A Drop of Red - Book Review

A Drop of Red (Vampire Babylon Book 4) by Chris Marie Green. Ace, March 3, 2009

Dawn and Costin are in London searching for its Vampire Underground. Costin must erase every Underground in existence along with the Dragon before it rises. Only then will he be able to regain his soul. Dawn had helped him destroy the Underground in Hollywood. She suffered because of it. For a time she became a vampire, but when her creator died she once again regained her humanity. But before that happened she was forced to make a difficult decision. Costin resided in the dying body of Jonah Limpet. Dawn believed the only way to save him was to use the blood exchange and turn him into a vampire. Now he is the fledgeling vamp trapped in another's body relying on a woman, albeit one he is cares about deeply, for his training and sustenance. ( He's a macho kind of guy. )


The story opens with the horrifying death of Kate by a group of teenage school girls who have embraced the dark life of the undead. Kate's death is the first lead to London's Vampire Underground. Natalia, a psychic from Romania, joins Costin, Dawn, and Kiko ( also a psychic but a damaged one ) in the hunt. Frank, Dawn's father and now himself a vampire, works with the group to track down any information on the local master and his followers.

Green has created a dark, complex vampire world where many vampires have lost their conscience and think nothing of perpetuating evil. Not all are like this, of course. Costin and Frank have retained their humanity and will see to the destruction of those who slaughter innocents.

Book 4 in the Vampire Babylon series is probably not the best place to start for a new reader, but the author offers enough back story so it is possible to follow without too much difficulty. In an afterward Green tells her readers that ' by the time you get to Book Six, the mystery, character, and mythology arcs introduced in this installment will be resolved. ' The characters are vivid and the plot compelling. A Drop of Red makes an excellent addition to any vampire aficionado's TBR shelf.

Night Rising (Vampire Babylon, Book 1). Ace, 2007

Midnight Reign (Vampire Babylon, Book 2). Ace, 2008

Break of Dawn (Vampire Babylon Book 3). Ace, 2008









The Path of Razors: Vampire Babylon, Book Five.
Ace, August 4, 2009.

January Book Contest Winner

The winner of the January book contest is avalonne83

Congratulations you have won a copy of Night Rising (Vampire Babylon, Book 1) by Chris Marie Green.

Please send your mailing address to me at paltner@verizon.net


The winner is chosen via Random.org

January 2009 Book Contest

This month's contest offers a copy of Night Rising (Vampire Babylon, Book 1) by Chris Marie Green. Book 1 in the Vampire Babylon series.

All e-mail subscribers to this blog are eligible to win. If you have not yet signed up it's very easy to do. In the right column look for Subscribe to Patricia's Vampire Notes. Click and you're on your way.

See a review of book 2 Midnight Reign

Mindight Reign - Vampire Book Review

Midnight Reign by Chris Marie Green. Ace, 2008

Hollywood stuntwoman Dawn Morgan continues the search for her father Frank who went missing in Night Rising, the first book of Green's Vampire Babylon series. Along with her team, the psychic Kiko and the tech savvy Breisi, she has learned that within an area called Underground lie many of the secrets that may help her learn the whereabouts of Frank as well as solve the mysterious and vicious vampire-like murders of two young women. The Underground is the haven where the undead and their master Dr Eternity reside.

Unlike many recent urban fantasies with witty, fast-talking female narrators, this tale has a darker tone. Dawn is intelligent, serious minded, with deep psychological scars that continue to plague her. Chasing and fighting off the undead does not help her mood. Neither does her reasonable paranoia that certain people she encounters may still be human but also have links to the Underground. She, Kiko, and Breisi have committed themselves to the task of tracking down Dawn's father and destroying the Underground.. Leading them in this quest is The Voice, a man Dawn has yet to see, who feeds them information and guides them toward their mutual goal. He also has the mystical help of a group of beautiful spirits called Friends, who reside within portraits lining the walls of his mansion. Although the descriptive passages are not graphic Dawn's strong erotic feelings come to the fore when in the presence of the masculine tones of The Voice.

The novel's tone is dark, dramatic, and sensual. Green writes a complex story with well defined characters and more than enough paranormal mystery to keep readers enthralled from beginning to end.

Book three Break of Dawn is available as of Sept. 2, 2008.

Internet Sites of Paranormal Interests

Reading the Gothic: During the years 2006-2007 this site added podcasts of interest to vampire lovers. The latest update (August 4, 2007) concerns interesting observations on Varney the Vampire, or the Feast of Blood published in 1847. I wish whoever is behind this wonderful site would start it up again.

Be sure to read FEARnet's Vampire Survival Guide by Eric Walsingham and Eddie Nickerson. "We’ve got a little piece of literature that’ll turn you from a chew toy to a Vamp-slaying bad ass of Blade status...."

Says Katie MacAlister (author of Zen and the Art of Vampires, NAL December, 2008)
on her website: We have freebies, both virtual and real. Pick a freebie and have at it!

• Bookmarks, signed bookplates, book thongs, doorhangers, etc.
• Website, journal, Myspace, etc. banners
• Dragon septs membership
• Guardian's Guild membership
• Minion Corp membership
  
  

Harlequin's Paranormal Romance Writers are now blogging about their books. On July 19 Karen Whiddon wrote about her popular series The Pack. The latest story Mate of the Wolf has, for the first time, a vampire character.

On June 16 NPR's All Things Considered June 16, 2007 had an interesting story on the undead. Here is the intro. "Vampires have come a long way since Bram Stoker's Dracula. Many writers are embracing the bloodsuckers, with titles such as You Suck: A Love Story, Fangland and All Together Dead". Listen now.

Rick Kleffel reports for member station KUSP in California.

Chris Marie Green author of the noir-mystery Vampire Babylon series is offering a contest on her site.

"It’s time to gear up the Vampire Babylon (VB) machine again since there are two releases waiting in the wings: the anthology First Blood (with my VB novella “Double the Bite”) as well as Break of Dawn, VB Book three, (Ace Trade September 2, 2008). But First Blood is up next in August, and unlike the urban fantasy vibe of the regular VB series, this story is a “hot” romance. (Guaranteed happily ever after for the main characters!). In keeping with the “hot” tone, this month’s prize package will include Cherie Feather’s scorching Art of Desire (signed bookplate copy) along with an autographed copy of Night Rising Vampire Babylon, Book One, plus the signed first chapter of “Double the Bite.” Contest ends July 31st.

At blog site Shaunie's Happy Place you can enter to win a copy of Real Vampires Have Curves, Book 1 in the Glory St. Claire series (Berkley, 2007) by Gerry Bartlett. The winner will be announced August 2nd.