Review: Forever Vampire

By Michelle Hauf
Releases April 19, 2011
Source: Review copy provided by NetGalley for review.

Vail the Unwanted is a pureblood vampire. But raised in Faery, he has neither home nor peace, and when his aid is sought in the recovery of a priceless diamond gown, his price is information. Specifically the whereabouts of his accursed father. His goal is revenge, and the supernaturally sexy Lyric, the icy blond vampiress with whom he must work, is a distraction he can't afford.

Outwardly as cold as the diamond dress in which she was kidnapped, Lyric has her own secrets. Desperate to break free from her criminal family, she aligns herself with the brooding Vail. Together they seek justice while each secretly works for freedom and a fresh start. For Lyric that means holding herself apart, even from the smoldering blue-eyed Vail. For Vail, it means a battle to the death for revenge—and for a temptress he can't deny.

This is story takes place after events in Seducing the Vampire. One doesn’t need to read it first but I think it will make the back story of the brooding Vail more understandable. Also some of the minor characters in Forever Vampire were the major characters in Seducing the Vampire. I really enjoyed the small part Vail’s half brother Trystan who is a full werewolf played in the book. I hope he gets his own story.

Michelle Hauf can write a fun story with some very intense sex scenes. I think the most inventive one was the quickie on the silks. You will just have to read it to find out exactly what that means.

Vail and Lyric have a developing relationship that starts with Lyric faking her own kidnapping to avoid an evil faery and Vail employed to find her in exchange for information on his biological father. Both have there own motives and own issues they need to work through. With each other they learn to get through some of these issues while learning who there “real” family is. Family is more than blood. Family is who stands by one and loves one despite all.

Waiting on Wednesday: Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy 2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event I am joining, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read selection is:

Subterranean: Tales of Dark Fantasy 2

Edited by William K. Schafer

Dust jacket by Dave McKean

April 30, 2011

Joe Hill – “Wolverton Station” in which a predatory businessman travels to England, and to a primal confrontation he could never have imagined.

Kelley Armstrong – “Chivalrous” is apart of the Otherworld series and narrated by Reese. This story is the account of a devious – and long-delayed – act of revenge.

James P. Blaylock and Tim Powers – “Untitled”

Steven R. Boyett – “Not Last Night but the Night Before” --an affecting reflection on love, death, and acceptance by Steven R. Boyett.

Glen Cook – “Smelling Danger” gives us a brand new chapter in the long-running annals of The Black Company. Caitlin R. Kiernan – “Hydraguros” --And theres more, much more, including a hallucinatory portrait of guilt, angst, and drug-fueled violence by Caitlin R. Kiernan

Jay Lake and Shannon Page – “The Passion of Mother Vajpai” is a story of exotic – and erotic – initiation set against the backdrop of Jay Lake’s novel, Green.

K. J. Parker – “A Room with a View”

Norman Partridge – “Vampire Lake”

David Prill — “A Pulp Called Joe”

William Browning Spencer — “That Dappled Thing”

Bruce Sterling — “The Partheneon Scalpel”