Gothic Reign Review # 5

Gothic Reign Reviews #5
Sarina
Let the Darkness Come


Well sleeping for months at a time can be very draining, and quite disorientating when you first open your eyes and the brain stutters alive – well stutters dead because I'm not really alive, am I. I did feed about an hour ago and in the process I found a box of books I am supposed to read. As a vampire I am blessed (funny) with the ability to read a book just by touching it. The osmosis feed is exhilarating as words and stories flow into me like a deep ink river. I see there is much to learn about my kind and every dark author is trying to find the path to endarkenment.


I touched a strange book yet a thrilling and frightening volume that requires much thought and consideration in light of the decay of the modern world. Carla Buckley's ‘The Things That Keep us Here’ takes us into the heart of panic and the terrifying ordeal of a family running from a pandemic – the edgy reality of this story will keep you tucked in close to death and fearing the day, and the man down the road with the sneezy nose. For me there held no great fear, but for the human population there is much to worry about here. With the rise in population and ease of world travel it will only be a matter of time before a pandemic like this with take you all. Available from good book stores in Australia or Amazon or other stores worldwide. Very good.


This is a book that made me smile, and it is part of a series I think many a fan of my world may enjoy. Jeanie Frost’s ‘Half Way to The Grave’ is a sweet mix of romance, paranormal activity and more than a reasonable amount of angst. True, Vampire novels are everywhere, then being like me would be, wouldn’t we. I think the interactions between the quirky characters gives this the fang over some other out there and even with a mysterious search, a dangerous partnership and the pursuit of really, really nasty types the ride is anything but tame. This is book one and you can get it from any store in Australia or Amazon – Also available throughout the USA and Canada


Even in my death sleep I sensed something quite strange in the inkworks of the world, not a movement but more a perverse jangle that said someone was doing something close to me. Nalini Singh has delivered an interesting blend of beast and intelligence coupled with the dynamic explosions of emotional turmoil with her books in the Psy-Changeling Series. Here I have been flooded psychically with the messages of ‘Slave to Sensation’ and ‘Vision of Heat’ just 2 book in this wonderful series. I, like any vampire, love the joy found in words well placed and in the flow of the world around the characters – here is a pleasure. Nalini Singh delivers words in a way that make you want to weep, laugh and even growl along with the story. Here we have a tale of the super unemotional and intelligent humans, the Psy and the beastly, beast animals of the Changelings. In all things they stand against each other and yet they desire business, trade and sharing on too many levels to just ignore. The problem comes when the Changeling want to hunt down a serial killer of their kind, a Psy. Would this hunt mean the death of all of them? Of course I have book 2, so it wasn’t a total destroy type thing but it did bring to for some insights that remain dangerous. There is much happening and much to wonder about and Sign does manage to make you think more than most writers. If I had to rank this series so far it would be a full two fangs and a pint of type ‘O+’


I can take little more of the word flow coming my way; I must again feed and savour the taste of warm blood on my lips. To wait too much longer would mean the coming of the rage, the temporary mind blank that can mimic the frenzy of a beast in hunger. ‘Angel’s Blood’ and ‘Archangel’s Kiss’ sit before me the exquisite text of Nalini Sing once again has eased me into a sombre, yet joyous position under my bed – for that is where I sleep, beneath a bed with the clawing of my nails upon the slats staring down. Now, I don’t usually go in for Vampire Hunters as a rule, obviously, but credit where credit is due; despite my unease at hunters of my kind I did find the marvelous nature of the story captivating me and leaving me wanting more. Now, what could be worse than a bad vampire (not me), well, and I am pleased to say this, but a bad dude angel who has lost his way. Bout time that lot got theirs I say. Like most books that run in the paranormal field there is romance but it has a nice balance that doesn’t make you feel queasy and the actions is so crisp it cuts. The second in the series isn’t any easier for our intrepid hunter, not just a bad angel but a bad archangel; now I have always know these guys have been dodgy, so it was not surprise to me to see a rogue on the loose. Of course angels don’t really have the same power as us vampires, nor are they anywhere near as attractive, but this is fiction so I allowed the ideas to simmer for a time in my mind. Yes, I say, yes Nalini Singh is a legend on the rise; get all her books and just fall back into the worlds and dip into the glorious words. You won’t be able to see things like me; you’re not dead for a start but you will be able to enjoy great story writing.



Please note this box of books was supplied by Hachette Australia www.hachette.com.au