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Sangre: The Color of Dying
Introducing Nicky Negron, a Bronx-born, Puerto Rican salesman who has suffered enough tragedy for multiple lifetimes.After a business dinner in New York City, Nicky's life is cut shortat the hands of a ravishing undead woman at the Ritz-Carlton, resulting in a public sex scandal that leaves a legacy of humiliation for his surviving wife and children. When herises from the dead, he becomes a night predatorthat feeds on human bloodas well. The difference is, Nicky has agenetic resistance that retains his humanity - a trait that makes him reluctant to victimize innocents. Hampered by conscience, he instead decides to feed on what he deems are the undesirables of society-prisoners, sexual predators, domestic abusers and others that lower the quality of life around him. Sangre: The Color of Dyingfeatures rough language, jaw-dropping sex, and abhorrent acts of violence, but its real emphasis is on the human being living inside the undead night stalker. Nicky values his family, his ethnicity, and is determined to hold on to his humanity, even if it's just by rooting for the Mets, watching old Seinfeld episodes or reminiscing about the love he once shared with his wife. Readers are already falling in love with Nicky and this thrilling tale that takes supernatural horror in a completely new direction!"
334 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 18, 2019
Carlos Colón has penned a gem of a noir thriller in Sángre, the best vampire novel to come my way since Dracula. Meet Nicky Negrón, a thoroughly likeable and very reluctant vampire suffering from the burden of his own genetic resistance, which places him in a curious space in between being a fully fledged vampire and dead. He is a vampire with a conscience. Consequently, Nicky is the most fully rounded-out vampire character there ever was. He has scruples. He agonises over his every action. He is consumed by the intricacies of his moral position and his desire to do no harm, and his blood lust. And he is consumed with guilt and grief over the betrayal that led to his demise.The story opens in Rahway State Prison, where Nicky is forced to find his next feed and the reader is confronted almost straight away with the raw reality of Nicky's existence. What unravels is the story of how Nicky became a vampire and how he copes with his undead life. After his own 'death', Nicky encounters two other genetically resistant vampires, Travis and Donny, who educate him on the reality of his situation and offer guidance. Nicky discovers he was killed by a complete vampire, Simone, who Travis and Donny are determined to banish forever. Will they succeed? Or will Simone continue to kill and create a whole army of true vampires? And what of the curious Dr Teresa Gunder, bent on proving the existence of vampires with her groundbreaking investigations?I loved the narrative style and the urban vibe. Told with compassion and insight, the narration in Sángre is upbeat, droll and sharply observant, the setting distinctly noir. Colón exercises superb narrative control, with excellent dialogue and perfect pacing. Exposition is kept to a minimum, carefully placed to keep the reader abreast of the reality of a genetically resistant vampire. The author has structured his novel with finesse, the movement through time, back and forth from past to present seamlessly intertwined, chapter by chapter, and culminating in a breathtaking and satisfying conclusion. Yes, there is horror here, but it is nothing the average dark thriller reader cannot take.Sángre is laced with social commentary on the Bronx in the 1960s, on life for Puerto Rican New Yorkers, their values, culture and challenges. The author clearly knows and has a deep empathy for his subject. A rich and immensely satisfying read. Can't wait for the next instalment!
December 9, 2019
Meet Nicky, a vampire that when turned he retained some humanity which saddles him with a conscience and emotions unlike the others who lose all of their identity and become mindless, soulless, territorial predators!
This was like a breath of fresh air! A different vampire story, I didn’t think it was possible but this author has done it! Great character in Nicky who is hilarious, horrifying, heartbreaking and suffers a tormented afterlife! This one is a page turner and entertaining!
This was like a breath of fresh air! A different vampire story, I didn’t think it was possible but this author has done it! Great character in Nicky who is hilarious, horrifying, heartbreaking and suffers a tormented afterlife! This one is a page turner and entertaining!
December 24, 2019
What if the dead had a heart - and a life?
Carlos Colon writes a new kind of vampire story. His main character is in many ways more human than other humans. Despite being dead and craving blood Nicky Negron's heart is in the right place even when his fangs are busy.
Through high-class writing this author brings you into a story about being a man as well as a monster, painting a vibrant picture of Nicky's background before ushering the reader into rising suspense sure to keep one reading.
This book is different. It's exceptionally well written and unpredictable. It's the kind of book to make you scream for a sequel.
Read. It.
Carlos Colon writes a new kind of vampire story. His main character is in many ways more human than other humans. Despite being dead and craving blood Nicky Negron's heart is in the right place even when his fangs are busy.
Through high-class writing this author brings you into a story about being a man as well as a monster, painting a vibrant picture of Nicky's background before ushering the reader into rising suspense sure to keep one reading.
This book is different. It's exceptionally well written and unpredictable. It's the kind of book to make you scream for a sequel.
Read. It.
November 19, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyable read
I was given a pdf copy of the second Sangre book in exchange for an honest review and so thought I should read this one first. This is the tale of Nicky Negron, a kind of vigilante vampire with heart who has had his share of heartbreak. There is plenty of horror on display here but also some laugh out loud moments. I mean who has ever heard of a member of the undead who likes to wind down with some ESPN, on demand porn and an episode of Seinfeld!!I
All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to the next one.
I was given a pdf copy of the second Sangre book in exchange for an honest review and so thought I should read this one first. This is the tale of Nicky Negron, a kind of vigilante vampire with heart who has had his share of heartbreak. There is plenty of horror on display here but also some laugh out loud moments. I mean who has ever heard of a member of the undead who likes to wind down with some ESPN, on demand porn and an episode of Seinfeld!!I
All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to the next one.
January 23, 2020
Blood - fuels us, repels us, kills us and also unites us.
Sangre – The Color of Dying by Carlos Colón is a story about the connections we are born with, make, or are mutated into. These become our family, our Sangre.
“One of the few good things about being dead is making your own rules and not giving a crap.” - a behaviour pattern easily expected from the dead. Well the dead just changed their MO with the entry of Nicky Negrón, vampire extraordinaire. Nicky does make his own rules but he gives a crap; for society, for random acquaintances and especially for those he considers his family.
Overcoming a tragic past, Nicky settles into an idyllic adult life with a loving wife and two kids. Enter (drumroll please) a seductive vampire named Simone, who can control your mind and make you do anything, including cheating on your loving wife. Turns out that Simone doesn’t just want to get into Nicky’s pants but she also wants to turn him and make him one of her minions. In a twist that both life and fiction give us however, it turns out that Nicky has a rare genetic resistance that allows him to be a vampire while also retaining his humanity along with his conscience and emotions.
Nicky being the nonviolent type before turning, has a huge problem with the fact that in order to survive as a vampire he has to kill and drink blood.
So what’s stopping him from stepping out into the sunlight and going, POOF, Gone with the Wind?
The answer to this is weirdly the same as the predicament – Sangre/Blood/Family.
But alas he and his lovely wife are now “Alone in the same room but in two separate
worlds.”
So, since the love of his family keeps him 2nd time lucky so to speak, he devises a unique approach for vampires, that is. He decides to kill only the scum of the world, the criminals from death row and the addicts that prey on others. All in all he wants to make the world a better place, which makes him kind of like a Vampire Superhero. And he does it with panache and humour.
Take for instance his witty thought process when he has to kill a criminal to feed off him “He’s no match for the demoness that made me what I am. He’s just a 280-pound happy meal waiting to happen.” Made me chuckle to be reminded that at the end of the day in life’s cycle, we are all somebody’s Happy Meal.
The story from then on is all about protecting his Sangre and getting vengeance on Simone.
And what a vengeance it is!
By the end of the book you are absolutely in love with the character of Nicky Negrón even though he sometimes goes and says lines like this:
“What is it about women that make them think that everything they have to say is so damn interesting? Any man will tell you how he would sit through hours of insignificant babble without a woman taking a pause for a goddamn breath.”
An absolutely mesmerising book filled with such brilliant lines by the author that you can get a full book of life- inspiring quotes here.
Leaving you with some of my favourite profound ones:
“You are alone—alone in a room with three aberrations of nature. Aberrations that prey on people like you. But then again, you already know that.”
“I then realized that no matter who dies, good or bad, productive to society or general waste of human flesh, death will have its collateral effect on the people who are left behind.”
And my favourite one:
“The living mourn together as family and friends. The dead mourn alone.”
Hope you liked my fair and honest review.
Happy Reading:)
Sangre – The Color of Dying by Carlos Colón is a story about the connections we are born with, make, or are mutated into. These become our family, our Sangre.
“One of the few good things about being dead is making your own rules and not giving a crap.” - a behaviour pattern easily expected from the dead. Well the dead just changed their MO with the entry of Nicky Negrón, vampire extraordinaire. Nicky does make his own rules but he gives a crap; for society, for random acquaintances and especially for those he considers his family.
Overcoming a tragic past, Nicky settles into an idyllic adult life with a loving wife and two kids. Enter (drumroll please) a seductive vampire named Simone, who can control your mind and make you do anything, including cheating on your loving wife. Turns out that Simone doesn’t just want to get into Nicky’s pants but she also wants to turn him and make him one of her minions. In a twist that both life and fiction give us however, it turns out that Nicky has a rare genetic resistance that allows him to be a vampire while also retaining his humanity along with his conscience and emotions.
Nicky being the nonviolent type before turning, has a huge problem with the fact that in order to survive as a vampire he has to kill and drink blood.
So what’s stopping him from stepping out into the sunlight and going, POOF, Gone with the Wind?
The answer to this is weirdly the same as the predicament – Sangre/Blood/Family.
But alas he and his lovely wife are now “Alone in the same room but in two separate
worlds.”
So, since the love of his family keeps him 2nd time lucky so to speak, he devises a unique approach for vampires, that is. He decides to kill only the scum of the world, the criminals from death row and the addicts that prey on others. All in all he wants to make the world a better place, which makes him kind of like a Vampire Superhero. And he does it with panache and humour.
Take for instance his witty thought process when he has to kill a criminal to feed off him “He’s no match for the demoness that made me what I am. He’s just a 280-pound happy meal waiting to happen.” Made me chuckle to be reminded that at the end of the day in life’s cycle, we are all somebody’s Happy Meal.
The story from then on is all about protecting his Sangre and getting vengeance on Simone.
And what a vengeance it is!
By the end of the book you are absolutely in love with the character of Nicky Negrón even though he sometimes goes and says lines like this:
“What is it about women that make them think that everything they have to say is so damn interesting? Any man will tell you how he would sit through hours of insignificant babble without a woman taking a pause for a goddamn breath.”
An absolutely mesmerising book filled with such brilliant lines by the author that you can get a full book of life- inspiring quotes here.
Leaving you with some of my favourite profound ones:
“You are alone—alone in a room with three aberrations of nature. Aberrations that prey on people like you. But then again, you already know that.”
“I then realized that no matter who dies, good or bad, productive to society or general waste of human flesh, death will have its collateral effect on the people who are left behind.”
And my favourite one:
“The living mourn together as family and friends. The dead mourn alone.”
Hope you liked my fair and honest review.
Happy Reading:)
February 2, 2020
SÁNGRE: The Color of Dying by Carlos Colón, published by Hellbound Books, is a very unapologetic vampire tale that involves chili con carne, gothed out thralls, a touch of undead voyeurism, and heated discussions on the prospects of the Mets.
Colón’s protagonist, Nicky, comes off strong. He’s been dead for nearly thirty years by the time the reader is introduced and has developed a habit of drinking the blood of criminals to ride a moral line between his hunger and his heart. Nicky is aggressively blunt, a little horny, and remarkably straightforward about his vampirism. Colón tells the story from Nicky’s perspective, weaving a tale about revenge into a series of flashbacks that deliver Nicky’s motivations to the reader in slices of New York-flavored life and loss.
SÁNGRE: The Color of Dying is a tale about vampires, there is blood, sex, bloody sex, vampire thralls kitted out in black leather, and a little more sex just for flavor. There is no sparkling vampire to woo young women into carnal acts, Nicky relies on an aggressively masculine approach to bend his lovers to his will. Colón borrows a touch of Noir in this area, women need rescuing and wooing, the villain wears a red dress and ignites overwhelming passion in her intended victims, and love and desire are always touched with darkness.
Nicky is not an overly sympathetic character. His actions are direct, his thoughts are hard edged, and he rarely spends time considering the details before he solves a problem with a vampiric power, a threat, or the edge of his knife hidden in his stylish suede jacket. Nicky gets things done, one way or another, even at the expense of his family and friends. His unrelenting nature gives him the edge in his conflict with the vampire that turned him. I don’t think I would invite Nicky out for a quick drink, blood or otherwise. Colón doesn’t worry about the small things, Nicky has a job to do whether it is saving a potential lover from an abusive ex or protecting his family that believes he’s been dead for decades. Nicky moves through the plot like a fanged wrecking ball.
SÁNGRE: The Color of Dying is one part revenge tale, one part streetwise vampire Americana. Add a liberal dose of hardboiled, sharp-toothed night stalker and you have the full recipe for Colón’s take on the undead. SÁNGRE: The Color of Dying leaves the door open for Nicky’s story to grow. The story is fast, direct and uncomplicated by the vagaries of traditional vampire drama.
Colón’s protagonist, Nicky, comes off strong. He’s been dead for nearly thirty years by the time the reader is introduced and has developed a habit of drinking the blood of criminals to ride a moral line between his hunger and his heart. Nicky is aggressively blunt, a little horny, and remarkably straightforward about his vampirism. Colón tells the story from Nicky’s perspective, weaving a tale about revenge into a series of flashbacks that deliver Nicky’s motivations to the reader in slices of New York-flavored life and loss.
SÁNGRE: The Color of Dying is a tale about vampires, there is blood, sex, bloody sex, vampire thralls kitted out in black leather, and a little more sex just for flavor. There is no sparkling vampire to woo young women into carnal acts, Nicky relies on an aggressively masculine approach to bend his lovers to his will. Colón borrows a touch of Noir in this area, women need rescuing and wooing, the villain wears a red dress and ignites overwhelming passion in her intended victims, and love and desire are always touched with darkness.
Nicky is not an overly sympathetic character. His actions are direct, his thoughts are hard edged, and he rarely spends time considering the details before he solves a problem with a vampiric power, a threat, or the edge of his knife hidden in his stylish suede jacket. Nicky gets things done, one way or another, even at the expense of his family and friends. His unrelenting nature gives him the edge in his conflict with the vampire that turned him. I don’t think I would invite Nicky out for a quick drink, blood or otherwise. Colón doesn’t worry about the small things, Nicky has a job to do whether it is saving a potential lover from an abusive ex or protecting his family that believes he’s been dead for decades. Nicky moves through the plot like a fanged wrecking ball.
SÁNGRE: The Color of Dying is one part revenge tale, one part streetwise vampire Americana. Add a liberal dose of hardboiled, sharp-toothed night stalker and you have the full recipe for Colón’s take on the undead. SÁNGRE: The Color of Dying leaves the door open for Nicky’s story to grow. The story is fast, direct and uncomplicated by the vagaries of traditional vampire drama.
January 18, 2020
Runnin’ with the devil is tricky business when the devil inside is you. Nicky Negrón is a typical all-American family man who has a soft spot for home cooked meals, the Mets, and his extended Puerto Rican family, notwithstanding his inherent eye for the ladies. As with many people, sharp shards of childhood trauma continue to cut deeply years and decades later. Although paired with a bitter glass of regret, Nicky still appreciates the pretty decent serving of the good life that’s been ladled out to him. But the backstroking fly in the chili con carne of Nicky’s life is the fact that he is also dead. Or rather undead - the vampiric variety. Author Carlos Colón’s entertainingly original tale often reads like a sentimental memoir peppered with meaningful drama between memorable characters, but there is also plenty of satisfyingly horror-style action in the mix. The author’s take on vampirism is refreshingly unique and intriguing. Nicky Negrón is the tragic anti-hero of the story, whose human-hearted foibles engender sympathy as well as humor in the reader. For those who are still hungry for more after finishing, there is a second book in the series already available to devour.
March 8, 2019
I am a vampire fanatic who has read so many vampire novels that I am really hard to please. But Carlos Colon's Sangre is one of my favorite vampire novels. There's a whole different perspective here that I think any vampire lover would really enjoy. This story goes much deeper than just bloodsucking horror (although it definitely has that quality), there's a real human touch to Nicky. I can't wait to read more about him. Hopefully Carlos Colon will be writing more.
October 7, 2016
Reviewed by: Sandra
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Nicky Negrón is dead. Well, really, he’s undead. He’s a vampire.
A rogue vigilante, he feeds on the scumbags of society—prostitutes, rapists, murderers. You might call him a hero or possibly a grim reaper, but, in actuality, he’s just a conscientious vampire. He can’t fathom to feed on the innocent, yet he prefers to drink blood that is free of drugs and disease, because that would make him sick.
“My projection to those around me is the handsome Nicky (if I may say so myself) that died twenty seven years ago. To me that face is a memory from photographs. On the occasions when my projection is not present, like when I’m feeding or when my emotions take over, the only version I get to see of myself is that of my death face—the face that belongs six feet under.” (23)
This is the story of a vampire cursed to live out his immortal days with the memories of his past life and a heart for the innocent souls. Flashbacks of his childhood and family interject as he prowls the night in a wandering blood lust. On the outside, he’s a fiendish monster; but the inside shows a sensitive and vulnerable creature. You can’t help but feel for him as he hovers near the presence of the family he left behind.
The book is a delectation of raw and powerful words that bring the story to life. The story line, as well as its soulful imagery and beauty, is reminiscent of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, which follows a vampire named Louis as he relays his 200-year-long life story to a reporter. In Sangre, Nicky Negrón tells his story. He recounts his birth into vampirism and correlates it with the color red, which is the last thing he saw. Typically, red is “a color that humans connect with love—red roses, red cherries, strawberries, lipstick, hearts…it’s the primary color of Valentine’s Day, the color of love.” (90) But at the time of his transformation, when everything he loved was being taken away, he indicates it as the “color of dying.” Not only is this book poetic and insightful, but the author kicks it up a notch by adding his own Spanish flair with cultura and barrio phrases, settling the reader into a prideful comfort as if you were sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by tamales and familia.
Colón is a talented and witty writer that has reinvented the dark genre with candid prose and lucid expression. His knowledge and compelling fascination with vampires enabled him to craft a well-written story that you can sink your teeth into. A remarkable tale!
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Nicky Negrón is dead. Well, really, he’s undead. He’s a vampire.
A rogue vigilante, he feeds on the scumbags of society—prostitutes, rapists, murderers. You might call him a hero or possibly a grim reaper, but, in actuality, he’s just a conscientious vampire. He can’t fathom to feed on the innocent, yet he prefers to drink blood that is free of drugs and disease, because that would make him sick.
“My projection to those around me is the handsome Nicky (if I may say so myself) that died twenty seven years ago. To me that face is a memory from photographs. On the occasions when my projection is not present, like when I’m feeding or when my emotions take over, the only version I get to see of myself is that of my death face—the face that belongs six feet under.” (23)
This is the story of a vampire cursed to live out his immortal days with the memories of his past life and a heart for the innocent souls. Flashbacks of his childhood and family interject as he prowls the night in a wandering blood lust. On the outside, he’s a fiendish monster; but the inside shows a sensitive and vulnerable creature. You can’t help but feel for him as he hovers near the presence of the family he left behind.
The book is a delectation of raw and powerful words that bring the story to life. The story line, as well as its soulful imagery and beauty, is reminiscent of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, which follows a vampire named Louis as he relays his 200-year-long life story to a reporter. In Sangre, Nicky Negrón tells his story. He recounts his birth into vampirism and correlates it with the color red, which is the last thing he saw. Typically, red is “a color that humans connect with love—red roses, red cherries, strawberries, lipstick, hearts…it’s the primary color of Valentine’s Day, the color of love.” (90) But at the time of his transformation, when everything he loved was being taken away, he indicates it as the “color of dying.” Not only is this book poetic and insightful, but the author kicks it up a notch by adding his own Spanish flair with cultura and barrio phrases, settling the reader into a prideful comfort as if you were sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by tamales and familia.
Colón is a talented and witty writer that has reinvented the dark genre with candid prose and lucid expression. His knowledge and compelling fascination with vampires enabled him to craft a well-written story that you can sink your teeth into. A remarkable tale!
February 9, 2017
Great book! I love how original this story was.
September 16, 2017
Wow, what a ride! Reading this book, for me, was like going on a journey with Nicky. This is a real page-turner that is just hard to put down. If you are into Vampires and adventure, this is a must read! I love how detail oriented the author is with telling this story. I was quite surprised by the twist near the end and was completely caught off-guard by it. That twist alone really helped make this story. You must read this as you will find you will not be disappointed. Loved this story and can't wait to read more from this author! Thanks for such an adventure.
December 13, 2017
VERY good!
Reminiscent of a modern day Hammer film, this is the way I Iike my vampires. Bloody and desperate for the blood, not romantic and sexy. Nicky is truly a tragic figure as he follows the lives of the family he lost throughout the decades. You can't help but sympathize with his longing to return to his life as a living breathing human. I REALLY liked this book, and look forward to the follow-up with much anticipation. Good one!
Reminiscent of a modern day Hammer film, this is the way I Iike my vampires. Bloody and desperate for the blood, not romantic and sexy. Nicky is truly a tragic figure as he follows the lives of the family he lost throughout the decades. You can't help but sympathize with his longing to return to his life as a living breathing human. I REALLY liked this book, and look forward to the follow-up with much anticipation. Good one!
March 31, 2019
Good read
I enjoyed this book. Good story line with good characters. Looking forward to the next one. Well worth a try
I enjoyed this book. Good story line with good characters. Looking forward to the next one. Well worth a try
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews