Gwen’s review of Vampire Sunrise (Delilah Street, Book 3) by Carole Nelson Douglas
Urban fantasy released by Pocket 24 Nov 09
I’m a huge fan of urban fantasy. I love it when authors cut loose and create a whole new reality that’s only loosely based on the “real” reality. It’s an opportunity to really explore the “hey, what would happen in our world if…”. They’re almost always set in a slightly futuristic world, too — which I find even more fun.
This series is based on the adventures of our heroine Delilah, who has some unusual abilities that make her valuable in this world’s alternate Las Vegas. Delilah threatens the existing were and vampire power structures, while at the same time she seems to tantalize them into keeping her around.
Naturally, she has an ex-FBI boyfriend – otherwise, she would have a tough time doing what she does. Delilah also has one of my favorite heroine accessories – a really big, really loyal dog. Lots happens with and around that dog in this book, so if that’s one of your favorite things too, you’ll like this book.
This is the first book in this series I’ve read. I found it stood alone fine and there was little I struggled with understanding. The author does a fine job giving the reader details without info dumping.
Douglas’s writing and storytelling rhythm is quite good in Sunrise. I immediately enjoyed reading the heroine’s thought process and internal dialogue. The book is told in first person POV, so it’s important to like the pace.
However, there is one element of her writing that almost ruined the book for me – scene transitions. These segues are very often clumsy, with the characters deciding – out of the blue and apparently with little to no reason – to do something or go somewhere. The reader is jerked along for a rather bumpy ride with a “whoa – wait, why are we here again?” kind of feeling. Sometimes very jolting.
I found this a very interesting quandary for a book told in first person POV. It’s downright difficult to not give the reader the full skinny in this voice – almost impossible, really. It made me think that perhaps quite a bit of this transition text didn’t make it through one of the edits. I can’t imagine a writer not writing about why a heroine goes to a place or does an important thing. It makes the heroine appear a bit aimless and that she’s just dithering along through life.
I also think this author hates commas. That made some of the sentences difficult to read, but d0-able.
Nevertheless, I was entertained by the book. I like the heroine and the story enough that I’ll probably read the next in the series.
I gave this book a C+ because it was good, but not so good that I could recommend it without reservations. If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, books set in a future Vegas, or wry humor, you’ll like it. But it’s a narrow recommendation.
Grade: C+
Summary:
Werewolf mobsters and vampires run Vegas, but that’s yesterday’s news for Delilah Street, paranormal investigator. What’s truly fearsome is her bloody discovery of an undead evil rooted in ancient Egypt. Now, with her lover Ric fighting for life after a grim battle, the chips are down.
But Delilah is a born winner who has never let a little danger throw off her game, and she’s been learning fast since she came to Sin City. Her affinity for silver is making mirror-walking a real breeze, and being forced to accept the albino rock star sorcerer Snow’s Brimstone Kiss has ramped up her powers to a startling new level. With the help of her trusty uber-wolfhound Quicksilver, not to mention the orange demon parking valet Manny, Delilah is determined to solve even more paranormal secrets, and hopefully save the few innocents left in town. But can Delilah win her high-stakes gamble for life and love against ancient gods and lethal supernatural odds?
Read an excerpt here.
Other books in the series:
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