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Way of the Wolf (Vampire Earth #1)

by E.E. Knight (Goodreads Author)

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 2,153 ratings · 158 reviews

Louisiana, 2065. A lot has changed in the 43rd year of the Kurian Order. Possessed of an unnatural hunger, the bloodthirsty Reapers have come to Earth to establish a New Order built on the harvesting of human souls. They rule the planet. And if it is night, as sure as darkness, they will come.

But on this pitiless world, the indomitable spirit of man still breathes in Lie...more

Paperback, 382 pages

Published September 2nd 2003 by Roc (first published October 1st 2001)

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Nov 23, 2012 Anne Toronto1 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, action, fan

"Way of the Wolf" (Vampire Earth 1) by E.E. Knight, is a terrifying, captivating futuristic action adventure with a hint of wry humor. Like a classic L'Amour western, the shy, canny, determined hero overcomes powerful opposition, and defends the weak. Civilization fell fighting aliens that seek immortality by psychically draining life energy 'aura', through hooded vampiric night monsters, whose long scaled tongues stab through living hearts to drain blood. A few gentle shape-shifters from the sa...more

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Feb 21, 2009 Joshua Palmatier rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I first saw Way of the Wolf on the shelf, I hesitated about buying it. It didn't seem like my kind of book. However, after years of people telling me I should read it, I finally decided to try it.

It's an interesting book, certainly a unique take on . . . well, practically everything. It's part "apocalyptic America", part "vampire" story, part "army recruit in training". A mix of many types of stories. Certainly the way in which E.E. Knight twisted the vampire story is intriguing. So the ide...more When I first saw Way of the Wolf on the shelf, I hesitated about buying it. It didn't seem like my kind of book. However, after years of people telling me I should read it, I finally decided to try it.

It's an interesting book, certainly a unique take on . . . well, practically everything. It's part "apocalyptic America", part "vampire" story, part "army recruit in training". A mix of many types of stories. Certainly the way in which E.E. Knight twisted the vampire story is intriguing. So the ideas woven into the book caught my attention and made me want to read more.

However, I had some issues with the book. Probably the most blatant issue is that the book is written without any visible plot. Each chapter is basically a little vignette, a little piece of the main character's story from his life in the Boundary Waters, to his recruitment into the Way of the Wolf. So I guess that the plot is his transition. But the chapters were far too disconnected for me. I wanted there to be some kind of thread tying the chapters together, some way that they connected to each other and eventually developed into a full-fledged plot. . . . But they didn't. At least not until WELL into the book. The last third of the book (perhaps) brought us to a connected story, where one chapter led to the others. But nothing from the previous chapters related back to this main story. I wanted some of the previous characters to return, to factor into this main story. Instead, the main character resolves everything himself, by going off into the heart of enemy territory by himself, in such a way that stretched my suspension of disbelief. The resolution was a little too pat, a little too perfect, too easy, and happened a little too coincidentally.

But perhaps that's just me. Was it a bad book? No. As I said before, the world itself was interesting. But as I read, I kept expecting more--more connections, more plot, more danger. There are obvious points where the author is setting up major conflicts . . . but those mysteries never get addressed in this book. I assume they are covered in the sequels. I may be judging this book on the assumption that it was a self-contained book, when it fact I should be treating it as part of a much larger story arc. But I like my books, even those that are part of a series, to have their own internal story arc, with their own satisfactory resolutions. This book had a resolution . . . but it didn't feel satisfactory for me. It felt . . . rushed, especially the last few chapters. And there were lots of questions/issues raised for the characters and the readers that were never addressed in the book. I feel there is much more to be discovered in this world, and with this character.

So, final words: An intriguing world with lots of potential. But if you start the series, expect to read more than just this book if you want a complete and satisfactory story (on the assumption that the questions raised here ARE in fact answered in later books). Will I be reading the later books? More than likely. I'd like to see if E.E. Knight develops some of the interesting facets of his world.(less)

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Dec 17, 2008 Jim added it

This book has the distinction of being the first in a long time to work its way into my dreams. Given the subject matter, they weren't fun dreams. Thanks a lot, Knight!

Way of the Wolf is subtitled "Book One of The Vampire Earth", and comes with a nice little tag phrase. "Welcome to the year 2065. Earth is under new management."

"Vampire Earth" is a little misleading. Earth has been conquered by the alien Kurians, who feed on our life essences. In order to feed, they created the Reapers: nightmare...more This book has the distinction of being the first in a long time to work its way into my dreams. Given the subject matter, they weren't fun dreams. Thanks a lot, Knight!

Way of the Wolf is subtitled "Book One of The Vampire Earth", and comes with a nice little tag phrase. "Welcome to the year 2065. Earth is under new management."

"Vampire Earth" is a little misleading. Earth has been conquered by the alien Kurians, who feed on our life essences. In order to feed, they created the Reapers: nightmare creatures who tear open our throats and insert long, serpentine tongues directly into our hearts to feed on our blood while transmitting our vital essence back to their Kurian masters. In other words, if you're expecting traditional vampires and wooden stakes and garlic and quipping blonde teenagers, you're reading the wrong book.

In the humans' corner, we have the Lifeweavers, kin to the Kurians. The Lifeweavers don't fight directly, but they use their powers to change human warriors, to make them better, stronger, faster. These changed humans fall into three categories: Cats (scouts and loners), Bears (bad-ass warriors) and Wolves (the guerilla fighters). This first book introduces us to the world of 2065 through the eyes of the young wolf David Valentine.

The first half of the book is completely episodic. Each chapter is a chapter of Valentine's life, showing us his past, his training, and his missions as a Wolf. There's plenty of tension and a lot of action, but little in the way of overall plot tying it all together. That changes in the second half, when Valentine and one of his men take refuge on a human farm. Here we see more of the day-to-day life of normal humans under Kurian rule. Valentine falls in love, and then has to save his protectors from both Reapers and Quislings (human traitors who have chosen to serve the Kurians).

The early chapters accomplish what they set out to do. Each one adds to the reader's understanding of this world, and the self-contained stories of Valentine's life certainly keep you turning the pages. But I started to wonder where this was going, and whether there was an actual destination for the book, or if this was intended simply to show us this conquered world. The second half helped, but this is still a book where the worldbuilding comes first. Book two, Choice of the Cat, looks like it brings more balance, giving Valentine a clearer mission. (One which picks up on hints from the first book which are never fully explored.)

Knight has created a dark world, and he doesn't flinch from some of the nastiness that comes with it. I did enjoy the book, despite the dreams of that first night. But I couldn't help feeling like I was missing the larger story, that Valentine's POV limited me to the trees when I wanted to see more forest. I suspect I'll be picking up book two to see where the story goes from here.(less)

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Sep 08, 2009 Cynth added it Recommends it for: No

I really can't believe I made it through the end of the book. First, I liked Knight's new world order and he did a decent enough job of explaining it to keep me interested. Apart from this, the book was just poorly written, confusing, and inconsistent. I have no idea what point of the first section of the book had to do with the rest of the book. The author never came back to it. In fact I think he just completely forgot about the first section because later on in the book something completely d...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Caro rated it 1 of 5 stars

Stopped reading this halfway through, which I rarely do. I just couldn't get into it. The world is a kind of post apocalyptic place ruled by Reapers, which are alienish vampire type creatures, opposed by really boring other alienish god type creatures who refuse to fight, but give humans some abilities so they can, and spend most of their time philosophizing. I guess it's supposed to feel kind of like a cowboy vs vampire type world, but I found the history long and boring - it's generally explai...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Blood Rose Books rated it 1 of 5 stars

In the first book in a series E.E. Knight follows the life of David Valentine who wants to make a difference in a world that has fallen into chaos.

The year is 2065 and a lot has changed from our time. David Valentine did not know what the world was like before the Kurian order. He only knew what his father and mother told him. But they are no longer able to share what they experienced as they have been killed by the New Order that has made its way to Earth. Valentine has always know since that d...more In the first book in a series E.E. Knight follows the life of David Valentine who wants to make a difference in a world that has fallen into chaos.

The year is 2065 and a lot has changed from our time. David Valentine did not know what the world was like before the Kurian order. He only knew what his father and mother told him. But they are no longer able to share what they experienced as they have been killed by the New Order that has made its way to Earth. Valentine has always know since that day he has wanted to make a difference and has done everything in his power to prepare for when the Wolves (a group of freedom fighters) comes looking for recruits to sign up. But there is more to Wolves than just fighting together again the Reapers, they are special and only a few are chosen to fight the battles that only the Wolves can fight and their mission is to win back Earth.

This book ventures into a mixture of science fiction/fantasy/dystopia/horror genres, however, this book did not start off with a good impression for me. I had a hard time really understanding what was going on in the prologue of the novel. If you can make it past the prologue to first few chapters it explain what has occurred though I did find myself getting a bit lost in the explanation. I actually wish that Knight would not have had the prologue and just started the book with the first chapter as I found the prologue confusing.

I struggled through reading this book. I was interested in Valentine's journey however, I felt that the book was very slow. The book does jump through the years in a way that I have not read before; each chapter essentially is a different episode in Valentine's life. There is a short blurb before each chapter that explains the important aspects of what has happened to the world and Valentine in the time shifts. I think this is what mainly hindered the story for this is supposed to be about Valentine journey but it was fragmented with each chapter. I think that Knight might have felt forced to do this as he tries to achieve too many things in this novel and maybe this is caused by mixing too many genres together, that it became too convoluted (at least it was for me).

Knight does a good job of world building (minus the first chapter) the changes in the landscape, people, world were really well done. You can feel the pain, hurt and fear of the people who are trying to make a living in the free land, but they are constantly on guard for the next attack. The Reapers and other creatures in the novel are very creepy and have some interesting powers, I wish there was more interaction with the Reapers to make it more of horror feel, which is what I think Knight was going for. I also liked Valentine as a character but felt like I missed out with his character with the fragmentation of his life as I was not really able to fully see how he developed into the person that he is.

The main flaw for this book for me is that I could not connect to the story as much as I would have liked. I do not read too many just sci-fi/fantasy based novels, therefore, I think that someone who typically reads this type of book may enjoy it as it has the journey aspect of the main character that many fantasy have. I would read another book by Knight as I think he excels in the right places of world building and scary creature, but I do not think that I would read one that is in genre, maybe one where Knight does not try to do too much. This book was just not for me.

Cheers!!!(less)

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Feb 06, 2011 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: didn-t-finish

I put this one down...I didn't hate it....but I just lost interest. I'll be the first to admit, maybe it's me, maybe I've just read too many like this. The book is a pretty standard "post vampire apocalypse" read with just a dash of modern zombie and a taste dystopian future thrown in for good measure.

I think my interest level started to drop (or maybe finally dropped off to where disinterest set in) when it became obvious we were dealing with not only a type of conquering vampire but also the...more

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Aug 27, 2010 Benjamin Thomas rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, science-fiction-military

I chose this book due to the recommendation of a fellow book blogger who never steers me wrong, and I'm really glad I followed his advice. This is the first of a series called "The Vampire Earth" series. It is labeled as science fiction and, indeed, it does take place in the relatively near future (2065) but this one really mixes up the genres. Lots of horror elements in here as well as mystical fantasy, militaristic adventure, and some good 'ol wild west heroics as well.

The story concerns Davi...more

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Jul 23, 2010 Andrew rated it 5 of 5 stars

OK!
So, one day about a year ago i was walking through Barnes and Noble and i happen to notice this shelf of books with the title, "E.E. Knight's new cult following!"

I am always a avid person of finding books before they become too huge. Well i found out how great this series was.

Now to give you a bit of a back round about me, I am ALMOST graduated with a degree in creative writing. So i take reading good books very seriously and i have to admit he hasn't let me down yet!

I began reading about Dav...more

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May 27, 2010 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, fantasy, apocalyptic

The first in an interesting, post apocalyptic series. The earth has been invaded & the story unfolds from the POV of Valentine, a soldier in the resistance. Exactly what invaded & how is left a bit open. We know they are the Kurians, but not what they look like or exactly what their abilities are. Other creatures came with them & our civilization was devastated with much of mankind becoming slaves & food.

Half the interest of the series is that there aren't many certainties. Odd...more

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Apr 23, 2010 Justin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, fantasy

Post-apocalyptic science fiction is one of my favorite sub-genres. Finding a good fantasy equivalent can sometimes be difficult, as it usually gets classified as science fiction. E.E. Knight’s Way of the Wolf has vampires and magic, and clearly falls into the category of fantasy. It also is about a post-nuclear United States with aliens, and scattered communities of humanity fighting for survival. It’s a strange mix, but it all works out well.

In the 2020’s a series of natural disasters struck ea...more Post-apocalyptic science fiction is one of my favorite sub-genres. Finding a good fantasy equivalent can sometimes be difficult, as it usually gets classified as science fiction. E.E. Knight’s Way of the Wolf has vampires and magic, and clearly falls into the category of fantasy. It also is about a post-nuclear United States with aliens, and scattered communities of humanity fighting for survival. It’s a strange mix, but it all works out well.

In the 2020’s a series of natural disasters struck earth, followed by a disease that caused the infected to go insane and die. The population of the earth was decimated. Shortly after these events, the Kurians, a race of magical beings, appeared and assumed control over the planet. The Kurians feed off the life force of humans (and others), and they use a group of really tough critters (Reapers) to do their collecting. These are the vampires of the story. Our protagonist, David Valentine, is a part of an elite group of human rebels called the Wolves. With their senses magically enhanced, they are the Kurians’ and Reapers’ worst nightmare. Way of the Wolf follows David through his early and present encounters with the Kurian oppressors.

As you can see by my summary, the plot and background is fairly simple at a glance. But as you follow David in his travels, you begin to peel back the onion and understand that there are more complex issues at play. I was expecting an action-packed romp of “Mad Max the Vampire Hunter,” and in a lot of ways that is what I got. On the other hand I wasn’t expecting the characters in Way of the Wolf to be quite like they were. The hero is a rather quiet and well-read fellow, choosing to lead through example rather than aggressiveness. He is not the gung-ho type and knows exactly when he should run rather than stand and fight. The female characters are not your typical choices in post-apocalyptic fiction either. Typically you would have a Mary Sue type with milk-white skin and the undying need for a strong man… or a butchy bullet-chewing she-warrior. E.E. Knight places his female characters squarely in between the two stereotypes. They are feminine but still tough, as you would expect from anyone living in their world.

I listened to Way of the Wolf on audio book CD from Brilliance Audio. It was read to me by Christian Rummel who is a rather prolific voice talent, and for good reason: he’s awesome. Seriously, how this man goes from gritty cigar chomping old veteran to sweet sensual Wisconsin beauty is beyond me. “Wisconsin beauty? That specific?” Yes dear readers, the man has his Northern/Midwestern accents down to an art form. If I ever win the lottery I will personally hire him to come to my house and read to me. I may even have him read Louisa May Alcott simply because it would be coolest rendition of Little Women known to mankind.

Overall, I loved the book and its audio adaptation. Those of you who straddle the line between fantasy and sci-fi will find a nice home in Way of the Wolf. It’s an action-filled, somewhat male-centric perspective of life under alien vampire overlords. Christian Rummel was a perfect fit to read the audio version, and I look forward to listening to/reading the rest of them. I have yet again been hooked into another great series!

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Sep 27, 2012 Rumpus rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. It didn't really grab me at first, the time jumps between some chapters threw me the first time it happened. But then, stuck in the break room at my school for a few hours with nothing better to do than either watch CNN (which was hard to hear over the vending machines' hum, and they were covering election stuff, so I got bored of that quick), read my text book (most of which I'd already read. And, well... Career Development doesn't really grab m...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Dirk Grobbelaar rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, science-fiction, horror, books-i-own

This is an exceedingly tricky review for me. There’s a lot I want to say, without taking up too much space. This novel is a great amalgamation of post apocalyptic science fiction and horror. It is the first book in the Vampire Earth series, which is thankfully a bit of a misnomer. The Kurians are an alien race that can extend their lives indefinitely by feeding off human auras. In order for them to harvest these auras, they have bred a genetically enhanced race of beings called Reapers who prey...more This is an exceedingly tricky review for me. There’s a lot I want to say, without taking up too much space. This novel is a great amalgamation of post apocalyptic science fiction and horror. It is the first book in the Vampire Earth series, which is thankfully a bit of a misnomer. The Kurians are an alien race that can extend their lives indefinitely by feeding off human auras. In order for them to harvest these auras, they have bred a genetically enhanced race of beings called Reapers who prey on humans, drinking their blood. Vampirisim by proxy, if you will. There’s more to the story than that, of course. The Kurians have gained control of Earth by setting off a number of disasters, both environmental and nuclear, so there is a lot of devastated real estate (which is probably a requirement in post apocalyptic fiction). However, the most notable of their strategies involve the use of a virus called the Raving Madness, which essentially turns people into zombies.

The world building in Way of the Wolf is outstanding. By the time this story takes place Earth has been under occupation for forty odd years and a number of important developments have taken place. The occupation itself is reminiscent of nazi-occupied Europe. There are the collaborators, and, of course, the resistance. The Kurian overlords have also divided portions of the spoils and there are some internal politics that come into play. The Free Territories are areas where humans have been able to fight off the alien invaders and hold their own through the help of the Lifeweavers (more aliens) who imbue certain selected humans with skills that can aid them in fighting the Reapers. These ‘enhanced’ humans are referred to as Wolves, Cats or Bears, depending on their particular skills, hence the title of the novel.

The Reapers are nasty enough, but the Kurians also employ a number of other critters who do their bidding. These are referred to as Grogs collectively and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Again, there is more to this than meets the eye, with some of the Grogs being more malicious than others. There are even a few who side with the humans, and in some places they exist side by side. And what would a post apocalyptic story be without bandits, marauders, trappers and profiteers? It’s all here of course. The world Knight weaves is a rich tapestry, but it is also very dark and foreboding. This is one grim and brutal novel, not to mention disturbing. With so many elements added to the smelting pot, the story does lend itself to some nastiness.

Due to the regression of tech and the way the free human colonies are set up in the wilds, the story does have a very prominent old west / civil war flavour, which I found remarkably refreshing in the midst of all the mayhem. Something else I was immediately reminded of was Huntsman by Douglas Hill. The novel's greatest strengths are arguably the world building and marvelously creepy atmosphere. Highly recommended.
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Jul 15, 2012 CollinB rated it 2 of 5 stars

The series had a few intriguing ideas. I liked the shamans modifying humans into somewhat superhuman wolves, cats, & bears. The aliens taking over the earth was a fun version of apacolypse - for once we didn't destroy ourselves.

I read most of the series because a friend had lent me all of them and they are a quick read. I was entertained by the first book, Way of the Wolf, but the second book was exactly the same as the first, and the third as like the previous two, and well you get the idea...more

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May 31, 2013 Jim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, action, fantasy, science-fiction, apocalyptic

This was an excellent read, but I read it when it first came out a decade ago or so. Since then I've kept up with the series & enjoyed it, but it was very nice to go back to it in audio format. Excellent reader & Knight does his own little foreword - very short, sweet, & to the point.

This is the beginning of a journey in a really neat, very realistic world. The 'vampires' & other monsters are not the normal UF or PNR fare at all, but more of an SF take on it. Our civilization has...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Seth Zolin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My friend gave me this book a couple years ago and I can't believe I waited this long to read it. Combines elements of Tom Clancy, Jim Butcher, and Charlaine Harris into a gripping beginning to an interesting world. David Valentine is a boy growing up in a post-apocalyptic world that has been overrun by a vampire like race known as the Kurians that feed off the "vital auras" of humans. Kurians came to our world through an inter-dimensional portal along with their cousin specied "the Lifeweavers....more

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Aug 28, 2010 Ashley rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, dismal

I had to read this novel for a science fiction and fantasy book club, and oh do I wish I had my two days back. This is by far the worst novel I have read in quite a long time. I wish I could say that the plot was well-conceived, but poorly executed. The quote at the opening of the novel says in four lines what the novel tries to say (dismally) in over two hundred pages. When human being are exposed to unending violence and a struggle for mere survival, they begin to lose their own humanity. Ther...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Marianne rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read a book review recently that used the term "immersive" and thought to myself that it sounded kind of unnatural, and that perhaps this was one of those reviews that I have recently learned people can buy for their own work, yes; I can be somewhat naive. Unfortunately that word is stuck in my mind now, so damn it, I'm going to use it here. This book is immersive. Which is damned disturbing when you've put it on as your current, "shut my mind up so I can sleep by replacing my inner voice with...more

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Sep 16, 2008 Kaylynn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: sf-f

I gave up on another book. It's becoming a bad habit. This book didn't have a plot. It was more like a bunch of short stories stuck together with one main character. The author felt the need to give too much background information. And why would a guy living like a mountain man have "glossy" hair? Sigh.

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Aug 17, 2008 Kevinalbee rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed this entire series. The Way of the wolf is the 1st. If you enjoy apocalyptic fiction this is a good and light read. It has life energy sucking vampires, world shattering plagues and real politic.

They are light reading about 4 hrs a book for me but good escapist fiction

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Apr 23, 2012 Aaroncar rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a great series if you can take it light heartedly. And I don't mean that it is a humerous. Valentine can be cruel and kind in turn.

The light heartedness comes more into play around some of the plots and devices. it is a bit out there at times, and I had to smile when I don't think the author really meant me to.

It's kind of what Sookie is to vampires if you compared her to Lestat.

Valentine is cool, and the story has a nice tempo and arc, but there are times I feel like there is just too m...more

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Sep 24, 2009 Adam Radford rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of the first post-apocalyptic/Vampire book that I've truly loved. The reasons I loved this book are that it is a book about undying hope and determination even in the depths of fear and predation. The main character, Lt. David Valentine, is not your typical save-the-world type hero, the reluctant warrior who when faced with a helpless opponent shows mercy, he is a killer, a man unafraid to kill for the greater good of humanity. He is the hero for a new age, A dark warrior with h...more

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May 20, 2009 E. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

A look at a depressing version of Earth wherein a handful of humans try to retake the planet from those who have enslaved it, fighting the Kurian Order and its various denizens including humans (Quislings) who have been converted or conscripted, Reapers/Vampires and other horrifying beings. The humans who are fighting to regain control of Earth include different factions such as the Wolves, Cats, Bears and Hunters and each category has its own characteristic strength. This first novel in the ser...more

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Nov 22, 2009 Monk rated it 4 of 5 stars

The title is a bit deceptive, probably to capitalize on the current vampire craze. Vampires-light like Edward wouldn't last ten minutes in this world (one can only wish that they fared as poorly in ours). The "vampires" here are an alien invasion force that has ushered in an apocalypse and enslaved much of humanity. Knight melds elements of horror, sci-fi, and military fiction into a well-developed imagining of the future. Strong characters, plenty of action. Some dark and disturbing moments...d...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Hans Martin rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book has an interesting premise, and is a gust of fresh air for the people who want a new take on vampires, or just a good and epic tale. This being the first installment, much of the pacing is like naval combat, lots of not much happening, and then frantic action, but I'm happy to say that once you're done with this book, and if you start reading the second one in the series afterwards, you'll see a drastic change in the quality as the author gets "in the groove". All in all, this is a goo...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Derrick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, scifi, vampires

Vampire Earth series. I figured it was going to be a series that could have been a sequel to The Strain.

Not quite so much. (view spoiler), yeah, go figure.

Anyway, I never would have thought this author was the same who wrote the Dragon Champion. I'll probably read a couple more to see where the series goes...

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Jul 07, 2010 alice rated it 3 of 5 stars

In this post-apocalyptic tale civilization has not ended altogether; there is a regressed farm-based slowly declining dystopic society ruled by alien-vampires and a patchwork of societies that enjoy various levels of freedom and prosperity. I don't recall being annoyed by any glaring inconsistencies in this new world. Too much emotional distance between the reader and Valentine depleted the story of tension, suspense, and a general feeling of involvement. Still the action sequences were engaging...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Richard Radgoski rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalypse, vampire

Another book where 3 is too low and 4 is too high. (C'mon Good reads! fix that)

What I liked - The Setting, the Character, the general atmosphere. I liked the prose as well. The author is able to write a compelling scene very well.

What I didn't like - Each chapter is a vignette of the main character's early life. I guess that is because only key scenes are important in the development of the character into the hero of today, but I found the method distracting and hard to focus on. I like my stori...more Another book where 3 is too low and 4 is too high. (C'mon Good reads! fix that)

What I liked - The Setting, the Character, the general atmosphere. I liked the prose as well. The author is able to write a compelling scene very well.

What I didn't like - Each chapter is a vignette of the main character's early life. I guess that is because only key scenes are important in the development of the character into the hero of today, but I found the method distracting and hard to focus on. I like my stories to flow and I didn't "get" it until about half the book. I kept getting frustrated that characters and settings I liked were getting left behind.

The book did start getting compelling for me right at the 11th chapter...and by far the longest chapter in the book (at 80 pages!). From here on in, each chapter followed the other in a series of exciting events.

Right now, I'm not quite sure of how the world works. A Kurian controls one or more reapers who 'control' territory upon which humans are used as chattle and minions. They either produce goods/food/labor and/or they are used as feed for the reapers. I think more of the people would be in open rebellion than seem to be portrayed in the book...but we are years into this occupation, so I might be the one struggling. I found the terms Grog and Quisling very confusing. Grogs are creations?? of the Kurians?? and Quislings are Humans who are helping the Reapers/Kurians. Why Quisling? Frankly, I would have found the term Grog for these humans to be just right and call the creations Quislings. It took me half the book to figure that out! (and there was an appendix of terms I didn't know existed until I finished the book at the end. Helpful...not. (I don't look at the back for fear of seeing something I don't want to know)

This book was recommended to me and I can see why...it's just the style I wasn't prepared for. I think I will give book 2 a try because I want to see if Valentine's current situation continues for awhile. (less)

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Aug 02, 2011 Sensitivemuse rated it 3 of 5 stars

The format in which this book is done is interesting. I haven’t come across this until now. For a good part of the novel, you get what looks like short stories of Valentine’s life before the actual plot begins. I understand how some readers thought this wasn’t the most perfect way to introduce the story. However I thought it was not only different but a good way to introduce the main character, and his background, with background information about the setting in this way. You follow Valentine th...more The format in which this book is done is interesting. I haven’t come across this until now. For a good part of the novel, you get what looks like short stories of Valentine’s life before the actual plot begins. I understand how some readers thought this wasn’t the most perfect way to introduce the story. However I thought it was not only different but a good way to introduce the main character, and his background, with background information about the setting in this way. You follow Valentine throughout his youth, then you follow him through the period on where he first starts training to become a “Wolf” (a special elite unit). It’s not until a good later part of the book is where the actual plot begins. I liked this kind of introduction. It made getting to know Valentine easier. It gave Valentine a three dimensional form and it chronicles his development in good detail.

The setting is also interesting, however it took me a while to finally get the hang of it (without consulting the glossary at the back). The vampires here are ruthless and evil, so you will definitely not find the romantic stereotype anywhere in this book. There’s a blend of post apocalyptic characteristics, with dark fantasy, and science fiction elements. So really you have a good mixture of just about everything in here. Personally, I like the dark fantasy and post apocalyptic parts. Earth really is a bleak place to be and the descriptions, and characters enhance the setting.

Valentine is all right as a character. He does seem like your most awesome hero and at times it could get a little annoying. I wish he could have a bit of a darker edge to him (ie: he could be a jerk once in a while) but he seems to be your average good guy with a troubled past. I suppose that’s not too bad although it could be considered cliche and overdone by other readers.

What I did enjoy most about the novel is the overall plot. The pace was good although certain areas did experience a bit of a bump here and there. However all I will ask is for the author to not do any more romantic scenes and I’m shuddering to think if there will be more romance in the other books to follow. I read a particular romance moment and I just about nearly choked. Really? a man would do what Valentine did?? that’s just gross! after having a fit for about a few minutes I resumed with the story (Apologies for not being specific. It is detailed and explicit so I won’t go further than that). After finishing the book I still found that particular passage to be still unnerving. That’s the only part that I strongly dislike in the book. Seriously, just take the romance out of this. It wasn’t necessary and the plot was fine without it!

This was a nice interesting start to what looks like an action packed series. I’m definitely going to follow this series for sure. If you like dark fantasy with sci fi elements in a post apocalyptic world try this. Plus, the vampires aren’t sparkling. You might just like it!(less)

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Jan 27, 2011 Sarah Maddaford rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arlington, apocalyptic, can-be-read-alone, creatures, first-in-series, mythology-misc, political, sci-fi, romance, vampire, war

I had a hard time getting into this. The story and details are so interesting, but they are also very densely described and the pace is not as quick as I expected. My biggest problem aside from the pacing was that the story starts off in one place, then goes back in time and does not return to that same place. It probably will in future books, but I just don't like that story telling technique. If you are going to start talking about one event, you should go back to that event in the same book a...more

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“The world was already a miserable place in the spring of that cursed year. The New Depression was at its height. Stocks fell, jobs were lost, and consumer consumption fell in a corporate death spiral as the aging technoczars were revealed to have feet of clay. Financial institutions underreacted, the government overreacted, and a society living on borrowed time paid for with borrowed dollars failed. Hard times and hunger came to the Western world, which was all the more of a shock because the generation that survived the last financial collapse had virtually died out.” — 5 people liked it

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Way of the Wolf (Vampire Earth #1)

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