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Alexander Smith #1
Blood for the Sun: An Alexander Smith Novel
After more than one hundred and forty years, Alexander Smith is suffering from memory loss that plagues him like a supernatural Alzheimer's. He has lasted longer than most by clinging to the love he has for his adopted daughter, the vampire Ana, and puzzling out cases of missing or murdered children. Without them, he wouldn't be able to ignore the ghost of a child from his guilty past or fight the whispers goading him to kill. On his latest job, he's stumbled upon a vampire conspiracy that has left a trail of child murders up and down the East Coast-a conspiracy that promises inoculation against the sun. If true, the conspirators' success would mean a bloody conflict, altering the balance between humans and the supernatural forever. Losing more of his mind every day, Alexander has two impossible tasks ahead of him if the world is to survive: stop the vampire coven and reconnect with his humanity.
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2014
9 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 20, 2014
This was an incredibly inventive novel, and a different twist on the paranormal/supernatural genre. Alexander Smith is a very interesting protagonist, a shapeshifter/werewolf who is suffering from some kind of memory loss/schizophrenia type issues. He is the first to admit that he is a monster who has done horrible things, yet he is working to help the police solve serial-killer murders. The writing is good and the premise is unique. The reason I didn't love the book is that Alexander's mental issues made it very confusing for me to follow some of the action; because Alexander has holes in his memory, I felt like there were holes in my own understanding of his actions and/or motivations. This may have been deliberate on the part of the author, but it made for a somewhat disjointed story at times. It is a promising debut, and since some of Alexander's issues are resolved by the end of the novel, I would be interested in a sequel; it's also apparent that Mr. Nunnally is an imaginative writer.
November 30, 2014
Explore the dark secrets of Boston's underground supernatural community. Alexander Smith is an old werewolf with a sort of supernatural Alzheimer's. Despite that, he has to solve a series of ritual child murders that are occurring in Boston. I thoroughly enjoyed Alexander's visits to all the various occult locales in Boston such as magical safe houses, alchemy labs, mystical book stores and a celestial dragon's den in Chinatown as Alexander hunts down clues to solve the dark mystery. This is the kind of story that will certainly appeal to fans of great urban fantasy writers like Charlaine Harris and Jim Butcher. Errrick Nunnally is THE up-and-coming urban fantasy writer to watch from New England. I'm looking forward to his next book, hopefully a sequel to Blood for the Sun.
September 16, 2014
I just finished reading Blood For The Sun and have to say that this novel really captures the essence of Boston. I really enjoyed the character development and was impressed by the interesting take on the shape-shifter & vampire mytho. The author is very detail and supplies a lot of information about these species and the "other" beings that inhabit this unique world. I definitely look forward to reading the sequel to this wonderful novel.
October 22, 2014
A killer debut for Errick Nunnally in a series that deserves long run. I'm a big fan of werewolves, and Nunnally does them justice in BftS with Alexander, an old werewolf with a unique problem - he suffers from a sort of dementia/ alzheimers due to his age. It's a fantastic attribute for Alexander to have to struggle with over a series and I can't wait to see what Nunnally comes up with next. For horror and urban fantasy fans, this is a book you'll want in on.
January 1, 2018
Recipe for a good novel: take one old supernatural being, with a condition akin to Alzheimer's. Give him a guilty conscience and a mission of trying to help kids in danger. Stir in a horrific crime, and force the protagonist to engage with a host of dangerous beings, natural and un, to solve the crime. Have him at all times try to remember who he is and what he's doing, with a not-quite-buried rage that wants to burst out in a destructive tidal wave. Add lots of action, magic, and mystery as spices.
Yeah, this book is the real deal. It has a good reminder of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series, but a flavor all its own. A good tale to keep the reader interested, and well-written. So much going on, it has enough ideas for a few novels, so strap in for a wild ride.
Yeah, this book is the real deal. It has a good reminder of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series, but a flavor all its own. A good tale to keep the reader interested, and well-written. So much going on, it has enough ideas for a few novels, so strap in for a wild ride.
May 12, 2020
Wait--a book with the premise of an aging werewolf suffering from burgeoning dementia, trying to solve a gruesome murder in a world filled with magic, inter-dimensional creatures, and vampires? I am IN, gang, and I STAYED in. Erick Nunnally couches the fantastical in the mundane, making the city of Boston as much of a secondary character as the police officers, grifters, and bartenders that populate it. Nunnally maintains a brisk pace, matching world-building with action and empathy, bringing all of it to a satisfying conclusion. I can't wait for the next book.
July 19, 2020
Alexander is trying to figure out what's going on and why children along the East Coast are being murdered in violent and occult-oriented ways. This is made more difficult by the fact that he has sort of a supernatural Alzheimer's (because he's been alive for so long; extra-long life doesn't change his physical appearance but it does affect his mental faculties. This is an update to the mythology that I absolutely love) and he forgets things on a regular basis. This also makes the idea of who he can trust to be incredibly tricky.
I am of the very firm opinions that vampires, werewolves and all sorts of supernatural creatures should be scary and not romantic heroes. I want blood and terror and in this book, I got both. And a LOT of both. It's also a lot of fun.
The second book in this series comes out soon and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here. Highly recommended.
I am of the very firm opinions that vampires, werewolves and all sorts of supernatural creatures should be scary and not romantic heroes. I want blood and terror and in this book, I got both. And a LOT of both. It's also a lot of fun.
The second book in this series comes out soon and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here. Highly recommended.
October 14, 2014
Errick Nunnally's debut novel is an intense ride through the streets of Boston as we follow Alexander Smith, a shapeshifter afflicted with memory loss. This proves troublesome at times as he tries to solve the murder of a child in the projects. What he ultimately uncovers is that this is only one in a series of murders that stretch out over most of the Eastern Seaboard - all part of a plan by a coven of vampires who seek to change the world, and Smith finds himself racing against time to end the coven's plan for world domination.
The characters are well drawn out, and the plot flows nicely. Nunnally's martial art expertise really shows in the action scenes.
Highly recommended, and I look forward to the sequel.
The characters are well drawn out, and the plot flows nicely. Nunnally's martial art expertise really shows in the action scenes.
Highly recommended, and I look forward to the sequel.
April 7, 2015
Alexander Smith is an old shapeshifter whose memory is becoming more and more tattered as he arrives in Boston, driven to help save children by events from his own murderous past. Nunnally takes what, in other hands, can be tired tropes of urban fantasy (vampires and werewolves at war, evil wizards conducting world-shattering rituals) and makes them both fresh, and very clearly his own (well, with a few echos of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.). I have a few quibbles with the author's pacing and how information is revealed (all too easily when needed, primarily), but the action scenes are superb, and the characters intriguing. Waiting for Nunnally's next.
January 2, 2018
[Review Coming]
June 19, 2020
Excellent, original, and diverse werewolf supernatural thriller that I highly recommend
May 5, 2025
(Sympathetic.)
October 4, 2016
I read my first vampire novel when I was in high school. It was Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and I read it in the bright sunlight during the summer. It terrified me. Since that time, I have read scores of books about vampires and shape shifters. They all adhere to the basic tenets of what these creatures can and cannot do; all mapped out by a 19th century Irishman who was picking and choosing from folklore and tall tales of Vlad the Impaler. Anne Rice changed the rules a little with Lestat, making her vampire sexier and more powerful by virtue of his age.
Errick Nunnally comes along and turns it all on its head with the idea that age doesn’t make monsters stronger or better but actually puts them at risk of one of the same maladies that aging humans suffer from. Nunnally’s shapeshifter is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia. He forgets things. He loses track of where he is and that can be dangerous if you don’t really belong anywhere. The remarkable thing about this book, actually there are a couple of things but the first is that we really care about this monster. He is a sympathetic character and that is difficult to write when your subject has no moral compass and delights in eating people. Alexander’s quest is two fold; first to thwart a plot involving a group of vampires out to survive the sun and second to find out whom he is.
One of the things I have often ruminated over was whether one would lose all humanity if subjected to such a catastrophic change. One minute you are some regular guy and the next you are a monster bent on destruction. Nunnally’s Alexander Smith skirts that issue with glimpses of who he was before. He is capable of love, we see that with Ana and he has an ethical code of conduct. It just slips sometimes. We are always aware that he is a monster but that little glimpse of humanity and the larger vulnerability of his illness keep the reader on the edge of her seat.
The second remarkable thing about this book is that it is intellectual. If you are in middle school you might like the fight scenes but the larger story will be lost on you. This is a book for readers and those who delight in literary and magical ephemera. There be fairies, magicians and dragons here and they all fit perfectly within the realm of Boston’s vampire and shapeshifter world. Within this created world, they are believable. They don’t feel contrived or haphazard. They are placed in the story by design and they enrich the story.
My only issue with “Blood for the Sun” was that I felt I had picked up book two of a series. The glimpses of how Alexander got to this point weren’t enough to help me fit his story together. Why was he in Boston? What happened in Arizona and why was Maria so important? What was the blonde boy’s story? I am hoping that Nunnally is writing a prequel and if not then he needs to get on it. I personally, do not feel like I am finished with Alexander just yet. I also wanted the McGuffin in this story to be fleshed out a little more. The spell, the thrall and the coven were very thinly written and although it did drive the story, on occasion I lost sight of it.
Overall, I really liked this book. It was right up my alley and as I said before, I loved that I read it without feeling like I was being pandered to or talked down to because I am a fan of this genre. Nunnally respects his readers and that makes all the difference.
Errick Nunnally comes along and turns it all on its head with the idea that age doesn’t make monsters stronger or better but actually puts them at risk of one of the same maladies that aging humans suffer from. Nunnally’s shapeshifter is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia. He forgets things. He loses track of where he is and that can be dangerous if you don’t really belong anywhere. The remarkable thing about this book, actually there are a couple of things but the first is that we really care about this monster. He is a sympathetic character and that is difficult to write when your subject has no moral compass and delights in eating people. Alexander’s quest is two fold; first to thwart a plot involving a group of vampires out to survive the sun and second to find out whom he is.
One of the things I have often ruminated over was whether one would lose all humanity if subjected to such a catastrophic change. One minute you are some regular guy and the next you are a monster bent on destruction. Nunnally’s Alexander Smith skirts that issue with glimpses of who he was before. He is capable of love, we see that with Ana and he has an ethical code of conduct. It just slips sometimes. We are always aware that he is a monster but that little glimpse of humanity and the larger vulnerability of his illness keep the reader on the edge of her seat.
The second remarkable thing about this book is that it is intellectual. If you are in middle school you might like the fight scenes but the larger story will be lost on you. This is a book for readers and those who delight in literary and magical ephemera. There be fairies, magicians and dragons here and they all fit perfectly within the realm of Boston’s vampire and shapeshifter world. Within this created world, they are believable. They don’t feel contrived or haphazard. They are placed in the story by design and they enrich the story.
My only issue with “Blood for the Sun” was that I felt I had picked up book two of a series. The glimpses of how Alexander got to this point weren’t enough to help me fit his story together. Why was he in Boston? What happened in Arizona and why was Maria so important? What was the blonde boy’s story? I am hoping that Nunnally is writing a prequel and if not then he needs to get on it. I personally, do not feel like I am finished with Alexander just yet. I also wanted the McGuffin in this story to be fleshed out a little more. The spell, the thrall and the coven were very thinly written and although it did drive the story, on occasion I lost sight of it.
Overall, I really liked this book. It was right up my alley and as I said before, I loved that I read it without feeling like I was being pandered to or talked down to because I am a fan of this genre. Nunnally respects his readers and that makes all the difference.
August 31, 2014
Werewolves. Vampires. Detective mysteries. Mayan mysticism. Etc.
This book read a bit like a love letter to a fandom, with little elements from some of the greats of genre fiction sprinkled throughout a very visceral telling of a greatly disturbing tale. One of the most amazing things about it is that after finishing the book I wasn't even sure how much I liked the main character- he read like all of the things I like the least about James Bond (the sex drive and self-involvement, the callous attitude towards others) dressing up some of the things I like the most about speculative fiction in general (people thrown into situations far beyond their control or experience and just trying desperately not to screw it up). But the book is still incredibly engaging, and personal tastes notwithstanding I found myself falling in love with the story itself. There were some incredibly strong characters, both in the sense of physical strength and in the sense of well-thought-out, beyond-cardboard-cutout construction. There was quite a bit of mystery and intrigue, and complex layers of storytelling deep enough to get you to the end of the book still feeling like you were weaving the story together in your mind.
There were a few threads that never quite resolved themselves. Just enough to leave the shadow of a sequel at the end of the book, but not so much that the story itself felt incomplete. An enjoyable romp of a story that was vile enough to make me wince and squirm but not so overdone to make me want to put it down. Highly recommended.
This book read a bit like a love letter to a fandom, with little elements from some of the greats of genre fiction sprinkled throughout a very visceral telling of a greatly disturbing tale. One of the most amazing things about it is that after finishing the book I wasn't even sure how much I liked the main character- he read like all of the things I like the least about James Bond (the sex drive and self-involvement, the callous attitude towards others) dressing up some of the things I like the most about speculative fiction in general (people thrown into situations far beyond their control or experience and just trying desperately not to screw it up). But the book is still incredibly engaging, and personal tastes notwithstanding I found myself falling in love with the story itself. There were some incredibly strong characters, both in the sense of physical strength and in the sense of well-thought-out, beyond-cardboard-cutout construction. There was quite a bit of mystery and intrigue, and complex layers of storytelling deep enough to get you to the end of the book still feeling like you were weaving the story together in your mind.
There were a few threads that never quite resolved themselves. Just enough to leave the shadow of a sequel at the end of the book, but not so much that the story itself felt incomplete. An enjoyable romp of a story that was vile enough to make me wince and squirm but not so overdone to make me want to put it down. Highly recommended.
June 23, 2014
Blood for the Sun is one packs-a-wallop-on-every-page kind of read. And I’m not talking just the action scenes (more on this later). No, it was the emotional, introspective quieter moments where the author’s talents really shine. Alexander (not Alex) Smith’s struggles with memory loss, guilt, and the relentless Beast that tries to claw it’s way out of his heart, makes this character so very human. Which is weird, because he’s isn’t human. Not really. But he kind of is. I can’t say more, or I’ll give stuff away.
The fight scenes are amazing, especially the ones that involved a lot of hand to hand combat. I read the author’s bio and understand he practices a form of martial arts fighting. That training really shows in those scenes.
Please know, this book is a gritty urban fantasy in the classic sense. It is a grimly satisfying read in many ways. For me as a reader, I could have used a few more lighter moments and/or humorous scenes to balance the darkness, but that grittiness is also what made it such a great book. The author has a distinctive voice, especially when he is deep in Alexander’s head, so perhaps lighter moments would have distracted from that, after all.
So, bravo, Errick Nunnally, on your debut novel. I expect (and hope) to read more amazing books from this talented author.
The fight scenes are amazing, especially the ones that involved a lot of hand to hand combat. I read the author’s bio and understand he practices a form of martial arts fighting. That training really shows in those scenes.
Please know, this book is a gritty urban fantasy in the classic sense. It is a grimly satisfying read in many ways. For me as a reader, I could have used a few more lighter moments and/or humorous scenes to balance the darkness, but that grittiness is also what made it such a great book. The author has a distinctive voice, especially when he is deep in Alexander’s head, so perhaps lighter moments would have distracted from that, after all.
So, bravo, Errick Nunnally, on your debut novel. I expect (and hope) to read more amazing books from this talented author.
December 10, 2014
I only write reviews for books that I like, because, as a fledgling author, I know how hard it is to sell books, and would never want to hurt another author's sales potential. The truth is, since learning more about writing during my own journey to becoming an author, I rarely finish most books that I start. Why? Because they don't pass the test. The first few pages have to hook me, the middle has maintain my interest, and the end has to wow me.
I'm happy to report that Errick Nunnally's book, BLOOD FOR THE SUN, passed the test, and then some. The opening line caught me, and reeled me in. A supernatural mystery helmed by the werewolf shapeshifter Alexander Smith, it's the most unique thing I've ever read. Nunnally does an excellent job at weaving a plot as intricate as a tapestry. Aspiring writers should read this book not just for the plot, but also for the the masterfully handled sensory descriptions, especially in one scene toward the end, which I won't describe or spoil. Just know that if you think the beginning is good, well, the end gets really, really, really good, and pulls together all the little plot lines Nunnally laid before us.
And, yes, because this is a supernatural murder mystery, expect some horror.
Last, but not least....Ladies, I have two words for you: werewolf sex.
That is all.
Congrats to Mr. Nunnally on a fine first book.
I'm happy to report that Errick Nunnally's book, BLOOD FOR THE SUN, passed the test, and then some. The opening line caught me, and reeled me in. A supernatural mystery helmed by the werewolf shapeshifter Alexander Smith, it's the most unique thing I've ever read. Nunnally does an excellent job at weaving a plot as intricate as a tapestry. Aspiring writers should read this book not just for the plot, but also for the the masterfully handled sensory descriptions, especially in one scene toward the end, which I won't describe or spoil. Just know that if you think the beginning is good, well, the end gets really, really, really good, and pulls together all the little plot lines Nunnally laid before us.
And, yes, because this is a supernatural murder mystery, expect some horror.
Last, but not least....Ladies, I have two words for you: werewolf sex.
That is all.
Congrats to Mr. Nunnally on a fine first book.
June 7, 2014
This is a truly excellent debut novel, taking the classic images of werewolves and vampires and giving them new life (well, unlife). As the book summary says, the protag has been around so long that he is dealing with an advancing cognate of Alzheimer's. This is what really makes the book utterly fascinating; while the supernatural character using their skills to work as something like a detective is a standard trope, don't let that fool you into dismissing it, as Nunnally delivers life and immediacy to the character's unique situation in going through what would otherwise have been a Same Old Thing.
I reserved one star because I can tell that we still haven't seen the full flower of Nunnally's writing...but the same can be said about some other authors' debut novels *coughJimButchercough*, and we see how THOSE turned out. I truly believe that Nunnally can turn this into a series worthy of standing beside powerhouses like the Dresden Files. So, it's objectively a bit unfair of me to withhold that fifth star, but I'm judging the book by the series' own promise. Get in on the ground floor here, folks.
Well worth your time and money.
I reserved one star because I can tell that we still haven't seen the full flower of Nunnally's writing...but the same can be said about some other authors' debut novels *coughJimButchercough*, and we see how THOSE turned out. I truly believe that Nunnally can turn this into a series worthy of standing beside powerhouses like the Dresden Files. So, it's objectively a bit unfair of me to withhold that fifth star, but I'm judging the book by the series' own promise. Get in on the ground floor here, folks.
Well worth your time and money.
November 27, 2014
One could categorize this book as dark urban fantasy and not be far off, but Nunnally's taken a recognizable subgenre of fantasy and shot it around a corner. Blood for the Sun combines the best elements of dark fantasy, horror, urban fantasy and noir fiction into a smooth blend that stays coherent throughout.
Alexander Smith is an anti-hero with a desire to do better, but he has a little problem: he's an amnesiac werewolf. There's a vampire coven scheming to make a power grab...and some of them can walk in daylight. Humans are blissfully ignorant of their supernatural neighbors; the renegade vampires threaten that status quo, and Alexander is tasked with discovering the source of that daywalker power.
Great read, fresh approach on daywalkers and where that power originates, an anti-hero you can't help but root for: Blood for the Sun is the real deal. Highly recommended.
Alexander Smith is an anti-hero with a desire to do better, but he has a little problem: he's an amnesiac werewolf. There's a vampire coven scheming to make a power grab...and some of them can walk in daylight. Humans are blissfully ignorant of their supernatural neighbors; the renegade vampires threaten that status quo, and Alexander is tasked with discovering the source of that daywalker power.
Great read, fresh approach on daywalkers and where that power originates, an anti-hero you can't help but root for: Blood for the Sun is the real deal. Highly recommended.
August 11, 2015
Alexander Smith is a werewolf who is ancient enough (140 years old and counting) that he is afflicted by an Alzheimer's like memory loss. Working as a police consultant is a double-edged sword. The mental stimulation helps keep his mind from deteriorating, but sudden short term forgetfulness also puts him in harm's way more than once. Brought in on a case of child murder in the projects of Boston, he soon finds himself embroiled in a supernatural plot and winds his way through the supernatural underground of the city.
I like the reality and gravity of this story. As an urban fantasy, there is nothing sparkly or whimsical about the supernatural elements. The world is grounded in ours - both decent and dark. The Alzheimer's angle is very original and thoughtfully explored.
There is a lot to find in this book, it's rich on characters, settings, supernatural elements, murder mystery plot. And they are all well-balanced, no single one overwhelms the narrative.
I like the reality and gravity of this story. As an urban fantasy, there is nothing sparkly or whimsical about the supernatural elements. The world is grounded in ours - both decent and dark. The Alzheimer's angle is very original and thoughtfully explored.
There is a lot to find in this book, it's rich on characters, settings, supernatural elements, murder mystery plot. And they are all well-balanced, no single one overwhelms the narrative.
August 17, 2020
Complex characters and exciting action. A great intro to a new favourite protagonist.
A great introduction to a new supernatural private investigator. I found it a little slow when explaining some characters and their backgrounds, but then it more than made up for it with the exciting and bloody action. And, once I got to know Alexander and the main supprting cast, I found myself utterly enthralled. There are no purely good heroes or purely evil villains in the story; the complexities of the characters on both sides make for fantastic reading. It is a very good book, and book 2 in the series only gets better. I'm definitely all in for the series.
A great introduction to a new supernatural private investigator. I found it a little slow when explaining some characters and their backgrounds, but then it more than made up for it with the exciting and bloody action. And, once I got to know Alexander and the main supprting cast, I found myself utterly enthralled. There are no purely good heroes or purely evil villains in the story; the complexities of the characters on both sides make for fantastic reading. It is a very good book, and book 2 in the series only gets better. I'm definitely all in for the series.
July 10, 2014
I found this debut novel to be a darkly fun, engaging read. An original spin on the werewolf trope coupled with a gritty yet thought-provoking voice ensured my enjoyment. My highest praise is for the descriptive passages throughout; the author painted concise pictures of what was happening as the protagonist, Alexander, moved through the story, be it his observations of place and people, locales, and combat scenes. A very nice rhythm to it all, in my estimation. Well done, sir!
January 23, 2016
This is not a genre I usually read but the author is a former co-worker and I think he's very talented in many areas, so why not try it? I liked it way more than I thought I would. When pieces of Alexander's memory would be mislaid, the descriptions left me uneasy. I could identify with it all too well. There are some really exciting passages that although I felt I should be repulsed, I was not. And I liked the door the author left open for more to follow. Very nice.
July 7, 2015
A twist on the usual paranormal mystery in that the author combines a lot of mythology and the usual ideas about sorcerers, werewolves, and vampires and puts his own spin on it. My only issue is that the book throws out quite a bit of information all at once that could have been spread over several books, but it will be interesting to see if the author comes up with a sequel.
December 26, 2014
Vampire with Alzheimers, just doesn't work for me although it started out with a great premise.
Read
December 2, 2015The book blurb pretty much spoiled all the mystery in this story. I think that's why I struggled to get through it.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews