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Desperate Moon
Countess Katerina Vaduva roams Eastern Europe as a vampire for nearly six hundred years experiencing the horrors of mortal man - wars, plagues, genocide and torture. For centuries, she seeks shelter and security in the castles of counts and sultans. When her husband the Count of Slovakia passes, she pursues a new life with a colonel in the Prussian military. While her husband quests victory at battle, Katerina desires a naturalist scientist who seduces her with knowledge and a greater understanding of herself. It is for immortal love and the pursuit of progress she will risk her own mortality.
402 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2015
9 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Ott
40 books51 followersSince my childhood, my imagination always got the best of me. Yes, I had an imaginary friend, talked to the shadows in my bedroom and dreamed and played exotic adventures. I never thought much of reading or writing until I watched the movie, Bridge on the River Kwai. At age twelve, I was completely taken with the intrigue and the human drama. Afterward, I started my first novel (never to be seen, thankfully).
It was my eighth grade English teacher who suggested a career in journalism; however I decided to pursue a career in fashion - big mistake. It has been a hard, painful journey back on path to my true passion - writing stories that affect the human condition and situations.
After graduating college with a degree in fashion design and fine arts, I moved to New York City where I studied screen writing with the Gotham Writer's group and attended NYU part-time studying filmmaking and acting. Learning how to write screenplays taught me how to write tight storylines and acting helped master dialog.
Living in New York City, inflicted with credit card debt, impassioned me to write my first non-fiction satire, Ooh Baby Compound Me which compares the credit card industry to fraternity hazing. Bad dating experiences inspired Wild Horses and eventually after much research - Love and Handicapping. My book, The Tourist reflects the dreamer's plight in an overly commercial and corporate world which many can relate.
Saying Goodbye, What the World Doesn't Know, I can only say was channeled by from an unknown source. I became consumed by a real-life love story and felt compelled to write. The repressed eighth grade journalist arose and I dug deep into uncovering a hidden love story. The same force encouraged The Insurrectionist - a story so powerful and intense, it had to be told. After writing The Insurrection I needed something light and fun was desperately needed - One with the Wind.
Throughout the years, I have learned stories are a dime a dozen, characters can blend into one and the same dialog can be repeated in many different ways, but the best writing comes from what we are most passionate. If the story compels the writer to near madness, it is a story that must be written.
It was my eighth grade English teacher who suggested a career in journalism; however I decided to pursue a career in fashion - big mistake. It has been a hard, painful journey back on path to my true passion - writing stories that affect the human condition and situations.
After graduating college with a degree in fashion design and fine arts, I moved to New York City where I studied screen writing with the Gotham Writer's group and attended NYU part-time studying filmmaking and acting. Learning how to write screenplays taught me how to write tight storylines and acting helped master dialog.
Living in New York City, inflicted with credit card debt, impassioned me to write my first non-fiction satire, Ooh Baby Compound Me which compares the credit card industry to fraternity hazing. Bad dating experiences inspired Wild Horses and eventually after much research - Love and Handicapping. My book, The Tourist reflects the dreamer's plight in an overly commercial and corporate world which many can relate.
Saying Goodbye, What the World Doesn't Know, I can only say was channeled by from an unknown source. I became consumed by a real-life love story and felt compelled to write. The repressed eighth grade journalist arose and I dug deep into uncovering a hidden love story. The same force encouraged The Insurrectionist - a story so powerful and intense, it had to be told. After writing The Insurrection I needed something light and fun was desperately needed - One with the Wind.
Throughout the years, I have learned stories are a dime a dozen, characters can blend into one and the same dialog can be repeated in many different ways, but the best writing comes from what we are most passionate. If the story compels the writer to near madness, it is a story that must be written.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 6, 2017
This story took me by surprise. I’m a huge fan of paranormal romance, and I love vampire stories. This one is really different. Katerina is a 600 year old vampire with some of the powers and abilities of the typical fictional vampire. She also has some of the problems. The blood lust, of course, and she can’t be seen in a mirror. Other than that, this isn’t a typical vampire story at all.
It is so atypical that I’m not quite sure what to think. This story is more of an essay, or rather a comparison, a study of human inhumanity to other humans. Is a vampire who needs blood to live and takes lives of the desperate, the lonely, the hopeless really more monstrous that an army that conscripts young men, rips them from their families for near certain death on a battlefield? That’s only one of the important questions explored by this author.
The author examines the role of religion in instilling fear and superstion into the minds and hearts of the uneducated masses. I was particularly moved by her descriptions of a mob willing to kill a vampire who had lived among them for years without doing harm, while tolerating an army that had just invaded and conquered their country.
This is a very smart book. Thoughtful and insightful. I had a few issues. There were a few too many scenes of Katerina wondering in the forrest, basking in her ability to change locations with a single thought. There was a bit too much of Seigred’s ruminations over his experiments. My worst issue though was over the poorly formatted copy I received for review. In two different places, whole chapters were repeated, leaving me searching to see if chapters were missing. I don’t think there were missing chapters, but it interrupted the flow of the story badly.
Over all, I enjoyed this story, and I think many of you will too. Pick up a copy and...
Enjoy!
2shay (From the blog chezshayonline)
It is so atypical that I’m not quite sure what to think. This story is more of an essay, or rather a comparison, a study of human inhumanity to other humans. Is a vampire who needs blood to live and takes lives of the desperate, the lonely, the hopeless really more monstrous that an army that conscripts young men, rips them from their families for near certain death on a battlefield? That’s only one of the important questions explored by this author.
The author examines the role of religion in instilling fear and superstion into the minds and hearts of the uneducated masses. I was particularly moved by her descriptions of a mob willing to kill a vampire who had lived among them for years without doing harm, while tolerating an army that had just invaded and conquered their country.
This is a very smart book. Thoughtful and insightful. I had a few issues. There were a few too many scenes of Katerina wondering in the forrest, basking in her ability to change locations with a single thought. There was a bit too much of Seigred’s ruminations over his experiments. My worst issue though was over the poorly formatted copy I received for review. In two different places, whole chapters were repeated, leaving me searching to see if chapters were missing. I don’t think there were missing chapters, but it interrupted the flow of the story badly.
Over all, I enjoyed this story, and I think many of you will too. Pick up a copy and...
Enjoy!
2shay (From the blog chezshayonline)
February 5, 2016
This book is a good read for anybody. It's not necessarily for vampire lovers. You get a little of everything. You get some history, mystery, politics,science and of course, a little romance. The author has written a vampire story with a different approach. The book is basically about Katerina and her life as a vampire. The reader follows her as she stalks both victims and lovers. I don't normally care for vampire stories but this one with it's fresh approach along with the additions of so many other components was an interesting read. The author has woven a web of a combination of so many elements that you will turn the pages with wonder as to what will be next. The reader becomes so fascinated following Katerina and the other characters that you don't want to set the book down. This is a 600 year old vampire. The setting is the 1800's and Katerina is married to an Army colonel. His only interest is wars. She then meets a doctor who is doing research in illnesses that are blood related. He becomes interested in her when he sees she heals remarkably fast. He wants to study her blood. From the moment you see the cover, which is quite an attention getter, until you have turned all the pages, you will be waiting on the edge of your seat to see what Katerina will face next. I found that I was really fascinated with this book. I found a wanted some more when I finished. Perhaps there will be another book in the making. Hope so!
I was given a complimentary copy of DESPERATE MOON from the author, Jennifer Ott for my unbiased view of the book. No other compensation took place.
I was given a complimentary copy of DESPERATE MOON from the author, Jennifer Ott for my unbiased view of the book. No other compensation took place.
April 10, 2016
I received a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Instantly smacked of loneliness. The much younger wife of an older man, who has died and the rest of his family ignore her. I felt sorry for Katerina and can understand why starting again would have been appealing.
I liked how the relationship between Katerina and Hilde develops due to what happens in the plot. Really good character development of all characters and not just the main protagonist; which is unusual.
This reminded me of The Danilov Quintet by Jasper Kent; which is another alternate, gritty, grown up vampire series. Desperate Moon isn't as graphic (the vampires in Kent's novels were soldiers in Imperial Russia), but they are in the same vein. I would recommend The Danilov Quintet to readers who liked Desperate Moon and vice versa.
I found this a very slow, detailed read and it felt like the novel lasted forever, but I quite enjoyed that. The ending didn't disappoint, and was even left open for a modern day sequel (please!).
Desperate Moon is probably one of the best vampire novels I've ever read, and definitely one of the best books I've read in 2016.
Instantly smacked of loneliness. The much younger wife of an older man, who has died and the rest of his family ignore her. I felt sorry for Katerina and can understand why starting again would have been appealing.
I liked how the relationship between Katerina and Hilde develops due to what happens in the plot. Really good character development of all characters and not just the main protagonist; which is unusual.
This reminded me of The Danilov Quintet by Jasper Kent; which is another alternate, gritty, grown up vampire series. Desperate Moon isn't as graphic (the vampires in Kent's novels were soldiers in Imperial Russia), but they are in the same vein. I would recommend The Danilov Quintet to readers who liked Desperate Moon and vice versa.
I found this a very slow, detailed read and it felt like the novel lasted forever, but I quite enjoyed that. The ending didn't disappoint, and was even left open for a modern day sequel (please!).
Desperate Moon is probably one of the best vampire novels I've ever read, and definitely one of the best books I've read in 2016.
December 22, 2015
This is an ok book. Katerina is a vampire. She has been for the past 600 years and has seen much in her life. She has seen humans evolve and witnessed quite a lot of history. Not to mention husbands, lovers and travel. With her last husband dead, she moves on to a Prussin colonel who is more interested in war than anything. She also meets a scientists who is interested in more than just her body.
Katerina is a good character. Well developed and I liked how self-assured she is. It didn't mater if she was alone in the woods or in a crowd, she was in control. The history woven through the book was intriguing. Mixing the paranormal (vampires) with science made me curious and I enjoyed how the author developed that part of the plot. There is history, science, romance, love, war, jealousy, and much more in this book.
It is a 3/5 for me. I liked the different take on vampires here.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the review copy of this book (via PUYB). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
Katerina is a good character. Well developed and I liked how self-assured she is. It didn't mater if she was alone in the woods or in a crowd, she was in control. The history woven through the book was intriguing. Mixing the paranormal (vampires) with science made me curious and I enjoyed how the author developed that part of the plot. There is history, science, romance, love, war, jealousy, and much more in this book.
It is a 3/5 for me. I liked the different take on vampires here.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the review copy of this book (via PUYB). I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
December 29, 2015
This is a book about vampires, and therefore it is a story about good versus evil. But it is not a fairy tale book of vampires. This is very much a book for mature readers. Like other books by Ms. Ott, this is a book that challenges the reader to consider many existential issues that underlie the story plot. In addition to questioning who or what is good and who or what is evil the book requires readers to confront concepts of love vs. lust, weak vs. strong, war vs. peace, loyalty vs. expedience, strength vs. power, and humanity vs. inhumanity. These same conflicts and contrasts have confronted people from the earliest history to the present time. The characters are strongly written and strive against each other in mid-nineteenth century Prussian wars. This book encourages the reader to consider many ideas from a different perspective. Highly recommended for thoughtful people.
February 5, 2016
Desperate Moon is a truly unique vampire novel in a genre filled with so many predictable stories. Jennifer Ott has successfully combined the supernatural mystery of vampirism with history and medical science for a very interesting read. I loved Katerina's past reflections and soul-searching, and Siegfried's application of hematology to vampirism. It has just enough romance to satisfy fans of supernatural romance. I highly recommend this book for fans of vampires and historical fiction, and anyone looking for a new fictional approach to the vampire genre.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews