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Shade #2
Dusk
A Re-Imagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
A broken heart. An infamous holiday gone wrong. A deadly curse brought to life.
A holiday in Switzerland is supposed to lift Mary Wollstonecroft Godwin’s spirits. She wants to forget the past and have fun. In fact, everyone in her party is running away from one indiscretion or another—from her fiancé Percy Shelley to Lord Bryon to Mary’s stepsister, Claire. But from the moment Mary arrives at Byron’s villa, she knows something is wrong. He rushes her indoors and forbids all of them to go out at night, claiming that the horrible weather has driven wild animals down from the mountains.
The only person who doesn’t seem to be running away from anything is a handsome, young Italian doctor, John Polidori. Instead, he is fervently pursuing local folk legends and a new scientific theory that claims people can be raised from the dead.
But it’s not until they all challenge one other to write ghost stories that the real danger begins. In a nightmare, Mary envisions a patchwork man animated by Galvanism and she begins writing Frankenstein. Likewise, fueled by local legends, John writes The Vampyre—one of the first vampire stories ever written.
What neither one of them knows is that they are conjuring a dark evil. Before long, all of their lives will be in danger—for neither of these characters are imaginary. Far from it.
A relentless winter has driven the sangsue down from the Swiss Alps. They’re hungry, they’re soulless, and they were once human.
And one of them in particular, the King of the Sangsue, has been searching for someone like Mary for centuries. All it will take is one bite and she will be his forever…
Beware: There are monsters in this book; some of them are charming and some of them are devious, but every single one of them is deadly and would love to steal your heart.
For fans of the Netflix series, THE FRANKENSTEIN CHRONICLES, and the movie, BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA,
and the Young Adult books, AND I DARKEN by Kiersten White, and SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY by Susan Dennard.
A broken heart. An infamous holiday gone wrong. A deadly curse brought to life.
A holiday in Switzerland is supposed to lift Mary Wollstonecroft Godwin’s spirits. She wants to forget the past and have fun. In fact, everyone in her party is running away from one indiscretion or another—from her fiancé Percy Shelley to Lord Bryon to Mary’s stepsister, Claire. But from the moment Mary arrives at Byron’s villa, she knows something is wrong. He rushes her indoors and forbids all of them to go out at night, claiming that the horrible weather has driven wild animals down from the mountains.
The only person who doesn’t seem to be running away from anything is a handsome, young Italian doctor, John Polidori. Instead, he is fervently pursuing local folk legends and a new scientific theory that claims people can be raised from the dead.
But it’s not until they all challenge one other to write ghost stories that the real danger begins. In a nightmare, Mary envisions a patchwork man animated by Galvanism and she begins writing Frankenstein. Likewise, fueled by local legends, John writes The Vampyre—one of the first vampire stories ever written.
What neither one of them knows is that they are conjuring a dark evil. Before long, all of their lives will be in danger—for neither of these characters are imaginary. Far from it.
A relentless winter has driven the sangsue down from the Swiss Alps. They’re hungry, they’re soulless, and they were once human.
And one of them in particular, the King of the Sangsue, has been searching for someone like Mary for centuries. All it will take is one bite and she will be his forever…
Beware: There are monsters in this book; some of them are charming and some of them are devious, but every single one of them is deadly and would love to steal your heart.
For fans of the Netflix series, THE FRANKENSTEIN CHRONICLES, and the movie, BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA,
and the Young Adult books, AND I DARKEN by Kiersten White, and SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY by Susan Dennard.
85 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2018
2 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 16, 2020
The ride continues with even more suspense and creepy vampirish creatures, not to mention the drama of a medical emergency in the middle of everything. The stakes are even higher in Dusk than they were in book one! I'm off to book three to finish this amazing series off!
October 3, 2018
This story just keeps getting better and better! It has actually really creeped me out a few times which almost never happens. Merri Destefano does such a great job at describing these vampire like creatures and how they put people in a trance. Mary just keeps getting braver and braver with each new challenge that is presented. I've already started the last book and know it will be finished tonight!
March 29, 2018
The first book in this series of novellas ended with quite the cliffhanger, so I picked up this novella as soon as I could.
And there is a lot of action, drama, and suspense in this novella. Where the first novella slowly set the atmosphere and mood this one is raising the stakes and our heroine and her friends are in peril.
I was on the edge of my seat, and couldn't stop reading. Would Mary manage to keep herself and the others safe or would she be succumb to the dark temptation of the Sangsue?
Again this book leaves you hungry for more, so you bet I'll be reading the last book soon.
And there is a lot of action, drama, and suspense in this novella. Where the first novella slowly set the atmosphere and mood this one is raising the stakes and our heroine and her friends are in peril.
I was on the edge of my seat, and couldn't stop reading. Would Mary manage to keep herself and the others safe or would she be succumb to the dark temptation of the Sangsue?
Again this book leaves you hungry for more, so you bet I'll be reading the last book soon.
July 27, 2018
I received an ecopy of the trilogy of novellas in return for an honest review, all opinions and words are my own.
This book carries straight on from the first book in the series, Shade and it is every bit as amazing as the first book. To avoid spoilers here are my thoughts on the series as a whole.
I knew this series was going to be amazing the moment I read the synopsis. I am a massive fan of classic gothic literature and I was so excited to read a new take on a few stories I know so well. I am also a huge fan of Lord Byron's works and I have read extensively about his life. So getting to read this fantasy take on the summer he spent in Geneva with the Shelleys and Dr Polidori was a real treat for me.
The writing was incredible, from the first line I was transported back to those classics I love so much. The writing style was just as I hoped it would be and I fell quickly in love with the main character, Mary. The events which occur over the few days during which she drafts Frankenstein are incredible. She is so courageous and honest about herself and her companions.
The pace of the plot of three novellas is just right, I read the majority of the three novellas in one day as I just could not bring myself to put my reader down. I am so glad that I had all three novellas to read in one on go as I am not sure I would have been able to bear having to wait! The action follows straight on from the previous novella and that along with the small timeframe really helps to add urgency to the story.
The characters were all so wonderful vivid and unique, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron and Dr John Polidori were all so wonderfully well written and I just loved reading another take on their summer togethetr. Usually with the angle I have read from Byron is the central point, so it was refreshing to read something a little different.
I really loved the discussion of vampires, and morality and free will. I love the intricacy of the writing and the plot. Shade was an amazing take on the vampire myth and I only wish that the series were a little longer.
I would definitely recommend Shade to those who enjoy reading about vampires, those who love classic gothic fiction and in fact anyone who loves a great fantasy story they can get lost in.
This book carries straight on from the first book in the series, Shade and it is every bit as amazing as the first book. To avoid spoilers here are my thoughts on the series as a whole.
I knew this series was going to be amazing the moment I read the synopsis. I am a massive fan of classic gothic literature and I was so excited to read a new take on a few stories I know so well. I am also a huge fan of Lord Byron's works and I have read extensively about his life. So getting to read this fantasy take on the summer he spent in Geneva with the Shelleys and Dr Polidori was a real treat for me.
The writing was incredible, from the first line I was transported back to those classics I love so much. The writing style was just as I hoped it would be and I fell quickly in love with the main character, Mary. The events which occur over the few days during which she drafts Frankenstein are incredible. She is so courageous and honest about herself and her companions.
The pace of the plot of three novellas is just right, I read the majority of the three novellas in one day as I just could not bring myself to put my reader down. I am so glad that I had all three novellas to read in one on go as I am not sure I would have been able to bear having to wait! The action follows straight on from the previous novella and that along with the small timeframe really helps to add urgency to the story.
The characters were all so wonderful vivid and unique, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron and Dr John Polidori were all so wonderfully well written and I just loved reading another take on their summer togethetr. Usually with the angle I have read from Byron is the central point, so it was refreshing to read something a little different.
I really loved the discussion of vampires, and morality and free will. I love the intricacy of the writing and the plot. Shade was an amazing take on the vampire myth and I only wish that the series were a little longer.
I would definitely recommend Shade to those who enjoy reading about vampires, those who love classic gothic fiction and in fact anyone who loves a great fantasy story they can get lost in.
December 9, 2020
*Review of audiobook edition*
This is the second book of three. please go back and listen to Shade first for the full experience.
I have to emphasize again, this book does not hold up well on it's own. This trilogy is very much one story split into three parts. So please do read them in order.
On that note though, I do enjoy the fact that these books are short and can be finished in a day or two.
Dusk sees Mary Shelly well into the writing of her famous novel while trapped inside someone else's. Vampires have come to Geneva and her beloved Percy seems to have become one of them.
As someone who enjoys history this plot interested me. As the years are wrong for Shelly's death. So how will she save him? Or is the author going full alt history? I am anxiously awaiting the release of the last audiobook in this series.
Once again Katherine Holt lends her haunting voice to this audio performance. She manages to perfectly capture the character of Mary Shelly as well as adds to the atmosphere of the narrative.
*I was given a free reviewer code. my opinions are my own and are provided honestly.*
This is the second book of three. please go back and listen to Shade first for the full experience.
I have to emphasize again, this book does not hold up well on it's own. This trilogy is very much one story split into three parts. So please do read them in order.
On that note though, I do enjoy the fact that these books are short and can be finished in a day or two.
Dusk sees Mary Shelly well into the writing of her famous novel while trapped inside someone else's. Vampires have come to Geneva and her beloved Percy seems to have become one of them.
As someone who enjoys history this plot interested me. As the years are wrong for Shelly's death. So how will she save him? Or is the author going full alt history? I am anxiously awaiting the release of the last audiobook in this series.
Once again Katherine Holt lends her haunting voice to this audio performance. She manages to perfectly capture the character of Mary Shelly as well as adds to the atmosphere of the narrative.
*I was given a free reviewer code. my opinions are my own and are provided honestly.*
June 8, 2018
I received this book free from the author in exchange for a review. WARNING: there are some spoilers below.
So far after reading this book and the first one, I am leaning more towards the fact that this is not so much as a Frankenstein retelling as more of a paranormal YA Fantasy about how Frankenstein was inspired. So far though out books one and two Mary has been writing Frankenstein.
Right now they are trapped in the villa by Vampires. They attacked all of the horses, Mary's stepsister is about to give birth, and the characters can't leave until Clare is well or she delivers the baby. Lord Byron has reappeared from his journey.
This is written in the style of serial fiction. Kind of like in the 1800's when authors would submit a chapter or two to a magazine or news paper. None of these books are stand-alone novels and so far the first two are AMAZING! I love the storyline, characters, and situation the author has created.
So far after reading this book and the first one, I am leaning more towards the fact that this is not so much as a Frankenstein retelling as more of a paranormal YA Fantasy about how Frankenstein was inspired. So far though out books one and two Mary has been writing Frankenstein.
Right now they are trapped in the villa by Vampires. They attacked all of the horses, Mary's stepsister is about to give birth, and the characters can't leave until Clare is well or she delivers the baby. Lord Byron has reappeared from his journey.
This is written in the style of serial fiction. Kind of like in the 1800's when authors would submit a chapter or two to a magazine or news paper. None of these books are stand-alone novels and so far the first two are AMAZING! I love the storyline, characters, and situation the author has created.
March 20, 2018
HOLY CRAP BATMAN!!! BEAM ME UP SCOTTY!!!
In for another round. I'm going to be right up front with you. I hope you don't have a weak bladder or any other issues where you might have to fast. You'll have to go on the run. I'm not lying. This just keeps getting better. In the adrenalin pumping and the heart pounding. Mine was beating so hard, I thought for a while it was on the run. It was afraid for its life. It wasn't worried about me. I'm just its host. If you want a real wake up call, grab you a copy and let me know how it goes for you. When you have chills running down your spine and you feel like you're being watched. Don't say I never told you so. My hats off to Merrie. She did an amazing job here. The realism is uncanny. Yep! That's what I said.
In for another round. I'm going to be right up front with you. I hope you don't have a weak bladder or any other issues where you might have to fast. You'll have to go on the run. I'm not lying. This just keeps getting better. In the adrenalin pumping and the heart pounding. Mine was beating so hard, I thought for a while it was on the run. It was afraid for its life. It wasn't worried about me. I'm just its host. If you want a real wake up call, grab you a copy and let me know how it goes for you. When you have chills running down your spine and you feel like you're being watched. Don't say I never told you so. My hats off to Merrie. She did an amazing job here. The realism is uncanny. Yep! That's what I said.
December 15, 2020
The historical feel of this series is just what I like. Not too modern, but immersing me in the feel of the times without making it difficult to understand. Love the way the author weaves this story of the writers around the same mysterious and supernatural happenings of the classic tales themselves. This installment really ratcheted the tension through the roof, with high stakes and growing understanding of the danger they're in. Can hardly wait for the third book!
November 12, 2018
This second installment of the Frankenstein story from Merrie Destefano starts a mere breath past the first. This serial novel keeps you reading to find out what happens next. It would be better published as one book, but is good enough to make you want to read the next even if you do have to get three books to reach the ending.
Kindle Unlimited edition
Kindle Unlimited edition
April 17, 2018
I received a free copy for an honest review. Oh my goodness.... Things have gotten real. Everything is starting to get so intense now. I am fascinated by this version and how Mary is responding to what is going on. I cannot wait to read the next one.
March 30, 2021
I will put my full review in book 3. I would have given Dusk 4 stars but it’s not a full book. It is written well but I would have been very upset if I hadn’t received all 3 books together since each one is just some of the chapters from what should have been a larger book.
October 15, 2018
Wow! This has really turned into an enjoyable trilogy! I’m excited for one more book but also sad it will end. Excited to see what happens next!
October 27, 2018
I love this new Supernatural take on what inspired Mary Shelley. The series is perfect for the Halloween season.
October 20, 2018
This continuation held my attention the whole way through! No middle book syndrome here! This one was just as good as the first one. Perfect seasonal fall/Halloween tale 💖 . Once I started I didn't want to stop till it was finished.
June 21, 2018
One Intriguing Tale! If you adore monsters and gruesome tales this was written with you in mind. The imagination that Ms. Destefano possesses is limitless. She had created a bizarre setting with gore around every corner. The mix of reality and fantasy is blurred as you quickly are drawn into this series. You simply have to know what happnes next. The characters become more human, they attain real depth of feeling in this second edition. Mary is someone who you really want to see leave the villa safely behind. You feel for her.... the circumstances that she is dealing with are extreme. Looking forward to the next book very much!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews