Title: Blood Calling
Author: Joshua Grover-David Patterson
Publisher: Joshua Grover Kindle Edition
Category: Young adult/adult
I really enjoyed this new offering by Joshua Patterson. As with his previous book ‘Mercy’ (my review here), the character voice is strong and the writing smooth, drawing us into the story in an easy but ever building pace.
Lucy doesn’t know what to think when she finds the Vampire Slayer’s kit in the back of her dead grandfather’s closet, with a note that said, “THEY’RE REAL. FIGHT THEM,” but a drink driving accident, followed by community service in a shelter for the homeless draws her into a world where she discovers that what her grandfather said is true.
In ‘Blood Calling’, Joshua Patterson gives us a new take on vampires, not an easy task in the overcrowded vampire book market. His vampires are angels of mercy who offer to take away the pain of those near death or with a terminal illness. They leave their left overs with a smile on their face, generally a better option for a terminal cancer patient than a slow painful death. This lifestyle isn’t without its difficulties however, and neither is it the choice of all vampires.
The oldest, most dangerous vampire in history likes a bit of murder and mayhem and is causing trouble in town. Lucy meets Wash, a vampire that sets her views on vampires straight and along with Emma, gradually fills in the missing parts of her Grandfather’s history. The story unfolds in a steady, engrossing pace which leads to the revelation that because of her grandfather’s exploits, the evil vampire John Smith wants all of Lucy’s family dead. A quick course in vampire slaying is all Lucy gets before she and her two vampire friends are faced with the ultimate battle to the death, where she will have to use her wits to outsmart a very old and very strong vampire.
Lucy is a wonderful character with the typical kinds of insecurities that any 18 yr old might have. On top of the death of her grandfather and the vampire revelation, she has a parental divorce, her mother’s toy – boy and an estranged best friend to deal with. She handles all of this in great style making her an extremely likable character that we can easily identify with.
I recommend this book for all readers who love vampire novels and it’s also a good starter for those who are interested in dabbling in the genre. It’s an easy read of 154 pages with just the right amount of light and shade. I give it 4 stars.
