This was the last of my SPSFC semi final reads. The premise was intriguing enough and as a writer and avid reader of queer spec fic, I was eager to read this. However, the book was disappointing, to say the least. 

 

Nick Jameson is a vampire but one who has got back his soul. His attempt to deescalate a situation with a terrorist has him outing the supernatural community to the humans. Despite their attempts to stay peaceful, there are elements within the humans who are not content to leave them alone, whose paranoia is of an order that they would rather destroy the world than live and let live. Nick has to save everyone, and in the process make tough decisions and choices. 

 

There was just too much going on with this book. Too many storylines, plot threads, character arcs, past and present timelines, that it got quite confusing. A lot of it could have been deleted with no impact on the overall plotline, but as it was there was way too much flab for me to appreciate the story or Nick's character arc. 

 

All along, I had the sense of a book that I really would have loved if it had some focus, but since it's focus was as scattered as my ADHD brain, I wasn't able to. 

 

The beginning: great. The end: brilliant. The middle, however was eminently forgettable for me. 

 

If you love hidden supernatural communities with advanced technology, the impact of secrets revealed and concealed, queer romance, and vampires, you might enjoy this book. 

 

The opinions stated are my own and not the team's.