From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Hemovore

Jordan Castillo Price

Start date: August 1, 2011

Finish date: August 31, 2011

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

Dec 14, 2009 Ami rated it really liked it

Shelves: mm-mystery-suspense-thriller, 4-and-half-stars_rating

4.5 stars
Wow, talk about fast-paced!! This is not a typical romance m/m, instead I feel like this is a thriller/suspense with two guys on the lead. Sort of like that movie, The Fugitive. The two main characters are on the run from a very, VERY bad guy. I think the plot is strong and I really like both characters, they're witty and charming and strong headed. Plus a twist of the vampire myth, that they are actually human with HHV virus. I literally can't stop reading until the very end. Great adv ...more

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Sep 24, 2012 leigh rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned-bn

A somewhat melancholy and surprisingly engrossing read.

What makes this vampire story “sci-fi” is that the condition is caused by a human virus similar to HIV but more readily contagious. It is transmitted sexually and through exposure to bodily fluids. It can be fatal; those who survive the early stages become vampires, of the drink-blood-and-avoid-sunlight variety. Because they are humans with a disease instead of mythical creatures of legend, society has no problem believing in their existenc A somewhat melancholy and surprisingly engrossing read.

What makes this vampire story “sci-fi” is that the condition is caused by a human virus similar to HIV but more readily contagious. It is transmitted sexually and through exposure to bodily fluids. It can be fatal; those who survive the early stages become vampires, of the drink-blood-and-avoid-sunlight variety. Because they are humans with a disease instead of mythical creatures of legend, society has no problem believing in their existence, and caters to them on some level via the sale of synthetic blood and other necessities of vampire living. Spread of the infection is greatly feared and those who choose to live closely with the infected must take extreme precautions such as special gloves and antiviral wipes. And of course, there are segments of society which hate and fear vampires and proselytize against them.

Mark Hansen has spent the last four years working for reclusive vampire artist Jonathan Varga, performing such unpleasant tasks as procuring for him the blood of domestic cats, which he drinks exclusively. Varga is gorgeous and mysterious and Mark has a crush, but has done nothing about it, and isn’t even sure which way Varga swings. This frustrating and depressing state of affairs seems poised to go on forever, but then a secretive client appears on the scene wanting to buy a collection of Varga’s paintings on one condition—he wants to meet the artist.

Suddenly, Varga is speaking to and engaging with Mark more than he ever has, and Mark picks up tantalizing signals from him which he never gets a chance to decipher. The action plot kicks in, and the two are literally running for their lives, sought by a villain from Varga’s past together with the FBI.

The romance is slow and understated. We do eventually learn that Varga returns Mark’s feelings, but by that time, Mark is so annoyed with him for being secretive and embroiling Mark in a life-threatening plot that the moment is hardly warm and fuzzy. Their situation is fraught, tenuous and depressing for good portions of the book, but it is also exciting. I liked that Mark is middle-aged, not supernaturally beautiful, yet still the object of love and desire for the perpetually twenty-five and hunky Varga. (For those who care, the smut level in this one is extremely low.)

The world-building was very good; reminiscent of, but not the same as, that in JCP’s other vamp saga, Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary. (I liked that bottled water manufacturers produce flavored varieties especially for vamps, who can’t ingest solid food.) It felt substantial and unexplored enough that it had a feel of the start of a series, but it’s apparently a one-off. The love story, however, does not feel incomplete.

Four stars. ...more

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Apr 18, 2012 ttg rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, reviews

Hemovore is taut thriller that's set in an alternative universe Chicago where vampirism exists, but unlike in stories like Dracula or Twilight, vampirism is a virus, and most who catch it don’t survive. Those who do are more like the vampires we know from pop culture--subsist on blood, allergic to sunlight, beautiful, and with attuned abilities such as strength, speed, or higher awareness.

There are a lot of allusions to HIV with the vampire virus since it can be transmitted through body fluids. Hemovore is taut thriller that's set in an alternative universe Chicago where vampirism exists, but unlike in stories like Dracula or Twilight, vampirism is a virus, and most who catch it don’t survive. Those who do are more like the vampires we know from pop culture--subsist on blood, allergic to sunlight, beautiful, and with attuned abilities such as strength, speed, or higher awareness.

There are a lot of allusions to HIV with the vampire virus since it can be transmitted through body fluids. The vampire virus is far more contagious though (like a condom isn’t good enough protection) so being in a relationship with a V+ person means you need to think creatively about expressing affection.

Which brings us to our main characters and story--Jonathan Varga is a famed Vampire artist, gorgeous and forever looking 25, even though he’s decades older. His assistant Mark is in his mid-40’s and feels very schlubby in comparison to Jonathan’s sleekness. Mark is V negative, which means he religiously cleans everything that Jonathan touches, all the while trying not to think too deeply about his feelings for Jonathan, both lustful and otherwise, since consummating anything would be impossible without risking catching the virus. This is their existence, day in and day out--V+ employer, V- employee, neither communicating about what they feel about each other.

Then trouble comes along in the form of a deadly vampire from Jonathan’s past, and both Jonathan and Mark are forced to flee together to stay safe. Their journey and choices over the following days will test their relationship, and force them both to confront all the things that had been unsaid before then.

I enjoyed Hemovore—it’s a very creative, well-written story with very consistent world-building. The author really excels at introducing an alternative-world idea (in this case, vampire virus) and rolling it out so it’s very believable. The characters are also engaging, and some of my favorite parts where the conversations between Jonathan and Mark--they have an interesting way of communicating with each other, especially during times when Jonathan, normally very reticent and serious, tries to lighten the mood. You can sense that they have known each other for years, but at the same time, you can feel some of the silent underlying frustration between them because of the virus and the obstacle it plays.

My only notch down about the story is that it’s grimmer than other works I’ve read by the author. There’s nothing wrong with grimness, but it meant for me that it was easier to put down and leave for a while whereas normally I speed right through her work.

Part of the grimness is because the virus is depressing--most people don’t live through it, and the risk of Mark catching it (and the possibility of dying) weighs on Jonathan as heavy as the guilt he feels for getting Mark mixed up in the mess they’re in. Mark’s acerbic, sarcastic voice adds some levity, but overall, I found it a heavier read than say, her Psycop books, or some of her other stand-alone novels. At the same time, I’m not sure how one would lighten the mood a little bit without wrecking the overall tone of the story. (I’ll be honest, the ending helped pick me up from the heaviness of the middle third.)

It’s a good read though, and I recommend it, especially if you’re already a fan of the author. It’s very creative, great characters, and as usual, fantastic writing. ...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Anne Petty rated it it was amazing

I'm a big fan of JCP, but she really outdid herself with this one. Definitely the best vampire book I've read in the past several years. I'm always impressed when a prolific author still manages to come up with unusual, unique characters who become totally three-dimensional over the course of the book. Even more impressive is coming up with an approach to the vampire mythology that's new and riveting. Price has a visceral, muscular prose that just grabs you by the collar, gets in your face, and ...more

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May 12, 2010 Julia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery-suspense-thriller, m-m, vampires, favorites, fantasy-sci-fi

Couldn't put it down. Price has quickly become one of my favorite writers. This isn't as gritty as the Channeling Morpheus series was, but easily as good. Fingers crossed for a sequel. ...more

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Nov 03, 2017 Susinok rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, paranormal, glbt, romance

Wow! Loved this audiobook. I've had Hemovore for a while, and downloaded the audio version recently. I am glad I decided to listen instead of read. Wonderful narration by Joel Leslie, and a fantastic story by Jordan. Loved it! ...more

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