Akeldama

by R.D. Meyer

Seth Gendrickson has worked for the Catholic Church's Order of Mount Sion since his initial encounter with a vampire during seminary years ago. Finally working his way up to the rank of Hunter, Seth's first assignment is to investigate a spike in vampire activity in Kansas, an area previously quiet. The region between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River had been a kind of neutral zone for the two main factions - The Assembly of Cairo and Los Muertos. The Assembly hails from Europe, and although few in numbers, is the older of the sects and far more powerful. Los Muertos saw opportunity in the New World, so they established themselves in the Americas and began to multiply. They are young, aggressive, and passionate. And they're moving east. Seth is under orders to figure out what's going on before an all out vampire civil war brings knowledge of such supernatural creatures into the open and causes societal panic, a situation the Church is keen to avoid. During his mission, Seth captures one of the enemy and interrogates it, but he soon finds that the movement east is less an invasion than it is an influx of refugees fleeing a greater threat. Something is hunting the vampires out west, something more terrifying than the risk of conflict. Seth tracks this threat from California to Japan and across Europe to discover the heart of a conspiracy that stretches back 2,000 years and threatens the future of the world.

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 18, 2017

About the author

RD Meyer is a military officer stationed in Kansas, and Akeldama is his debut novel. He lives with his wife, two daughters, three dogs, and a cat on a country farm, where he continues to write and enjoy life.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always so impressed when a blogger I've followed for several years is publishing a book! It's so exciting! And so I was so happy to hear that RD Meyer is publishing his book and even more excited to review it.

As summer begins, I'm definitely itching for books a bit outside my comfort zone and RD Meyer's book Akeldama was definitely the book for that. First, it's about vampires. But that's putting it lightly. These aren't your average vampires. It's about vampires with these intense super powers and aren't at all the kind you might usually see. Seth, the main character, is a vampire hunter with the Catholic Church when he finds out that these other vampire exists...well, he ends up having to partner with the very vampires he's been fighting against for a bigger cause.

This book was definitely intense and not what I would say is a "beach read." It's actually been a very long time since I've read a vampire novel and so this was so much new territory for me. Since the vampire hunters are working under the Catholic Church, there was definitely some religious aspects in the novel (made me a little uncomfortable as I've gotten closer to my faith).

This book also had some vivid violent moments. I sometimes had to skim past some of the more gruesome scenes. However, I thought the character development of the vampires, especially Maxwell, was very strong. I liked the vampire hunter Seth, although he was very focused on his personal mission and I thought that maybe got in the way a bit of getting to know him and his past closely enough.
And also be sure to follow RD Meyers blog, it's definitely very much about his personal journey as a write and it's worth reading!

[Sir Reader of Iowa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this from voraciousreadersonly.com. Fantastic read! I got hooked since first page of the book. I love how the story about vampires clash with the church. it's action package! This book is not same as other vampire books. I don't really liked any kind of vampire book but this is my favorite vampire book by far!

I'm looking forward to his other work.

[Vanessa Eccles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampires and the church? Definitely an interesting and unexpected read!