Evan's Reviews > Never Ceese
My rating:
Never Ceese
by Sue Dent (Goodreads Author)
by Sue Dent (Goodreads Author)
** spoiler alert **
A somewhat off the radar book. A kind of Christian fiction vampire/werewolf novel aimed at the YA crowd.
A vampire and a werewolf meet up and try to contact a few scientists that may have a cure for their condition. The problem is that the vampire is somewhat apathetic about ever being human again, the werewolf has been in wolf form for over 70 years and doesn't quite get modern civilization, the scientists are being manipulated by an evil stem cell researcher looking to use the vampire curse to achieve immortality...and most of the characters seem ready to strangle each other. The result is more humorous than horrifying. Richard, the vampire and Ceese the werewolf clash constantly, and the result is mostly funny. They share a connection which is heavily hinted at but only revealed in the very end. The resolution seemingly wraps things up but the author adds a few loose ends to set up for the sequel.
Oddly enough although Sue Dent has said she doesn't consider herself a "Christian author" and indeed, some light swearing and the use of alcohol and tobacco by some of the characters (ironically, perhaps more than the vampires and werewolves) ensure this won't be in many Christian book stores. But Christian faith plays a very explicit role in this book The vampires and werewolves are genuinely cursed, and the curse unquestionably evil in nature. For the characters to speak or even think of anything holy causes them great pain (one character tries to recite John 3:16 at one point, and it nearly kills him). The great fear of the protagonists, ultimately, is that they will face damnation in their current state.
I'm not here to theologically break down the book, but I will say it was a nice read with a very neat redemptive conclusion. And in a market full of vampires and werewolves who either embrace their baser natures, treat their curse like a superpower, or endlessly brood in hopelessness, it seems downright refreshing to see a tale where the curse is genuine evil but redemption is accomplished triumphantly.
So why only three stars? For some reason, the dialogue just got tiring after awhile, with Richard and Ceese bicker like, well teenagers, but hen this is aimed at a high school audience. That and I thought the villain was a bit 'stock' and could have been better. Minor complaints, but in the end the whole worked seemed like "good, not one of the best I've read all year. Though is it certainly unique because of what it is.
A vampire and a werewolf meet up and try to contact a few scientists that may have a cure for their condition. The problem is that the vampire is somewhat apathetic about ever being human again, the werewolf has been in wolf form for over 70 years and doesn't quite get modern civilization, the scientists are being manipulated by an evil stem cell researcher looking to use the vampire curse to achieve immortality...and most of the characters seem ready to strangle each other. The result is more humorous than horrifying. Richard, the vampire and Ceese the werewolf clash constantly, and the result is mostly funny. They share a connection which is heavily hinted at but only revealed in the very end. The resolution seemingly wraps things up but the author adds a few loose ends to set up for the sequel.
Oddly enough although Sue Dent has said she doesn't consider herself a "Christian author" and indeed, some light swearing and the use of alcohol and tobacco by some of the characters (ironically, perhaps more than the vampires and werewolves) ensure this won't be in many Christian book stores. But Christian faith plays a very explicit role in this book The vampires and werewolves are genuinely cursed, and the curse unquestionably evil in nature. For the characters to speak or even think of anything holy causes them great pain (one character tries to recite John 3:16 at one point, and it nearly kills him). The great fear of the protagonists, ultimately, is that they will face damnation in their current state.
I'm not here to theologically break down the book, but I will say it was a nice read with a very neat redemptive conclusion. And in a market full of vampires and werewolves who either embrace their baser natures, treat their curse like a superpower, or endlessly brood in hopelessness, it seems downright refreshing to see a tale where the curse is genuine evil but redemption is accomplished triumphantly.
So why only three stars? For some reason, the dialogue just got tiring after awhile, with Richard and Ceese bicker like, well teenagers, but hen this is aimed at a high school audience. That and I thought the villain was a bit 'stock' and could have been better. Minor complaints, but in the end the whole worked seemed like "good, not one of the best I've read all year. Though is it certainly unique because of what it is.
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Thank-you so much Evan. That has to be the absolute best three star review I've ever read! Absolutely wonderful. I'm so happy you enjoyed it. Are you planning to read Forever Richard? :)
