Monday, October 31, 2011

Giveaway! 3 Copies of Dracula in Love by Karen Essex


In honor of Halloween, and thanks to the lovely Karen Essex, I have three copies of Dracula in Love to giveaway today! Haven't heard about this book (you haven't?!)?  Here's what it's about:


In this wonderfully transporting novel, award-winning author Karen Essex turns a timeless classic inside out, spinning a haunting, erotic, and suspenseful story of eternal love and possession.

From the shadowy banks of the river Thames to the wild and windswept Yorkshire coast, Dracula’s eternal muse, Mina Murray, vividly recounts the intimate details of what really transpired between her and the Count—the joys and terrors of a passionate affair that has linked them through the centuries, and her rebellion against her own frightening preternatural powers.

Mina’s version of this gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into Victorian England’s dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and asylum chambers, revealing the dark secrets and mysteries locked within. Time falls away as she is swept into a mythical journey far beyond mortal comprehension, where she must finally make the decision she has been avoiding for almost a millennium.

Bram Stoker’s classic novel offered one side of the story, in which Mina had no past and bore no responsibility for the unfolding events. Now, for the first time, the truth of Mina’s personal voyage, and of vampirism itself, is revealed. What this flesh and blood woman has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than the Victorians could have expressed or perhaps even have imagined. (from Goodreads)

I reviewed Dracula in Love and reviewed it on The True Book Addict.  You can read that review HERE.

To enter, fill out the rafflecopter form.





Photobucket

Happy Halloween!

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Photobucket

Book Review: The Darkness by Crystal Connor


The Darkness


My thoughts:
I really don't know quite what to say about this book.  I mean, the bare bones of the story are excellent, but there is such convolution mixed in, it was really hard to stay focused.  Maybe that was the aim here.  I don't know.  Something that really bugged me was the sudden introduction and bios of all of Adam's friends in the middle of the story.  Did we really need to know all of that?  I guess she was just trying to show Adam as a normal kid, but I think that part was unnecessary.

I read a review of this book on Goodreads and the person said that neither main character is likable.  I would have to agree, to a certain extent.  Both women are evil, the difference is that one, Inanna, recognizes it in herself and that it comes from a tragedy in her past.  The other, Artemesia, is just pure greed and personal gain...how much so she keeps well concealed.  Artemesia is a character you think you hate, then you don't, and then...wow, what a slap in the face.  This alone is one reason why--despite my feelings about this book--I will probably read the next book, Artificial Light.  Honestly, the story line was intriguing enough for me to keep reading.  Ordinarily, if I really don't like a book, I will not keep reading.  What I would suggest with this book would be to go into it skeptically and give it about 100 pages or so.  Then you can judge whether you want to keep reading or not.  I did this and I kept reading.


About the book:
Artemisia, a scientist who also practices alchemy, is wealthy beyond imagination. She is one of the founding members of the Skyward Group, a privately funded, secret, research facility conducting experiments that erase what tradition has established as the boundaries separating the realm of man from the realm of God. Artemisia has everything she wants - money, fame, knowledge and power - except for a child. Inanna is a powerful and dangerous witch, also wealthy beyond imagination. Her powers are greater and more deadly than any in the long tradition before her. Inanna has everything she wants - money, knowledge and God-like power - except for a child. The Child has nothing. At three months of age, he knows only what he has experienced through the bars of his locked cage. He has nothing. He doesn't have a mommy. He doesn't have a daddy. He doesn't have a name. The scientists who created him do not handle him, because they know The Child is dangerous. In The Darkness, Two women clash in a vicious battle that has been fought since the days of King Solomon - the fight over a child. One woman unleashes the nightmarish arsenal of modern science while the other dispatches the weaponries of witchcraft. And as The Child grows up, his love for one and resentment for the other will change the fate of both these women, forever.

Visit Crystal Connor's WEBSITE

Reviewed for:


Photobucket

FTC Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book Promotions in exchange for my honest review.  I was not monetarily compensated for sharing my views on the book.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Horrifying Mailbox Monday


Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit . (Click the book covers to read a book description on Amazon)

BookBox: embed book widget, share book list

WON:
Children of the Night by Dan Simmons...from Midnyte Reader


PURCHASED FROM LIBRARY SALE:
Madman by Tracy Groot
The Collector by John Fowles

Photobucket

Monday, October 24, 2011

Announcing...Stephen King's Bag of Bones Read-a-Long


One of my favorite Stephen King books, Bag of Bones, has been made into a television mini-series, set to air on December 11 and 12 on A&E (in the U.S.).  In honor of this momentous event, I have decided to host a read-a-long!

Here's how it will work:

Each week we will read approximately 125 pages (give or take), beginning on Sunday and posting thoughts/discussion on Saturday.  Now, I know weekends are busy so if you're a couple of days late posting, that's absolutely no problem (if you don't have a blog, feel free to post your thoughts in the comments).  Please stop by and leave the link to your post in the comments.  Also, feel free to comment on my post.  I have been known to run behind on read-a-longs so don't worry about being dropped from the list.  I understand that life gets in the way.  Incidentally, since I am hosting, I will make my best effort to NOT fall behind.  Any questions, leave me a comment or email me at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom.

Here is the schedule:

  • November 13-19--Chapter 1 - 9
  • November 20-26--Chapter 10 - 15
  • November 27-December 3--Chapter 16 - 21
  • December 4-10--Chapter 22 - End
If you would like to sign-up, please leave a comment with your blog link.  Now grab a button and spread the word! Hope you will be joining me. =O)





Photobucket

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Sometimes Real Life is More Scary Than Fiction

Check out my guest post over at Midnyte Reader, where I share a real-life horrific experience.

Midnyte Reader: Sometimes Real Life is More Scary Than Fiction (Gu...: I want to thank Michelle from The True Book Addict and Castle Macabre for guest posting. Michelle has a true to life horror story. Warni...

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Two Giveaways...Deadlines Extended!

I have extended the deadline for entry on two giveaways....


Where the Dead Fear to Tread--a novel of horror, crime, and revenge.

and


Vermin--15 Horror short stories

CLICK THE TITLES TO ENTER.

Good luck!

Photobucket

Horrifying Mailbox Monday


Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit .

Received from a win at vvb32 reads:


The Hum and the Shiver by Alex Bledsoe

won from Donna at The Happy Booker:


American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Thank you, ladies!!!

Photobucket

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Guest Post: Derek Clendening, author of The Vampire Way


Please join me today in welcoming my guest, Derek Clendening, author of The Vampire Way.

I can remember my first Halloween. Kindergarten. Dressed up as a witch. My mother couldn’t make sense of my choice, but I wanted something half-way startling, kind of like the Wicked Witch of the West. My mom made the costume out of a green garbage bag, some green face paint, and I rode an old broom around.

After that, there was no need to make costumes anymore. We happened upon a great costume store in Buffalo, which provided my costumes for the next few years. I had a great Dracula costume and a clown costume. The clown costume came on a rainy Halloween in the second grade while I was staying at my grandparents’ house because my parents were out of town. I was Dracula more than once in elementary school, but I didn’t mind. I’ve always liked traditional vampires.

Then things dropped off before high school. I outgrew Halloween. I went trick or treating once and I wasn’t dressed up as anything special. I wonder if I was beginning to lose the spirit of Halloween: creativity.

In 2009, I dressed up for Halloween for the first time in my adult life. For this party, I dressed up as fledgling Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron. I had the Bills gear, headset and everything. Our season had been pretty scary to that point, so I thought it was an apt costume. It might have been an omen too, as Jauron was fired by the team a few weeks later, and our frightful season was staved off just a little bit.

My partner and I are going to a dress-up Halloween party this year, and I’m undecided as to how I’ll dress up. Creativity is the key though. Since I’m a horror writer with a few books under my belt, I could feasibly go dressed up as myself! I kind of like that idea, but I don’t know if I can convince people that I’m being inventive and not self-indulgent or lazy.

What do you guys think?



The Vampire Way

By Derek Clendening
Genre: Paranormal YA

Book Description:
Eighteen year old Rick Thompson is a marked man. When Damien Masonite comes to his school, he knows something is up. And when his friends start falling to vampire attacks, he knows that he and his girlfriend Laura are next. The quest to understand immortality, true love and undying friendship compromise his safety even more.  Can he keep his best friends, his true love and keep his mortal life?

Available on:  Smashwords, Amazon


Excerpt: Prologue

Hamilton, Ontario

August

Damien Masonite’s heart quickened when he raised the stake and hammer high above his head and poised himself. He had to kill his father tonight, but he worried that he wouldn’t have the guts.

To him, killing should’ve been easy, but he couldn’t stop his hands from shaking. Watching Dad suffer changed everything he knew about life, but the old man wouldn’t know what hit him if he did it quickly enough. He wouldn’t suffer and Damien wouldn’t have any remorse.

Listening to the rain pelt the roof, his hands shuddered, and he rested the stake and hammer. It didn’t matter if his father was suffering; he knew that he wasn’t strong enough to finish him.

Staring at Dad’s slackened jaw and the sweat streaming down his face, he asked himself how he could be so selfish. Since Mom was staked in Toronto last year, Dad’s life had taken a nose dive; he was feeding less, and allowing his body to weaken.

Closing his eyes, Damien wanted to shut out the nightmare, but the terror enveloped him when he opened them. Certainly no other vampire family would have expected this to happen to them, he thought. Remembering all the times that Dad had sat him on his lap, telling him about the plentiful blood of his youth, he would also tell him about how books and movies had ruined their lives. The entire game had changed and it had forced them to move from town to town.  Damien knew that once this was over, he would have to start a new life somewhere new, except this time he would have to do it alone.


What is this feeling? Damien thought. Guilt seemed likely to him, since his own selfishness had allowed the old man to get sick. Whenever they’d fed, Dad had ignored his own needs, leaving the blood for him and Candace, and they had consumed it all, no questions asked. He was sure that if he’d forced Dad to take some blood for himself, he would’ve stayed healthy.

Dropping to his knees, he cupped Dad’s clammy hands.

“Anything I can do to make you more comfortable?” Damien asked.

“Make me a promise."

“Anything.”

“Carry on our name; I can’t bear to think that you’re the last. Only you have the power to make our family powerful again.”

But I’m only eighteen, he thought. He wouldn’t dare say it.

“Everyone knows about us. They think we’re normal then they figure us out.”

Damien knew the sting of rejection all too well, particularly after they were run out of Toronto. Blood was plentiful in cities, but competition from other families was always tooth and nail. Knowing that rural people were never as naïve as they let on, they never managed to stay in small towns for long either. He was positive that if he could have stayed in any school for more than a semester, he wouldn’t have had to depend on family to break up the loneliness.

“What should I do to make us strong again?” Damien asked.

“You’re powerful,” Dad whispered, “even if you don’t know it.”

“But we’re running out of places to go.”

“Try the town I wanted to move to next and you’ll find yourself there."

“But where?”

“Fort Erie.”

Damien stared at his chest and sucked in a deep breath.

“Every town has perfect blood,” Dad said. “I’ve never found it myself, but it’s there for the taking if you look hard enough. Whoever has it can expose you, but their blood can make you powerful again. If you find that person in Fort Erie, drink them dry and convert them.”

“But who am I looking for?”

Dad’s eyes fluttering, Damien worried that he’d be gone before he could tell him the answer.

“I need you to do something important,” Dad said.

“Anything.”

“Finish me.” His lungs wheezed as he exhaled a deep breath. “Take that stake and drive it straight through my heart.”

Feeling relieved that Dad wanted to be finished, Damien was also glad that he didn’t have to decide for him. He gripped the stake and hammer then raised them over his head and paused.

“I’ll never let you down.”

Closing his eyes, he pounded the stake into the old man’s chest, and a spray of hot blood struck his skin. Positive that he’d done the right thing, he still dropped to his knees, and buried his face in Dad’s chest to smother his tears.

When Dad’s chest stopped heaving, Damien decided that the mortals were responsible for his pain. Standing tall, he stretched his arm like eagle’s wings, and screamed at the top of his voice. He decided to mourn for Dad before moving on, but nothing would stand in the way of his mission.

The mortals had to pay.

****

Fort Erie, Ontario
September

Sitting slumped on a rock, Damien stared out at the Niagara River, and thought about Dad.  Watching the water smacking against the rocks that lined the river soothed him whenever he felt down. It had quickly become his favorite spot. Next, he glanced up at the Peace Bridge and saw that traffic was backing up.

Coping with his pain had been a daily struggle but taking care of Candace and making his own decisions made him feel like more of a man. He’d buried Dad in the back yard, packed his few belongings, hit the road, and hadn’t looked back since. All that mattered to him was his new life in Fort Erie.

“What are you looking at?” Candace asked.

“You’ve broken the rules.” He didn’t turn to face her. “You know that I want to be alone when I’m sitting here.”

Brushing her off was no big deal to him because he was in charge now, and she was to obey his rules.

“You sure this is the right place?” She asked.

“Positive.”

“Water sucks.”

“Dad would’ve wanted you to trust me.”

“How do you know they won’t figure us out like they did in Toronto or Hamilton?”

“Look around you.”

Hopping off of the rock, he inched closer to the water, and rested his hands on his hips. “The mortals don’t suspect a thing,” he said.

“How can you be sure?”

“I just know.”

Instinct had taken him this far and he wanted to keep trusting his gut. They had stayed in an empty house tucked away in the woods and Damien had read that it was haunted. Peace and quiet at last.

“We’ve hardly fed in a month,” she said. “I’m starving and I want to go home!”

“Don’t you get it? This is home!”

She shut up.

“School starts in a week and I’m already enrolled at Fort Erie High,” he said.

“But I wanted to go to school this year!” Her hands were on her hips and her eyebrows were slanted.

“We can’t be seen together. We screw this up, we move again. You want that?”

“At least let me have the first kill.”

“Dad died because of selfish thinking. Now we’re all each other have and we have to look out for each other’s good.”

“Won’t going to school keep you from finding the perfect mortal?”

“He’s out there . . . or she.” He found himself almost hypnotized by the water.

“What happens to us if you don’t?”

He shook his head. “It’s just a matter of time.”


Author bio:
Derek Clendening lives in Fort Erie, Ontario where he works at the public library. When not writing he enjoys reading and is a die hard football fan.

(Go Bills!)

www.thehorrorofderekclendening.blogspot.com


A thank you to Derek for stopping by and sharing today!


Photobucket

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Horrifying Mailbox Monday


Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit (want to read a book description? Clicking the book covers will take you to the book's page on Amazon).
BookBox: embed book widget, share book list

PURCHASED FROM GOODWILL:
Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz
The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa De La Cruz

PURCHASED AT LIBRARY SALE:
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
Frostbite: A Werewolf Tale by David Wellington


Photobucket

Monday, October 10, 2011

Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon: Wrap-Up, Winners, and a Thank You


The Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon has ended. *sniffle*  I think this was the funnest read-a-thon I've hosted thus far.  Not that I got much reading done, but I just LOVE hosting.  I had so many enthusiastic participants and contributors.  I know I host seasonal read-a-thons four times a year so it's a no-brainer that I will host again next year, but I've decided to make the Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon an annual event.  However, to match the hashtag we used this year on Twitter, I'm going to change the name to FrightFall Read-a-Thon.  Wish I would have thought of it for this one.  Oh well, it will keep until next year!

***If you completed a wrap-up post and would like to share, please post the link to your post in the comments.  I will stop by and visit!***

So, what did I get read this time?

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (this was a finish up--387 pages)
Invisible Sun by S.J. Davis (142 pages)
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (60 pages)
Total pages read during read-a-thon:  589

Total books read during read-a-thon:  2.25 (really 1.75...since I finished Name of the Wind, but it's a really long book!)


FINAL WINNERS

Day 7 Particpant winners:
Ashley @ The Bookish Brunette
Melissa @ Must Read Faster
Lit Addicted Brit

Mini-Challenge #3
Melissa @ Must Read Faster
Moirae (the fates) Book Reviews
Sherri @ Urban Girl Reader

Trivia Mini-Challenge 
Tobe @ Wading Through the Ocean of Life
Tiffany @ Tiffany A. Higgins Book Reviews and News

Congratulations to you all! Please head over to the PRIZE PAGE and choose your prize.  Remember, prize choice is on a first come basis so depending on who gets back to me first, the prize you choose may not be available.  However, there are just enough prizes to go around to all winners.  Please email me your selection at TRUEBOOKADDICTatGMAILdotCOM.

A THANK YOU!

I would like to thank the following authors for their generosity in donating prizes for the read-a-thon.  Without them, this read-a-thon would not have been so successful.  You all rock!!!

Rob Blackwell
Pamela Kinney
S.J. Davis
Axel Howerton
Kathleen S. Allen
Karen Essex
Brenda Wallace
J.L. Murphey
Morgan Kearns

And a thank you to all the bloggers who hosted mini-challenges/giveaways.  You were such a help to me and I appreciate you more than you know!

Melissa @ Must Read Faster
Julie @ Knitting and Sundries

Sherri @ Urban Girl Reader
Julie @ My Book Retreat 
Back of the Book Reviews
SenoraG @ Telly Says 
Kai @ Fiction State of Mind
Midnyte Reader

Also, a thank you to all participants.  Without you, there wouldn't be a read-a-thon so thank you for signing up and reading with me! Stay tuned for my winter read-a-thon in January and, if you're a fan of Christmas, I will once again be hosting my annual Christmas Reading Challenge via my Christmas blog, The Christmas Spirit.  It will run from the week of Thanksgiving throught Epiphany/Twelfth Night.  Details and sign-ups will be coming soon.  Until then, I'll be seeing you around the myriad read-a-thons going on around the blogosphere because I, for one, cannot resist a read-a-thon!


Photobucket

Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon: Wrap Up Coming Tomorrow

It's late and I'm SO tired! I will have the wrap-up post up some time tomorrow with winners of the mini-challenges and the last day's participant giveaway.  I hope everyone had fun.  I certainly enjoyed hosting and am looking forward to my next one!

Good night!

Photobucket

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon: Day 6 Winners!

I have winners for the day 6 read-a-thon participant giveaway! The winners are:





Congratulations, ladies! Head over to the PRIZE PAGE and choose a prize.  Email your selection to me at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

Photobucket

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon: Day Five Winners!

As promised, I have increased the daily winners to three instead of two.  The winners of the day five participant giveaway are:



Diana @ Little Miss Drama Queen


Congratulations, ladies! Head over to the PRIZE PAGE and choose a prize.  Email your selection to me at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

Photobucket

Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon: Scary Book Trivia Mini-Challenge


This is the final mini-challenge of the read-a-thon.  These questions all pertain to famous works by horror authors.  There will be two winners chosen randomly out of those who answer all questions correctly.  Please email your answers to me at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom.  This contest will remain open until the end of the read-a-thon on Sunday until 11:59pm CST.  Winners will be able to choose their prize from the PRIZE PAGE.

Here goes!


1.  What is the name of the hideous clown in Stephen King's novel, IT?

2.  What is the name of the child vampire in Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice?

3.  Quoth the Raven, _______________.  Finish this quote from Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven.


4.  Who was Rebecca in Daphne Du Maurier's novel of the same name?

5.  Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin is a retelling of what classic horror tale?

6.  "I never drink... ___________.  Finish this quote from Bram Stoker's Dracula.

7.  In I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, what have all the humans become, leaving Robert Neville as the last living man on Earth?

8.  What is the nickname given the serial killer in The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris?

9.  From what Stephen King novel is the following quote?  "Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman's got to hold on to." (snicker)


10. In Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice (my favorite book!), who is Akasha, or what is her significance to all vampires?

Good luck!

Photobucket

Friday, October 7, 2011

Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon: Mini-Challenge #3


All you have to do is go online to an image site (Google images, photobucket, etc.) and find an image that represents the setting of the book you're reading.  If you're not reading a scary book at the moment, pick one you've already read during the read-a-thon.  Try to make it as creepy as you can.  Post the link in the comments, along with the title and author of the book, and as they come in, I will put the images up in the post so everyone can see them.  If you want to also do a blog post with the image, that is totally up to you.  All I ask is that you leave the link in the comments so I will know that you participated.  This challenge will stay open until the end of the read-a-thon on Sunday until 11:59pm CST  I will choose 3 winners randomly and each of the winners will pick a prize from the prize page.  Fun, fun, fun!!!

Here's mine:

Invisible Sun by S.J. Davis

Who's next?
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Henry VIII: Wolfman by A.E. Moorat
from Melissa

Ghost Moon by Heather Graham
from Tiffany


Beyond the Darkness by Leonard D. Hilley II
from Julie


Blood Sin by Marie Treanor
from Sherri


Dracula by Bram Stoker (image credit)
from Beverly

Photobucket

Frightfall Fall Read-a-Thon: Mini-Challenge 2 Winners!

The winners of mini-challenge #2 are:

Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner


SenoraG @ Telly Says


Julie @ Knitting and Sundries


Congrats! Head over to the PRIZE PAGE and pick out your prize.  Email your selection to me at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom

I will be posting Mini-Challenge #3 tonight and a little scary trivia contest.  Both of these will stay open until the end of the read-a-thon on Sunday (11:59pm CST).  Also, since we have so many prizes, I'm increasing the number of daily winners from two to three! More chances to win. =O)

Hope everyone is enjoying the read-a-thon and getting a lot more reading done than me! LOL!

Photobucket

Guest post and review: Invisible Sun by S.J. Davis

Please join me today in welcoming S.J. Davis, author of Invisible Sun and Ink, as she shares with us her love of Vampires and Steampunk.


Vampires and Steampunk

First, I am a huge fan of everything Victorian. From teacups, to parasols, to bustles, many fashions and ideas during the age of steam can be seen as very romantic and utopian if viewed through the lens of time. But, in reality, the Victorian era was also a very harsh period - a time of the Industrial Revolution, child labor, and a lack of women’s rights.

I am also a huge fan of dystopian and futuristic science fiction by writers such as William Gibson. So, when I discovered Steampunk (Victorian Sci-fi), I found a sub-genre of speculative fiction that I could really enjoy. I found a way merge my love for Jane Austen, John Keats, and Mary Wollstonecraft, add a dash of dystopia, and add a punk rock aesthetic. Did I say I love punk music? Because I love that too!!

DRACULA is one of my favorite novels of the Victorian era. And vampires are a fun way to contemplate the horror of immortality and the mythology of things that go bump in the night. I’m actually shocked that there aren’t more steampunk vampire movies or books because merging a fantastical creature with innovative modern science is a perfect mix for a dramatic narrative.

When I began Invisible Sun, I wanted to begin with the perils of the Industrial Age and man’s obsession with alchemy. In my book, it is through genetic engineering that man inadvertently creates a new race of vampires in Victorian London. But instead of these vampires being scavengers or prowling the fringes of society, these creatures are highly evolved and respected organizers of law and also the guardians of science.

Unfortunately, one stray drop has spilled from this genetically perfected vein. Draegan, a vampire designed before birth to be the final and perfect vampire, turns rogue, attacking the women of London’s East End and upending the precarious peace between vampires and humans. Chaos breaks loose when a virus, stemming from these genetic experiments, is unleashed on the human community - causing insanity. The chase to end the virus, and to stop Draegan, is the core focus, as two opposing forces – a male vampire and a female heroine – work together. But, they both pay a high price for a hopeful end.

My thoughts on Invisible Sun:
Steampunk, and vampires, and people infected with a 28 Days Later-esque virus...oh my! This was my first foray into the Steampunk genre and I have to say, it was pretty exciting.  Davis has created a Victorian world of gadgets, goggles, and airships, intertwined with a unique vampire race.  Vampires who have a sort of peace treaty with humans and who, mostly, care about the human race.  When one of their ranks turns rogue, it turns things upside down and the relations between the two races become strained, to say the least.

Davis writes well.  Her narrative is descriptive and engaging.  However, some of the characters are very one dimensional and I became lost a couple of times because the book seemed to jump too fast from scene to scene.  I liked how she alluded to Jack the Ripper being the rogue vampire.  It all tied in nicely historically, which is a big plus, since I adore history.  In all, I think the book could have been somewhat longer as to flesh out the characters more and perhaps develop more of the history and story of the vampires.  Plus, a longer book would have made the ending not seem so abrupt.  In all though, I enjoyed Invisible Sun.  It has made me interested in reading more Steampunk in the future.


Invisible Sun
By SJ Davis

Genre: steampunk and vampires

In Victorian London, at the beginning of the Industrial Age and the height of man’s obsession with alchemy, scientists gave birth to the foundation of modern genetic science. As steampunk airships cut across the foggy city of Gravesend, vampires are brought to life.

But instead of scavengers prowling the fringe of society, these creatures have evolved to be the respected organizers of the Society, a universal religion, and the Guardians of Science.

One stray drop has spilled from the vein. Draegan, heralded from birth as the genetically perfect vampire, has turned rogue, attacking the women of London’s East End. Only his brother, with the help of Lady Astrid West, can hunt him down before he is able to unleash his full insanity upon the helpless city. And only another birth, the birth of yet another perfect vampire, can stop his madness.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/_LhyHSQuNdU

About the Author:
SJ Davis is the daughter of an ex-patriate British mother and a Southern Baptist ex-CIA father. As a child, she spoke in silly accents and recounted outlandish tales of fantasy over afternoon tea and to this day it remains her favorite activity. Born in Long Island, NY, she was raised in the suburbs of Washington DC and went to school for a very long time (University of Virginia and George Mason University), married an all-around wonderful man, had two kids (smart, funny, full of opinions), moved from Virginia to New Jersey to Philadelphia to Chicago, and began her writing career. She is a believer in fate, an avid tea drinker, a stiletto aficionado, Doc Marten worshipper, punk rock listener, and lover of flip flops and cardigans. She has a terrible sense of direction, loves gummy bears, and is a Johnny Depp fangirl.

Visit SJ:  blog | Facebook fan page | Facebook | Twitter | author page | Goodreads | Google+

Photobucket
- See more at: http://www.techtrickhome.com/2013/02/show-comment-box-above-comments-on.html#sthash.SyglVmdY.dpuf