Review: A historical paranormal vampirical love story for the immediate taking
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 31, 2013
First a few favorite things - it’s ok, sing along if it’s now in your head - and a bare intro before things really get… wordy. ;) Though, the length of the book commands me.Maidenstone: what a great name for a town, especially a story like this.Prevaricate: this is merely a miniscule indication of the word-gasms you will experience while reading this book.Malicious eunuch.Recalcitrant. I told you – I mean, just stop it with the word fawesomeness, except… do not.Wastrel: my new favorite word. Go ahead, bandy it about, it feels good.It’s a priapism! I had to, I no apologize.Now then, to further exploration we go. It’s interesting, fear of the unknown. From the 15th or 18th century Britain land to 21st century, it consistently reveals idiocy. Within these times, both Ban and Nicholas wish they could run away and make changes about themselves, the unfortunate result of when the outside world tries to make someone feel their inside world is wrong when it is not.I could feel that low hum of anticipation, I knew something was about to shove me around a corner I didn’t even see.A funny: initially, I kept reading Ban as “Bahhhn”, like Ban Ki Moon. I had to shake myself and say it like “cannnnnnnnnnn”, not Kahhhhhhhhhhhhhn. Ok, I’m good, really.These are very human conditions: an initially dismissive, dangerous one (Sebastian, Ban’s master) who tolerates and yet desperately needs another (Ban), leaving that other with his own vulnerabilities, despite his strength. Then, this other finds his other (Nicholas), someone he sees as weaker, to be used, but encounters the ultimate human quality: unpredictability. Strengths are over-defined, weakness (good and bad) revealed and seeds of hope… not yet planted. Will Nicholas find his true strength and potential through Ban? Will Ban be able to break from his role as Sebastian’s flea to be flicked and find Nicky? Will Sebastian be the danger that damns them all, or simply whither away? This author knows how to let her characters grow and change. So good.I wrote more on the above subject but I won’t include it. You should get to see and feel it all on your own.This story is human. Much is revealed **** SPOILER*** when Nicholas is laying fevered in bed after Ban took his rage about Sebastian out on Nicky **** END SPOILER **** and the meaning of these characters is blown wide open.Meanwhile, grand-mamma, Mrs Robinson (ha! actually just thought about that), Nicholas’ grandmother is fantastic. What a character, both in creation and for simply what and who she is. She sees all for who they really are, including Ban. She is a key, a catalyst, a font of knowledge, a sarcastic old biddy in the most enjoyable way with a heart she has no compunction about opening for all to revel within. I don’t want to reveal too much but she sees that, after so many years of being told certain things, Ban believes them about himself, even though they are lies. Ban is a man who became a creature he thought he could live with, as, only to discover he wasn’t the type at all. A romantic, born at the wrong time, in the wrong place, fate continuing its cruel dispense.Sometimes flashbacks work, sometimes they don’t. This story is one for two. Those between Sebastian and Ban seemed detached and maybe too frequent in relation to the amount of character discovery they revealed. We quickly learn what a monster Seb is and that Ban didn’t share the same level of enjoyment when it comes to ‘punishment’, and so much more.The ones that do work for me were between Ban and Fino, the last human he loved, was permitted to love. These truly give insight, both to the truth of Ban’s goodness and in contrast to the still kind but violent creature he had become, partly by choice, partly not.I crave subtle surprises and this book fed me to filling. This **** SPOILER **** Dr. Flowers and Ban working together in an attempt to destroy Sebastian**** END SPOILER **** is but one of many examples that show how well-crafted this story is. Another is how Ban and Nicholas actually tell each other things about themselves, their fears, failures, impactful events. None of that contrived, self-imposed refusal to feed a bond with revealing conversation. This author uses neither this nor other thinly fabricated tactics to produce tension and the reward of relief of surviving such.At the end of chapter sixteen, I know, it’s become official: this is now one of my favorite books. Character-rich, a well-drawn world, fantastic language, a mystery, and just plain damn fine fiction. CHOMP.I realize I haven’t mentioned the ‘romance’ or the sex (there definitely is), but that’s not due to there being none or that they are not worthy of attention, they most definitely are. They’re both part of a truly fine story and are allowed to play their parts in harmony within it. Just to be clear, it is hot and honest and fun and right.I leave you with this: vulnerability is to be exalted, rewarded and cherished. An artfully drawn story about which I could go on and on and on, but – just go read the damn book, just go. Go. Go!!! ;)Oh, I know that for some of you I already passed the “on and on” stage but *razzzzzberry*