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bookish_withsky's review
3.0
Take vampires and mix them with a bit of SciFi and you've got yourself a pretty fun read. It wasn't perfect or outstanding but still pretty intriguing and fun. I'd be more than willing to read more from this author.
lifeinthebooklane's review
3.0
This got off to a shaky start for me, there was far too much info dumping at the start of the book, slowing the pace for a while. I also found some of the descriptions overly detailed and unnecessary for developing the story. However once we get to Bo, the story picked up and I found myself much more engaged by what is essentially a blend of paranormal, suspense and romance. Once I'd got through that first third the plot picked up in intensity and I found myself not wanting to put the book down.
It took me a while to understand Marcus' motivation, he felt a little lacklustre at first but we really get to know him as the story progresses. There was also good character growth and I soon found myself captivated by him. Bo was a really fascinating character and I very much enjoyed seeing how the pair of them interacted together. I would rather have had more time spent on developing their relationship and less on the early over explanation. On balance, however, this was still an engaging read.
It took me a while to understand Marcus' motivation, he felt a little lacklustre at first but we really get to know him as the story progresses. There was also good character growth and I soon found myself captivated by him. Bo was a really fascinating character and I very much enjoyed seeing how the pair of them interacted together. I would rather have had more time spent on developing their relationship and less on the early over explanation. On balance, however, this was still an engaging read.
someonetookit's review
3.0
RATING 3.25
keeping it short and sweet because I have better things to do than waffle!
Pros
Enjoyed the POV that humans were simply blood bags, it felt very Soylent Green but vampires
Sibyl is an absolute crackpot but also she's honest so
keeping it short and sweet because I have better things to do than waffle!
Pros
Enjoyed the POV that humans were simply blood bags, it felt very Soylent Green but vampires
Sibyl is an absolute crackpot but also she's honest so
fourestxx's review
4.0
In a post-apocalyptic world, vampires have ‘cleansed’ the planet of human life and established their own underground city – Aeterna – run by the nine senior families.
Every 100 years, the families compete in the Bloodlet, hunting cloned humans released onto the surface with the victor becoming First Among Firsts and leading the city for the next century.
Aeterna (the first book in a new series) follows Marcus, the youngest son of the current leader as he prepares for his first bloodlet and tries to learn more about his life before being turned into a vampire.
His world is turned upside down, however, when he finds himself in the middle of a plot to overthrow the nine families and encounters a cloned human with memories of her own.
I didn’t realise until I was a few chapters in that this was the start of a new series and it definitely helped to explain the detailed descriptiveness of the writing.
There is a lot of world building for the longer term benefit of the series, helping to explain how the characters are connected, the hierarchy of vampire life and what happened before the fall of the human race.
The story really begins to get exciting when they arrive at the surface for the Bloodlet and Bo (the cloned human) becomes a more prominent character.
A supernatural dystopian romance with a hint of mystery – I can’t wait for the next book to learn more about what’s next for both vampire and humankind!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Every 100 years, the families compete in the Bloodlet, hunting cloned humans released onto the surface with the victor becoming First Among Firsts and leading the city for the next century.
Aeterna (the first book in a new series) follows Marcus, the youngest son of the current leader as he prepares for his first bloodlet and tries to learn more about his life before being turned into a vampire.
His world is turned upside down, however, when he finds himself in the middle of a plot to overthrow the nine families and encounters a cloned human with memories of her own.
I didn’t realise until I was a few chapters in that this was the start of a new series and it definitely helped to explain the detailed descriptiveness of the writing.
There is a lot of world building for the longer term benefit of the series, helping to explain how the characters are connected, the hierarchy of vampire life and what happened before the fall of the human race.
The story really begins to get exciting when they arrive at the surface for the Bloodlet and Bo (the cloned human) becomes a more prominent character.
A supernatural dystopian romance with a hint of mystery – I can’t wait for the next book to learn more about what’s next for both vampire and humankind!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
goddess_of_gore_vix's review
4.0
This is not like other vampire books. I did not enjoy the first 20% of the book and I was considering giving up at this point and wow! I'm so glad I didn't because this was brilliant. Vampires have eradicated humans above ground and now clone them in their labs for blood and sport. In a vampire utopia of simpering vamps and rulers underground, it takes one curious vampire who wants to know the inner workings of their underground world called Aeterna. What he discovers isn't all a bed of roses and the lower working levels are planning a revolution. Plenty of vampire deaths and gore all round! Brilliant. I would even go as far to say it's a vampire book for people who think they don't like vampire books
annarella's review
4.0
I read plenty of vampire stories and this was one of the most original I read.
It's a mix of dystopia and fantasy, a coming of age of a vampire in a post-apocalyptic world.
It's fast paced, action packed. Good world building and character development.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's a mix of dystopia and fantasy, a coming of age of a vampire in a post-apocalyptic world.
It's fast paced, action packed. Good world building and character development.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
bookishwithsky's review
3.0
Take vampires and mix them with a bit of SciFi and you've got yourself a pretty fun read. It wasn't perfect or outstanding but still pretty intriguing and fun. I'd be more than willing to read more from this author.
freebird_reads's review
4.0
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! I initially picked this book up because vampires - if it says vampires I'm intrigued. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from it initially, but overall I thought it was a good read. It's been some time since I picked up vampire book that wasn't straight romance, but I'm glad I did. There is some romance to this, but I wouldn't say it dominates the storyline and instead helps it to unfold as Marcus finds his way through the world of Aeterna - the only place he has memories of, since he remembers nothing of his human life before. I was intrigued by the concept of a post-apocalyptic world dominated by vampires, but really it was the political intrigue and deceptions that had me wanting to finish it. I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
I'll be interested to see where the next book in the series leads.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! I initially picked this book up because vampires - if it says vampires I'm intrigued. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from it initially, but overall I thought it was a good read. It's been some time since I picked up vampire book that wasn't straight romance, but I'm glad I did. There is some romance to this, but I wouldn't say it dominates the storyline and instead helps it to unfold as Marcus finds his way through the world of Aeterna - the only place he has memories of, since he remembers nothing of his human life before. I was intrigued by the concept of a post-apocalyptic world dominated by vampires, but really it was the political intrigue and deceptions that had me wanting to finish it. I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
I'll be interested to see where the next book in the series leads.
melissalynne81's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I haven’t really read any books about vampires lately, Twilight kind of ruined them for me. But the description of this book intrigued me.
I liked the characters. It was nice seeing the development. I liked Marcus from the beginning. I liked the storyline. I liked it enough that I will definitely read the next one in the series.
I haven’t really read any books about vampires lately, Twilight kind of ruined them for me. But the description of this book intrigued me.
I liked the characters. It was nice seeing the development. I liked Marcus from the beginning. I liked the storyline. I liked it enough that I will definitely read the next one in the series.
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