Reviews

American Vampire, Vol. 2 by Mateus Santolouco, Scott Snyder, Rafael Albuquerque

almostlikequake's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lilmatt050's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

True Rating: 4.6

After reading the first volume of American Vampire, I had huge expectations for the continuation of this series partly thanks to Stephen King. He wrote the origin story of Skinner Sweet and I felt as though he gave birth to this series even though it's Scott Snyder's creation.

I didn't read any synopsis about this volume and I felt as though I should have because I was getting bored of the storyline right before we find out what Pearl has been up since the past decade. I realize since Vampires are immortal, each volume takes place in a new decade so we are welcomed to Las Vegas in the 1930s.

I really could careless about the plot featuring this cop named Cashel whose father was Deputy who got killed in the line of fire. But now he's on a mission to discovered who killed his father and why the most important people who helped build the Hoover Dam are getting killed in an abnormal way such as no trace of blood in their system, pale looking, and bit marks on the neck. Can you figure out why? (Spoiler Alert: It's a Vampire!) Apparently Cashel couldn't figure that out and needed other people to spell out clearly for him.

I really wanted more Skinner and Pearl action and not other useless characters for the first half. When we finally get to see Pearl and Henry again, I truly enjoyed the storyline and I believe the next volume will be exciting since now we are going to be introduced into the 1940s and WW2. I adore this series and Rafael Albuquerque illustrations truly captivates the gruesome reality of monsters and Vampires.

ramonnogueras's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Han pasado 10 años, y la historia continúa. Y es mejor que la primera. Leed esto.

digitalrob's review

Go to review page

4.0

Interesting developments in the relationships between American and European vampires, plus another, older type. I'm excited to read Volume 3 to see where the situation with Pearl and Hattie goes.

showlola's review

Go to review page

4.0

I really, really like this book. So much fun and you can tell its just getting going.

the_rita's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

otherwyrld's review

Go to review page

3.0

This is an improvement on the first volume, in that the emphasis is less on Skinner Sweet and more on the world-building of the series. Interesting foundations are being built here, along with a larger cast of characters for us to interact with. We are also introduced to new types of vampires, to vampire killers (in the form of the Vassals of the Morning Star - great name for a secret society dedicated to vampire hunting), and to a developing American society distancing itself from its European heritage in favour of building its own.

Most of the book is set in Las Vegas in the 1930s. The Hoover Dam is being built nearby, bringing all kinds of lawlessness into the former cowtown. When the financiers of the dam start winding up dead and drained of blood, local police chief Cash McCogan finds himself caught up in a deadly war.

This story is interspersed with the continuing story of Pearl and her husband Henry (who rescued her a decade ago and who now feeds her to keep her from attacking other people). They find that they may run but they can't hide forever, and a former friend now turned enemy is also on their trail.

Sweet does have one final play, just to remind us that he is a monster - he
Spoilerinjects the police chiefs heavily pregnant wife with his own blood, and what results is no Blade


I still don't particularly like the artwork, but the pacing seems better in this book and the story does seem to be going to some interesting places, so I will stick with it.

booktopia's review against another edition

Go to review page

fast-paced

3.0

jayspa65's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

American Vampire Vol. 2 picked right up where the first volume left off. This story definitely keeps my attention. The character of Skinner Sweet is the perfect villain; mean, nasty, tricky, and downright E-V-I-L.

It is about time someone put the bite back into the vampire sub-genre! Without spoiling any of the story I can definitely say that these books are full of flesh-ripping fights between vampire clans, a conspiracy, and lots and lots of bloody vengeance! Its refreshing to read about this new twist to the classic vampire formula, and nice not to have to see glittery frat boys arguing over dreamy eyed sorority sisters while wanna-be goth tweens mope around in the background. 

American Vampire is everything that "Team Glitter Gang" is not...interesting, smart, diabolical, and most of all ADULT entertainment rather than high school fodder. Personally I would like to thank Stephen King and Scott Snyder for bringing back the vampires I grew up with!

island_reader's review

Go to review page

4.0

3.5 stars - 6/10