Review: It's like a modern retelling of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 27, 2012
Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of the overdone vampire story line; however, I recently read the engrossing book "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" which opened my eyes to the fact that great stories can be told even within a genre drained of life - such as vampires.The book "Takers" is another example of great storytelling.Without giving away too much, the author takes a novel approach toward the main character (an LA police officer) who is only "half-turned" into a vampire (also known as a Taker - because they take the blood and souls of normal people called "normies").This unique setup allows for a strong multi-layered conflict within the main character who endures extreme external conflict - while simultaneously struggling with his internal ethical morality as a cop and his need to feed; as well as his split disdain for each part of his duality.It's a fascinating character study in the "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" tradition - or Dr. David Banner and the Incredible Hulk - regardless, it is a gritty and modern update of humanity's continuing struggle with itself.Having said that, it's my opinion that this book is fine for adults but it is not suited for young readers due to its graphic content, violence and language.