Seak (Bryce L.)'s Reviews > Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Abraham Lincoln by Seth Grahame-Smith

by
1805180
's review
Apr 27, 12


Slowly, I'm getting my blog reviews up here. Here's one from 2 years ago almost to the day. It's always nice to be a couple years ahead of the curve. :D

Like I said before, I'm not immune to peer pressure. The opposite is in fact true. I also realize this is probably getting as annoying as hearing about how busy people are and excuses as to why there's no posting. I'll attempt to refrain (doh!).

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter tells the story found in Lincoln's secret journal describing his alternate life as a vampire hunter. Personally, anything titled "Vampire Hunter" should really be more entertaining than this.

I don't know if by reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter I would really be able to have an opinion of the rest of the monster mash-ups as Vampire Hunter is based on Lincoln's life and not another book like Pride and Prejudice. I assume as much though and as such, you'll probably not see many more mash-ups reviews.

I have to admit I wasn't converted. First, I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator. The voices he used were just all off for me. I have a certain voice for Abraham Lincoln in my head (probably thanks to School House Rock or something) and this did not do it for me.

Next, I have to say the writing was done well and while I was impressed with the facts of Lincoln's actual life that are woven into the story (I did confirm a few), it was hard to take someone telling the actual thoughts and motivations behind Lincoln's actions especially regarding vampires.

As mentioned earlier, I guess I expected more action and adventure, less plodding along and talking. Now that I think about it, the "Abraham Lincoln" part really should have off-set the rest of the title enough. Don't get me wrong, I greatly respect President Lincoln and I think that may have been one of the reasons I had a hard time with the book as well.

One of the perks of the audiobook was that there's an interview with Seth Grahame-Smith at the end of the telling of the story and that was pretty interesting. He tells how the two books he saw everywhere for the last while have been Abraham Lincoln biographies and Twilight. Thus we have Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Also interesting to note Grahame-Smith has a MTV show in the makes.

EDIT: It used to be TV show, now obviously it's been made into a movie, which let's be honest, I have to see. You can't read a book no matter how much you liked it or didn't like it and not see the movie. It's in the rules, I'll have to show it to you some day.

When Should You Read/Listen to Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter?

I can probably mostly compare Vampire Hunter to The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It's similar slow-moving vampire hunting, so if you liked the latter, you'll probably enjoy the former. Although I would not wish The Historian on my worst enemy. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was a step up from that to be fair.

2 out of 5 Stars (It was okay)


Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read Abraham Lincoln.
sign in »

Comments (showing 1-33 of 33) (33 new)

dateDown_arrow    newest »

message 1: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth Personally, anything titled "Vampire Hunter" should really be more entertaining than this.

I felt the same way about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!!! If you're going to have Ninjas in a book, they should be interesting!

Alas. I think Mr. made-up-name is better at creating titles than writing books.


Seak (Bryce L.) Elizabeth wrote: "Personally, anything titled "Vampire Hunter" should really be more entertaining than this.

I felt the same way about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!!! If you're going to have Ninjas in a book, th..."


Haha, I think so! I'm glad I'm not the only one. I just felt so bored and I know it was 90% because of my expectations going in, but then don't get my expectations up like that. :D


message 3: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth I had really low expectations. It didn't help.


Seak (Bryce L.) Elizabeth wrote: "I had really low expectations. It didn't help."

Lol. Good, I don't feel so bad about my misplaced expectations then.


message 5: by B0nnie (new)

B0nnie The preview to the movie is awesome - hilarious and bad-ass - but you know how that goes, often better than the entire show.


Seak (Bryce L.) I forget where I read it, but I agree with them, this is one where the movie will definitely be better. I don't know why I know that, I just do. :)


Seak (Bryce L.) Ceridwen wrote: "http://io9.com/5877008/behold-maybe-t..."

"Marco, polio" Oh man, that just made my day. :D Especially the "99 problems" playing in the background...oh and the tons of stars in it.


message 9: by Ceridwen (new) - added it

Ceridwen Part of me is willing to forgive these shitty books just for the brilliant parodies they provoke...but only part.


Seak (Bryce L.) Haha. This was my only go and it was a disappointment. Don't think I'll be headed back with the billions of other good books out there and all.


message 11: by B0nnie (new)

B0nnie Love the *Delano 2000* - we must blast their fucking asses! ha ha, but I agree Ceridwen, these parodies only go so far. The joke gets old very quickly.


message 12: by B0nnie (new)

B0nnie Jane Slayre: The Literary Classic with a Blood-Sucking Twist I love the cover, and "Reader, I buried him..."


message 13: by Ian (new)

Ian B0nnie wrote: "The preview to the movie is awesome - hilarious and bad-ass - but you know how that goes, often better than the entire show."

I was pretty entertained by the movie preview, too, but I don't see myself paying money to watch it.


message 14: by Ceridwen (new) - added it

Ceridwen I did like Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter earnestly, but I believe it's almost an outlier. The writer obviously has a love for pulp horror, which feels unusual in these more mercantile excursions. Most of these feel like writing to the title.


message 15: by B0nnie (new)

B0nnie Ian wrote: "B0nnie wrote: "The preview to the movie is awesome - hilarious and bad-ass - but you know how that goes, often better than the entire show."

I was pretty entertained by the movie preview, too, ..."

Yes - I was really laughing, and quite amazed at how seriously it was presented. I might see it if the reviews are good.


message 16: by B0nnie (new)

B0nnie Ceridwen wrote: "I did like Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter earnestly, but I believe it's almost an outlier. The writer obviously has a love for pulp horror, which feels unusual in these more mercantile excursions. Mo..."

Most of these feel like writing to the title - yes that is the problem. They take the basic text and embellish it. That just isn't enough


Seak (Bryce L.) Ceridwen wrote: "Most of these feel like writing to the title. "

That explains it perfectly.


message 18: by Ceridwen (new) - added it

Ceridwen I'm still seriously enraged about the prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. That was seriously lazy, title writing crap.


Seak (Bryce L.) Ceridwen wrote: "I'm still seriously enraged about the prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. That was seriously lazy, title writing crap."

I was really close to picking that up but I'm really glad I didn't now. :)


message 20: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth Seak (Bryce L.) wrote: "I was really close to picking that up but I'm reall..."

Don't do it. No matter how tempted. Really one of the worst books that I've ever read. Ever.


message 21: by Mark (new)

Mark Great review; bizarre concept for a novel though and ps. I want to whisper quietly in the background a good word for 'The Historian'


Seak (Bryce L.) Mark wrote: "Great review; bizarre concept for a novel though and ps. I want to whisper quietly in the background a good word for 'The Historian'"

Yeah, it didn't work for me. Although neither did The Historian as you can see. :D


message 23: by Jessica (new)

Jessica Colgan Even though this book received so many rave reviews...yours stuck out. Once you used the words "plodding along" it was a wrap. I don't think I will bother to read it. I usually will not finish a book if there are period of the book that are essentially "filler". I think it indicates laziness in the author. Thanks for your great review!


Seak (Bryce L.) Thanks Jessica. Plodding is definitely this book. If I want to learn more about Lincoln's life, I'll pick up an actual historical text, not a vampire book. This is just silly. :)


message 25: by Charity (new) - rated it 3 stars

Charity Loved the movie -- it was totally fun. I was surprised how dull the book is.


Seak (Bryce L.) Charity wrote: "Loved the movie -- it was totally fun. I was surprised how dull the book is."

Good to hear, I still need to see it.


message 27: by Charity (new) - rated it 3 stars

Charity Seak (Bryce L.) wrote: "Charity wrote: "Loved the movie -- it was totally fun. I was surprised how dull the book is."

Good to hear, I still need to see it."


The movie has an endearing main character, a plot arc, a primary villain, a terrific "best friend," and a cute romance with Mary Todd. Hope you enjoy it -- I did!


message 28: by Julie (new) - added it

Julie I am finding the same. I'm not even to the vampire oarts yet snd already it reads more like domeones thesis on Lincoln than anything interesting.


Seak (Bryce L.) Yes, that's it exactly. I heard this somewhere else and I've adopted it myself - if I'm going to reread (enriched classic) or learn about these people (enhanced history) I'm just going to go reread it or learn about it. I expanded a bit on it. :)


message 30: by Julie (new) - rated it 1 star

Julie I wish I'd read this review prior to purchasing this audiobook.....


Seak (Bryce L.) Julie wrote: "I wish I'd read this review prior to purchasing this audiobook....."

Ah, sorry. I really tried to warn you. :D


message 32: by Kartik (new)

Kartik (mebookgeeko) nice review..


Seak (Bryce L.) kArTiK.. wrote: "nice review.."

Thanks. :)


back to top