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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I'd almost forgotten how much I like a story like this, one that is original and exciting and works logically and gives me two gay main characters who have other concerns besides getting each other naked. Not that there is no sexual tension in this book. It informs most of the narrator's thoughts. But there is very little on-page sex, and the book is in no way diminished by that. I love a scientific take on paranormal tropes and this is one of the good ones. A great read, and highly recommended.
3.5 Stars
“Now I knew how women felt when they thought they were going to get a diamond ring and ended up with an onion ring.”
I’m already a fan of Jordan Castillo Price because of her PsyCop and Mnevermind series. This book is not like either of those. The PsyCop series is heavy on the steam and numerous sex scenes - in some books overdone - and the Mnevermind is about a sweet bonding with an unusual pair. For Hemovore the storyline is also unique in that this is a strange sort of vampire tale - the virus, which is highly contagious, has a dangerous stigma attached to it and no one's happy to have it. There’s even support groups for those who dare to be in any kind of relationship with the infected, which provides a fun support group for the storyline two when the main characters get in a spot of trouble.
The storyline is good with twists, turns, stumbles and tension. There's a great group of supporting players in the form of "helpers" who go from being amusing to just keeping the story unique. Really liked it and the characters - Price's easy-flowing writing style and humor help of course.
Told through the point of view of an assistant, who is constantly wiping things down with antiseptic wipes and sprays, their world is shattered when they have to go on the run from an enemy and clear their names. Mark has a great sense of humor and, with a few extra pounds and pushing 40, he's a delightful main character. Jonathan isn’t exactly exciting, and while their relationship is sweet it does miss intensity at some points.
This one focuses on sweetness instead of steam, but still, great build-up for a new relationship.
“Now I knew how women felt when they thought they were going to get a diamond ring and ended up with an onion ring.”
I’m already a fan of Jordan Castillo Price because of her PsyCop and Mnevermind series. This book is not like either of those. The PsyCop series is heavy on the steam and numerous sex scenes - in some books overdone - and the Mnevermind is about a sweet bonding with an unusual pair. For Hemovore the storyline is also unique in that this is a strange sort of vampire tale - the virus, which is highly contagious, has a dangerous stigma attached to it and no one's happy to have it. There’s even support groups for those who dare to be in any kind of relationship with the infected, which provides a fun support group for the storyline two when the main characters get in a spot of trouble.
The storyline is good with twists, turns, stumbles and tension. There's a great group of supporting players in the form of "helpers" who go from being amusing to just keeping the story unique. Really liked it and the characters - Price's easy-flowing writing style and humor help of course.
Told through the point of view of an assistant, who is constantly wiping things down with antiseptic wipes and sprays, their world is shattered when they have to go on the run from an enemy and clear their names. Mark has a great sense of humor and, with a few extra pounds and pushing 40, he's a delightful main character. Jonathan isn’t exactly exciting, and while their relationship is sweet it does miss intensity at some points.
This one focuses on sweetness instead of steam, but still, great build-up for a new relationship.
This is an excellent new (or at least different) take on the vampire story. There is just so much to appreciate in this novel. It's fast paced, though more so in the last half than the first and there is a little bit of a lull toward the middle. It's tightly plotted with an interesting shift in emphasis between the beginning and the end.
The characters are engaging, though I never quite felt I knew Jonathan as well as Mark, the primary POV. Plus, Jonathan seemed to have a little character drift between him in the beginning and him at the end. But I very much liked them both. I also very much appreciated the sexual tension, but the fact that there is very little actual sex.
The idea of vampirism as a disease isn't a new one, but I don't know that I've ever read a book in which it is so clinically addressed. I liked it. However, for a disease with an 85% mortality rate it seemed an odd forgone conclusion that the character in question would survive. I felt very little angst around this.
All in all, I really quite enjoyed this. But I've yet to read a JCP that I didn't, so no big surprise there.
The characters are engaging, though I never quite felt I knew Jonathan as well as Mark, the primary POV. Plus, Jonathan seemed to have a little character drift between him in the beginning and him at the end. But I very much liked them both. I also very much appreciated the sexual tension, but the fact that there is very little actual sex.
The idea of vampirism as a disease isn't a new one, but I don't know that I've ever read a book in which it is so clinically addressed. I liked it. However, for a disease with an 85% mortality rate it seemed an odd forgone conclusion that the character in question would survive. I felt very little angst around this.
All in all, I really quite enjoyed this. But I've yet to read a JCP that I didn't, so no big surprise there.
I really love the idea but I had great difficulty with getting into this book.
The idea that vampirism is a disease or a virus is not entirely new. But it appears much more often in thrillers and horror stories than in romances (even paranormal romances, and particularly in mm romances). The more I appreciate the work of the author, especially since it was created some time ago, when these topics were not so hackneyed. I definitely enjoy the world created by the author. The whole atmosphere of the epidemic, the strict protective measures that have been taken, the prejudice and discrimination associated with it, but also the difficulties of everyday life. This is the best part of this book.
The more I'm sorry that I had difficulty getting fully involved in this story. I'm not even sure what the cause is. Maybe writing style? I do not know. After reading one chapter, I didn't feel the need to read the next one. I wasn't curious enough about what would happen next. Maybe it's the plot's fault, because the characters are rather fine.
Jonathan is an artist who paints pictures visible only to other vampires. This idea is already excellent in my opinion. He also has a dark past somehow connected with the army. Hungarian army, because Jonathan is Hungarian, which I think is quite a well-worn motif but you can go over it. Mark is his assistant who helps him to function in the world. It's a pretty good idea and the execution is also fine. Men have known each other for years, so their feelings had time to develop. But if you count on a passionate romance full of hot scenes, you will definitely be disappointed. Even I admit that it is difficult for me to talk about deep love between them. When it comes to romance, it could be a little bit more of it here.
However, the main plot focuses on the escape of Jonathan and Mark from the former enemy of Jon. And here I think something is missing, although I can't even say what. Maybe some atmosphere of danger, being chased, hunted like a game, without the possibility of escape. I do not know. But it should be exciting and somehow it is not.
As always, I have some reservations when it comes to the Slavs. From a scientific point of view, the Hungarians are not Slavs, they belong to Finno-Ugric peoples. And the Hungarian language is not Slavic but also Finno-Ugric. Czechoslovakia, of course, fell apart a good ten years before the time in which this story is set. But in general, the presentation of the Slavs in this book is not that bad, and does not contain so many errors.
I would really like to enjoy this book more. I had planned to read it for a long time, I generally like the vampires and I'm disappointed that I didn't like it much more.
The idea that vampirism is a disease or a virus is not entirely new. But it appears much more often in thrillers and horror stories than in romances (even paranormal romances, and particularly in mm romances). The more I appreciate the work of the author, especially since it was created some time ago, when these topics were not so hackneyed. I definitely enjoy the world created by the author. The whole atmosphere of the epidemic, the strict protective measures that have been taken, the prejudice and discrimination associated with it, but also the difficulties of everyday life. This is the best part of this book.
The more I'm sorry that I had difficulty getting fully involved in this story. I'm not even sure what the cause is. Maybe writing style? I do not know. After reading one chapter, I didn't feel the need to read the next one. I wasn't curious enough about what would happen next. Maybe it's the plot's fault, because the characters are rather fine.
Jonathan is an artist who paints pictures visible only to other vampires. This idea is already excellent in my opinion. He also has a dark past somehow connected with the army. Hungarian army, because Jonathan is Hungarian, which I think is quite a well-worn motif but you can go over it. Mark is his assistant who helps him to function in the world. It's a pretty good idea and the execution is also fine. Men have known each other for years, so their feelings had time to develop. But if you count on a passionate romance full of hot scenes, you will definitely be disappointed. Even I admit that it is difficult for me to talk about deep love between them. When it comes to romance, it could be a little bit more of it here.
However, the main plot focuses on the escape of Jonathan and Mark from the former enemy of Jon. And here I think something is missing, although I can't even say what. Maybe some atmosphere of danger, being chased, hunted like a game, without the possibility of escape. I do not know. But it should be exciting and somehow it is not.
As always, I have some reservations when it comes to the Slavs. From a scientific point of view, the Hungarians are not Slavs, they belong to Finno-Ugric peoples. And the Hungarian language is not Slavic but also Finno-Ugric. Czechoslovakia, of course, fell apart a good ten years before the time in which this story is set. But in general, the presentation of the Slavs in this book is not that bad, and does not contain so many errors.
I would really like to enjoy this book more. I had planned to read it for a long time, I generally like the vampires and I'm disappointed that I didn't like it much more.
*sighhhhhh*
This book had such a good premise, a slow burn romance, vampires, and action movie like scenes.... but there was no character or even relationship development.
Like Mark pines after his boss and then all then sudden they’re put in a shitty spot and they’re confessing their love... also Mark was a bit of a walking stereotype unfortunately. I don’t know. I was invested in them getting together I just didn’t love the lack of story around how it happens. Maybe I just didn’t know what this story was supposed to be about.
Overall I had to force myself through the final 30%. Good idea only so-so execution in my opinion.
This book had such a good premise, a slow burn romance, vampires, and action movie like scenes.... but there was no character or even relationship development.
Like Mark pines after his boss and then all then sudden they’re put in a shitty spot and they’re confessing their love... also Mark was a bit of a walking stereotype unfortunately. I don’t know. I was invested in them getting together I just didn’t love the lack of story around how it happens. Maybe I just didn’t know what this story was supposed to be about.
Overall I had to force myself through the final 30%. Good idea only so-so execution in my opinion.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood
In a world in which vampirism is a viral infection, and the world knows everything about it, Mark works as an assistant for artist Johnatan Varga, who happens to also be a vampire. It might not be what he thought it should be, but at least his boss is handsome...
They live their routinary lives until Jonathan's past come to haunt them, and things get complicated.
Jonathan is such a great character! And Mark is funny as hell.
Joel Leslie does a wonderful work here, managing Jonathan accent without going camp, and making listen to this audiobook a real pleasure
A great love story and a fantastic mystery made even better by a fabulous narrator.
They live their routinary lives until Jonathan's past come to haunt them, and things get complicated.
Jonathan is such a great character! And Mark is funny as hell.
Joel Leslie does a wonderful work here, managing Jonathan accent without going camp, and making listen to this audiobook a real pleasure
A great love story and a fantastic mystery made even better by a fabulous narrator.
This review is for the audiobook.
'Bloody' good story with excellent narration!
This story, a different take on the world of vampires (known as V-positives), revolves around Jonathan (V-pos) and his snarky assistant, Mark. This is a slow burn romance.
Joel Leslie is superb as the sarcastic Mark and the somewhat sheltered, sweet Jonathon.
It is no secret that I admire Joel Leslie's talent - he is a great performer, no matter the material he works with; but when he has great material, as with Hemovore, he is exceptional!
'Bloody' good story with excellent narration!
This story, a different take on the world of vampires (known as V-positives), revolves around Jonathan (V-pos) and his snarky assistant, Mark. This is a slow burn romance.
Joel Leslie is superb as the sarcastic Mark and the somewhat sheltered, sweet Jonathon.
It is no secret that I admire Joel Leslie's talent - he is a great performer, no matter the material he works with; but when he has great material, as with Hemovore, he is exceptional!
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes