Blood Red, A
Vampire Love Story
By J. C. Brinson-Untiet
Published by PublishAmerica
Copyright 2004
ISBN: 1413708218
Genre: Romance Vampire
Blood Red is a first novel by J. C. Brenson-Untiet. As a
"first" novel, it bears great promise for a creative and very
imaginative author.
It is one of those love at first sight romances, but there is much that
may keep the two lovers apart. For Kathleen is a mere Irish lass,
daughter of the village blacksmith, and Alexander, more often called the
Young Prince, is the son of the Lord of the manor. But even worse, he
and his family are believed to be evil vampires.
Perhaps if Kathleen's father hadn't tried so hard to protect his
daughter and told her the evil tales and the fate that might wait her,
Kathleen wouldn't have been so stubborn and set on winning her prince.
But she had no inkling that in being wooed and wed by her prince
charming, she was fated to join him in an eternal life and to fight
beside him to protect her parents, her village, and her new family and
clan. For her prince charming does indeed turn out to be a prince, the
son and grandson of the rulers of the Vampires. And when the clans
gather, it is clan politics and good vampires against evil.
J. C. has created a vivid and interesting vampire world. Not undead
creatures afraid of the sunlight, but shapeshifters, creatures of great
power. They hunt as wolves, and while they must feed on blood, are
not killers. No, these creature enjoy other food and life as well. As
for creating a new vampire, it is the process of ingesting vampire
blood. The closer to the source, the royal family, the stronger the
powers and the more human-like the result. On their wedding night,
Kathleen and Alexander share in the blood of the oldest - strongest
vampires, and so become among the strongest vampires. The village lass
is destined to become a true princess and a ruler. But are they really
vampires? As one character says, "It is not what they be, but from
where they come from." Ah, an interesting idea for a sequel.
My only complaint was that the author chose the style that many authors
use to create suspense. Multiple view point characters, written in short
scenes, switching back and forth quickly to reveal bits and pieces of
the story line. I found it confusing, especially since one of the
characters remained unnamed until almost the end of the book. But it did
heighten the suspense, and the story of Kathleen and Alexander and the
mysterious goings-on among the vampires was more than enough to keep me
reading. I'm glad that she promises more stories in this vampire
universe.
Reviewed by Linda Suzane for Suite101.com, July 27, 2004
Jim Butcher has created a real winner with his Dresden Files. Harry
Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a wizard, the only one listed in the
Chicago Yellow Pages. A finder of lost objects, a sorcerer for hire, in
the tradition of the good old fashioned gumshoe. A slightly shabby white
knight. A private eye sometimes at odds with the law, both the police
and the mystical White Council, but always on the side of right. Harry
is a wise cracking tough who can never resist a damsel in distress. He
reminds me of what Harry Potter might be grown up.
The books are fast paced, action filled, non-stop adventures as Harry
comes up against evil vampires, demons, wicked sorcerers, werewolves,
faerie, ghosts, who all seem to be out to kill Harry and destroy the
world. So far each book has dealt with a different supernatural
creature, further expanding and exploring the world that Jim Butcher has
created, making the series ever new and interesting. I’m hooked and
can hardly wait until the next one in the series.
Storm Front - Harry confronts a evil sorcerer who is tearing
people’s hearts out with magic.
Fool Moon - Werewolves, some good and some very bad.
Grave Peril - Ghosts are killing people and vampires are behind
the plot.
Summer Knight - Harry is caught in the middle of a war between the
two faerie courts.
Death Masks - Harry must fight fallen angels to rescue the Shroud
of Turin.
Blood Rites - Someone is using black magic to kill actresses on a
film set.
Deadbeat - Release May 8 2005 in hardback. Harry is up against a
group of Necromancers.
Storm Front
By Jim Butcher Published by Roc
Copyright 2000
Series: Dresden Files #1
Genre Subgenre: Paranormal Mystery
Jim Butcher’s series isn’t quite a vampire series although
vampires do inhabit the world, along with faerie, demons, and other
supernatural creatures. Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a
wizard, a finder of lost objects, a sorcerer for hire, in the tradition
of the good old fashioned gumshoe. A slightly shabby white knight. A
private eye sometimes at odds with the law, both the police and the
mystical White Council, but always on the side of right.
In the first book, STORM FRONT, someone is using magic to tear people’s
hearts out. Morgan, the White Council’s errand boy, believes that
Harry is behind the black magic and can hardly wait to carry out the
execution order. Then there is Lieutenant Karrin Murphy, Harry’s
friend. When Harry tries to protect her and refuses to share
information, she begins to suspect that he is the murderer and even gets
a warrant. Meanwhile the evil sorcerer is out to kill Harry, sending
demons and scorpions to after him and his friends. Then he steals a lock
of Harry’s hair. Time is running out. The next thunderstorm and the
wizard will use its power to tear Harry’s heart out, that is if Harry
can’t find him first.
I’m sure I’m going to really enjoy this series. It reminds me of
another favorite of mine, P.N. Elrod’s Vampire Files series, and Harry
Dresden reminds me of a certain Harry Potter, all grown up.
If you enjoy mystery and fantasy, don’t miss Jim Butcher’s
Dresden Files.
Fool Moon By Jim Butcher Published by Roc
Copyright Jan. 2001
ISBN#:0451458125
Series: Dresden Files #2
Genre Subgenre: Paranormal Mystery
Wizard Harry Dresden is back in the second Dresden Files novel. This
time the moon is full and people are dying, savagely torn apart by
werewolves and Harry must try to stop the rampage.
Only which werewolf is the killer?
Harry learns that werewolves come in different kinds – some are
simple magic, others merely think like wolves, some need a magic belt,
some are cursed. Some keep their humanity, their ability to think, while
others lose themselves in savage blood lust.
Harry ends up confronting all the different types and almost all of
them are out to kill him.
FOOL MOON is an exciting nonstop adventure full of violence and gore.
If it was a movie, it would be an action thriller rated R for violence.
I didn’t like it as well as the first one because it lacked some of
the humor and lighthearted irreverence. FOOL MOON is much more intense
that STORM FRONT. But that isn’t to say I didn’t like it. Jim
Butcher has a real winner here, a compelling series. Harry Dresden is a
true hero to protect you from the things that go bump in the night.
Demons, werewolves beware, Harry Dresden, wizard extraordenaire is on
the case.
Grave
Peril
By Jim Butcher Published by Roc
Copyright Jan 2001
ISBN#: 0451458125
Series: Dresden Files #3
Genre Subgenre: Paranormal Mystery
In GRAVE PERIL, Dresden File #3, ghosts are rampaging through
Chicago. Harry Dresden and Michael, the Knight of the Cross, who carries
the blessed sword Amorachius, must protect the innocents, such as
a hospital nursery full of babies. Something has been driving the ghosts
crazy, blurring the boundary between NeverNever and reality. Then a
ghost called Nightmare crosses over and begins targeting Harry and his
friends and loved ones. It seems that a demon that Harry and Michael
killed has come back for revenge and steals part of Harry’s magic and
his face, masquerading as Harry to attack Murphy and Michael’s wife.
On top of that Harry has been invited to a party hosted by the local
vampires. He knows it is a bad idea to attend but he figures whoever is
behind the haunts will be there. Dressed like a cheesy vampire, baby
blue tux, red and black cap, and fake fangs, with Michael covering his
back, Harry is prepared to confront the vampires, but things go wrong
especially when Harry’s girlfriend, Susan, crashes the party. Can
Harry manage to get them out alive?
In Harry’s universe, the vampires are really "ugly"
looking bat-like creatures who hid beneath human flesh masks. They are
evil. Bianca, the head of the Chicago vampires, blames Harry for the
death of one her favorites and has set out to get revenge. Like many
other vampire societies created by various authors, this one has lots of
rules, different courts, and political intrigue. Bianca can’t hurt
Harry directly, but she plans to force Harry to break the rules so she
can kill him with impunity. She is so sure that he won’t survive that
she even gives him his own tombstone.
After reading so many books where vampires are the good guys,
romantic heroes, it was refreshing to find them on the other side, but
they aren’t horrific monsters, just plain old bad guys.
Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden is non-stop action. GRAVE PERIL is a
real page turning adventure.
Summer
Knight By Jim Butcher Published by Roc
Copyright Jan 2001
ISBN#: 0451458923
Series: Dresden Files #4
Genre Subgenre: Paranormal Mystery
Trouble continues to plague Harry Dresden. He is begin called to
account for his actions, blamed for starting a war between the Vampire’s
Red Court and the Wizards. There are some wizards who want to buy peace
by turning Harry over the vampires, a prospect that Harry certainly
doesn’t look forward to. His real guilt lies within his own feelings,
for his girlfriend Susan was bitten by vampires and now suffers from
their terrible hunger. If she once sates it, she will become a monster,
a vampire. Harry blames himself and is spending every waking moment
looking for a cure.
His friend, Billie, the werewolf, encourages him to take a new case,
to stop punishing himself and get a life. Only Harry’s new case,
finding a murderer and recovering a stolen magical object, puts him in
the middle of a war between the Summer and Winter faerie courts. A shift
in the balance of power that could bring about mass destruction, maybe
even a new ice age.
I’m getting a bit tired of Harry’s whining and his guilt. After
all it wasn’t all his fault that Susan got bitten. It was her choice
to crash the vampire party, even after Harry had explained how dangerous
it was. And sure the odds are stacked against him, but it really isn’t
him alone against the whole world. It isn’t his responsibility to
protect every one of his friends from harm. But by the end of this book,
he has grown up a bit, learned he can rely on friends, and that everyone
needs to make their own choices.
So now we’ve done evil sorcerers and demons, werewolves, vampires,
and faerie, I wonder what’s next. Fortunately, I won’t have to wait
long to find out. I will be disappointed when I have finished the next
book and am back to the long wait between publication.
Death Masks By Jim Butcher Published by Roc
Copyright 2003
ISBN#: 0451459407
Series: Dresden Files #5
Genre Subgenre: Paranormal Mystery
In DEATH MASKS, book five of the Dresden Files, the Shroud of Turin
has been stolen and the wizard Harry Dresden is hired to find the
thieves and the holy relic. He isn’t the only one looking. There is
Gentleman John Macrone, the head of Chicago’s largest crime family,
whom Harry suspects is the buyer the thieves are supposed to meet. Then
there is Harry’s friend Michael and two more Knights of the Cross. The
Knights of the Cross carry mystical swords and do God’s work. Michael
asks Harry to stay out of the situation and let the Knights handled it,
because there is a prophecy that if Harry goes after the Shroud, he will
die. So what else is new? Harry is always being told he is going to die.
But this time, it might be true. He isn’t up against an ordinary
demon, no this time he is up against several of the "Fallen"
like in angels. It takes all three of the Knights to kill the bear-like
demon that attacks Harry in a dark alley. Michael warns Harry that there
are 30 such demons under the leadership of Nicodemus. If Nicodemus gets
his hands on the Shroud, he will use it to spread a plague far worse
than the Black Death and bring about an Apocalypse.
On the vampire front, Harry is challenged to a duel to the death by
Ortega, a Vampire warrior of the Red Court. If Harry doesn’t agree to
fight, Ortega promises to target all of Harry’s friends. If Harry
manages to win, Ortega promises the vampires will leave Harry and all of
Chicago alone. But Ortega is confided that he will win and Harry will
die, thus ending the war between the vampires’ Red Court and the
wizards’ White Council. Ortega may be right, since Harry won’t be
allowed to use magic.
And Harry’s love, Susan, returns.
I really liked DEATH MASKS. In addition to Jim Butcher’s
fast-paced-action, near- death experiences, there is a lot of humor and
interesting ideas like a God’s warrior who claims to be an atheist.
Harry has learned his lesson, he is no longer the lone warrior who feel
that he and only he can save the day. In this one he gets a lot of help
from his friends. I really got a kick out of Susan, Harry’s
girlfriend, who was bitten by a vampire in a previous book. She left in
order to learn how to control the beast within her and she comes back
really changed. Now she can really kick butt, sort of a super secret
agent, who ends up taking care of Harry. Nice role reversal.
Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files is well worth reading, each and every
one of them, but especially DEATH MASKS. Do try to read them in order
though, although each book is a story unto itself, still there is so
much built on from the previous books that it really helps to know what
has gone before. I like the fact that Harry is one of those characters
that changes and grows as the series progresses.
