Tuesday, November 3, 2009

National Novel Writing Month -- Boy am I scared!!!

In case you hadn't heard, Nov. 1 kicked off National Novel Writing Month -- a month where those who love to write commit to writing at least 50,000 words within 30 days. You may be thinking... 50,000 words? 30 Days? Why?


Honestly, I didn't really know why until I started writing -- on November 2nd! Yeah that means I didn't write a dayum thing on the first day. When you do the math -- to meet the 50k goal, I've got to write a MINIMUM of 1,666 words per day. HA! Peanuts I thought. Until I started writing... on THE SECOND DAY!! Ok, so why do I keep repeating that I started late? Because you don't know the challenge of writing 1,666 words until you try and do it. MAN... I squeezed every bit of creative juice I had last night into my laptop... and still only topped out at around 1400 words -- and I started A DAY LATE!!!! See my issue?

In the overall scheme of things -- the challenge is to make you write -- not edit -- just write!! Editing will come later. I was "hovering" in the background of the NANO universe. Reading various posts. Seeing those individuals who were just totally geeking about the start of NANO 2009. Until this morning... when I posted the first few lines of my book. I was scared -- worried about rejection -- or snide comments from fellow NANO's until I realized -- umm most of them are just like me! So I sent my post -- and I was liberated!! It was such an awesome feeling to share something that I've kept guarded within me for so long!!

But back to the numbers game -- I'm at a pace that has me down 1,932 words -- and I'm still in the first 6 pages (roughly). I plan on picking up the pace -- and writing like mad for the next 28 days. Don't worry - I'm still going to keep hunting for the best of the best Vampire books and posting reviews. I still NEED to READ!!

Go ahead and ask me.... "Dren - what's your story about?" ::::::::::drum roll please:::::::::::: Only the best kick-ass black vampire book ever written! Wish me luck!!!


If you want to join the fun or find out more about National Novel Writing Month... click here!


and the hunt continues.....

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Hunted Book One of the Guardians' League by Amelia Elias



In my continued hunt for the Black Vampire, I came across the first installment of Elias' Guardians' League, Hunted and I have to say I was very impressed. While this novel doesn't have a black vampire, the lead is a 1,000 year old vampire of Spanish decent, Diego Leonides. Spanish Vamp? I was hooked from the first chapter.


Sian Lazuro is a former cop on the run. Three years ago she was a key witness in a murder investigation for a local crime boss. Immediately after his conviction, he escapes custody and Sian enters the witness protection program for fear of retaliation. However after several attempts on her life, Sian realizes the system that's supposed to protect her is compromised and she strikes out on her own, moving from city to city as needed to stay one step ahead of the man who wants her dead.

Diego Leonides is the sole survivor of his vampire clan and a member of the Guardian League, a group of vampires who have vowed to protect mortals from the more dangerous side of their breed -- Outcasts - vamps who kill humans for their blood and for the sheer thrill of the hunt.

Sian and Diego’s lives collide, when she literally runs him over with her car. Diego’s honor code forces him to care for her injuries in his home, but due to a complication created a century earlier, Diego is tasked with explaining to Sian how she is now his mate, and he’s a 1000-year old vampire.

Hunted is action packed with strong male and female characters. Elias may not be as popular as Lara Adrian or J.R. Ward but she’s done an excellent job establishing the Guardian League as a series to get hooked on. I’m adding the next two books to my reading list Outcast and Chosen.


BVC Rating: ***** (5Stars)

Avail on Kindle: Yes



and the hunt continues……



Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Unclean Spirits, Mmmmm not so much.

I'm tossing in an extra review today, because I just recently completed, Unclean Spirits, Book One of The Black Sun's Daughter.  This isn't a vampire book, just something I picked up because the cover looked interesing. 

It's a story about JaynĂ© Heller, a young college drop-out who inherits a fortune after her uncle Eric is murdered. But along with money, properties all over the world and endless options, she inherits something extra -- his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.

Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination.  With the help of a scientist, former Jesuit Priest, a self-styled Buddhist and a two hundred year old man cursed by Coin, JaynĂ© tries to finish the work her uncle started.


The first few chapters of this book had me hooked, but then the plot and action slowed to a crawl and that left me frustrated.  Hanover's take on the supernatural is interesting, -- all supernatural beings are actually demons, posessing a human body.  So Vamps, Werewolves, and all things that go bump in the night are controlling the human host and are trying to reproduce.  Another downside, Each chapter created more questions than answers.  Why does she have a tatoo? Why does she have special skills that only manifest when she's attacked?  It's not so much that these questions are asked and not answered -- more that they are woven into the story without a start or end.  It's just a fact that's presented in the story and the reader is left to "figure it out".  But no information is given to "help" you figure it out. That's annoying.

Hanover has completed Book Two, Darker Angels.  I haven't added this to my reading list yet -- not sure if I will.

BVC Rating: ** (2 Stars)
Avail on Kindle:  Yes

and the hunt continues....

Monday, September 21, 2009

The Flip Side of Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- I give you Danali Richards, Vampire Huntress!

Minion by L. A. Banks is Book One of a thirteen book series written by L. A. Banks. I have to say, Minion was a tough read for me. Not because the content was "bad" but -- I'm a die-hard Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan and this book initially reeked of rip-off innuendo from that series. Buffy is a Vamp Slayer. Damali Richards is a Vampire Slayer. Buffy - One Slayer dies - another is "activated". Minion - Slayers are born - but Damali is a MILENIUM Slayer. (Yeah this dates the book a little but go with it). Buffy is trained by Watchers. Damali has a group of Guardians. So you can see the similarities are a bit irritating.

However Banks is able to take this similar "type" of storyline and urbanize it. Damali is a rising African American spoken-word performer and her Guardians are her band members. By day, they perform concerts all over country and by night they are a kick-ass, vamp slayer group hunting and killing vamps and demons in the traditional good against evil war. Minion takes it’s time setting up the background for the reader, explaining the history of the Neteru, (Vampire Slayer) weaving in tons of paranormal, astrologic, Judeo-Christian, pseudo-African and mystical mythology that can at times, leave your head spinning. But the relationships between Damali and her Guardians and love interests lends for a great backdrop.

So I guess you’re wondering why I’m talking about this book at this point right? Well for all the crammed details – and mind blurring “think deep” pockets of the book – Bank’s creates the perfect setting for her Vampire Huntress Legend series that makes you want to move on to Book 2, The Awakening. The urban-hip-hop style of writing can be hokey at times – but when you focus on the storyline, you can see the potential.  As you continue through the series, you'll definitely get hooked.

BVC Rating: **** (4 Stars)
Avail on Kindle?: Yes


and the hunt continues....

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Fledgling - A Novel by Octavia E. Butler

Octavia Butler was a celebrated award winning writer of Science Fiction before I ever learned about this book. This was her first entry into the world of Vampires and I was hooked from the first paragraph.
Fledgling is the story about Shori Matthews, a seemingly young african american girl with amnesia who learns that she is in fact a 53-year old vampire, genetically modified to walk in the light of day. The only survivor of a vicious attack on her community, with no memory of her past life, Shori must struggle to rebuild her family and learn who would want - and still wants - to destroy her.
Butler weaves a stunning tale that has you captivated from beginning to end. Narrated by Shori herself, you are pulled into her world of loss -- for her memory, her family and identity as she struggles to learn, understand and rebuild them all. While many author's deal with the "transformation" into a vampire, this story creates a world where vampires are simply another species of human, who live to be 500 years old, with social structures, rules and values -- oh and yeah, they have to drink human blood.

It's unfortunate that Butler's first entry into the Vampire world would be her last. However, as with her trailblazing efforts in the world of Science Fiction, Fledgling takes the genre to a new level. I enjoyed every minute of it!


BVC Rating: * * * * * (5 Stars)
Avail. on Kindle: YES

The hunt continues......

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Oh Where, O Where have the Black Vampires Gone....?

Hello and welcome to my blog! I'm an avid reader with a fierce love of Mystery novels and pretty much anything supernatural. Even before the introduction of the Twilight Series, I've always been facinated by the Vampire genre of fiction. Not the hard core Bram Stroker's Dracula books -- (I have to admit I've only seen the movie version). But the modernization of the Vampire story into present day. But I'm not limited to books -- television shows too! Do you remember Forever Knight? Moonlight and I have to mention the Buffy Series along with the Angel spinoff series.

But for all of the enjoyable entertainment factor, I've found myself wondering -- where are the Black Vampires? Shifting back to written fiction -- I'm on the search for Supernatural stories that feature black or at least multicultural lead characters. I'll post what I find for those who are interested as well as what I'm currently reading and my book lists.

While my reading list isn't limited to a Multi-cultural focus - I enjoying finding a good read. So sit back and join the ride. Visit often and feel free to comment. The Hunt for the Black Vampire begins now!