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Savage
Jack is back, but he isn't even the worst thing on the streets of Whitechapel...
The Ripper copycat murders are on the front pages, and Dylan is just a paperboy forced to deliver drugs along with the morning news. When a new house appears on his paper round, fate pushes Dylan into a rival gang's territory. Risking being stabbed and robbed, he delivers the paper to 25 Gallows Court.
But there's something not quite right about the rundown house. Apart from being boarded up, and guarded by a rabid dog, no one else seems able to see it. Not the shopkeepers on either side. Not even the three kids from the Duppy Crew who chase Dylan one morning. When he steps off the pavement and vanishes from view, the house seems to offer protection from a cruel and unforgiving world.
On the backstreets of London, where life is cheap, there are always deals to be made. Dylan might want to be a little more careful with whose offer he takes. Because what he gives away might wake up something far worse than the murderer stalking the women of Whitechapel...
Dan Soule delivers another of his Fright Night novels, reviving the vampire mythos with aplomb. If you can't get enough of dark and gripping suspense with compelling characters set in a gritty world, then you'll love Savage.
The Ripper copycat murders are on the front pages, and Dylan is just a paperboy forced to deliver drugs along with the morning news. When a new house appears on his paper round, fate pushes Dylan into a rival gang's territory. Risking being stabbed and robbed, he delivers the paper to 25 Gallows Court.
But there's something not quite right about the rundown house. Apart from being boarded up, and guarded by a rabid dog, no one else seems able to see it. Not the shopkeepers on either side. Not even the three kids from the Duppy Crew who chase Dylan one morning. When he steps off the pavement and vanishes from view, the house seems to offer protection from a cruel and unforgiving world.
On the backstreets of London, where life is cheap, there are always deals to be made. Dylan might want to be a little more careful with whose offer he takes. Because what he gives away might wake up something far worse than the murderer stalking the women of Whitechapel...
Dan Soule delivers another of his Fright Night novels, reviving the vampire mythos with aplomb. If you can't get enough of dark and gripping suspense with compelling characters set in a gritty world, then you'll love Savage.
- GenresSupernaturalHorror
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2021
18 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Dan Soule
23 books56 followersDan is a horror author, who was born and raised in Nottinghamshire, England, growing up in a small cathedral town called Southwell. He moved to Glasgow, Scotland aged 19 and met his now wife, a Northern Irish girl. Hence, Dan now lives in Northern Ireland on the beautiful Antrim Coast, with his wife and two children, Cassie the cat and Jessie the dog. His author website with a bonus book is www.dansoule.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 14, 2021
Set within the backdrop of London and where gangs rule the streets, we soon discover that there is something even worse than those thugs wielding shanks, gang members peddling drugs with machetes and the robbing of children’s youth. Something evil is prowling these streets, something that has been wandering the earth with an insatiable thirst for death and destruction and it’s ready to feast.
We are thrown straight into a gruesome and tension filled opening by Soule who wastes no time in gripping the reader by the throat and waterboarding us with his usual unflinching breed of horror. The one thing you are guaranteed with Dan Soule’s work is that the first chapter will take hold of you and demand that you keep reading, and that is what can be said of ‘Savage’.
I was also spoilt with this book as I was able to listen to the first eight chapters of the audio book (which I think you can get if you sign up to Dan Soule’s mailing list - along with links to some freebie books too). Which was a perfect way to start this story, I’m not really a fan of audio books, but this one was top notch and the narrator did such a fabulous job in getting to the heart and soul of the piece - given its set in London the accent work is just amazing!
With ‘Savage’ Soule takes a horror trope which although it has been flogged to death (in my opinion) in recent years it’s appeal doesn’t seem to be waining and in fact it seems to be increasing - I’m talking about the Vampiric (other authors currently working in this field include Chad Lutzke, Villimey Mist, Glenn Rolfe, Dixon Reuel and many others).
Soule takes the vampiric trope, turns it on its head and reassesses what he wants to keep. He’s like Dr. Frankenstein deciding what parts of this tired body of work he’ll want to keep and which chunks of useless flesh (tropes) he wants to do away with - and then he’s left with a beautiful beast of his own macabre creation.
With ‘Savage’ Soule trims all the fat from what gone before and we’re left with a new diabolical creation, one that is more horrific than I ever thought possible and bloody enjoyable. Soule’s vision of the vampiric and his deft skill as a writer of horror works in cementing this as a must read for any fans of the vampiric... trust me, this will blow your mind.
Another thing you can be sure of with Soule’s work is that his characters will be on point. His main protagonists Dylan, Vieil and Kenny are fully rounded and their voices are just perfect, I think again that listening to the first several chapters in the audio book helped cement these voices in my head, but I’d expect to have felt the same if I’d just been reading the words as it’s a common occurrence with Soule’s canon of work. But what I enjoyed in this offering more than his other works is that even his many secondary characters (Butcher, Roj, Samuel and the quite brilliant Henry Grime) punch through the crowd and you find yourselves totally immersed in this busy world that Soule has crafted.
What I enjoyed about this book is how detailed the plot is, it also shows a progression in Soule’s writing and story telling prowess as Soule blends crime and horror to perfection. There were some places I thought the exposition was a bit overdone, but looking back now it just helped to further root you in this fully immersive world that Soule has painstakingly stitched together - it’s a big story, a long story, but worth the investment.
The first third of the book we follow closely an ongoing investigation into a possible Jack The Ripper copycat killer - Kenny and Roj are those tasked with sifting though these heinous crimes and the tension and pacing in these sections is something quite brilliant, I also enjoyed the factual information that Soule has incorporated in these parts too.
And then we have the shift in the second third to full blown horror, where the meat and bones (pardon the pun) of the story come to the surface. Soule is someone that knows horror, it seems to flow within his veins and there are many nods to other material both film and books which I enjoyed discovering.
Then Soule is able to keep his hands firmly on the reigns and pulls all these thread together steering us expertly into the final third of the book where the ending is just a horror infused nightmare - I did ponder the ending after finishing, I thought it was going to go one way, but Soule had other plans, and in a way looking back it works, it has some religious metaphors at play, and when I sat down to write this review I realised it yet I think it gives us the perfect ending in a way.
There is much going on in this book, it’s busy and you need to pay attention (many characters and plot points) and if you do pay attention the final result is just breathtaking and then you throw in there a conclusion that gleans the very best from the genre, a macabre banquet of good vs evil - Soule stuffs everything in a cocktail shaker and pours us a beautiful tall drink of what horror is all about!
‘Savage’ by Dan Soule is one of the most original and disturbing vampiric tales since John Ajvide Lindqvist’s ‘Let The Right One In’ - don’t let this one escape your attention!
We are thrown straight into a gruesome and tension filled opening by Soule who wastes no time in gripping the reader by the throat and waterboarding us with his usual unflinching breed of horror. The one thing you are guaranteed with Dan Soule’s work is that the first chapter will take hold of you and demand that you keep reading, and that is what can be said of ‘Savage’.
I was also spoilt with this book as I was able to listen to the first eight chapters of the audio book (which I think you can get if you sign up to Dan Soule’s mailing list - along with links to some freebie books too). Which was a perfect way to start this story, I’m not really a fan of audio books, but this one was top notch and the narrator did such a fabulous job in getting to the heart and soul of the piece - given its set in London the accent work is just amazing!
With ‘Savage’ Soule takes a horror trope which although it has been flogged to death (in my opinion) in recent years it’s appeal doesn’t seem to be waining and in fact it seems to be increasing - I’m talking about the Vampiric (other authors currently working in this field include Chad Lutzke, Villimey Mist, Glenn Rolfe, Dixon Reuel and many others).
Soule takes the vampiric trope, turns it on its head and reassesses what he wants to keep. He’s like Dr. Frankenstein deciding what parts of this tired body of work he’ll want to keep and which chunks of useless flesh (tropes) he wants to do away with - and then he’s left with a beautiful beast of his own macabre creation.
With ‘Savage’ Soule trims all the fat from what gone before and we’re left with a new diabolical creation, one that is more horrific than I ever thought possible and bloody enjoyable. Soule’s vision of the vampiric and his deft skill as a writer of horror works in cementing this as a must read for any fans of the vampiric... trust me, this will blow your mind.
Another thing you can be sure of with Soule’s work is that his characters will be on point. His main protagonists Dylan, Vieil and Kenny are fully rounded and their voices are just perfect, I think again that listening to the first several chapters in the audio book helped cement these voices in my head, but I’d expect to have felt the same if I’d just been reading the words as it’s a common occurrence with Soule’s canon of work. But what I enjoyed in this offering more than his other works is that even his many secondary characters (Butcher, Roj, Samuel and the quite brilliant Henry Grime) punch through the crowd and you find yourselves totally immersed in this busy world that Soule has crafted.
What I enjoyed about this book is how detailed the plot is, it also shows a progression in Soule’s writing and story telling prowess as Soule blends crime and horror to perfection. There were some places I thought the exposition was a bit overdone, but looking back now it just helped to further root you in this fully immersive world that Soule has painstakingly stitched together - it’s a big story, a long story, but worth the investment.
The first third of the book we follow closely an ongoing investigation into a possible Jack The Ripper copycat killer - Kenny and Roj are those tasked with sifting though these heinous crimes and the tension and pacing in these sections is something quite brilliant, I also enjoyed the factual information that Soule has incorporated in these parts too.
And then we have the shift in the second third to full blown horror, where the meat and bones (pardon the pun) of the story come to the surface. Soule is someone that knows horror, it seems to flow within his veins and there are many nods to other material both film and books which I enjoyed discovering.
Then Soule is able to keep his hands firmly on the reigns and pulls all these thread together steering us expertly into the final third of the book where the ending is just a horror infused nightmare - I did ponder the ending after finishing, I thought it was going to go one way, but Soule had other plans, and in a way looking back it works, it has some religious metaphors at play, and when I sat down to write this review I realised it yet I think it gives us the perfect ending in a way.
There is much going on in this book, it’s busy and you need to pay attention (many characters and plot points) and if you do pay attention the final result is just breathtaking and then you throw in there a conclusion that gleans the very best from the genre, a macabre banquet of good vs evil - Soule stuffs everything in a cocktail shaker and pours us a beautiful tall drink of what horror is all about!
‘Savage’ by Dan Soule is one of the most original and disturbing vampiric tales since John Ajvide Lindqvist’s ‘Let The Right One In’ - don’t let this one escape your attention!
March 23, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
‘Savage’ is my fourth dive into Soule’s world and is another piece that shows just how diverse an author he is. From folklore to post-apocalyptic and now to a reimagining of vampire lore, he really doesn’t set any boundaries on his writing or what he wants to tackle.
I was hesitant at first to take this on. For a few reasons. It’s loosely based around Jack the Ripper/Whitechapel history. I’m actually not a fan of Jack the Ripper horror or even the enduring mystery of that entire event. I’m not sure why, but it has never appealed to my interest in dark things and it’s one reason why I’ll pass on other books that attempt to retell the story or reimagine it. This leads me to the second hesitation: vampires. I’ve grown weary of reading anything vamp and often struggle with it, as I don’t find them scary or intriguing.
But, the other story here, the coming-of-age story where a boy steps onto the lot and disappears. That intrigued me, and after how amazing Soule’s last release ‘The Ash’ was, I decided to take it on.
What I liked: Dylan is a young paperboy, living in a world of crooks and crime. When he is chased by some bullies who mean to do him serious harm, he finds himself before a strange house.
From here, Soule really gives us a layered story of trust and mystery. I loved how Dylan seemingly was searching for an adult figure that he could trust and rely on, even if that figure enjoyed inflicting carnage on those around them.
Soule does some really great things with these characters and as the story moves along we get to see a depth to each of them, which we often don’t in vampire stories. Even when things get gruesome and bloody, the characters are solid.
What I didn’t like: As I mentioned, reader mileage may vary on this based on your love of vampire lore and even Whitechapel related events. Additionally, at the beginning we get a lot of characters thrust at us, so to start with I had trouble recalling who was who.
Why you should buy this: Soule is a fantastic writer and his willing to go dark is never more evident than in ‘Savage.’ The story is brutal and filled with blackness that will really capture those readers who love that type of tale.
‘Savage’ is my fourth dive into Soule’s world and is another piece that shows just how diverse an author he is. From folklore to post-apocalyptic and now to a reimagining of vampire lore, he really doesn’t set any boundaries on his writing or what he wants to tackle.
I was hesitant at first to take this on. For a few reasons. It’s loosely based around Jack the Ripper/Whitechapel history. I’m actually not a fan of Jack the Ripper horror or even the enduring mystery of that entire event. I’m not sure why, but it has never appealed to my interest in dark things and it’s one reason why I’ll pass on other books that attempt to retell the story or reimagine it. This leads me to the second hesitation: vampires. I’ve grown weary of reading anything vamp and often struggle with it, as I don’t find them scary or intriguing.
But, the other story here, the coming-of-age story where a boy steps onto the lot and disappears. That intrigued me, and after how amazing Soule’s last release ‘The Ash’ was, I decided to take it on.
What I liked: Dylan is a young paperboy, living in a world of crooks and crime. When he is chased by some bullies who mean to do him serious harm, he finds himself before a strange house.
From here, Soule really gives us a layered story of trust and mystery. I loved how Dylan seemingly was searching for an adult figure that he could trust and rely on, even if that figure enjoyed inflicting carnage on those around them.
Soule does some really great things with these characters and as the story moves along we get to see a depth to each of them, which we often don’t in vampire stories. Even when things get gruesome and bloody, the characters are solid.
What I didn’t like: As I mentioned, reader mileage may vary on this based on your love of vampire lore and even Whitechapel related events. Additionally, at the beginning we get a lot of characters thrust at us, so to start with I had trouble recalling who was who.
Why you should buy this: Soule is a fantastic writer and his willing to go dark is never more evident than in ‘Savage.’ The story is brutal and filled with blackness that will really capture those readers who love that type of tale.
April 3, 2021
Excellent
I love Soule’s work and this is my new favorite of his books. It ticks all the boxes for me.
Great horror, with original takes on vampires, werewolves and zombies.
Compelling, realistic characters with satisfying character arcs.
Deeper meaning that provides both intellectual and emotional resonance.
I can’t wait to read what he writes next.
I love Soule’s work and this is my new favorite of his books. It ticks all the boxes for me.
Great horror, with original takes on vampires, werewolves and zombies.
Compelling, realistic characters with satisfying character arcs.
Deeper meaning that provides both intellectual and emotional resonance.
I can’t wait to read what he writes next.
May 3, 2021
On Gingernuts of Horror:
Dan Soule’s Savage is a contemporary monster tale wrapped in a cloak of Jack the Ripper mythology. The book opens following “Annie,” an unapologetic reference to the real Jack the Ripper’s fourth victim Annie Chapman who, before her body was discovered slashed and disemboweled, had been last seen leaving her place of residence in search of a trick to glean rent money. Soule’s modern-day Annie is also a prostitute, but she trusts the wrong stranger in order to fund her heroin habit. Soule’s pacing works to establish ominous suspense, but it’s his sly ironic winks that made me want to read further. “He was alright looking, this one. A bit oddly dressed, but he had a handlebar moustache that was quite fetching. Those hipster wankers usually dressed like they were either tramps or living in the wrong century.” A solid chunk of the book revolves around the investigators’ building analysis of the copycat nature of this and subsequent murders, and while the goings-on of lawmen Kenny and Roj will satisfy any crime reader’s cravings, they are the least interesting parts of the novel.
The Jack the Ripper trope has been picked to pieces, so much so that it almost resembles Jack’s historical victims themselves: hollowed out with little to reassemble in any sort of viable way. However, Soule approaches the narrative through a fresh set of eyes: that of paperboy-cum-drug mule Dylan Savage, who, in the midst of being bullied by a gang of neighborhood thugs, finds himself in “the strange house at 25 Gallows Court,” the epitome of that creepy structure in everyone’s childhood neighborhood that invited dares and legends. The home and its inhabitants become a source of respite, providing a safe haven for the boy as the ever-present Duppy Gang pursues Dylan on his route. Unlike the haunted houses of our memories, however, this domicile is filled with real monsters.
The greasy drug kingpin for whom Dylan works (predictably, to help his indentured mother rather than as a purposeful career choice), fittingly named Henry Grime, is likely the weakest aspect of the book, as the character’s actions and dialogue feel funneled from a Training Day casting call. The more intriguingly colourful characters are the supernatural residents of 25 Gallows Court, especially as the true extent of their abilities is demonstrated in the novel’s final third.
At close to 400 pages, Savage is not a quick read, but Soule’s meticulous volleying between Grime, the investigators, and Dylan leaves little downtime for filler or fluff. His vampires sleep not in coffins but upside down in sarcophagi and are creatures that are a seamless blend of ancient and contemporary mythos, and while the book is far from being classified as splattergore, it holds its own in some memorable scenes of horror (one in particular featuring a room full of disembodied heads throws out a smart bit of comic relief as well). Overall, Soule puts forth a fun and engaging bildungsroman-terror-thriller mash-up that will satisfy any reader who prefers their vampires with more Blade and Nosferatu than Twilight.
Dan Soule’s Savage is a contemporary monster tale wrapped in a cloak of Jack the Ripper mythology. The book opens following “Annie,” an unapologetic reference to the real Jack the Ripper’s fourth victim Annie Chapman who, before her body was discovered slashed and disemboweled, had been last seen leaving her place of residence in search of a trick to glean rent money. Soule’s modern-day Annie is also a prostitute, but she trusts the wrong stranger in order to fund her heroin habit. Soule’s pacing works to establish ominous suspense, but it’s his sly ironic winks that made me want to read further. “He was alright looking, this one. A bit oddly dressed, but he had a handlebar moustache that was quite fetching. Those hipster wankers usually dressed like they were either tramps or living in the wrong century.” A solid chunk of the book revolves around the investigators’ building analysis of the copycat nature of this and subsequent murders, and while the goings-on of lawmen Kenny and Roj will satisfy any crime reader’s cravings, they are the least interesting parts of the novel.
The Jack the Ripper trope has been picked to pieces, so much so that it almost resembles Jack’s historical victims themselves: hollowed out with little to reassemble in any sort of viable way. However, Soule approaches the narrative through a fresh set of eyes: that of paperboy-cum-drug mule Dylan Savage, who, in the midst of being bullied by a gang of neighborhood thugs, finds himself in “the strange house at 25 Gallows Court,” the epitome of that creepy structure in everyone’s childhood neighborhood that invited dares and legends. The home and its inhabitants become a source of respite, providing a safe haven for the boy as the ever-present Duppy Gang pursues Dylan on his route. Unlike the haunted houses of our memories, however, this domicile is filled with real monsters.
The greasy drug kingpin for whom Dylan works (predictably, to help his indentured mother rather than as a purposeful career choice), fittingly named Henry Grime, is likely the weakest aspect of the book, as the character’s actions and dialogue feel funneled from a Training Day casting call. The more intriguingly colourful characters are the supernatural residents of 25 Gallows Court, especially as the true extent of their abilities is demonstrated in the novel’s final third.
At close to 400 pages, Savage is not a quick read, but Soule’s meticulous volleying between Grime, the investigators, and Dylan leaves little downtime for filler or fluff. His vampires sleep not in coffins but upside down in sarcophagi and are creatures that are a seamless blend of ancient and contemporary mythos, and while the book is far from being classified as splattergore, it holds its own in some memorable scenes of horror (one in particular featuring a room full of disembodied heads throws out a smart bit of comic relief as well). Overall, Soule puts forth a fun and engaging bildungsroman-terror-thriller mash-up that will satisfy any reader who prefers their vampires with more Blade and Nosferatu than Twilight.
September 1, 2021
A most chilling and demented tale.
4 stars...mainly for originality.
While I enjoyed this book immensely, it would prove most difficult to explain it for this review. So many macabre and unusual plot lines and a good number of characters make it overwhelming.
The main storyline is, indeed, original and well written. The main characters are developed nicely and the flow of the book was nearly seamless. The dialogue was a bit vexing, as a few characters spoke in lower class British English. That took some understanding on my part, but I soon adjusted to it.
There is gore aplenty, bits of humor and nearly everything else in this story. Gang turf wars, prostitutes, drugs, love, a dog(?), rain aplenty (the story IS set in England) and so much more. But the author manages to pull all these elements into a cohesive read that I found entertaining and imaginative. Vibrant imagery of places, people and scenes only added to the overall storytelling.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes everything from the ghoulish to the beautiful all in one story. It is not for the faint of heart, however. This is a book with a bite... literally!
4 stars...mainly for originality.
While I enjoyed this book immensely, it would prove most difficult to explain it for this review. So many macabre and unusual plot lines and a good number of characters make it overwhelming.
The main storyline is, indeed, original and well written. The main characters are developed nicely and the flow of the book was nearly seamless. The dialogue was a bit vexing, as a few characters spoke in lower class British English. That took some understanding on my part, but I soon adjusted to it.
There is gore aplenty, bits of humor and nearly everything else in this story. Gang turf wars, prostitutes, drugs, love, a dog(?), rain aplenty (the story IS set in England) and so much more. But the author manages to pull all these elements into a cohesive read that I found entertaining and imaginative. Vibrant imagery of places, people and scenes only added to the overall storytelling.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes everything from the ghoulish to the beautiful all in one story. It is not for the faint of heart, however. This is a book with a bite... literally!
February 15, 2022
Spine Chilling is an Understatement
This book is not for the faint-hearted.The author creates a mix of characters both human and supernatural. He gives them names like Henry Grime. Henry is a gangsta. Is he all bad? Get ready for the vampires too. They speak French. They're still blood sucking killers. Dark uncaring and voracious. How does a 13 year old slum kid who happens to be a math genius get mixed up in all this? As it turns out easier than you think. Then there is Dylan's best friend, Samuel, who's a really good kid and his preacher mother who doesn't like gangstas or vampires. She may have some powers of her own. Then there are the detectives after the murderous apparently reincarnated Jack the Ripper. Of course one of the detectives has ESP and a very pretty and caring wife who is a teacher and has decided to save Dylan. All these characters becomes connected
This book is not for the faint-hearted.The author creates a mix of characters both human and supernatural. He gives them names like Henry Grime. Henry is a gangsta. Is he all bad? Get ready for the vampires too. They speak French. They're still blood sucking killers. Dark uncaring and voracious. How does a 13 year old slum kid who happens to be a math genius get mixed up in all this? As it turns out easier than you think. Then there is Dylan's best friend, Samuel, who's a really good kid and his preacher mother who doesn't like gangstas or vampires. She may have some powers of her own. Then there are the detectives after the murderous apparently reincarnated Jack the Ripper. Of course one of the detectives has ESP and a very pretty and caring wife who is a teacher and has decided to save Dylan. All these characters becomes connected
November 2, 2022
I’m going to say straight up that this was one of my favorite reads this summer. Dan Soule is shaping up to be a solid hit machine in my experience, I gobbled up The Ash and bought both Savage and Witchopper on the strength of that writing. Savage lived up to my expectations and was a thriller of a read. I couldn’t get enough and was devastated when it was over.
The character work is outstanding, Dylan Savage is a total victim of circumstance, and the reader is endeared to him from the first page to the last. Soule’s reworking of the Jack the Ripper mythos and his combination of that and Egyptian deity worship is such a solid backstory, the whole fun and gore of Savage have such an infectious feel about them.
You are totally swept along by the storyline.
As ever, Soule pulls no punches. The gore and violence, when it arrives, are detail-rich and HD clean, the descriptions visceral and alive. Your heart is jackhammering along with the thrill of the pace of the story, as both supernatural and human-based threats fight it out for domination, with our MC slap bang in the middle of it all.
I loved the concept of the house. I loved the powers of the supernatural villains. The whole nastiness of it just lurking there – I couldn’t get enough.
Yesssssssssss.
By the time we had arrived at the room of the talking heads, I was ready to believe anything Soule presented. His take on the whole Vampire legend is wonderful. It breathes life into the genre in a way I hadn’t expected. It’s as vital as Keene’s “With teeth”, albeit the vampires aren’t as Rabid!
Honestly, this is an automatic 5 ⭐’s hit, and well worth your money. Can’t recommend it enough.
The character work is outstanding, Dylan Savage is a total victim of circumstance, and the reader is endeared to him from the first page to the last. Soule’s reworking of the Jack the Ripper mythos and his combination of that and Egyptian deity worship is such a solid backstory, the whole fun and gore of Savage have such an infectious feel about them.
You are totally swept along by the storyline.
As ever, Soule pulls no punches. The gore and violence, when it arrives, are detail-rich and HD clean, the descriptions visceral and alive. Your heart is jackhammering along with the thrill of the pace of the story, as both supernatural and human-based threats fight it out for domination, with our MC slap bang in the middle of it all.
I loved the concept of the house. I loved the powers of the supernatural villains. The whole nastiness of it just lurking there – I couldn’t get enough.
Yesssssssssss.
By the time we had arrived at the room of the talking heads, I was ready to believe anything Soule presented. His take on the whole Vampire legend is wonderful. It breathes life into the genre in a way I hadn’t expected. It’s as vital as Keene’s “With teeth”, albeit the vampires aren’t as Rabid!
Honestly, this is an automatic 5 ⭐’s hit, and well worth your money. Can’t recommend it enough.
June 27, 2021
After reading Dan Soule’s Witchopper and The Ash, I was delighted to be offered a review copy of Savage.
On the streets of London, there are a new spate of copycat murders in the vein of Jack the Ripper. The Ripper lore fascinates me, but it’s only one element of Savage.
The heart of this story focuses on Dylan, who is doing a paper round and trying to avoid dangerous gang initations. His alcoholic mother, Donna, is turning tricks, for pimp Henry Grimes.
Detectives Kenny Stokes and partner Rog are investigating the gruesome ‘Ripper’ like murders. Like Soule’s other characters, they are fully fleshed out and the reader is immersed in their story.
In a parallel timeline, Dylan winds up at 25, Gallows Court, after being chased by the knife-wielding Duppy crew. The strange inhabitants of the rundown house include an elderly man and his helper, Mr. Butcher. The strange creatures and dwelling are an escape for young Dylan Savage, but at what price?
Savage is not a short read, but there is non-stop action throughout. The host of characters drag us along with them, as terrible situations unfold. The truly horrific scenes for me involved the torture human beings inflict upon one another.
Soule is skilled at basing horror fiction in gritty and realistic locations. The reader can imagine the scenes unfolding in their neighbourhood. Like Soule’s other books, the scenes are cinematic and lively. Along with the horror, Soule adds humour in this tale – one of the final scenes had me in stitches.
To summarise, Savage is a scary and unique addition to the vampire subgenre. The book is a well-written, pacy and gritty horror.
On the streets of London, there are a new spate of copycat murders in the vein of Jack the Ripper. The Ripper lore fascinates me, but it’s only one element of Savage.
The heart of this story focuses on Dylan, who is doing a paper round and trying to avoid dangerous gang initations. His alcoholic mother, Donna, is turning tricks, for pimp Henry Grimes.
Detectives Kenny Stokes and partner Rog are investigating the gruesome ‘Ripper’ like murders. Like Soule’s other characters, they are fully fleshed out and the reader is immersed in their story.
In a parallel timeline, Dylan winds up at 25, Gallows Court, after being chased by the knife-wielding Duppy crew. The strange inhabitants of the rundown house include an elderly man and his helper, Mr. Butcher. The strange creatures and dwelling are an escape for young Dylan Savage, but at what price?
Savage is not a short read, but there is non-stop action throughout. The host of characters drag us along with them, as terrible situations unfold. The truly horrific scenes for me involved the torture human beings inflict upon one another.
Soule is skilled at basing horror fiction in gritty and realistic locations. The reader can imagine the scenes unfolding in their neighbourhood. Like Soule’s other books, the scenes are cinematic and lively. Along with the horror, Soule adds humour in this tale – one of the final scenes had me in stitches.
To summarise, Savage is a scary and unique addition to the vampire subgenre. The book is a well-written, pacy and gritty horror.
July 9, 2021
Horror fans - don't miss this gripping read.
Schoolboy Dylan is a maths genius. Unfortunately, his mother spends no time with her son, while her pimp is determined that Dylan should prove his worth by drawing blood and more in the local gang warfare. When Dylan is cornered by three thugs from the rival gang and unexpectedly rescued by the mysterious Vieil, his initial relief is quickly tempered by the realisation that he had exchanged one threat for a far more deadly one.
This is a gripping read, I found it unputdownable for almost the entire book. Not only is the story chilling and the action fast-paced, but we are provided with a range of characters that it’s impossible not to care for, from Dylan, who wants to study hard and do the right thing but everything is arrayed against him, to Kenny, a detective with psychic powers, investigating a series of Jack the Ripper style murders in a parallel thread. Kenny’s wife is Dylan’s lovely and supportive teacher, and Dylan’s best friend Samuel, and his mother Abigail, are endearing characters. However, the good guys are up against convincingly brutal and evil characters in Vieil and his sidekick, Mr Butcher, whose occult powers seem unstoppable.
If you like original and inventive horror, with a unique take on vampires and werewolves, be ready for a great story, fabulous cast of characters, gruesome murders, occult powers, plus what must be one of the creepiest houses in literature! Don’t miss it!
Schoolboy Dylan is a maths genius. Unfortunately, his mother spends no time with her son, while her pimp is determined that Dylan should prove his worth by drawing blood and more in the local gang warfare. When Dylan is cornered by three thugs from the rival gang and unexpectedly rescued by the mysterious Vieil, his initial relief is quickly tempered by the realisation that he had exchanged one threat for a far more deadly one.
This is a gripping read, I found it unputdownable for almost the entire book. Not only is the story chilling and the action fast-paced, but we are provided with a range of characters that it’s impossible not to care for, from Dylan, who wants to study hard and do the right thing but everything is arrayed against him, to Kenny, a detective with psychic powers, investigating a series of Jack the Ripper style murders in a parallel thread. Kenny’s wife is Dylan’s lovely and supportive teacher, and Dylan’s best friend Samuel, and his mother Abigail, are endearing characters. However, the good guys are up against convincingly brutal and evil characters in Vieil and his sidekick, Mr Butcher, whose occult powers seem unstoppable.
If you like original and inventive horror, with a unique take on vampires and werewolves, be ready for a great story, fabulous cast of characters, gruesome murders, occult powers, plus what must be one of the creepiest houses in literature! Don’t miss it!
April 12, 2021
Savage. An absolutely apt title for this book as the word certainly describes this story! Dylan Savage is a kid trying to make his way through a tough life. Living in a bad part of London he is caught up in a turf war between rival drug gangs. When he stumbles into the lair of a monster while trying to evade street thugs his world will never be the same.
Kenny Stokes is a London Police Detective with a “curse,” he has psychic abilities. Now there is a Jack the Ripper copycat working in Whitechapel and Kenny’s abilities are wreaking havoc on his life.
With a fantastic bunch of supporting characters, Dan Soule has woven a tale that blends history and the supernatural with believable characters and a genre bending take on vampires that will take you on a breathtaking thrill ride and leave you turning pages well past your bed time!
My only complaints are that it is a very long book, however the story is good enough that it keeps your interest. It is worth the effort! Also, it is heavy on the British slang which can make parts of the story not understandable to audiences outside of the UK. Thank goodness for Google but that means having to stop reading to go look it up. That being said it is a great story that horror fans should absolutely not pass up!
I accepted an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Kenny Stokes is a London Police Detective with a “curse,” he has psychic abilities. Now there is a Jack the Ripper copycat working in Whitechapel and Kenny’s abilities are wreaking havoc on his life.
With a fantastic bunch of supporting characters, Dan Soule has woven a tale that blends history and the supernatural with believable characters and a genre bending take on vampires that will take you on a breathtaking thrill ride and leave you turning pages well past your bed time!
My only complaints are that it is a very long book, however the story is good enough that it keeps your interest. It is worth the effort! Also, it is heavy on the British slang which can make parts of the story not understandable to audiences outside of the UK. Thank goodness for Google but that means having to stop reading to go look it up. That being said it is a great story that horror fans should absolutely not pass up!
I accepted an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2021
Savage's foray into savage territory
I thank the author for the complementary copy and am pleased to review this book. The book is very well presented with sub titles which make for easy reading. I loved the characters in the book and could not help empathizing with Dylan Savage and his ordeal as a child. I enjoyed reading this page turner and about Dylan's venture into a creepy house with a creepy elderly man who portrays himself as Dylan's benefactor? Is he really? And why are people getting suddenly ripped apart? Will the murderer ever be found? This is one of the best books I have read and the storyline got me completely hooked. Dan Soule is on the list of my favourite authors and I will definitely read more of his books.
I thank the author for the complementary copy and am pleased to review this book. The book is very well presented with sub titles which make for easy reading. I loved the characters in the book and could not help empathizing with Dylan Savage and his ordeal as a child. I enjoyed reading this page turner and about Dylan's venture into a creepy house with a creepy elderly man who portrays himself as Dylan's benefactor? Is he really? And why are people getting suddenly ripped apart? Will the murderer ever be found? This is one of the best books I have read and the storyline got me completely hooked. Dan Soule is on the list of my favourite authors and I will definitely read more of his books.
March 16, 2021
Dylan Savage is a young teen growing up in a rough part of London just trying to get through and get out. With gang violence rampant and a jack the ripper style murder life is anything but easy. Forced to deliver drugs as well as the paper on his paper route Dylan tries to stay out of the eye of the gangs on the street. However the gangs are the least of Dylan's problem when he starts deliveries to 25 Gallows Court. Soon Dylan is indebted to the creatures in the house and caught between the dangers of the gang life and the dangers of the unknown.
This dark and gripping novel kept me turning the page. Just when I thought I figured things out Soule throws in another twist. If you like a good thrill ride with your horrid this is a great read
This dark and gripping novel kept me turning the page. Just when I thought I figured things out Soule throws in another twist. If you like a good thrill ride with your horrid this is a great read
March 23, 2021
Supernatural horror fantasy with plausible well-developed characters. I struggled to stop reading this and enjoyed the weaving of Jack the Ripper, various myths & monsters into the story-line.
Dylan's life was cringeworthy to read about. I really felt for the poor boy and what he has to go through. What a tough life! Good twist at the end which I didn't see coming... good marshmallow feelings.
Thanks Dan! Looking forward to reading more of your work..
Dylan's life was cringeworthy to read about. I really felt for the poor boy and what he has to go through. What a tough life! Good twist at the end which I didn't see coming... good marshmallow feelings.
Thanks Dan! Looking forward to reading more of your work..
November 6, 2022
A bloody good read
I'm not a vampire lover but I loved the bad guys in this a really good story with a brilliant back ground in a way I didn't want the bad guys I loose I hope there will be a follow up as there is still more to be told and a lot of loose ends please dan do a follow on ,
I'm not a vampire lover but I loved the bad guys in this a really good story with a brilliant back ground in a way I didn't want the bad guys I loose I hope there will be a follow up as there is still more to be told and a lot of loose ends please dan do a follow on ,
May 29, 2021
This book was amazing! Just like all of Dan's books! I loved every moment of the read, and the characters were amazing.
September 28, 2025
Like many books, starts of ok & falters in the rear end. One thing that really distracts me from a book is when errors are missed during editing. I might make to big a deal of this, but when I find one error, Im subconciously waiting for the next. In this case Detective Sergeant Stokes became Detective Inspector Stokes within a couple of page turns. Maybe I just missed the promotion.
March 14, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great drama and romance with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great drama and romance with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
May 10, 2021
Very different from most of my reads. I received this as an ARC and voluntarily choose to reveiw.
December 12, 2022
Savage it is. Brutal, gory, violent and a special kind of thug life. In amongst all that is a good boy that really never has a chance to live up to his potential. It's a slice of inner city life that's ramped up to the extreme. Very compelling read. Dan Soule writes like he has seen some stuff.
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