Review: Fresh take on an old theme...4.5 stars
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 17, 2013
Ned Banks is a famous fight trainer.  At least, he used to be.  He's down and out, and relives his most recent failure every day of his life.  Being he's a half vampire, that's a lot of days to fill with the replay of seeing your most promising human protege torn to shreds in the Arena by an elite vampire cage fighter.  Then he witnesses a young, human girl take on a handful of vampires single handed without breaking a sweat.  She wants to fight in the arena and Ned knows that with some training, they may just be able to change their harsh world, a world in which Vampire Lords rule a dystopian future through politics, bread, and circuses.  Will Ned and Sakura be able to change the lives of the downtrodden or will they fail when the cards are set against them.I'd first discovered Jason Riddler with Blood and Sawdust.  I thought the world he'd created, along with his fresh take on vampires was inventive and entertaining.  See, his vamps aren't all glamorous, walking works of art with breathtaking beauty and flowing hair.  Some just struggle to make their way.  The same holds true for Triumph.  Triumph works the seasoned veteran takes the talented yet unfocussed newcomer trope and, thanks to Riddler's imagination and writing ability, makes it something new.  The world he created in Triumph is part Fight Club, part Rocky, part Running Man, but it's filled with heart and fantastic characters.  Ned suffers from a troubled past and a long history of losing, but he's got a code of honor;something that's sorely lacking in the current time period's blood thirsty populace.  Sakura is naive but talented, but she's got heart and ability.  At the end of the day, Triumph for Sakura is a very human story, a story about that one last chance to make a difference and try to change the oppressive world the characters inhabit.Riddler's prose is fast and furious, but also descriptive.  His characters are fantastic, each having their unique voice and consistent characterizations, and the dialogue is quick, snappy, and at times laugh out loud funny.In a sea of 'safe' and 'been there done that' vampire fiction, Riddler sets himself apart by being different, by doing something that goes against the grain.  The good thing?  He does it well and makes it entertaining.If you're looking for a break from the norm, if you like an alternative history David Vs. Goliath story, with a hint of the fantastical, and a good does of action, look no further than Jason Riddler.  His is a great and welcomed new voice in vampire fiction.