Nightshades by Melissa F. Olson
Published by Tor.com
Published on: July 19 2016
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 208
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Alex McKenna is the new Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Bureau of Paranormal Investigations—the division tasked with investigating crimes involving shades.
Or vampires, as they’re more widely known.
Children have been going missing, and agents are routinely being slaughtered. It’s up to McKenna, and some unlikely allies, to get to the bottom of the problem, and find the kids before it’s too late.
NIGHTSHADES is a new gritty urban fantasy from Melissa F. Olson.
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It’s no secret that I don’t like Dead Things: ghosts, zombies, ghouls . . . vampires . . .
Vampires are an exception more frequently than other Dead Things, but they’re rarely something I deliberately look for when picking out a book.
BUT.
Occasionally an author manages to strike a balance that is pleasing to mine eyes.
Someone manages to capture to undeadliness, the bloodthirsty ruthlessness, while setting apart an individual or small group of individuals who have tenaciously clung to their former humanity, shunning the brutality of their more old school counterparts.
*tips hat*
Meet Lindy, or Sieglind to not-her-friends, who despite vampires coming out of the proverbial closet, still lives and works among the humans.
Secretly, of course.
Until the one vamp the government has managed to capture gives her up, anyway.
But rather than slaughtering the puny human who attempts to corner her, then hitting the road, she agrees to help him.
Lindy has a broader vision of the future than some of her vampire brethren. She dreams of a world where her kind can coexist with the humans. And in order for that dream to become reality, a powerful vampire hell-bent on teaching humans their place in the food chain must be stopped.
This is the story of how, with the help of humans, she begins to do just that. And lemme tell you, the obstacles encountered along the way kept me flying through the pages of my favorite Tor.com short story to date. FYI.
It’s not a new spin on vampires, but what Olson does with the well-known creature is highly entertaining. In a world where the existence of the supernatural is undeniably revealed, there are a million ways humanity can respond to that knowledge, and NIGHTSHADES is hopefully the first of many installments in Olson’s version of that brave new world. Highly recommended.
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My name is Jessica and I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m trying my hand at writing, but mostly I read. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and the YA versions of those genres, but if there is a book of a different color getting lots of buzz, I’ll read it too, just to be informed. If I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably on Goodreads or Pinterest or baking blueberry pies because I love them.
You loved it, I actually don’t mind vampire stories if they’re not too much of the same old, same old and it’s pretty cheap? Just preordered it!
Pili recently posted…Girl In The Shadows by Gwenda Bond Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!!
For me it depends on the type of story, I can handle some horror zombies, some helpful ghost, etc. (if you make a zombie or ghostly romance I am more apt to leave it be…gross.) I love vampires and werewolves/ahapeshifters the most books the most when it comes to paranormal. Sounds like an interesting one. 🙂
Oh sounds interesting. Plus, you know… vamps are actually UNdead so no probs. LOL
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Audiobook Review: The Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones
Ohh great review. This is actually the first time I heard about this book, but it looks and sounds absolutely fantastic plus I totally love urban fantasy books. Thank you for your awesome post.
A brave new world…interesting .)