Author: Kate Nevermore
First Published: 2010
Contains spoilers
In the near future, an experimental study alters gene therapy subjects into living vampires, giving them superhuman strength, speed, stamina and senses, yet leaving them dependent on blood for survival.
I first came across this book on Facebook, and on reading the blurb was intrigued enough to order a copy. It combines sci-fi and vampires, but in an effective way.
The author flips time periods throughout the book, from the near future to a point some 350 years in the future, to describe how the treatment for Porphyria altered the DNA makeup of the test subjects into vampires, and the formation of the secretive V Society.
This society is made up of the Founders (first test subjects), Seniors and Juniors, and we are introduced to a vampire society that has been corrupted over time by a reigning triumvirate, leading to a vendetta against one of the families, namely the Ricos family. This, of course, is where our main protagonist, Eliza Ricos, comes in.
The story follows her as she is aided and abetted in her attempts to outwit the seemingly all powerful rulers of the society, who have over the centuries grown the society's holdings, under the guise of Fourth Planet Farms into a corporation reminiscent of the Umbrella Corporation, from the Resident Evil series, with regards to its power and secrecy, whilst trying to discover the reason behind the assault on her family. I won't go into too much detail as to what happens, since that would spoil things completely, suffice to say Eliza is discovered by the Founders, who all the Seniors and Juniors had assumed to be dead, aiding her and even coming to her rescue when she is captured by the ruling Seniors and transported to their refuge.
The problems regarding blood supply are amply addressed within the book, so let's just say Fourth Planet Farms has a lot to do with it.
The book races towards its inevitable showdown between the Founders and the dishonest reigning Seniors, bringing with it an insight into the corruption rife within the society, at which point we also find more about Eliza herself that is hinted at throughout the story. How the tables are turned on the Seniors.......................buy it and read it to find out.
The characters may not be vampires in the conventional sense, not having fangs, but are easily identifiable as such, having superhuman strength, stamina, speed and senses, as well as an aversion to sunlight which is shown throughout the narrative. I have to be honest, I really enjoyed this book and hope that the promised sequel isn't too long in appearing. It's not particularly long at just shy of 200 pages but shows a lot of promise, weaving vampirism and science fiction into a thoroughly entertaining read.
A well-deserved 7.5 out of 10
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