Equinox

Solstice Chronicles #2

by Bryan W. Dull

Confined in an old plantation home, Gavin & Solstice are forced to wait it out until sunrise that is perilously approaching. Unbeknownst to them the remnants of the house are more terrifying than what is waiting for them outside. Waiting to escape at the first chance possible, will they make it through the horrors that inhabit the house or will the vampire's get to them first? "Equinox" Ups the Ante in the Solstice Saga, and No One Involved Will Come Out the Same.

Genres: Horror

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Bryan W. Dull writes books, which, if you really knew him, makes perfect sense as that’s all he has done since sixth grade; spinning a yarn at a moment’s notice. He is best known for writing horror and suspense stories with his first novel, Solstice, being his first experiment into publishing; it was a bet to do it, by the way. In 2016, he tried his hand at something different and published a personal story, Pill Hill. Now, Bryan W. Dull is becoming known for being a literary voice of hope…with some scares mixed into it occasionally. He lives in Fort Wayne, IN with his wife and daughter, and plans on writing more stories that have something to say in this strange world that we live in.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/writer_bryan/

Twitter: writer_bryan

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Solstice.Chronicles

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/bwdull/#

Reviews

[W.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning this series intended for the 18+ Reader Only

I was given an e-copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!

OMy WOW! This second installment blew me away with its presentation. Gavin and Solstice find themselves stuck between a hard rock and big hole. This is multilayered story and I must say that I had a hard time putting it down. I LOVED IT!! Kudos Bryan can't wait for more...

The characters are amazing and go deeper as the story unfolds. The world buiding is consistent and ever so horrific as the twists and turns come into play. Vampires are my favorite reads... Come get ya some of this AWESOME SAUCE!

5 out of 5 Hearts
Lovetiggi's Book Reviews

[Dawn White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this Novel! I don't think you can get a better vampire novel! His characters and side characters have such a deep story that draws you in and honestly won't let you go. Don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself.This novel was creepy as hell and just everything awesome is made of! I will forever be a fan of Bryan Dull's! WOW is all I can say!

[Joshua Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryan Dull ups the ante in his gritty exciting vampire action thriller with Equinox! Gavin and Solstice have been pinned down in an old abandoned plantation by the bloodthirsty monsters outside. But they soon discover the true threat isn’t what’s waiting for them outside, but what lurks within the doomed structure. Part action, part horror, Dull delivers a pulse-pounding ride in this follow-up sequel. I loved the growth of Gavin and Solstice and their dynamic (I’m still pleasantly reminded of The Last of Us), and the new terrors of the plantation brought a whole new element to an already exciting story. If you love action, horror, or darker vampire stories, come spelunk around in the decrepit halls of Equinox!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit, I fell under the "Twilight" spell. I would be lying if I said I did not enjoy it. However, after only reading "Solstice" and a few chapters of "Equinox", I have to say, I am intrigued. Bryan W. Dull's imagination is extreme. Yes, extreme is the only word that comes to mind. Solstice and Gavin have a chemistry between them. Though sometimes a bit comical, he is her protector, and would do anything to keep her out of harm's way. This is not your typical vampire story. A plain little girl is not going to fall for the big strong vampire that glitters. If you are looking for that, it's not here. BUT if you are looking for something different, something that stands out from the norm, check out both these books! I will have a much better review once I finish reading the rest of "Equinox"!



Vampires and ghosts, twists and turns, horror, and a whole lot of gripping the edge of your seat will leave you impatiently reading just to find out what happens next!!! I am impressed with how Solstice has grown throughout the first and second books. I look forward to reading more, and soon! Once again, amazing job, Bryan.

[Brandy Michelle Dull · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:

This is an amazing sequel to Solstice, It continues with Solstice and Gavin on the run from the vampires and trying to figure out how to survive. I don't want to give too much away about this book, so I am going to make this a short review. This story took the Solstice Chronicles to a whole other level. There are twist and turns that no one would have expected. Not only do Solstice and Gavin have to be concerned with the vampires that are hunting them, but they also find out they are not alone in the abandoned plantation home they have taken residence in. Solstice is growing into her powers and she has a constant struggle to keep them in check while learning how to use them. This is by far my favorite vampire novel of all time, and I can only hope the author one ups himself on the third novel in this amazing series!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon!!!

***VISIT WWW.LOVENBOOKS.COM FOR MORE REVIEWS***

[Christy Guest · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨BOOK REVIEW✨- Equinox
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌑

I have so many thoughts about this book. So. Many. My first though is that it was exorbitantly better than the first book, Solstice. The narration style was easier to get in to and I loved the mini vignettes that told parts of the history of the vampires.

There are two reasons this book is not getting 5 stars. The first is that I’m picky. @writer_bryan! You are an amazing writer! I literally read this book in two days. More like a day and a half since I spent the first day shoveling snow. It was so hard to put down. The story was compelling and very well thought out- I only found one glaring plot hole (how was vampire Allen able to get into Pereña’s house??? The fact that vampires can’t get into houses uninvited is a major plot point in this book!) but my problem is so easily fixed. Bryan. You NEED a good editor. There are sudden changes in verb tense, gramatical errors, word choice problems- all things that could be refined with the help of a good editor. Your story was fantastic! The little problems were just distracting. So many times I wanted to start red lining this book, but I love it’s sprayed pages and didn’t want to do that to it. I did notice that a lot of the issues happened at points in the story where the dialogue and actions were moving quickly- so I’m attributing the problems to writing excitement, so I guess it’s excusable.

The second reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is because I think the next book will be better and I want to give myself room to capture the improvement.

That being said, I definitely liked Gavin way more in this book than in Solstice. Bryan is VERY good at character development! I am hoping I can get copies of Ecliptic and Celestial with sprayed edges to match the copies I have! Let me know!

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[Lissette · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the moment she was born, Solstice knew she was different. She's a vampire possessing powers she can't explain, and she can walk in daylight. The things she does are unexplainable, yet she does everything possible to make sense of who and what she is. Her life is changing faster than she can keep up with it. Once a snarky twelve-year-old girl, she's now sliding into the guise of womanhood. That thought alone mind-boggles her.

With Gavin by her side, Solstice is determined to shed light on the circumstances surrounding her unique birth. She's slowly coming to understand her guardian. In his mind, the disease-bearing vampires are a blight to human existence. With her help, he's done his best to wipe as many of them out, but they just keep coming. While she provides him with a means to circumvent the creatures efforts, she's not quite sure what he needs to win the battle.

Unwilling to bend to the rules of the world around her, Solstice grapples with the very essence that makes her who she is. She's grateful for everything Gavin has done for her, but it does nothing to lessen the fact that she's something he abhors. Deep inside, she knows he resents her for what she is. Yet she refuses to let him go. He's the only person who's treated her well. The only one who's seen a side of her no one else has. Granted, she hasn't gotten close to anyone else, but that could change at any time, right?

Fighting for their lives, determined to make something of their bleak existence, Solstice soon realizes that she can never outrun her destiny. Something or someone is out there, waiting for the moment when they can reclaim her once more. Her unique abilities make her the most precious commodity amongst vampires. If she's to succeed in setting the record straight, once and for all, she'll need to fully embrace who and what she is. The question is, can she do that without causing Gavin any further harm in the process?

Equinox takes up where Solstice left off, diving head-first into the controversy surrounding Gavin and Solstice's plight. They've found themselves smack-dab in the middle of an abandoned plantation, unsure as to whether they'll make it another day. This is definitely another interesting premise to this series. We get to see a little more of Solstice while Gavin grapples with the ghosts of his past.

While the character's emotions are certainly believable, I had a hard time getting into certain situations they find themselves in. The point-of-views seemed to be all over, and some of the things happening didn't quite mesh. At least, for me, anyway. Overall, this is a very intriguing sequel that does answer some of the questions left behind in the first book. Unfortunately, it also leaves quite a few new loose ends in the process. Hopefully, the third book will answer these small loopholes when the time comes, and tidy up the world surrounding Gavin and the enigmatic Solstice. The book and it's unique storyline is certainly a nice read.

[Lynn Worton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is the second book in the series. I really enjoyed it.

Gavin Moxley is a fascinating character. He is a vampire hunter bent on killing vampires who have been infected with the AIDS virus. However, becoming the unwilling protector to a half vampire/human child is the least of his problems, even though said child is growing at an alarming rate. It's the vampires chasing them that has him worried. I liked him a lot, but he can be a bit of a jerk sometimes!

Solstice is an extraordinary young lady. Not only is she a half vampire, she is able to walk in the sunlight. All other vampires are after her blood. Growing up so fast brings it's own issues, and Solstice finds herself facing strange new emotions. I enjoyed watching this character grow, and found her to be extremely likable when I wasn't wanting to hit her with something! She acted like a slutty brat at times. I know it's not her fault (hormones and all that), but still!

This story continues from the end of the first book. It is now told from several points of view, rather than just from Gavin's. This makes it interesting, but it can be slightly confusing too. I don't know if it was just the copy I received or not, but there didn't seem to be a clear division between each character's thoughts and actions. I really loved the first story, but felt that the intensity was lost when the author chose to change to a third person narrative. That being said, I became engrossed in the story and was quickly drawn back into the lives of these characters. The father/daughter aspect of Gavin and Solstice's relationship gets tested in the most unusual way! The story takes a paranormal twist with a house filled with ghosts. The author's love of horror and the paranormal comes shining through, and the creepy factor is way up on the scale! Mixing two paranormal genres is a gamble, and I think that the gamble paid off. I was reminded of the 1999 movie "The Haunting" with Liam Neeson. I loved that movie, and this book gave the same sort of vibe, but with vampires thrown in.
There are several twists and turns that kept me hooked and the ending made me gasp! I am now looking forward to reading the next (and last) book in the trilogy.

Bryan Dull has a vivid imagination and his writing style reflects this. The story is fast paced, but because of the changing scenes showing the various points of view, it felt a bit clunky at times. However, that may just be my interpretation, and I will leave it up to you to make up your own mind.

Due to the violence and some rather disturbing scenes of a sexual nature, I do not recommend this book for readers under the age of 18. However, I highly recommend this book if you love a fantastic thriller/horror story with bite (pun intended!). - Lynn Worton

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I have to say about Equinox is that cover is just a tad creepy. I love it! Continuing the story right where the first book left off, Gavin and Solstice find themselves hiding out in an abandoned plantation home, waiting out the vampires who are trying to break down the door.

There was so much going on in this book, and the story was taken to a completely new level. Besides the vampires trying to get Solstice, they also have the phantoms of the home they are taking shelter in causing trouble and making Gavin question his sanity (who wouldn't faced with a haunted house?). Additionally, Solstice is growing up and growing into her abilities, and it is a struggle for her as she learns how to use those abilities.

To make things even harder for them, the relationship between Solstice and Gavin is constantly changing. Where he used to see Solstice as a daughter, a child who needed protecting, at some point he realizes she isn't so little anymore, and she is not as sweet an innocent as she once appeared to be. Solstice herself went through a lot of changes in this book, growing up emotionally and becoming more self aware.

The author took a different approach to this story, writing it in third person narrative rather than first person from Gavin's point of view. While it seems odd to switch narrative styles from book to book, I can understand why he did it, and it works here. There was a lot going on in this book and seeing things just from Gavin's point of view would have been limiting. Although I missed being in his head, we still got his wit and humor in this book as well, bringing a bit of fun to the story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.