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Moonchild #2
The Changeling
Harboring strong desires to love and kill, handsome Simon Blackstone rises from the grave, seduces Sally Lawrence, an American in London, and embarks on a spree of savage murder.
- GenresHorror
292 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 10, 2008
I think this was an awful book, but I enjoyed it. The story of the changeling seemed really contrived and cobbled together so weakly. It was full of holes. How could the changeling have no soul and yet so obviously care about the girl? At one point the author even said he had a soul after making the premise that all children born on a certain day had empty soul, ripe for possession by demons. Also it wasn't the kind of changeling I usually associate the word with. I think of that as goblins replacing an infant with one of their own. Demon possession is an entirely other subject. So basically I quibble with the pseudo-science, pseudo-occult aspects of it.
Once you ignore that and decide you're going to read it just to see what happens, it plays out like a whodunit. There's a detective from Scotland Yard and a girl who loves the changeling's better self. And a really cool pub which I think he should have done more with. Why were the pictures of the changeling's mother hanging in the pub?
So a weak effort, but enjoyable trash. Sequel to The Moonchild and followed by The Offspring, neither of which I'm in any hurry to read.
Once you ignore that and decide you're going to read it just to see what happens, it plays out like a whodunit. There's a detective from Scotland Yard and a girl who loves the changeling's better self. And a really cool pub which I think he should have done more with. Why were the pictures of the changeling's mother hanging in the pub?
So a weak effort, but enjoyable trash. Sequel to The Moonchild and followed by The Offspring, neither of which I'm in any hurry to read.
February 20, 2018
Novels like this are necessary. They are junk food — all details are extra cheesy.
I found this paperback in a thrift store and laughed at the cover and synopsis with the same joy that I felt upon finding Metal Angel (a romance centered around an angel who cuts off his wings to be an 80's rockstar) and The Holmes-Dracula File (no one-sentence synopsis necessary).
Anyway, the book was exactly as I thought it would be: enjoyable, with points throughout where I was giggling stupidly.
The romance thread is — as expected — extra flimsy. Our heroine, Sally, meets this dude on the street, and the readers are treated to a whole lot of description about how copper-colored and beautiful his hair is. They spend a night together, bone a couple of times and she's in love. They actually seem to share very little time together, even after they bang and she's sure they're in love — because she spends the majority of the two days that follow working at a hamburger joint and visiting crazy cat psychic Cyril.
Unfortunately, Sally is pretty underdone, while readers get a hint that she acts kindly toward the stranger in the street because of her dead brother, there's not much developed from her backstory. Additionally, I thought she reacted in a baffling manner sometimes. There was also a mention toward the end that Simon possesses some kind of extra sensory talent that could influence some of her behavior — but again the idea is undeveloped/unexplained.
The romance thread felt extra weird to me because Simon was the preserved corpse of a Victorian kid in a sailor costume about 24 hours before they hit the sheets. Yeah yeah, I understand — he's actually kind of geriatric with a birthdate around 1900 and a storyline that picks up in 1985 (a good year) and he physically ages/transforms into the werewolfish creature through killing people — but still...
Then there's Albert, the predictably sloppy, overweight, and unmarried cop who is always game for a decent bacon sandwich.
He exists in the same arrested development as Simon as an enchanted corpse. I feel like this is an oft-used trope, the slobby, socially-averse cop that inherits someone else's storyline and in the end thins out and maybe slaps a tie on every once in awhile because he's got a thing for the girl. Still, he's the most developed character of the bunch. The family histories and connection between Albert and Simon are presented piecemeal through the story and — while it didn't all connect the way it could have — it was the most interesting part of the book.
Aside from the off-putting romantic thread and underdone characters. The premise itself isn't entirely uninteresting. Kid is born on a bad day as an empty vessel; demon takes possession; there's some backstory that includes the skeleton of German investigator found with the silver latched coffin; coffin is disturbed setting off the narrative of this volume. Apparently there's a book before and after — because of course she's knocked up — I haven't read either at the time of this review. However, if I see them in a thrift store, I'll probably pick them up.
I found this paperback in a thrift store and laughed at the cover and synopsis with the same joy that I felt upon finding Metal Angel (a romance centered around an angel who cuts off his wings to be an 80's rockstar) and The Holmes-Dracula File (no one-sentence synopsis necessary).
Anyway, the book was exactly as I thought it would be: enjoyable, with points throughout where I was giggling stupidly.
The romance thread is — as expected — extra flimsy. Our heroine, Sally, meets this dude on the street, and the readers are treated to a whole lot of description about how copper-colored and beautiful his hair is. They spend a night together, bone a couple of times and she's in love. They actually seem to share very little time together, even after they bang and she's sure they're in love — because she spends the majority of the two days that follow working at a hamburger joint and visiting crazy cat psychic Cyril.
Unfortunately, Sally is pretty underdone, while readers get a hint that she acts kindly toward the stranger in the street because of her dead brother, there's not much developed from her backstory. Additionally, I thought she reacted in a baffling manner sometimes. There was also a mention toward the end that Simon possesses some kind of extra sensory talent that could influence some of her behavior — but again the idea is undeveloped/unexplained.
The romance thread felt extra weird to me because Simon was the preserved corpse of a Victorian kid in a sailor costume about 24 hours before they hit the sheets. Yeah yeah, I understand — he's actually kind of geriatric with a birthdate around 1900 and a storyline that picks up in 1985 (a good year) and he physically ages/transforms into the werewolfish creature through killing people — but still...
Then there's Albert, the predictably sloppy, overweight, and unmarried cop who is always game for a decent bacon sandwich.
He exists in the same arrested development as Simon as an enchanted corpse. I feel like this is an oft-used trope, the slobby, socially-averse cop that inherits someone else's storyline and in the end thins out and maybe slaps a tie on every once in awhile because he's got a thing for the girl. Still, he's the most developed character of the bunch. The family histories and connection between Albert and Simon are presented piecemeal through the story and — while it didn't all connect the way it could have — it was the most interesting part of the book.
Aside from the off-putting romantic thread and underdone characters. The premise itself isn't entirely uninteresting. Kid is born on a bad day as an empty vessel; demon takes possession; there's some backstory that includes the skeleton of German investigator found with the silver latched coffin; coffin is disturbed setting off the narrative of this volume. Apparently there's a book before and after — because of course she's knocked up — I haven't read either at the time of this review. However, if I see them in a thrift store, I'll probably pick them up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2025
I have a lot of feelings; mostly confusion, but there's also a lot of curiosity and amusement.
For a paranormal romance/horror pulp fiction written in 1985, it's really along the lines of exactly what I expected. Swift romance, complete disregard for self preservation, poorly written women, gaping plot holes. I loved it.
Apparently, this is a sequel, so I'm sure I missed some important information about Simon's backstory, but it's not necessary to read this book. Probably just some food for thought (or maybe it would fill in some plot holes... I doubt it.)
Slumbering child, changeling Simon Blackstone is locked in his casket with a silver clasp. When new construction reveals his grave, Simon is awoken and attacks the construction worker who disturbed him. Simon's first slaying leads him to have a growth spurt and become a young man.
Confused, scared, and naked, Simon runs off into the night in search of safety and some pants. After receiving a ride into London and having horrific visions, he is dazed in ill-fitting clothes in the middle of a London street in the middle of the night. That's when Sally Lawrence, a New Yorker living in London, spots the man she assumes is a drug addict. She feels sorry for him as her brother was also a drug addict and passed in recent years due to his addiction. Out of pity and some strange compulsion, she invites Simon into her home (AND LET'S HIM SLEEP IN HER BEDROOM??!?!?!?! GIRL?!?!?! YOU LITERALLY THINK HE'S A DRUGGIE AND ACTIVELY ON HEROINE/METH OR SOME SHIT?!?!?!?!??!?!). Their love blooms fast and strong after this and Sally finds herself in the center of a catalytic event as Simon has the potential to become a horrific monster that can end all humanity and she's the key to help the new "guardian" reign him in.
It was very corny, some things were ham-fisted, and much of it was outright confusing, but it made for a fun read and I enjoyed the 80's trash horror. This was part of a buddy read and we had a great laugh over many of the chapters. Highly recommend.
For a paranormal romance/horror pulp fiction written in 1985, it's really along the lines of exactly what I expected. Swift romance, complete disregard for self preservation, poorly written women, gaping plot holes. I loved it.
Apparently, this is a sequel, so I'm sure I missed some important information about Simon's backstory, but it's not necessary to read this book. Probably just some food for thought (or maybe it would fill in some plot holes... I doubt it.)
Slumbering child, changeling Simon Blackstone is locked in his casket with a silver clasp. When new construction reveals his grave, Simon is awoken and attacks the construction worker who disturbed him. Simon's first slaying leads him to have a growth spurt and become a young man.
Confused, scared, and naked, Simon runs off into the night in search of safety and some pants. After receiving a ride into London and having horrific visions, he is dazed in ill-fitting clothes in the middle of a London street in the middle of the night. That's when Sally Lawrence, a New Yorker living in London, spots the man she assumes is a drug addict. She feels sorry for him as her brother was also a drug addict and passed in recent years due to his addiction. Out of pity and some strange compulsion, she invites Simon into her home (AND LET'S HIM SLEEP IN HER BEDROOM??!?!?!?! GIRL?!?!?! YOU LITERALLY THINK HE'S A DRUGGIE AND ACTIVELY ON HEROINE/METH OR SOME SHIT?!?!?!?!??!?!). Their love blooms fast and strong after this and Sally finds herself in the center of a catalytic event as Simon has the potential to become a horrific monster that can end all humanity and she's the key to help the new "guardian" reign him in.
It was very corny, some things were ham-fisted, and much of it was outright confusing, but it made for a fun read and I enjoyed the 80's trash horror. This was part of a buddy read and we had a great laugh over many of the chapters. Highly recommend.
September 22, 2017
This is part 2 of his first book The Moon Child. I liked the first book better than this one. This is pretty much light horror with some romance thrown in, and some police procedure. Nothing special.
May 21, 2015
I read the first book in this series 'The Moonchild' a couple of years ago. Fairly predictable, but entertaining. A slightly grisly werewolf tragedy kind of story. Moonchild was slightly better. I understand there is a third book in the series, which is indicated by the end of 'The Changeling'. Probably, won't read it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews