A review by jedbird
Day Boy by Trent Jamieson

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I really enjoyed this unique take on vampire mythology. At some point in the future, following an apocalypse, unspecified, there is a race of Masters, vampires who oversee, tend, and feed from their human flocks. Mark is errand-doing Day Boy to Master Dain, who raised him from childhood. Mark is about to age out of the Day Boy role, but it's unknown what he will do next--he's an unlikely candidate for Mastery, but there are other vampire-supportive roles he might do. There are five Masters in town, many more in the city a train trip away. There is squabbling between Masters, squabbling among the Day Boys. One of the first things that happens is Mark getting his ass kicked. 

Not only is this a fresh vampire story, it's a unique coming-of-age story as well. The prose is both blunt and dreamy, to good effect.