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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Enjoyed this journey through time from Henry's eyes.
Such a great novel and fitting end to the series. Absolutely loved all the historical figures set into the piece, everyone from Tesla and Rasputin to Twain and Kennedy. Really enjoyed the complex story and insight to Henry's past. A must for all vampire and history fans!
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book isn’t really horror, although there are vampire fights and gore. It’s more of an alternate historical fiction story from a vampires point of view. Henry has lived 500 years and tells us everything he’s seen. He was involved in many big historical events and we learn the “true” story. This was a fun book.
>>> "There are certain constants in the laws of human nature. Like the speed of light, they're fixed and universal. And the biggest one of them all, the one constant that thundered down the mountain long before Moses and his stone tablets, is this: each generation will hold the next in contempt and cherish the imaginary memory of "the ways things used to be". It's baked into our bones as the need to breathe and screw. For five hundred years, I've heard men lament the fact that the world was "going to hell". It would be lovely if we could go our entire lives believing in Santa Claus or be awestruck at the sight of jingling car keys well into adulthood. But that's not the way it works. Some of us grow cynical. Some of us grow wise. But ALL of us grow old, if not in body, then certainly in spirit."
How rare is it when a sequel is just as good if not more enjoyable than the principle book in the series? Was it gory, sure, its a book about vampire Hunters, but it doesn't really glorify the gore. It occurs and it moves the story along, but it doesn't drive the book.
The writing is witty and spry with flecks of self humor. I enjoyed Unholy Night more, but this was a close second in overall enjoyment. Bravo.
The writing is witty and spry with flecks of self humor. I enjoyed Unholy Night more, but this was a close second in overall enjoyment. Bravo.
I am not a fan of the vampire genre. But I love Seth Grahame-Smith for his writing style and sense of humor. This book is an interesting take on history with a twist. Even if you don't like vampires I would give this book a try.
This is an excellent follow-up to the first, while also being readable as a stand-alone novel.
It has the same mix of actual history and fantastical almost-history to have me going: "Oh, yes, vampires make perfect sense at x historical event." Only to realize three pages later: "Wait, what am I thinking? Vampires don't exist!" Only to have it happen again a few pages later.
While not a slim volume (clocking in at just shy of 400 pages) it is nonetheless a quick, enjoyable read. Because just as soon as it starts being too historical (if such a thing is even possible) something amazing and (almost) unbelievable happens.
I was pleased with myself for predicting one thing about Grander, only to be blindsided by... well, everything else about Grander, a good villain all the way through, which is refreshing in and of itself, you don't get many of those these days.
All in all: an enjoyable ride, and I'm glad this was my first book of 2015.
It has the same mix of actual history and fantastical almost-history to have me going: "Oh, yes, vampires make perfect sense at x historical event." Only to realize three pages later: "Wait, what am I thinking? Vampires don't exist!" Only to have it happen again a few pages later.
While not a slim volume (clocking in at just shy of 400 pages) it is nonetheless a quick, enjoyable read. Because just as soon as it starts being too historical (if such a thing is even possible) something amazing and (almost) unbelievable happens.
I was pleased with myself for predicting one thing about Grander, only to be blindsided by... well, everything else about Grander, a good villain all the way through, which is refreshing in and of itself, you don't get many of those these days.
All in all: an enjoyable ride, and I'm glad this was my first book of 2015.
The first book was entertaining and almost a parody of modern history books. This one felt like a rush through history solely to check off milestones (Jack the Ripper, World Wars 1 and 2, quick mention of the Depression in between, up to JFK, etc.). What if Rasputin were a vampire? How would J. Edgar Hoover feel about vampires? Quick on to the next milestone; no rest for those who want to explore a piece of history more or who want deeper characterization. Move on. Move on.