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Felix Gomez #1
The Nymphos of Rocky Flats
The first and only vampire book to be declassified by the federal government . . .
Felix Gomez went to Iraq a soldier. He came back a vampire.
Now he finds himself pulled into a web of intrigue when an old friend prompts him to investigate an outbreak of nymphomania at the secret government facilities in Rocky Flats. He'll find out the cause of all these horny women or die trying! But first he must contend with shadowy government agents, Eastern European vampire hunters, and women who just want his body . . .
Skewering sexual myths, conspiracy fables, and government bureaucracy, The Nymphos of Rocky Flats reveals the bizarre world of the undead with a humorous slant and a fresh twist.
Felix Gomez went to Iraq a soldier. He came back a vampire.
Now he finds himself pulled into a web of intrigue when an old friend prompts him to investigate an outbreak of nymphomania at the secret government facilities in Rocky Flats. He'll find out the cause of all these horny women or die trying! But first he must contend with shadowy government agents, Eastern European vampire hunters, and women who just want his body . . .
Skewering sexual myths, conspiracy fables, and government bureaucracy, The Nymphos of Rocky Flats reveals the bizarre world of the undead with a humorous slant and a fresh twist.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
77 people are currently reading
2613 people want to read
About the author
Mario Acevedo
65 books270 followersBorn in El Paso, Texas and grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but visited family in Chihuahua. Joined the US Army and flew attack helicopters.
Was artist-in-residence for Arte Americas in Fresno, California and served as a combat artist in Operation Desert Storm. Also teaches/taught art to prisoners at Avenal State Prison.
Was artist-in-residence for Arte Americas in Fresno, California and served as a combat artist in Operation Desert Storm. Also teaches/taught art to prisoners at Avenal State Prison.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 371 reviews
October 28, 2008
I bought this on impulse (I should not be allowed in book stores). It sounded quirky and funny. Imagine, if you dare, an outbreak of nymphomania among female emploees of Rocky Flats, a nuclear weapons research facility near Denver. Felix was an Iraq war veteran, and was turned into a vampire while serving. Now he's a PI, and an old college friend at Rocky Flats asks him to come uncover the cause of this nymphomania.
By the time Felix arrives (and hooks up with the local vampire community), the outbreak has been contained... so other than some of the women having relapses and trying to pounce him when he questions them using vampire hypnosis, there's no actual sex in the entire book. "Full of humor and sex" was not an accurate blurb for any critic to put on the cover.
Felix learns something is being hidden at Rocky Flats, and somebody tries to kill him at least once a day. But is it related to the investigation, or does it have to do with him being a vampire? It seems that these nymphomania outbreaks are always followed by vampire hunters descending and starting to kill the local vamps.
By the end, when Felix discovers the cause of the infection, I'm still not clear about the connection to the vampires. I guess I knew, but I forgot. It wasn't that memorable. There's another book in the series... maybe I'll give it a look, but maybe not.
By the time Felix arrives (and hooks up with the local vampire community), the outbreak has been contained... so other than some of the women having relapses and trying to pounce him when he questions them using vampire hypnosis, there's no actual sex in the entire book. "Full of humor and sex" was not an accurate blurb for any critic to put on the cover.
Felix learns something is being hidden at Rocky Flats, and somebody tries to kill him at least once a day. But is it related to the investigation, or does it have to do with him being a vampire? It seems that these nymphomania outbreaks are always followed by vampire hunters descending and starting to kill the local vamps.
By the end, when Felix discovers the cause of the infection, I'm still not clear about the connection to the vampires. I guess I knew, but I forgot. It wasn't that memorable. There's another book in the series... maybe I'll give it a look, but maybe not.
December 5, 2010
With this great title I was expecting to love the book which I didn't. Felix Gomez is an ex-military man who was made a vampire and now is back in the States doing PI work. Vampires can get diseases from humans so they're very careful with human blood and drink a lot of animal blood. Felix doesn't drink human blood because of what happened in the war. He's also worried about germs and is always talking about calming himself down after being scared he was exposed to something. He talks about sex a lot but again is afraid of whatever so he declines a lot at the same time telling people what a stud he is (although he does mention his penis is average size - FYI). I didn't care for the book and struggled to finish it. I'm not planning on reading any more books by this author. I have a male author phobia. Except for a few, I rarely enjoy their books. This one didn't change my mind.
January 11, 2013
Well, I wish I can give this book a zero star.
If you think that vampire and sex can sell well, why not add another ingredient: detective story. This is just what the author do. If you think that extra ingredient can improve the cooking, think harder. The author even spiced it up with another ingredient: Roswell! UFO!
So what you have is a trash novel with plot like this:
investigate - fanged - gather with friends - interrupted sex - attacked by enemy - barely escaped - repeat the cycle from the beginning until end.
It is a total waste of time, you should avoid this novel like avoiding a nuclear waste (which is SURPRISE SURPRISE: another element in the novel!). Believe me, you will thanks me.
P.S. :
But there is a caveat. I just find out that the author INTENTIONALLY write this crap to get published. It is intended to be a pun to the publishing industry and readers nowadays! And guess what, it is published, and it gained some fans. Make me think a lot about the intelligence of our mass and publishing industry today.
If you think that vampire and sex can sell well, why not add another ingredient: detective story. This is just what the author do. If you think that extra ingredient can improve the cooking, think harder. The author even spiced it up with another ingredient: Roswell! UFO!
So what you have is a trash novel with plot like this:
investigate - fanged - gather with friends - interrupted sex - attacked by enemy - barely escaped - repeat the cycle from the beginning until end.
It is a total waste of time, you should avoid this novel like avoiding a nuclear waste (which is SURPRISE SURPRISE: another element in the novel!). Believe me, you will thanks me.
P.S. :
But there is a caveat. I just find out that the author INTENTIONALLY write this crap to get published. It is intended to be a pun to the publishing industry and readers nowadays! And guess what, it is published, and it gained some fans. Make me think a lot about the intelligence of our mass and publishing industry today.
February 27, 2010
Rounding up from 3.5
The Nymphos of Rocky Flats is the first book in Acevedo’s Felix Gomez series, which centres around the ex-soldier who gets turned into a vampire while on active duty in Iraq. Felix and his company, accidentally kill a group of innocent civilians and the ultimate punishment for Felix was being turned. Because of the guilt he still feels, he refuses to drink human blood instead surving on animal blood. Which begins to take a toll on his powers. Now a Private Investigator Felix’s old roommate Gilbert asks for Felix’s help after an outbreak of nymphomania (“the sickness”) at the Department of Energy in Colorado. What starts out as a simple assignment (find the cause of the nymphomania), turns into a huge mess that turns out not to be so simple.
From Government conspiracy, UFOs, Roswell, Vampire Hunters, Dryad’s to Felix’s inner struggle with drinking human blood this book is action packed from beginning to end. The ending totally throws you for a loop, you just won’t see it coming. Acevedo has a very unique twist on vampires with Felix Gomez. Felix can go out in the sun, but only slathered in sunscreen and a ton of make up. There were some laugh out loud moments with lots of snark, my favorite being:
“No mistress of the dark, she looked more like a matron of the refrigerator”
For a book about nymphos, there was very little sexual interaction. Few scenes of Felix being come onto by those infected, but again no sex scenes. The Nymphos of Rocky Flats has so many different story-lines going on, sometimes I felt it a little hard to follow but overall it was pretty good, more Christopher Moore than a straight up Urban Fantasy novel, it’s worth a read. It’s definitely different that’s for sure and in a good way!
The Nymphos of Rocky Flats is the first book in Acevedo’s Felix Gomez series, which centres around the ex-soldier who gets turned into a vampire while on active duty in Iraq. Felix and his company, accidentally kill a group of innocent civilians and the ultimate punishment for Felix was being turned. Because of the guilt he still feels, he refuses to drink human blood instead surving on animal blood. Which begins to take a toll on his powers. Now a Private Investigator Felix’s old roommate Gilbert asks for Felix’s help after an outbreak of nymphomania (“the sickness”) at the Department of Energy in Colorado. What starts out as a simple assignment (find the cause of the nymphomania), turns into a huge mess that turns out not to be so simple.
From Government conspiracy, UFOs, Roswell, Vampire Hunters, Dryad’s to Felix’s inner struggle with drinking human blood this book is action packed from beginning to end. The ending totally throws you for a loop, you just won’t see it coming. Acevedo has a very unique twist on vampires with Felix Gomez. Felix can go out in the sun, but only slathered in sunscreen and a ton of make up. There were some laugh out loud moments with lots of snark, my favorite being:
“No mistress of the dark, she looked more like a matron of the refrigerator”
For a book about nymphos, there was very little sexual interaction. Few scenes of Felix being come onto by those infected, but again no sex scenes. The Nymphos of Rocky Flats has so many different story-lines going on, sometimes I felt it a little hard to follow but overall it was pretty good, more Christopher Moore than a straight up Urban Fantasy novel, it’s worth a read. It’s definitely different that’s for sure and in a good way!
December 26, 2019
THE NYMPHOS OF ROCKY FLATS is an entertaining humorous urban fantasy novel starring Operation: Iraqi Freedom veteran Felix Gomez, who unfortunately suffers from a case of vampirism. Transformed as punishment for accidentally killing a family at an oasis, he has since dealt with his guilt in the same manner as many undead before him: foregoing human blood and brooding. Hired by the Department of Energy to investigate a sudden bout of sexual insatiability among the female staff at a secret research facility, he soon finds himself dealing with UFOs, Hunters, a horny dryad, and his own self-loathing.
I found this book to immensely entertaining and despite its title, not nearly as sexualized as you'd think. Felix is a likable protagonist who remains the only sane man in a field of weirdos and lunatics. Indeed, the supernatural feels like it's a much-much saner world than the human one around them. I liked most of the supporting cast and was sad when some of them were killed. I'm also picking up the second book.
I appreciated the subtle political commentary of the book with the critique of the Iraq War as well as the fact that the Department of Energy head has "Q-clearance" (which nicely critiques that the Qanon conspiracy theory there depends on a nonsensical top secret access for a guy who works on nuclear material). It doesn't beat your face over with it, though, and makes the book feel a little more solid and grounded despite its vampire blood parties populated by aging Goth poseurs.
So, definitely a solid popcorn read. It's something I finished in a day and was greatly entertained by but shall not be ranked with Tolstoy. Which isn't what I wanted anyway. This is more a What We Do in the Shadows or John Carpenter's Vampires sort of thing.
8.5/10
I found this book to immensely entertaining and despite its title, not nearly as sexualized as you'd think. Felix is a likable protagonist who remains the only sane man in a field of weirdos and lunatics. Indeed, the supernatural feels like it's a much-much saner world than the human one around them. I liked most of the supporting cast and was sad when some of them were killed. I'm also picking up the second book.
I appreciated the subtle political commentary of the book with the critique of the Iraq War as well as the fact that the Department of Energy head has "Q-clearance" (which nicely critiques that the Qanon conspiracy theory there depends on a nonsensical top secret access for a guy who works on nuclear material). It doesn't beat your face over with it, though, and makes the book feel a little more solid and grounded despite its vampire blood parties populated by aging Goth poseurs.
So, definitely a solid popcorn read. It's something I finished in a day and was greatly entertained by but shall not be ranked with Tolstoy. Which isn't what I wanted anyway. This is more a What We Do in the Shadows or John Carpenter's Vampires sort of thing.
8.5/10
November 29, 2009
I was intrigued with the premise of this book: a soldier gets turned into a vampire and then comes back as a private detective who is now investigating a case of nymphomania.
This premise is interesting, but I feel the book fails to deliver a whole package. Acevedo's descriptions are weak, and at no point did I feel myself drawn into the story, like I was feeling what it was like to be a vampire detective. The narrator was very nonchalant about his powers and there was little, if any, description about the way his vampire powers felt to him. He just says things like "I used my vampire power to hypnotise them." Very plain, not visceral at all. Lots of telling without showing.
Despite the sensory deprivation of the narrative, Acevedo does add some interesting new twists on the vampire legend. Now vampires can turn into wolves, hypnotize, hover, wear sunblock, and cause memory loss in people. At the same time, some of these new powers made the narrator's quest a bit too easy at times. Need to get out of a jam? Make them lose their memory!
Aside from having vampires and vampire hunters, this is a standard mystery novel. Given, the plotline is funny it involves government conspiracies and nyphomania, but it offers nothing new from your typical dime-a-dozen mainstream mystery plotline. The ending comes as no surprise.
In summary:
With more sensory details and concentration on making characters come alive (instead of flimsy plot devices) this could have been a better story. As is, it's your standard mystery with two-dimensional vampires as characters that never strike home
This premise is interesting, but I feel the book fails to deliver a whole package. Acevedo's descriptions are weak, and at no point did I feel myself drawn into the story, like I was feeling what it was like to be a vampire detective. The narrator was very nonchalant about his powers and there was little, if any, description about the way his vampire powers felt to him. He just says things like "I used my vampire power to hypnotise them." Very plain, not visceral at all. Lots of telling without showing.
Despite the sensory deprivation of the narrative, Acevedo does add some interesting new twists on the vampire legend. Now vampires can turn into wolves, hypnotize, hover, wear sunblock, and cause memory loss in people. At the same time, some of these new powers made the narrator's quest a bit too easy at times. Need to get out of a jam? Make them lose their memory!
Aside from having vampires and vampire hunters, this is a standard mystery novel. Given, the plotline is funny it involves government conspiracies and nyphomania, but it offers nothing new from your typical dime-a-dozen mainstream mystery plotline. The ending comes as no surprise.
In summary:
With more sensory details and concentration on making characters come alive (instead of flimsy plot devices) this could have been a better story. As is, it's your standard mystery with two-dimensional vampires as characters that never strike home
February 5, 2009
I'm not sure what I expected from this ... why I expected the solution to this to be any less silly than the premise. It was a light, frothy read, if "light, frothy reads" can have so much blood in them. I realize that the lead character is a vampire detective b-b-b-but this could have been more ... serious. The beginning lead me to believe that vampire thing was going to be merely incidental (or maybeeeeee more a metaphor). Acevedo, I think, is capable of more weighty efforts. He seems quite capable of writing a searing indictment of something. His description of the second Gulf War demonstrates that. Here and there are glimmers of actual opinion, but when you get right down to it, it dissolves into fluff. And that was actually fine for me. I don't enjoy reading Important Fiction. I enjoy Fluff. I whizzed through this book in a very pleasant evening's entertainment.
June 11, 2008
I need to add a shelf called "dudelit" to counteract the whole "chicklit" thing...because let's face it...there really are some books that will be more enjoyed by the male species than the female species.
Even though "Nymphos" was what I consider to be "dudelit" I still really liked it.
Felix Gomez comes back from the Iraqi war a changed man...meaning he's now a vampire who takes on a new occupation as a private investigator. When his friend offers him $50,000 to take on a really strange case, he can't refuse. The case? Find out what has caused several women workers at a facility to have acquired hardcore nymphomania.
With the help of a secret organization of vampires, a female dryad and self proclaimed nympho, and his own vampiric powers, Felix not only manuevers through his case, but he also manages to dodge a group of vampire slayers and fight with his own demons that keep him from drinking human blood.
The story was interesting and parts of it were pretty funny. Some of it not so much went over my head as went through it since I kind of got bored with it. Overall though, "Nymphos" is a fun read...even for chicks!
Even though "Nymphos" was what I consider to be "dudelit" I still really liked it.
Felix Gomez comes back from the Iraqi war a changed man...meaning he's now a vampire who takes on a new occupation as a private investigator. When his friend offers him $50,000 to take on a really strange case, he can't refuse. The case? Find out what has caused several women workers at a facility to have acquired hardcore nymphomania.
With the help of a secret organization of vampires, a female dryad and self proclaimed nympho, and his own vampiric powers, Felix not only manuevers through his case, but he also manages to dodge a group of vampire slayers and fight with his own demons that keep him from drinking human blood.
The story was interesting and parts of it were pretty funny. Some of it not so much went over my head as went through it since I kind of got bored with it. Overall though, "Nymphos" is a fun read...even for chicks!
March 5, 2018
I tried to like it
I tried to like this book. It has everything I like in my paranormal urban fiction. Vampires, check. Humor, check. Murder, not necessary, but check. Mystery, check. Well written and edited, check. All the boxes checked. But this was the most tedious thing I've plowed through since some of the required reading in my college literature courses. All of the elements for a good read are here, but it just did not hold my attention. I doubt it is the author's fault. It is probably mine. I can't recommend it, and I won't be reading anything else in the series.
I tried to like this book. It has everything I like in my paranormal urban fiction. Vampires, check. Humor, check. Murder, not necessary, but check. Mystery, check. Well written and edited, check. All the boxes checked. But this was the most tedious thing I've plowed through since some of the required reading in my college literature courses. All of the elements for a good read are here, but it just did not hold my attention. I doubt it is the author's fault. It is probably mine. I can't recommend it, and I won't be reading anything else in the series.
August 29, 2018
A very "meh" read for me. The plot didn't seem terribly coherent, and I swear the author must have the mind of a teenage boy, considering how just about every page had the male protagonist describing female characters' breasts/hips/butts and thinking about sex. Actually, come to think of it, most of the characters were obsessed with sex. I will not be reading any further in this series.
January 26, 2013
Over the years I have received several copies of this book because I use to work at the Flats.
Good to see a former worker do good and pursue his writing dream.
The book is a light weight read, amusing but not profound, the book equivalent of a Sunday afternoon matinee.
Good to see a former worker do good and pursue his writing dream.
The book is a light weight read, amusing but not profound, the book equivalent of a Sunday afternoon matinee.
August 26, 2008
http://archive.boulderweekly.com/0504...
This review originally appeared in the BOULDER WEEKLY
Of vamps and vampires
by Vince Darcangelo
Nothing comes easy for private detective Felix Gomez when investigating strange goings-on at the former Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant. His old college roommate, who hired him for the gig, is acting quite suspicious, as are the women he questions regarding a recent outbreak of nymphomania among plant employees. (The infected women disrupt Gomez' interrogations by aggressively attempting to seduce him, of course.) Meanwhile, Gomez has fallen head over heels in love with a sultry forest sprite with a well-endowed ex. Oh, and if he wasn't feeling insecure enough already, a team of Romanian vampire hunters is trying to kill him.
Felix Gomez learns quick that it's not easy being a vampire in Colorado.
Easily the best-titled book released this year, The Nymphos of Rocky Flats is the debut novel from local author Mario Acevedo, part one of a trilogy centered on Gomez: private eye/vampire/Gulf War veteran. But though this is his first published novel, Acevedo is no rookie. The Nymphos of Rocky Flats is the seventh book he's written. As he tells it, it just took him a while to find his voice.
"At one time I wanted to write really serious books," says Acevedo. "Over the course of time the people in my critique group would tell me, 'You know Mario, you're not as smart as you are smart ass. That's your strength. Write to your strength.' So I did that."
The result is The Nymphos of Rocky Flats, a humorous, irreverent tale of vamps and vampires that bridges the dark absurdism of Christopher Moore and Wes Anderson and the gratuitous camp of Army of Darkness.
Acevedo likens his book to another equally absurd film.
"I studied the movie The Big Lebowski because I loved the way they used humor when dealing with some really dark subjects—the violence, the kidnapping and all that," he says. "They were able to use humor to have levity, but at the same time it didn't diminish the darkness of the story."
It's a winning formula, for underneath all the comedy is the dark cloud of Gomez' past and how he came to be a vampire. The book begins with Gomez as a soldier fighting in the current war in Iraq. He and his men mistakenly ambush a family, and, guilt-ridden, Gomez asks for punishment and is turned into a vampire following the attack. The account is based on an incident Acevedo witnessed when serving in the first Gulf War—minus the vampire part.
"It just really traumatized everybody," he says. "I was at this MASH hospital, just visiting. That's when they brought this little girl in. All these nurses and doctors were just really upset. It was just a horrible thing. And this little girl, her family is gone, she's all by herself, she's with people who don't speak her language. That episode stuck in my head."
Following the Gulf War Acevedo worked at Rocky Flats. As a result, the government needed to review and approve The Nymphos of Rocky Flats prior to publishing.
"If you write anything about Rocky Flats, if you worked there, you have to submit what you wrote to the Department of Energy," says Acevedo. "It's the first and only vampire book to have to get reviewed and declassified by the federal government. Your anti-terrorism dollars at work."
Acevedo says that the DOE didn't change any parts of the book, and he even includes the official approval letter on the opening page. He also claims to have no knowledge of classified information about Rocky Flats, such as the plausibility of the premise of The Nymphos of Rocky Flats. But as longtime Front Range denizens can attest, this fictional account isn't any more outlandish than some of the actual goings-on at the controversial nuclear weapons facility. And this one is a lot more fun.
This review originally appeared in the BOULDER WEEKLY
Of vamps and vampires
by Vince Darcangelo
Nothing comes easy for private detective Felix Gomez when investigating strange goings-on at the former Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant. His old college roommate, who hired him for the gig, is acting quite suspicious, as are the women he questions regarding a recent outbreak of nymphomania among plant employees. (The infected women disrupt Gomez' interrogations by aggressively attempting to seduce him, of course.) Meanwhile, Gomez has fallen head over heels in love with a sultry forest sprite with a well-endowed ex. Oh, and if he wasn't feeling insecure enough already, a team of Romanian vampire hunters is trying to kill him.
Felix Gomez learns quick that it's not easy being a vampire in Colorado.
Easily the best-titled book released this year, The Nymphos of Rocky Flats is the debut novel from local author Mario Acevedo, part one of a trilogy centered on Gomez: private eye/vampire/Gulf War veteran. But though this is his first published novel, Acevedo is no rookie. The Nymphos of Rocky Flats is the seventh book he's written. As he tells it, it just took him a while to find his voice.
"At one time I wanted to write really serious books," says Acevedo. "Over the course of time the people in my critique group would tell me, 'You know Mario, you're not as smart as you are smart ass. That's your strength. Write to your strength.' So I did that."
The result is The Nymphos of Rocky Flats, a humorous, irreverent tale of vamps and vampires that bridges the dark absurdism of Christopher Moore and Wes Anderson and the gratuitous camp of Army of Darkness.
Acevedo likens his book to another equally absurd film.
"I studied the movie The Big Lebowski because I loved the way they used humor when dealing with some really dark subjects—the violence, the kidnapping and all that," he says. "They were able to use humor to have levity, but at the same time it didn't diminish the darkness of the story."
It's a winning formula, for underneath all the comedy is the dark cloud of Gomez' past and how he came to be a vampire. The book begins with Gomez as a soldier fighting in the current war in Iraq. He and his men mistakenly ambush a family, and, guilt-ridden, Gomez asks for punishment and is turned into a vampire following the attack. The account is based on an incident Acevedo witnessed when serving in the first Gulf War—minus the vampire part.
"It just really traumatized everybody," he says. "I was at this MASH hospital, just visiting. That's when they brought this little girl in. All these nurses and doctors were just really upset. It was just a horrible thing. And this little girl, her family is gone, she's all by herself, she's with people who don't speak her language. That episode stuck in my head."
Following the Gulf War Acevedo worked at Rocky Flats. As a result, the government needed to review and approve The Nymphos of Rocky Flats prior to publishing.
"If you write anything about Rocky Flats, if you worked there, you have to submit what you wrote to the Department of Energy," says Acevedo. "It's the first and only vampire book to have to get reviewed and declassified by the federal government. Your anti-terrorism dollars at work."
Acevedo says that the DOE didn't change any parts of the book, and he even includes the official approval letter on the opening page. He also claims to have no knowledge of classified information about Rocky Flats, such as the plausibility of the premise of The Nymphos of Rocky Flats. But as longtime Front Range denizens can attest, this fictional account isn't any more outlandish than some of the actual goings-on at the controversial nuclear weapons facility. And this one is a lot more fun.
August 11, 2015
These days when skimming books at my secondhand stores, I have a rule: if certain words or idioms are used, the book goes down. Ready for the list? Here we go: haunted past/memories, vampire, world’s-best-anything, “little did she/he know,” and “in the tradition of.”
Mario Acevedo’s brilliant character, series, and entirely unique premise cut through my biases, and after finishing The Nymphos of Rocky Flats I promptly when out and picked up the entire series. How is it that an entirely unique spin on such a familiar trope is performed?
Acevedo’s vampires are not undead by traditional definition of the word. They are more preternaturally enhanced—hijacked?—beings who have suspended death indefinitely as long as they obey their new biology. Blood, though a requirement, is not the sole source of sustenance. Our protagonist Felix Gomez is riddled with guilt for his complicity in the Iraq war and subsequent slaying of a civilian family. As such, he consumes only animal blood, frequently enhancing everything from tacos to steak with blood as a topper.
Although Acevedo concentrates on keeping is story moving at breakneck pace (no unnecessary exposition dumps that beat the reader over the head), throughout the course of reading the novel more supernatural physiology is unveiled. Employing Latin words for the societal structure and anatomy of vampires, each is given in turn. Vampires each possess an additional lens in the eye which enables night vision, the reading of auras, and hypnosis. With makeup and sunblock, they venture out in the daylight, albeit in a limited fashion. Tactile and sensory experiences are enhanced, along with a sixth sense; perhaps most interesting is that they are blunted without consumption of human blood—a factor that limits Felix throughout the first novel.
Acevedo similarly provides an explanation for all aspects of biology, which is an important and often neglected responsibility of the supernatural tale teller. The vampires of his world eat, copulate, defecate, and struggle within their own hierarchy. The attention to detail and yet restraint in not whacking the reading over the head with it are performed brilliantly.
That said, an argument can (and I am sure is) be waged that the vampires of Acevedo’s world are strongly inspired by Vampire: The Masquerade and long-term fans will notice elements of this immediately. Acevedo’s kundalini noir, the vampiric essence which animates the vampire, is described exactly like “the beast” of VTM—the insatiable, watch-out-it’ll-take-over facet of undeath. The Araneum is the society commanding vampiric silence of their existence and enforces this law—the Camarilla and the Masquerade, anyone? And the list goes on. But never did I feel that Acevedo borrowed or created any of his world without giving it entirely his own twist; everything from vampires discussing diarrhea to the politics of homophobia in feeding enhanced this book and series one-hundred fold.
The novel condenses but provides Felix’s origin story (which as a combat veteran of Iraq I will tell you is spot on and written perfectly), as well as provides a believable link to his relocation to Denver. Felix is recruited by an old friend to investigate an outbreak of nymphomania (not as silly as it sounds) within a highly secretive military extension of the Department of Energy. Throughout the course of the investigation Felix battles for his life, initiates a romance with a dryad, interweaves throughout vampiric society, and ultimately comes to terms with his role in the slaying of the mortal family in Iraq.
I can’t say it often enough: this book moves FAST and could be used as a manual for how NOT to waste time. With a great blend of sex, humor, and action, I would hope that nearly anyone would enjoy this fun series. An undeniable 5 out of 5 stars.
Mario Acevedo’s brilliant character, series, and entirely unique premise cut through my biases, and after finishing The Nymphos of Rocky Flats I promptly when out and picked up the entire series. How is it that an entirely unique spin on such a familiar trope is performed?
Acevedo’s vampires are not undead by traditional definition of the word. They are more preternaturally enhanced—hijacked?—beings who have suspended death indefinitely as long as they obey their new biology. Blood, though a requirement, is not the sole source of sustenance. Our protagonist Felix Gomez is riddled with guilt for his complicity in the Iraq war and subsequent slaying of a civilian family. As such, he consumes only animal blood, frequently enhancing everything from tacos to steak with blood as a topper.
Although Acevedo concentrates on keeping is story moving at breakneck pace (no unnecessary exposition dumps that beat the reader over the head), throughout the course of reading the novel more supernatural physiology is unveiled. Employing Latin words for the societal structure and anatomy of vampires, each is given in turn. Vampires each possess an additional lens in the eye which enables night vision, the reading of auras, and hypnosis. With makeup and sunblock, they venture out in the daylight, albeit in a limited fashion. Tactile and sensory experiences are enhanced, along with a sixth sense; perhaps most interesting is that they are blunted without consumption of human blood—a factor that limits Felix throughout the first novel.
Acevedo similarly provides an explanation for all aspects of biology, which is an important and often neglected responsibility of the supernatural tale teller. The vampires of his world eat, copulate, defecate, and struggle within their own hierarchy. The attention to detail and yet restraint in not whacking the reading over the head with it are performed brilliantly.
That said, an argument can (and I am sure is) be waged that the vampires of Acevedo’s world are strongly inspired by Vampire: The Masquerade and long-term fans will notice elements of this immediately. Acevedo’s kundalini noir, the vampiric essence which animates the vampire, is described exactly like “the beast” of VTM—the insatiable, watch-out-it’ll-take-over facet of undeath. The Araneum is the society commanding vampiric silence of their existence and enforces this law—the Camarilla and the Masquerade, anyone? And the list goes on. But never did I feel that Acevedo borrowed or created any of his world without giving it entirely his own twist; everything from vampires discussing diarrhea to the politics of homophobia in feeding enhanced this book and series one-hundred fold.
The novel condenses but provides Felix’s origin story (which as a combat veteran of Iraq I will tell you is spot on and written perfectly), as well as provides a believable link to his relocation to Denver. Felix is recruited by an old friend to investigate an outbreak of nymphomania (not as silly as it sounds) within a highly secretive military extension of the Department of Energy. Throughout the course of the investigation Felix battles for his life, initiates a romance with a dryad, interweaves throughout vampiric society, and ultimately comes to terms with his role in the slaying of the mortal family in Iraq.
I can’t say it often enough: this book moves FAST and could be used as a manual for how NOT to waste time. With a great blend of sex, humor, and action, I would hope that nearly anyone would enjoy this fun series. An undeniable 5 out of 5 stars.
July 29, 2008
Despite having a title like The Nymphos of Rocky Flats, there's surprisingly little actual sex in this book. Which isn't terribly surprising. I went in expecting humor, and that's pretty much what you get with the first of Mario Acevedo's Felix Gomex novels. Sure, it's sex-related humor, but it's fairly clean all the same. And the schtick wasn't entirely unfamiliar, anyway--not when my partner owns a copy of Bimbos of the Death Sun. ;)
So, yeah. Felix Gomex is a vampire, and I give Acevedo points for giving his vamp hero an unusual and pertinent-to-current-day backstory: he's a vet of the Iraq war who accidentally kills an Iraqi girl. Horrified by this, he lets himself be turned into a vampire by way of everlasting penance. He refuses to drink human blood because it gives him flashbacks to killing the girl.
Fast forward to his post-discharge, vampiric existence. He's a private detective now, and he's called to Rocky Flats to investigate why all the women employees of the facility there have been struck with an outburst of nymphomania. At the same time, he gets to contend with the disdain of the local vamps over his refusal to touch human blood, a band of vampire hunters with your standard hate-on for vamps, a dryad who doesn't need nymphomania to be interested in him--and even hints that what he's investigating may be tied into Roswell and Area 51.
It's a pretty lightweight read, all in all. Plenty of urban fantasy these days is way more sexually explicit than this book is; what violence is here, with the exception of Felix's backstory in Iraq, is fairly comic-booky. The disparate parts of this plot are all familiar tropes, though they do coalesce nicely at the end. Points to Acevedo, too, for having the love interest be a dryad; that's one of the under-used creatures in urban fantasy, that's for sure. My only beef with the story, really, is that Felix's refusal to drink human blood is resolved too easily. The rest of it, though, is fun. Three stars.
So, yeah. Felix Gomex is a vampire, and I give Acevedo points for giving his vamp hero an unusual and pertinent-to-current-day backstory: he's a vet of the Iraq war who accidentally kills an Iraqi girl. Horrified by this, he lets himself be turned into a vampire by way of everlasting penance. He refuses to drink human blood because it gives him flashbacks to killing the girl.
Fast forward to his post-discharge, vampiric existence. He's a private detective now, and he's called to Rocky Flats to investigate why all the women employees of the facility there have been struck with an outburst of nymphomania. At the same time, he gets to contend with the disdain of the local vamps over his refusal to touch human blood, a band of vampire hunters with your standard hate-on for vamps, a dryad who doesn't need nymphomania to be interested in him--and even hints that what he's investigating may be tied into Roswell and Area 51.
It's a pretty lightweight read, all in all. Plenty of urban fantasy these days is way more sexually explicit than this book is; what violence is here, with the exception of Felix's backstory in Iraq, is fairly comic-booky. The disparate parts of this plot are all familiar tropes, though they do coalesce nicely at the end. Points to Acevedo, too, for having the love interest be a dryad; that's one of the under-used creatures in urban fantasy, that's for sure. My only beef with the story, really, is that Felix's refusal to drink human blood is resolved too easily. The rest of it, though, is fun. Three stars.
May 10, 2011
It was the opening lines that drew me in to reading this: "I don't like what Operation Iraqi Freedom has done to me. I went to the war a soldier; I came back a vampire." That the book didn't live up to my expectations is not the author's fault. I expected a bit more humor a la Carl Haaisen or something. What I got was a decent enough mystery, with a bit of the paranormal thrown in. It is unique if in only that this is probably the only vampire mystery to have been reviewed and declassified by the US Department of Energy.
So basically Felix Gomez, after returning from the war, fresh in his vampireness, becomes a P.I. His current job involves investigating some outbreaks of nymphomania at the US Department of Energy's Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Station in Colorado. Acevedo has given some nice twists to the vampire lore/ability to exist in the modern world. There's a bit of the supernatural, a Latino flare, some paranormal, some UFO/space alien mystery, a touch of area 51, a little romance and, of course a basic Who-dun-it.
Not bad, but as I said, not what I was expecting. I kept reading just to see how the author's mind worked to wrap this up. If another book of his came my way, I figured I'd read it to see how his writing had developed, but I wouldn't necessarily seek him out. However, going to his website (which was kind of interesting in itself, because his other passion is art) I see that he has a book with Felix called Werewolf Smackdown and the blurb says: "Detective-vampire Felix Gomez is trapped between rival werewolf clans in Charleston, SC in a rumble that could doom the supernatural world."
Charleston is a werewolf smackdown? That's mighty hard to resist.
So basically Felix Gomez, after returning from the war, fresh in his vampireness, becomes a P.I. His current job involves investigating some outbreaks of nymphomania at the US Department of Energy's Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Station in Colorado. Acevedo has given some nice twists to the vampire lore/ability to exist in the modern world. There's a bit of the supernatural, a Latino flare, some paranormal, some UFO/space alien mystery, a touch of area 51, a little romance and, of course a basic Who-dun-it.
Not bad, but as I said, not what I was expecting. I kept reading just to see how the author's mind worked to wrap this up. If another book of his came my way, I figured I'd read it to see how his writing had developed, but I wouldn't necessarily seek him out. However, going to his website (which was kind of interesting in itself, because his other passion is art) I see that he has a book with Felix called Werewolf Smackdown and the blurb says: "Detective-vampire Felix Gomez is trapped between rival werewolf clans in Charleston, SC in a rumble that could doom the supernatural world."
Charleston is a werewolf smackdown? That's mighty hard to resist.
August 30, 2016
Is it just me or did anyone think the title was ridiculous? I expect any book that has nympho in the title to have lots of sex. I mean come on, isn't that what nympho means.... I love vampire books but this one was so far out of normal for me that it bordered on boring the whole time. Felix comes home from the war as a vampire, and becomes a detective. It seems decidedly so human instead of vampire strong though. He has to wear sun block, wtf.... And special contacts. Plus he drinks animal blood, because he doesn't want to get infected from human viruses. Weak...weak...weak. He doesn't even drink from humans, because of the innocent blood he spilled in the war. I understand thumbing our noses at regular vampire fiction but sometimes we cut off our noses to spite our face. The characters were very one dimensional, and the part where he bitch slaps a raccoon seemed unnecessary even if he was sharing a culvert with it. I didn't even chuckle the whole book, it seemed as hard as the author tried to make us laugh the more I didn't. I didn't get much entertainment from this book, I won't be reading the rest of the series.
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
December 29, 2015
This book was entertaining enough for me to finish but that's about it. I mean the main character, Felix Gomez, left for war in Iraq and returned a vampire. Now, he makes his living as a private detective and receives a case about a nymphomania outbreak in a military compound. Yes, it's as ridiculous as it sounds. And, initially, I was drawn to this book precisely because of this. I found the premise hilarious. Unfortunately the delivery falls short. The descriptions were vague, there's a lot of telling instead of showing and I never really warmed up to Felix. I don't expect my vampires to be strong all the time but...Felix is a poor excuse for a vampire. His attitude sucked (sorry) and he was a bore to read. So, overall, I didn't hate it but I don't plan to keep reading the series either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2014
Ok,If you like an action packed,ready,set,go book then this is the one. It was full of action and mystery with a bit of romance. I have to say I did not think I was going to enjoy it but I decided to give it a go since I don't like to read and put down. This book was about Felix Gomez a vampire P.I. who ends up helping a friend find out how an outbreak of nymphomania on three women working at the Department of Energy in Denver,CO came about. But Felix ends up being the prey instead of the predator. And since I don't like to do spoiler alerts that is all I am writing about this book but,I will end it by saying it was definitely a GOOD READ!! Note:The only reason I gave four out of five stars is because I thought this book was going to have more sex in it.
October 30, 2020
Felix Gomez is a returned soldier turned detective also turned vampire. After a horrible mistake when he and his troop killed a civilian family, Mario is taken-in by(unbeknownst to him) a vampire, who commences to turn Felix before he is shipped home.
An old friend calls on Felix to find out what is causing the outbreak of nymphomania in the little town of Rocky Flats. This may seem humorous at first, but it is pulling apart families and wrecking jobs.
In the context of his investigation it becomes apparent that something/someone has been used to turn these women, it also becomes apparent that Rocky Flats and Area 51 are connected.
An old friend calls on Felix to find out what is causing the outbreak of nymphomania in the little town of Rocky Flats. This may seem humorous at first, but it is pulling apart families and wrecking jobs.
In the context of his investigation it becomes apparent that something/someone has been used to turn these women, it also becomes apparent that Rocky Flats and Area 51 are connected.
February 17, 2010
This is the first in a series of vampire PI stories. Given the name, I thought it was going to be more over-the-top, but it was actually a very well considered plot. There were imaginative characters and plenty of action. An enjoyable read.
January 25, 2013
Interesting because I used to work at Rocky Flats. Light weight read.
July 26, 2019
I had the hardcover of the first book in the series at home and as I was clearing my TBR pile, I figured I'd give it a go. The beginning grabbed me right away (woot? he went to war and came back a vampire? tell me more), however, towards the end, the book became rather predictable and got several tropes mixed in with the story. Vampire hunters, aliens, pixies...the book was a goulash soup with everything thrown in. Still, a fun beach read.
July 16, 2023
I've waited a long time for this book. I can almost guarantee that if I found it at the time I originally wanted it, I'd be a fan. Reading it now, there are some issues.
The writing was fairly bland with lots of "I did this. Then I did this. Then this happened" paragraphs, but it kept the story moving. The dialogue was rough. There was no limit to Felix's vampire powers, so he was able to wiggle out of every situation. The constant sexual assault was unnecessary (seriously, you could have left the cops in the backseat without stripping anyone). I'm just really confused??
The writing was fairly bland with lots of "I did this. Then I did this. Then this happened" paragraphs, but it kept the story moving. The dialogue was rough. There was no limit to Felix's vampire powers, so he was able to wiggle out of every situation. The constant sexual assault was unnecessary (seriously, you could have left the cops in the backseat without stripping anyone). I'm just really confused??
August 15, 2018
Bookcrossing - http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6...
This was a great book! I liked that it wasn't serious all of the time because that is somewhat boring to me. The Felix character is great! Really interesting. I want to know more about this character!
This was a great book! I liked that it wasn't serious all of the time because that is somewhat boring to me. The Felix character is great! Really interesting. I want to know more about this character!
August 25, 2020
I don’t know what inspired me to buy this audiobook a few years ago, but it has remained unread. I sorted my audible library a few days ago and saw it along the A’s and thought I’d listen to see if it was worthwhile. Surprisingly, it was!
November 12, 2021
More fun than frightening and I loved how the vampire as private detective twist put some new blood into an old genre.
August 28, 2022
Being in Colorado, a lot of Denver landmarks highways/streets. Witty unwholesome fun.
July 12, 2022
Short. Sweet. Intense.
April 26, 2008
Felix Gomez is a private eye... who went to Iraq as a soldier and came back a vampire. To blend in with the rest of humanity and keep their identity a secret, he and his fellow vampires must hide their unique vampire features behind makeup (for their translucent skin) and special contact lenses (for the mirror-like hypnotic reflection of their eyes). However, there's one vampire custom which Felix hasn't much embraced—the drinking of human blood; he drinks animal blood instead. It makes no difference that the blood comes from blood banks, and no humans need be harmed in the taking. Yet Felix still very much lives with the guilt of the innocent Iraqi family he and his platoon accidentally gunned down over in Iraq.
Unfortunately, this failing of Felix's is causing him to slowly but surely lose his vampire powers. And though it hasn't much hampered his current investigation within the Department of Energy (DOE) of tracking down the source of the recent nymphomania outbreak, it is putting him at a slight disadvantage against the vampire hunters who are actively hunting him!
Part paranormal mystery, part Koontz-like thriller, and a sprinkle of the nonsensical, this was a wonderful first novel from Mario Acevedo, the first in the Felix Gomez series. Felix reminded me a little bit of Harry Dresden, from Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, except that the problems Felix is hired to investigate aren't necessarily supernatural in nature. And Felix presents himself as human to all but other supernaturals, while Harry openly admits to being a wizard. But I have to say that based on my enjoyment of this first novel, this series looks quite promising and like it could be nearly as good as The Dresden Files.
Though a first work from the author, I'd have thought he was already well established as he wrote quite well and in a style very much suited to the genre. I had absolutely no complaints about the dialogue, the writing style, or anything else for that matter. The pace of the story was quick and punchy and the chapters short which added to that fast-moving action. I already had the second book, X-Rated Bloodsuckers, here on Mt. TBR so I started on it immediately after finishing this one. I'm looking forward to another fun ride!
Unfortunately, this failing of Felix's is causing him to slowly but surely lose his vampire powers. And though it hasn't much hampered his current investigation within the Department of Energy (DOE) of tracking down the source of the recent nymphomania outbreak, it is putting him at a slight disadvantage against the vampire hunters who are actively hunting him!
Part paranormal mystery, part Koontz-like thriller, and a sprinkle of the nonsensical, this was a wonderful first novel from Mario Acevedo, the first in the Felix Gomez series. Felix reminded me a little bit of Harry Dresden, from Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, except that the problems Felix is hired to investigate aren't necessarily supernatural in nature. And Felix presents himself as human to all but other supernaturals, while Harry openly admits to being a wizard. But I have to say that based on my enjoyment of this first novel, this series looks quite promising and like it could be nearly as good as The Dresden Files.
Though a first work from the author, I'd have thought he was already well established as he wrote quite well and in a style very much suited to the genre. I had absolutely no complaints about the dialogue, the writing style, or anything else for that matter. The pace of the story was quick and punchy and the chapters short which added to that fast-moving action. I already had the second book, X-Rated Bloodsuckers, here on Mt. TBR so I started on it immediately after finishing this one. I'm looking forward to another fun ride!
November 28, 2010
Disclaimer: Any bad puns you find in this review are entirely intentional. :-) .... We now return you to our regularly scheduled program....
This book contains a few of my favorite things (ques up Sound of Music track): Action, Conspiracy Theory and Vampires (oh my). The style is light "tongue and cheek" and flows well on one level. On a deeper level, as sci-fi/fantasy, it does a good job of tying together Aliens, Conspiracy Theories and Vampires (Who knew they were related?). ...more Disclaimer: Any bad puns you find in this review are entirely intentional. :-) .... We now return you to our regularly scheduled program....
This book contains a few of my favorite things (ques up Sound of Music track): Action, Conspiracy Theory and Vampires (oh my). The style is light "tongue and cheek" and flows well on one level. On a deeper level, as sci-fi/fantasy, it does a good job of tying together Aliens, Conspiracy Theories and Vampires (Who knew they were related?).
Felix Gomez is an ex-soldier, now PI, who also happens to be a modern day vampire (who thinks drinking blood from the living, leaves a bad taste in his mouth). He is asked to go to Rocky Flats by an old friend and takes on a case to investigate mass nymphomania reports.
If your not familiar with Acevedo's work, at first it seems like a lot of random elements thrown together. But like any good mystery, the pieces start falling together later. Acevedo keeps the action moving and sprinkles in a bit of humor. If your looking for a serious or deeper read, then you need to look somewhere else. (i.e.: In the interest of keeping things moving, Acevedo skimps on some details that other authors might have taken time to flesh out.)
For the rest of you looking for something fun, fast paced, and mildly thought provoking (Acevedo does this neat thing with Chi and explains some things we generally take for granted in a creative way), this might be it.
This is not your typical teen vampire romance/love story that is the popular mainstream fad these days. It's a fast paced, sexy, romp through the eyes of a vampire PI. Will Acevedo be remembered with the likes of Shakespeare, Hemingway or Lovecraft? Not with this series.
But the read is still fun.
This book contains a few of my favorite things (ques up Sound of Music track): Action, Conspiracy Theory and Vampires (oh my). The style is light "tongue and cheek" and flows well on one level. On a deeper level, as sci-fi/fantasy, it does a good job of tying together Aliens, Conspiracy Theories and Vampires (Who knew they were related?). ...more Disclaimer: Any bad puns you find in this review are entirely intentional. :-) .... We now return you to our regularly scheduled program....
This book contains a few of my favorite things (ques up Sound of Music track): Action, Conspiracy Theory and Vampires (oh my). The style is light "tongue and cheek" and flows well on one level. On a deeper level, as sci-fi/fantasy, it does a good job of tying together Aliens, Conspiracy Theories and Vampires (Who knew they were related?).
Felix Gomez is an ex-soldier, now PI, who also happens to be a modern day vampire (who thinks drinking blood from the living, leaves a bad taste in his mouth). He is asked to go to Rocky Flats by an old friend and takes on a case to investigate mass nymphomania reports.
If your not familiar with Acevedo's work, at first it seems like a lot of random elements thrown together. But like any good mystery, the pieces start falling together later. Acevedo keeps the action moving and sprinkles in a bit of humor. If your looking for a serious or deeper read, then you need to look somewhere else. (i.e.: In the interest of keeping things moving, Acevedo skimps on some details that other authors might have taken time to flesh out.)
For the rest of you looking for something fun, fast paced, and mildly thought provoking (Acevedo does this neat thing with Chi and explains some things we generally take for granted in a creative way), this might be it.
This is not your typical teen vampire romance/love story that is the popular mainstream fad these days. It's a fast paced, sexy, romp through the eyes of a vampire PI. Will Acevedo be remembered with the likes of Shakespeare, Hemingway or Lovecraft? Not with this series.
But the read is still fun.
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