buddy Read!
Thanks to my friends for an awesome Buddy Read!
wrote
April 1, 2015Once I was asked to make Payback (Channeling Morpheus 1) into a series, I plotted out the other four novelettes to be Michael's arc, his journey to discovering who he was and where he fit into the world. The subsequent 5 novellas (which will be a second paperback) is Wild Bill's arc.
January 18, 2017
3.5 vampy stars rounded down to 3 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR.
Well the vamp may be dead or is that undead?...but...
The libido lives on and on...
So let's start this round up with some full disclosure. While I do own the e-books. What I'm reviewing here are the audiobooks for what basically amounts to the first half of Jordan Castillo Price's series Channeling Morpheus. I was fortunate enough to attend GRL last October and it afforded me the opportunity to meet a number of authors among them were several whose writing I am particularly fond of and you guessed it JCP is on that list. So when I had the opportunity to listen to the first half of this series on audiobook...of course I grabbed it...I may be crazy but seriously...I'm not crazy enough to pass up an opportunity like this.
I'm an absolute Psycop addict but I've read and very much enjoyed other stories by this author. So I was definitely interested in this series...see ^^^above comment^^^ (I own the books). Now my only obligation here was to listen to the audiobook and I've done that, but I do apologize for having taken so long to get to them, I had certainly intended to listen to this much sooner, but as fate would have it or real life as it's otherwise known it did take me this long but Hey! Here I am!
I can't in all fairness say that I didn't enjoy the stories because...well...I did. I gave this series 3.5 stars for a rating and I'm going to say this was very much a subjective rating...there's a lot of sex it these stories...I mean seriously A LOT!!! and in all fairness I was warned of this by the author herself...thanks for that heads up by the way. I can't even say that I would have wanted less sex because honestly it was very much a part of Wild Bill and Michael's relationship dynamics...and there were some pretty steamy moments happening. But I would have really liked more story because this is one hella' interesting couple who manage to get themselves into some really interestingly bizarre situations. So yes, I will be reading the remainder of this series since to say the least I'm more than a little curious to see where the road leads these two.
Just a quick comment on the narrator Gomez Pugh. This was my first time listening to a book narrated by this particular narrator and I have to say I'm pretty damned impressed. I liked his interpretation of both Wild Bill and Michael...so much so that I have little doubt that when I read the remainder of the books Michael and Wild Bill's voices will somehow be very familiar to me.
So in summary what I got was a paranormal book with one hella' interesting vamp. I can't lie I really like Wild Bill and his considerably younger boyfriend who could probably give me some make-up tips. Some interesting and precarious situations that these two managed to get in and out of with their bodies...essentially in tact and some pretty hot and stress relieving bedroom activities that if you have younger or easily offended sensibilities in your home you might want to invest in some headphones before you listen to them. So that about sums it up...good times were had by all and I'm hoping to go back for more soon.
Well the vamp may be dead or is that undead?...but...
The libido lives on and on...
So let's start this round up with some full disclosure. While I do own the e-books. What I'm reviewing here are the audiobooks for what basically amounts to the first half of Jordan Castillo Price's series Channeling Morpheus. I was fortunate enough to attend GRL last October and it afforded me the opportunity to meet a number of authors among them were several whose writing I am particularly fond of and you guessed it JCP is on that list. So when I had the opportunity to listen to the first half of this series on audiobook...of course I grabbed it...I may be crazy but seriously...I'm not crazy enough to pass up an opportunity like this.
I'm an absolute Psycop addict but I've read and very much enjoyed other stories by this author. So I was definitely interested in this series...see ^^^above comment^^^ (I own the books). Now my only obligation here was to listen to the audiobook and I've done that, but I do apologize for having taken so long to get to them, I had certainly intended to listen to this much sooner, but as fate would have it or real life as it's otherwise known it did take me this long but Hey! Here I am!
I can't in all fairness say that I didn't enjoy the stories because...well...I did. I gave this series 3.5 stars for a rating and I'm going to say this was very much a subjective rating...there's a lot of sex it these stories...I mean seriously A LOT!!! and in all fairness I was warned of this by the author herself...thanks for that heads up by the way. I can't even say that I would have wanted less sex because honestly it was very much a part of Wild Bill and Michael's relationship dynamics...and there were some pretty steamy moments happening. But I would have really liked more story because this is one hella' interesting couple who manage to get themselves into some really interestingly bizarre situations. So yes, I will be reading the remainder of this series since to say the least I'm more than a little curious to see where the road leads these two.
Just a quick comment on the narrator Gomez Pugh. This was my first time listening to a book narrated by this particular narrator and I have to say I'm pretty damned impressed. I liked his interpretation of both Wild Bill and Michael...so much so that I have little doubt that when I read the remainder of the books Michael and Wild Bill's voices will somehow be very familiar to me.
So in summary what I got was a paranormal book with one hella' interesting vamp. I can't lie I really like Wild Bill and his considerably younger boyfriend who could probably give me some make-up tips. Some interesting and precarious situations that these two managed to get in and out of with their bodies...essentially in tact and some pretty hot and stress relieving bedroom activities that if you have younger or easily offended sensibilities in your home you might want to invest in some headphones before you listen to them. So that about sums it up...good times were had by all and I'm hoping to go back for more soon.
May 6, 2017
I was hesitant on starting this, as a couple of people kept telling me,it's all sex, little plot.
I can only imagine they had read the beginning and stopped.
Yes, there is sex, and yes it's right on page from the first, but it emphasizes and undercuts the relationship between Micheal and Wild Bill, and it leads somewhere. They are also some of the best written sex scenes i have read.
Micheal and Wild Bill profoundly, and literally, change each other/ In a relatively short amount of time who is the leader and who is the follower changes and twists ans subverts as they open up to each other. I found this incredibly romantic.
Update 06.05.17- even better the second time around, picked up on things I missed initially, Wild Bill and Micheal are probably my favourite m/m couple.
I can only imagine they had read the beginning and stopped.
Yes, there is sex, and yes it's right on page from the first, but it emphasizes and undercuts the relationship between Micheal and Wild Bill, and it leads somewhere. They are also some of the best written sex scenes i have read.
Micheal and Wild Bill profoundly, and literally, change each other/ In a relatively short amount of time who is the leader and who is the follower changes and twists ans subverts as they open up to each other. I found this incredibly romantic.
Update 06.05.17- even better the second time around, picked up on things I missed initially, Wild Bill and Micheal are probably my favourite m/m couple.
January 19, 2016
Awesome, awesome, AWESOME narrator! Story is pretty good, too.
August 17, 2011
I am devoted and addicted to Jordan Castillo Price. She can do no wrong. Her characters are memorable and original and are people I wish I knew in the real world, but I'm probably better off not knowing. Price combines so many of my favorite fictional attributes, and she does so in books that are too damn short! This book includes the first 5 of her Channeling Morpheus series. If you have read and loved anything by the author before, then break down and buy the book, as it is a much better deal than purchasing each of the stories separately.
These stories alternate perspective between Michael, the "homicidal eye-candy", and Wild Bill, a James Dean wannabe vampire. Michael just wants to track down and kill bad vampires. Wild Bill just wants Michael. These two together were perfect and I love that Price alternated the perspectives. I enjoyed seeing each character from inside the head of the other. I liked Michael slightly more than Bill, mostly because Michael is crazy and full of youthful idealism. I loved how both characters played off of eachother.
Each of the stories includes healthy doses of erotic scenes and some creepy foes.
Payback focuses on how Michael and Bill meet. This was my least favorite of the stories but it was still a wonderful introduction, full of promise. I think the largest reason why I would only rate 4 stars is that this first bit was lacking the connection I felt to the characters in the later stories, which is not really fair, I know. Until about half through the second story, I was not feeling the great connection, but still enjoying the story. Each of the others are worth 5 stars.
Vertigo is my favorite of the collection, mainly because Michael shines. I loved how his personality, determination (trickery), and intelligence broke through at the end.
Manikin was the first story with a truly horrific storyline and it creeped the hell out of me but I have a problem with dolls, no matter the origin or size.
In Tainted, some family members appeared and some questions were answered. Can't give more away.
Rebirth was an excellent final story. I loved how much things changed from when Bill and Michael first met.
The horror and urban fantasy elements never quite surpassed those in Price's PsyCop series, which makes sense as the word count here is quite a bit less. But the charm of the characters and their wanderings, being thieving vagabonds in need of a shower the majority of the time, was endearing in a different way. Highest recommendation.
These stories alternate perspective between Michael, the "homicidal eye-candy", and Wild Bill, a James Dean wannabe vampire. Michael just wants to track down and kill bad vampires. Wild Bill just wants Michael. These two together were perfect and I love that Price alternated the perspectives. I enjoyed seeing each character from inside the head of the other. I liked Michael slightly more than Bill, mostly because Michael is crazy and full of youthful idealism. I loved how both characters played off of eachother.
Each of the stories includes healthy doses of erotic scenes and some creepy foes.
Payback focuses on how Michael and Bill meet. This was my least favorite of the stories but it was still a wonderful introduction, full of promise. I think the largest reason why I would only rate 4 stars is that this first bit was lacking the connection I felt to the characters in the later stories, which is not really fair, I know. Until about half through the second story, I was not feeling the great connection, but still enjoying the story. Each of the others are worth 5 stars.
Vertigo is my favorite of the collection, mainly because Michael shines. I loved how his personality, determination (trickery), and intelligence broke through at the end.
Manikin was the first story with a truly horrific storyline and it creeped the hell out of me but I have a problem with dolls, no matter the origin or size.
In Tainted, some family members appeared and some questions were answered. Can't give more away.
Rebirth was an excellent final story. I loved how much things changed from when Bill and Michael first met.
The horror and urban fantasy elements never quite surpassed those in Price's PsyCop series, which makes sense as the word count here is quite a bit less. But the charm of the characters and their wanderings, being thieving vagabonds in need of a shower the majority of the time, was endearing in a different way. Highest recommendation.
May 25, 2014
So, there is not really lot going on in these 5 stories. There is sex. And then there is some more sex. And to top it off, there is mega-orgasm sex. After all, Michael is only 21, and has quite a lot of stamina! (hence the 4th star).
There is a kind-of Buffy story line going on in the beginning, and the two main characters are interesting to read about. And the sex is really well written, all of it (although not surprisingly sometimes a bit repetitive).
However… there is actually for me, shockingly, too much of a good thing. I found myself waiting for a bit more development outside the relationship-sphere.
There would be some really interesting stories in there after all, and it would be great to know more about the vampires and their world, but I might have to wait until story 6.
Which I will read of course, since the screwing is so good, and plentiful. Ah, the fickleness of a woman…
There is a kind-of Buffy story line going on in the beginning, and the two main characters are interesting to read about. And the sex is really well written, all of it (although not surprisingly sometimes a bit repetitive).
However… there is actually for me, shockingly, too much of a good thing. I found myself waiting for a bit more development outside the relationship-sphere.
There would be some really interesting stories in there after all, and it would be great to know more about the vampires and their world, but I might have to wait until story 6.
Which I will read of course, since the screwing is so good, and plentiful. Ah, the fickleness of a woman…
March 1, 2016
Review:
Everyone has a go-to, auto-buy author, and Jordan Castillo Price is one of mine. And her audio-books are one of my favourites because I REALLY love Gomez Pugh's narration. Even with that in mind I was a tad unsure about this one, it's not that I don't like vampires, I do, even the sparkly ones but they felt so done. I didn't want to listen to something that I've heard before or read before. I should have learnt my lesson with Magic Mansion, I think I've got to accept that if Jordan Castillo Price writes it, I'm going to love it.
This book (or these books, as this audio is actually a collection of the first five stories in the Channeling Morpheus series) are sexy. They are gritty, interesting, funny at times, and (I have to mention it again) sexy as hell.
I'm not sure if I liked Michael or Wild Bill best. I think probably Michael, he is very determined, I loved his spirit, his fight. He had an edge to him but also a naivety. He wasn't the seasoned vamp hunter who knew it all. He wasn't so fixed minded that he couldn't alter his thoughts and opinions but he also wasn't completely wet behind the ears. He could think on his feet, he didn't let himself get thrown by changes to situations he couldn't alter.
Wild Bill is almost his opposite. He seemed to be surviving, rather than living, to me. Something about Michael changed him though, brought out his protective side. It was kinda like trying to protect a hedgehog. I liked it though, I liked the dynamics between these two.
The story(ies) twists and turns. It manages to keep the physical storyline and the emotional one equal in importance. Both played an important part in what made this story great. Some of the scenes were strangely erotic - even when they weren't supposed to be. Well they probably were supposed to be, but not for the characters, just us readers. I mean, I should find Michael chained to the bath tub and - well read it, you'll see - it should be scary and I should be wanting him to escape (and I did), but it was also pretty damn erotic. Well, I thought so at least.
JCP has a way of writing characters that manage to be deadly romantic - without being at all romantic. I would much rather read these characters than a thousand super sickly sweet heart throbs stories, or a thousand sex-every-two-pages stories. To my mind the grittyness, the realness (yep, I know one's a vamp) of the characters is so much more...everything. Maybe I just even like my fantasy real? I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!! If you've not read this author yet, you really, really need to. She's amazing.
Review previously at bmbr.
Everyone has a go-to, auto-buy author, and Jordan Castillo Price is one of mine. And her audio-books are one of my favourites because I REALLY love Gomez Pugh's narration. Even with that in mind I was a tad unsure about this one, it's not that I don't like vampires, I do, even the sparkly ones but they felt so done. I didn't want to listen to something that I've heard before or read before. I should have learnt my lesson with Magic Mansion, I think I've got to accept that if Jordan Castillo Price writes it, I'm going to love it.
This book (or these books, as this audio is actually a collection of the first five stories in the Channeling Morpheus series) are sexy. They are gritty, interesting, funny at times, and (I have to mention it again) sexy as hell.
I'm not sure if I liked Michael or Wild Bill best. I think probably Michael, he is very determined, I loved his spirit, his fight. He had an edge to him but also a naivety. He wasn't the seasoned vamp hunter who knew it all. He wasn't so fixed minded that he couldn't alter his thoughts and opinions but he also wasn't completely wet behind the ears. He could think on his feet, he didn't let himself get thrown by changes to situations he couldn't alter.
Wild Bill is almost his opposite. He seemed to be surviving, rather than living, to me. Something about Michael changed him though, brought out his protective side. It was kinda like trying to protect a hedgehog. I liked it though, I liked the dynamics between these two.
The story(ies) twists and turns. It manages to keep the physical storyline and the emotional one equal in importance. Both played an important part in what made this story great. Some of the scenes were strangely erotic - even when they weren't supposed to be. Well they probably were supposed to be, but not for the characters, just us readers. I mean, I should find Michael chained to the bath tub and - well read it, you'll see - it should be scary and I should be wanting him to escape (and I did), but it was also pretty damn erotic. Well, I thought so at least.
JCP has a way of writing characters that manage to be deadly romantic - without being at all romantic. I would much rather read these characters than a thousand super sickly sweet heart throbs stories, or a thousand sex-every-two-pages stories. To my mind the grittyness, the realness (yep, I know one's a vamp) of the characters is so much more...everything. Maybe I just even like my fantasy real? I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!! If you've not read this author yet, you really, really need to. She's amazing.
Review previously at bmbr.
January 19, 2013
Adored this vampire serialisation from the incomparable Jordan Castillo Price. Some great edgy humour and seriously hot sex between vampire Wild Bill and goth-boy/vampire hunter Michael.
'I nearly jumped out of my skin when Bill knocked on the window. I rolled it down, and he propped himself on his elbows in the window opening. "I take your current state of unnakedness to mean that I can't interest you in a tumble."
"You can't solve everything by fucking." Shit. Had I actually said that? Out loud? What the hell was my problem?'
'I nearly jumped out of my skin when Bill knocked on the window. I rolled it down, and he propped himself on his elbows in the window opening. "I take your current state of unnakedness to mean that I can't interest you in a tumble."
"You can't solve everything by fucking." Shit. Had I actually said that? Out loud? What the hell was my problem?'
November 14, 2016
A series of sexual encounters between a vampire and a would-be vampire hunter. Lovely writing, interesting characters, but I wanted more plot and character development, and WAY less sex.
July 21, 2015
The stories: this series of short novelettes was originally set up as a serial, and all I can say is I'm thankful I got to read it all in one go, as this series is like a drug, or your favorite addiction. I'd have gone crazy with only little tidbits of Wild Bill and Michael. This set of books is more about Michael, and the next boxed set allows us to learn more about Wild Bill.Michael. A young, 21-yr-old, long-haired, eyeliner-wearing, silver-eyed gay goth boy.. Or man, I should say. He reads like an old soul for a young guy. And with good reason. He's on a mission. With hickory stakes and ketamine sewn into his leather jacket. He's a vampire-slayer, out for revenge against the creatures that took his beloved best friend from this world when he was only 18. Scary Mary. He's been out and about, fine tuning his search, capture, and kill abilities since.
Wild Bill. I first 'listened' to him in audio, and at first wasn't quite sure I liked the voice that was selected for him by narrator Gomez Pugh. The same narrator for the Psycop series. In fact Michael's narration voice is very similar to Vic's, but the similarity stops there. It doesn't take long, after hearing the whiskey-quiet voice of Wild Bill to realize this is a completely different series, but, in a good way. I think it took a few chapters for his voice to grow on me, as it didn't seem quite strong or harsh, or even seductive enough at first, but then it did.
Now on to the adventures. And blood. And sexy times. Oh my. LOTS of it! Blood AND adventure AND sexy times. Around every corner. Another surprise. Oh my. Who'd have thought it could work together quite like this?!? The imagery was VERY vivid, and the reader is left to wonder if these two could ever have common ground, or was it a hidden agenda on either of their part. Could Michael really separate in his mind the difference between Wild Bill, and other bloodsuckers? If so, how does he do it? Or can he? And can Wild Bill get beyond thinking of Michael as a young kid, and as FOOD? Really?!
This is a subtle yet 'in your face' thriller, with things jumping out at you every few chapters, as well as lots of blood and sex. I found myself at first taking sides, then embracing both these guys, and reading (or in this case listening) to this box set all in one sitting. VERY hawt. VERY addictive. VERY smart, psychological thriller.
Highly recommended. In this case, I'd get BOTH the narration AND the eBook as they both gave me a different pacing and feel for these two guys. You won't be sorry. BUT you'll want the next set at your disposal IMMEDIATELY. I actually had the second box set on preorder when I was approached and asked if I wanted to do a co-review. Answer? HECK YES!!
Wild Bill. I first 'listened' to him in audio, and at first wasn't quite sure I liked the voice that was selected for him by narrator Gomez Pugh. The same narrator for the Psycop series. In fact Michael's narration voice is very similar to Vic's, but the similarity stops there. It doesn't take long, after hearing the whiskey-quiet voice of Wild Bill to realize this is a completely different series, but, in a good way. I think it took a few chapters for his voice to grow on me, as it didn't seem quite strong or harsh, or even seductive enough at first, but then it did.
Now on to the adventures. And blood. And sexy times. Oh my. LOTS of it! Blood AND adventure AND sexy times. Around every corner. Another surprise. Oh my. Who'd have thought it could work together quite like this?!? The imagery was VERY vivid, and the reader is left to wonder if these two could ever have common ground, or was it a hidden agenda on either of their part. Could Michael really separate in his mind the difference between Wild Bill, and other bloodsuckers? If so, how does he do it? Or can he? And can Wild Bill get beyond thinking of Michael as a young kid, and as FOOD? Really?!
This is a subtle yet 'in your face' thriller, with things jumping out at you every few chapters, as well as lots of blood and sex. I found myself at first taking sides, then embracing both these guys, and reading (or in this case listening) to this box set all in one sitting. VERY hawt. VERY addictive. VERY smart, psychological thriller.
Highly recommended. In this case, I'd get BOTH the narration AND the eBook as they both gave me a different pacing and feel for these two guys. You won't be sorry. BUT you'll want the next set at your disposal IMMEDIATELY. I actually had the second box set on preorder when I was approached and asked if I wanted to do a co-review. Answer? HECK YES!!
January 24, 2019
What a fantastic spin on Vampires!
I was so lucky to enjoy the first 5 episodes of this wonderful series in audio and Gomez Pugh was fantastic. I guess I'm going to have to read the rest of them to myself :(
I was so lucky to enjoy the first 5 episodes of this wonderful series in audio and Gomez Pugh was fantastic. I guess I'm going to have to read the rest of them to myself :(
April 30, 2020
Five stars, five full stars.
Other reviewers have mentioned that there is a lot of sex in these novellas. I'll go a step farther and say these books are like 85-90% sex. But I don't think I've ever read an erotica (straight or queer) that managed so much character growth and plot progression with so little. Bill and Michael seem to work all their problems out in bed (or the van or the graveyard or the shower...........). But they work them out. They tackle tough issues and personal demons and I adored them, Bill especially. Despite all his jaded ennui, you could just feel his desperation for human warmth (and I don't just mean physical warmth).
This audiobook (which Gomez Pugh did an amazing job narrating) is a compilation of the first five short stories. It brings the story to a satisfying conclusion and a natural stopping point. I finished wanting more, but not feeling slighted to not have the next several books at my fingertips. In fact, I think I want to wait for them to come out in audio. I enjoyed the narration so much.
Again, five stars.
Other reviewers have mentioned that there is a lot of sex in these novellas. I'll go a step farther and say these books are like 85-90% sex. But I don't think I've ever read an erotica (straight or queer) that managed so much character growth and plot progression with so little. Bill and Michael seem to work all their problems out in bed (or the van or the graveyard or the shower...........). But they work them out. They tackle tough issues and personal demons and I adored them, Bill especially. Despite all his jaded ennui, you could just feel his desperation for human warmth (and I don't just mean physical warmth).
This audiobook (which Gomez Pugh did an amazing job narrating) is a compilation of the first five short stories. It brings the story to a satisfying conclusion and a natural stopping point. I finished wanting more, but not feeling slighted to not have the next several books at my fingertips. In fact, I think I want to wait for them to come out in audio. I enjoyed the narration so much.
Again, five stars.
January 29, 2016
Just when i thought i was well and truly done with vamps...I find a have an audible credit burning a hole in my account.
I am notoriously very choosy when it comes to audio books. They have to be a minimum of 5 hours long, to get my money's worth, and the narrator has to be male, (if i wanted a female narrator i would just read aloud to myself!) Also, the narrator mustn't just read, but perform the story, with lots of voices and dramatic pauses.
A friend recommended 'Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary" By Jordan Castillo Price. I have read several books by Jordan, and so at 7 and a half hours long, with a male narrator Gomez Pugh, i decided to spend my audible credit.
My what a good investment that turned out to be. 'Channeling Morpheus' began as a set of novellas, and were grouped for the audio version. I adored this audio book. I adored the narration and like all good series's, it left me wanting like a vampire needing a fix of the red stuff.
One of the things that has always tickled my fancy about Vampire romances is the connections between blood, sex and sensuality, and in this story i was not left wanting. There is a lot of well written, smoking hot M/M sex, but there is also a solid plot running through it too, which tied the two main characters Michael,-pretty, doe eyed, goth boy, vamp hunter, and Wild Bill, the smoky voiced, chain smoking, sex on a stick Vampire love interest, into one hell of a soulful bind.
I won't give any plot spoilers in this review, but I liked the little twists on what Michael had learned of vampires via Hollywood, and what the vamp 'reality' was. And i liked the layers of Bill's 'onion' like personality peeling back, as he realized Michael was someone he could trust, love even.
I am now stuck with a dilemma. Gomez Pugh's narration was SO GOOD. Do i buy the next set of novella's, grouped as ' A bitter taste of sweet oblivion' as e books and read now? Or do i wait patiently and hope that an audio book of it, with Gomez Pugh reading, will be out soon?
It can't come soon enough!
I am notoriously very choosy when it comes to audio books. They have to be a minimum of 5 hours long, to get my money's worth, and the narrator has to be male, (if i wanted a female narrator i would just read aloud to myself!) Also, the narrator mustn't just read, but perform the story, with lots of voices and dramatic pauses.
A friend recommended 'Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary" By Jordan Castillo Price. I have read several books by Jordan, and so at 7 and a half hours long, with a male narrator Gomez Pugh, i decided to spend my audible credit.
My what a good investment that turned out to be. 'Channeling Morpheus' began as a set of novellas, and were grouped for the audio version. I adored this audio book. I adored the narration and like all good series's, it left me wanting like a vampire needing a fix of the red stuff.
One of the things that has always tickled my fancy about Vampire romances is the connections between blood, sex and sensuality, and in this story i was not left wanting. There is a lot of well written, smoking hot M/M sex, but there is also a solid plot running through it too, which tied the two main characters Michael,-pretty, doe eyed, goth boy, vamp hunter, and Wild Bill, the smoky voiced, chain smoking, sex on a stick Vampire love interest, into one hell of a soulful bind.
I won't give any plot spoilers in this review, but I liked the little twists on what Michael had learned of vampires via Hollywood, and what the vamp 'reality' was. And i liked the layers of Bill's 'onion' like personality peeling back, as he realized Michael was someone he could trust, love even.
I am now stuck with a dilemma. Gomez Pugh's narration was SO GOOD. Do i buy the next set of novella's, grouped as ' A bitter taste of sweet oblivion' as e books and read now? Or do i wait patiently and hope that an audio book of it, with Gomez Pugh reading, will be out soon?
It can't come soon enough!
September 11, 2016
I started off with Magic Mansion and moved into PsyCop by Jordan Castillo Price. I almost passed up Channeling Morpheus because it was a vampire book and I thought that I was through with that phase. (insert eye roll at myself)
I was so wrong. I listened it because is was JCP. She doesn't do "Typical", she does gritty, edgy, sexy (lots of sexy) with a dash of humor and a depth to her characters that draws me in and keeps me invested in their story from the first word to the last. I enjoyed her take on vampire lore. There are aspects we all recognize and it could be considered horror, but it is a romance too. I loved the way Wild Bill and Michael's relationship evolved. There is a lot of sex, but it is part of who Wild Bill and Michael are and changes as their relationship changes. The narration by Gomez Pugh is outstanding. Listening to him change from Wild Bill to Michael and the various other characters is amazing. Definitely one of my favorite narrators.
I can't wait until the next box set A Bitter taste of Sweet Oblivion is on audio.
I was so wrong. I listened it because is was JCP. She doesn't do "Typical", she does gritty, edgy, sexy (lots of sexy) with a dash of humor and a depth to her characters that draws me in and keeps me invested in their story from the first word to the last. I enjoyed her take on vampire lore. There are aspects we all recognize and it could be considered horror, but it is a romance too. I loved the way Wild Bill and Michael's relationship evolved. There is a lot of sex, but it is part of who Wild Bill and Michael are and changes as their relationship changes. The narration by Gomez Pugh is outstanding. Listening to him change from Wild Bill to Michael and the various other characters is amazing. Definitely one of my favorite narrators.
I can't wait until the next box set A Bitter taste of Sweet Oblivion is on audio.
November 18, 2016
Everyone is going to think I'm a freak!
This was good! Hell, it had a sexy vampire and a man in eyeliner, what's not to like? The thing is, this is a collection of a serialized story, which were originally released 2 months apart and I think the stories benefit from a few weeks between reading.
After reading the first three right in a row, I spaced the other 2 out because reading them straight through, it was almost like a non-stop fuckfest.
It wasn't as appealing as it sounds. Yeah! I was surprised too!
And while in real life sex doesn't become tedious (At least, not if you're doing it right!) in books it's kind of like go-carts. Once you have a drivers license, they loose some of their appeal.
So, while a collection of hot little reads, do yourself a favor and read something else in-between each installment.
This was good! Hell, it had a sexy vampire and a man in eyeliner, what's not to like? The thing is, this is a collection of a serialized story, which were originally released 2 months apart and I think the stories benefit from a few weeks between reading.
After reading the first three right in a row, I spaced the other 2 out because reading them straight through, it was almost like a non-stop fuckfest.
It wasn't as appealing as it sounds. Yeah! I was surprised too!
And while in real life sex doesn't become tedious (At least, not if you're doing it right!) in books it's kind of like go-carts. Once you have a drivers license, they loose some of their appeal.
So, while a collection of hot little reads, do yourself a favor and read something else in-between each installment.
May 5, 2016
Audible Edition
This is an amazing book and one of my favorite vamp pairings of all time! Michael and Wild Bill set pages, or in this case, my ears on fire. It’s erotic, twisted, funny, dark, sad and sweet all rolled in together.
Gomez Pugh’s narration has exceeded all of my expectations. The story is told with alternating POV’s and both Michael and Wild Bill have very distinct and clear voices. With Michael, I can almost feel his sadness and determination and with Wild Bill’s voice? Oh, how I love Wild Bill’s voice. I could listen to him recite a dictionary.
Jordan Castillo Price’s writing is engaging as ever and she has created something very special in Michael and Wild Bill. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes sexy supernatural stories with a little edge to them.
**This audiobook was provided by by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
This is an amazing book and one of my favorite vamp pairings of all time! Michael and Wild Bill set pages, or in this case, my ears on fire. It’s erotic, twisted, funny, dark, sad and sweet all rolled in together.
Gomez Pugh’s narration has exceeded all of my expectations. The story is told with alternating POV’s and both Michael and Wild Bill have very distinct and clear voices. With Michael, I can almost feel his sadness and determination and with Wild Bill’s voice? Oh, how I love Wild Bill’s voice. I could listen to him recite a dictionary.
Jordan Castillo Price’s writing is engaging as ever and she has created something very special in Michael and Wild Bill. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes sexy supernatural stories with a little edge to them.
**This audiobook was provided by by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
August 15, 2011
This is a great little series of shorts. I don't like it quote as much as her PsyCop series, but I think that's just because of te length. I like to have shorts to read but these were well developed andconplex and could certainly have been full-length if she'd wanted. This series continues as Sweet Oblivion which is just as good.
May 24, 2015
Gotta keep this short. I read the Series a few months ago and was curious about the audiobook. I mostly liked it, but for some reason I enjoyed the read version than the audio one.
If you love hot vamps and you haven't read/listened to Channeling Morpheus do yourself a favor and pick this up immediately. It's fun, hot, and so darn good! You will not regret this ;)
If you love hot vamps and you haven't read/listened to Channeling Morpheus do yourself a favor and pick this up immediately. It's fun, hot, and so darn good! You will not regret this ;)
January 10, 2020
Story: 4 stars
Loved it! Interesting & kind of creepy. Too many sex scenes for my taste, but JCP writes them so well I couldn't even be bothered.
Audio: 5 stars
Gomez Pugh could read household appliance manuals to me and I would listen.
Loved it! Interesting & kind of creepy. Too many sex scenes for my taste, but JCP writes them so well I couldn't even be bothered.
Audio: 5 stars
Gomez Pugh could read household appliance manuals to me and I would listen.
April 3, 2016
Not being a fan of vamp novels I missed that part as an impulse buy. That said it was OK
March 7, 2010
In recent years, I have not really been a vampire fan. It's a truth that's hard to spot, given that I continue to read the Anita Blake and the Southern Vampire books and True Blood is still appointment watching for me, but it's true, even so. A good story will always suck me in, but a vamp story will seldom get a second look from me to even find out if it's good.
Which is why it was both a surprise and delight that I enjoyed reading Jordan Castillo Price's Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary so much. Though I generally try to approach all books with an open mind and heart, I'll confess that I came to this one really expecting to dislike it. I haven't had the best of look finding m/m books that I enjoy, lately, and between the vamp thing and everything else, I was feeling pretty cynical about the whole thing. So JCP had a lot of prejudice on my part to overcome and the fact that I did enjoy the book as much as I did is a testament to how hard JCP worked to involve and enmesh me in the world she'd created. Successfully.
I think I might have felt somewhat less satisfied, as a reader, if I hadn't come into the book knowing that it was an omnibus of five novellas that had been published separated; read as a single whole, there was some transitional choppiness from one novella to the next and that could've been confusing and/or irritating if I hadn't come in with that previous knowledge.
I also thought that Wild Bill felt like a pretty blatant Spike (BtVS) rip-off, look to feel. But neither of those really minor mental stumbles was enough to overshadow the story that Price was telling or my interest in it.
I liked Michael; he was the right balance of bravado and vulnerable for his age and character; his stubbornness and determination, even when scared and in over his head (which he frequently was) won me over. He didn't spend a lot of time hand-wringing and brow-clutching; he was always very action-oriented, practical and yet, not afraid to cop to his feelings or to let himself be protected or feel protected when necessary. I liked Bill, who was not an all-seeing, all-knowing slick Euro-vamp, but instead a being trapped physiologically—and arguably mentally—at an age not much older than Michael and just as scared and uncertain beneath a similar veneer of jaded bravado.
Though each novella was, perhaps, fairly predictable, I never had a strong sense of where the greater story arc was going and I love that uncertainty. I don't want to be certain of where the story is going and, though I felt reasonably sure that Michael and Bill would end up happy in the for-now sense of an HEA, I was entirely interested in how that would happen and how that happiness would be engineered.
On the other hand, I do wish Price had taken the time to perhaps flesh out each story a little more. The character of Mary is, in theory, so integral to Michael; his best (and seemingly, only) friend, the one from whose death all Michael's subsequent actions spring. She felt like a gun on the table that was underused. Not that I would've wanted Mary to show up as a vamp later; I think that would've been trite and overdone. But I think I would've liked to have seen more of who Michael was, and that would've required Mary.
Which leads into my next thought; though I loved the book and I loved Michael and Bill, I felt like JCP's vision was a little myopic when it came to anyone outside of them. Other people were only characterized thinly, shallowly, and Price's prose—which was otherwise blunt and interesting—seemed to fall down and become more confused when she was juggling more than two characters. More than once, I felt confused as to what was physically happening and though I could piece it together, it stood out from the rest of the time, when she painted the picture of Michael and Bill so vividly.
I think most of all, I really loved Price's voice for the book and her style in general. It was blunt and unsentimental while still being emotional. It read perfectly for the characters and for the overall tenor of the book. There was a palpable sense of both Bill and Michael's isolation and their fringe existence—separately and together—set apart from the bright teem of 'normal' society. There was an equally vivid sense of how both Bill and Michael were looking for connection while simultaneously—especially in Bill's case—being afraid of it. Those emotions are not things a reader—or, more fairly, I, as a reader, want to be told. They're things that need to come through relatively sub-textually, through voice and setting and action and I felt like Price nailed it.
More, I felt a real and present sense of regret when I reached the end of the book, wanting to read more, know more, see more. There's nothing better or more satisfying that an author can do for me.
Which is why it was both a surprise and delight that I enjoyed reading Jordan Castillo Price's Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary so much. Though I generally try to approach all books with an open mind and heart, I'll confess that I came to this one really expecting to dislike it. I haven't had the best of look finding m/m books that I enjoy, lately, and between the vamp thing and everything else, I was feeling pretty cynical about the whole thing. So JCP had a lot of prejudice on my part to overcome and the fact that I did enjoy the book as much as I did is a testament to how hard JCP worked to involve and enmesh me in the world she'd created. Successfully.
I think I might have felt somewhat less satisfied, as a reader, if I hadn't come into the book knowing that it was an omnibus of five novellas that had been published separated; read as a single whole, there was some transitional choppiness from one novella to the next and that could've been confusing and/or irritating if I hadn't come in with that previous knowledge.
I also thought that Wild Bill felt like a pretty blatant Spike (BtVS) rip-off, look to feel. But neither of those really minor mental stumbles was enough to overshadow the story that Price was telling or my interest in it.
I liked Michael; he was the right balance of bravado and vulnerable for his age and character; his stubbornness and determination, even when scared and in over his head (which he frequently was) won me over. He didn't spend a lot of time hand-wringing and brow-clutching; he was always very action-oriented, practical and yet, not afraid to cop to his feelings or to let himself be protected or feel protected when necessary. I liked Bill, who was not an all-seeing, all-knowing slick Euro-vamp, but instead a being trapped physiologically—and arguably mentally—at an age not much older than Michael and just as scared and uncertain beneath a similar veneer of jaded bravado.
Though each novella was, perhaps, fairly predictable, I never had a strong sense of where the greater story arc was going and I love that uncertainty. I don't want to be certain of where the story is going and, though I felt reasonably sure that Michael and Bill would end up happy in the for-now sense of an HEA, I was entirely interested in how that would happen and how that happiness would be engineered.
On the other hand, I do wish Price had taken the time to perhaps flesh out each story a little more. The character of Mary is, in theory, so integral to Michael; his best (and seemingly, only) friend, the one from whose death all Michael's subsequent actions spring. She felt like a gun on the table that was underused. Not that I would've wanted Mary to show up as a vamp later; I think that would've been trite and overdone. But I think I would've liked to have seen more of who Michael was, and that would've required Mary.
Which leads into my next thought; though I loved the book and I loved Michael and Bill, I felt like JCP's vision was a little myopic when it came to anyone outside of them. Other people were only characterized thinly, shallowly, and Price's prose—which was otherwise blunt and interesting—seemed to fall down and become more confused when she was juggling more than two characters. More than once, I felt confused as to what was physically happening and though I could piece it together, it stood out from the rest of the time, when she painted the picture of Michael and Bill so vividly.
I think most of all, I really loved Price's voice for the book and her style in general. It was blunt and unsentimental while still being emotional. It read perfectly for the characters and for the overall tenor of the book. There was a palpable sense of both Bill and Michael's isolation and their fringe existence—separately and together—set apart from the bright teem of 'normal' society. There was an equally vivid sense of how both Bill and Michael were looking for connection while simultaneously—especially in Bill's case—being afraid of it. Those emotions are not things a reader—or, more fairly, I, as a reader, want to be told. They're things that need to come through relatively sub-textually, through voice and setting and action and I felt like Price nailed it.
More, I felt a real and present sense of regret when I reached the end of the book, wanting to read more, know more, see more. There's nothing better or more satisfying that an author can do for me.
June 24, 2015
The stories: this series of short novelettes was originally set up as a serial, and all I can say is I'm thankful I got to read it all in one go, as this series is like a drug, or your favorite addiction. I'd have gone crazy with only little tidbits of Wild Bill and Michael. This set of books is more about Michael, and the next boxed set allows us to learn more about Wild Bill.Michael. A young, 21-yr-old, long-haired, eyeliner-wearing, silver-eyed gay goth boy.. Or man, I should say. He reads like an old soul for a young guy. And with good reason. He's on a mission. With hickory stakes and ketamine sewn into his leather jacket. He's a vampire-slayer, out for revenge against the creatures that took his beloved best friend from this world when he was only 18. Scary Mary. He's been out and about, fine tuning his search, capture, and kill abilities since.
Wild Bill. I first 'listened' to him in audio, and at first wasn't quite sure I liked the voice that was selected for him by narrator Gomez Pugh. The same narrator for the Psycop series. In fact Michael's narration voice is very similar to Vic's, but the similarity stops there. It doesn't take long, after hearing the whiskey-quiet voice of Wild Bill to realize this is a completely different series, but, in a good way. I think it took a few chapters for his voice to grow on me, as it didn't seem quite strong or harsh, or even seductive enough at first, but then it did.
Now on to the adventures. And blood. And sexy times. Oh my. LOTS of it! Blood AND adventure AND sexy times. Around every corner. Another surprise. Oh my. Who'd have thought it could work together quite like this?!? The imagery was VERY vivid, and the reader is left to wonder if these two could ever have common ground, or was it a hidden agenda on either of their part. Could Michael really separate in his mind the difference between Wild Bill, and other bloodsuckers? If so, how does he do it? Or can he? And can Wild Bill get beyond thinking of Michael as a young kid, and as FOOD? Really?!
This is a subtle yet 'in your face' thriller, with things jumping out at you every few chapters, as well as lots of blood and sex. I found myself at first taking sides, then embracing both these guys, and reading (or in this case listening) to this box set all in one sitting. VERY hawt. VERY addictive. VERY smart, psychological thriller.
Highly recommended. In this case, I'd get BOTH the narration AND the eBook as they both gave me a different pacing and feel for these two guys. You won't be sorry. BUT you'll want the next set at your disposal IMMEDIATELY. I actually had the second box set on preorder when I was approached and asked if I wanted to do a co-review. Answer? HECK YES!!
Wild Bill. I first 'listened' to him in audio, and at first wasn't quite sure I liked the voice that was selected for him by narrator Gomez Pugh. The same narrator for the Psycop series. In fact Michael's narration voice is very similar to Vic's, but the similarity stops there. It doesn't take long, after hearing the whiskey-quiet voice of Wild Bill to realize this is a completely different series, but, in a good way. I think it took a few chapters for his voice to grow on me, as it didn't seem quite strong or harsh, or even seductive enough at first, but then it did.
Now on to the adventures. And blood. And sexy times. Oh my. LOTS of it! Blood AND adventure AND sexy times. Around every corner. Another surprise. Oh my. Who'd have thought it could work together quite like this?!? The imagery was VERY vivid, and the reader is left to wonder if these two could ever have common ground, or was it a hidden agenda on either of their part. Could Michael really separate in his mind the difference between Wild Bill, and other bloodsuckers? If so, how does he do it? Or can he? And can Wild Bill get beyond thinking of Michael as a young kid, and as FOOD? Really?!
This is a subtle yet 'in your face' thriller, with things jumping out at you every few chapters, as well as lots of blood and sex. I found myself at first taking sides, then embracing both these guys, and reading (or in this case listening) to this box set all in one sitting. VERY hawt. VERY addictive. VERY smart, psychological thriller.
Highly recommended. In this case, I'd get BOTH the narration AND the eBook as they both gave me a different pacing and feel for these two guys. You won't be sorry. BUT you'll want the next set at your disposal IMMEDIATELY. I actually had the second box set on preorder when I was approached and asked if I wanted to do a co-review. Answer? HECK YES!!
February 16, 2014
Si bien leí las 5 novelas por separado, me resulta más acertado puntuar la saga como una unidad, al menos esta primera parte. Los vampiros han sido fuente histórica de inspiración para variados estilos artísticos, con muy dispares resultados. Algunas expresiones han sido tan memorables y originales, que sirvieron de vara y guía para un sinfín de otras (como Anne Rice y sus perturbadores vampiros setentistas, o Whedon con su inigualable Buffy). Pero otras han sido una completa y absoluta abominación. Lo mismo sucede con los zombies, por ejemplo. Por lo cual, es muy raro encontrar una nueva historia vampírica que sea original, y genere ese clima truculento, oscuro, medio tenebroso pero a la vez seductor, que para mí está indefectiblemente asociado con estos seres chupasangre.
En esta primera parte de la aventura de Michael -el obsesivo cazador de vampiros asesinos- y Wild Bill -el seductor vampiro reacio a asesinar-, su autora logra precisamente eso. Alternando entre los puntos de vista de ambos protagonistas, construye un universo atípico dentro de lo esperado. Michael sólo quiere rastrear y matar vampiros crueles. Wild Bill sólo quiere a Michael. Y lo que sabemos de uno es a través de la mirada del otro. Hay muerte, escenas de tortura y asesinato, y mucha pero mucha sangre. Pero también incluye una saludable dosis de escenas eróticas, cargadas de tensión sexual y un deseo posiblemente basado en un amor atípico que fácilmente se confunde con la atracción que todo vampiro siempre parece generar, en el medio de enemigos espeluznantes.
Jordan demuestra que, siempre que se respete y conozca la tradición de un subgénero cualquiera, es posible ofrecer una historia original, fuerte y que te afecta los sentidos. En cuanto me sea posible, continuaré acompañando a Mikey y Bill en su perturbador viaje.
En esta primera parte de la aventura de Michael -el obsesivo cazador de vampiros asesinos- y Wild Bill -el seductor vampiro reacio a asesinar-, su autora logra precisamente eso. Alternando entre los puntos de vista de ambos protagonistas, construye un universo atípico dentro de lo esperado. Michael sólo quiere rastrear y matar vampiros crueles. Wild Bill sólo quiere a Michael. Y lo que sabemos de uno es a través de la mirada del otro. Hay muerte, escenas de tortura y asesinato, y mucha pero mucha sangre. Pero también incluye una saludable dosis de escenas eróticas, cargadas de tensión sexual y un deseo posiblemente basado en un amor atípico que fácilmente se confunde con la atracción que todo vampiro siempre parece generar, en el medio de enemigos espeluznantes.
Jordan demuestra que, siempre que se respete y conozca la tradición de un subgénero cualquiera, es posible ofrecer una historia original, fuerte y que te afecta los sentidos. En cuanto me sea posible, continuaré acompañando a Mikey y Bill en su perturbador viaje.
September 1, 2011
To everyone coming into this story and expecting another PsyCop-like series, you are warned: this is nothing like it. The Channeling Morpheus /Sweet Oblivion series is not urban fantasy. It's erotic horror. The focus is mainly on the sex. Very hot sex might I add, but a strong plot line and in depth characterization is not on the menu.
But that's not to say the series isn't engaging. I really liked the compilation of short stories about Michael and Wild Bill. I liked their physical and figurative journey, I liked their relationship dynamic, I loved the fact how we got to learn bits and pieces about them with each book and I loved how JCP makes it so that the cynical, juvenile, alcoholic vampire seems to be the most sane of the two men.
This series was dark, different and scorching hot. I just wish it wasn't an erotica series, because there seems to be so much more to the world of Michael and Wild Bill.
#1 Payback: 3 stars
#2 Vertigo: 4 stars
#3 Manikin: 3,5 stars
#4 Tainted: 4 stars
#5 Rebirth: 4 stars
#5,5 Heaven Sent: 3 stars
On to Sweet Oblivion.
But that's not to say the series isn't engaging. I really liked the compilation of short stories about Michael and Wild Bill. I liked their physical and figurative journey, I liked their relationship dynamic, I loved the fact how we got to learn bits and pieces about them with each book and I loved how JCP makes it so that the cynical, juvenile, alcoholic vampire seems to be the most sane of the two men.
This series was dark, different and scorching hot. I just wish it wasn't an erotica series, because there seems to be so much more to the world of Michael and Wild Bill.
#1 Payback: 3 stars
#2 Vertigo: 4 stars
#3 Manikin: 3,5 stars
#4 Tainted: 4 stars
#5 Rebirth: 4 stars
#5,5 Heaven Sent: 3 stars
On to Sweet Oblivion.
April 20, 2015
Goddamit but these were addictive. I read them all in one go, because I could not stop. No, wait I lie; infact I did have a bit of a start stop situation going on as I decided to start these in work, in the canteen, at lunchtime and had to abort because SO VERY HOT!
Now, everybody and their mothers know how much I love vampires (mostly of the non sparkly variety) so this story really intrigued me, especially since every one of my Ibuddies was raving about them.
And I did I loved the series; it is sexy as hell, and the MCs are giving me a headache because I can't decide which one I love the most - today is Wild Bill, tomorrow is Michael - you get the picture, and the vampires are super cool (I still surprise myself with how articulate I am when I write these things)BUT the thing I like the most about the books is that I find incredibly romantic - even with the gory/gritty bits.
I'll be reading the next 5 booklets soon but given that I inhaled the first 5, I am going to wait a bit so I have got something to look forward too.
This JCP fest I am on at the moment? TOTALLY worth it!
Now, everybody and their mothers know how much I love vampires (mostly of the non sparkly variety) so this story really intrigued me, especially since every one of my Ibuddies was raving about them.
And I did I loved the series; it is sexy as hell, and the MCs are giving me a headache because I can't decide which one I love the most - today is Wild Bill, tomorrow is Michael - you get the picture, and the vampires are super cool (I still surprise myself with how articulate I am when I write these things)BUT the thing I like the most about the books is that I find incredibly romantic - even with the gory/gritty bits.
I'll be reading the next 5 booklets soon but given that I inhaled the first 5, I am going to wait a bit so I have got something to look forward too.
This JCP fest I am on at the moment? TOTALLY worth it!
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