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Metaframe War #1
A Subtle Agency
A Thrilling Dark Fantasy Action Adventure
Hunters and vampires are fighting a secret war for control of the fabric of reality. Whoever acquires mastery of the reality shifting powers of the Metaframe will become the new gods of the universe.
"Imagine if you could change the rules of the game, what rules would you choose?"
Witness to a brutal murder, eighteen year old Anton Slayne is inducted by the mysterious Mr Wu into the secret society of vampire hunters, the Order of Thoth. He soon discovers that vicious local gangsters, determined Boston police detectives, and relentless Shadowstone operatives pale into insignificance as he is drawn into the machinations of the enigmatic vampire general, Chloe Armitage.
Heir to a legacy of extraordinary powers, Anton joins a team of hunters, but that is no guarantee of survival against the most powerful vampires in the world, especially when they're equipped with the latest available technology and super weapons.
"When mastery over your soul is at stake, survival is the least of your problems."
Hunters and vampires are fighting a secret war for control of the fabric of reality. Whoever acquires mastery of the reality shifting powers of the Metaframe will become the new gods of the universe.
"Imagine if you could change the rules of the game, what rules would you choose?"
Witness to a brutal murder, eighteen year old Anton Slayne is inducted by the mysterious Mr Wu into the secret society of vampire hunters, the Order of Thoth. He soon discovers that vicious local gangsters, determined Boston police detectives, and relentless Shadowstone operatives pale into insignificance as he is drawn into the machinations of the enigmatic vampire general, Chloe Armitage.
Heir to a legacy of extraordinary powers, Anton joins a team of hunters, but that is no guarantee of survival against the most powerful vampires in the world, especially when they're equipped with the latest available technology and super weapons.
"When mastery over your soul is at stake, survival is the least of your problems."
210 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2016
222 people are currently reading
2874 people want to read
About the author
Graeme Rodaughan
17 books406 followersI have one rule: Deliver an immersive reading experience that will transport you from the everyday world into a realm of fantastic imagination - and leave you there until you're forced to come up for air...
I'm in love with character driven high-octane, action packed, thrilling stories with epic heroes and mighty villains. I want suspense, I want characters with depth who I really care what happens to them, and who I will both love and hate. I love fantasy and science fiction and I want both in the same story. I want pace, and more pace, and yet time for emotional intimacy and heart-rending scenes.
This is what I dedicate myself to writing - and why - because I love it.
P.s. I love villains that matter and I loathe poorly drawn villains. I also hate gloat speeches, deus ex machinas, and evil conflated with madness...
If I DNF a book, I normally do not rate it - unless there is an egregious issue with the story. My review ratings are as follows.
5 stars: A book I love enough that I'd happily read it again. It may have some issues, but they weren't enough to disturb my enjoyment.
4 stars: Enjoyed it, but may never read it again.
3 stars: Just made it through, probably considered DNF'ing it more than once.
2 stars: A rare rating. I read this book, it has some very serious flaws and I recommend not reading it.
1 star: Hated this book. This book is garbage and would look good in a dystopian dumpster fire.
Of special note, for authors I know - If I read your book, I will do so silently and in private. If I have something good to say about it, I will add it to my shelves and publish a rating/review. Otherwise, I will remain silent. Also, I won't read your book just because you read one of mine and liked it. I.e. I don't do reciprocal reviews. They create a sense of obligation (a conflict of interest) that interferes with honest and authentic reviews. So, please do not ask me for a reciprocal review.
I'm in love with character driven high-octane, action packed, thrilling stories with epic heroes and mighty villains. I want suspense, I want characters with depth who I really care what happens to them, and who I will both love and hate. I love fantasy and science fiction and I want both in the same story. I want pace, and more pace, and yet time for emotional intimacy and heart-rending scenes.
This is what I dedicate myself to writing - and why - because I love it.
P.s. I love villains that matter and I loathe poorly drawn villains. I also hate gloat speeches, deus ex machinas, and evil conflated with madness...
If I DNF a book, I normally do not rate it - unless there is an egregious issue with the story. My review ratings are as follows.
5 stars: A book I love enough that I'd happily read it again. It may have some issues, but they weren't enough to disturb my enjoyment.
4 stars: Enjoyed it, but may never read it again.
3 stars: Just made it through, probably considered DNF'ing it more than once.
2 stars: A rare rating. I read this book, it has some very serious flaws and I recommend not reading it.
1 star: Hated this book. This book is garbage and would look good in a dystopian dumpster fire.
Of special note, for authors I know - If I read your book, I will do so silently and in private. If I have something good to say about it, I will add it to my shelves and publish a rating/review. Otherwise, I will remain silent. Also, I won't read your book just because you read one of mine and liked it. I.e. I don't do reciprocal reviews. They create a sense of obligation (a conflict of interest) that interferes with honest and authentic reviews. So, please do not ask me for a reciprocal review.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 19, 2025
Action abounds once again as I jumped back into the Metaframe War on my "Sixth" time reading this book!
I don't care how many times I read this book I always become caught up in the ramping action and the sword action!
Small backstory:
A Subtle Agency kick starts this whole series of books off with a bang!
Secret organizations, high tech weaponry, vampires (lethal and vicious) and the hero of the story, Anton Slayne.
Anton's world is thrown upside down when he answers the door one night letting in a beautiful woman who murders his parents right before his eyes. The world that he thought he knew does not exist as there are far more dangerous creatures walking the earth: Vampires! From the moment of his parents murder, this books takes off like lightning! Other characters come along in the story to assist Anton on his journey into the Metaframe War!
Thoughts:
Let me give you an insight to what I am talking about. Take all the books in this series and compare them to these movies: Mission Impossible (for intrigue, conspiracies, and high tech gadgets), Underworld/Blade (vampires that have superhuman physical abilities, resilience to pain, healing powers, excellent sword fighters, able to move at lightning speed):
Submachine Gun Action!
Add a dash of high tech vehicles including a stealth helicopter!
Then add martial arts sword fighting to the mix like you would see in Underworld:
and you have one hell of an action packed/marital arts series that just happens to include vampires!
The action is intense, the characters are constantly in high gear, and the book thunders along at the speed of light!
Movie cinema action is constant within these pages to the point that your heart careens out of control as your fingers fly across the pages! This first book sets the tone for the rest of the series and once you enter this world there is no going back as it will pull you along into the Metaframe War! This book is staying at five "Action Ramp Packed" stars as it deserves nothing less!
Highly recommend this book for action adventure/urban and dark fantasy fans!
Note: Reread this book with a GR buddy over in the Castle Terror group - March 2025.
I don't care how many times I read this book I always become caught up in the ramping action and the sword action!
Small backstory:
A Subtle Agency kick starts this whole series of books off with a bang!
Secret organizations, high tech weaponry, vampires (lethal and vicious) and the hero of the story, Anton Slayne.
Anton's world is thrown upside down when he answers the door one night letting in a beautiful woman who murders his parents right before his eyes. The world that he thought he knew does not exist as there are far more dangerous creatures walking the earth: Vampires! From the moment of his parents murder, this books takes off like lightning! Other characters come along in the story to assist Anton on his journey into the Metaframe War!
Thoughts:
Let me give you an insight to what I am talking about. Take all the books in this series and compare them to these movies: Mission Impossible (for intrigue, conspiracies, and high tech gadgets), Underworld/Blade (vampires that have superhuman physical abilities, resilience to pain, healing powers, excellent sword fighters, able to move at lightning speed):
Submachine Gun Action!
Add a dash of high tech vehicles including a stealth helicopter!
Then add martial arts sword fighting to the mix like you would see in Underworld:
and you have one hell of an action packed/marital arts series that just happens to include vampires!
The action is intense, the characters are constantly in high gear, and the book thunders along at the speed of light!
Movie cinema action is constant within these pages to the point that your heart careens out of control as your fingers fly across the pages! This first book sets the tone for the rest of the series and once you enter this world there is no going back as it will pull you along into the Metaframe War! This book is staying at five "Action Ramp Packed" stars as it deserves nothing less!
Highly recommend this book for action adventure/urban and dark fantasy fans!
Note: Reread this book with a GR buddy over in the Castle Terror group - March 2025.
Read
March 10, 2025Undead Shocker! Famous Vampire Endorses Unknown Author! "Vell, it's a von off. (Wags finger) don't be expecting more of these scrumptious tid bits my little darlings!"
Meanwhile...
FADE IN, EXT, NIGHT: Outside a dreary Transylvanian castle, clouds scud over a lightening sky. The dawn is claiming the east. A tall figure scales the external walls and leaps through a window. With long pale fingers, he clutches a paperback book. Thick curtains are immediately drawn against the encroaching sunlight.
INT BEDROOM: The room is lit by many candles, Count Dracula, flounces back into an ornate coffin. His pale hands hold an open book in front of his face, he is avidly reading ...
[ZOOM IN, CLOSE UP]: Reveal the cover of "A Subtle Agency," by Graeme Rodaughan.
INT BEDROOM [OPEN 4th WALL]: Count Dracula, annoyed at being rudely interrupted, sits up in his coffin, the book held visibly in his left hand, he wags his right finger at the camera.
"Vhat! You disturb my reading!" The Count stares harshly at the camera, then breaks into a toothy grin. "But who can blame you - everyone vants this book. This outrageous story about my ... kind."
Count Dracula taps a page within the book. "Look here. I tell you - vhat is the meaning of this? Wampires with katanas? Wampires with machine guns? Wampires with attack helicopters?"
Count Dracula looks shocked and then grins. "I can't live forever without these books."
[ZOOM IN, CLOSE UP]: The count says, "A Subtle Agency, I have a copy," (lifts book), stares into the camera 'mesmerisingly,' "and so should you my little blood crumpet."
(Laughs - evil genius laugh) Bwhahahahahaha....
FADE OUT.
And there you have it - the perfect celebrity endorsement...
PRODUCT WARNING: This book does not contain paranormal romance of any kind, and the only vampires who sparkle are those caught within the blast radius of a thermobaric grenade.
That's right, this book contains oodles of'soppy paranormal romance with lots of kissing teenagers,' gory action adventure vampire thrills.
eBook or paperback is available on Amazon Kindle Unlimited and Amazon respectively.
Meanwhile...
FADE IN, EXT, NIGHT: Outside a dreary Transylvanian castle, clouds scud over a lightening sky. The dawn is claiming the east. A tall figure scales the external walls and leaps through a window. With long pale fingers, he clutches a paperback book. Thick curtains are immediately drawn against the encroaching sunlight.
INT BEDROOM: The room is lit by many candles, Count Dracula, flounces back into an ornate coffin. His pale hands hold an open book in front of his face, he is avidly reading ...
[ZOOM IN, CLOSE UP]: Reveal the cover of "A Subtle Agency," by Graeme Rodaughan.
INT BEDROOM [OPEN 4th WALL]: Count Dracula, annoyed at being rudely interrupted, sits up in his coffin, the book held visibly in his left hand, he wags his right finger at the camera.
"Vhat! You disturb my reading!" The Count stares harshly at the camera, then breaks into a toothy grin. "But who can blame you - everyone vants this book. This outrageous story about my ... kind."
Count Dracula taps a page within the book. "Look here. I tell you - vhat is the meaning of this? Wampires with katanas? Wampires with machine guns? Wampires with attack helicopters?"
Count Dracula looks shocked and then grins. "I can't live forever without these books."
[ZOOM IN, CLOSE UP]: The count says, "A Subtle Agency, I have a copy," (lifts book), stares into the camera 'mesmerisingly,' "and so should you my little blood crumpet."
(Laughs - evil genius laugh) Bwhahahahahaha....
FADE OUT.
And there you have it - the perfect celebrity endorsement...
PRODUCT WARNING: This book does not contain paranormal romance of any kind, and the only vampires who sparkle are those caught within the blast radius of a thermobaric grenade.
That's right, this book contains oodles of
eBook or paperback is available on Amazon Kindle Unlimited and Amazon respectively.
January 30, 2026
A Subtle Agency was a very unique, energetic and creative story. It is a 'smooth read' and enjoyable, but to a very specific audience (Specifically fans of the Matrix and Underworld films). It utilizes extensive detail, especially during the great deal of high-octane action throughout. However, the story becomes very blurred at times, making it hard to follow the various groups, alliances, hidden intentions, and even the thoughts versus dialogue of each character. It also does a good deal of foreshadowing, leaving a lot of unanswered questions entering the next book in the series.
November 2, 2017
I came upon A Subtle Agency while doing my usual search of GR to feed my TBR monster. After reading the synopsis I was very curious and decided to start it right away. I haven't read a lot of urban fantasy lately and tend to be picky when it comes to this genre. To my delight A Subtle Agency had me captivated from beginning to end.
The prologue gives a great back story set in ancient Egypt, and really sets the groundwork for the main story which takes place in modern day Boston. I am a sucker for vampire books...haha! Yes, the pun was intended. But this story has more to offer than just vampires. There are alsosecret societies known as the Order of Thoth and The Red Empire that are as prone to kill each other as they are to fulfill their purpose to eradicate the Vampire Dominion. Plus, great characters such as Anton Slayne and Chloe Armitage that are well developed and help drive the story along. But what really impressed me the most was Graeme's knowledge of military vocabulary. The attention to detail in this area made the battles more interesting and easier to visualize. He has really done his homework and it shows in his writing.
The quote above is used in A Subtle Agency and I thought it fit nicely with the feel and atmosphere of this book. The war between the Vampires, The Order of Thoth, and The Red Empire has been going on for millennia. They are all skilled in battle, but it will take more than skill to win the war.
I really enjoyed this book, and have already begun the second book A Traitor's War. It is shaping up to be just as good, if not better, than A Subtle Agency. If your a fan of urban fantasy, vampires, or anything with plenty of action and intrigue I urge you to give this book/series a try. You never know! Your next great read may be right in front of you.
The prologue gives a great back story set in ancient Egypt, and really sets the groundwork for the main story which takes place in modern day Boston. I am a sucker for vampire books...haha! Yes, the pun was intended. But this story has more to offer than just vampires. There are alsosecret societies known as the Order of Thoth and The Red Empire that are as prone to kill each other as they are to fulfill their purpose to eradicate the Vampire Dominion. Plus, great characters such as Anton Slayne and Chloe Armitage that are well developed and help drive the story along. But what really impressed me the most was Graeme's knowledge of military vocabulary. The attention to detail in this area made the battles more interesting and easier to visualize. He has really done his homework and it shows in his writing.
"Those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him. - Sun Tzu (The Art of War)
The quote above is used in A Subtle Agency and I thought it fit nicely with the feel and atmosphere of this book. The war between the Vampires, The Order of Thoth, and The Red Empire has been going on for millennia. They are all skilled in battle, but it will take more than skill to win the war.
I really enjoyed this book, and have already begun the second book A Traitor's War. It is shaping up to be just as good, if not better, than A Subtle Agency. If your a fan of urban fantasy, vampires, or anything with plenty of action and intrigue I urge you to give this book/series a try. You never know! Your next great read may be right in front of you.
July 25, 2021
A reread started in preparation for the next book coming out later this year, and it holds up excellently! Loved it just as much the second time around.
A fun read from start to finish. For me, this book had the right amount of history, mystery and bad-ass characters to keep me excited to read the whole time. I'm not normally an urban-fantasy reader, but the premise of this one attracted my attention, and I'm glad I gave it a shot. "And so it progresses, as it must - to blood and ruin" - what a great line and enough to keep me excited to read the next one!
A fun read from start to finish. For me, this book had the right amount of history, mystery and bad-ass characters to keep me excited to read the whole time. I'm not normally an urban-fantasy reader, but the premise of this one attracted my attention, and I'm glad I gave it a shot. "And so it progresses, as it must - to blood and ruin" - what a great line and enough to keep me excited to read the next one!
May 19, 2019
I love a good urban fantasy, and when you take vampires, combine them with Ancient Egypt, add a couple of warring secret societies, and drop an unwitting protagonist right in the middle? That, folks, is a good recipe for urban fantasy.
Now, full disclosure, Graeme Rodaughan is an author I already knew through Goodreads, but that hasn't affected my review - if I didn't like this as much as I did, I'd "never get around to reading it" because I never met an awkward moment I couldn't put off forever. No, instead, I have the pleasure of knowing that not only is this a great book, but it's written by a pretty great human (at least as far as I know - he did get a lot of those historical details suspiciously correct...).
The comparisons that other reviewers have made, to Underworld in particular, but action movies in general, really hold up. This is a fun book, one I really enjoyed, and I'm excited to get on to the next.
Now, full disclosure, Graeme Rodaughan is an author I already knew through Goodreads, but that hasn't affected my review - if I didn't like this as much as I did, I'd "never get around to reading it" because I never met an awkward moment I couldn't put off forever. No, instead, I have the pleasure of knowing that not only is this a great book, but it's written by a pretty great human (at least as far as I know - he did get a lot of those historical details suspiciously correct...).
The comparisons that other reviewers have made, to Underworld in particular, but action movies in general, really hold up. This is a fun book, one I really enjoyed, and I'm excited to get on to the next.
March 27, 2018
3 💜
“Subtle Agency” is a debut by Graeme Rodaughan that presents a more untraditional story of the birth of vampires than other books on vampire subject. It’s fantasy combined with sci-fi that reminded me much of watching a movie with Mr. Blade, full of dark high technologies and wonderful action scenes it was interesting to read.
Much of the world in “Subtle Agency” is about the eternal fight good vs. evil as the author portrays the world on the edge of a great (and mysterious) conflict among various vicious groups. Ancient artefacts resurface and strange creatures lurk in the dark places of the world.
The story is told from several POVs, one of them is Anton. I didn’t like him much in the beginning, but later on (thanks god) he grew out of his whiny state mostly and started showing some qualities I liked. Together with the kick-ass girly (Li 💜💜💜💜💜) and her amazing dad they made a great team.
The character I liked the most and who showed the biggest potential as a multilayered personality and really skillful adversary, is Chloe. She is amazing, I like her scheming techniques, her fast thinking wit, she’s perfect! I can’t stop admiring her as she is a natural leader. She puts into practice the credo that every villain is the hero of their own story. Even knowing that Chloe represents the baddies there is still something compelling about her.
Thank you, Mr. Rodaughan, for creating her and letting her live 💜
Though, I admit, I encountered two main problems while reading. First one is that in some ways it seems that “Subtle Agency” wavers between teens and adults genre as while reading till the middle of the book I got a Percy Jackson vibe. Probably because Anton, the main protagonist, acted a bit like a whiny 15 year old for most of the book. As a result the story stays in the middle, the violence and all the scheming def make this read enjoyable to adults, but telling the truth, Anton made my eyes roll at first and left a taste of YA genre.
Another problem for me was repetitive writing, I had a bit of attention problem when reading non-fighting scenes. Not sure why, but the style annoyed me a bit.
The Raven sat with the other team members in the back of the dimly lit van. The van cruised along route I-95 past Salem, toward New Hampshire, Portsmouth and the state of Maine.
The Raven held a smartphone, the screen was dark as if the phone was off. The Raven had taught themself how to operate the phone with the screen dark through memory and touch alone. The phone was the same as the rest of the quantum encrypted smartphones that (…)
To sum up, “Subtle Agency” is a peculiar read. I was enchanted by the fighting scenes, the interesting version of vampire birth story and a really awesome villain. On the other hand I was a bit confused by the stylistic form of the writing and a bit disappointed because of the main character, Anton. Hope the situation changes as I really want to continue my playdate with Chloe 💜
“Subtle Agency” is a debut by Graeme Rodaughan that presents a more untraditional story of the birth of vampires than other books on vampire subject. It’s fantasy combined with sci-fi that reminded me much of watching a movie with Mr. Blade, full of dark high technologies and wonderful action scenes it was interesting to read.
Much of the world in “Subtle Agency” is about the eternal fight good vs. evil as the author portrays the world on the edge of a great (and mysterious) conflict among various vicious groups. Ancient artefacts resurface and strange creatures lurk in the dark places of the world.
The story is told from several POVs, one of them is Anton. I didn’t like him much in the beginning, but later on (thanks god) he grew out of his whiny state mostly and started showing some qualities I liked. Together with the kick-ass girly (Li 💜💜💜💜💜) and her amazing dad they made a great team.
The character I liked the most and who showed the biggest potential as a multilayered personality and really skillful adversary, is Chloe. She is amazing, I like her scheming techniques, her fast thinking wit, she’s perfect! I can’t stop admiring her as she is a natural leader. She puts into practice the credo that every villain is the hero of their own story. Even knowing that Chloe represents the baddies there is still something compelling about her.
Thank you, Mr. Rodaughan, for creating her and letting her live 💜
Though, I admit, I encountered two main problems while reading. First one is that in some ways it seems that “Subtle Agency” wavers between teens and adults genre as while reading till the middle of the book I got a Percy Jackson vibe. Probably because Anton, the main protagonist, acted a bit like a whiny 15 year old for most of the book. As a result the story stays in the middle, the violence and all the scheming def make this read enjoyable to adults, but telling the truth, Anton made my eyes roll at first and left a taste of YA genre.
Another problem for me was repetitive writing, I had a bit of attention problem when reading non-fighting scenes. Not sure why, but the style annoyed me a bit.
The Raven sat with the other team members in the back of the dimly lit van. The van cruised along route I-95 past Salem, toward New Hampshire, Portsmouth and the state of Maine.
The Raven held a smartphone, the screen was dark as if the phone was off. The Raven had taught themself how to operate the phone with the screen dark through memory and touch alone. The phone was the same as the rest of the quantum encrypted smartphones that (…)
To sum up, “Subtle Agency” is a peculiar read. I was enchanted by the fighting scenes, the interesting version of vampire birth story and a really awesome villain. On the other hand I was a bit confused by the stylistic form of the writing and a bit disappointed because of the main character, Anton. Hope the situation changes as I really want to continue my playdate with Chloe 💜
January 29, 2024
This book got me ramped up!
This was a unique, thrilling, and gripping book. Plus, the action! It was top notch! The book begins in ancient Egypt and then comes full circle in Boston, Massachusetts. Anton Slayne had no idea what would transpire when he opened his front door one evening when his parents were out. It is a "If I could go back in time and do things differently “moment. But he does open the door and readers (And Anton) come face to face with Vampire general, Chloe Armitage. After suffering a horrific loss, Anton soon finds himself taken in and trained by Mr. Wu. It is there that he will learn so many things, I am surprised that it didn't make his head spin. No head spinning but lots of ramping.
Action packed and full of vampires, vampire hunters, those who clean up after vampires and those hungry for power. There are a lot of characters who belong to various groups/societies. It is obvious that Chloe Armitage has something up her sleeve, but what? Who will come out on top?
This is the first book in the series, and it did leave me wanting more.
Original, action packed, tense and bloody good!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
This was a unique, thrilling, and gripping book. Plus, the action! It was top notch! The book begins in ancient Egypt and then comes full circle in Boston, Massachusetts. Anton Slayne had no idea what would transpire when he opened his front door one evening when his parents were out. It is a "If I could go back in time and do things differently “moment. But he does open the door and readers (And Anton) come face to face with Vampire general, Chloe Armitage. After suffering a horrific loss, Anton soon finds himself taken in and trained by Mr. Wu. It is there that he will learn so many things, I am surprised that it didn't make his head spin. No head spinning but lots of ramping.
Action packed and full of vampires, vampire hunters, those who clean up after vampires and those hungry for power. There are a lot of characters who belong to various groups/societies. It is obvious that Chloe Armitage has something up her sleeve, but what? Who will come out on top?
This is the first book in the series, and it did leave me wanting more.
Original, action packed, tense and bloody good!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
February 23, 2024
Re-read for a challenge over at My Vampire Book Obsession and loved it just as much as the first time around!!
5 bloody stars!!
Any book that keeps you up till half past stupid in the night to know how it all ends is worth a 5 star rating!
And that’s exactly what A Subtle Agency did for me! I had to read it to the very end, once I got to start it, despite the fact that it was already past 1.30 am and the alarm was supposed to ring in another 4 hours.
Hand on heart I can vouch that this book is one of a kind! It’s original, violent and totally awesome! And the most important part – it doesn’t read like a book; it reads like a supernatural action movie!
I decided to give it a try because of the blurb and review posted by the author.
Super heroes and vampires are fighting a secret war for control of the fabric of reality. Whoever acquires mastery of the reality shifting powers of the Metaframe will become the new gods of the universe.
So we can expect a modern dark fantasy, action adventure technothriller, with lots of violent action, high body count, mysterious agencies, and secret government organizations - all with a big side order of vampires with attitude.
Attitude - I mean bad-ass attitude.
And I was like: Secret society of vampire hunters, the Order of Thoth, Shadowstone operatives, supervillain, vampire General – Hell Yeah!! Count me in!
The plot grabbed me from the very first page.
Witness to a brutal murder, eighteen year old Anton Slayne is inducted by the mysterious Mr Wu into the secret society of vampire hunters, the Order of Thoth. He soon discovers that vicious local gangsters, determined Boston Police Detectives, and relentless Shadowstone operatives pale into insignificance as he is drawn into the machinations of the enigmatic supervillain, vampire General Chloe Armitage. – Don’t tell me this doesn’t sound great!!
And I loved the characters.
Anton Slayne, the MC. I loved the way Graeme wrote him. As a normal teen with a light rebellious streak, who’s lived a sheltered life and was all of a sudden thrown into a whirlwind of action, witnessed the horrible murder of a parent, had his whole world upended and was set on the run, Anton’s reactions are perfect. He mourns like a normal person and even loses it at one time breaking down under the strain of all that he’s been put through – which is what any normal real person would do. He is a teenage boy! He is allowed to!
It would have pissed me off to no end if he had been the tough-macho-hero taking it all in and not giving a crap about it! There’s a fine line an author threads when writing a character the perfect mix in between strong and weak, or tough and whiny and to me, Graeme had that spot on with Anton.
I loved his development and the way he slowly toughens up, turning into a superhero. I sort of imagine him ramping the way Keanu Reeves moves in Matrix
And let’s not forget Chloe. General Chloe Armitage of the Vampire Dominion
She rocks! She’s like the kick ass heroine from Underworld, except on the bad side!
She’s smart, tough and brilliant and an awesome ruthless vampire supervillain! Did I just use awesome and ruthless in the same sentence to talk about the same person?! I guess so! But I can’t help loving her!
I’m still not completely sure about her endgame though, so I guess I’m going to have to read the sequel. :D
Li Wu – trained from small age to fight vampires she is a master swordswoman and is the one that provides the steadiness as opposed to Anton’s rashness. If she goes on like this she will become my favourite. (Even despite my love for Chloe.)
In my mind she looks a little bit like this
The guys from the Order of the Toth remind of Blade – fighting vampires till the end and wanting to protect the world.
But what I loved most is the plot inside the plot and plan inside the plan. Inside each of those secret organisations there are factions and there is intrigue.
Three factions fighting to control the world, a teenager with a legacy of super powers, superheroes and supervillains equipped with the latest available technology and super weapons! This book is not a book. It’s an ACTION MOVIE!
So if you like action movies, you’d do well to give this one a try! After reading it, I can honestly tell you:
Check out this review and more over at The Magic Book Corner
5 bloody stars!!
Any book that keeps you up till half past stupid in the night to know how it all ends is worth a 5 star rating!
And that’s exactly what A Subtle Agency did for me! I had to read it to the very end, once I got to start it, despite the fact that it was already past 1.30 am and the alarm was supposed to ring in another 4 hours.
Hand on heart I can vouch that this book is one of a kind! It’s original, violent and totally awesome! And the most important part – it doesn’t read like a book; it reads like a supernatural action movie!
I decided to give it a try because of the blurb and review posted by the author.
Super heroes and vampires are fighting a secret war for control of the fabric of reality. Whoever acquires mastery of the reality shifting powers of the Metaframe will become the new gods of the universe.
So we can expect a modern dark fantasy, action adventure technothriller, with lots of violent action, high body count, mysterious agencies, and secret government organizations - all with a big side order of vampires with attitude.
Attitude - I mean bad-ass attitude.
And I was like: Secret society of vampire hunters, the Order of Thoth, Shadowstone operatives, supervillain, vampire General – Hell Yeah!! Count me in!
The plot grabbed me from the very first page.
Witness to a brutal murder, eighteen year old Anton Slayne is inducted by the mysterious Mr Wu into the secret society of vampire hunters, the Order of Thoth. He soon discovers that vicious local gangsters, determined Boston Police Detectives, and relentless Shadowstone operatives pale into insignificance as he is drawn into the machinations of the enigmatic supervillain, vampire General Chloe Armitage. – Don’t tell me this doesn’t sound great!!
And I loved the characters.
Anton Slayne, the MC. I loved the way Graeme wrote him. As a normal teen with a light rebellious streak, who’s lived a sheltered life and was all of a sudden thrown into a whirlwind of action, witnessed the horrible murder of a parent, had his whole world upended and was set on the run, Anton’s reactions are perfect. He mourns like a normal person and even loses it at one time breaking down under the strain of all that he’s been put through – which is what any normal real person would do. He is a teenage boy! He is allowed to!
It would have pissed me off to no end if he had been the tough-macho-hero taking it all in and not giving a crap about it! There’s a fine line an author threads when writing a character the perfect mix in between strong and weak, or tough and whiny and to me, Graeme had that spot on with Anton.
I loved his development and the way he slowly toughens up, turning into a superhero. I sort of imagine him ramping the way Keanu Reeves moves in Matrix
And let’s not forget Chloe. General Chloe Armitage of the Vampire Dominion
She rocks! She’s like the kick ass heroine from Underworld, except on the bad side!
She’s smart, tough and brilliant and an awesome ruthless vampire supervillain! Did I just use awesome and ruthless in the same sentence to talk about the same person?! I guess so! But I can’t help loving her!
I’m still not completely sure about her endgame though, so I guess I’m going to have to read the sequel. :D
Li Wu – trained from small age to fight vampires she is a master swordswoman and is the one that provides the steadiness as opposed to Anton’s rashness. If she goes on like this she will become my favourite. (Even despite my love for Chloe.)
In my mind she looks a little bit like this
The guys from the Order of the Toth remind of Blade – fighting vampires till the end and wanting to protect the world.
But what I loved most is the plot inside the plot and plan inside the plan. Inside each of those secret organisations there are factions and there is intrigue.
Three factions fighting to control the world, a teenager with a legacy of super powers, superheroes and supervillains equipped with the latest available technology and super weapons! This book is not a book. It’s an ACTION MOVIE!
So if you like action movies, you’d do well to give this one a try! After reading it, I can honestly tell you:
Check out this review and more over at The Magic Book Corner
September 17, 2025
My rating 4.8
The book "A Subtle Agency (The Metaframe War # 1)" by Graeme Rodaughan is an excellent action novel about vampires. If you like vampires and vampire fighters, then this book is for you. For a long time, I wanted to read this book, but due to the hype of the book, I did not come to read it. I have to admit that I liked the style of writing from the beginning of the book, and the writer had merely taken me into the story, keeping my attention to the very end.
The writer of the book draws readers into a world where secret organizations are hidden from the eyes of ordinary people. Fighting between organizations has been going on for thousands of years and is not losing momentum. The world is a stage where vampires and vampire fighters run an impenetrable war. In this war, using all the available equipment, deception and lies are at every step, and there is no mercy for anyone. Anton Slayne will be in the epicenter of that war when Chloe Armitage appears at his door. Not knowing that she was a vampire, he allowed her to enter the house and launched the game of death, in which he would become the main player. The world he knows will collapse like a card tower because he will be found in a war that has been in existence for thousands of years. As I would not want to discover the rest of the story, I can only say that you can expect a lot of action, an event that will change Anton's life to the core.
If you love good action, vampires, and a great story, then this book is for you. I'll be happy to read the sequels that follow this book.
The book "A Subtle Agency (The Metaframe War # 1)" by Graeme Rodaughan is an excellent action novel about vampires. If you like vampires and vampire fighters, then this book is for you. For a long time, I wanted to read this book, but due to the hype of the book, I did not come to read it. I have to admit that I liked the style of writing from the beginning of the book, and the writer had merely taken me into the story, keeping my attention to the very end.
The writer of the book draws readers into a world where secret organizations are hidden from the eyes of ordinary people. Fighting between organizations has been going on for thousands of years and is not losing momentum. The world is a stage where vampires and vampire fighters run an impenetrable war. In this war, using all the available equipment, deception and lies are at every step, and there is no mercy for anyone. Anton Slayne will be in the epicenter of that war when Chloe Armitage appears at his door. Not knowing that she was a vampire, he allowed her to enter the house and launched the game of death, in which he would become the main player. The world he knows will collapse like a card tower because he will be found in a war that has been in existence for thousands of years. As I would not want to discover the rest of the story, I can only say that you can expect a lot of action, an event that will change Anton's life to the core.
If you love good action, vampires, and a great story, then this book is for you. I'll be happy to read the sequels that follow this book.
August 23, 2018
BOOM! I loved this indie vampire action movie and gave it all the stars! Yes, technically, it's a book but as there were more bullets than words spoken I'm calling it an ACTION MOVIE.
Similarly to Stargate and X Men Apocalypse this story begins as an origins tale in a fantastically advanced version of ancient Egypt.
Ahknaton's wife has just died and he's determined to bring her back using his super secret Pharaohs Eyes Only technology. His brother Hakron says this is a terrible idea. Ahknaton doesn't listen, thus the creation of vampires. Hakron vows to stop the vampires.
Five thousand years and two secret societies of vampire slayers later and the vampires are still going strong. And thank goodness because my favorite character is a vampire!
General Chloe Armitage of the Vampire Dominion is smart, strong, and ruthless. A former vampire slayer, before turning over two hundred years ago, Chloe is a three dimensional thinker who knows all the players and is actively gaming to win. Yes, technically, she is the baddie but she's my hero and I think she'll be yours too!
Li Wu - this teen is already an MIT grad and a master swordswoman. She's been training since the age of three to kill vampires and becomes the MC Anton's weapons master. Lin keeps a level head throughout the challenges in her life and wisely deflects all of Anton's come on's.
Louise Wesson is a Shadowstorm operative who has no idea she's working for vampires. Ex Black Ops/CIA she's done a lot of shady things for shady people but always for the right side. Now she's starting to realize the best play might be to frag the boss.
Now the MC is Anton Slayne, a teenage hockey player, who gets thrown into the deep end by the existence of vampires. He has daddy issues, anger management problems, and a generally rebellious streak. He's a teenage boy.
He neither adds nor takes away from the story. I know that's a strange thing to say about an MC but I often end up liking the secondary characters better.
I think the least successful character was Cornelius Crane, leader of the Vampire Dominion. He's spent a thousand years getting back pieces of the Pharaoh Tech from the vampire slayers because he's afraid they'll use it to end vampires. But they haven't... in five thousand years. Also Crane's single (stated) bestowed characteristic that allows him to lead the Vampire Dominion is his dramatic... height. Hmmm.
Still, not enough to detract from enjoyment. Best of genre - five stars!
August 4, 2024
Exciting, fast paced and thrilling!
This is an action packed, high octane supernatural fantasy thrill ride that is well written with relatable characters.
I'm engaged and committed to finishing this series. The books are not very long and they read very light and fast. Highly recommended.
This is an action packed, high octane supernatural fantasy thrill ride that is well written with relatable characters.
I'm engaged and committed to finishing this series. The books are not very long and they read very light and fast. Highly recommended.
January 9, 2022
Well that was just exceptional! I loved the characters, the story, the action! It was very well written. The world building was solid and the characters were extremely likeable (well, the good guys were). The villains were deliciously bad, like Vampires are supposed to be they were charming, alluring and evil.
The prologue was like a level of Tomb Raider, speeding through a temple to get to the hidden chamber where the ancient magic dwells. Then we're taken to present day Boston for a wild ride with Vampires, secret orders, government ops types with kick ass tech and EPIC battles.
I can't wait to head into the next installment to see where the hell this is going. Definitely recommend!
The prologue was like a level of Tomb Raider, speeding through a temple to get to the hidden chamber where the ancient magic dwells. Then we're taken to present day Boston for a wild ride with Vampires, secret orders, government ops types with kick ass tech and EPIC battles.
I can't wait to head into the next installment to see where the hell this is going. Definitely recommend!
October 21, 2021
**Won through Goodreads Giveaways!! Woot!!!**
4 Stars.
One reviewer stated that this novel was like, "Underworld on speed." I think more like Underworld on crack, but you get it. Underworld was campy, entertaining and visually stimulating. I could see this book as a movie or series. The only person (??) I could really view in 3-d, though, was Chloe Armitage. She is like the head vamps right hand woman. She gets it done, whatever it is; even with her own agenda. I loved to hate her.
The good guys were only slightly memorable to me. I mean, I didn't really root for them. Anton Slayne is who I should be rooting for, fell flat for me. This older teenage boy, is from a long line of vampire slayers. He witnesses a brutal murder, and is left with a secret society of vampire hunters. Enter Gang-wu and is daughter, who was rude, callous and irritated me to no end. She expected this kid to "get it" about their world, when his parents never gave a hint to what that world was. He comes into everything like a baby. Then to have some blossoming love story.... I just can't.
Anyway, the action is pretty good, with our regular folks being able to "ramp up" in order to fight vampires. Again, the vampires are the more interesting of the characters given; and all are double-dealing asshats. I loved it.
4 Stars.
One reviewer stated that this novel was like, "Underworld on speed." I think more like Underworld on crack, but you get it. Underworld was campy, entertaining and visually stimulating. I could see this book as a movie or series. The only person (??) I could really view in 3-d, though, was Chloe Armitage. She is like the head vamps right hand woman. She gets it done, whatever it is; even with her own agenda. I loved to hate her.
The good guys were only slightly memorable to me. I mean, I didn't really root for them. Anton Slayne is who I should be rooting for, fell flat for me. This older teenage boy, is from a long line of vampire slayers. He witnesses a brutal murder, and is left with a secret society of vampire hunters. Enter Gang-wu and is daughter, who was rude, callous and irritated me to no end. She expected this kid to "get it" about their world, when his parents never gave a hint to what that world was. He comes into everything like a baby. Then to have some blossoming love story.... I just can't.
Anyway, the action is pretty good, with our regular folks being able to "ramp up" in order to fight vampires. Again, the vampires are the more interesting of the characters given; and all are double-dealing asshats. I loved it.
March 18, 2025
3/18/25 UPDATE
Just finished re-reading this first book in the Metaframe series. Loved it just as much the second time around with the added bonus of reading along as a buddy read with both the author and another GRs friend. The knowledge and insights shared with me by these two people has been such a gift. And I look forward to diving into series book 2 soon!
WOW! WOW! WOW!!
Thank you author Graeme Rodaughan for the first installment in the Metaframe War series! The action in this book jumped off the pages for me, placing me there in the middle of it all. My mind’s eye was actively engaged throughout, and SO VIVIDLY!
I’ve already got the rest of the series books “ramped” up on my iPad ready to go…because, well, action, and vampires?? Yes please!! Who is this mysterious Raven introduced in the final pages?? This reader is going to find out!!
Just finished re-reading this first book in the Metaframe series. Loved it just as much the second time around with the added bonus of reading along as a buddy read with both the author and another GRs friend. The knowledge and insights shared with me by these two people has been such a gift. And I look forward to diving into series book 2 soon!
WOW! WOW! WOW!!
Thank you author Graeme Rodaughan for the first installment in the Metaframe War series! The action in this book jumped off the pages for me, placing me there in the middle of it all. My mind’s eye was actively engaged throughout, and SO VIVIDLY!
I’ve already got the rest of the series books “ramped” up on my iPad ready to go…because, well, action, and vampires?? Yes please!! Who is this mysterious Raven introduced in the final pages?? This reader is going to find out!!
July 21, 2021
I read this as part of the Omnibus.
June 14, 2017
This is a difficult book to review. On the one hand, I respect the long game that Graeme Rodaughan is playing. A continuing story over 15 books is a massive challenge to undertake and requires real dedication to pull off successfully. After completing A Subtle Agency I know if anyone can do it this author can.
This was a very enjoyable read; dare I say, cinematic in scope. The whole Metaframe concept was intriguing and kept this reader’s interest. The sheer fact that the author was able to add something new to the overcrowded and oft repeated vampire genre is reason enough to keep your eye on this obviously talented writer. All that said though…the book was not without faults.
Given the talent Rodaughan possesses, it was extremely vexing to see him giving in to clichéd tropes. As an example, there was a scene in the first third of the book where Anton dreamed about having sex with Chloe Armitage—the vampire Given what Chloe had done to him, this scene was not only unbelievable from a character motivation POV, it was entirely cliché and unnecessary to the narrative. The thread was never mentioned again and left me with little choice but to believe the only reason it was included was to have a human-vampire sex scene.
The cinematic vision of the author also led to scenes being retold from differing points of view which worked in some instances, but in others proved tedious.
Overall, this was a solid debut and a strong 4 stars. With proper editing it would easily be 5 stars. For anyone with an interest in grand visions or vampire fiction, I recommend taking a look at this book. I know I will be continuing with the series!
This was a very enjoyable read; dare I say, cinematic in scope. The whole Metaframe concept was intriguing and kept this reader’s interest. The sheer fact that the author was able to add something new to the overcrowded and oft repeated vampire genre is reason enough to keep your eye on this obviously talented writer. All that said though…the book was not without faults.
Given the talent Rodaughan possesses, it was extremely vexing to see him giving in to clichéd tropes. As an example, there was a scene in the first third of the book where Anton dreamed about having sex with Chloe Armitage—the vampire Given what Chloe had done to him, this scene was not only unbelievable from a character motivation POV, it was entirely cliché and unnecessary to the narrative. The thread was never mentioned again and left me with little choice but to believe the only reason it was included was to have a human-vampire sex scene.
The cinematic vision of the author also led to scenes being retold from differing points of view which worked in some instances, but in others proved tedious.
Overall, this was a solid debut and a strong 4 stars. With proper editing it would easily be 5 stars. For anyone with an interest in grand visions or vampire fiction, I recommend taking a look at this book. I know I will be continuing with the series!
June 28, 2017
Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Pages: 212
Just finished reading “A Subtle Agency: The Metaframe War, Book One” by Graeme Rodaughan. I would like to thank Graeme for gifting me an e-copy of this book. Oh my, oh my and wow. What an intense and thrilling read. I could not help but think of the “Blade” and ”Underworld” movies whilst reading this movie of words. Action packed, thrills, vampires (and not all vampires sparkle, these vampires are villainous) secret organizations and an Order of vampire hunters are just a few edge of your seat scenarios you can expect with this fantastic read. Sword fights and chase scenes abound in this no holds barred paranormal thriller from the first page to the last. If you like your Vampires with a little more of a bad side and a dangerous bite then this is the read for you. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series “A
Traitor's War: The Metaframe War Book Two”... Endless excitement and thrilling adventure.
Synopsis (from back cover): Hunting Anton Slayne?
Just get in line behind the Boston Police Department, Chinese Triads, the Shadowstone Organization, the Red Empire and the Vampire Dominion.
Witness to a brutal murder, eighteen year old Anton is inducted into the Order of Thoth by the mysterious Mr Wu. He soon discovers that vicious local gangsters, determined Boston Police Detectives, and relentless Shadowstone operatives pale into insignificance as he is drawn into the machinations of the enigmatic vampire, General Chloe Armitage.
When mastery over Anton’s soul is at stake, survival is the least of his problems.
Pages: 212
Just finished reading “A Subtle Agency: The Metaframe War, Book One” by Graeme Rodaughan. I would like to thank Graeme for gifting me an e-copy of this book. Oh my, oh my and wow. What an intense and thrilling read. I could not help but think of the “Blade” and ”Underworld” movies whilst reading this movie of words. Action packed, thrills, vampires (and not all vampires sparkle, these vampires are villainous) secret organizations and an Order of vampire hunters are just a few edge of your seat scenarios you can expect with this fantastic read. Sword fights and chase scenes abound in this no holds barred paranormal thriller from the first page to the last. If you like your Vampires with a little more of a bad side and a dangerous bite then this is the read for you. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series “A
Traitor's War: The Metaframe War Book Two”... Endless excitement and thrilling adventure.
Synopsis (from back cover): Hunting Anton Slayne?
Just get in line behind the Boston Police Department, Chinese Triads, the Shadowstone Organization, the Red Empire and the Vampire Dominion.
Witness to a brutal murder, eighteen year old Anton is inducted into the Order of Thoth by the mysterious Mr Wu. He soon discovers that vicious local gangsters, determined Boston Police Detectives, and relentless Shadowstone operatives pale into insignificance as he is drawn into the machinations of the enigmatic vampire, General Chloe Armitage.
When mastery over Anton’s soul is at stake, survival is the least of his problems.
October 3, 2018
I just finished A Subtle Agency. It’s an all-around good read. Graeme has created a world peopled by factions of vampires and humans. There’s lots of advanced technology. There are several strong women characters, which you don’t always see in action novels. Character descriptions are detailed, as you can see in this excerpt: “She wore a diaphanous black gown, off the shoulder and split high on the thigh. She carried a golden goblet in her left hand and her right rested casually on her hip. Her dark hair was long and pulled through a delicate golden crown.” As far as plot, there are several subplots ongoing, which keeps things interesting. There’s a teacher character, Gang, who teaches the main character, Anton, secrets of fighting and ethics. And there are lots of action sequences. Here’s an example: “Plunging his mind deeply into silence he became one with space, flow, and time. He felt power surge through his body as the White Dragon arced through the air, shearing through the red-headed praetorian’s sword in a shower of brilliant sparks. The vampire’s eyes widened in terror as Gang’s blade continued past his shattered defenses, driving deep into his chest. Gang drew the White Dragon back, cutting the vampire’s heart in two.” So, interesting, well-described characters, conflict between good and evil, interesting plots, and great action sequences. Good read.
August 29, 2017
This is a fast paced paranormal thriller that put me in mind of Matthew Reilly. I enjoyed the story immensely. As evidenced by the title, this is clearly the first book in a series, and you can see this in the way the story evolves.
I did find Anton, one of the main characters somewhat annoying, but I suspect this was a deliberate characterisation by the author. Anton's hidden antagonist is well developed and interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things pan out with her in the next book. I suspect this will be a series full of twists and turns, and that there are things we have yet to discover about the characters and the world Graeme Rodaughan has built around them.
If you're wondering about the paranormal part - it's vampires, but not sparkly ones. They're a whole different breed from the sparklers of recent popularity. (Thankfully from my point of view.)
If you're a reader who enjoys action scenes, and stories with a paranormal twist and a touch of conspiracy, then check this one out. I plan to read on and find out what happens.
I did find Anton, one of the main characters somewhat annoying, but I suspect this was a deliberate characterisation by the author. Anton's hidden antagonist is well developed and interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things pan out with her in the next book. I suspect this will be a series full of twists and turns, and that there are things we have yet to discover about the characters and the world Graeme Rodaughan has built around them.
If you're wondering about the paranormal part - it's vampires, but not sparkly ones. They're a whole different breed from the sparklers of recent popularity. (Thankfully from my point of view.)
If you're a reader who enjoys action scenes, and stories with a paranormal twist and a touch of conspiracy, then check this one out. I plan to read on and find out what happens.
June 29, 2022
I picked this up on the recommendation of the GR group Nightmares and Dreamscapes, which I've recently discovered. Truthfully, I was very, very pleasantly surprised and impressed by how much I liked it! It's quick, action-oriented, with lots of intrigue, guns and weaponry, swords, vampires, two competing secret orders of humans hellbent on destroying said vampires, and a mysterious "metaframe" that can alter the nature of the universe, physics, and everything in it.
Did I say I was impressed?
Book 2 is scheduled for my July TBR. Here's to more good reads, and kudos to you, Graeme!
Did I say I was impressed?
Book 2 is scheduled for my July TBR. Here's to more good reads, and kudos to you, Graeme!
November 30, 2023
I've heard a lot of good things about the Metaframe War series and wanted to get acquainted with Graeme Rodaughan's urban fantasy world-building. A SUBTLE AGENCY is the best "escapist" fiction that I have read in 2023.
The type of book I decide to read next (genre, subject, fiction or non-fiction) depends on what I'm in the mood for. Sometimes I just want to enjoy the experience, hoping the writer will meet the objective to "entertain me." This novel exceeded my expectations. It deserves 4.5 stars, if Goodreads ever decides to allow fractions.
In his bio on Goodreads, Graeme Rodaughan states: "I have one rule: Deliver an immersive reading experience that will transport you from the everyday world into a realm of fantastic imagination - - and leave you there until you're forced to come up for air . . ." Gasp, . . . mission accomplished!
This is a deft blend of urban fantasy, action adventure, and horror revealing an underground realm of ancient secret societies of vampires and those who hunt them and a centuries-long battle to protect a reality-changing artifact from being utilized for the wrong intentions. There are a multitude of interesting and realistic characters and the main players are fully developed and easy to empathize with. Even the villains are worthy of admiration and respect, along with disfavor.
Rodaughan seems to have extensive knowledge of military tactics and high-tech weaponry and works that into the storyline in exciting fashion. The fight scenes are very fast and cinema-like, with the benefit of print fiction detailing them in slow motion so that readers can achieve a great mental visualization of these battles.
The best elevator pitch I can think of for A SUBTLE AGENCY is "G.I. Joe for adults." This has also been compared to Mission Impossible, Underworld, Blade, Indiana Jones, The Matrix and Wanted - - and I can see the connections and agree with them.
I believe I will need to "escape" once more in the near future and will return to the Metaframe War series.
The type of book I decide to read next (genre, subject, fiction or non-fiction) depends on what I'm in the mood for. Sometimes I just want to enjoy the experience, hoping the writer will meet the objective to "entertain me." This novel exceeded my expectations. It deserves 4.5 stars, if Goodreads ever decides to allow fractions.
In his bio on Goodreads, Graeme Rodaughan states: "I have one rule: Deliver an immersive reading experience that will transport you from the everyday world into a realm of fantastic imagination - - and leave you there until you're forced to come up for air . . ." Gasp, . . . mission accomplished!
This is a deft blend of urban fantasy, action adventure, and horror revealing an underground realm of ancient secret societies of vampires and those who hunt them and a centuries-long battle to protect a reality-changing artifact from being utilized for the wrong intentions. There are a multitude of interesting and realistic characters and the main players are fully developed and easy to empathize with. Even the villains are worthy of admiration and respect, along with disfavor.
Rodaughan seems to have extensive knowledge of military tactics and high-tech weaponry and works that into the storyline in exciting fashion. The fight scenes are very fast and cinema-like, with the benefit of print fiction detailing them in slow motion so that readers can achieve a great mental visualization of these battles.
The best elevator pitch I can think of for A SUBTLE AGENCY is "G.I. Joe for adults." This has also been compared to Mission Impossible, Underworld, Blade, Indiana Jones, The Matrix and Wanted - - and I can see the connections and agree with them.
I believe I will need to "escape" once more in the near future and will return to the Metaframe War series.
August 27, 2017
The use of the word "subtle" in the title is a bit misleading. This is basically an action story with vampires (created about 5000 years ago), the order of Thoth and a secretive organization, both of which are nominally there to rid the world of vampires, but each one seems to be just as interested in getting rid of the other. The vampires are extremely powerful and are hiding in plain sight, so their two opponents have not been very successful over the 5000 years.
The plot involves Anton Slayne, a student, who inadvertently invites a couple of vampires into his parents' house, and they kill his mother, abduct his father, but leave him alive. He runs (for no good reason), the police assume he is the killer, and after he has a few misadventures he runs into Gang, who runs "the Noodle House", and his daughter Li, both of whom are part of the Order of Thoth. Anton is trained and wants revenge.
Rodaughan prioritizes action over character, the action comes thick and fast, the writing is clear, and he writes very good prolonged action sequences. He has also read some arms catalogues, and the array of weaponry certainly raises the stakes, although whether you could use that in a city and remain unnoticed takes a bit of swallowing. The major vampire is Chloe, she is one really nasty character, and I found it rather odd that the characterization in this book was strongest for the females. Although I doubt you will like her, you will at least understand what is driving her.
It is also desirable to suspend belief, particularly in physics. At one stage, a vampire runs through the wall of a house. With the force necessary to smash standard framing, his chest bones should be fragmentized, but this is magic, and the rules are a bit unclear. The vampires are mainly active at night, but nobody things to have fluorescent lights that exactly mimic sunlight. Would that work? Who knows? This is the first of a series, and while it ends reasonably cleanly, it really leaves more questions than answers so there must be a lot more to this story. So if you want action, vampires, and do not want to think too deeply, you can't do much better than this. I have graded this on the basis that you may not want to commit to a series before reading the first book, and the grade refers to what I think it has reached at this stage. In many ways it reads like the introduction to much more. That much more may well be worth five stars, but at this stage, for me, it has yet to get there.
The plot involves Anton Slayne, a student, who inadvertently invites a couple of vampires into his parents' house, and they kill his mother, abduct his father, but leave him alive. He runs (for no good reason), the police assume he is the killer, and after he has a few misadventures he runs into Gang, who runs "the Noodle House", and his daughter Li, both of whom are part of the Order of Thoth. Anton is trained and wants revenge.
Rodaughan prioritizes action over character, the action comes thick and fast, the writing is clear, and he writes very good prolonged action sequences. He has also read some arms catalogues, and the array of weaponry certainly raises the stakes, although whether you could use that in a city and remain unnoticed takes a bit of swallowing. The major vampire is Chloe, she is one really nasty character, and I found it rather odd that the characterization in this book was strongest for the females. Although I doubt you will like her, you will at least understand what is driving her.
It is also desirable to suspend belief, particularly in physics. At one stage, a vampire runs through the wall of a house. With the force necessary to smash standard framing, his chest bones should be fragmentized, but this is magic, and the rules are a bit unclear. The vampires are mainly active at night, but nobody things to have fluorescent lights that exactly mimic sunlight. Would that work? Who knows? This is the first of a series, and while it ends reasonably cleanly, it really leaves more questions than answers so there must be a lot more to this story. So if you want action, vampires, and do not want to think too deeply, you can't do much better than this. I have graded this on the basis that you may not want to commit to a series before reading the first book, and the grade refers to what I think it has reached at this stage. In many ways it reads like the introduction to much more. That much more may well be worth five stars, but at this stage, for me, it has yet to get there.
June 18, 2017
*** A free copy of the book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. ***
I've always liked vampire stories, since I read Dracula, the first of a long series of books on the subject. But this was a new experience, vampires brought in the twenty-first century, endowed with a hierarchy and determined to control the world.
The story begins with a spectacular scene in ancient Egypt, the origin of everything, and then continues to the present day.
Anton Slayne has a normal life: a great student, a hockey player, he has a good family, until the day he meets a charming and seductive woman and allowing her to enter in his home, she destroys everything he own. It’s the beginning of a new life that will lead him to discover a devastating truth about his past and collide with powers unknown to him so far.
It’s, once again, the clash between good and evil, but as always, the borders are never so defined.
The story has the thrill of a techno thriller, with highly trained assault teams and state-of-the-art technology, not lacking satellite networks for communication and identification. The structure recalls a high-performance adrenaline action film, with a good description of the fighting scenes, to envy the Hollywood masters of the genre.
The factions that fights in this story are three: Vampire Dominion, Order of Thoth and the Red Empire, but the main characters are few. The narration, within the various chapters, moves from one group of characters to another, running the various threads almost simultaneously.
Vampires have a leader, Cornelius Crane, but the real star on this front is definitely Chloe Armitage, ruthless and unscrupulous, but with the charm of a femme fatale. Anton, in this first book, plays the role of the young, still inexperienced pupil, trained by a great master in an art that he must learn to master quickly.
It’s a book that you will read all of a breath, never boring, intriguing and pleasant. I already have the next book and I can’t wait to plunge into the story and follow the characters in a new adventure.
I've always liked vampire stories, since I read Dracula, the first of a long series of books on the subject. But this was a new experience, vampires brought in the twenty-first century, endowed with a hierarchy and determined to control the world.
The story begins with a spectacular scene in ancient Egypt, the origin of everything, and then continues to the present day.
Anton Slayne has a normal life: a great student, a hockey player, he has a good family, until the day he meets a charming and seductive woman and allowing her to enter in his home, she destroys everything he own. It’s the beginning of a new life that will lead him to discover a devastating truth about his past and collide with powers unknown to him so far.
It’s, once again, the clash between good and evil, but as always, the borders are never so defined.
The story has the thrill of a techno thriller, with highly trained assault teams and state-of-the-art technology, not lacking satellite networks for communication and identification. The structure recalls a high-performance adrenaline action film, with a good description of the fighting scenes, to envy the Hollywood masters of the genre.
The factions that fights in this story are three: Vampire Dominion, Order of Thoth and the Red Empire, but the main characters are few. The narration, within the various chapters, moves from one group of characters to another, running the various threads almost simultaneously.
Vampires have a leader, Cornelius Crane, but the real star on this front is definitely Chloe Armitage, ruthless and unscrupulous, but with the charm of a femme fatale. Anton, in this first book, plays the role of the young, still inexperienced pupil, trained by a great master in an art that he must learn to master quickly.
It’s a book that you will read all of a breath, never boring, intriguing and pleasant. I already have the next book and I can’t wait to plunge into the story and follow the characters in a new adventure.
September 1, 2019
3.5 rounded up. This book was a whole lot of fun! It wasn’t particularly well written and read like the novelisation of a movie; however the action was on almost every page and if it was a movie, I would definitely watch it! Vampires versus the Order of Thoth as an urban fantasy sci fi mash up. This is a ’lite’ read and while there are several in the series, I think one was probably enough for me!
December 14, 2016
I don’t normally read books about vampires. I mean, I have. I read the first four books of the vampire chronicles by Anne Rice, and of course, Salem’s Lot by the great Stephen King, but it’s definitely not go-to subject matter for me. However, as I’ve stated in a few posts and reviews lately, I’ve been making it a point to step out of my comfort zone and read books I wouldn’t normally gravitate to. Graeme Rodaughan’s debut novel, A Subtle Agency, is one such book.
It was pretty cool.
The novel is paced well and the main characters are interesting and well-drawn. Rodaughan manages to make a secret vampire society hiding in plain sight among New Yorkers seem plausible. I particularly liked Chloe Armitage, the female vampire badass.
As I was reading the story, I couldn’t help but think it should be a movie. One you should see in 3D. Maybe by Marvel Pictures. It has all of the summer blockbuster elements: centuries old arch enemies, secret organizations, sword-wielding super humans, helicopters, drones, machines of unspeakable power, and most of all, action. Through the entire book I had an almost uncontrollable urge to eat popcorn. Go figure.
My only real critique would be that there were a couple of parts where things seemed to come a little too easily to the protagonist. This, of course, is completely subjective. Regardless, it’s a solid first effort, and if you’re a fan of vampires and suspense thrillers, this book shouldn’t disappoint you.
I look forward to finding out how things unfold in the second installment of the series.
It was pretty cool.
The novel is paced well and the main characters are interesting and well-drawn. Rodaughan manages to make a secret vampire society hiding in plain sight among New Yorkers seem plausible. I particularly liked Chloe Armitage, the female vampire badass.
As I was reading the story, I couldn’t help but think it should be a movie. One you should see in 3D. Maybe by Marvel Pictures. It has all of the summer blockbuster elements: centuries old arch enemies, secret organizations, sword-wielding super humans, helicopters, drones, machines of unspeakable power, and most of all, action. Through the entire book I had an almost uncontrollable urge to eat popcorn. Go figure.
My only real critique would be that there were a couple of parts where things seemed to come a little too easily to the protagonist. This, of course, is completely subjective. Regardless, it’s a solid first effort, and if you’re a fan of vampires and suspense thrillers, this book shouldn’t disappoint you.
I look forward to finding out how things unfold in the second installment of the series.
November 13, 2016
Got high-tech vampires? Got katanas? Got martial arts combat so kick-ass you could be watching a Jet Li film? Then this story has got your name written all over it.
It's not that the story didn't achieve a deep level of reader connection to a few of the characters, but it could've been applied more broadly. I did cry when one of the main characters died and there were powerful moments of internal dialogue. Although the complex machinations of outside forces drives the plot, Anton Slayne's clear character motivations unify a story that could have easily lacked thematic power.
Despite a number of turns of plot that broke my suspension of disbelief and slow pacing in a couple of places, the high-octane action, original world, and complex plot will have you flipping the pages faster than a quantum computer.
It's not that the story didn't achieve a deep level of reader connection to a few of the characters, but it could've been applied more broadly. I did cry when one of the main characters died and there were powerful moments of internal dialogue. Although the complex machinations of outside forces drives the plot, Anton Slayne's clear character motivations unify a story that could have easily lacked thematic power.
Despite a number of turns of plot that broke my suspension of disbelief and slow pacing in a couple of places, the high-octane action, original world, and complex plot will have you flipping the pages faster than a quantum computer.
April 30, 2022
This book is amazing!
Most urban fantasy books with vampires are a bit heavy in the romance. None of that in this one! Which is what i was hoping for.
This one has vampires, secret societies, The Matrix level action, edged weapon fights, paramilitary operations and some mystery in there too.
An amazing cast of characters and personalities you love or hate. Or love to hate I suppose.
The author's describes this as having movie-worthy action. He's not lying! I had a hard time putting this book down and was the fastest I've read 217 pages...ever!
I purchased the remaining books in the series before i finished the first chapter.
I want to immediately start the next one, but I think I need a breather!
My thanks to Mr. Rodaughan for writing an amazing story!
Most urban fantasy books with vampires are a bit heavy in the romance. None of that in this one! Which is what i was hoping for.
This one has vampires, secret societies, The Matrix level action, edged weapon fights, paramilitary operations and some mystery in there too.
An amazing cast of characters and personalities you love or hate. Or love to hate I suppose.
The author's describes this as having movie-worthy action. He's not lying! I had a hard time putting this book down and was the fastest I've read 217 pages...ever!
I purchased the remaining books in the series before i finished the first chapter.
I want to immediately start the next one, but I think I need a breather!
My thanks to Mr. Rodaughan for writing an amazing story!
October 11, 2017
A very interesting book that i enjoyed reading. Talk about not your ordinary vampires that use state of the art tech to find A hero. A great plot and even more established characters to give the readers something they will love. There are a lot of names thrown in this book just to let you know, but the main ones is where you get a feel of the book. A must read for any and all book lovers everywhere.
December 4, 2017
Intro book #1 of a fantasy series about the Vampire Dominion, a powerful secret society of 5000 year old super predator vampires who actively plot to eliminate rival secret societies bent on their destruction. Basically it's the good guys with super powers of their own vs bad super vampires. Strong prose and likable characters with compelling back stories maneuvering toward a major confrontation in a Boston warehouse is enough to justify a suspension of disbelief. I don't usually read fantasy but this page turning world of truly evil super Vampires vying for world domination grabbed my attention.
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