The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan

The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan


4 Stars

Year Published: 2009

585 Pages

Genre: Horror (Vampires)

I picked this book up at Virgin Megastores when I started recording the series, so that I would read the book first and then see the series. Which now I'm planning on doing.

When a Boeing 777 plane lands in JFK airport in New York, all transmission from the plane has been cut off. The tower tries to contact the pilot but the plane seems to have died. No transmission, no lights, no engines. Nothing.
So, they send for the CDC's Dr. Ephraim "Eph" Goodweather and his team to check it out.
The result: All passengers are dead.
So they embark on a mission to solve the mystery and later on to stop the spreading of a virus that seems to turn New Yorkers to vicious vampires.

It was a scary thrilling ride through the book. The beginning of the book was so captivating and scary that it made me go on and on.. I couldn't put it down except to recap and think about what I just read and imagine it clearly. The legend of Sardu was chilling!!

Then in the middle of the book it started to drag and I really had to keep up with so many characters. It took me ages (literally: months) to go past that but I pulled through and the last third of the book went flying.. The excitement and action was all there.. I loved it.

That was the reason for the 4 stars and not 5 although it's been a while since a book got me from the first chapter. This was a book that did.

I will start watching the series I recorded as soon as I have some free time to spare and meanwhile consider getting the second book in the series to read.

The Screaming by Jack Kilborn

The Screaming by Jack Kilborn

5 stars

Year Published: 2011

44 pages

Genre: Horror (Vampires)

I got this book for free from Amazon for my Kindle on December 28, 2011

Jack Kilborn is one of my favorite horror writers. I've read a few books by him and he has not disappointed me yet. They are all amazing!

This was a short story that I wished was a full novel because the story line was great.

Colin and Butt and two addicts in Liverpool in the 1960's. Short on cash and looking for a fast fix.
So Butts mentions an old abandoned house a couple of hours away that he thinks would be a quick and easy job to rob.
They go to the house and hear SCREAMING!! Butts gets scared but Colin encourages him and they go inside to see who is making those shrill screams.
What they find is a shock to them, they find something old and shriveled but dangerous. When Butts goes to find a way to eliminate this creature he doesn't come back.

What happens to Butts and Colin afterwards is something I can't say so I won't spoil the surprise.

The Vampire Awakes by Alexis Raye

The Vampire Awakes by Alexis Raye

Series: Paranormal Erotica Book 1

2 stars

Year Published: 2014

pages

A very short story I got for free from Amazon.

Vlad is a vampire cursed to sleep by a witch and has been resting in his coffin for centuries.
Now he has been awakened by some strange music and finds himself in a bachelorette party mistaken as a male stripper.
Since he does not know what is going on, the girls undress him and their fun starts.
He goes on ravaging the bride to be and a few of her friends in an erotic orgy.
He then leaves the party and finds the witch that cursed him. More erotica in the graveyard!!
Would he seek revenge or ask to be put out of his misery?!
What misery?? He has been screwing since he woke up.. don't really know what's bothering him. Just being a grumpy old vampire.

Did not enjoy the book. I felt it was just some erotica with a kind of a story around it. Thank God it was free!!