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The Nosferatu Chronicles #1
Origins
After aliens crash-land in 15th Century Transylvania, their first contact with humans goes horribly wrong.
The Vambir discover human blood is a nutrient, but it is also highly addictive. Ingesting blood brings about a physical transformation that enables them to pass as human. Impressed with their superior strength and vicious fighting skills, Prince Vlad Dracula welcomes them into his inner circle, where they attain power through him.
Keywords: space opera, alien invasion, colonization, alternate history, first contact, myths and legends, vampire
The Vambir discover human blood is a nutrient, but it is also highly addictive. Ingesting blood brings about a physical transformation that enables them to pass as human. Impressed with their superior strength and vicious fighting skills, Prince Vlad Dracula welcomes them into his inner circle, where they attain power through him.
Keywords: space opera, alien invasion, colonization, alternate history, first contact, myths and legends, vampire
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2015
48 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Susan Hamilton
3 books32 followersI grew up in a time when cartoons were only shown on Saturday mornings, followed by 'In Search Of' with Leonard Nimoy, and on weekends the late night tv movies would either be a science fiction film from the 1950s or a horror classic. After seeing the original silent Nosferatu film and the 'king vampire' character in 'Salem's Lot', I thought he looked more like an alien than a demonic being. I kept waiting for a movie to come out that would portray him as such. In 2014 I began to write my own story around this theme, which resulted in a self-published trilogy.
I'd love to be able to do nothing but write but alas...there are bills to be paid. I work full time as a mathematics lecturer and struggle to write more than 500 words a week while the semesters are in full swing. I try to make up for this deficiency in the summer.
I'd love to be able to do nothing but write but alas...there are bills to be paid. I work full time as a mathematics lecturer and struggle to write more than 500 words a week while the semesters are in full swing. I try to make up for this deficiency in the summer.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 10, 2017
Discover the “true” origins of vampires. Set during struggle between Vlad Dracula and the Ottomans, the legend comes alive in the form of a space-faring race of Vambir who crash-land on Earth. Without their original source of nutrition, they must indulge in the intoxicating effects of human blood. The consequences for all are dire. It also layers on religion and superstitions. A highly imaginative version of the timeless Dracula legend.
July 9, 2017
I love this book, particularly as a really inventive piece of speculative fiction. Hamilton does a top job of drawing together the horror genre classic vampire and the science fiction genre, specifically the sub-category of visitations from other civilisations.
This is pure fiction that makes some use of documented historical facts and their possible interpretation, in order to build a credible vampire backstory. Nothing in the book is particularly novel, but the speculative thought and the unique way Hamilton puts the story together is both clever and very exciting. I actually became quite fond of her race of space travelling vampires, and even found myself excusing their arriving on, and manipulation of, our unique planet.
I have always struggled with the logic behind the ‘humanistic vampire’; I struggle with all fantasy and legend that seems over disconnected from observed reality. Hamilton does a very neat job of creating a possible explanation and speculative history behind that horror genre. All the classic stuff is there, from wooden stakes to vulnerability to sunlight, and all within a new logic framework. Well, obviously this is all fantasy, however, the writing is strong enough that it allowed me to effortlessly suspend belief in the world as it appears. One can’t ask more of a speculative fiction book. Hamilton has for me managed to put the vampire legend on science fiction shelves.
There is already a second book in the series, which I’m yet to read. I surely will. The first was a real page turner for me.
This is pure fiction that makes some use of documented historical facts and their possible interpretation, in order to build a credible vampire backstory. Nothing in the book is particularly novel, but the speculative thought and the unique way Hamilton puts the story together is both clever and very exciting. I actually became quite fond of her race of space travelling vampires, and even found myself excusing their arriving on, and manipulation of, our unique planet.
I have always struggled with the logic behind the ‘humanistic vampire’; I struggle with all fantasy and legend that seems over disconnected from observed reality. Hamilton does a very neat job of creating a possible explanation and speculative history behind that horror genre. All the classic stuff is there, from wooden stakes to vulnerability to sunlight, and all within a new logic framework. Well, obviously this is all fantasy, however, the writing is strong enough that it allowed me to effortlessly suspend belief in the world as it appears. One can’t ask more of a speculative fiction book. Hamilton has for me managed to put the vampire legend on science fiction shelves.
There is already a second book in the series, which I’m yet to read. I surely will. The first was a real page turner for me.
November 22, 2017
The Nosferatu Chronicles by Susan Hamilton is an intriguing and thought-provoking interpretation of the vampire genre that reaches far beyond mythical proportion. The author invokes contemporary themes that make this one of the more visionary storylines we have seen in this overworked horror category. We are introduced to Kevak and the Newlunders, an alien race from a distant planet who have followed the trail of the predatory Vambir across the stars. The Vambir traipse across the land of Transylvania in the 15th century where they are able to feed off human blood to survive. Chaluxi is a leader of the Newlunder clan who bonds with humans, using their superstitions and folklore to trace the progress of the Vambir. Kevak and Chaluxi lead the coalition of humans and aliens in attempting to thwart the Vambir from overwhelming all of Europe.
The theme of tribalism resonates throughout the novel, juxtaposed against that of what we can compare to modern-day globalism. Though diametrically opposed, Hamilton demonstrates how both fate and purpose can bring them across a common path. Both tribes are depending on humans for survival, though their ultimate loyalty is to their own race. Yet they can see how a synthesis of both societies can result in a stronger and more powerful host. It begs the question nagging the 21st century planet Earth: can all nations live as one in peace and harmony without losing their individual identities and their very souls?
This is the first of a trilogy that will keep you awake at night---and Susan Hamilton will not leave you hanging (like a vampire bat).
The theme of tribalism resonates throughout the novel, juxtaposed against that of what we can compare to modern-day globalism. Though diametrically opposed, Hamilton demonstrates how both fate and purpose can bring them across a common path. Both tribes are depending on humans for survival, though their ultimate loyalty is to their own race. Yet they can see how a synthesis of both societies can result in a stronger and more powerful host. It begs the question nagging the 21st century planet Earth: can all nations live as one in peace and harmony without losing their individual identities and their very souls?
This is the first of a trilogy that will keep you awake at night---and Susan Hamilton will not leave you hanging (like a vampire bat).
September 21, 2017
Seeing that I loved scifi and fantasy, the author recommended me her book. After reading the blurb, an alternate history about how vampires came to be, I was hooked. Now I don't know if the facts about Vlad Dracula are exact. I never actually read much about him aside that he was feared and rightfully called 'The Impaler', but they seemed convincing enough to go with it.
The idea is original, imaginative, and if you believe in life beyond Earth, plausible. The author chose the third person omniscient perspective to tell the story, and that might be what prevented me from enjoying it fully. I wished we could have been closer to the characters, especially Kevak whom we get to know a little bit more, just not enough. Instead, we have an overview of them all, making it hard to relate to any of them, to feel for what they go through, to understand their choices.
Due to the legend of vampires, and the supposedly power of crucifix on repelling them, we have a little bit of religion mixed in. Sometimes, I felt it was a bit much so I want to mention it here. It may not be for everyone.
Over all, I enjoyed the read. If you are a fan of legends, alternate history, or aliens as I am, you might want to read this one.
The idea is original, imaginative, and if you believe in life beyond Earth, plausible. The author chose the third person omniscient perspective to tell the story, and that might be what prevented me from enjoying it fully. I wished we could have been closer to the characters, especially Kevak whom we get to know a little bit more, just not enough. Instead, we have an overview of them all, making it hard to relate to any of them, to feel for what they go through, to understand their choices.
Due to the legend of vampires, and the supposedly power of crucifix on repelling them, we have a little bit of religion mixed in. Sometimes, I felt it was a bit much so I want to mention it here. It may not be for everyone.
Over all, I enjoyed the read. If you are a fan of legends, alternate history, or aliens as I am, you might want to read this one.
June 18, 2018
Genre - Science Fiction/Fantasy/Vampire
Pages - 295
Publication Info - Independently published - May 6, 2015
Format - Digital
Stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have to admit that I was first attracted to this book because of the stunning cover. Then after reading the synopsis, I thought if she can pull this off this will be something special. Having finished “Origins (The Nosferatu Chronicles - Book 1)” by Susan Hamilton, my verdict is that she has indeed pulled it off. She combines science fiction with the retelling of the 15th century vampire legend brilliantly. Some of my favorite things are contained in one book, science fiction, vampire lore, colonization, and alternative history. We have some of the more familiar characters that we will all recognize from reading books about Vlad the Impaler and the Ottoman Empire. Susan then introduces the alien vampire-like characters to the mix in a way that rewrites the whole legend. I was thoroughly engrossed from page one, and am anxious to get to the next installment to see where it leads. It’s a fast, smooth paced read, that builds with anticipation with each new page. I absolutely adored this book. If vampire lore, and science fiction are your thing, you must add this series to your library. An impressive debut. This is my first read by Susan Hamilton and I am so looking forward to many more reads from her.
Synopsis (from back cover): After aliens crash-land in fifteenth century Transylvania, their first contact with humans goes horribly wrong.
The Vambir are a species that resemble demons. They inadvertently discover human blood is a nutrient (but also highly addictive). Ingesting blood brings about a physical transformation that enables them to pass as human. Impressed with their superior strength and vicious fighting skills, Prince Vlad Dracula welcomes them into his inner circle, where they attain power through him.
One Vambir, Kevak, refuses to ingest blood. When spotted by villagers, he is blamed for the sudden string of mysterious deaths, and the legend of Nosferatu begins.
October 11, 2017
I knew that The Nosferatu Chronicles: Origins would be a really interesting read for me. I love historical fiction as well as science fiction and I'm always intrigued when a book features the historical Vlad Dracula. I was a little worried, though, that the whole mix of these different themes would be a little too much for me to handle because I like my books to be historically accurate. But I ended up not being able to put this book down. And it's been ages since I read a book where I just had to stay up late to finish it.
The story starts with the Vampir, an alien race leaving their home planet after a natural disaster made it uninhabitable. Some of these aliens end up on Earth in 15th Century Romania, and this is where Vlad Dracula, more commonly known as Vlad the Impaler, comes in.
So like I said before, I like the historical fiction that I read to be as accurate as possible and although this book some alternate history woven in, it is in fact partly historically accurate because some of the events involving Vlad the Impaler and Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, did actually happen. Needless to say this is something that really made me happy and why I devoured this book so quickly.
I do have to admit that at one point some of the story got a little bit hard to follow because this book is written in quite a few different points of view, which I don't mind actually but sometimes it all started to blend together a little bit so I feel like you really got to keep yourself focused on the story or you might get confused. I did really like the whole mix of aliens and vampire folklore. It was just such a different and original story. I was totally hooked!
Overall, The Nosferatu Chronicles: Origins was definitely a one-of-a-kind book. Susan Hamilton created a unique blend of science fiction and historical fiction with a story that I really liked. I'd recommend it to readers who love aliens, vampires and/or alternate history.
The story starts with the Vampir, an alien race leaving their home planet after a natural disaster made it uninhabitable. Some of these aliens end up on Earth in 15th Century Romania, and this is where Vlad Dracula, more commonly known as Vlad the Impaler, comes in.
So like I said before, I like the historical fiction that I read to be as accurate as possible and although this book some alternate history woven in, it is in fact partly historically accurate because some of the events involving Vlad the Impaler and Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, did actually happen. Needless to say this is something that really made me happy and why I devoured this book so quickly.
I do have to admit that at one point some of the story got a little bit hard to follow because this book is written in quite a few different points of view, which I don't mind actually but sometimes it all started to blend together a little bit so I feel like you really got to keep yourself focused on the story or you might get confused. I did really like the whole mix of aliens and vampire folklore. It was just such a different and original story. I was totally hooked!
Overall, The Nosferatu Chronicles: Origins was definitely a one-of-a-kind book. Susan Hamilton created a unique blend of science fiction and historical fiction with a story that I really liked. I'd recommend it to readers who love aliens, vampires and/or alternate history.
January 20, 2018
Vampires are not my thing. I’m going to go ahead and get that out of the way. Nosferatu and the original Dracula were alright, but I lose my taste for even them after the Twilight fiasco.
These vampires—Vambir, these alien freakin’ vampires—are totally my thing.
First of all, let’s talk about how we have sci-fi vamps. Second, let’s talk about how well they’re integrated into the era of Vlad the Impaler and the legend of Count Dracula. And Nosferatu. And modern vampires. Origins progresses history with the evolution of vampires. Not only was a thorough explanation given for the transformations, but they were all so integral to the plot.
Not only was the story seamless, so were characters. There was a wide array, and each of them had distinct personality—which, like everything else, served the plot well. Dialogue read easily and naturally.
It was filled with wonderful tension, suspense, and political intrigue. Every moment was carefully planned, and not a page was wasted getting there. Character development was on-point. Perspective switched were excellently placed. Each one allowed for the story to be told in an interesting way. It also utilized the ‘two sides to every story’-type narrative incredibly well.
This was a good book. A really good book. It gave me hope for the vampire genre. When I was it was hard to put down, I mean it. This was a really good book.
These vampires—Vambir, these alien freakin’ vampires—are totally my thing.
First of all, let’s talk about how we have sci-fi vamps. Second, let’s talk about how well they’re integrated into the era of Vlad the Impaler and the legend of Count Dracula. And Nosferatu. And modern vampires. Origins progresses history with the evolution of vampires. Not only was a thorough explanation given for the transformations, but they were all so integral to the plot.
Not only was the story seamless, so were characters. There was a wide array, and each of them had distinct personality—which, like everything else, served the plot well. Dialogue read easily and naturally.
It was filled with wonderful tension, suspense, and political intrigue. Every moment was carefully planned, and not a page was wasted getting there. Character development was on-point. Perspective switched were excellently placed. Each one allowed for the story to be told in an interesting way. It also utilized the ‘two sides to every story’-type narrative incredibly well.
This was a good book. A really good book. It gave me hope for the vampire genre. When I was it was hard to put down, I mean it. This was a really good book.
August 20, 2017
A blend of familiar science fiction against the backdrop of historical events, Nosferatu Chronicles is an original take on the classic vampire tale. Rather than treat the historical vampires as demonic or supernatural, Ms. Hamilton creates them as extraterrestrials, the Vambir, fleeing their home world after a calamity. When their source of sustenance, a blood-like compound found in their plants, is diminished, they find by mistake that human blood is a reasonable substitute.
What follows is more of a misunderstanding between the Vambir exiles and the religiously-motivated humans as both try to survive in the presence of the other. Along the way they ally themselves with the infamous Vlad III and create the popular vampire myth in a new light in an attempt to carve out a survivable niche on Earth.
Altogether, the story is well-assembled and believable if one suspends a shred of disbelief. The dialog comes across a little formal, which might be representative of the time period, and doesn't always match the feelings of the scenes. My only real issue comes from the Vambir being extremely human-like in needs and desires from the outset, which seems overfly convenient when considering the infinite variability of potential life forms across the universe. Regardless, don't let that stop you; it was well-written and enjoyable, and I'll be moving on to Book 2.
What follows is more of a misunderstanding between the Vambir exiles and the religiously-motivated humans as both try to survive in the presence of the other. Along the way they ally themselves with the infamous Vlad III and create the popular vampire myth in a new light in an attempt to carve out a survivable niche on Earth.
Altogether, the story is well-assembled and believable if one suspends a shred of disbelief. The dialog comes across a little formal, which might be representative of the time period, and doesn't always match the feelings of the scenes. My only real issue comes from the Vambir being extremely human-like in needs and desires from the outset, which seems overfly convenient when considering the infinite variability of potential life forms across the universe. Regardless, don't let that stop you; it was well-written and enjoyable, and I'll be moving on to Book 2.
March 16, 2018
The Nosferatu Chronicles: Origins - Written by Susan Hamilton - Reviewed 3/15/18 - Read 3/5/18
After aliens crash-land in Transylvania, contact with humans goes horribly wrong.
The Vambir discover human blood is a nutrient, but it is also highly addictive. Ingesting blood brings about a physical transformation that enables them to pass as human. Impressed with their superior strength and vicious fighting skills, Prince Vlad Dracula welcomes them into his inner circle, where they attain power through him.
What did I like? I like science fiction and fantasy books and this one has an interesting line that kept me from the first page to the last page in book two. I liked the mix of the vampires and some of the historical information with the aliens.
What will you like? Wow, science fiction lovers are going to fall over for this one. It has everything from horror, vampires, aliens, history, macabre, adventure, mystery and a few emotional parts that will peak your heartstrings. Definitely, need to continue the story right into book two and be amazed. I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited.
After aliens crash-land in Transylvania, contact with humans goes horribly wrong.
The Vambir discover human blood is a nutrient, but it is also highly addictive. Ingesting blood brings about a physical transformation that enables them to pass as human. Impressed with their superior strength and vicious fighting skills, Prince Vlad Dracula welcomes them into his inner circle, where they attain power through him.
What did I like? I like science fiction and fantasy books and this one has an interesting line that kept me from the first page to the last page in book two. I liked the mix of the vampires and some of the historical information with the aliens.
What will you like? Wow, science fiction lovers are going to fall over for this one. It has everything from horror, vampires, aliens, history, macabre, adventure, mystery and a few emotional parts that will peak your heartstrings. Definitely, need to continue the story right into book two and be amazed. I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited.
June 7, 2018
Excellent
Disclosure: Susan Hamilton asked me to read and review this trilogy. She mentioned that she selected me since I trash so many trash books in my reviews. Go figure.
One of my favorite books is "Snow Crash." The author, Neil Stephenson, projects an alternative environment that is quite interesting and somewhat believable. He then adds lots of elements to keep the reader engaged. So it is with The Nosferatu Chronicles: Origins. The history was recorded. The only difference is the explanation of events. Amazing creativity by the author. One doesn't have to accept it as truth - just go along for the ride! I recommend it.
Disclosure: Susan Hamilton asked me to read and review this trilogy. She mentioned that she selected me since I trash so many trash books in my reviews. Go figure.
One of my favorite books is "Snow Crash." The author, Neil Stephenson, projects an alternative environment that is quite interesting and somewhat believable. He then adds lots of elements to keep the reader engaged. So it is with The Nosferatu Chronicles: Origins. The history was recorded. The only difference is the explanation of events. Amazing creativity by the author. One doesn't have to accept it as truth - just go along for the ride! I recommend it.
August 13, 2017
Do you like sci-fi? Historical fiction? Stories with intrigue? If you answer yes to any of these questions then this is a story you will love.
Yes, it does have vampires and aliens and even I had to laugh at the idea of mixing the two. Let me tell you that the way Susan weaves this story it makes a compelling case as well as an addicting read.
So sit down with your favorite beverage and don't be surprised if you can't put this book down.
Oh! Don't forget to keep some hemo-nectar nearby just in case...
Yes, it does have vampires and aliens and even I had to laugh at the idea of mixing the two. Let me tell you that the way Susan weaves this story it makes a compelling case as well as an addicting read.
So sit down with your favorite beverage and don't be surprised if you can't put this book down.
Oh! Don't forget to keep some hemo-nectar nearby just in case...
July 22, 2018
This is the first book in the series (I sorta got the sequence confused) and it offers the background information one who need to really enjoy the series. It gives the details leading up to the evacuation of the planet and,up to this point, some unknown facts about the departure, circumstances that happened on the journey, and the ultimate fall of the Vampri. It also gives the reader Kevak, and his saving grace, his outstanding faith, and his dedication to that faith
January 22, 2018
Well-written 'alternative' back history to the Dracula / Nosferatu legends. The sci-fi elements are easily understandable with very little technobabble, instead we have some interesting characters and believable dialogue. I'm guessing this was intended as a series prequel but it stands up well in its own right. An intelligent cross-genre novel that kept me interested right through.
June 23, 2018
this is an odd book.. lol not my genre normally but it was free so i decided to try it.. it was well written.. it was decent.. but it was very odd ill admit. this was kind of like a new twist on the story of vampires and how they are and who they are and what they are. it was interesting to read. im glad i decided to try it
October 23, 2018
Highly recommended
A great new take on the traditional vampire story combining sci fi and horror. Really looking forward to the next one.
A great new take on the traditional vampire story combining sci fi and horror. Really looking forward to the next one.
August 22, 2017
Unique Story combining Vampire lore and history of Dracula
Interesting combination of human history and interwoven vampire lore! Uniquely creative story. The Characters draw one into their adventures. Many turns and twist! Would have given 5 stars but for the errors and need of editing in many places, which left me confused. Look forward to more from this writer!!!.... 💞
Interesting combination of human history and interwoven vampire lore! Uniquely creative story. The Characters draw one into their adventures. Many turns and twist! Would have given 5 stars but for the errors and need of editing in many places, which left me confused. Look forward to more from this writer!!!.... 💞
March 14, 2018
An interesting take on the Dracula story
Fast paced and believable. I look forward to the next book in the series
Fast paced and believable. I look forward to the next book in the series
February 14, 2018
Susan Hamilton asked me to read her book "The Nosferatu Chronicles - Origins". This is a vampire book that, as it title says, posits an origin of vampires. It has an interesting take on this that I will elaborate in this review. I will Plot, Character, and Polish, and then assign a grade.
PLOT
The main thrust of this novel is an alien race called "the Vampri" struggling to survive on Earth after a natural disaster forced them to abandon their native planet. It's impressive how quickly Miss. Hamilton established the rudiments of their society while introducing her protagonist, Kevak. How their society is structured and stratified, how they live, what they eat, etc. is all established in a non-intrusive fashion. This is done via contrast with the current emergency and all within a couple pages.
As their exodus continues, one truly gets a sense of their desperation. They are starving and grieving and doing everything they can to establish a new normal. Not only do unexpected hazards keep unsettling them but unexpected positive events provide for sharp hope. This prevents their trauma conga line from getting stale and turning into a Deus Angst Machina.
There are other, minor, plot threads that appear at first to have nothing to do with this main narrative. There are a Welsh blacksmith that wants to emulate King Arthur by joining a crusade, a Turkish archer dragged into Ottoman court politics, and a herbalist from Wallachia preparing for a resurgence of a local monster. They are small digressions from the main narrative and eventually connect with it without distracting from or bloating it. Indeed, the blacksmith only has one or two solo scenes before he joins the main event. Then there's the historical Vlad the Impaler, who you KNOW is going to be important later.
There are lots of different kinds of vampires here. All of the usual myths and elements are accounted for but given a twist to fit the setting along with original stuff from Miss. Hamilton. Few stories that I have read provide such a fine in-universe explanation for both Our Vampires Are Different and Your Vampires Suck.
1. The Vampri are the original aliens. They look the most like humanoid monsters of the group but they don't drink blood because they're herbivores. They have no vampire weaknesses except sunlight because their bodies can't stand solar radiation.
2. Vampri who ingest human blood become vampri-human hybrids. They look human but have superhuman abilities. Human blood acts like a drug, explaining their traditional horror hunger. They act viciously because adrenaline helps them manage this addiction. The only way to kill them is a headshot.
3. Humans who ingest Vampire blood also turn into hybrids with the same skill set and weaknesses but are weaker as a whole than Vampri. This is why they are called "vampires" or "sub-Vampri".
4. All the other usual weaknesses, like garlic and crosses, are a result of Your Mind Makes It Real. These humans believe they have turned into a folk monster called "Stigoi" and so they also believe they have the same weaknesses. It is implied rather than stated that they are also the weakest of the lot because they were created by a human-vampri hybrid.
Despite the fact that crosses are only effective against monsters that think they are effective, there is a intriguing religious element. Kevak comes across a bible in his struggles (among other books such as the works of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle) and sees parallels between its contents and Vampri history. It helps him come to terms with his personal grief involving a tragedy that occurred during the evacuation of his planet and also his guilt about his involvement in oppression and murder.
The really interesting part about this religious element is that Vampri society is secular via Outgrown Such Silly Superstitions and even mentions that a similar belief about a deity that is friendly to the poor and downtrodden died out as technology made manual labor less necessary. Despite knowing this, Kevak converts to Christianity and is inspired to be "humanity's Good Samaritan". Furthermore, the staple of the Vampri diet, hemo-crops, are processed into two forms, a wafer for eating and a red liquid for drinking. They certainly provide a "salvation" of sorts.
Wow, that is long, isn't it? I totally didn't mean to do that. Anyway, I like the conclusion. It was surprisingly tense and gripping considering its parameters. It was this sense of "we're so close to making it but something could still go horribly wrong". It closes the book's conflict to provide for a sense of resolution while simultaneously planting seeds for future stories.
CHARACTERS
Kevak is the protagonist of this story and its hero as well. He is a Science Hero and a family man. As the story unfolds, a Real Men Love Jesus trait develops until he's basically a Good Shepherd. There is lots of personal conflict with him because he is an introspective sort. He grieves and has moments of doubt but it is not wangst.
Mazja is the closest the book has to a Big Bad, yet she's not really evil. I'd saw Lawful Evil at worst. She's basically dragged into villainy through a combination of anger, grief, accidental (and really quick) drug addiction and starvation. One can see how well-intentioned and reasonable she is at the start of things and see her morality erode as time goes on. Indeed, the Token Good Teammate considers her draconian disciplinary measures a Necessary Evil at one point.
Chaluxi presents an interesting question: how does a good man stay moral when only immoral options are available? How he copes with the events of the plot make him an exemplary foil for Kevak.
Vlad the Impaler is multi-faceted here. He is ruthless to his enemies and strict with his soldiers. He is a caring husband, but also has a number of mistresses. He is chivalrous but is also more severe with his punishments on "fallen" women than men. I did a little research and much of his life here is accurate to real life, aside from the vampire bits, of course.
POLISH
A couple errors here and there. I don't penalize for this unless it is more common.
There was an event that struck me as such a narrative weakness that I was going to mark down a full grade for it. This is because it was a coincidental and foolish behavior with so many points of failure that it broke my willing suspension of disbelief. However, I thought about it and realized that lots of moments, for and against this character, as well as other characters, occurred. This was not a one-time device to heavy-handily shift the plot but a theme of the story. Mistakes happen and random chance events occur; that's life. Or God working in mysterious ways, as Kevak would put it. From that perspective, it was not a narrative weakness at all.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "The Nosferatu Chronicles - Origins" an A+
This has been a free review request. Susan Hamilton wanted an honest review so I provided one.
PLOT
The main thrust of this novel is an alien race called "the Vampri" struggling to survive on Earth after a natural disaster forced them to abandon their native planet. It's impressive how quickly Miss. Hamilton established the rudiments of their society while introducing her protagonist, Kevak. How their society is structured and stratified, how they live, what they eat, etc. is all established in a non-intrusive fashion. This is done via contrast with the current emergency and all within a couple pages.
As their exodus continues, one truly gets a sense of their desperation. They are starving and grieving and doing everything they can to establish a new normal. Not only do unexpected hazards keep unsettling them but unexpected positive events provide for sharp hope. This prevents their trauma conga line from getting stale and turning into a Deus Angst Machina.
There are other, minor, plot threads that appear at first to have nothing to do with this main narrative. There are a Welsh blacksmith that wants to emulate King Arthur by joining a crusade, a Turkish archer dragged into Ottoman court politics, and a herbalist from Wallachia preparing for a resurgence of a local monster. They are small digressions from the main narrative and eventually connect with it without distracting from or bloating it. Indeed, the blacksmith only has one or two solo scenes before he joins the main event. Then there's the historical Vlad the Impaler, who you KNOW is going to be important later.
There are lots of different kinds of vampires here. All of the usual myths and elements are accounted for but given a twist to fit the setting along with original stuff from Miss. Hamilton. Few stories that I have read provide such a fine in-universe explanation for both Our Vampires Are Different and Your Vampires Suck.
1. The Vampri are the original aliens. They look the most like humanoid monsters of the group but they don't drink blood because they're herbivores. They have no vampire weaknesses except sunlight because their bodies can't stand solar radiation.
2. Vampri who ingest human blood become vampri-human hybrids. They look human but have superhuman abilities. Human blood acts like a drug, explaining their traditional horror hunger. They act viciously because adrenaline helps them manage this addiction. The only way to kill them is a headshot.
3. Humans who ingest Vampire blood also turn into hybrids with the same skill set and weaknesses but are weaker as a whole than Vampri. This is why they are called "vampires" or "sub-Vampri".
4. All the other usual weaknesses, like garlic and crosses, are a result of Your Mind Makes It Real. These humans believe they have turned into a folk monster called "Stigoi" and so they also believe they have the same weaknesses. It is implied rather than stated that they are also the weakest of the lot because they were created by a human-vampri hybrid.
Despite the fact that crosses are only effective against monsters that think they are effective, there is a intriguing religious element. Kevak comes across a bible in his struggles (among other books such as the works of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle) and sees parallels between its contents and Vampri history. It helps him come to terms with his personal grief involving a tragedy that occurred during the evacuation of his planet and also his guilt about his involvement in oppression and murder.
The really interesting part about this religious element is that Vampri society is secular via Outgrown Such Silly Superstitions and even mentions that a similar belief about a deity that is friendly to the poor and downtrodden died out as technology made manual labor less necessary. Despite knowing this, Kevak converts to Christianity and is inspired to be "humanity's Good Samaritan". Furthermore, the staple of the Vampri diet, hemo-crops, are processed into two forms, a wafer for eating and a red liquid for drinking. They certainly provide a "salvation" of sorts.
Wow, that is long, isn't it? I totally didn't mean to do that. Anyway, I like the conclusion. It was surprisingly tense and gripping considering its parameters. It was this sense of "we're so close to making it but something could still go horribly wrong". It closes the book's conflict to provide for a sense of resolution while simultaneously planting seeds for future stories.
CHARACTERS
Kevak is the protagonist of this story and its hero as well. He is a Science Hero and a family man. As the story unfolds, a Real Men Love Jesus trait develops until he's basically a Good Shepherd. There is lots of personal conflict with him because he is an introspective sort. He grieves and has moments of doubt but it is not wangst.
Mazja is the closest the book has to a Big Bad, yet she's not really evil. I'd saw Lawful Evil at worst. She's basically dragged into villainy through a combination of anger, grief, accidental (and really quick) drug addiction and starvation. One can see how well-intentioned and reasonable she is at the start of things and see her morality erode as time goes on. Indeed, the Token Good Teammate considers her draconian disciplinary measures a Necessary Evil at one point.
Chaluxi presents an interesting question: how does a good man stay moral when only immoral options are available? How he copes with the events of the plot make him an exemplary foil for Kevak.
Vlad the Impaler is multi-faceted here. He is ruthless to his enemies and strict with his soldiers. He is a caring husband, but also has a number of mistresses. He is chivalrous but is also more severe with his punishments on "fallen" women than men. I did a little research and much of his life here is accurate to real life, aside from the vampire bits, of course.
POLISH
A couple errors here and there. I don't penalize for this unless it is more common.
There was an event that struck me as such a narrative weakness that I was going to mark down a full grade for it. This is because it was a coincidental and foolish behavior with so many points of failure that it broke my willing suspension of disbelief. However, I thought about it and realized that lots of moments, for and against this character, as well as other characters, occurred. This was not a one-time device to heavy-handily shift the plot but a theme of the story. Mistakes happen and random chance events occur; that's life. Or God working in mysterious ways, as Kevak would put it. From that perspective, it was not a narrative weakness at all.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "The Nosferatu Chronicles - Origins" an A+
This has been a free review request. Susan Hamilton wanted an honest review so I provided one.
August 6, 2017
This book had a lot of story lines going but my favorite was Kevak. The vegetarian vampire and his rescued son. I don't want to spoil anything. This a very interesting take on the vampire legend and origin. I like the idea of the vampire being alien and mixing with the court of Vlad the Impaler. A very original read.
There are a few sections that do get a little muddled from so many story lines going at once. At times the technological speak of the aliens and the reactions of the humans to the actual gadgets seem a little off to me. I would have expected them to be a little more surprised if not afraid. Those are minor though. It is worth the read if you are into new interpretations and new ideas on very set in stone legends.
There are a few sections that do get a little muddled from so many story lines going at once. At times the technological speak of the aliens and the reactions of the humans to the actual gadgets seem a little off to me. I would have expected them to be a little more surprised if not afraid. Those are minor though. It is worth the read if you are into new interpretations and new ideas on very set in stone legends.
March 25, 2018
I thought this was a fantastic alternative explanation for the beginning of the Vampire legend. The book is well written and I believe it pays tribute to the vampire legends that came before it. Dracula has his place in it as does the term Strigoi, which I have only ever heard used in The Strain. The story gets you interested and keeps you interested throughout. It is a clever blend of sci-fi (aliens) and horror (vampires). I would definitely recommend this novel and I intend to read the remaining two in the trilogy. This is a must read for fans of the genres: sci-fi, horror and Vampires (if Vampires have their own genre, I think they should if they don't)
Read
August 27, 2022Rating: minus 5
I am blocked from other reviews as has been the case with all my rated books for months. With this over all rating, I would not recommend reading them anyway. The commenters on my pages all are ID masked, also beginning at the same time. My issue with the writer has created an antipathy which I can not shake at the moment. It has not however overly influenced my judgement of the book. It appears that if a reader writes one brutally honest review of a book which "glories in the mindset of a January 6, 2021 madman/madwoman", being a communist is suddenly a bad thing.
While I can't see any other reviews, there are so many five star ratings that I do not think that most are of any use. The book is not a flawed or deficient story, as much as a story that isn't. The series is a three themed mashup that seems held together only by heroic editing. That even such a small sample would give the book five stars, indicates employees of the publisher or friends and family of the writer comprise the entirety of rating members.
I will talk about what I've seen in Amazon/Goodreads later in this review but for context see my review of "Dark Horse", a good story by Diener or Powers of the Earth (which glories in the mindset of a January 6, 2021 madman/madwoman) and the comments From a Claes Rees, Jr/cgr710 (a self-identified NeoNazi).
Another interesting person with comments is a Joe Defiant (an american eagle icon?), who wrote across every review of "Vampire Economy" in defense of the reputation of Adolph Hitler and the National Socialists. Apparently Goodreads isn't a community of readers, is it?
Claes Rees, Jr/cgr710
Don't be a numpty, be a smarty. Come and join the Communist Party.
GLORY TO UKRAINE !!!
Back to the book's something. There are no interesting characters. The plot is weirdly deficient. The background universe is silly. The interactions are insufficient to establish a continuity of storytelling. The series is not worth the time.
Books like these are why I've lost much of my interest in current science fiction. Current US science fiction is dismal and Amazon's selection is the worst. If new to the genre, staying with the top tier writers is the best advice. The streaming services provide a better quality storytelling in general and at worst, will only cost you ninety minutes of your time. Netflix also has a nice multinational selection as a bonus.
I accidentally discovered YouTube's book and science fiction channels in the last two years. The first educational video site that I found was Curiosity Stream/Nebula at a cost of $15 USD for a yearly subscription. I recommend the book channels if you are interested in communities of readers who seriously enjoy bookish things, as opposed to whatever Goodreads is. Book recommendations and discussions on book tubes are actually useful.
The inability to drop Susan Hamilton caused me to take a look at how the friends/follower lists seem to function. In the case of Goodreads Authors, I suspect that it is used to inflate the image of popularity of Amazon writers. I suggest that you give a think before allowing someone on your friend list, because the lurkers are not necessarily harmless. My experiences should give you pause.
Some of my favorite YouTube channels, both interest area and book are.
No Justice MTG, Second Thought, Art Deco, The Library Ladder, The Juice Media, Munecat, Some More News, Tara Mooknee, The Leftist Cooks, Rowan J Coleman, The Armchair Historian, Noah Samsen, Tulia, Tiny Wee Boat, Invicta, What Vivi did next, Novara Media, (Dis) Honesty Dan Ariely , Kings and Generals, Crecganford, Between the Wars, The Great War, Books and Lala, A Clockwork Reader, Sabine Hossenfelder, Emmie, Strange Aeons, iilluminatii, Interesting Engineering, Armor Cast, Chill Goblin, Chugging Along, Ship Happens, Books with Chloe, Dr Becky, Owen Jones, Lilly's expat life, Prime of Midlife, Mythic Concepts, Max Joseph, Perun, Kelly loves Physics and History, Real Engineering, The Templin Institute, Big Think, Eleanor Morton, Chloe Stafler, Cruising Alba, Sort of Interesting, Holly the Cafe Boat, Boat Time, Serena Skybourne, Pro Robotics, Casual Navigation, Vlad Vexler, Overly Sarcastic Productions, Cold Fusion, Enby Reads, Jabzy, IzzzYzzz, History Line, Book Odyssey, Euronews, Adult Wednesday Addams, Told in Stone, Neringa Rekaslute, The Carpenter's Daughter, Hello Future Me, I'm Rosa, The Piano Guys, The Angry Astronaut, With Olivia, Spacedock, Quinn's Ideas, Natasha's Adventures, Pentatonix, Lorna Jane Adventures, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Depressed Russian, The Shades of Orange, Kathy's Flog in France, Alice Cappelle, Alize, France 24, Camper Vibe, DUST, Linguoer Mechanic, Denys Davydov, WION, Reading Wryly, History Marche, Ana Psychology, Karolina Zebrowska, Jill Bearup, Cruising the Cut, The Mindful Narrowboat, Fate and Fabled, Sarah Z, Then & Now, Brittany the Bibliophile, Kalyn Abridged, Double Down News, UA Courage, Art by Annamarie, Caspian Report, A Cup of Nicole, Make Better Media, Physics Girl, Narrowboat Pirate, Northern Narrowboaters, Cruising Crafts.
I wish you a sunny morning, a breezy afternoon, a relaxed evening and a pleasant night.
An individual without Empathy is not Human and such a culture doomed.
George Washington, the 1779 Convention of the Association of English North American Slave Owners and Slave Traders
I am blocked from other reviews as has been the case with all my rated books for months. With this over all rating, I would not recommend reading them anyway. The commenters on my pages all are ID masked, also beginning at the same time. My issue with the writer has created an antipathy which I can not shake at the moment. It has not however overly influenced my judgement of the book. It appears that if a reader writes one brutally honest review of a book which "glories in the mindset of a January 6, 2021 madman/madwoman", being a communist is suddenly a bad thing.
While I can't see any other reviews, there are so many five star ratings that I do not think that most are of any use. The book is not a flawed or deficient story, as much as a story that isn't. The series is a three themed mashup that seems held together only by heroic editing. That even such a small sample would give the book five stars, indicates employees of the publisher or friends and family of the writer comprise the entirety of rating members.
I will talk about what I've seen in Amazon/Goodreads later in this review but for context see my review of "Dark Horse", a good story by Diener or Powers of the Earth (which glories in the mindset of a January 6, 2021 madman/madwoman) and the comments From a Claes Rees, Jr/cgr710 (a self-identified NeoNazi).
Another interesting person with comments is a Joe Defiant (an american eagle icon?), who wrote across every review of "Vampire Economy" in defense of the reputation of Adolph Hitler and the National Socialists. Apparently Goodreads isn't a community of readers, is it?
Claes Rees, Jr/cgr710
Don't be a numpty, be a smarty. Come and join the Communist Party.
GLORY TO UKRAINE !!!
Back to the book's something. There are no interesting characters. The plot is weirdly deficient. The background universe is silly. The interactions are insufficient to establish a continuity of storytelling. The series is not worth the time.
Books like these are why I've lost much of my interest in current science fiction. Current US science fiction is dismal and Amazon's selection is the worst. If new to the genre, staying with the top tier writers is the best advice. The streaming services provide a better quality storytelling in general and at worst, will only cost you ninety minutes of your time. Netflix also has a nice multinational selection as a bonus.
I accidentally discovered YouTube's book and science fiction channels in the last two years. The first educational video site that I found was Curiosity Stream/Nebula at a cost of $15 USD for a yearly subscription. I recommend the book channels if you are interested in communities of readers who seriously enjoy bookish things, as opposed to whatever Goodreads is. Book recommendations and discussions on book tubes are actually useful.
The inability to drop Susan Hamilton caused me to take a look at how the friends/follower lists seem to function. In the case of Goodreads Authors, I suspect that it is used to inflate the image of popularity of Amazon writers. I suggest that you give a think before allowing someone on your friend list, because the lurkers are not necessarily harmless. My experiences should give you pause.
Some of my favorite YouTube channels, both interest area and book are.
No Justice MTG, Second Thought, Art Deco, The Library Ladder, The Juice Media, Munecat, Some More News, Tara Mooknee, The Leftist Cooks, Rowan J Coleman, The Armchair Historian, Noah Samsen, Tulia, Tiny Wee Boat, Invicta, What Vivi did next, Novara Media, (Dis) Honesty Dan Ariely , Kings and Generals, Crecganford, Between the Wars, The Great War, Books and Lala, A Clockwork Reader, Sabine Hossenfelder, Emmie, Strange Aeons, iilluminatii, Interesting Engineering, Armor Cast, Chill Goblin, Chugging Along, Ship Happens, Books with Chloe, Dr Becky, Owen Jones, Lilly's expat life, Prime of Midlife, Mythic Concepts, Max Joseph, Perun, Kelly loves Physics and History, Real Engineering, The Templin Institute, Big Think, Eleanor Morton, Chloe Stafler, Cruising Alba, Sort of Interesting, Holly the Cafe Boat, Boat Time, Serena Skybourne, Pro Robotics, Casual Navigation, Vlad Vexler, Overly Sarcastic Productions, Cold Fusion, Enby Reads, Jabzy, IzzzYzzz, History Line, Book Odyssey, Euronews, Adult Wednesday Addams, Told in Stone, Neringa Rekaslute, The Carpenter's Daughter, Hello Future Me, I'm Rosa, The Piano Guys, The Angry Astronaut, With Olivia, Spacedock, Quinn's Ideas, Natasha's Adventures, Pentatonix, Lorna Jane Adventures, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Depressed Russian, The Shades of Orange, Kathy's Flog in France, Alice Cappelle, Alize, France 24, Camper Vibe, DUST, Linguoer Mechanic, Denys Davydov, WION, Reading Wryly, History Marche, Ana Psychology, Karolina Zebrowska, Jill Bearup, Cruising the Cut, The Mindful Narrowboat, Fate and Fabled, Sarah Z, Then & Now, Brittany the Bibliophile, Kalyn Abridged, Double Down News, UA Courage, Art by Annamarie, Caspian Report, A Cup of Nicole, Make Better Media, Physics Girl, Narrowboat Pirate, Northern Narrowboaters, Cruising Crafts.
I wish you a sunny morning, a breezy afternoon, a relaxed evening and a pleasant night.
An individual without Empathy is not Human and such a culture doomed.
George Washington, the 1779 Convention of the Association of English North American Slave Owners and Slave Traders
February 9, 2021
Super Wow on Toast! (That means I really liked it!)
What an imaginative, original take on the vampire tradition! WOW!! I was never a big traditionalist. Bram Stoker may have started things off, but anyone can grow a pair of fangs and take a bite at the legend if they have a good enough idea. Anne Rice did it 30 years ago and the world fell in love with the Vampire Lestat. Now Susan Hamilton has given us Lestat's great, great, great, great, etc grandparents to fall in love with now. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy! Thanks, Ms Hamilton!
What an imaginative, original take on the vampire tradition! WOW!! I was never a big traditionalist. Bram Stoker may have started things off, but anyone can grow a pair of fangs and take a bite at the legend if they have a good enough idea. Anne Rice did it 30 years ago and the world fell in love with the Vampire Lestat. Now Susan Hamilton has given us Lestat's great, great, great, great, etc grandparents to fall in love with now. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy! Thanks, Ms Hamilton!
November 30, 2017
This is a terrific blend of aliens, alternative history, true history, and a hypothesis on the birth of vampires on this planet. I learned some fascinating history about the wars between Transylvania, the Turks, and the Ottoman Empire.
The writing so well done, creating a real page-turner of science fiction, suspense, intrigues, and characters to root for and characters to hate. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel: The Nosferatu Chronicles: The Aztec God. Whew, does that sound interesting or what?
The writing so well done, creating a real page-turner of science fiction, suspense, intrigues, and characters to root for and characters to hate. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel: The Nosferatu Chronicles: The Aztec God. Whew, does that sound interesting or what?
January 3, 2018
An absolutely different take on the Vampire Legend. Overall the story is an interesting one and the read is easy to get through. However, about 2/3 through, the story seems to get a bit rushed and some characters aren't given a good enough send off IMO; it occasionally feels like the author had so many ideas and didn't want to sacrifice any of them for the betterment of the rest of the story. The only thing missing for me was some actual horror or scary moments. As opposed to most vampire stories which will occasionally build some fear of a monster, this story is from the perspective of the monster(s), so not much horror.
That all being said, it is no doubt a fun read. If you like Science Fiction, enjoy vampires and fast paced story telling, pick this up.
That all being said, it is no doubt a fun read. If you like Science Fiction, enjoy vampires and fast paced story telling, pick this up.
May 31, 2018
kindle unlimited bit odd or weird but really anything that isn't means I've already read it, there's nothing new under the sun type thing, it wasn't typos etc that did it in, and almost gave it a 3, just some 'iffy' parts/plot etc, and yes am quite used to sci-fi etc so that wasn't it
Book 1 of the trilogy reveals how the vampire legend is the result of a secret alien colonization that began with a crash landing in Transylvania in the 15th Century and a first contact that goes horribly wrong.The Vambir discover human blood is a nutrient, but it is also highly addictive. Ingesting blood brings about a physical transformation that enables them to pass as human. Impressed with their superior strength and vicious fighting skills, Prince Vlad Dracula welcomes them into his inner circle, where they attain power through him.
The Nosferatu Chronicles: Origins
The Nosferatu Chronicles: The Aztec God
#3 Nosferatu Chronicles Return to Vambiri
Book 1 of the trilogy reveals how the vampire legend is the result of a secret alien colonization that began with a crash landing in Transylvania in the 15th Century and a first contact that goes horribly wrong.The Vambir discover human blood is a nutrient, but it is also highly addictive. Ingesting blood brings about a physical transformation that enables them to pass as human. Impressed with their superior strength and vicious fighting skills, Prince Vlad Dracula welcomes them into his inner circle, where they attain power through him.
The Nosferatu Chronicles: Origins
The Nosferatu Chronicles: The Aztec God
#3 Nosferatu Chronicles Return to Vambiri
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews