Shelf Reflections

Click image to purchase from Amazon Vampires are fiction's current superstars, but their well-known mythology makes it too easy for writers to stick slavishly to common themes and characteristics. Of Saints and Shadows offers a different look at vampire origins. Peter Octavian, a private detective and vampire, occasionally helps the police with his unusual knowledge and expertise. But one dark night, a simple murder case blossoms into something much more complicated ... and deadly. It involves the mysterious “Gospel of Shadows,” stolen from the Vatican library. This tome contains the collected knowledge of the church sorcerers who want to eliminate the “Defiant Ones”: the vampires. Sorcerer Father Liam Mulkerrin has come to the United States to retrieve the book, and start a final holy war against all vampires. Peter and his scattered vampire friends must fight the church's magic and stop Mulkerrin's plans.

Click image to purchase from Amazon I admit that I get excited when I find novels that are set in Northern California. So many stories occur in places like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Seattle that finding one in my own backyard is something of a treat. Seanan McGuire’s October Day novels satisfy my craving, as they’re set in the Bay Area and feature locations that I’m familiar with. An Artificial Night is the third in the series and, in my opinion, the best one thus far. Toby’s morning starts off badly when her Fetch arrives at her door. A Fetch only shows up if you’re supposed to die in the near future, so Toby’s reaction is understandable. But soon she has other things to worry about besides her own demise. Two of her best friend’s children have gone missing, and a third can’t be woken up. The kidnappings aren’t confined to them—several other children from Faerie families have been taken as well. The culprit is Blind Michael, the leader of the ghostly Hunt that is some...