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Behind Blue Eyes #1
Behind Blue Eyes
Cain was born in England in 1917. At the end of WWII Cain returned to England, longing for the comforts of home, but found his mother was different; she had been changed by a vampire who preys on women.
There came a point where his mother felt there was no choice…Cain had to be turned as well.
After watching his mother die he changed his way of thinking, his way of feeding. He tried to reclaim some of his humanity but it was not easy as he was fueled by rage against the one that had changed her. He wanted his revenge and nothing would stop him.
After he was attacked he came across a young girl, ten year old Mia, whose innocence was slowly being taken away from her. They needed each other, and both their lives depended on it.
The world was a very bad place for Mia. She was about to find out just how much worse it could get.
There came a point where his mother felt there was no choice…Cain had to be turned as well.
After watching his mother die he changed his way of thinking, his way of feeding. He tried to reclaim some of his humanity but it was not easy as he was fueled by rage against the one that had changed her. He wanted his revenge and nothing would stop him.
After he was attacked he came across a young girl, ten year old Mia, whose innocence was slowly being taken away from her. They needed each other, and both their lives depended on it.
The world was a very bad place for Mia. She was about to find out just how much worse it could get.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
May 16, 2013
I was lucky enough to be one of the beta readers for this book.
I must say that I really enjoyed it. One of the things that really stood out within the book was the amount of detail is put into the description. You can see how much care has gone into this book.
I feel that it deserves nothing less than 5 stars. It is a great first novel.
throughout the book I was torn between Cain and Vasile. I was unable to decide which one was my favourite character. By the end of the book however, I think I had finally settled on Cain.
Not your typical vampire story. A must read for people who enjoy a good vampire story.
I must say that I really enjoyed it. One of the things that really stood out within the book was the amount of detail is put into the description. You can see how much care has gone into this book.
I feel that it deserves nothing less than 5 stars. It is a great first novel.
throughout the book I was torn between Cain and Vasile. I was unable to decide which one was my favourite character. By the end of the book however, I think I had finally settled on Cain.
Not your typical vampire story. A must read for people who enjoy a good vampire story.
July 14, 2014
I was given this book for free thru the author for my honest review. If you like paranormal vampire books that are very unique you are going to love this book. I was hooked from page 1 to the last page. There is romance, twist and turns & gorge with action. Check this book out. Thank you again for letting me read and review your awesome book :)
October 15, 2013
If there is at all such a genre as a “vampire novel”, this book is definitely not a typical one, and those who like to read vampire stories will certainly enjoy the uniqueness of this novel. The only apparent cliché is the origin of one of the characters – “from Transylvania”. Other than that most of the “building blocks” of the story are fresh and original. In her book, D.M. Wolfenden is concentrated more on storytelling than on the development of the plot around well-built characters. But this is not such a big downside considering that this is a first novel by an obviously very talented author. There is a little bit of everything in here – a family saga, mystery thriller, romance… And yes, the story is very interesting, it flows and keeps readers attention from the first to the last page.
For me, the biggest asset of this novel is that the author manages to present a vampire story as a very engaging morality tale where borders between good and evil are blurred, where everybody is a victim and a culprit at the same time. The main character vampire Cain is tormented by his blood lust, agonizing over terrible acts he has done. Readers will see him as a positive character in spite of the fact that he is a vampire. He is trying to guide and protect from evil a young girl Mia, who is the heroine of the story. His love for her is genuine and very human. At the same time there is an “evil” vampire named Vasile, and Cain is out for revenge against Vasile. There are also some “evil” human characters who “deserve” to be punished for their wrongdoings.
In “Behind Blue Eyes”, the author created a believable world of vampires coexisting with the world of mortal humans. For those who, for whatever reason, enjoy violent bloody scenes, body-mutilations and all other cruel travesties of the imaginary realm of vampires, this is a place to dwell. On a certain level, this story could be even viewed as an allegorical representation of the world we live in. This is probably, in my opinion, the strongest and most valuable side of the D.M. Wolfenden’s novel.
At the end, I cannot but think that this novel has a great potential and could be a great base for an exciting screenplay. It was a pleasant read, and in spite of some inconsistencies in the plot development, a real page-turner that I highly recommend even if one is not a vampire story lover.
For me, the biggest asset of this novel is that the author manages to present a vampire story as a very engaging morality tale where borders between good and evil are blurred, where everybody is a victim and a culprit at the same time. The main character vampire Cain is tormented by his blood lust, agonizing over terrible acts he has done. Readers will see him as a positive character in spite of the fact that he is a vampire. He is trying to guide and protect from evil a young girl Mia, who is the heroine of the story. His love for her is genuine and very human. At the same time there is an “evil” vampire named Vasile, and Cain is out for revenge against Vasile. There are also some “evil” human characters who “deserve” to be punished for their wrongdoings.
In “Behind Blue Eyes”, the author created a believable world of vampires coexisting with the world of mortal humans. For those who, for whatever reason, enjoy violent bloody scenes, body-mutilations and all other cruel travesties of the imaginary realm of vampires, this is a place to dwell. On a certain level, this story could be even viewed as an allegorical representation of the world we live in. This is probably, in my opinion, the strongest and most valuable side of the D.M. Wolfenden’s novel.
At the end, I cannot but think that this novel has a great potential and could be a great base for an exciting screenplay. It was a pleasant read, and in spite of some inconsistencies in the plot development, a real page-turner that I highly recommend even if one is not a vampire story lover.
February 13, 2015
Once again, I found myself enjoying this wonderful story. I wasn't quite sure what to expect since I haven't read vampire stories in a while. This story started out with Cain as a human. But very soon, he was turned. Unfortunately, Cain didn't know how to handle this change and actually ended up killing people violently which he later regrets.
Really, this book had it all. It had the tortured hero- yeah, I'm a sucker for those. It had suspense, action, and even a beautiful love story. The story kept me guessing until the end. The author covered a lot of years, so a lot happened, and we witness the characters grow/evolve. I actually prefer this. At first, the young girl, Mia, was only ten years old and I believe by the end of the story, she was in her twenties.
Warning: the book had some graphic violent scenes. But I skimmed over this since I personally couldn't read those. But this didn't take away from the story at all for me. I was intrigued and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Great story to lose yourself into!
Really, this book had it all. It had the tortured hero- yeah, I'm a sucker for those. It had suspense, action, and even a beautiful love story. The story kept me guessing until the end. The author covered a lot of years, so a lot happened, and we witness the characters grow/evolve. I actually prefer this. At first, the young girl, Mia, was only ten years old and I believe by the end of the story, she was in her twenties.
Warning: the book had some graphic violent scenes. But I skimmed over this since I personally couldn't read those. But this didn't take away from the story at all for me. I was intrigued and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Great story to lose yourself into!
March 28, 2015
I refrained from reading the blurb or any reviews of this one before starting Behind Blue Eyes and I’m glad I did as I feel the evolution and twists at the beginning of the story worked well. Beginning almost like a Somerset Maugham work with Elizabeth a virtual agoraphobic living in genteel isolation, the story very quickly expands in every sense. At first I thought this might become a bizarre, darkly abusive romance, then when Elizabeth turns her son Caine (not exactly something that results in him having the sunniest or most compassionate of dispositions) this could have been a tale with Elizabeth as the resourceful protagonist and Caine as the villain, the nemesis character. The act of self emollition on Elizabeth’s part was extremely powerful as was the way it provided a catalyst for the seemingly lost son to redeem himself. If not for this then Caine could well have become a Vasile himself. Structurally the first act of the novel works well, with Elizabeth being turned the inciting incident whilst Caine’s vow of vengeance on Vasile the first plot point/ turning point.
The novel has its own take on the seeming immortality, powers and the limitations of vampires which the author reduces to much a more credible and believable scale. It reminded me more than a little of Anne Rice (I’m thinking specifically here of Interview with a Vampire and the The Vampire Lestat) in the way characters deal with the choices between good and evil, compassion and indifference and explore the concept of the vampire as psychopath and serial killer.
The quest/ chase/ revenge elements of the novel on the whole work as it did the way it jumps decades (these are vampires after all). Caine undergoes a maturational process as he first learns compassion from his mother and then to control his desire for vengeance by wiser and far older vampires than himself. Finally it is his relationship and feelings for Mia which catalyse an ongoing personal development and indeed eventually provides a sense of closure to the tale.
I have to be honest and say that when Caine embarks on his vampire existence and quest for revenge it seemed as if this novel, whilst well written and engaging, might become a little generic and predictable and I thought for a short time it did. What D.M. Wolfenden does though with the Mia story line is introduce an additional complex human (or rather a human/vampire) drama. In fact this works so well that the vampire element is not even a necessary ingredient in some places. This is especially true about halfway through the novel when Caine becomes involved with Joe, Arben, Billy and their sick criminal world. Here our vampire protagonist is a clear moral force, a protector. This section is very visceral, graphic and dark but works well in having Caine analyse himself as he realises he’s taking far too much pleasure in punishing the unjust. This section I thought could easily stand alone as an excellent, gritty thriller novel/ novella.
I only really have a couple of criticisms. The first concerns the last part of the novel, the build up is there but I thought the climax itself was over a little too quickly and lacked the nail biting drama I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very good but I was hoping for more. The second is to do with the dialogue. I found in parts that characters spoke without contractions and this made it seem a little stilted. In these parts I felt I was reading written words rather than ‘hearing’ a character speak. Characterisation in this novel is excellent but for me they often lacked a distinctive voice.
But I don’t want to end on a negative note. This is a great read for all fans of horror and vampire fiction in particular.
The novel has its own take on the seeming immortality, powers and the limitations of vampires which the author reduces to much a more credible and believable scale. It reminded me more than a little of Anne Rice (I’m thinking specifically here of Interview with a Vampire and the The Vampire Lestat) in the way characters deal with the choices between good and evil, compassion and indifference and explore the concept of the vampire as psychopath and serial killer.
The quest/ chase/ revenge elements of the novel on the whole work as it did the way it jumps decades (these are vampires after all). Caine undergoes a maturational process as he first learns compassion from his mother and then to control his desire for vengeance by wiser and far older vampires than himself. Finally it is his relationship and feelings for Mia which catalyse an ongoing personal development and indeed eventually provides a sense of closure to the tale.
I have to be honest and say that when Caine embarks on his vampire existence and quest for revenge it seemed as if this novel, whilst well written and engaging, might become a little generic and predictable and I thought for a short time it did. What D.M. Wolfenden does though with the Mia story line is introduce an additional complex human (or rather a human/vampire) drama. In fact this works so well that the vampire element is not even a necessary ingredient in some places. This is especially true about halfway through the novel when Caine becomes involved with Joe, Arben, Billy and their sick criminal world. Here our vampire protagonist is a clear moral force, a protector. This section is very visceral, graphic and dark but works well in having Caine analyse himself as he realises he’s taking far too much pleasure in punishing the unjust. This section I thought could easily stand alone as an excellent, gritty thriller novel/ novella.
I only really have a couple of criticisms. The first concerns the last part of the novel, the build up is there but I thought the climax itself was over a little too quickly and lacked the nail biting drama I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very good but I was hoping for more. The second is to do with the dialogue. I found in parts that characters spoke without contractions and this made it seem a little stilted. In these parts I felt I was reading written words rather than ‘hearing’ a character speak. Characterisation in this novel is excellent but for me they often lacked a distinctive voice.
But I don’t want to end on a negative note. This is a great read for all fans of horror and vampire fiction in particular.
February 2, 2016
Behind Blue Eyes by D.M.Wolfenden
I have been reading a lot of literary fiction lately, books that take time to read and to digest, so when I opened up Behind Blue Eyes I found it a totally different and engaging read; so much so that I stayed up all night to finish it. There are not many books that draw you along in this way and for this reason I have to give it a 5*. As a youngster I read a lot of horror stories (as many kids do) and many of those were 19th century Gothic novels and traditional tales of werewolves and vampires. From the start this had the feel of a traditional folk tale. It was all in the telling, and this reads very much as telling. The language is easy and almost conversational so, like a folk tale, it focuses on the deed rather than the doer, the action rather than the setting – and in this case it works.
Anne Rice gave us vampires with a conscience and vampires who delight in the kill, Stephanie Meyers gave us “good vampires”, D.M.Wolfenden gives us a mixture of the two with her utterly evil and psychopathic Vasile, the tortured Cain who tries his best not to be bad but sometimes lets anger get the better of him and finally Mia who, when turned, does not want to kill. That is OK. I see no reason why vampires should not be good, bad or indifferent. Wolfenden’s vampires are unafraid of daylight, churches, garlic and the various props we need to feel “protected”. This takes us back to the very old idea of the “Mullo”, people with two souls, who are able to integrate as humans if they choose but behave as vampires. It takes us away from Bram Stoker’s Victorian need to give us a security blanket in Dracula. Daylight will afford no protection for the victims in this novel.
Vasile is psychopathic and inherently evil, he takes delight in death and torture but for him the act and the moment do not satisfy his craving for blood and flesh. Did I say the violence is explicit? Yes, it is, Vasile loves to torture his victims but it is the “matter of fact” telling that emphasizes his coldness. In contrast Cain has learned to control himself, to feed without killing. Just in case you think that makes him a saint, when his anger is roused along with his protective instinct, he is just as capable of long drawn out torture and brutal killing. We become aware of this very early on when Cain destroys Mia’s abusive stepfather; a killing that is sadistic, long drawn out and disturbing because it draws on a common desire to punish abusers in extreme ways. Vasile remains in the background throughout. Cain and Helena join forces to get revenge because he has ruined their lives. Their attempts are not successful and he goes on to stalk Mia and turn her mother, whom Cain accidentally kills. In the end, he gets his just desserts.
Mia, the heroine, is a child when she first meets Cain and she saves his life. Cain becomes a kind of shadowy protector throughout her childhood, adolescence and early maturity. His motives initially are gratitude and protectiveness. For this reason he does not see the “love interest” coming when she reaches adulthood. Mia is confused by her feelings of attraction towards Cain and disgust at his violent behaviour, but in the end they live happily ever after.
Those who might enjoy this novel? Anyone who is into dark horror, unmitigated violence, vampires minus the “security blanket” and a rollicking read that uses direct, simple language and is not afraid to “tell” us a story in the good old fashioned Gothic way.
I have been reading a lot of literary fiction lately, books that take time to read and to digest, so when I opened up Behind Blue Eyes I found it a totally different and engaging read; so much so that I stayed up all night to finish it. There are not many books that draw you along in this way and for this reason I have to give it a 5*. As a youngster I read a lot of horror stories (as many kids do) and many of those were 19th century Gothic novels and traditional tales of werewolves and vampires. From the start this had the feel of a traditional folk tale. It was all in the telling, and this reads very much as telling. The language is easy and almost conversational so, like a folk tale, it focuses on the deed rather than the doer, the action rather than the setting – and in this case it works.
Anne Rice gave us vampires with a conscience and vampires who delight in the kill, Stephanie Meyers gave us “good vampires”, D.M.Wolfenden gives us a mixture of the two with her utterly evil and psychopathic Vasile, the tortured Cain who tries his best not to be bad but sometimes lets anger get the better of him and finally Mia who, when turned, does not want to kill. That is OK. I see no reason why vampires should not be good, bad or indifferent. Wolfenden’s vampires are unafraid of daylight, churches, garlic and the various props we need to feel “protected”. This takes us back to the very old idea of the “Mullo”, people with two souls, who are able to integrate as humans if they choose but behave as vampires. It takes us away from Bram Stoker’s Victorian need to give us a security blanket in Dracula. Daylight will afford no protection for the victims in this novel.
Vasile is psychopathic and inherently evil, he takes delight in death and torture but for him the act and the moment do not satisfy his craving for blood and flesh. Did I say the violence is explicit? Yes, it is, Vasile loves to torture his victims but it is the “matter of fact” telling that emphasizes his coldness. In contrast Cain has learned to control himself, to feed without killing. Just in case you think that makes him a saint, when his anger is roused along with his protective instinct, he is just as capable of long drawn out torture and brutal killing. We become aware of this very early on when Cain destroys Mia’s abusive stepfather; a killing that is sadistic, long drawn out and disturbing because it draws on a common desire to punish abusers in extreme ways. Vasile remains in the background throughout. Cain and Helena join forces to get revenge because he has ruined their lives. Their attempts are not successful and he goes on to stalk Mia and turn her mother, whom Cain accidentally kills. In the end, he gets his just desserts.
Mia, the heroine, is a child when she first meets Cain and she saves his life. Cain becomes a kind of shadowy protector throughout her childhood, adolescence and early maturity. His motives initially are gratitude and protectiveness. For this reason he does not see the “love interest” coming when she reaches adulthood. Mia is confused by her feelings of attraction towards Cain and disgust at his violent behaviour, but in the end they live happily ever after.
Those who might enjoy this novel? Anyone who is into dark horror, unmitigated violence, vampires minus the “security blanket” and a rollicking read that uses direct, simple language and is not afraid to “tell” us a story in the good old fashioned Gothic way.
May 22, 2013
The many varied and often bloody events of this novel are set around one vampire's search for revenge against the vampire who has ruined him and his family. The protagonist Cain goes in search of Vasile, the blood-sucking, cruel demon who has been responsible for the death of Cain's mother and Cain's own inhabiting of the world of the undead. Cain eventually befriends a young girl, Mia, and protects her throughout her teenage years; when Mia turns into a mature young woman the relationship between the two becomes rather more complicated. There are a great many violent scenes in the book, as one would expect from the subject-matter, with a good deal of body-mutilation, but this is always counterbalanced by the struggle within Cain's consciousness between blood-lust and his urge to temper his instincts and, ultimately, the love he feels for Mia. The story goes along at a cracking pace, full of a clever mixture of brutal scenes and tender episodes. Who will win out in the end in the feud between Cain and the arch-vampire, Vasile, and what will happen between Cain and Mia? Will she join the ranks of the undead, or not? Check out this great book to find out.
January 19, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought this book was going to be about vampires, but a big part of the story is really about a little girl prepared to overcome fear and help an injured vampire, Cain. This inspires protective instincts toward the child that Cain didn't think he could feel any more - maybe even echoing the life he had before he became a vampire, back when he had a wife and daughter.
I expected the thriller/horror parts of the book, but it's also a bit of a romance, with unexpected twists and turns tearing characters apart - just as they seem to be getting comfortable with one another. And the thriller aspect kept me guessing until almost the last line of text on the last page!
This is a fascinating story that spans the best part of one hundred years, since vampires don't have the limited life span of humans. I identified with Cain enough for it to give me a hint of what it must feel like to be alive for such a long time, without the ability to participate in a normal life. He spends much of his time watching others life their lives.
Something quite different to what I expected... and thoroughly enjoyable.
I expected the thriller/horror parts of the book, but it's also a bit of a romance, with unexpected twists and turns tearing characters apart - just as they seem to be getting comfortable with one another. And the thriller aspect kept me guessing until almost the last line of text on the last page!
This is a fascinating story that spans the best part of one hundred years, since vampires don't have the limited life span of humans. I identified with Cain enough for it to give me a hint of what it must feel like to be alive for such a long time, without the ability to participate in a normal life. He spends much of his time watching others life their lives.
Something quite different to what I expected... and thoroughly enjoyable.
June 9, 2017
Something special in the vampire genre. Behind Blue Eyes by D. M. Wolfenden is a vampire novel in the Gothic tradition, starring Cain, a vampire to remember despite the glut of paranormal vampire romantic thrillers. Elizabeth, Cain's mother, is born in 1895. By the age of forty-nine, Lady Elizabeth Sutton has lost her husband in WW1 and her daughter-in-law and the unborn grandchild in WWII.
Hurrah for originality.
Hurrah for originality.
April 11, 2013
This book started off really well, but ended up scaring me! Maybe that was the point! This handsome blue-eyed man named Cain was determined to get revenge for his mother's death. Don't let those handsome blue eyes fool you! The nectar of your neck could be at risk!
Good Job DM!
Good Job DM!
June 18, 2013
Behind Blue Eyes is the first vampire novel I've read for review. But a good book is universal so the genre shouldn't matter. The story revolves around a vampire named Cain who is out for revenge against an evil vampire named Vasile. Cain used to be a goodhearted human, fighting a brutal war in France. When he returns home from the war, he finds that his beautiful mother, Elizabeth, had been bitten and transformed into a vampire by Vasile (Vasile intended for Elizabeth to be his vampire mate, but Elizabeth shunned him for what he has done to her, so he left). Elizabeth, kindhearted in nature, makes it a point to control her cravings. Though she lusts for blood, she never kills or drains the blood of her victims like other bloodthirsty vampires do. When Cain fell deathly ill and went into a coma, Elizabeth turns him into a vampire by forcing him to drink her vampire blood (so he may live). When Cain wakes up and finds himself extremely blood thirsty, he realizes what his mother has done. Angry at Elizabeth, he begins to act like Vasile, killing humans right and left without compunction. Horrified by her son's behavior and blaming herself for it, Elizabeth commits suicide. The suicide slaps Cain into reality. Anguished by his mother's suicide, he vows to control his blood lust like his mother has so successfully done. He promises to seek revenge on Vasile. The effort to find the elusive vampire takes him on a never-ending journey. For decades, he wanders around, seeking out his prey. But every time he gets closer, something happens that allows Vasile to escape. When Cain falls in love with a young woman named Mia, the relationship complicates his life. Since he is constantly hunted by humans and has a powerful enemy in Vasile not to mention other bloodthirsty vampires, Cain feels he is endangering her. The threat is real and the readers can feel it.
Though the plot may sound silly to non-readers of the genre, the author is able to create a compelling vampire world that is believable. Cain is a sympathetic character filled with empathy toward the weaker humans. I like the fact that he is guilt-ridden by his blood lust, agonizing whether God will ever accept him for the terrible deeds he has done, especially those before he was able to control his cravings. His love for Mia is authentic and the reader sees that this vampire is a good person (a trait that carried over from his human days). Descriptions of blood lust are excellent and the immediate power a new vampire feels upon waking up is depicted in an engrossing way. The fact that vampires can sense each other's presence makes for goose-pimpling high drama.
Where the novel stumbles is in the transitions which seem choppy. The action scenes are glossed over, abrupt, and confusing. One moment the vampire is chasing his prey, the next moment, the victim is already drained of blood: "She turned to run but it was too late, he was too fast. Vasile almost completely drained Elizabeth of her blood then tore open his wrist and let his own blood seep down her throat. "
In another scene, a vampire (who shall remain nameless) is talking to Cain on the phone, in the next sentence, the vampire's head is suddenly lopped off by a sword-wielding man.
These types of disjointed killing scenes, which may be far too many, are repeated throughout the novel. I don't need to see the gore (and maybe that is what the author intended), but at least clearly lay out the scene to ground us to what is happening.
The novel has quite a few unexplained coincidences. In one scene, Elizabeth's friend Ann is telling her about women found in London who had been bitten and drained of blood. In the next telegraphed scene, we find Ann falling victim to the same fate by the same perpetrator (Vasile). In the succeeding chapter, we find Vasile coincidentally stalking Elizabeth (this is not a spoiler since it happened in the beginning).
Some may think I did not like the book, but I did. At the very least, I found it interesting enough to finish. I enjoyed the love story between Cain and Mia, and appreciated how caring he is toward her. I like the vampire world the author created with verisimilitude. The characterization is quite good and with Cain's inner conflicts, makes him a sympathetic protagonist. The last part of the book, when Cain was trying to protect Mia from humans and vampires, kept me turning the pages. Except for the actions scenes, the narrative flows relatively smoothly, with a few bumps here and there.
I rate this book between 3 and 3-1/2 stars but will round it off to 4 at Amazon since I see potential in it. I hope the author goes back and fixes these problems and allow the novel to shine. Rewrite then polish, polish, polish. With Kindle publishing, it only takes a second to re-upload a better version.
Though the plot may sound silly to non-readers of the genre, the author is able to create a compelling vampire world that is believable. Cain is a sympathetic character filled with empathy toward the weaker humans. I like the fact that he is guilt-ridden by his blood lust, agonizing whether God will ever accept him for the terrible deeds he has done, especially those before he was able to control his cravings. His love for Mia is authentic and the reader sees that this vampire is a good person (a trait that carried over from his human days). Descriptions of blood lust are excellent and the immediate power a new vampire feels upon waking up is depicted in an engrossing way. The fact that vampires can sense each other's presence makes for goose-pimpling high drama.
Where the novel stumbles is in the transitions which seem choppy. The action scenes are glossed over, abrupt, and confusing. One moment the vampire is chasing his prey, the next moment, the victim is already drained of blood: "She turned to run but it was too late, he was too fast. Vasile almost completely drained Elizabeth of her blood then tore open his wrist and let his own blood seep down her throat. "
In another scene, a vampire (who shall remain nameless) is talking to Cain on the phone, in the next sentence, the vampire's head is suddenly lopped off by a sword-wielding man.
These types of disjointed killing scenes, which may be far too many, are repeated throughout the novel. I don't need to see the gore (and maybe that is what the author intended), but at least clearly lay out the scene to ground us to what is happening.
The novel has quite a few unexplained coincidences. In one scene, Elizabeth's friend Ann is telling her about women found in London who had been bitten and drained of blood. In the next telegraphed scene, we find Ann falling victim to the same fate by the same perpetrator (Vasile). In the succeeding chapter, we find Vasile coincidentally stalking Elizabeth (this is not a spoiler since it happened in the beginning).
Some may think I did not like the book, but I did. At the very least, I found it interesting enough to finish. I enjoyed the love story between Cain and Mia, and appreciated how caring he is toward her. I like the vampire world the author created with verisimilitude. The characterization is quite good and with Cain's inner conflicts, makes him a sympathetic protagonist. The last part of the book, when Cain was trying to protect Mia from humans and vampires, kept me turning the pages. Except for the actions scenes, the narrative flows relatively smoothly, with a few bumps here and there.
I rate this book between 3 and 3-1/2 stars but will round it off to 4 at Amazon since I see potential in it. I hope the author goes back and fixes these problems and allow the novel to shine. Rewrite then polish, polish, polish. With Kindle publishing, it only takes a second to re-upload a better version.
July 19, 2014
I’ve mixed feelings about this book. The start was shaky. The characters were all over the place and thrown straight into intense action. And so many things go on, and the author tells us this and that. With someone interested in vampire tales, there could be a different rejoinder, but I found myself turning pages in a hope to really get involved and that doesn’t happen. It was like some friend of yours narrating you a story. The downside is you can’t visualize characters, let alone connect to them. Now, this book is fairly graphic (I don’t know if that’s the right word) but there are lots of dialogues in it with not much emotion involved. The protagonist, Cain, lives many years and travel through many countries. Had these places been properly described or given us a feel of, the story could be stronger and livelier. But no dawdling around- author cuts out the details and continues with her story, as if we are not reading but watching a fast paced thriller. Adding a personal bit here, I find myself in a similar situation. With someone equally interested in movies as in books, I tend to write graphic. There’s nothing wrong in it, but for most people such writing do not qualify as a ‘NOVEL’.
Now to the story- I found it interesting. And I’d surely watch it if it’s turned into a movie; something sort of INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE. But,the first thirty percent of the book just didn’t work for me. We see that Cain gets converted into a vampire. Vasile is a bad vampire, who wants to suck blood and rape women- that’s all. What’s his story, what’s the background, how does he look like [Charming, Gallant...that’s it???]. Why he attacked Elizabeth? [Oh, yes he was looking for a random partner...really?]. Then comes Mia, and she totally saved the book for me (sigh!).Not the college going Mia, but the younger one, and the best episode was when she stole the blood from the hospital to rescue Cain. I don’t feel the need to mention the other characters. Again, this book will turn better with the help of an experienced line editor. There are misplaced commas and semicolons throughout.
As I mentioned, the story is good and the author has a vibrant imagination. Vampirism has become an outrageously popular topic. So if you can’t get enough of vampires, this book will work for you. BOOK ONE ends on a curious note and that means a better opinion can only be formed after you’re done reading the second book. Overall, Behind Blue Eyes is a fast and easy read, and it left me with an impression, there is a lot of potential in author’s locker because all that matters are telling interesting stories and taking readers to different places, which she surely can.
Now to the story- I found it interesting. And I’d surely watch it if it’s turned into a movie; something sort of INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE. But,the first thirty percent of the book just didn’t work for me. We see that Cain gets converted into a vampire. Vasile is a bad vampire, who wants to suck blood and rape women- that’s all. What’s his story, what’s the background, how does he look like [Charming, Gallant...that’s it???]. Why he attacked Elizabeth? [Oh, yes he was looking for a random partner...really?]. Then comes Mia, and she totally saved the book for me (sigh!).Not the college going Mia, but the younger one, and the best episode was when she stole the blood from the hospital to rescue Cain. I don’t feel the need to mention the other characters. Again, this book will turn better with the help of an experienced line editor. There are misplaced commas and semicolons throughout.
As I mentioned, the story is good and the author has a vibrant imagination. Vampirism has become an outrageously popular topic. So if you can’t get enough of vampires, this book will work for you. BOOK ONE ends on a curious note and that means a better opinion can only be formed after you’re done reading the second book. Overall, Behind Blue Eyes is a fast and easy read, and it left me with an impression, there is a lot of potential in author’s locker because all that matters are telling interesting stories and taking readers to different places, which she surely can.
January 7, 2014
An Intriguing Vampire Romance
I had an interesting experience with this novel, borrowed for Kindle via my Amazon Prime account. The copy I received had numerous editing/proofing flaws, mostly punctuation, improper use of pronouns, extraneous and missing words, and choppy, disconnected sentences and paragraphs. Despite all its faults I found the story to be an intriguing page turner, with many an unexpected turn of events. I decided to rate it 3 stars, derived by averaging 4 stars for the story and 2 stars for the production/editing/proofing problems.
Much to my surprise, when I opened the book this morning to refresh my memory on the kind and location of the problems, I found all had been corrected. The book had none of the problems I recorded in reading it. I can only surmise an updated copy had been uploaded to Amazon and my copy was updated as a result.
This is an excellent book, clearly 5 star quality in every way. Especially intriguing is the romance between mortal humans and immortal vampires. Also intriguing is the process by which humans are turned into vampires, becoming immortal (but still susceptible to being killed!).
Too, I was surprised by the dialogue about the possibility of vampires going to Heaven. They decided the question in the affirmative on the basis that good vampires, though sometime killers of humans, do so only to protect themselves and others. This makes sense in a weird sort of way given that the Bible teaches everything that exists was created by God for His purposes.
I can’t say the book contains no typos or other proofing/editing problems since I didn’t reread the book looking for them. The only nit I found to pick with the version on my Kindle is extra spaces between some paragraphs. These surely result from using carriage returns for spacing instead of the word processor’s paragraph formatting function. They do not detract from the reading experience, and can be easily corrected.
In short, an excellent read. I tip my hat to an accomplished writer and to an entertaining and intriguing work of fiction.
February 25, 2014
A different type of “Vampire Love Story” mixed with a refreshingly plain ol’Bad Guy makes “Behind Blue Eyes” a different and enjoyable journey.
It reads almost like a very descriptive script, making it easy to picture things and watch them move along with the help of the words. I know the story revolves around two main characters, but I was drawn to Cain, sometimes it felt like Mia was just getting in the way, or taking him away from something more adventurous. I’m not saying I hated the female character, it is very sad and quite tragic (you will have to read it) which is maybe why I did not like it as much. But I’m sure that is what the author intended, you will find your sympathy will rain for her at times and at others, wondering about her decisions despite past experiences.
The stand out character for me was Vesile, the villain. Just a plain old run of the mill, really bad guy with no real reason for being evil, he is just bad. With no reason for his evilness or back story, I found him refreshing.
My only complaint about the novel is that I wish certain spots were touched on with a bit more exploration. But that could easily be just my greed wanting to know more. And a warning to those who do not like gore, or a lot of it, it is abundant and very well described. For those of you that do, it will not disappoint.
It reads almost like a very descriptive script, making it easy to picture things and watch them move along with the help of the words. I know the story revolves around two main characters, but I was drawn to Cain, sometimes it felt like Mia was just getting in the way, or taking him away from something more adventurous. I’m not saying I hated the female character, it is very sad and quite tragic (you will have to read it) which is maybe why I did not like it as much. But I’m sure that is what the author intended, you will find your sympathy will rain for her at times and at others, wondering about her decisions despite past experiences.
The stand out character for me was Vesile, the villain. Just a plain old run of the mill, really bad guy with no real reason for being evil, he is just bad. With no reason for his evilness or back story, I found him refreshing.
My only complaint about the novel is that I wish certain spots were touched on with a bit more exploration. But that could easily be just my greed wanting to know more. And a warning to those who do not like gore, or a lot of it, it is abundant and very well described. For those of you that do, it will not disappoint.
November 11, 2013
I don't read vampire novels, but I enjoyed reading this short one. It's written starkly, more like a screenplay than a fleshed-out novel, but it is very clear, and it is well plotted. The same character is in the novel from beginning to end, and I cared what happened to him. Cain first appears in the background of his mother's brief and tragic tale. Lovely Elizabeth, grieving for her husband, is torn from her solitary life of and turned into a vampire, then discarded by Vasile, a cold-hearted, vicious vampire who has come to war-torn London in 1944 to feed. Elizabeth chooses to die by fire after turning her son Cain into a vampire to save his life. Through Cain, we experience the anguish of being one of the undead, fending off the evil ones and learning not to kill his victims. I also can relate to the mission he is on, to revenge his mother's fate. His quest takes him to America, where he finds love. Will he and Mia survive the centuries together?
December 14, 2015
Mehreen Ahmed: PDF copy
Vampire stories are not my usual fare. Since Bram Stoker's Dracula, they have never found a soft spot in my literary mind, no matter, how intense the suffering, how profound the vampire's quest for truth maybe. However, Behind Blue eyes by D.M. Wolfenden has exposed such a poignant side to the living dead that even in my distaste for these pale creatures of the night, I have felt none other than empathy for them. The treatment of the characters' psyche against a backdrop of bloody battles of a WW2, and in its aftermath is one that the writer has explored in-depth.
Vampire stories are not my usual fare. Since Bram Stoker's Dracula, they have never found a soft spot in my literary mind, no matter, how intense the suffering, how profound the vampire's quest for truth maybe. However, Behind Blue eyes by D.M. Wolfenden has exposed such a poignant side to the living dead that even in my distaste for these pale creatures of the night, I have felt none other than empathy for them. The treatment of the characters' psyche against a backdrop of bloody battles of a WW2, and in its aftermath is one that the writer has explored in-depth.
December 17, 2014
Behind Blue Eyes (Behind Blue Eyes #1)
by D.M. Wolfenden
A stimulating vampire read from Wolfenden based in the early twentieth century and toward the end of the World War II.
The mind-play of changing a human mixed with hatred and rage is well presented in this work.
A bloody and frightening read for lovers of vampires and an interesting relationship between Cain and Mia.
Blood-sucking demon drama 5*****
by D.M. Wolfenden
A stimulating vampire read from Wolfenden based in the early twentieth century and toward the end of the World War II.
The mind-play of changing a human mixed with hatred and rage is well presented in this work.
A bloody and frightening read for lovers of vampires and an interesting relationship between Cain and Mia.
Blood-sucking demon drama 5*****
August 26, 2013
I enjoyed reading Behind Blue Eyes. What stood out to me and was the most interesting aspect of this book the relationship between Cain and Mia. It only took a couple hours to read this, and was satisfied by the way it ended.
June 15, 2015
Short Review: Ambitious and flawed, Behind Blue eyes is sure to please die-hard vampire fiction fans.
I've never been very interested in vampires, but I'm also not totally averse to them like some people are. I'm not bitter, and I don't like to sneer about how Stephanie Meyer 'ruined' the vampire genre, especially when Meyer's work is so totally separated from vampire fiction in themes that I'd rather say she damaged paranormal romance, if that.
Behind Blue Eyes is one of those post-Twilight novels, however, that some people will love, and others will just not enjoy. As for me, it's not the worst thing in the world, and I enjoyed a few small parts of it and some of the concepts, but I didn't go into this loving vampire fiction, Behind Blue Eyes didn't convince me to love it, and it probably will not convince anyone else who isn't hungry for this kind of story.
Behind Blue Eyes reads very much like a beginner's effort, but it's actually done well. It's too easy to forget the broad range of garbage that first time authors put out, and D.M. definitely tries. It's not garbage, and certainly not lazy. She just needs more practice and experience, and probably put this out a little too early.
Before I get into the story, I'd like to talk about my beefs with the presentation. The cover, with a very nice shadowed image of a beast's face, is marred by a hokey blood splatter that looks like it came from MS Paint. I doubt the cover is professionally done, but it could easily hold up as professional, without that splatter.
Also, presentation wise, this needs professional editing. Sentences go on too long, paragraphs needlessly end with sledgehammer lines that tell you exactly what's going on (even though the previous sentences already did), and all sorts of little errors and problems that will irritate those who prefer to read edited, subtler writing.
Now then, as far as the actual story, I was sort of into it during the beginning. When the premise was set up (a young man losing his mother to a vampire, and being turned himself) I found it pretty economical, but after that point the story spends a lot more time with less plot.
After the bad vampire, Vasile, sets up the revenge scenario for Cain, the protagonist vampire, he dedicates his life to hunting down Vasile. The story takes place over a long stretch from the 1940's (I believe) to the present, because vampires age very slowly.
This is one of the ideas that felt really new to me (likely because I'm so unfamiliar with vampire fiction). I was really looking forward to seeing 1940's culture, and then 50's greaser vampires, or 70's hippie vampire culture. Having a little fun with the idea and spreading the events out over more time would have been really cool to see. Sadly, I often didn't get a sense of time passing, because the story is really about Cain falling in love with a human in present day, which means D.M. has to zip along to the 90's or so for Cain to meet his love interest. It kind of makes me wonder why the extended life concept had to take up so much time. Perhaps Cain could have just been a modern guy, who got turned and then met Mia when she was closer to his age? I didn't really get any sense of worldliness to him, like someone who lived from the 40's to the present. Mostly he was a violent, impulsive killer.
Some people complained about the ending, or rather a feeling that it doesn't end properly. I thought it was alright as a bait for a sequel. The main plot thread from the beginning was resolved.
Overall, I liked the beginning quite a bit, and then my interest deflated as the plot went on. The romance did little for me, and I often felt distracted by little plot holes. It didn't wow me, but compared to other books out there by first authors, this is pretty good. My own first novels were more or less like this, so I kind of identify with the author in that way.
If you love (very violent) vampire stories with romance, give it a try.
I've never been very interested in vampires, but I'm also not totally averse to them like some people are. I'm not bitter, and I don't like to sneer about how Stephanie Meyer 'ruined' the vampire genre, especially when Meyer's work is so totally separated from vampire fiction in themes that I'd rather say she damaged paranormal romance, if that.
Behind Blue Eyes is one of those post-Twilight novels, however, that some people will love, and others will just not enjoy. As for me, it's not the worst thing in the world, and I enjoyed a few small parts of it and some of the concepts, but I didn't go into this loving vampire fiction, Behind Blue Eyes didn't convince me to love it, and it probably will not convince anyone else who isn't hungry for this kind of story.
Behind Blue Eyes reads very much like a beginner's effort, but it's actually done well. It's too easy to forget the broad range of garbage that first time authors put out, and D.M. definitely tries. It's not garbage, and certainly not lazy. She just needs more practice and experience, and probably put this out a little too early.
Before I get into the story, I'd like to talk about my beefs with the presentation. The cover, with a very nice shadowed image of a beast's face, is marred by a hokey blood splatter that looks like it came from MS Paint. I doubt the cover is professionally done, but it could easily hold up as professional, without that splatter.
Also, presentation wise, this needs professional editing. Sentences go on too long, paragraphs needlessly end with sledgehammer lines that tell you exactly what's going on (even though the previous sentences already did), and all sorts of little errors and problems that will irritate those who prefer to read edited, subtler writing.
Now then, as far as the actual story, I was sort of into it during the beginning. When the premise was set up (a young man losing his mother to a vampire, and being turned himself) I found it pretty economical, but after that point the story spends a lot more time with less plot.
After the bad vampire, Vasile, sets up the revenge scenario for Cain, the protagonist vampire, he dedicates his life to hunting down Vasile. The story takes place over a long stretch from the 1940's (I believe) to the present, because vampires age very slowly.
This is one of the ideas that felt really new to me (likely because I'm so unfamiliar with vampire fiction). I was really looking forward to seeing 1940's culture, and then 50's greaser vampires, or 70's hippie vampire culture. Having a little fun with the idea and spreading the events out over more time would have been really cool to see. Sadly, I often didn't get a sense of time passing, because the story is really about Cain falling in love with a human in present day, which means D.M. has to zip along to the 90's or so for Cain to meet his love interest. It kind of makes me wonder why the extended life concept had to take up so much time. Perhaps Cain could have just been a modern guy, who got turned and then met Mia when she was closer to his age? I didn't really get any sense of worldliness to him, like someone who lived from the 40's to the present. Mostly he was a violent, impulsive killer.
Some people complained about the ending, or rather a feeling that it doesn't end properly. I thought it was alright as a bait for a sequel. The main plot thread from the beginning was resolved.
Overall, I liked the beginning quite a bit, and then my interest deflated as the plot went on. The romance did little for me, and I often felt distracted by little plot holes. It didn't wow me, but compared to other books out there by first authors, this is pretty good. My own first novels were more or less like this, so I kind of identify with the author in that way.
If you love (very violent) vampire stories with romance, give it a try.
June 16, 2013
What's behind those blue eyes? Mostly admirably restrained bloodlust and well-earned melancholy. The reader and the leading vamp with the Hollywood looks will have something in common by the end of this book, shared trauma -- it's a hard world out there, full of victims and cruel predators.
There's a lot for readers to like in this book. Although the author relies on many of the familiar tropes, she puts effort into fleshing out her characters, never forgetting that these are real people with lives and responsibilities. There's also a lot of stand-out action in the book. I don't mean fight scenes and sex, although there's plenty. It's just that there's something new to process and digest every few pages. The author held nothing back.
I should note that there is room for improvement, which we will no doubt see in Wolfenden's future novels. Behind Blue Eyes is written in 3rd person omniscient, with frequent point of view shifts that diffuse suspense while keeping the reader at an arms length from any one character. I would also like to see a good deal less telling and more showing; there is a tendency to overexplain and summarize that which the reader should really be able to pick up on their own. I want to discover the motivations of the characters not through summary but through direct observation of their language, gestures, and actions.
But, if you get your literary kicks from blood sucking, sexual assault, and last minute heroics, you'll be genuinely glad you stayed with the novel. Bear in mind that it is only when the main character, Mia, enters the story that the author really finds her voice. I feel that the preceding fifth of the book is mostly backstory that could have been peppered throughout the rest of the novel. It's interesting, but I am confident that a reader could pick the book up at chapter 9 and follow along just fine. In fact, it would add some more mystery to the leading man, I mean vampire.
I do expect great things from Wolfenden, and I will keep a close eye on her work.
There's a lot for readers to like in this book. Although the author relies on many of the familiar tropes, she puts effort into fleshing out her characters, never forgetting that these are real people with lives and responsibilities. There's also a lot of stand-out action in the book. I don't mean fight scenes and sex, although there's plenty. It's just that there's something new to process and digest every few pages. The author held nothing back.
I should note that there is room for improvement, which we will no doubt see in Wolfenden's future novels. Behind Blue Eyes is written in 3rd person omniscient, with frequent point of view shifts that diffuse suspense while keeping the reader at an arms length from any one character. I would also like to see a good deal less telling and more showing; there is a tendency to overexplain and summarize that which the reader should really be able to pick up on their own. I want to discover the motivations of the characters not through summary but through direct observation of their language, gestures, and actions.
But, if you get your literary kicks from blood sucking, sexual assault, and last minute heroics, you'll be genuinely glad you stayed with the novel. Bear in mind that it is only when the main character, Mia, enters the story that the author really finds her voice. I feel that the preceding fifth of the book is mostly backstory that could have been peppered throughout the rest of the novel. It's interesting, but I am confident that a reader could pick the book up at chapter 9 and follow along just fine. In fact, it would add some more mystery to the leading man, I mean vampire.
I do expect great things from Wolfenden, and I will keep a close eye on her work.
May 28, 2014
A period-piece with a good mix of History, Violence and Romance
The story starts with the birth of Elizabeth in 1895. In the introductory chapter we come to know about her devastated life. Now she is already 49. She, Lady Elizabeth Sutton had already lost her husband in the 1st world war and the 2nd world war took away the lives of her daughter-in-law and the unborn grandchild. For the last three years, she was living in an 800 acre estate, in Essex, owned by her family. Her only son, Cain, is posted in France to serve the royal forces. He is the only reason that has kept Elizabeth alive, otherwise, she would have lost her lust for life. 16th June, 1944, Ann Woodeville, an old friend of Lady Sutton, comes to pay a visit. Her purpose was to convince Elizabeth to change the way she is living her life. She thinks it would be good for her friend to get out more often or spend a night out, or even go to London and stay there for 3-4 days. Anyway, Elizabeth refuses to agree. Some days later she comes to know from Ann's brother that Ann has been murdered brutally!
Cain returns to England after staying in France for 14 months. There was a surprise waiting for him. He had something to discover. Enough of things have happened in between. Vasile has been introduced already and later we'll come to know about a little girl named Shalmia Taylor. Who are they and what they got to do with the story? Well, if you are intrigued, grab a copy and find out for yourself. You won't be disappointed. Just remember one thing, there are descriptions of some violent scenes in this book. It fits there as this is a vampire story. But if you are the kind of reader who get offended by these kinds of things, remember the caution. For others, it's really enjoyable and written in a very easy-to-get language. Hope you'll like it too.
The story starts with the birth of Elizabeth in 1895. In the introductory chapter we come to know about her devastated life. Now she is already 49. She, Lady Elizabeth Sutton had already lost her husband in the 1st world war and the 2nd world war took away the lives of her daughter-in-law and the unborn grandchild. For the last three years, she was living in an 800 acre estate, in Essex, owned by her family. Her only son, Cain, is posted in France to serve the royal forces. He is the only reason that has kept Elizabeth alive, otherwise, she would have lost her lust for life. 16th June, 1944, Ann Woodeville, an old friend of Lady Sutton, comes to pay a visit. Her purpose was to convince Elizabeth to change the way she is living her life. She thinks it would be good for her friend to get out more often or spend a night out, or even go to London and stay there for 3-4 days. Anyway, Elizabeth refuses to agree. Some days later she comes to know from Ann's brother that Ann has been murdered brutally!
Cain returns to England after staying in France for 14 months. There was a surprise waiting for him. He had something to discover. Enough of things have happened in between. Vasile has been introduced already and later we'll come to know about a little girl named Shalmia Taylor. Who are they and what they got to do with the story? Well, if you are intrigued, grab a copy and find out for yourself. You won't be disappointed. Just remember one thing, there are descriptions of some violent scenes in this book. It fits there as this is a vampire story. But if you are the kind of reader who get offended by these kinds of things, remember the caution. For others, it's really enjoyable and written in a very easy-to-get language. Hope you'll like it too.
October 22, 2014
I had not read a book about vampires since I was a teenager, many years ago, so I was a little intrigued about what I would find in Behind Blue Eyes. The amazing recent upsurge in popularity for the genre through the likes of Buffy and co. completely passed me by. The book seemed to be typical to begin with as one of the characters, Vasile, is from Transylvania. However, D M Wolfenden has written a story that takes place over very many years, including aspects of romance, tragedy and loyalty plus, of course the inevitable horror that must accompany a vampire when overcome by his or her blood lust. The author keeps the reader’s interest throughout the book with a fast-paced tale full of incident and intrigue. We have strong hints of morality and torment from vampire Cain, one of the main characters, who is constantly revolted by his own acts of violence. He seeks some kind of redemption through his love for Mia, the young girl that he hopes to protect and save from the evil of a world that has completely enveloped Cain.
The undoubted evil side of things is well represented in the book by Vasile, amongst others. I find it difficult to describe Behind Blue Eyes as a pleasant read, but it had plenty of twists and is a definite page-turner in the tradition of any thriller. Although I was not converted back to the horror/vampire genre this book was very different to what I expected and I enjoyed it. A very human story of kindness and understanding permeates D M Wolfenden’s narrative and I think that, for a first novel, this author has demonstrated great story telling talent. For me it lacked exposition, which I suspect was sacrificed to maintain the fast pace of the book. It is to be hoped that she continues to write more for her inevitable fans.
The undoubted evil side of things is well represented in the book by Vasile, amongst others. I find it difficult to describe Behind Blue Eyes as a pleasant read, but it had plenty of twists and is a definite page-turner in the tradition of any thriller. Although I was not converted back to the horror/vampire genre this book was very different to what I expected and I enjoyed it. A very human story of kindness and understanding permeates D M Wolfenden’s narrative and I think that, for a first novel, this author has demonstrated great story telling talent. For me it lacked exposition, which I suspect was sacrificed to maintain the fast pace of the book. It is to be hoped that she continues to write more for her inevitable fans.
February 26, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review* Behind Blue Eyes is a vampire tale, and, more significantly, a love story. I have always loved scary tales of horror and the macabre, and vampires are some of my favorite subjects to read about.
This is a vampire tale for grownups. At times it's violent, and at other times it's touching. The dichotomy between vampires, and between vampires and humans makes for an interesting take on a familiar theme. On one end you have the evil of Vasile juxtaposed against the lesser evil of Cain, and on the other is the lesser evil of Cain against the goodness of Mia. There are a lot of good themes in this story about triumphing over the bad things that can tend to destroy you, about learning to live within your limitations, maintaining your integrity, and how true love will never let you down. Vasile, an ancient vampire, ruins Cain's life who becomes a vampire himself (I will refrain from revealing too much of the plot) and vows to exact his revenge against the evil one. Along the way he learns how to deal with being a vampire while keeping his integrity intact, about friendship, caring for humans, and, eventually, true love.
While I know the ending might be considered lackluster by some, I found it absolutely perfect as long, drawn-out finales were never my thing. The ending was wonderful and merely icing on the cake of a clearly skilled writer, I finished the last line and kept trying to get to the next page! I hope to hear more about Cain and Mia, but would completely understand if I don't. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good vampire tale with appropriate violence.
This is a vampire tale for grownups. At times it's violent, and at other times it's touching. The dichotomy between vampires, and between vampires and humans makes for an interesting take on a familiar theme. On one end you have the evil of Vasile juxtaposed against the lesser evil of Cain, and on the other is the lesser evil of Cain against the goodness of Mia. There are a lot of good themes in this story about triumphing over the bad things that can tend to destroy you, about learning to live within your limitations, maintaining your integrity, and how true love will never let you down. Vasile, an ancient vampire, ruins Cain's life who becomes a vampire himself (I will refrain from revealing too much of the plot) and vows to exact his revenge against the evil one. Along the way he learns how to deal with being a vampire while keeping his integrity intact, about friendship, caring for humans, and, eventually, true love.
While I know the ending might be considered lackluster by some, I found it absolutely perfect as long, drawn-out finales were never my thing. The ending was wonderful and merely icing on the cake of a clearly skilled writer, I finished the last line and kept trying to get to the next page! I hope to hear more about Cain and Mia, but would completely understand if I don't. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good vampire tale with appropriate violence.
August 14, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Behind Blue Eyes is a violent, twisted love story between a vampire and a mortal girl. From the author's description, I was expecting more of a historical context to the book. However, I felt this was not the case and there was just enough historical detail to provide a back story into the turning of Cain from a human to a vampire. Most of the story revolved around Mia, a young mortal girl, and her relationship with Cain through the years. This relationship starts out as Cain being her protector from afar from all the evils of her world she manages to encounter through her teenage and young adult years. Eventually, the two characters begin to fall in love. Most of this part of the story is told from Mia's point of view and a reader is provided insight into the role of violence in her life. The presence of Vasile, an evil vampire with a terrible, bloody mean streak whom Cain is seeking revenge on, only adds to the violent nature of the book. The violence is very bloody, chaotic, abusive, and sexual in nature. I expected the character of Mia, a female who really just could not catch a break and seemed like she had no fight in her at times, to evolve into a strong natured young woman, but found this was not the case. Overall, it was an interesting take on a vampire story, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting from the book's description.
Behind Blue Eyes is a violent, twisted love story between a vampire and a mortal girl. From the author's description, I was expecting more of a historical context to the book. However, I felt this was not the case and there was just enough historical detail to provide a back story into the turning of Cain from a human to a vampire. Most of the story revolved around Mia, a young mortal girl, and her relationship with Cain through the years. This relationship starts out as Cain being her protector from afar from all the evils of her world she manages to encounter through her teenage and young adult years. Eventually, the two characters begin to fall in love. Most of this part of the story is told from Mia's point of view and a reader is provided insight into the role of violence in her life. The presence of Vasile, an evil vampire with a terrible, bloody mean streak whom Cain is seeking revenge on, only adds to the violent nature of the book. The violence is very bloody, chaotic, abusive, and sexual in nature. I expected the character of Mia, a female who really just could not catch a break and seemed like she had no fight in her at times, to evolve into a strong natured young woman, but found this was not the case. Overall, it was an interesting take on a vampire story, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting from the book's description.
October 2, 2014
Nowadays, the police and military do our killing for us. As peaceful civilians, we never have to soil our hands with the blood of our enemies.
In Behind Blue Eyes, there are no police, military or juridical powers of any kind to protect the vampire community. It’s every vampire for himself, and only the strongest and most cunning of the undead manage to survive.
Cain, the novels Byronic hero, is a bloodthirsty monster who kills anyone who threatens his loved ones. As a mortal, Cain hated the Nazis for killing his wife. As a vampire, Cain’s hatred shifts from the Nazis and onto Vasile, an evil vampire who destroyed Cain’s mother.
If you’re looking for a clichéd Count Dracula novel, look elsewhere. Behind Blue Eyes is a morally complex book that blurs the line between good and evil. Despite glaring lackluster prose the book’s message rings clear. Abusive relationships, child molestation, human trafficking and serial killing fill the pages of Behind Blue Eyes, and these horrific scenes of inhumanity give voice to the weak and oppressed. The atrocities committed in the book occur far too often in real life. Behind Blue Eyes, far from being a shallow escapist fantasy, is unsettling in its realism and shines a harsh light on the darkness of the human heart.
In Behind Blue Eyes, there are no police, military or juridical powers of any kind to protect the vampire community. It’s every vampire for himself, and only the strongest and most cunning of the undead manage to survive.
Cain, the novels Byronic hero, is a bloodthirsty monster who kills anyone who threatens his loved ones. As a mortal, Cain hated the Nazis for killing his wife. As a vampire, Cain’s hatred shifts from the Nazis and onto Vasile, an evil vampire who destroyed Cain’s mother.
If you’re looking for a clichéd Count Dracula novel, look elsewhere. Behind Blue Eyes is a morally complex book that blurs the line between good and evil. Despite glaring lackluster prose the book’s message rings clear. Abusive relationships, child molestation, human trafficking and serial killing fill the pages of Behind Blue Eyes, and these horrific scenes of inhumanity give voice to the weak and oppressed. The atrocities committed in the book occur far too often in real life. Behind Blue Eyes, far from being a shallow escapist fantasy, is unsettling in its realism and shines a harsh light on the darkness of the human heart.
October 8, 2013
This book is well written and the author can spin a yarn quite adroitly. It starts off in the nineteen hundreds and ends in the 21st century. The story is fast paced with many twists and turns, however, there’s clarity.
There are deep psychological undercurrents that run through the length of this book. The main protagonist Cain is good at heart, is initiated into a life of evil (vampire) by a strange turn of events. Evil tries to overpower his innate goodness but is eventually defeated.
On the other side there are people in the book who don’t have an iota of love in them, irrespective of whether they’re human or vampires (the differences are stated in the book). Certain concepts such as a slow heartbeat, a very long life span and acute senses gel with spirituality in a macabre sort of way.
This is a dark book with very graphic descriptions of a variety of misdeeds. Definitely not for the faint of heart. I took part in a competition where everyone is assigned a book by a moderator and that is how I read this book. Definitely not my cup of tea. I don’t see myself reading anything like this ever again.
For those who like dark stuff, this one is for you.
There are deep psychological undercurrents that run through the length of this book. The main protagonist Cain is good at heart, is initiated into a life of evil (vampire) by a strange turn of events. Evil tries to overpower his innate goodness but is eventually defeated.
On the other side there are people in the book who don’t have an iota of love in them, irrespective of whether they’re human or vampires (the differences are stated in the book). Certain concepts such as a slow heartbeat, a very long life span and acute senses gel with spirituality in a macabre sort of way.
This is a dark book with very graphic descriptions of a variety of misdeeds. Definitely not for the faint of heart. I took part in a competition where everyone is assigned a book by a moderator and that is how I read this book. Definitely not my cup of tea. I don’t see myself reading anything like this ever again.
For those who like dark stuff, this one is for you.
October 8, 2014
If you love someone too much and try to hold on too tight, trouble is sure to follow. This is the main underlying theme of Behind Blue Eyes; a tale of personal loss, heartache, unrequited love, betrayal, depravity, vengeance and vampires.
The Good: the protagonist is a true hero with noble intentions, but a very nasty dark side. The bad guys are pure concentrated evil.
The plot moves along quickly. The two main characters are forced to overcome one obstacle after another, with positive and negative consequences, as their relationship ebbs and flows overtime. Backstory enhances, rather than delaying, the narrative.
The Bad: the book needs editing. While not too distracting, there are numerous typos and omitted words.
After two hundred plus pages of building drama, the climax was rushed and rather anticlimactic. The final showdown between good and evil was too short, virtually one-sided, and thus a stunning disappointment.
The Bottom Line: this is a good story, until the last five pages. I felt cheated by the ending and, therefore, can only give it three stars.
The Good: the protagonist is a true hero with noble intentions, but a very nasty dark side. The bad guys are pure concentrated evil.
The plot moves along quickly. The two main characters are forced to overcome one obstacle after another, with positive and negative consequences, as their relationship ebbs and flows overtime. Backstory enhances, rather than delaying, the narrative.
The Bad: the book needs editing. While not too distracting, there are numerous typos and omitted words.
After two hundred plus pages of building drama, the climax was rushed and rather anticlimactic. The final showdown between good and evil was too short, virtually one-sided, and thus a stunning disappointment.
The Bottom Line: this is a good story, until the last five pages. I felt cheated by the ending and, therefore, can only give it three stars.
May 24, 2015
I purchased this book via my Kindle Unlimited Account.
I read a lot--as in for at least an hour every night--so I'm not quite sure how this happened, but up until now, I had never before read a vampire book. For me, Behind Blue Eyes was a fantastic introduction to the genre. It gripped me right from the start. There's a scene early on that takes place in London that I must mention, because it was so powerful in a thrilling, bone-chilling kind of way. After reading that, I was hooked. I found Cain to be a fascinating character. To me, his tragedy is that he's clearly a kind hearted soul, but he's almost completely isolated. Sure, being a vampire is partly to blame for that, but we're shown in this book that vampires can and do form relationships amongst themselves and with humans. And so I was happy for him when Mia came into the picture, although I wasn't sure how things would play out. Reminiscent of The Time Traveler's Wife, packed with suspense and action, not to mention a seriously creepy villain, Behind Blue Eyes is an excellent epic tale.
I read a lot--as in for at least an hour every night--so I'm not quite sure how this happened, but up until now, I had never before read a vampire book. For me, Behind Blue Eyes was a fantastic introduction to the genre. It gripped me right from the start. There's a scene early on that takes place in London that I must mention, because it was so powerful in a thrilling, bone-chilling kind of way. After reading that, I was hooked. I found Cain to be a fascinating character. To me, his tragedy is that he's clearly a kind hearted soul, but he's almost completely isolated. Sure, being a vampire is partly to blame for that, but we're shown in this book that vampires can and do form relationships amongst themselves and with humans. And so I was happy for him when Mia came into the picture, although I wasn't sure how things would play out. Reminiscent of The Time Traveler's Wife, packed with suspense and action, not to mention a seriously creepy villain, Behind Blue Eyes is an excellent epic tale.
September 18, 2015
I recommend this book for readers searching for a good story and a fast paced read.
Its a vampire story so stating the obvious there is some gore, immortality, fangs and stakes but within the standard elements is weaved an intriguing story covering the 1940s to present day. The story covers the themes of good versus evil, the obsessive need for revenge, love and what is means to be "human." It also touches on issues of abusive relationships and drug addiction.
The story cracks on at a good pace with the action taking place through the decades and moving across continents. With high readability and plenty of twists and turns I found this an enjoyable read.
My personal preference would have been to have fewer "events" but more depth to the characters. That being said the writing style allows for a lot of ground to be covered and there was never a dull moment.
An enjoyable fast paced story.
Its a vampire story so stating the obvious there is some gore, immortality, fangs and stakes but within the standard elements is weaved an intriguing story covering the 1940s to present day. The story covers the themes of good versus evil, the obsessive need for revenge, love and what is means to be "human." It also touches on issues of abusive relationships and drug addiction.
The story cracks on at a good pace with the action taking place through the decades and moving across continents. With high readability and plenty of twists and turns I found this an enjoyable read.
My personal preference would have been to have fewer "events" but more depth to the characters. That being said the writing style allows for a lot of ground to be covered and there was never a dull moment.
An enjoyable fast paced story.
February 28, 2014
D.M. Wolfenden does an amazing job of vampire horror in Behind Blue Eyes. The story spans from 1917 to present day, detailing Cain's life after his mother changes him to the vampire condition in a desperate bid to save his life. The reader is completely drawn into this fast paced and captivating tale. I loved the relationship that develops between Cain and Mia, and was fearful for the girl and the situations in which she landed. Wolfendon creates a tension in the first pages of her novel which continues and strengthens throughout. The characters are vivid and can't help but elicit a response in the reader. Not for the faint hearted, this book in its unedited version contains some true horror which Wolfenden applies with liberal skill. If I were a gentler soul, I'd have collapsed with a heart attack half way through the book. As it was, I can only say that Wolfenden's Behind Blue Eyes is a must read for all horror/fantasy lovers among us. I eagerly await her next work.
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