Book Review: Shadow of the Vampire

Shadow of the Vampire
Author: Meagan Hatfield
ARC received from NetGalley
Release Date: July 1st, 2010
Publisher: HQN Books
ISBN-10: 0373775008
ISBN-13: 978-0373775002
Purchase information:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Borders
Indie Bound
Powell's Books
Books A Million

For more information visit Meagan Hatfield's website






Alexia is a vampire princess who fights to keep her people safe. A recently discovered crystal can give the one wielding it immense power. After an attack from her dragon enemies, Alexia must do all she can to get the stolen crystal back. Once she is face to face with the dragon, she realizes it will not be as easy as she thought. Declan Black is unlike any male she has come across and he brings out feelings in Alexia she didn't even knew she had.

Declan knows he should be trying to kill the little blonde vampire sent to torture him but his body has other things planned. Alexia is his enemy but all he can think about is kissing her soft lips again and protecting her from evil hidden within her own people. An evil that will stop at nothing to destroy them both.

Both Alexia and Declan have an immense amount of pressure and responsibility on their shoulders. Alexia is soon to become queen and is fighting against her own people for control of what is supposed to be her birth right. She is definitely one of the strongest princesses I've ever read about. She is a worthy fighter who just wants to protect and take care of those around her. I liked Alexia because everything she wanted, she wanted for her people. Even though she presented a tough exterior, she is scared she will fail them. Declan was perfect for her. Even though he was chained in the dungeon and beaten, he could only think about keeping Alexia safe and avenging a wrong that was done to her. Declan is a passionate character that you would definitely want as a friend and not as your enemy.

Lotharios is a vampire who leads the soldiers and he is not happy with a woman on the throne. He is a vile creature who enjoys torture, rape and murder. There is no question that he is evil from the moment you first read about him. He is the dark cloud hanging over Alexia and her mother and enjoyed torturing Declan. I couldn't decide if I wanted Alexia or Declan to be the one to finally put him out of every one's misery. The climatic fight between the three at the end was worth the wait.

In Shadow of the Vampire, dragons and vampires are at war. There is some action and a few battle scenes but there was a lot more drama taking place. It is a bleak world for both sides and I couldn't firmly decide if one side was in the right because of earlier actions from the queen and the manipulation by Lotharios. He caused both pain and loss for not only his enemy but also his own people and because of this there is a lot of hate. I want to keep reading to find out how it ends and how humans play a role in this world. Meagan Hatfield had me addicted from the beginning. I really hope this is the start of a series because Shadow of the Vampire left me wanting more.
My Rating: