I generally don’t read vampire books (Octavia Butler not withstanding), but this being Ian M. MacLeod, an author I have followed over his career, I could not resist. My immediate response after finishing this book was a kind of shell shock. Did my husband understand anything as I, wild-eyed, babbled away (possibly incoherently) while my brain was still putting the pieces together? Probably not.

Reaching across several historical time periods, and focusing on three well-drawn main characters, the author weaves a complex and engrossing story of love, longing, obsession, violence, blood lust …and more. This might suggest the standard vampire thriller, and while there is action, sufficient bloodletting, and some other weird stuff, McLeod does not overdo and contains the story elements well; his writing elevates the story beyond what one might expect. His often descriptive passages vividly evoke place and time, and there is an unexpected sense of melancholy that pervades the story—the reader never loses touch with the characters’ humanity.

This is quite a ride, perhaps a bit confusing at times, but a haunting and worthy read if you are up for it. ( )