D.D. Barant: DYING BITES

D.D. Barant
DYING BITES
320 pages
St. Martins
ISBN: 978-0-312-94258-8

With her debut novel, D.D. Barrant brings FBI profiler Jace Valchek into a parallel universe. Or, more exactly, David Cassius, the Vampire NSA chief brings Jace into this parallel universe, where vampires and werewolves are the leading race, with golems being a large third group - and humans a mere minority. Jace's presence, Cassius explains to her, is required because a serial killer is on the loose, and, being unaffected by mental disease, the supernatural beings have no experience in finding the killer called The Impaler. In fact, Cassius informs Jace, finding The Impaler is Jace’s only chance to be sent back into her universe.

While vampires are commonly described as hunters of the night, blood suckers and pure evil (exceptions, of course, exist!), Barrant created vampires that are the majority, leading race in an alternate universe. They have special suits to walk in day light, don’t always drink blood (even though some of the humans left serve as “sheep“), and can be found in leading positions.

The werewolves are mostly family- or pack-oriented creatures who can change in and out of their were-form, and only have to be in their were-form the three days of full moon, as we learn from Dr. Pete who is not only Jace's doctor for the time of her stay in this universe, but also a werewolf.

The golems are creatures made of sand and some additives depending on their jobs. This is also indicated by their color. The first golem we meet, Charlie, for example is black, for he was created to “protect & defend“ and – if necessary – give his life for the person he is protecting.

This first – and hopefully not last – installment in the Bloodhound Files, introduces us to a whole new world, including its history. It is a fascinating and rather new approach to vampire and werewolf stories combined with mystery and a hint of romance. What intrigued me most were the relationships that were formed and reformed during the events, the history of this other universe, that is so close to ours, yet so different, and the characters, Jace Valchek, David Cassius, Charlie and Dr. Pete.

Rating: 5/5

The first person to remind me of the name of the werewolf doctor will get to choose one book from my giveaway stack! So, if you know the name (or have more patience than I do searching for it, let me know!