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San Jenaro Novels
Blood Flow
Vampire democracy sucks. Literally. When it's one vamp, one vote, the worst monsters can swing elections by turning random people off the streets into new vampires. Dylan is one of those random people. The power players in the city want his vote, but he just wants to be left the hell alone. Most of all, he wants to stop murdering people. That's easier than it sounds when some people are seriously asking for it.
Dylan's life as a vampire is gross, terrifying, disgusting, frustrating, sexy, painful, and that's all just in the first night out.
Content Warning: This novel contains graphic depictions of assault, murder, sex, bodily fluids, and sexual assault.
Dylan's life as a vampire is gross, terrifying, disgusting, frustrating, sexy, painful, and that's all just in the first night out.
Content Warning: This novel contains graphic depictions of assault, murder, sex, bodily fluids, and sexual assault.
453 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2017
3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Hill
55 books32 followersBios are tough. I'm an author and game designer based out of Tokyo. I've a soft spot for horror, urban fantasy, and science fiction. I write about vampires, about social issues, and the intersection of mythology and real life. I believe stories about monsters are actually stories about people, and that every good story about monsters is a story about the way people live and interact.
Should I have written that in the third person? That'd be weird, wouldn't it? "Olivia Hill is an author and game designer based out of..." It's really awkward, if you know I'm writing it about myself. But isn't this commentary kind of meta anyway? Is this really the purview of author bio? Do I really need to be worrying about this when the world could fall apart at any minute? Should I really be writing books when I only have a limited time on this earth, and could theoretically be doing something more meaningful? Does anything have meaning?
Long story short, you should buy my books. Because what if they're actually very important? What if they change the world, the way Bill & Ted changed the world with Wyld Stallyns? Wouldn't you want to be part of that before it's a thing?
Should I have written that in the third person? That'd be weird, wouldn't it? "Olivia Hill is an author and game designer based out of..." It's really awkward, if you know I'm writing it about myself. But isn't this commentary kind of meta anyway? Is this really the purview of author bio? Do I really need to be worrying about this when the world could fall apart at any minute? Should I really be writing books when I only have a limited time on this earth, and could theoretically be doing something more meaningful? Does anything have meaning?
Long story short, you should buy my books. Because what if they're actually very important? What if they change the world, the way Bill & Ted changed the world with Wyld Stallyns? Wouldn't you want to be part of that before it's a thing?
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 10, 2017
Blood Flow by David A Hill Jr
A “This is Me” telling of a vampire born into the political intrigues of the Californian Vampiric Government to act as a swing voter in the upcoming election. Unfortunately for his Maker, he has other plans. If the common, blue collar man in this politically charged yet blasé world we live in were Turned, this would be his tale.
The Narrative was easy enough to follow. There were content warnings on the front page that the novel contains graphic descriptions of assault, murder, sex, bodily floods and assault. A nice trigger warning for those whom such descriptions might distress, and some of the scenes were a bit uncomfortable. The font size and spacing was a bit distracting. I felt there could have been a more dramatic and clearer resolution to the overall plot. That being said, the vampiric lore was fascinatingly original.
My curiosity piqued by this first novel, I eagerly await the next piece of the story.Blood Flow: A Southern California Gothic
May 30, 2017
I just finished reading the novel. I flew through it! Very high pacing, engaging descriptions and interesting characters. Perfect read for a summer afternoon!
May 25, 2017
3.5/5
The setup for Blood Flow will be very recognizable to those familiar with modern vampire fiction, particularly players of the various vampire-related roleplaying games originally created by White Wolf Publishing. In it, varied vampire bloodlines fight for power and turf, with a neophyte vampire caught in the middle. That’s not too surprising, given the author’s history as a developer for some of those properties; there are a handful of satirical moments that take deliberate jabs at the games and their tropes, but they’re thankfully restrained, as a little goes a long way.
There are a few twists to the formula, which I won’t spoil, but rather than focusing on trying to spin out a detailed new take on vampire mythology, Hill focuses on his characters and their outlooks on the situation, using them to explore and critique ethical issues like consent and personal responsibility in a world where blood and magic routinely deprive people of their free will. World-building is done with small glimpses and measured details, rather than big data dumps, and the book is better for it.
At times the pacing feels rushed, particularly early on, but it’s to the book’s credit that I wanted it to take it’s time more, because I was enjoying what I was reading. It ends stronger than it begins, a rarity in fiction in my experience, where a strong opening often fails to live up to its premise in the end. The ending also sets up an ongoing situation for exploration in future books, which I hope we get.
There are some minor editing snafus, like a character being referred to by the wrong name or a dropped word in a sentence, but they are rare and generally in-line with what I expect from self-published fiction.
The setup for Blood Flow will be very recognizable to those familiar with modern vampire fiction, particularly players of the various vampire-related roleplaying games originally created by White Wolf Publishing. In it, varied vampire bloodlines fight for power and turf, with a neophyte vampire caught in the middle. That’s not too surprising, given the author’s history as a developer for some of those properties; there are a handful of satirical moments that take deliberate jabs at the games and their tropes, but they’re thankfully restrained, as a little goes a long way.
There are a few twists to the formula, which I won’t spoil, but rather than focusing on trying to spin out a detailed new take on vampire mythology, Hill focuses on his characters and their outlooks on the situation, using them to explore and critique ethical issues like consent and personal responsibility in a world where blood and magic routinely deprive people of their free will. World-building is done with small glimpses and measured details, rather than big data dumps, and the book is better for it.
At times the pacing feels rushed, particularly early on, but it’s to the book’s credit that I wanted it to take it’s time more, because I was enjoying what I was reading. It ends stronger than it begins, a rarity in fiction in my experience, where a strong opening often fails to live up to its premise in the end. The ending also sets up an ongoing situation for exploration in future books, which I hope we get.
There are some minor editing snafus, like a character being referred to by the wrong name or a dropped word in a sentence, but they are rare and generally in-line with what I expect from self-published fiction.
May 16, 2017
I've known David in some capacity for a few years, but I've been a fan of his work for much longer than that. I eagerly pick up just about anything with his name on it because I expect good things, and I have yet to be disappointed. Blood Flow handily keeps his track record intact. I read the first bit of this book ages ago when he first started tinkering with it, and I've been chomping at the bit to get my hands on it ever since.
Blood Flow is great first outing into what feels like a much more fully fleshed out world than we get in the book. David's heritage is all over the book, from the setting, the aesthetic, and the monsters we meet in it. There hints of Lost Boys and Near Dark and Black Mirror in this book. A lot of what's in here is a response to David's other work, pushing boundaries in ways he has not always been able to before. If you're a child of the 1980s and 1990s, spent any amount of time watching questionable vampire movies growing up, or have played the things that go bump in the night across the table from friends, the book will feel intimately familiar. If you've lived any measure of your life in Southern California, the world of San Jenaro will feel eerily like home. I tore through the book in no time, but have plans to go back and give it a second read to pick apart for details I may have missed in the breakneck speed of the story the first time.
Blood Flow is great first outing into what feels like a much more fully fleshed out world than we get in the book. David's heritage is all over the book, from the setting, the aesthetic, and the monsters we meet in it. There hints of Lost Boys and Near Dark and Black Mirror in this book. A lot of what's in here is a response to David's other work, pushing boundaries in ways he has not always been able to before. If you're a child of the 1980s and 1990s, spent any amount of time watching questionable vampire movies growing up, or have played the things that go bump in the night across the table from friends, the book will feel intimately familiar. If you've lived any measure of your life in Southern California, the world of San Jenaro will feel eerily like home. I tore through the book in no time, but have plans to go back and give it a second read to pick apart for details I may have missed in the breakneck speed of the story the first time.
June 25, 2017
A great read with some really cool supernatural twists
I'm not normally a fan of vampire fiction. Never been my thing. But I love a good urban fantasy, and this book gives that to me the way through. There's a world that feels deeper than we can see, vampires that have cool and interesting powers, but the book hits a very entertaining harmony of crazy magical stuff, cynical political maneuvering, and all-too-human relationships. I burned through it in a single sitting, something I almost never do anymore. The main character is flawed without being an ass, is able to learn from his mistakes, and the book makes me want to know what's coming in Book 2. It's my favorite take on modern vampires so far, and a great read to boot.
I'm not normally a fan of vampire fiction. Never been my thing. But I love a good urban fantasy, and this book gives that to me the way through. There's a world that feels deeper than we can see, vampires that have cool and interesting powers, but the book hits a very entertaining harmony of crazy magical stuff, cynical political maneuvering, and all-too-human relationships. I burned through it in a single sitting, something I almost never do anymore. The main character is flawed without being an ass, is able to learn from his mistakes, and the book makes me want to know what's coming in Book 2. It's my favorite take on modern vampires so far, and a great read to boot.
May 16, 2017
Enjoyable to read, very engaging. Raw and emotional, gritty and real. Great take on vampires. Excellent standalone story, but with room to grow. 10/10, would buy again. Wonderful work from a wonderful author.
May 30, 2017
A thoughtfully crafted, gritty novel that explores the complex problems inherent in becoming a vampire. The book is complex, rich, sometimes funny, sometimes makes your skin crawl, but very thought-provoking.
July 13, 2017
Fun, fresh look at vampires
A little bummed it was left on a cliffhanger but a fun, fast read. A few hiccups especially with confusion as to how a major death occured but still well worth your time.
A little bummed it was left on a cliffhanger but a fun, fast read. A few hiccups especially with confusion as to how a major death occured but still well worth your time.
March 18, 2021
Good story lots of typos
This was a pretty good story. The author needs to find a better editor. Lots of typos and it seems like a couple of pages were left out of the book.
This was a pretty good story. The author needs to find a better editor. Lots of typos and it seems like a couple of pages were left out of the book.
August 1, 2018
This is the story of Dylan, a freshly turned vampire. He finds out that he was just a pawn in vampire politics, that he was turned only to be just another vote. Dylan learns how to adjust to his new vampire life, learning new tricks along the way. He makes both friends and enemies along his journey. He’s tired of just being a pawn and stands up to the greater vampire forces that tried to control him.
Blood Flow had a refreshing take on vampires and vampire society. It was an interesting read and the story progressed at a nice and steady pace, sometimes moving along quickly. The ending I felt was a bit abrupt and rushed but kept me on the edge of my seat. All in all it was an attention grabbing story and was well written. This was the first book I have read by David A. Hill Jr. and I enjoyed the storyline. Blood Flow was a nice change of pace and story from other paranormal reads!
4/5
~Layna
Blood Flow had a refreshing take on vampires and vampire society. It was an interesting read and the story progressed at a nice and steady pace, sometimes moving along quickly. The ending I felt was a bit abrupt and rushed but kept me on the edge of my seat. All in all it was an attention grabbing story and was well written. This was the first book I have read by David A. Hill Jr. and I enjoyed the storyline. Blood Flow was a nice change of pace and story from other paranormal reads!
4/5
~Layna
August 1, 2018
Review originally posted on Ctrl, Alt, Books!
This is the story of Dylan, a freshly turned vampire. He finds out that he was just a pawn in vampire politics, that he was turned only to be just another vote. Dylan learns how to adjust to his new vampire life, learning new tricks along the way. He makes both friends and enemies along his journey. He’s tired of just being a pawn and stands up to the greater vampire forces that tried to control him.
Blood Flow had a refreshing take on vampires and vampire society. It was an interesting read and the story progressed at a nice and steady pace, sometimes moving along quickly. The ending I felt was a bit abrupt and rushed but kept me on the edge of my seat. All in all it was an attention grabbing story and was well written. This was the first book I have read by David A. Hill Jr. and I enjoyed the storyline. Blood Flow was a nice change of pace and story from other paranormal reads!
4/5
~Layna
This is the story of Dylan, a freshly turned vampire. He finds out that he was just a pawn in vampire politics, that he was turned only to be just another vote. Dylan learns how to adjust to his new vampire life, learning new tricks along the way. He makes both friends and enemies along his journey. He’s tired of just being a pawn and stands up to the greater vampire forces that tried to control him.
Blood Flow had a refreshing take on vampires and vampire society. It was an interesting read and the story progressed at a nice and steady pace, sometimes moving along quickly. The ending I felt was a bit abrupt and rushed but kept me on the edge of my seat. All in all it was an attention grabbing story and was well written. This was the first book I have read by David A. Hill Jr. and I enjoyed the storyline. Blood Flow was a nice change of pace and story from other paranormal reads!
4/5
~Layna
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews