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Darklands Vampires #1
Darklands
Halloween night, twenty years ago, college student Susan Archer watched as her beloved twin brother was brutally murdered at the hands of a stranger she invited into their home. Still haunted by the guilt of that night, Susan is now a tough but bitter cop in a nowhere town, trying as best she can to lead a normal life. When she is nearly killed during a wild shoot-out, she realizes she is not as strong as she first thought. Fearing a breakdown, she flees the confines of her safe boyfriend and familiar surroundings to find salvation in the arms of “Deathwalker” Devin McCree—the very man who killed her brother.
But things aren’t always what they seem and she quickly realizes Devin was not the monster she originally thought, but a kind of guardian angel instead.
On the run from a crazed Nazi vampire-hunter named Kasper, she and Devin must find a way to endure the dreary urban landscape of a dying metropolis and escape Kasper’s wrath.
“Darklands: a vampire’s tale” is a violent tale of survival, bloodlust and two people grasping to the edge of immortality while trying to hang on the last shreds of their humanity.
“Darklands: a vampire’s tale” is the first volume in the Darklands Vampire series.
But things aren’t always what they seem and she quickly realizes Devin was not the monster she originally thought, but a kind of guardian angel instead.
On the run from a crazed Nazi vampire-hunter named Kasper, she and Devin must find a way to endure the dreary urban landscape of a dying metropolis and escape Kasper’s wrath.
“Darklands: a vampire’s tale” is a violent tale of survival, bloodlust and two people grasping to the edge of immortality while trying to hang on the last shreds of their humanity.
“Darklands: a vampire’s tale” is the first volume in the Darklands Vampire series.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Donna Burgess
61 books73 followersDonna Burgess is an author of dark fiction and poetry who enjoys surfing, painting and has a deep affection for all things Monty Python and low-budget horror flicks. Over the past fifteen years, her fiction and poetry has appeared in genre publications such as Weird Tales, Dark Wisdom, Sybil’s Garage and others. She has been married for nineteen years and has two children.
Her book include Breaths in Winter, a collection of short fiction and A Song of Bones, a poetry collection.
Her book include Breaths in Winter, a collection of short fiction and A Song of Bones, a poetry collection.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 26, 2011
This was the opposite side of the coin from The Truth About Vampires that I reviewed yesterday. It was the dark, seamier side of being a vampire - complete with lots of gore, violence, and sex. The majority of the story takes place in a little seaside town called Dunwich. This is where Susan and her brother Peter were living when he was killed. She had since moved away, but when Devin reentered her life they wound up back in Dunwich. It was not the Dunwich she remembered though, and I loved the was Ms. Burgess made you feel like you were in a deserted town that was filled with transients, lost souls, druggies. . .very dystopian. Like many seaside towns it is complete with an amusement park, long since deserted, which contains creepy aspects all by itself.
She fills you in with just enough of the past through flashbacks to leave you wanting to know more about the main characters and how they became the people or things that they are in the present. As this is just the first book in the series though, she doesn't give you everything. There is still a lot of history between Kasper and Devin that is unknown.
I liked Susan's character and how she changed through out the course of the book. In the beginning she was just a young college kid looking for a good time - which inevitably led to her brother's death. Now, years later, if you didn't look too close, you would think that she had a pretty good life and relationship with her live-in, Michael. Underneath though, she still seemed to be drifting, never really getting passed Peter's death.
When Devin resurfaces after all this time, it doesn't appear that she willingly goes with him, but that he forces her hand. I think she was just looking for an excuse to leave her mundane life and try to figure out where she fit. I see her becoming stronger throughout the book and beginning to embrace her new lifestyle - to go from just surviving to actually fighting to survive.
She fills you in with just enough of the past through flashbacks to leave you wanting to know more about the main characters and how they became the people or things that they are in the present. As this is just the first book in the series though, she doesn't give you everything. There is still a lot of history between Kasper and Devin that is unknown.
I liked Susan's character and how she changed through out the course of the book. In the beginning she was just a young college kid looking for a good time - which inevitably led to her brother's death. Now, years later, if you didn't look too close, you would think that she had a pretty good life and relationship with her live-in, Michael. Underneath though, she still seemed to be drifting, never really getting passed Peter's death.
When Devin resurfaces after all this time, it doesn't appear that she willingly goes with him, but that he forces her hand. I think she was just looking for an excuse to leave her mundane life and try to figure out where she fit. I see her becoming stronger throughout the book and beginning to embrace her new lifestyle - to go from just surviving to actually fighting to survive.
February 9, 2011
Well shit....not real sure what else to say. This was a good story. And it could have been a great book. The editing was awful....to the point that it almost made me quit reading and it's not usually such a thing for me. I loved the characters. I loved the ideas. I loved the direction that I could see that this COULD have gone. It just didn't.
At the beginning I had some trouble with the way the MC just seemed to go with things the way they were going....until I came to realize that that was part of what the Deathwalkers were. Then it made sense and worked for me.
But honestly, there isn't much more that I know to elaborate on other than the fact that the author had a wonderful idea and a talent for putting that idea down on paper, but to much messiness on the whole made this much less than what it could have been for me.
And then the ending was just that....THE END. I didn't feel that much of anything was tied up in the end and not so much that it was a cliff hanger, but just ....THE END.
I would absolutely consider trying it if it was ever republished and cleaned up A LOT, and if I knew that there was at least a book #2 to finish what was started.
At the beginning I had some trouble with the way the MC just seemed to go with things the way they were going....until I came to realize that that was part of what the Deathwalkers were. Then it made sense and worked for me.
But honestly, there isn't much more that I know to elaborate on other than the fact that the author had a wonderful idea and a talent for putting that idea down on paper, but to much messiness on the whole made this much less than what it could have been for me.
And then the ending was just that....THE END. I didn't feel that much of anything was tied up in the end and not so much that it was a cliff hanger, but just ....THE END.
I would absolutely consider trying it if it was ever republished and cleaned up A LOT, and if I knew that there was at least a book #2 to finish what was started.
July 16, 2012
I was really impressed with this story. The writing is very intricate and highly descriptive,with everything having a purpose. The story is quite graphic in gore and violence, but not unnecessarily so. The characters are varied and all display traits that compliment and work together,although i found I was always second guessing what was going to happen and always wrong. Its a great take on paranormal romance, its gripping and on the edge all the way through. I will be reading the second A.S.A.P.
August 25, 2013
Let me say that I think Donna Burgess can write. I have read several of her short fiction. It's really good. My problem with this book isn't the writing, it is the format or editing. I can't figure out which it is, but words at the end of sentences are left out. I think it's formatting, considering this was an early work. Whatever the reason, I found it to be very distracting, so much to the point I couldn't finish the novel.
Note: I will be checking to see if the novel gets updated or refreshed. The story was interesting.
Note: I will be checking to see if the novel gets updated or refreshed. The story was interesting.
August 8, 2011
Read this book! Read it now! Deliciously sadistic at moments, wonderfully violent, and still a bit endearing. This is the vampire that doesn't glitter! Burgess rocked this story.
March 12, 2011
Twenty year ago, on the night of Halloween, Susan’s brother Peter got killed. It was an accident – of sorts, but she had to live with the guilt for what happened ever since. The man responsible for her beloved twin’s death, Devin McCree, vanished off the face of the earth. That is, until now. Because now, only two weeks after Susan shot a man to death in cold blood and lost her unborn child in the process, Devin has returned. And he wants her. What dark and evil creatures of the night want, they usually tend to get – and this time is no different. After she is killed and turned into a Deathwalker by Devin, the man whom she trusted, Susan is left with little choice but to leave her old and familiar life, and her partner Michael, behind, and run off to a new future with a man she hardly knows.
But things are not always as they seem, as Susan’s new found freedom might bring her into even greater trouble. Because Devin and his roommate John both have secrets of their own. Dark and dangerous secrets, that might even treaten the lives of Susan and her fellow Deathwalkers. That’s not to mention that her previous partner, Michael, has no intention of just giving up on her. In the mysterious ghosttown of Dunwich, the time is almost near for a final showdown, as the past has finally caught up with Devin, and his previous tormenter is determined to destroy everything the Deathwalker loves. Including Susan.
Darklands: A Vampire’s Tale is a mix of horror, supernatural and more guts and gore than the average slasher movie. Really, I was very surprised to see how graphic and gruesome some scenes were described, and my stomach twisted and turned several times throughout the novel. I can’t say I particularly enjoyed these terrifying scenes – enjoy just isn’t the appropriate word – but I thought they gave an edge of brutality and evil to this story that I haven’t come across in many vampire novels as of late. The thing is that, if you read too many novels in which vampires have a soft side and fall in love with human heroines, you lose track of the fact that they are, by their own nature, vicious and violent creatures capable of murder in the first degree. Some of the Deathwalkers that appear throughout this novel, hold true to these traits, and it’s a refreshing change from the sparkling vampires I’ve seen too often.
I had a little trouble with the personality of the main characters. Susan has a lot of issues, her most important one being that ever since her twin brother’s death, she is uncapable of opening up to anyone, not even her partner. Although she is in a loving and caring relationship, she has no trouble throwing all of that away for a short fling with Devin. Now, whereas there were some personality traits of Susan I didn’t quite relate to, I’m not saying the character wasn’t written well enough. The author portrayed all of her characters with the utmost care, making them feel very human and realistic. It’s just that I probably wouldn’t get along with any of the characters. :P
At first, I thought of Michael as being the weaker of the two men in Susan’s life. Desperately clinging on to a relationship doomed from the start, a doctor rather than a fighter, I was pretty sure he stood no chance against Devin. But as the story developed, and Michael risked his own life to save Susan in the miserable old town of Dunwich, his personality changed dramatically as he was forced to deal with his own darkness and the possibility that it might already be too late to save his beloved. He became stronger, which was portrayed beautifully in the novel, and the man Susan ran into later on, was not the man she had left behind anymore. That definately earned him some credit. Now Devin, on the other hand…Well, he’s another story.
I wasn’t convinced with Devin from the start. For a vampire, he has some rather unmanly personality traits, and I couldn’t help but think of him as a coward. He has spend more than half of his immortal life on the run from another vampire named Kasper, and not once has he stopped and turned around to actually do something about it. He watched as Kasper killed every single person he ever loved – and still he could do nothing to stop him. Now I know some torturer/victim of torture relationships may be messed up, but this one definately was. Yet, I was still crossing my fingers for Devin to finally face his demons. No such luck though, and I was starting to wonder halfway through the novel why Susan ran off with Devin in the first place. I mean, sure he’s mysterious and got the whole immortal thing working for him, but apart from that? He is a weak, pathetic excuse for a vampire. And not because he refuses to kill another human being except when they really deserve it (read pedo’s, murderers); but mostly because he’s too afraid to face Kasper.
To be honest, I found Kasper’s personality the most interesting one of them all. There is something morbidly fascinating about looking into the mind of a serial killer, an individual who likes torturing others, a creature with no remorse. I also really liked the setting: the town of Dunwich, a ghost town really, nearly abandoned yet inhabited by Deathwalkers, and creatures who didn’t make the full transition. It had me thinking about Silent Hill, a movie and a game I enjoyed thoroughly a couple of years ago. I imagined the town a bit like Silent Hill as well, I have to admit, with this silent, creepy and eerie feeling to it. The flashbacks to the 1940s were interesting as well, especially to discover some more of Devin’s and Kasper’s past. The storyline itself was intense, dark and creepy at all times. What gave me the most goosebumps, were the scenes with Sandra and Michael (I won’t get into detail for the sake of spoiler free reviews!).
Darklands: A Vampire’s Tale is a dark, supernatural horror story, with some greatly disturbing scenes (a must in this genre), and some uniquely-crafted characters. Although Devin annoyed me at times, the other characters were a lot more interesting, the story is fast-paced, intense and gripping, and all in all, it’s a captivating book that will keep you terrified from the start till the end.
But things are not always as they seem, as Susan’s new found freedom might bring her into even greater trouble. Because Devin and his roommate John both have secrets of their own. Dark and dangerous secrets, that might even treaten the lives of Susan and her fellow Deathwalkers. That’s not to mention that her previous partner, Michael, has no intention of just giving up on her. In the mysterious ghosttown of Dunwich, the time is almost near for a final showdown, as the past has finally caught up with Devin, and his previous tormenter is determined to destroy everything the Deathwalker loves. Including Susan.
Darklands: A Vampire’s Tale is a mix of horror, supernatural and more guts and gore than the average slasher movie. Really, I was very surprised to see how graphic and gruesome some scenes were described, and my stomach twisted and turned several times throughout the novel. I can’t say I particularly enjoyed these terrifying scenes – enjoy just isn’t the appropriate word – but I thought they gave an edge of brutality and evil to this story that I haven’t come across in many vampire novels as of late. The thing is that, if you read too many novels in which vampires have a soft side and fall in love with human heroines, you lose track of the fact that they are, by their own nature, vicious and violent creatures capable of murder in the first degree. Some of the Deathwalkers that appear throughout this novel, hold true to these traits, and it’s a refreshing change from the sparkling vampires I’ve seen too often.
I had a little trouble with the personality of the main characters. Susan has a lot of issues, her most important one being that ever since her twin brother’s death, she is uncapable of opening up to anyone, not even her partner. Although she is in a loving and caring relationship, she has no trouble throwing all of that away for a short fling with Devin. Now, whereas there were some personality traits of Susan I didn’t quite relate to, I’m not saying the character wasn’t written well enough. The author portrayed all of her characters with the utmost care, making them feel very human and realistic. It’s just that I probably wouldn’t get along with any of the characters. :P
At first, I thought of Michael as being the weaker of the two men in Susan’s life. Desperately clinging on to a relationship doomed from the start, a doctor rather than a fighter, I was pretty sure he stood no chance against Devin. But as the story developed, and Michael risked his own life to save Susan in the miserable old town of Dunwich, his personality changed dramatically as he was forced to deal with his own darkness and the possibility that it might already be too late to save his beloved. He became stronger, which was portrayed beautifully in the novel, and the man Susan ran into later on, was not the man she had left behind anymore. That definately earned him some credit. Now Devin, on the other hand…Well, he’s another story.
I wasn’t convinced with Devin from the start. For a vampire, he has some rather unmanly personality traits, and I couldn’t help but think of him as a coward. He has spend more than half of his immortal life on the run from another vampire named Kasper, and not once has he stopped and turned around to actually do something about it. He watched as Kasper killed every single person he ever loved – and still he could do nothing to stop him. Now I know some torturer/victim of torture relationships may be messed up, but this one definately was. Yet, I was still crossing my fingers for Devin to finally face his demons. No such luck though, and I was starting to wonder halfway through the novel why Susan ran off with Devin in the first place. I mean, sure he’s mysterious and got the whole immortal thing working for him, but apart from that? He is a weak, pathetic excuse for a vampire. And not because he refuses to kill another human being except when they really deserve it (read pedo’s, murderers); but mostly because he’s too afraid to face Kasper.
To be honest, I found Kasper’s personality the most interesting one of them all. There is something morbidly fascinating about looking into the mind of a serial killer, an individual who likes torturing others, a creature with no remorse. I also really liked the setting: the town of Dunwich, a ghost town really, nearly abandoned yet inhabited by Deathwalkers, and creatures who didn’t make the full transition. It had me thinking about Silent Hill, a movie and a game I enjoyed thoroughly a couple of years ago. I imagined the town a bit like Silent Hill as well, I have to admit, with this silent, creepy and eerie feeling to it. The flashbacks to the 1940s were interesting as well, especially to discover some more of Devin’s and Kasper’s past. The storyline itself was intense, dark and creepy at all times. What gave me the most goosebumps, were the scenes with Sandra and Michael (I won’t get into detail for the sake of spoiler free reviews!).
Darklands: A Vampire’s Tale is a dark, supernatural horror story, with some greatly disturbing scenes (a must in this genre), and some uniquely-crafted characters. Although Devin annoyed me at times, the other characters were a lot more interesting, the story is fast-paced, intense and gripping, and all in all, it’s a captivating book that will keep you terrified from the start till the end.
February 26, 2011
What can I say about this book. I really didn't care for it at all. It seem like it wsa all over the place, or maybe that was me expecting the book to be something it wasn't. This book is not a romance,or even an Urban fantasy which wouldn't have bothered me if it didn't seem like the story didn't know where it wanted go. We got random flashes of the past where I felt like there shouldn't be, like in the middle of a fight scene. It seem like gore was thrown in just so you can say this was a horror book. All the main character were weak selfish cowards. Oh yeah, there were also a lot of typos.
Susan meets a sttranger and brings him back to her dorm. Her brother shows up and thinking that his sister is hurt and stries to defend her against the "monster" and it turns gets killed. Susan doesn't see the killer of her brother for 20 years which in that time she meet a man and becomes a cop. Devin, the vampire, has been watching Susan for all this time and decides to make her a vampire. Ok I get that. What threw me is that for decades Devin has been chased by a Nazi physcho who has tortured and killed anyone that means anyting to him. Now if you know you have that kind of monkey on your back why would you want to bring someone else into your mess. Especially if you are too much of a coward to protect them, which Devin is. Not only that, Devin created his own bad situation when instead of killing the pscho when he was human, he turn him into a vampire which made him even more of a physcho. I thought that we would at least have some girl power here with Susan being an ex cop, but no. She is just as much of a coward as Devin. They can go around killing corrupt humans, but they can't confront or even fight back when their lives are in danger. That just showed me that they are creatures that only prey on the weak but won't fight someone their own size for the fear they won't win. But Susan loves being a vampire and loves the thought of living forever, but to me what is the sense in living forever if you are going to spend all that time running for your life.
Then Susan ex boyfriend, who she left without giving him a reason why, follows her to the abandoned town she has moved in to. Even when he see's the horror of the town and the fact that it now overrun with bloodthirsty vampires, he still stays to try and "save" her. Living in an abandoned house and eating whatever he can fnd. Mind you he was a successful doctor with a nice home and car. Stupid.
And Kaspers real reason for wanting kill Devin is the craziest of all. He tortured and raped Devin for a month in some Nazi camp and Devin got away after lulling Kasper into some false sense of love and security. So now Kasper is the jilted lover and his only thought is to torture Devin by destroying everything he loves and for some reason Devin can't find it in him to kill Kapser.
I really didn't care for the character and kind of wish they could all be put out of their misery. I really can't see myself continuing with the series. If you are fan of horror, gore, and weak lead characters then this book may be for you, but I rather stick to my urban fantasy where at the least the Heroine kicks ass or builds herself up to being able to kick ass.
Susan meets a sttranger and brings him back to her dorm. Her brother shows up and thinking that his sister is hurt and stries to defend her against the "monster" and it turns gets killed. Susan doesn't see the killer of her brother for 20 years which in that time she meet a man and becomes a cop. Devin, the vampire, has been watching Susan for all this time and decides to make her a vampire. Ok I get that. What threw me is that for decades Devin has been chased by a Nazi physcho who has tortured and killed anyone that means anyting to him. Now if you know you have that kind of monkey on your back why would you want to bring someone else into your mess. Especially if you are too much of a coward to protect them, which Devin is. Not only that, Devin created his own bad situation when instead of killing the pscho when he was human, he turn him into a vampire which made him even more of a physcho. I thought that we would at least have some girl power here with Susan being an ex cop, but no. She is just as much of a coward as Devin. They can go around killing corrupt humans, but they can't confront or even fight back when their lives are in danger. That just showed me that they are creatures that only prey on the weak but won't fight someone their own size for the fear they won't win. But Susan loves being a vampire and loves the thought of living forever, but to me what is the sense in living forever if you are going to spend all that time running for your life.
Then Susan ex boyfriend, who she left without giving him a reason why, follows her to the abandoned town she has moved in to. Even when he see's the horror of the town and the fact that it now overrun with bloodthirsty vampires, he still stays to try and "save" her. Living in an abandoned house and eating whatever he can fnd. Mind you he was a successful doctor with a nice home and car. Stupid.
And Kaspers real reason for wanting kill Devin is the craziest of all. He tortured and raped Devin for a month in some Nazi camp and Devin got away after lulling Kasper into some false sense of love and security. So now Kasper is the jilted lover and his only thought is to torture Devin by destroying everything he loves and for some reason Devin can't find it in him to kill Kapser.
I really didn't care for the character and kind of wish they could all be put out of their misery. I really can't see myself continuing with the series. If you are fan of horror, gore, and weak lead characters then this book may be for you, but I rather stick to my urban fantasy where at the least the Heroine kicks ass or builds herself up to being able to kick ass.
May 9, 2011
Categorized as a "dark urban fantasy," this book will appeal to those who love the darker vampire stories. Full of violent gore and steamy sex scenes, the story follows Susan from the loss of her innocence through some life-altering experiences. The writing is descriptive, gritty, and generally engaging, evoking a visceral response to many of the scenes. I think the author has some talent with the written word, but the storyline wasn't as strong as I might have hoped. At times, I felt like I was reading a section I'd already read in the story, and some parts dragged. The overall effect was that I found myself wondering more than once where the story was going, what the major plotline or theme actually was. I think it would have been stronger had a connection been made with Kasper at the beginning of the story. When Kasper popped up and later became such a huge part of the novel, it felt a little more disjointed than it might have been had we had a little teaser about him and his obsession with Devin from the beginning. Additionally, we're told what the "Darklands" is in a cursory manner, and I think it would have strengthened the story to bring that idea out a little more.
The characters were interesting, and the backstory given about several of the key players was really helpful. At some points, I didn't realize we were in a flashback, and that was confusing until I realized what was going on. I think the transitions between flashback and present day could have been stronger and more clear cut. Perhaps it would take putting the flashbacks in slightly different places. I think Devin's and Kasper's characters were complex and interesting, but Susan felt a little more one-note to me. I would have liked a fuller characterization for her character. It was really interesting to discover the "rules" of the world of the Deathwalkers, and the ending did nicely set the reader up for the second volume in the series.
One major detractor was the need for further editing. I found myself wondering at times if the author had rewritten passages and forgotten to include the necessary words, or take superfluous words away. The mistakes were really distracting at times. But the overall writing style was enough that it made me keep reading. I'm not a huge fan of a lot of sex or gore in a story, so the fact that I kept reading speaks highly to the overall writing style; I definitely saw potential. With editing and some refinement of the plot, I think the story could be strengthened and elevated.
@ MotherLode review blog gracekrispy.com
The characters were interesting, and the backstory given about several of the key players was really helpful. At some points, I didn't realize we were in a flashback, and that was confusing until I realized what was going on. I think the transitions between flashback and present day could have been stronger and more clear cut. Perhaps it would take putting the flashbacks in slightly different places. I think Devin's and Kasper's characters were complex and interesting, but Susan felt a little more one-note to me. I would have liked a fuller characterization for her character. It was really interesting to discover the "rules" of the world of the Deathwalkers, and the ending did nicely set the reader up for the second volume in the series.
One major detractor was the need for further editing. I found myself wondering at times if the author had rewritten passages and forgotten to include the necessary words, or take superfluous words away. The mistakes were really distracting at times. But the overall writing style was enough that it made me keep reading. I'm not a huge fan of a lot of sex or gore in a story, so the fact that I kept reading speaks highly to the overall writing style; I definitely saw potential. With editing and some refinement of the plot, I think the story could be strengthened and elevated.
@ MotherLode review blog gracekrispy.com
May 4, 2015
So 2 stars has this weird look about it that makes others think, "It must've sucked," but that's not the case with this one. It was interesting; compelling, even.
Susan Archer suffers some pretty terrible tragedies as a teenager by having her small family ripped from her and then again 20 years later. The first time, it was at the hands of Devin McCree. The second time, it was the hands of Devin McCree that saved both her life and Michael's, her boyfriend.
Devin McCree fancies himself a Deathwalker. That's right, he's a vampire. No secret there. (It's in the title.) But they're not like normal vampires. Actually, they're barely vampires at all. The only thing that separates these vampires from humans was a ridiculous impossibility to kill (unless the head was removed) and a hunger for blood. They were warm, their hearts beat and at one point a Deathwalker who gets their chest sliced open (just a scratch) actually requires stitches. Not a merit in my book.
Aside from insanely humane vampirism, the dark and dank atmosphere of the novel kept me enthralled from the get-go. Burgess' prose is straightforward and twice as bleak as the scenes it depicts, so palpable that the darkness is choking half the time. I have a feeling this book will stay with me for some time to come.
Reading the sequel? Prolly. So 2.5 stars. It was good.
ALSO POSTED AT MY BLOG.
Susan Archer suffers some pretty terrible tragedies as a teenager by having her small family ripped from her and then again 20 years later. The first time, it was at the hands of Devin McCree. The second time, it was the hands of Devin McCree that saved both her life and Michael's, her boyfriend.
Devin McCree fancies himself a Deathwalker. That's right, he's a vampire. No secret there. (It's in the title.) But they're not like normal vampires. Actually, they're barely vampires at all. The only thing that separates these vampires from humans was a ridiculous impossibility to kill (unless the head was removed) and a hunger for blood. They were warm, their hearts beat and at one point a Deathwalker who gets their chest sliced open (just a scratch) actually requires stitches. Not a merit in my book.
Aside from insanely humane vampirism, the dark and dank atmosphere of the novel kept me enthralled from the get-go. Burgess' prose is straightforward and twice as bleak as the scenes it depicts, so palpable that the darkness is choking half the time. I have a feeling this book will stay with me for some time to come.
Reading the sequel? Prolly. So 2.5 stars. It was good.
"You have become what everyone wants to be. You are eternal. Together, we will watch the end of the world."
ALSO POSTED AT MY BLOG.
October 22, 2011
I won a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. My original interest in it stemmed from the fact that I generally love vampire novels, and the premise sounded interest. For the most part that was true, but I struggled through this book so much thanks to the numerous typos and grammatical errors that I would have set it aside if the story hadn't been so good.
In a way, the book reminded me a bit of Stephen King's Salem's Lot in terms of setting. The beginning of the book opens with the portrayal of the death of Susan's twin brother at the hands of a Deathwalker, Devin. Twenty years later, Devin comes to claim her, thinking they can move past what came before. Without much thought for her live-in boyfriend, Matthew, Susan follows Devin to a ruined town where Deathwalkers roam the night and the remaining citizens live in fear.
The main plot was decent, but I struggled to connect with the characters in the same way the author obviously does. Susan and Devin are supposed to be likable characters, vampires struggling to maintain some shreds of their humanity, but I didn't see it that way at all. I thought both were incredibly selfish, and Devin could justify his action any way he wanted, but at the end, all he really cared for was himself.
This was a very dark book. It's also supposed to be a 'sexy' read, but with all the blood and violence, the sexiness kind of got lost in the mix, at least for me. A little disappointing.
In a way, the book reminded me a bit of Stephen King's Salem's Lot in terms of setting. The beginning of the book opens with the portrayal of the death of Susan's twin brother at the hands of a Deathwalker, Devin. Twenty years later, Devin comes to claim her, thinking they can move past what came before. Without much thought for her live-in boyfriend, Matthew, Susan follows Devin to a ruined town where Deathwalkers roam the night and the remaining citizens live in fear.
The main plot was decent, but I struggled to connect with the characters in the same way the author obviously does. Susan and Devin are supposed to be likable characters, vampires struggling to maintain some shreds of their humanity, but I didn't see it that way at all. I thought both were incredibly selfish, and Devin could justify his action any way he wanted, but at the end, all he really cared for was himself.
This was a very dark book. It's also supposed to be a 'sexy' read, but with all the blood and violence, the sexiness kind of got lost in the mix, at least for me. A little disappointing.
November 6, 2011
Donna Burgess did a create job of creating an exciting world that sucks you right in. From the start I was enthralled and couldn't read this book fast enough.
I really enjoyed all of the characters and the way the book was done. There were so many side stories within the main story but it flowed together perfectly, each piece complementing each other and fitting together like a puzzle.
I did not, however, enjoy the ending! I'm sure this was done this way to allow a place to jump into on the second book but it made me unhappy with one of the main characters.
If you've read this book I'd love to hear your thoughts on the ending!
All in all, I did really enjoy the book and I will for sure be looking out for the next in the Darklands Vampires Series.
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 + Books to Read
I really enjoyed all of the characters and the way the book was done. There were so many side stories within the main story but it flowed together perfectly, each piece complementing each other and fitting together like a puzzle.
I did not, however, enjoy the ending! I'm sure this was done this way to allow a place to jump into on the second book but it made me unhappy with one of the main characters.
If you've read this book I'd love to hear your thoughts on the ending!
All in all, I did really enjoy the book and I will for sure be looking out for the next in the Darklands Vampires Series.
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 + Books to Read
April 3, 2011
This book had a lot going on in it. It was definitely different from the vampire books I've been reading but it was a very good change. The vampires in this book could be quite gory at times yet sexy at other times. It kept me glued to the story line and at times I was saying to myself...no way..wow. I won this ebook from a blog that I entered because I wanted to try a new read about vampires. This is definitely a good read and change of pace for the vampire lovers =) The only downfall for me was the ending. I wasn't left satisfied, to many questions. I assume Mrs Burgess wanted it that way for a sequel...which I will be purchasing to see how this story ends.
April 12, 2011
This started out great! Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. The first part of the story grabbed my interest immediately. It had fantastic potential. Then it just got gruesome, depressing, and boring. I can handle some graphic content, I even like some, but this was kind of over the top. It felt like the author was trying to compensate for lack of plot with shock value. I think the gruesome parts would have been okay if they’d have been coupled with an interesting story line. It was like the same thing over & over. Then came the end. It ended abruptly and without closure. Just weird
August 16, 2011
This book had my attention from beginning to end. Loved the way the author gave the reader some history to each character. This information clarified the characters actions, good or bad. This is a dark horror story and should I say 'refreshing' to have read something other than the normality of some vampire books that have surfaced lately. I can not wait to read the second book.
October 8, 2011
Dark and a little twisted this book is classic horror tale with dark romantic elements.
Worth the read if you like your vampire fiction on the darker side.
Worth the read if you like your vampire fiction on the darker side.
February 3, 2011
The vampires in Donna Burgess' new book Darklands: A Vampire's Tale are no Edward Cullen. They're not reciting poetry or showing off their sparkles. They're dark and gritty and get their food the old fashioned way...directly from the vein.
Devin McCree has been a vampire for a very long time and has had much love and loss during that time. From the moment he sees Susan Archer he decides he doesn't want to be alone any longer, but a romantic interlude goes awry and lands Devin the label of murderer. He continues watching her through the years and one night comes crashing back into her life and changes it forever. Susan's forever changed by her time with Devin too, her brother died that night and the blame her parents place on her has caused her to close her emotions off. She's also noticed other subtle changes, like her being stronger than others on the police force and not showing any physical signs of aging. Once Devin reenters her life he informs her of what she is and teaches her to embrace her new life. What Devin doesn't tell her is that a vampire hunter with vengeance on his mind has been following him for years bent on making his life miserable, and she's the latest pawn in the decades long game they've been playing. Not only is Susan now at risk, but so too is the human doctor who loves her and tries to follow her into her new life. As Devin and the vampire hunter Kasper continue their battle, no one is safe and much blood will be spilled before one of them is named victor.
Donna's story is intense with strong characters and a richly drawn background story. She pulls no punches in showing how vampires really are, their animal side and feelings of superiority aren't glossed over. They're creatures just trying to survive and make sense of who they are once they've transformed.
Susan makes a great heroine since she doesn't wait to be saved. Her own strength, both inside and out, gets her through the traumatic events that happen to her. She doesn't back down from a fight and embraces her new life wholeheartedly. Even though life has made her an extremely serious-minded person, she still shows flahes of humor especially when first discovering her new abilities.
Devin is a very conflicted character. His feelings regarding his vampirism change often and he goes from hating himself to loving what he's become. He's a sad character that's lost loved ones as well as hurt loved ones and degraded himself to stay alive. He's not a confrontational character like Susan is, and that's where I have issues with him. No matter how much harm comes to those he cares about at the hands of Kasper, he won't fight back. He'd rather run than have a showdown with Kasper. I'm not sure I understand his reasons for not going after Kasper, but as this series progresses I hope we'll dig deeper into his psyche to learn why.
Along with characters to root for, a good story must have characters that you loathe. Kasper Jacobsen is just such a character and does some very despicable things. Even though he's a vampire himself he goes after other vampires with single-minded obsession and uses very bloodthirsty methods to end their existence. He and Devin have a complicated history that has tainted both of them. Their paths will continue crossing as the series progresses and adds an element of danger to the storyline.
This was an engrossing story from beginning to end. The bloodletting is intense as is the sex and it draws you in deeply to the storyline and doesn't let go until the final page, which ends on a cliffhanger. I highly recommend this to those looking for an exciting read with intense action and intriguing characters. Be prepared for the ending, which leaves you clamoring for more and I encourage Ms. Burgess to write faster since I'm dying to find out who survived.
Devin McCree has been a vampire for a very long time and has had much love and loss during that time. From the moment he sees Susan Archer he decides he doesn't want to be alone any longer, but a romantic interlude goes awry and lands Devin the label of murderer. He continues watching her through the years and one night comes crashing back into her life and changes it forever. Susan's forever changed by her time with Devin too, her brother died that night and the blame her parents place on her has caused her to close her emotions off. She's also noticed other subtle changes, like her being stronger than others on the police force and not showing any physical signs of aging. Once Devin reenters her life he informs her of what she is and teaches her to embrace her new life. What Devin doesn't tell her is that a vampire hunter with vengeance on his mind has been following him for years bent on making his life miserable, and she's the latest pawn in the decades long game they've been playing. Not only is Susan now at risk, but so too is the human doctor who loves her and tries to follow her into her new life. As Devin and the vampire hunter Kasper continue their battle, no one is safe and much blood will be spilled before one of them is named victor.
Donna's story is intense with strong characters and a richly drawn background story. She pulls no punches in showing how vampires really are, their animal side and feelings of superiority aren't glossed over. They're creatures just trying to survive and make sense of who they are once they've transformed.
Susan makes a great heroine since she doesn't wait to be saved. Her own strength, both inside and out, gets her through the traumatic events that happen to her. She doesn't back down from a fight and embraces her new life wholeheartedly. Even though life has made her an extremely serious-minded person, she still shows flahes of humor especially when first discovering her new abilities.
Devin is a very conflicted character. His feelings regarding his vampirism change often and he goes from hating himself to loving what he's become. He's a sad character that's lost loved ones as well as hurt loved ones and degraded himself to stay alive. He's not a confrontational character like Susan is, and that's where I have issues with him. No matter how much harm comes to those he cares about at the hands of Kasper, he won't fight back. He'd rather run than have a showdown with Kasper. I'm not sure I understand his reasons for not going after Kasper, but as this series progresses I hope we'll dig deeper into his psyche to learn why.
Along with characters to root for, a good story must have characters that you loathe. Kasper Jacobsen is just such a character and does some very despicable things. Even though he's a vampire himself he goes after other vampires with single-minded obsession and uses very bloodthirsty methods to end their existence. He and Devin have a complicated history that has tainted both of them. Their paths will continue crossing as the series progresses and adds an element of danger to the storyline.
This was an engrossing story from beginning to end. The bloodletting is intense as is the sex and it draws you in deeply to the storyline and doesn't let go until the final page, which ends on a cliffhanger. I highly recommend this to those looking for an exciting read with intense action and intriguing characters. Be prepared for the ending, which leaves you clamoring for more and I encourage Ms. Burgess to write faster since I'm dying to find out who survived.
January 21, 2011
This is a tough one. Not a romance. No hero. Violent. Dark.
Ms. Burgess took lefts where other writers take rights. She plowed through this story without sentiment. If it could be broken, she broke it. I never laughed or cried but I cringed so much that I finally prepared myself for anything to happen. There are five main characters, in my opinion. Each one has a story which is told in flashbacks. We start with Susan, a woman who has lost her twin brother and her unborn child. She is a cop and lives with her doctor boyfriend, Michael. She was bitten 20 years earlier by a vampire named Devin. Devin saw her and decided he wanted her and after having bit her when she was in her late teens, he comes back into her life and finishes the process of converting her to vamp. She leaves Michael and moves to another town with Devin and begins her immortality without so much as a proper farewell to the life she left behind. This does not set will with Michael so he follows her in the hope of bringing her back to their cozy life. Devin did not tell Susan that he was being hunted by a crazy vamp, former Nazi, named Kasper. I must emphasis -- Kasper is crazy. He lives to destroy Devin one inch at a time. These two have a twisted past and for some reason neither has killed the other regardless of opportunity. Now we also have John. He and Devin have been friends for 70 years, they are not lovers but have a twisted relationship too. John is still human but has become ageless because he has been bitten by Devin. In this vamp world, a bite can kill or make you stop aging. The bitten can walk in the day and eat food. Like I said, these are the primary characters but there are others that we get to know through flashbacks or random meetings on the street of the creepiest town on earth. Half the people there are vamps that attack humans at will. It's like the wild west with fangs instead of six shooters.
This book has more typos than should be allowed that's the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. I got frustrated but could not pull away from the train wreck that was these people's lives. I never knew where this story was going. For me a good book grabs your mind and does not let go even after the final words are read. That's what this book was for me. It's not a pretty tale but it's a well conceived one. I am not sure if I would say this ends in a cliffhanger but it did not cleanly. I don't see a series because there is no hero or noble mission, only a story of survival but I hope there is another book. I really want to know who will walk away in one piece, once and for all.
Ms. Burgess took lefts where other writers take rights. She plowed through this story without sentiment. If it could be broken, she broke it. I never laughed or cried but I cringed so much that I finally prepared myself for anything to happen. There are five main characters, in my opinion. Each one has a story which is told in flashbacks. We start with Susan, a woman who has lost her twin brother and her unborn child. She is a cop and lives with her doctor boyfriend, Michael. She was bitten 20 years earlier by a vampire named Devin. Devin saw her and decided he wanted her and after having bit her when she was in her late teens, he comes back into her life and finishes the process of converting her to vamp. She leaves Michael and moves to another town with Devin and begins her immortality without so much as a proper farewell to the life she left behind. This does not set will with Michael so he follows her in the hope of bringing her back to their cozy life. Devin did not tell Susan that he was being hunted by a crazy vamp, former Nazi, named Kasper. I must emphasis -- Kasper is crazy. He lives to destroy Devin one inch at a time. These two have a twisted past and for some reason neither has killed the other regardless of opportunity. Now we also have John. He and Devin have been friends for 70 years, they are not lovers but have a twisted relationship too. John is still human but has become ageless because he has been bitten by Devin. In this vamp world, a bite can kill or make you stop aging. The bitten can walk in the day and eat food. Like I said, these are the primary characters but there are others that we get to know through flashbacks or random meetings on the street of the creepiest town on earth. Half the people there are vamps that attack humans at will. It's like the wild west with fangs instead of six shooters.
This book has more typos than should be allowed that's the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. I got frustrated but could not pull away from the train wreck that was these people's lives. I never knew where this story was going. For me a good book grabs your mind and does not let go even after the final words are read. That's what this book was for me. It's not a pretty tale but it's a well conceived one. I am not sure if I would say this ends in a cliffhanger but it did not cleanly. I don't see a series because there is no hero or noble mission, only a story of survival but I hope there is another book. I really want to know who will walk away in one piece, once and for all.
January 24, 2011
Susan Archer is a police officer with a hard traumatic past, when she was younger her twin-brother Peter was killed accidentally, but it was so traumatic for her that she carries that night on her soul forever. Even in her present life that memory shadows over her relationship with her boyfriend Michael Matthews all the time. She never told anyone about Devin McGree, the gorgeous vampire she cannot seem to get out of her mind.
Twenty years after Devin McGree accidentally killed Peter and taken some of Susan’s blood, he knows it’s time to get Susan home where she belongs. He knows he has to finish the job and turn Susan into a creature of the night. She hasn’t aged a bit after he gave her his love bite and soon people will start to notice.
From the moment Susan and Devin meet each other after twenty years, she know he’s not the cold blooded murderer she accused him to be. She also knows the attraction between them is still there, even though she cares for Michael, its Devin who burns her inside and out. When she is completely turned, she knows it’s time to leave town with Devin, but will Michael accept this so easily?
Darklands, A Vampire Tale by Donna Burgess is a fabulous dark urban fantasy novel. This book is full off violence, paranormal creatures and fabulous sexual scenes.
Susan Archer is a strong stubborn woman, you could say she is a little cynical and unsympathetic, but I believe she has every right to be that way after what she’s been through. From the moment she meets Devin at an early age her whole life has been a roller coaster.
Devin McGree’s life has been one living hell from the moment he was turned into a vampire. All he knows is violence and torture, but he managed to escape that life and be happy when John and Lillian took him into their loving home. But his torturer Kasper Jacobsen wants revenge and is hunting him till either one of them is dead. Now Susan and Devin have to work together to stay one step ahead of Kasper in order to stay alive.
I have to be honest…at first I wasn’t that fond of the violence in this book, but I come to realize that it was important to tell the whole story…and what a fabulous story it was. It’s not a light paranormal romance I’m normally used to read, but I was definitely captured from the first page. I knew I had to finish the book to see how this was going to end.
Donna Burgess did an excellent job writing this novel and I really hope she continues doing this. I’ll keep my eyes open for her new books in the near future.
Twenty years after Devin McGree accidentally killed Peter and taken some of Susan’s blood, he knows it’s time to get Susan home where she belongs. He knows he has to finish the job and turn Susan into a creature of the night. She hasn’t aged a bit after he gave her his love bite and soon people will start to notice.
From the moment Susan and Devin meet each other after twenty years, she know he’s not the cold blooded murderer she accused him to be. She also knows the attraction between them is still there, even though she cares for Michael, its Devin who burns her inside and out. When she is completely turned, she knows it’s time to leave town with Devin, but will Michael accept this so easily?
Darklands, A Vampire Tale by Donna Burgess is a fabulous dark urban fantasy novel. This book is full off violence, paranormal creatures and fabulous sexual scenes.
Susan Archer is a strong stubborn woman, you could say she is a little cynical and unsympathetic, but I believe she has every right to be that way after what she’s been through. From the moment she meets Devin at an early age her whole life has been a roller coaster.
Devin McGree’s life has been one living hell from the moment he was turned into a vampire. All he knows is violence and torture, but he managed to escape that life and be happy when John and Lillian took him into their loving home. But his torturer Kasper Jacobsen wants revenge and is hunting him till either one of them is dead. Now Susan and Devin have to work together to stay one step ahead of Kasper in order to stay alive.
I have to be honest…at first I wasn’t that fond of the violence in this book, but I come to realize that it was important to tell the whole story…and what a fabulous story it was. It’s not a light paranormal romance I’m normally used to read, but I was definitely captured from the first page. I knew I had to finish the book to see how this was going to end.
Donna Burgess did an excellent job writing this novel and I really hope she continues doing this. I’ll keep my eyes open for her new books in the near future.
February 15, 2011
Darklands is a novel that takes a fresh look at those vampires we all love so much and is the journey of Susan Archer in becoming one. It all started on a Halloween evening 20 years ago. A murder and an encounter with a vampire forever changed her life. Susan was bitten that night by Devin, but his murder of her brother forces him to retreat from her life and wait for the perfect moment to enter it again.
Fast forward 20 years. Susan’s life is going no where. She has a loving boyfriend, Michael, but her life is basically going nowhere. When Devin rescues here from a vicious attack, she recognizes him from the night of her brother’s murder. Susan and Devin’s attraction is still scorching, twenty years has done nothing to lessen it, she is still attracted and drawn to him like no other man. Devin’s second bite completes her transformation and she flees Michael with Devin, fearing what she may do to him.
Susan’s journey into becoming a Deathwalker is very stark and at times a bit graphic. She accepts her new life openly but at times questions what she is becoming along the way, so it was believable to me. Her relationships with Michael and Devin were a pleasure to read. I enjoyed both of their characters, but of course had my favorite on who I wanted her to end up with.
The book has some flashback’s which at times were a bit hard to keep up with. However, since much of the book is about “old” history and how it is affecting the characters that it enhanced the story. Kasper is one of those “old” history items. His history with Devin is intense and brutal and adds a complexity and depth to the story. Both have approached their resurrections in different ways and it was intriguing to read their backgrounds.
My only negative review comment is in regards to the books editing, which had numerous spelling and syntax errors. But those can be easily fixed. Overall, Darklands was a good book with characters and a story that I enjoyed. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Fast forward 20 years. Susan’s life is going no where. She has a loving boyfriend, Michael, but her life is basically going nowhere. When Devin rescues here from a vicious attack, she recognizes him from the night of her brother’s murder. Susan and Devin’s attraction is still scorching, twenty years has done nothing to lessen it, she is still attracted and drawn to him like no other man. Devin’s second bite completes her transformation and she flees Michael with Devin, fearing what she may do to him.
Susan’s journey into becoming a Deathwalker is very stark and at times a bit graphic. She accepts her new life openly but at times questions what she is becoming along the way, so it was believable to me. Her relationships with Michael and Devin were a pleasure to read. I enjoyed both of their characters, but of course had my favorite on who I wanted her to end up with.
The book has some flashback’s which at times were a bit hard to keep up with. However, since much of the book is about “old” history and how it is affecting the characters that it enhanced the story. Kasper is one of those “old” history items. His history with Devin is intense and brutal and adds a complexity and depth to the story. Both have approached their resurrections in different ways and it was intriguing to read their backgrounds.
My only negative review comment is in regards to the books editing, which had numerous spelling and syntax errors. But those can be easily fixed. Overall, Darklands was a good book with characters and a story that I enjoyed. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
February 21, 2011
I'm not really sure how to review this book. I won a copy through Goodreads which was pretty exciting. I received the book in good time and started reading it right away. The storyline is good but sadly the book is full of errors. It was distracting how many spelling and grammar errors that were. The book has a lot of potential but is in serious need of some editing. Here are just a few of the errors I found in the book (I think it is safe to say that every one or two pages has something that is incorrect and needs to be fixed).
"You're not growing a conscious, are you?"
"Susan knew she have suggested anything at that point and Michael would have agreed"
"It that a song"
"Without thinking, Susan behind her and snatched up the first thing she could put her hands on"
Those are just a few of many. I hate to be so negative but for the author's sake, I think it's best I be completely honest about this one. There were some moments in the book where the sentence would go from past tense to present tense and then back to past tense again. There were many times that words were placed in the wrong order therefore making the sentence incorrect ("There were those like him who in ran packs like wolves"). There were many words that were just plain missing and other words had the wrong letter (of instead of if).
All that said, this book does have a lot of potential. It has some very good moments that are exciting and catch you off guard. The author is not afraid to push the envelope and take you to the extreme. It's very dark and gets quite disturbing at some moments but that is what makes it different from other books I have read.
I want to thank the author for sending me a copy of her book and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. I would definitely read this book again if it were re-done and fixed up. All the best to the author and her writing career.
"You're not growing a conscious, are you?"
"Susan knew she have suggested anything at that point and Michael would have agreed"
"It that a song"
"Without thinking, Susan behind her and snatched up the first thing she could put her hands on"
Those are just a few of many. I hate to be so negative but for the author's sake, I think it's best I be completely honest about this one. There were some moments in the book where the sentence would go from past tense to present tense and then back to past tense again. There were many times that words were placed in the wrong order therefore making the sentence incorrect ("There were those like him who in ran packs like wolves"). There were many words that were just plain missing and other words had the wrong letter (of instead of if).
All that said, this book does have a lot of potential. It has some very good moments that are exciting and catch you off guard. The author is not afraid to push the envelope and take you to the extreme. It's very dark and gets quite disturbing at some moments but that is what makes it different from other books I have read.
I want to thank the author for sending me a copy of her book and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. I would definitely read this book again if it were re-done and fixed up. All the best to the author and her writing career.
November 26, 2016
It was too long and too boring.
This book narration is heavy and long and that's what makes it really boring. I took so much time reading because of it. The story is not that bad but it's the beginning of a story that seems really long and the way things develop is so slow that makes you want to sleep, so I don´t really recommend it unless you like long, dark romance stories like this.
Another thing that I didn't like is how the principal characters, Susan and Devin, were so intense, I mean, there has to be some kind of reasoning and Susan reasoned a lot but her attitude didn't resembled her thoughts. That's normal every character and book is different but the way it's written will tired you. Besides, I have to say is a really dark book, this creatures called "Deathwalkers" make you think what they are really capable of, it goes from being with man and women to killing coldly and in a very animal way (?) so it kinds of resembles vampires.
Anyways, this book wasn't amazing and I really don't want to read what's next.
This book narration is heavy and long and that's what makes it really boring. I took so much time reading because of it. The story is not that bad but it's the beginning of a story that seems really long and the way things develop is so slow that makes you want to sleep, so I don´t really recommend it unless you like long, dark romance stories like this.
Another thing that I didn't like is how the principal characters, Susan and Devin, were so intense, I mean, there has to be some kind of reasoning and Susan reasoned a lot but her attitude didn't resembled her thoughts. That's normal every character and book is different but the way it's written will tired you. Besides, I have to say is a really dark book, this creatures called "Deathwalkers" make you think what they are really capable of, it goes from being with man and women to killing coldly and in a very animal way (?) so it kinds of resembles vampires.
Anyways, this book wasn't amazing and I really don't want to read what's next.
September 3, 2011
I won a copy of this novel through goodreads arc giveaways. Although I'm not finished with the book yet I can say that it isn't like any other book with vampire characters I've ever read. They aren't sexy nice creatures here... They are dark and harsh. This book is action packed and gruesome from page one. I cannot rate it with stars or thumbs up yet because I am only a part of the way through but I can say that if it keeps me on the edge of my seat for the rest of the book, I'd enjoy reading the following books in this series.
Read
January 25, 2011I read this on my Kindle. It was really, really, REALLY slow! Felt like I kept reading the same passage over and over. When it finally did pick up, I didn't care lol. Also, this might be different in a physical copy of this book, as I have no idea how this works, but there were SO MANY TYPOS. Not just misspellings, but words out of place, zero break or space between paragraphs to let the reader know that the book was changing POVs. It annoyed the ever living daylights out of me!
October 8, 2014
The editing in this book was one of the worst disasters I've ever seen and I'm usually reasonably tolerant of mistakes. But this book had ends of sentences missing which left you wondering if the author ever looked over her work before having it published. I was very disappointed by this attempt. I struggled to get into the book with all these mistakes and eventually I moved on to something else.
Want to read
May 17, 2011This is a very interesting book. It is a little dark and I am currently taking a short break. I am enjoying the storyline, which is a unique take on the vampire genre. I am to 41% so far and will be back when I finish with my review.
February 11, 2012
Urban dark fantasy, though the romance aspects seemed a little forced. The electronic edition I read still had some nasty typos and formating issues, alas. A little to raw/splatter for my taste, YMMV.
Want to read
January 10, 2011This looks like it will be a great book to read.
February 15, 2011
A little bloody...but a good story.
July 19, 2011
Another free kindle book and it was ok... I dont think I can get use to the vampire all weak and crying.
June 30, 2012
Horrible!
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