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5 OF THE BEST VAMPIRE BOOKS FOR HALLOWEEN

 

As Halloween is nearly here – this year I’ll be appearing at the All Hallows Eve Book Party at 5 – 6 p.m. EDT, whilst dressed as a sexy vampire for my own house party – I’m recommending the best dark vampire books.

Vampire fiction is the perfect Halloween reading: just the right dash of fear and thrills.

Here are Five of the Best Vampire Books for Halloween:

5. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Isolation and childhood friendship in this dark fantasy fairy tale. A human boy and a girl vampire battle against their cruel lives together.

4. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton. Anita Blake is a vampire hunter and a necromancer, in a fantasy world where vampires and werewolves are there to be assassinated or loved.

3. Blood Shackles by Rosemary A Johns. A dark fantasy in which a vampire is hunted by humans, and bought by his enemy’s daughter. In this world, the vampires are the slaves and the humans are the masters.

2. Anno Dracula by Kim Newman. A fantasy alternative universe, in which the vampires conquered England and now hold the power. Uses real historical characters, mixed in with the fictional.

1.Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. Narrated by a telepathic waitress in Louisiana in a time when vampires are – supposedly – living peacefully with humans after the invention of the synthetic ‘Tru Blood’.

What’s your favourite vampire book?

Happy Halloween reading!

Escape into Blood Life in the spellbinding REBEL VAMPIRES series…

 

 

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FANTASY REVIEW – BookLife, Publishers Weekly

BLOOD DRAGONS – the first book in the REBEL VAMPIRES series – recently received a critic’s report from the respected BookLife. It was described as a:

 …well constructed novel filled with adventure and intrigue—and a side of romance that does not overwhelm the plot.

One thing I write with is a strong voice – I love my characters and they’re at the heart of my stories.

Johns’s novel is set apart from others in the genre by an engaging narrative voice that grabs readers and doesn’t let go.

Light – the rebel vampire anti-hero – isn’t the side-kick or the love interest. This is his world to weave.

The narrative voice is strong, engaging, and one of the book’s greatest strengths.

I write thrilling action, twists and passionate romance but when it comes down to it, the characters are the reason you fall in love with a book.

 The characters are well developed and compelling. Johns’s vampires learn hard lessons that leave them better prepared for dangers to come.

A vampire’s keeping a secret that breaks every rule… Escape into the hidden world of Blood Life, where vampires are both predator and prey here. 

See what readers are calling Interview with the Vampire meets True Blood!

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FANTASY AUDIOBOOK – Meet Rebel Vampire’s Light

Light – the sexy rebel anti-hero at the centre of the award-winning REBEL VAMPIRES series – is a difficult character to cast. He was elected in London in Victorian times…

All was nothing outside our love. It smashed on us. Broke on us. We savaged it. Together we screamed at the world and when we had the world by the throat, the world screamed back.

 

…and had a second rebirth as a wild 1960’s Rocker.

Screams? The shattering of glass? Curling smoke on the night air?

I was bloody alive once more.

He’s a Blood Lifer who’s retained his humanity, along with his sense of humour:

You glanced at me. ‘Cold?’

‘Yeah, it is rather parky, darlin’.’

You gaped at me, as if you’d been expecting me to speak some strange Blood Lifer tongue and not the Queen’s English. Like you hadn’t assumed I’d sound…human.

Fantasy Rebel announces the narrator has been signed for BLOOD DRAGONS.

A.W. Miller teaches by day and narrates by night.  An acting coach, technical theatre and media arts educator, Miller has been giving voice to characters for over 3 years.  He’s a loving husband, father of eight, and a left handed Capricorn.

BLOOD DRAGONS is now in production as an audiobook… I look forward to meeting Light!

 

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FANTASY REBEL ANNOUNCES BLOOD DRAGONS AUDIOBOOK – Three of the Best Audiobooks

Fantasy Rebel announces that the AUDIOBOOK for BLOOD DRAGONS has now been signed for production!

An audiobook version of the REBEL VAMPIRES series has been frequently requested over the last year. Now it’s in development!

I love audiobooks. They can be listened to on the move, in the car or while you work around the house. The narrator pulls you into the world of the book, in an intense and emotionally gripping way.

Here are Three of the Best Audiobooks:

  1. Dresden Files: Jim Butcher. Highly inventive urban fantasy, narrated by James Marsters. This is the gold standard of narration, interpreted and acted, rather than simply read. Perfect.
  2. Harry Potter: J.K. Rowling. Narrated by Stephen Fry. One of the best British actors, presenters, narrators, comedians, and writers… there aren’t many people as talented as Fry. Brilliant.
  3. The Night Circus: Erin Morgenstern. I love this dark, fantasy tale about a travelling circus and magic. It’s narrated by one of the best British narrators – Jim Dale – a wizard himself with a thousand voices.

What’s your favourite audiobook?

Read BLOOD DRAGONS before it’s made into an audiobook here.

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END OF SUMMER 0.99 SALE AND BOOK REVIEW – ‘A Paranormal Version of The Notebook’

Blood Dragons - Rosemary A Johns

As we come to the end of summer – a wet but humid one where I live – BLOOD DRAGONS is on 0.99 sale to celebrate before the return to school rush.

This week BLOOD DRAGONS was reviewed by the prestigious YA BOOK CENTRAL.

Totally pulls off different. The reader falls in love with Light. A paranormal version of The Notebook. You will feel a bit heartbroken throughout, you will have emotional stakes in the action scenes, and you will feel uplifted by the end.

Like novels, every review, newspaper, magazine or blog has its own review style.

Light is an edgy and outspoken vampire with a wry sense of humor.

Blood Dragons Rosemary A Johns

YA Book Central grades in a range of categories (which it then discusses), including character, plot and world building. BLOOD DRAGONS scored 5* in each category.

There are many intricacies in the paranormal world-building; Vampire powers, history, culture, and biochemistry.

Blood Dragons - Rebel Vampires series by Rosemary A Johns

What I love about the review, however, is the in depth way it discusses the book: insightful and passionate. There’s enough mystery and debate for a book club to run with – or to excite a reader without giving away spoilers.

This is not your typical paranormal story.

Dive into Blood Life for only 0.99 until September 1st HERE. 

rebel vampires vampire series - Blood Dragons

 

 

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FANTASY SHORT STORY – First Edition New Magazine

Look what just arrived in my hot little hands…the first ever edition of SCAFFOLDING MAGAZINE!

How to Scalp a Doll - Rosemary A JohnsMy short story – HOW TO SCALP A DOLL – was commissioned for this special first edition.

Danny, a lonely long distance driver, is trapped in a world of human trafficking. He saw the slaves as no more than dolls. Until one day, he broke his boss’ rule, opened the back of the truck and looked inside…

The sea was a smudge of blue against the horizon; the salt was sharp on the dead air. Danny stiffened. For a moment, when he stared out across the beach, he saw rows of scalps, no longer miniature but life-size – brunette, blond, and bald. Danny blinked. And then they were gone.

The magazine also includes an interview with me.

Rosemary A Johns - fantasy author

 

I discuss the short story…

The girls are invisible because they’re viewed as less than human.

…why I write fantasy…

…it allows me to give a voice to the forgotten. Or the deliberately hidden.

…and freedom.

The free have choices. But that’s often hard to face. Ourselves.

The Editor reviews BLOOD DRAGONS:

‘The kind of book you’re likely to pick up a second time, finding new dimensions…an empowering book…about true love. It is a book with formidable literary ambition. Rebel to the core, Rosemary trailblazers through stigma… Highly recommended. 5*

Click here to read more.

Scaffolding Magazine

 

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REBEL VAMPIRES OFFICIAL FAN PAGE

As REBEL VAMPIRES has its first birthday, it now has its own Official Fan Page!

I’ll be posting directly to Rebels there: excerpts, events, and exclusives.

Plus links to an closed readers group – Rosemary’s Rebels – as well.

Here is the last post:

Light discovers the horrifying truth…
‘There’s always something worse than dying, and there’s always someone in First or Blood Life who’ll find a way to inflict it. When I flicked my lighter, the flame jumped. For a moment, I was mesmerised. Then I bent down and lit the boiling flood…’

Come and follow the adventure into Blood Life on its Official Page!

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ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY – Light’s Birthday!

‘What’s this, then?’ Light swaggers to the table, swiping his finger through the cream.

I smile. ‘It’s your birthday cake. Do you like the fangs?’

Light raises his eyebrow, as he slowly sucks the cream from his finger. ‘Couldn’t find any with cute vampires and bat wings?’

‘That’s sarcasm, right?’ I push him down into a chair.

‘Oi, mind the leathers.’ Light tilts his nut. ‘What’s all this in aid of then, luv?’

‘One year ago Blood Dragons was published. Rebel Vampires has been all around the world for a year: Blood Shackles and Blood Renegades too. Books, rock anthems, Rebel Gear clothes and accessories, and jewelry… It’s been a whirlwind.’

‘Whirlwind? We’re celebrating my election to Blood Life? Near death? Enslavement? Trial as a traitor..?’

‘Love. Heroic battles. Rebel Age!’

‘Enough said,’ Light grins, his fangs shooting out, as he bounces up, ‘let’s kick off this party. Where’s the Guinness?’

I grab a cold bottle of Guinness from underneath the table and pass it to Light; his eyes gleam. ‘Happy birthday, Light!’

~ Rosemary

 

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AN INTERVIEW WITH LIGHT – Rebel Here, Yeah?

This week Light – the Rocker rebel main character in my Rebel Vampires series – was interviewed on the Mary R Woldering Blog.

Here are the 5 of the highlights! 

1.Tell us where and when were you born.

Tricky one that because I was both born and reborn. My first birth was in Victorian London as a First Lifer. My second was into the glorious darkness of Blood Life when my red-haired gorgeous nightmare of an Author – Ruby – elected me.

2. How would you describe yourself?

I’ll never be human again – always on the outside, looking in. I’m a caged predator, battling the dark, as bit by bit it consumes me. Of course, I’m also a bad boy Rocker rebel with a cracking leather coat. What more do you want – blood?

3. Tell us about where you grew up.

Just outside the bustle of London – always craving for something more because the world never seemed big enough. But it was Ruby who shook the boyhood from me. Then it was my Moon Girl in the 1960s who opened my eyes to the truth: there’s no divide between our species. That was the moment I grew up.

4. Past/ present relationships? How did they affect you?

I thought Blood Life meant freedom: from society’s rules, family and control. I was wrong. For over a century Ruby and I carved out a path of crimson carnage aflame with our love alone. But I was a daft berk to ever believe that. It took a human to show me love could be free. Yet I’d reckoned myself the predator and humans the prey? I was wrong about that too. I may battle for redemption but the battle for my species’ freedom – for the right to love, family and home – that one I’m still fighting.

5. How do your beliefs make life better for yourself and the people you care about?

My family need me to be the leader. Christ in heaven is that hard. I was always trying to save the world, even in my First Life – even though the cost is usually too high. Because there’s always a price. Yet someone has to take a stand when the system becomes so corrupt. Someone has to light the match to the rebellion…sodding frightening that it’s me… Welcome to the Rebel Age!

Read Light’s full interview here.

Start your escape into Blood Life today. Click here. 

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