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What Members Thought

This is the first in a trilogy by filmmaker Del Toro and crime fiction author Chuck Hogan. They meld old-school vampires from European folk tradition with modern science in an interesting way. An ancient "Master" vampire conspires with human accomplices to ship himself from Germany to New York via aircraft. The plane he's on goes suddenly dead just after landing, and first responders discover that everyone on board is dead of unknown causes. Two CDC epidemiologists are soon on the case. They're
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I thought it was a unique take on vampirism. These vampires were indeed scary and truly repulsive ... not an Edward Cullen in the bunch. I liked the way the authors set up the later events through the prologue, but some of the early promise seemed to fade toward the end, and the writing was only competent, never inspired. The ready-for-a-sequel ending also felt like a bit of a cheat. I've liked Del Toro's films, but this novel never reached the imaginative heights of Pan's Labyrinth; too bad.
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It’s been a few weeks since I finished this, and I’m still not completely sure what I thought about it. On one hand, it was a interesting, creepy twist on the vampire. No brooding looks or sparkling skin here, just gore and horror. On the other hand, you could really tell that a screenwriter was one of the authors. Things jumped around A LOT. There were many times when I just wanted to get back to our main heroes: Eph, Nora, and Setrakian. The reason we were following some of these secondary cha
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Initially entertaining, but would only have remained so at about half its current length. Reads very much like a book written by people who a)are under the mistaken impression that writing quality, pulply novels is easy, and b)figure it doesn't really matter much how good the writing is, because what they're really focused on is the movie trilogy that's just down the road.
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It's been a long time since I devoured a book like I devoured The Strain. It grabs you from the first page. Soooo good. And spooky!
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I really liked this and will read the rest of the series. My only critique is that it was sooooo slow at setting the stage. I get that it is the first book in a trilogy, but I think the authors could have moved into the actual story a little more quickly. Still, lots of action, suspense and a unique view of vampires.

A little bit interesting, a little bit predictable. I had hoped for more (and a little less borrowing from other books and movies), but I was intrigued enough to want to read the next volume. Why, oh, why isn't there more good horror?
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I have one huge complaint with this book......I've got to wait till sometime next year to read the 2nd book in this exciting, thrilling trilogy!!! These vamps kept me awake long after I read the last page.
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WOW! Read this in one afternoon and evening. The writing wasn't that fantastic, but the story really pulled me in and I wanted to know what was going to happen next and how it was going to end.
It's definitely a different kind of vampire story. ...more
It's definitely a different kind of vampire story. ...more

Jul 20, 2009
jess sanford
marked it as to-read

Feb 03, 2010
Mandy
marked it as to-read

Aug 14, 2010
Christian
marked it as tjek-ud

Jan 03, 2011
Kate
marked it as to-read

May 13, 2013
Jennie K.
marked it as to-read


Jan 20, 2016
Melissa Ormond
added it

Dec 30, 2017
Sarah
marked it as to-read