Carpathia by Matt Forbeck

Genre: Horror

Publisher: Angry Robot Books

Buy the book: Book Depository 

Source: I bought a copy

It's Titanic meets 30 Days of Night.

When the survivors of the Titanic are picked up by the passenger steamship Carpathia, they thought their problems were over.

But something's sleeping in the darkest recesses of the ship. Something old. Something hungry.

File Under: Fantasy [ Bump In The Night | Unthinkable | Rescue Remedy | 1912 Overture ]

After the Titanic hits the iceberg you think the survivors have left the worst part behind them, being rescues by the Carpthia, but there is something lurking in the shadows of the Carpathia and it is getting tired of hiding.

Pro Luce Habere I by Krisi Keley

Genre: Paranormal

Series: On the Soul series

Publisher: TreasureLine Publishing

Find the author: Website | Facebook

Buy the book: Smashwords | Amazon | Amazon (Kindle)

Source: I received a copy from the author

For eight hundred years, Valéry Castellane has known only one kind of light - the light in those human beings he's had to kill so he might live. The last of these has been the most brilliant light of all, the light of the one sent to tell him that heaven was never really lost to him. But did he destroy all hope for it in attempting to make this angel a human love he could hold forever on earth, or is the mystery of this vampire's salvation yet to be fully revealed? Sometimes the key which unlocks the secret of what's to come is hidden in the past. Take another journey with a vampire, through eight centuries of dark human history which have, all along, been leading him to the light.

Volume I: "You continue to see the lie before you, no matter how often it speaks the truth!" Valéry warned Angelina in On the Soul of a Vampire, when she refused once again to see in him the monster he saw in himself. And as at the end of his first story, she lay dead in his embrace, it would seem it was he, not she, who had the clearer sight. But in the place between life and death, the soul is exposed to the light. Relive the memory of Valéry's descent into darkness as he does, from the child of faith who set out on the Children's Crusade in 1212 to desperate 14th century creature of the night, before deciding who was really right.

This is the second installment of the On the Soul series and is a prequel to On the Soul of a Vampire.

In Pro Luce Habere we go back in time to 1212, when Valéry is just a 14 year old boy set out to join a children’s pilgrimage together with his best friend Noël. For the first part of the story we follow Valéry in this pilgrimage where they encounter hardship, shipwreck, loss of friends and the betrayal that comes to make him a slave. Four years later after being nearly beaten to death he is saved by Lukios, an ancient vampire, but at a terrible price which Valéry isn’t sure he wanted to pay.

After this we travel with Valéry on a journey through Europe over a period of three centuries where Valéry tries to discover who and what he is now.

Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider

What if your novel attracts the wrong kind of attention and an age-old evil turns out to be all too true?
Bestselling author beth Rider enjoys her fame as the Sout's newest literary star.
That is until Jack Dawn, a real-life vampire, vows to kill her because of the vile redemptive message her book is bringing his people. The ancient race of bloodthirsty immortals to wich Jack belongs, known as the Rakum, have spread evil among mankind since the beginning. But Jack alone recognizes the novel's destrucive potential and she must die.
Jack's proselyte Michael Stone was brought up from his youth to be strong, sensible and brutal. but at one hundred and thirty, Michael is old enoug to appriciate his quiet and ordered life. When he stumbles upon the beautiful and apparently innocent Beth Rider, he is puzzledby his Elder's unreasonable actions against her. Instantly smitten, Michael takes it upon himself to protect her from the limitless lust of his brethren.
Facing the most terrifying trial of her life against creatures known only in fables, one simple woan will threaten the existence of a powerful and accursed people. In the climatic final battle, it is a reace to the death, or if Beth has her way, a race to the life - of every Rakum who makes the choice. (Backcover)

This is the story of Beth Rider who got marked, by the blood of an elder, as a 'rabbit' which means every Rakum will be after her to do whatever they want with her for an eternity or as long as she will last. Why is she marked? Well her novels come with a message that changes the very 'soul' of the Rakum who reads it. And of course there is someone who just doesn't take this and marks her.

We meet a few characters, Rakum and human, and they all have their own take on the marking of Beth, the books she writes and faith. Some are after her and others are protecting her.
Beth is a strong lead female character, who knows what she wants and believes, she has her faith and peace and I found her a very likeable character. This story is told from different characters, so you get to see Beth, the good guys and the bad guys. Normally I'm not much of a fan when it comes to telling a story from different perspectives, the story just seems to get lost at times then, but Ellen id a good job on this and she made sure you like most of the characters and dislike the ones, well you would dislike these kind of guys in real life too.
The story is fast pasted. When I started this I didn't stop reading and read it in one sitting. Although a lot of stuff happens it isn't a 'heavy' read and you don't get the information overload you seem to get in a lot of first novels. This is a vampire novel but of a different kind. A kind you don't find often and I absolutely loved it.
I do want to say that this is a very Christian novel. So if you are easily offended then you shouldn't read it. But if you have an open mind I would absolutely recommend it. I'm not a Christian and well like I said I absolutely loved it.

My rating: 5/5

On the soul of a vampire

For some it takes a lifetime to discover their raison d'être. Imagine searching for eight centuries. In 1997 Philadelphia, an 800 year old vampire comes face to face with his reason to be when he discovers a young mortal woman whose understanding of immortality is about to change all he's known as truth. Obsessed with the mysterie of her knowledge, he embarks on a journey that doesn't only lead him to his childhood home in the Provincal Alpes, but into his greatest hopes and dreams, fears and disappointments, and into the strange and frightning that shaped him. A novel about falterng faith and never-ending hope, On the soul of a vampire will not only alter everything you think you know about vampires, i will change the way you see your very soul. (cover)

The story begins with Valéry an 800 year old vampire who notices a young woman named Angelina. He's immediately drawn to her. Valéry tries to figure out his infatuation with her from a safe distance. We learn that these two already have a connection. Angelina knows what and who Valéry is, she has had dreams of a time long ago in which she never lived and the things she dreams about are of a life she couldn't possibly know, Valéry's life. This only makes Valéry more intrigued by her and he wants answers. How does she know all these things?
The chemistry between Valéry and Angelina is wonderful. Valéry is keeping himself in check when he's around her not wanting to hurt her but he also gets pretty annoyed and angry when Angelina is being quite cryptically because he wants answers and she just gives him riddles.
At the end of this novel all the puzzle pieces fall into place and you get these answers questioned.

This is not your typical vampire novel. Theology came to my mind when I read this novel. It makes you think. But not just for Valéry but the things described in this novel makes you think about different aspects of life, love and believe. Keley's writing is great, the story gripped me from beginning to end I was just as annoyed and frustrated at times as Valéry was with Angelina. And I love that, I want to feel the same way as the characters are feeling. I'm looking forward to reading more by Krisi Keley.

My rating: 4/5

Night of the Vampires

As a soldier, Cole Granger fights to restore peace to a world divided by war and evil. His extraordinary talents are enlisted to prevent the president’s horrific premonition from becoming reality. Nothing—and no one—will stop him from fulfilling his duty. Especially the mysterious young woman who claims to be his comrade’s sister. Enemy or ally, he can’t yet determine. But one thing he knows for certain is that he must keep her close. Very close.

Megan Fox’s quest to uncover a family secret leads her to the center of vampire riots in West Virginia. To find the answers she needs—and clear herself of suspicion—she must join forces with Cole. They work undercover to bring justice, but they can’t disguise the potent attraction and need that draw them together. Yet trust doesn’t come easily for Cole…and when Megan unearths the grim, dark truth, can she trust him to believe her? (blurb)

If it isn't bad enough the civil war is going on there is a much greater threat.........rouge vampires.

Megan Fox, a half breed vampire is send to Washington D.C. to help put a stop to the spreading of 'the disease'. Here she meets up with her half brother Cody who's joined forces with the Texas sheriff Cole. Cody, also a half breed doesn't know he has a sister and she isn't exactly welcomed with open arms. They believe soon enough that she is Cody’s sister but can they trust her? Cole especially is weary of trusting her. When Abraham Lincoln himself sends Megan and Cole to Harpers Ferry to put a stop to the spread of the disease, they need to rely on each other to survive.

The chemistry between Megan and Cole is great, the attraction is obvious but the issue is trust. Cole doesn't know he can trust her since she is half vampire, although he would trust Cody with his life. The attraction just gets bigger between them when the story developed.

Glass houses

Welcome to Morganville, Texas. Don't stay out after dark.

It's a small college town filled with quirky characters. But when the sun goes down, the bad comes out. Because in Morganville , there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows - one that will spill out into the bright light of day.

Claire Denvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. The popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks on the school's social scene: somewhere less then zero. And Claire really doesn't have the right connections - to the undead who run the town.

When Claire heads off campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life. But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood......(bookcover)

This is the first novel in The Morganville vampires series.

Claire is a sixteen year old freshman. She's bullied by the most popular girl on school Monica, who makes her dorm days a living hell. When the bullying almost cost Claire her life she's looking for another place to live. This brings her to an old house, the Glass house. Here she meets Eve a goth girl, Shane who doen't really do anything and Michael who isn't who whe says he is. When she starts living here she finds herself in a whole other world......

She learns that this town is run by vampires and people are protected by them....well if you're lucky. Claire has some trouble believing this but she finds out soon anough that it is all real. And bad enough Monica is one of the people who is protected by a vampire and Claire has no protection...

Her new roommates take care of her and try their best to make sure Claire doesn't get in to much trouble. Although a sixteen year old girl doesn't realy listen to what others tell her to do or in this case not to do.

Claire figures out the vampires are looking for an old book and this book seems pretty important for them....When Shane cuts a deal with a vampire so Claire is safe she decides that she's going to find the book to make sure she and her friends will be safe....

This is a fun and easy read. The characters are quirky, fun and have their own issues and secrets. Claire is strongwilled and determined and as it usally goes this gets her ito some great deal of trouble.

Here the vampires aren't thehot good man and woman. They look good some to the degree of hot but mostly they just look human except for the fangs ofcourse.

This is a real nice other take on the vampire novels I've read lately. Rachel Caine did a really great job with this story it's well written and she made sure the characters are very likeable but still have that anoying bit that belongs with a teenager.

I really didn't think I would like this story so much. The whole college thing, popular girls, bullying is not really my cup of thee but this was a really great book. And the ending just screams for more......this is the worst cliffhager I've ever read.......I want to know what happens next.......

My rating: 5/5

Night's cold kiss

For centuries war raged between humans and Aeturnus vampires - until courageous efforts on both sides forged a fragile peace.
But the rogue Necrodrainiacs will never be controlled - addicted as they are to the death-high....and bloody chaos.

Since witnessing the murder of her mother, Antoinette Petrescu has burned with fiery hatred for the vampire race - even for Christian Laroque, the noble, dangerously handsome Aeternus who rescued her. Now an elite Venator, Antoinette must reluctanly accept Christian's help to achieve her vengeance - even as he plots to use the beautiful, unsuspecting warrior as bait to draw out the bloodthisty dreniacs. (Bookcover)

This is the first novel in the Dark Brethren serie.

So in this world there are two sorts of vampires Aeternus vampires and Necrodrainiacs or dreniacs, the good and the bad vampires. An Aeternus becomes a dreniac if he or she drains a human while feeding.

The story is about Antoinette Petrescu, a Venator, a bounty hunter specialized in dreniacs. The story starts off with one of her 'jobs'. So you get right into the action. She has to go unto a mission with two Aeturnus vampires Christian and Viktor. They have to find a dreniac who is killing woman who look like Antoinette.....
This story starts off with action and not much later it gets al hot and steamy. So no long waiting you just dive right in. Because it's throughout the book that didn't bother me.
Antoinette is a loner she works with her brother and lives for her work. She is tough but isn't reckless as most of the heroines you read about. No she is well trained and thinks before she acts.
Christian is the handsome vampire. Who also is the one who 'saved' Antoinette and her brother after her mother was killed by dreniac (she just doesn't know that)
The relationship between Antoinette and Christian is 'difficult' they both have feelings and both have different reasons to try and fight them. The sexual tension is great between them and you keep wondering when they will give in to their feelings.
Viktor is Christians best friend and funny as hell. The relationship between Antoinette and Viktor is great. She might hate vampires but she enjoys his company and they become friends. She has always been a loner and you get to see another side of her.

This is an action packed, fast paced, hot sexy, dark, well written story.

Tracey O'Hara shows a whole new paranormal world. And the last few pages of the book she put a glossery of terms to explame it all. And that is quite handy because she doen't have to explain to big in the story itself. So not an overload of information just a great story.

My rating: 5/5

Guilty Pleasures

'I don't date vampires. I kill them.' My name is Anita Blake. Vampires call me the Executioner. What I call them isn't repeatable. Ever since the Supreme Court granted the undead equal rights, most people think vampires are just ordinary folks with fangs. I know better. I've seen their victims. I carry the scars...But now a serial killer is murdering vampires -- and the most powerful bloodsucker in town wants me to find the killer. (bookcover)

This is the first novel in the Anita Bake Vampire Hunter serie.

This book is great! It's everything I like....vampires, lycantropes, murderscenes and some sexual tention. Anita Blake is an animator and vampire executioner that means some vampire goes bad and she kills his or her ass and she works for the RPIT (Regional preternatioral Investigation Team) who are called in when they don't thing u human could have done the 'job'. Vampires and lycantropes are very real in this world and live amongst humans....vampires even have equal rights. This quite dfferent from other books that I have read because most live in the dark and humans no nothing about vampires.

Anita is one of the few people who hate vampires and it so happens she will have to work for one....she has to find a serial killer who kills vampires......and why would she help them you say? Well either she does that or her friend will end up with one of them.....And she has to help solve some murders for RPIT

I like Anita she is great! She's sarcastic, has a bad sense of humor and so damn tough in front of everybody but sleeps with a stuffed pinguin.

And ofcourse there is Jean Claude.....a master vampire...who we do not know much about or his motives...but still I like him....he just has something. We must not forget Edward who is an ever bigger mystery. Ohw and Phillip he is just hot and I cried my eyes out! Damn that just wasn't fair.

This serie has a lot of books now and Laurell has said she isn't quite ready with  Anita's story yet and I'm glad about that. You either love her writing or you hate it. And some just the first novels.

Laurell is really explicit in het writing espacially when it comes to crime and sex scenes (the sex comes in the later novels)

I really like this serie, it's urban fantasy meets crime/mystery an Anita will make you see that your life ain't so bad and isn't that all we need!?

Rating: 5/5

Nightwalker

Mira has been a nightwalker for centuries, travelling the globe as an enforcer for a secretive, powerful organization. But this vampire has a secret that makes her a valuable target: the unheralded ability to create fire. And after many centuries, she's finally met her match in Danaus - a vampire hunter with his own mysterious past. But the cat and mouse game between nightwalker and hunter quickly turns into something far more deadly. For a portal has been opened to other worlds, and the ancient, immortal enemies are returning to the world. And the web of lies and secrets leads directly to the vampire triad who raised Mira. After a brutal betrayal, Mira has only one choice: hunt...or be hunted. (bookcover)

I liked this one. It has action, surprises and treason. The leadcharacter is Mira a 600 year old vampire who can control fire. She is a kickass woman and takes great care in protecting the balans between vampires and Lycantrhopes and making sure no human finds out about her species in her city. Then there is Danaus....he's a vampirehunter, chatolic and something else (we don't know what he is, just that he lived for centuries) He stayed in a monestry for a while where he was taught that vampires are evil, killers. When he gets to know Mira a little better he begins to question that. The chemistry between Mira and Danaus is great. They keep protecting eachother just so they can kill the other themselves.
What I  really liked is that there is another 'creature' introduced to us in the serie....the Naturi.....and they're like the ultimate evil in this book.....bad for nightwalkers, lycanthropes and humans....
But it's the plot that did it for me. The plot makes you want to read the next book, just to see what Mira is going to do with this revelation. The ending is just so unexpected it leaves you asking for more.

Rating: 5/5

Night huntress serie by Jeaniene Frost

Let me begin by saying this is one of my favorite series I've read.
I only started reading it last month, but I've read them all (except for Eternal Kiss of Darkness because I'm stil waiting on that one)

Halfway to the grave is the first novel in this serie.

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of those deadbeats is her father - the guy responsible or ruining her mother's life. But when she's captured by Bones, a bounty hunter and a vampire, she finds hersel forced into an unholy partnership. In exchange for his help in finding her farther, and still astonihed she hasn't ended up as his dinner, Cat agrees to train with te sexy night stalker until het battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. But that's not all Bones has to show her - Cat's starting to believe vampires aren't all evil after all, especially ones as cute as Bones. She's half cinvinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as confident kick-ass demon hunter, Cat finds herself, and Bones, hotly pursued by a band of killers. She's going to ave to pick a side - and fast....(book cover)

This book is amazing! It's full of action, humour and a (hot) love story. About everything a good Urban Fantasy needs for me. I just couln't stop reading (took me less than a day to finish it)...I just had to know how this would end. I laughed out loud and was biting my fingernails in suspence.
I just instantly fell in love with the characters Cat and Bones (and their relationship) Cat is brought up believing all vampires are evil and now she kinda has to work with one. Than Bones trains Cat in te most (well how do I put this) 'interresting' way....It makes for some interresting scenes.
I must say the ending wasn't what I expected, but I can appriciate that in a book You know not the standard ....and they lived happily ever after shit (just hate that)

Jeaniene Frost knows how to bring characters to life.

This book is a must read!

Just as the folowing novels in this serie:
- One foot in the grave;
- At graves end;
- Destined for an early grave.

And the Night Huntress World serie:
- Last drop of Crimson;
- Eternal Kiss of Darkness.

I love love love this serie and I'm waiting (im)patiently till the bookstore lets me know Eternal Kiss of Darkness is there waiting for me to be picked up (yeah sometimes it suckes living in Holland because I couldn't pre-order it) and ofcourse february next year is the 5th night huntress novel "This side of the grave" coming out.

Rating: 5/5