NYV: Goth (New York Vampire #2) by K.D. McQuain

Blood Stains Don't Show On Black!

Being friends with a vampire can be hazardous to your health. That’s what Christian’s tribe of New York City street punks has been finding out the hard way. Ever since his transformation, the people who get close to him have been dropping like flies at the hands of the fiend that infected him. His girlfriend Cara was dead and his roommate Rachel lay grievously wounded as he headed towards an uncertain and perilous future.

Now he must quickly learn to defend himself if he is going to face The Chord and find a place in vampire society. Fortunately, he has his sword-wielding mentor Amym and a beautiful Gothic exotic dancer named Joyce, to help guide him.

Format: ebook
Narrator: n/a
Performance: n/a
Story: 🌑🌑

I wanted to like this since I am a big fan of punk, goth, new romantics and such like. Plus vampires were involved so it's like, the best combination. However the book was bogged down by its lead. Chris was so average and dull. There was nothing to commend him apart from having friends who have cool clothes and awesome taste in music. I get the idea that he was supposed to be a typical teenager who was suddenly thrust into the vampire world and I am not expecting him to be 'the chosen one' or some sort of prodigy. But I really wish he had some je na sais quoi that would make me care about him. Going over his parts felt like a chore and the writing felt kind of awkward. 

The book alternates between vampire YA thread  and  two darker, nastier horror plotlines that have an adult feel to it. The later ones I liked better. There was a historical part set in the 1400s of one Gilles, a monster who rapes and slaughters children and a contemporary part where a girl was brought back from the brink of death only to become the slave of a mysterious sadist known as 'the master'. These two threads flowed smoother and even the writing was better.

The book also has an interesting vampire history involving Nephilims, celestial writings and grimoires written by the devil. I like how these made the story richer in terms of world building and I wish there was a book on these stuff.

This is the second book of the series and I haven't read part one but I had no problems following the story. There were enough information about the previous events so the book could be read as a standalone.

Sadly all these good points were not enough to overcome Chris. I supposed he matured eventually but I don't have the impetus to stick around and find out.

P.S.

Thank you to the author, K.D. McQuain for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

SOUNDTRACK

 

Testify

The Damned

Not Of This Earth

Straight from the middle right up to the top
Eat or be eaten by the cream of the crop
A smell of burning way down in your soul
When you taught to steal you're never alone 
And you fall to the ground
Upon your knees - testify 
Bruised and beaten, broken bones
Running so hard you can never go home
You live your life on a torture wheel
Gripped by a breeze of cold blue steel
When you fall to the ground
Upon your knees - testify 
Sail into a sea of hell
Oh, you do it so very well
This life you lead will never leave you alone
Testify - testify 
Down on your knees and testify
Straight from the middle right up to the top
Eat or be eaten by the cream of the crop
A smell of burning way down in your soul
When you taught to steal you're never alone 
When you fall to the ground
Upon your knees - testify 
Fall to the ground
Upon your knees - testify
Fall to the ground
Upon your knees - testify