Guest Review by Melanie
Amazon Link: Blacker Than Black
Author: Rhi Etzweiler
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Length: Novel
Rating: 4.5 stars
Black and Jhez are twin Nightwalkers, those who sell their chi, or life force, to the vampires that now rule the world. Living in the shadows and tenements of the blue-light district of York, they thrive where other Nightwalkers soon wither and fall. Their secret? They steal the chi of their vampire clients even as they are selling theirs, a silent, stolen exchange of energy that has kept them alive for decades.
One unfortunate choice of a john changes everything for them. Black picks Monsieur Garthelle as the john for the night, not recognizing the master vamp of the city. What should have been a simple selling of Black’s chi (and the taking of a sliver of Garthelle’s energy) turns explosive, with Black running back to the streets, shaken beyond belief. When Garthelle recovers, he tracks the twins down, confronts them, and forces both to work for him as spies against other vampire families. Facing not only the loss of their liberty and possibly their lives, they quickly discover nothing is what it seems to be, especially after a highly placed vampire is murdered at Garthelle’s home. Who are their enemies? Who can be trusted? What is the nature of the vampires’ obsession with them?
What a story. I am going to say right off the bat that this review is very frustrating to write because I am trying to avoid spoilers. Who doesn’t love that “huh, didn’t see that coming” moment in stories they are reading? And trust me, there are quite a few of those. The author plays with several themes here, fluidity and changeability run throughout the book. Whether it is the changing nature of human society, the vampire families and their alliances, right down to the basic human/vampire natures, all is constantly in flux. The characters and the reader both can be certain of nothing as the story deepens.
The story unfolds from Black’s POV. From the new world order to the skanky streets the twins live and work on, Black’s confusion is our confusion. I like that the details of how the vampires came to rule are left deliberately vague. The author has left our imaginations to fill in the gruesome blanks. There are black holes of knowledge everywhere just waiting for the characters (or reader) to stumble and fall into in this story. Just as the characters discover one alliance that may affect the balance of power, another event happens to undo all they have learned. And that seesawing plays out so nicely as layer upon layer comes off and more of the plot is revealed.
I think the author has done a wonderful job of characterization here, not only with Black, but with Garthelle, Jhez, and Blue, a close friend of the twins. Each different yet completely memorable. What we learn of the new world everyone inhabits is gleaned through gritty realistic details of littered streets and grim despair of the human condition contrasted with the glossy buildings of obsidian black of the ruling vampires.
And speaking of vampires, or the Lyche as they call themselves. This is a different take on vampirism, combining elements of the traditional European vampires with that of the succubus/incubus type energy feeders to arrive at a vampire that seems old and fresh at the same time. Familiar enough not to throw one off, but with some new elements that make you sit up and take notice. Very well done with vivid imagery that portrays the nature of chi exchange each character undergoes during a feeding.
That is not to say that there aren’t some slow parts where the narrative bogs down. There are too many descriptions of Garthelle’s apartment building or rooms in his mansion, too much black. I am going to assume that this was intentional as the author is very careful in the construction of this story. I was finding myself wondering how many times the author would find a way to insert the word black or blacker in terms of decor, apparel, or anything as a matter of fact. I had black fatigue in some places. But oh the pyrotechnics at the end. They are wonderful. A great way to end the journey of a thousand fun house mirrors.
And yes, I am still dying to tell you some spoilers. But my lips are sealed and I am throwing away the key.
Cover review: Love the cover by Del Melchionda. It is lush and absolutely perfect in tone and graphics for the story. I even feel there is a hint here as well to one of the first twists in the story. Great job.
