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Graves End
Graves End is part of the Venom & Vampires: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection
Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2022
About the author
S.J. Davis
34 books162 followersSJ is a Virginia girl living in the Motor City. She loves Typhoo English Tea, flip flops, capris, and cardigans. When she isn't busy writing and publishing, she is busy being a band/soccer/lax/Wolverine mom. Go Blue!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 14, 2022
This steampunk vampire novella opens in 1840 in London, at a place called Graves End. Human genetic experiments resulted in vampires, but eventually vampire Society became the leaders in science and genetics with humans relying on them for superior health care. But further enhancements left vampire women sterile and vampires in need of human “breeders.” In Graves End, high-ranking vampire Mordecai witnesses breeder Constance give birth to Draegan, a genetically altered Perfect Vampire that has both super speed and telepathy.
Twenty years later, in the East End of London, poor women, mostly prostitutes, have been turning up dead in apparent vampire attacks that go against peace accords. Lady Astrid West, an inventor and human, investigates the deaths at the same time that Mordecai and Draegan’s elder brother Luca realize the culprit is the sadistic and human-hating Draegan. Luca briefly allies with Astrid to track down Draegan.
Things fall apart from there. The rest of this story was a disjointed mess. Seriously, what the heck happened in this thing? It goes from tracking down a deranged killer to eugenic experiments to visions of a vampire girl to an outbreak of "crazy" genes to just an incredibly abrupt and dissatisfying ending. I’m baffled. Also, the steampunk elements were shoehorned in with no real purpose. Any mention of gears or goggles felt like the author saying, “See! Steampunk!” But the story never felt tangibly steampunk.
Verdict
An absolute mess. This barely qualifies as a story. Astrid and Luca completely drop out of the story for 40 pages until that wacky ending. Draegan is all over the place. Nothing happens with Mordecai. The vampire girl that is continually referenced never comes into play. This was just a whole bunch of ideas and no connecting thread or driving plot.
So, who would enjoy this book?
I will not recommend this for anyone. I’m very upset with this. It’s not just a case of this not being my cup of tea. This novella is not worth reading.
Twenty years later, in the East End of London, poor women, mostly prostitutes, have been turning up dead in apparent vampire attacks that go against peace accords. Lady Astrid West, an inventor and human, investigates the deaths at the same time that Mordecai and Draegan’s elder brother Luca realize the culprit is the sadistic and human-hating Draegan. Luca briefly allies with Astrid to track down Draegan.
Things fall apart from there. The rest of this story was a disjointed mess. Seriously, what the heck happened in this thing? It goes from tracking down a deranged killer to eugenic experiments to visions of a vampire girl to an outbreak of "crazy" genes to just an incredibly abrupt and dissatisfying ending. I’m baffled. Also, the steampunk elements were shoehorned in with no real purpose. Any mention of gears or goggles felt like the author saying, “See! Steampunk!” But the story never felt tangibly steampunk.
Verdict
An absolute mess. This barely qualifies as a story. Astrid and Luca completely drop out of the story for 40 pages until that wacky ending. Draegan is all over the place. Nothing happens with Mordecai. The vampire girl that is continually referenced never comes into play. This was just a whole bunch of ideas and no connecting thread or driving plot.
So, who would enjoy this book?
I will not recommend this for anyone. I’m very upset with this. It’s not just a case of this not being my cup of tea. This novella is not worth reading.
June 14, 2022
Immediately jumps into a semi-graphic scene of human breading child birth with no real time for context. while reading there is a lot of hatred and disgust from both species. The science of the vampires and what they can do seems far fetched and complicated to understand. it ends in a way that seems like it was meant to be a cliff hanger but actually feels unfinished. I like the overall premise of the plot but not the way it was executed. Will not be reading more.
June 7, 2022
This has a really good story idea. I fill that it needs to be extended into a long book and have it go more into details. I believe is could be an amazing story if extended and get more into it.
November 13, 2017
Very Intriguing!
I read this book as a part of the Vampires &.Venom collection. This story is a intriguing mix of Vampires PLUS.
The PLUS comes from the inventive way genetic manipulation has been woven into the mix, logically and credible making it thought provoking and intriguing. Present also is elements of steampunk, victorian times, and epic doing in the making. I was very intrigued by this story, tho it felt like it was a part not a whole, (so I ventured to find the rest), I sincerely hope there is more of this where it came from, since It triggers a I want to know feeling, and a longing for a continuation. The two missing stars is NOT because any shortcomming in the story, they are absent because of the unfinished feeling/cliffhanger without continuance options. If there was as much as a link to the rest it generate the missing stars.
I read this book as a part of the Vampires &.Venom collection. This story is a intriguing mix of Vampires PLUS.
The PLUS comes from the inventive way genetic manipulation has been woven into the mix, logically and credible making it thought provoking and intriguing. Present also is elements of steampunk, victorian times, and epic doing in the making. I was very intrigued by this story, tho it felt like it was a part not a whole, (so I ventured to find the rest), I sincerely hope there is more of this where it came from, since It triggers a I want to know feeling, and a longing for a continuation. The two missing stars is NOT because any shortcomming in the story, they are absent because of the unfinished feeling/cliffhanger without continuance options. If there was as much as a link to the rest it generate the missing stars.
July 1, 2022
History was unique. Take on a vampire story. Vampires are genetically different from the humans. Draegan Is a genetically perfect Vampire. The only thing is women vampire cannot bear children. But to protect and make sure that the vampires survive as a race they have to breed from select humans. So relationships with humans are forbidden. I really enjoy the story and it's twists and turns that happen within the book. Like I say that I enjoyed this fresh take on a vampire topic. It is not something I've seen before. I really enjoy the characters introducing the story and I would enjoy to read more about what the characters do
October 3, 2017
was a good read until the end. feels like it ended abruptly. almost like the writer just ended it mid chapter.
April 7, 2018
An interesting concept that needs expanded into a full length story. Worth reading
July 17, 2022
Loved this story read it as part of June take over month couldn't put it down when I read it
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews