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Without
"What is forever anyways..."Ianthe Gold is a Vampire who will do anything to save her one true love from death. But Charlottes human mortality and the will of God threatens that love, Ianthe's promises of "Forever" as she races to keep her promise in this epic, fast paced, gripping novel with an end you will never see coming.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2017
3 people are currently reading
695 people want to read
About the author
Brian Dennis Hartford
8 books2 followersBrian Dennis Hartford is a published author and graphics designer at Vérité Clothing & Accessories. He currently resides in the beautiful state of New Mexico, a land, a people, a culture, of which he draws much inspiration.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 28, 2017
'Without' by Brian Dennis Hartford is essentially a modern day love story, just with a huge dose of vampirism thrown in there. But, fear not, this heart-wrenching, powerful and moving novel is nothing like a certain boring and predictable, popular vampire saga. This is not a piece of YA fiction, as there are some adult themes, and graphic scenes not really suitable for a younger audience.
'Without' is a beautiful story, which really manages to capture the enduring power and force of true love. It is pure and inescapable, and the promises of such a love, must be fulfilled. When vampire Ianthe meets Charlotte in a shopping mall, there is an instant attraction between the two women. Love blossoms, but when did the path of love ever run smoothly...
Thoughtfully-written, gritty, and a brand new take on the vampire novel, thanks to the addition of strong female characters, 'Without' comes recommended by me.
'Without' is a beautiful story, which really manages to capture the enduring power and force of true love. It is pure and inescapable, and the promises of such a love, must be fulfilled. When vampire Ianthe meets Charlotte in a shopping mall, there is an instant attraction between the two women. Love blossoms, but when did the path of love ever run smoothly...
Thoughtfully-written, gritty, and a brand new take on the vampire novel, thanks to the addition of strong female characters, 'Without' comes recommended by me.
December 27, 2017
This book is not your teen's vampire novel. This book is not for the squeamish. Tough and gritty but full of love and hope, this novel will inspire you. It will make you want to search for your twin flame, your soul mate. It will also make you question what God's plan is for you. There is violence and sex, but it is essential for the plot.
April 1, 2018
Every once in a while, in the sea of mindless vampire book dribble, there comes along something quite unexpected. Without is this book! To start, I am a BIG Ann Rice fan, but who isn't am I right? This is my standard by which I set other books. But, then again, there's Without. The author advertised this as something completely different, and he was right! I am not really sure where to start with this one, but epic would be a good place. A grand tale of love and romance between two souls lost to each other through time and space, only to be reunited again after god knows how long. And yes, God, has so much to do with this, or, does he/her? There is sensuality, description of places and things, a first person narrative that may not be the actual teller of this story, Ianthe Gold, but rather another. I was immersed into this world. A world in fact quite real, quite plausible. The beauty of this book is just that, plausible blending with the far fetched and quite unnerving scientific possibility. I am going to break the code here, yes, the vampires are aliens! But, as is explained, they are "So much greater then that." A proposition of an existence that far exceeds any space-vampire fiction book i've ever read. Oh, wait there's only two, really, HP Lovecraft's Shambler from the Stars and "The Space Vampires" by Colin Wilson upon which the "Lifeforce" movie was made. In this book, the author seamlessly blends modern and historical fact, scientific biological possibility with good old fashioned love and action story. There is loving sex, violent sex, forbidden sex, unexpected heros, and beautiful descriptions of places and things. Eloquent and mind twisting dialogue about God, life, existence. And unlike other most vampire novels, this book presents the act of killing and the taking of life in its most ugly detailed fashion while somehow keeping it all too unnervingly sensual. Erotic almost. I will close with this, I am and always will be a Ann Rice fan. I am a sucker for sensual vampire stuff. But, Without has changed much. And after reading it through twice, I have to wonder, who exactly is writing this story, the author, or, the character Ianthe Gold, or, Stoya Tepes Dracul? It is that convincing, that good! If you like HP Lovecraft like science fiction, vampires and sexy "consummation of the flesh" stuff then this is the book for you!
August 22, 2018
I was waiting for some friends to finish their spa treatment at the J.W. Marriott in Phoenix when I met the author and his wife poolside. Found out he was a writer and ended up with a copy of his latest book Without. A free copy for a review….deal! All I can say is WOW! I’m not into vampires much. Movies sure, reading about them, ehhh. That night, bored and couldn’t sleep, I picked it up and started reading. It was nearly 2 AM by the time I realized how late it was. That good! This is a sexy well written and fascinating book that will leave any who do not believe in vampires wondering. Or liking them again. Which, I think sold me on taking the free book in the first place, the authors scientific point of view. His passion for the characters whom he seemed to refer to as real beings. (he kinda smiled a lot talking about Stoya) I have a BA in Biology, and was a R.N. so it had that curiosity factor. I have since reread Without again. The author is very descriptive, perhaps unnervingly so at times. Death and despair is ever present in this book, with an unexpected ending that made me weep. He referred to a scene as “sensual cannibalism”, yep, there was…kinda sickening. Theres lots of Lesbian sex in here too. The anal scene between Ianthe and Charlotte was quite unexpected and made me feel a little naughty. Yes, the sex is much better then 50 Shades of Grey. Ugghhh! The characters are strong and thoughtful in their respective roles. I loved E’ban’s character, though he played only a small role. Charlotte reminds me of a friend I had back in California. Inathe Gold is like every girls dream to be and look. And Stoya Tepes Dracu will make you truly believe that that God is playing a cruel joke on us all, that life is nothing but pain. Rich, vibrantly painted, get this book you won’t regret it! Complaints, the cover might not do this book justice but then again, the cover image is the powerful and so very haunting punchline to the book…like me, you understand it better once its read. PS, E’ban if your out there, I am single and I don’t mind if we can never have forever!
January 31, 2018
Without by Brian Dennis Hartford is a vampire novel that is truly unique.
I know what you are thinking, the classic seductive bloodsucker novel, but you are so wrong. Brian Dennis Hartford's version of the vampire is different – she is ancient, 'an alien life form from another world' inhabiting a beautiful human host. This adult fantasy author has creating a whole new vampire myth, which I could so interesting and inventive. They exist through millions of years, and throughout the universe, inhabiting thousands of hosts through space and time.
Although a modern day fantasy novel, Without is really a love story that really makes you feel the pain of being without the one you love, and the devastation of loss through tragic circumstances. I was really rooting for a happy ending for Ianthe and her true love, Charlotte, and this kept me turning page after page. Overall, an imaginative, fast-paced read that invokes so may emotions.
I know what you are thinking, the classic seductive bloodsucker novel, but you are so wrong. Brian Dennis Hartford's version of the vampire is different – she is ancient, 'an alien life form from another world' inhabiting a beautiful human host. This adult fantasy author has creating a whole new vampire myth, which I could so interesting and inventive. They exist through millions of years, and throughout the universe, inhabiting thousands of hosts through space and time.
Although a modern day fantasy novel, Without is really a love story that really makes you feel the pain of being without the one you love, and the devastation of loss through tragic circumstances. I was really rooting for a happy ending for Ianthe and her true love, Charlotte, and this kept me turning page after page. Overall, an imaginative, fast-paced read that invokes so may emotions.
February 5, 2018
Brian’s book “Without” is not your normal vampire read this story has what most are missing… true love between the characters. Charlotte is for sure the one for Ianthe, The love displayed between these two will leave you wanting more. Brian’s development of his characters and plot were outstanding and perfect for the fantasy setting of this book. Highly recommended!
February 21, 2018
Without
Here comes a new kind of vampire story. Every couple of years our genres begin to portray them differntly. Now adays they are seen in a rather positive light. In this new twist vampires are not the undead or the damned that cannot rest, rather they are an alien creature that came to our planet a long time ago when their planet died. They are like an organism that finds a host and houses in them taking them over and creating a new being. Vampires live forever and cannever die. They are the apex predator, the cullers of the herd. Vampire are sexy, seductive and long just to live life and enjoy everything. Sunlight does not harm them. Garlic makes them sick, does not kill them and they definitley do not sprkle in the sunlight thank God.
Ianthe Gold is one such vampire. She took her host and Egyptian Bedouin like a million years ago and has enjoyed earthly life ever since. A couple of other vamps are down here to. Now vamps cannot make other vamps it just does not happen. The host has to be taken oer by an organism. Ianthe enjoys earhtly lover as well as vampire lovers. She has had a host of lovers over the years. After all she is immortal and her earth lovers only last so long. The plot on this one is simple, Ianthe falls in love with Charlotte a human girl. They meet fall in love and then make plans to spend the rest of forever together. Only one problem, CHarlotte has cancer. The race is on to the find the cure for cancer in her human lover.
While she searches for a way to save her lover, Ianthe must trvel the world, make love to different vampires and fight one to the death. You can guess the ending and that there will be a cliffhager ending sort of. I thought over all it was a good book. Essential in giving the world a more realistic picture of the vamnpire. Defintiely original in conception. Yet a few things jump out at me. This alien parasite or organizsms has been talked abut by conspiracy theoritst and Stargate. THe dying girl to be saved while her father is in the dark reminds me of Twilight. This is not bad at all it is just my observations. My main criticism of the book deals with the last thirty percent of the book. I could not wait for it to end. The falling action should not go on for a fourth of the book. Condense it. I look forward to future writings in this series.
Here comes a new kind of vampire story. Every couple of years our genres begin to portray them differntly. Now adays they are seen in a rather positive light. In this new twist vampires are not the undead or the damned that cannot rest, rather they are an alien creature that came to our planet a long time ago when their planet died. They are like an organism that finds a host and houses in them taking them over and creating a new being. Vampires live forever and cannever die. They are the apex predator, the cullers of the herd. Vampire are sexy, seductive and long just to live life and enjoy everything. Sunlight does not harm them. Garlic makes them sick, does not kill them and they definitley do not sprkle in the sunlight thank God.
Ianthe Gold is one such vampire. She took her host and Egyptian Bedouin like a million years ago and has enjoyed earthly life ever since. A couple of other vamps are down here to. Now vamps cannot make other vamps it just does not happen. The host has to be taken oer by an organism. Ianthe enjoys earhtly lover as well as vampire lovers. She has had a host of lovers over the years. After all she is immortal and her earth lovers only last so long. The plot on this one is simple, Ianthe falls in love with Charlotte a human girl. They meet fall in love and then make plans to spend the rest of forever together. Only one problem, CHarlotte has cancer. The race is on to the find the cure for cancer in her human lover.
While she searches for a way to save her lover, Ianthe must trvel the world, make love to different vampires and fight one to the death. You can guess the ending and that there will be a cliffhager ending sort of. I thought over all it was a good book. Essential in giving the world a more realistic picture of the vamnpire. Defintiely original in conception. Yet a few things jump out at me. This alien parasite or organizsms has been talked abut by conspiracy theoritst and Stargate. THe dying girl to be saved while her father is in the dark reminds me of Twilight. This is not bad at all it is just my observations. My main criticism of the book deals with the last thirty percent of the book. I could not wait for it to end. The falling action should not go on for a fourth of the book. Condense it. I look forward to future writings in this series.
January 25, 2018
'I knew inexplicably in that moment that she was the one for me on this world; “this one”, Charlotte Bell Aberdeen'
Yes Charlotte Aberdeen is absolutely the one for Ianthe Gold, but there is a complication – Ianthe is a vampire and Charlotte is not. There is no doubt that the love between them is real thing, but can love really between the couple, when one of them is immortal? Ianthe hasn't experienced love for over 70 years, and does not want to let Charlotte go, but life has other plans. With all her riches, experience, and heightened senses, Ianthe could not prevent the cancer growing within the love of her life. Will she succeed in saving the love of her life, or will God, or others of her own kind, get in her way?
A really well-written piece of adult fantasy/sci-fi fiction, with an interesting plot and new take on the vampire genre. If you enjoy the fantasy genre, give Without by Brian Dennis Hartford a read.
Yes Charlotte Aberdeen is absolutely the one for Ianthe Gold, but there is a complication – Ianthe is a vampire and Charlotte is not. There is no doubt that the love between them is real thing, but can love really between the couple, when one of them is immortal? Ianthe hasn't experienced love for over 70 years, and does not want to let Charlotte go, but life has other plans. With all her riches, experience, and heightened senses, Ianthe could not prevent the cancer growing within the love of her life. Will she succeed in saving the love of her life, or will God, or others of her own kind, get in her way?
A really well-written piece of adult fantasy/sci-fi fiction, with an interesting plot and new take on the vampire genre. If you enjoy the fantasy genre, give Without by Brian Dennis Hartford a read.
January 25, 2018
Beautifully written. What a passionate story. Two souls that are destined to be together but at what price? Gritty and powerful. Ianthe Gold will do anything for love, even sacrifice others of her kind. Not your typical vampire novel. This one will have you asking what God's plan is for you.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews