To be honest, I didn't really like this book. It started off great, but just sort of declined from there. I found it somewhat boring at times, and Toma, the main character, spent almost the entire book whining and pining over Lucine. We get it, you love her and aren't supposed to. Please, can we move on? It had so much potential as a story, but by the time I was 100 pages from the end I was forcing myself to finish the damn thing because I knew if I set it down I was never going to pick it back up again.

I don't regret reading this book, but it didn't wow me either. The ending is the payoff and a very exciting page turner, but not until the ending in my case.

The testimonials in the beginning of this book accurately describe my feelings of Immanuel's Veins. I was left in tears, and with happiness and hope. Redemption and love are the most prominent aspects found this beautiful novel. Although I was a bit turned off by Dekker's "villian" in his plot, I grew used to it since this type of evil person can exist in our world today (but certainly not to that extent). Lucine was a great character in the first half of the book (she was so likeable and witty-I respected her) but then she grew annoyingly naive throughout the last half of it. Then there is Toma. He's just great. I sincerely appreciate and respect him as well. ;) His deep love for Lucine is what kept me up at night, hopeful of love. =) After finishing this book, I just sat there, stunned and wonderstruck. So yes, I did really like Immanuel's Veins. :)

A Christian fiction author writes a vampire story.

Immanuel's Veins is by far the best book I've read by Ted Dekker so far. It pulled me in from the first few pages, the mysterious pull I felt to learn more of Alek and Toma as we follow them into the beginnings of their guard assignment. I was empathetic with Lucine, agreeing with Natasha, and impressed with the inhabitants of Castle Castille. I only wish to find a spin-off of sorts that closely follows and expands the goings-on of Castle Castille before the ending, as the mystery and slight glimpses into their activities was what kept me turning page after page.

This is the story as told by a young warrior, Toma Nicolescu. It's a tale of a struggle between lust and love. Set in Moldavia in the 1700’s, Toma and his companion Alek are given an assignment to protect the Cantemir family, a woman and her two daughters.

The daughters are very beautiful. One revels in sensuality and men’s affections. The other is demure and waiting for true love, uncertain what true love embodies.

This is the first of Ted Dekker’s books I’ve read, so I was curious and didn't know what to anticipate. Immanuel’s Veins is shrouded in mystery from the very beginning, starting with the synopsis on the back cover. The mysteriousness is what creates a fast-paced read. Being of the fantasy genre, it is suspenseful but not frightening.

Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed with the content. There were so many sensual scenes and vampire-like activity, that I felt uncomfortable reading it. I believe the author’s intent may have been evangelistic, but I cannot see how the end justifies the means. I feel the imagery was meant to titillate, and I have a problem with it being used in a Christian work. Therefore, I will not be recommending this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Last 2/3 wasn’t bad maybe 3/5. Clever idea, I think. And the overt Christ-like imagery didn’t bother me as much as it has in other novels. But the first 120pgs were just so slow. Set up could’ve been done in 60, surely.

3.5⭐