S. M. Johnson (1)

Dare surprised his family when he ran off to New York City after his college graduation and took a job as a bartender. What's even more surprising, even to Dare, is that the bar he works in sits above a BDSM dungeon. And it's not just any dungeon--Master Roman is a legend in BDSM circles...and he appears open to giving Dare a glimpse into his world. And although Dare isn't gay, there's something about Roman that intrigues him...and maybe just enough to take a peek behind the curtain.

I found it difficult to stay focused on this one. The characters didn't grab me, and the change in narrators left me having to really think about who each of the people involved in the story were. Participants from scene to scene changed so much that it almost didn't have a good thread to pull the reader through.… (altro)

In reviewing this novel, the first in a series of two, I must start by saying I am not an educated vampire novel reader. In fact this is the second one I've ever read.

In reading other works of Ms. Johnson's I have come to expect things like good writing style and believable character building. This novel has both.

This does not seem to be Ms. Johnson's best work however, for a number of reasons.

First, the text is rather long, and while that is not a problem in and of itself, as a reader I had expected more closure at the end of the final page. Even when taking into consideration that there is a sequel. The text just seems to stop. I'm guessing I could read on seamlessly if I picked up the second novel.

Second. While all of Ms. Johnson's characters in this novel are well built, well described, with their own histories, their own quirks, in other words real human people I could meet on the street (including, unbelievable as that may sound the vampires). However, there are too many of them. Too many of them make no substantial contribution to the story as it unfolds in this novel, or not enough of a contribution to justify their extended character descriptions.
Characters like Lily and Tony are described in several chapters but do not seem to play a part in the vampire lore of this novel at all. The character of Emily does in the end play an essential part, but she is introduced at such an early stage in the novel that as a reader I was wondering if she would ever show up again. That's three and I haven't even mentioned main character Daniel's roommates yet (early chapters), or the very adorable and smart cat that is introduced in the final chapters.
One might even argue that some side characters seem more interesting due to the word space devoted to them in the early chapters than the characters that will later prove to be the main characters of the story.

Third. The novel offers a different reading experience in the first half than it does in the second half. Around the halfway mark the focus seems to shift, from setting the stage (putting up the props, lights, camera etc) to actually calling out Action and filming the story. That is a rather long sprint to run before the jump is made. As a reader I found it a bit too long for my taste.

A final word on the vampires themselves. I understand from learned friends, that the typical vampire to be found in more or less recently published vampire works, is a to die for sex god that will stare into your eyes and make your socks fall off for fear he does not make you one as well or take you on the spot, and preferably both. There are no such vampires to be found in this novel, in my humble opinion. The vampires Ms. Johnson puts before us are all too human, and in my perception all the more interesting for it.

All in all an enjoyable read with interesting characters, some loose ends and an ending that is too sudden, in well written and edited prose.… (altro)