HORROR FICTION REVIEW : BLOOD PATERNAL BY JANET JOYCE HOLDEN

Blood Paternal is a modern vampire novel which successfully blends the familiar gothic angst and melancholy of the classic tales with a slickness and style that conjures images reminiscent of The Matrix, Inception and Equilibrium. Holden’s vampires bite but they also lock and load.

The emotional core of Blood Paternal is built around Mark Gannon; an aspiring actor who is kidnapped, tortured to death by one family, or house, of vampires and then revived by another. In a haunting sequence, he comes to grips with his reborn nature as a vampire and what follows is his initiation into a strange new world where vampires walk around in daylight and are accompanied by human companions known as donors. Mark’s new family are part of a war initiated by Anton Weiss; the father of all vampires, who wishes to exterminate his kin. Mark’s personal growth flows along seamlessly with the plot, all of which leads towards the revelation of his, poss_ibly fated, part to play in the unfolding war between the vampire houses.

Holden’s love for the setting, story and her characters is evident throughout as she brings her world to life with an evocative eye for detail which ensures a character’s dress and appearance tells you as much about them as their own words. And, in the case of the latter, the author’s talent for naturalistic dialogue also shines through.

The roots of her world are recognisable in urban fantasy but this has a harder edge to it, which recalls the vampire underworld of Anne Rice and its social complexities, as well as Clive Barker’s post-Hellraiser explorations of darker, more fantastic realities. Blood Paternal is one for vampire fans who don’t mind their horror being mixed with high-octane action and who are not averse to some interesting new twists on the traditional myths.

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GREG JAMES

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Anton Weiss, father of all vampires, returns from a long, mysterious sabbatical and swears genocide on his entire family. His letter of intent is abrupt, its reasoning unclear, and consequently his descendants choose to ignore the threat, and assume their beloved creator has simply gone mad. 

Until the slaughter begins. 

Unprepared and caught by surprise, the survivors are forced to leave their sanctuaries and forge new, hasty alliances in a desperate bid to protect themselves. But can they stop their revered ancestor? And whom can they trust? 

In the struggle to survive, Gilles and Mina are joined by Mark, an enigmatic and vengeful newcomer, who was tortured and left for dead by one of their society's powerful Elders. Subsequent events suggest the three have been brought together for a purpose, but one that proves elusive. 

But when loved ones are threatened, and companions begin to die, enemies must become friends, and for Mark in particular, that might also include the man who brutally murdered him.

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