The mere mention of vampires on the covers of a book is usually enough for me to push the book away, and when I read the synopsis on the back of this novel my eyes rolled…the commentary on the back cover was all about a vampire conspiracy that would alter the balance between humans and the supernatural. Still, I took a chance on Blood For The Sun because earlier, I had read one of Nunnally’s trope stories in a horror anthology and thought it original enough to keep my interest, and in the end the story turned out to be quite a lot of fun. Despite my vampire bias, I plunged headfirst into Nunnally’s novel.
Fortunately, I discovered that Blood For The Sun is nothing like I expected. I can also add that it was nothing like any other vampire novel I’ve ever read before.
Blood For The Sun’s plot line has a number of things going for it that lift it above an ordinary read. The narrative has a noir sensibility to it for one. The protagonist of the tale is a tough, take no shit, man-for-hire (of sorts) named, Alexander, who takes on supernaturally based jobs for law enforcement or those in trouble. He can intimidate or talk himself into almost any dangerous situation and then punch his way out, which is usually the case with him. If that doesn’t work, Alexander can fall back on his own supernatural prowess; he is a shapeshifter who can turn into quite the monster. At one time he embraced his monster heritage, but now he struggles with it. Alexander also has a shade that pops up from time to time; the ghost of a young boy he once killed who serves to remind Alexander of what he once was, and may still be. Lastly, Alexander is experiencing intermittent memory loss, which manifests itself as Alzheimer’s would in humans, and this memory loss is not only frustrating for him but it could prove very dangerous.
Alexander’s job in Blood For The Sun is to crush a nest of vampires who, with the aid of magic and a creature they have created, are killing young children in housing projects along the east coast. To do this, he needs the aid of the police department, his vampire niece, a pack of shapeshifters, and some human’s who are familiar with the supernatural. It is Alexander’s journey, his actual quest to crush the vampires (not the vampires themselves) in this tale that makes Blood For The Sun a great read.
Blood For The Sun is also has one hell of a cast of characters. Aside from the vampires, we are introduced to extra dimensional creatures, zombies, magicians, shapeshifters, and other beings that defy easy description. The violence in the novel is intense, plentiful, and gory as hell. Some of the sex scenes are literally, out of this world. If urban horror/fantasy is your preferred genre, you’ve hit the mother lode with Blood For The Sun.
For a first novel, Nunnally has done one fine job entertaining his readers with a plot that is unique, involved, smart, and extremely thrilling. If I had any qualms with the novel it would be in its first half where I found the inner dialog to be a tad repetitious at times, and I thought some of the fight scenes overly descriptive. But these were minor problems and they were quickly forgotten when Nunnally got to the meat of the story.
So, if you’re like me and you’ve have had your fill of vampire novels, would I recommend you pick up Blood For The Sun? You bet your ass I would! Blood For The Sun reminds me of those originally plotted horror novels that I used to devour when I was a young man. It’s a long and involved read, action packed, the characterization is given equal measure to plot, and it reads fresh. Simply put, I’ll just say that Blood For The Sun is a fun read and it is highly recommended.
- Inflictions - April 11, 2015
- The Equinox - April 2, 2015
- The Nightmare Girl - March 9, 2015
- Intruder - February 12, 2015
- The Only Red Is Blood - February 12, 2015
- Insanity Tales - February 3, 2015
- Qualia Nous - January 28, 2015
- Once Upon An Apocalypse - November 25, 2014
- The Janus Demon - November 17, 2014
- Case White - November 7, 2014
