Review:
This was a very atmospheric, moody, somewhat dark tale of a vampire’s life after being turned and his struggle against the darkness trying to overtake him.
One of the things I loved most was the writing itself. It was beautiful and lyrical, and it worked really well with the feel of the book.
I also liked that somewhat dark aspect that I mentioned. I say somewhat because it didn’t feel emotionally dark, and the parts that took place in the present weren’t that dark, but Henry did have a dark past. He was very much a brooding, tortured hero, but for good reason. Not only did he slaughter his whole family, he became so desperate to get his humanity back that, ironically, it caused him to lose his humanity when his search for a cure became a true obsession and led to him becoming Jack the Ripper.
But that, the whole Jack the Ripper thing, was another thing I liked. It was really fun and a nice touch. At first it seemed it was only going to be a one-sentence mention, but then further into the book it was explained a lot more and we got to see bits from when he was living in London and actually committing the murders (there were kind of dual storylines, one in the present, one in the past). So the author did include things from the real murders, like the prostitutes, the organ removal, and the letters.
The present wasn’t quite as interesting to me in the beginning and middle since it felt very slow-paced and was hard for me to really stay focused on (one of my only complaints), but the pacing did match the atmospheric feel, and the story picked up and surprised me in a great way near the end.
Then there were the characters. I did like Henry because I like brooding, tortured heroes, but Dougal really stole the show for me. The descriptions of him, the little mentions here and there of the things he did, the ways he acted—all filtered through Henry’s mind since it was from his POV—were just perfect. It was brilliant writing, and he was just an entertaining, endearing, and really well fleshed out and described character.
Even better though was the friendship in this. Dougal had seen Henry at his absolute lowest, lower than you can even imagine, yet he was always there for him, always wanting to help, and not willing to leave him.
There were only a few things I didn’t like about the book. I mentioned already that it was a little too slow-paced for me. I was also bothered by the instalove at first, but that became a little more bearable by the end. Last but not least, I also didn’t like Ari throughout most of the book. I grew to like her more by the end, but it aggravated me that she was keeping secrets when lives were at stake and Henry and Dougal were trying to help. And she was kind of a jerk sometimes, especially to Henry.
Overall though, despite the slow pace and few things I disliked, the beautiful writing did a wonderful job of setting the mood, the Jack the Ripper aspect was fun, Dougal was an amazingly well-written character, and I enjoyed reading Henry’s story.
Recommended For:
Vampire lovers. Anyone who likes slow-paced, atmospheric, somewhat dark books. Anyone interested in stories that involve Jack the Ripper.
![Book Review: Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend by Alan Cumyn [Audiobook]](https://metaphorsandmoonlight.com/wp-content/uploads/Book-Review-Hot-Pterodactyl-Boyfriend-by-Alan-Cumyn-255x255.jpg)
![Book Review: The Druid Stone (Layers of the Otherworld Book 1) by Heidi Belleau & Violetta Vane [Audiobook]](https://metaphorsandmoonlight.com/wp-content/uploads/Book-Review-The-Druid-Stone-Layers-of-the-Otherworld-Book-1-by-Heidi-Belleau-Violetta-Vane-255x255.jpg)
Another one added to my tbr! I’m going to have to create a shelf dedicated to you and your recs, Kristen. You know this one will score for me since it has a broody, tortured hero. I also like stories with strong bonds between characters so Henry and Dougal’s friendship will also score. And that Jack the Ripper element? Yeah, another score! I don’t know about the slow pace but if it’s part of the atmosphere I may be able to handle it. Mostly though, I’m really curious about Henry and his life as a vampire! 🙂
You should definitely do that. I totally want my own shelf 😉 Lol yeah I like those three things too! So it was worth it, despite the slow pace.
I added this one to my wishlist! On your “recommended for” section it’s like you’re describing what I like 100%. lol! I definitely need to try this one and I don’t mind slow paced when it works for the overall atmosphere of the novel. Fantastic review and I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome! I knew it’d be one you’d be interested in 😀 Looking forward to seeing what you think whenever you read it!
I’m definitely interested. I can’t wait to see what I think too. 🙂
You’ll have to let me know once you read!
I haven’t read a vampire book in I don’t even know how long. One of these days, I’m going to pick up a book that you review since you’re reviewing some interesting ones. A lot different from the more popular paranormal books and authors out there.
Well I definitely think you should read a vampire book immediately, but I may be a little biased since I love them 😉 But let me know if you read one that I reviewed! I’d love to see your thoughts 😀 And yeah, I do read mostly self-pub and indie books. Doesn’t get me the most followers, but it’s what I enjoy!
I love it when a book can pull off atmospheric well, there are few books that i think really fit that description. Not sure if I would like that type of writing, but it does seem to fit the book well. I like how you mention which type of dark the book is, I feel that would be very helpful for people like me who don’t mind some type of darkness, but do mind others. That is ironically that he wanted to regain his humanity so much he lost it, it does make me feel bad already for the character with what he has had to go through.
It sounds original how here a vampire is Jack the Ripper and how you get to see a bit surrounding that topic. I have read a few books that did something with Jack the Ripper, although not a lot. I like how you mention Douglas steals the show, he sure sounds like an interesting character. Even though there were a few small things you didn’t like it sounds like it was a good read for you overall. Great review!
I don’t think I read a lot of atmospheric books, so maybe I’m less critical of it? I did like the writing though. And I’m glad my mention of what type of darkness is helpful 🙂 I also figured people like me who *do* like emotionally dark books might be disappointed if they thought this would be one of them. The loss of humanity thing was definitely ironic, and I did feel bad for him.
I loved the Jack the Ripper thing! I’ve not read a lot of books that involved Jack the Ripper either, but I liked how, in this one, he actually *was* Jack, rather than the MC just trying to find Jack or figure out who he was or fight him or whatever. And Dougal was such a fun character lol. Thanks!
I find Jack the Ripper so fascinating, so that aspect would definitely interest me. Thanks for sharing this one – I hadn’t heard of this before.
-Lauren
I find him fascinating too! That was part of the reason I decided to read this book lol. Glad I could help you find a new book!
A vampire who becomes Jack the Ripper- that’s a good premise. See I would have thought too that they would be antagonists, but he actually IS Jack the Ripper. Nice. Plus a cult. I like me a good cult whenever possible.
Nice cover too with the blood and the fingernails.
It is a great idea, right? And yeah, you never see Jack as the protag lol. Those good ol’ cults. Gotta love ’em 😉
A great, solid friendship gets me every time. Sometimes more than the romance. It sounds like a really good story, but ugh … slow-pace … maybe.
Me too! I love friendships in books. But I know you don’t like slow pace, so I don’t know if you should read this one or not :-/