Awesome Eclipse Behind the Scenes Swan Song by Jevron Mc Crory *plus* An Answer to the Question, "What Should I Read Next?"

ECLIPSE
This video is the best preview I have seen to date:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4239787545/

Katrina Collins isn’t like other musicians, she doesn’t do interviews and no one has ever seen her outside of her musical arena. Her beauty is startling, her effect upon an audience mesmerising. Lewis Morrison isn’t like any other music journalist, as he despises music and loathes musicians. They find each other and their discovery brings hope, redemption, pain, pleasure and death. (Vamplit Publishing)

A few days ago Jevron McCrory emailed asking me to review his e-book, Swan Song. After explaining that receipt of the book (pdf) from him would not guarantee a good review I accepted it. It is the first time an author requested that I review his book; and there may be many other bloggers he has asked. That's fine - it is hard to promote a book - it is sales, but it is like selling yourself so you are pretty vulnerable. The book is being e-published by Vamplit Publishing which, by the way, accepts and reads all manuscripts.

I wasn't looking forward to reading a book that I had not chosen and I had that feeling you get when a friend or family matter wants to know what I honestly think (sure they do)? I often find I just don't want to read them.  I did not want to read amateurish writing and then either never speak about his book again or have to pan it. But,  the book is only 62 pages long so I figured I could get through it.

I was relieved that the book is readable. It is much darker than I normally like, but McCrory wants to bring the bite back in  vampire literature.  Even accounting for the darkness the male character is a bit too churlish to be believable − he reminds me of Hugh Laurie's portrayal of Greg House on the TV show, House. House is often too bad tempered to be believed so what do I know, people love him.  I almost called this post Dr. House meets the Vampire. The writing is a mellifluous, rolling prose.  It is just a bit too verbose or too mannered  −  as if the writer is trying to impress. He sometimes uses 5 words when one would do. It is written in a dispassionate third-person: a voice that can sometimes sound monotone.

The story line itself is interesting although the progression of the love-relationship, as is often the case, is rapid and the reasoning baffling. There is believability in the setting in London, not surprising as McCrory is from there. You can feel the bustle, and the people and smell the chip shops.

The ending to me was incomprehensible. What happened? Maybe that I am still wondering is a good thing.  The writer doesn't always have to reveal all. While I wouldn't say this book is the best out there it is a good effort by a debut novelist  It all depends on what you like.  I think Mr. McCrory will improve with each published work.

Cover: fair use for critique.


What Should I Read Next?


I must ask this of myself, and my readers, a couple of times a week. Even if one uses a library instead of buying books, time is scarce.  How can we decide without wasting time or money, or even having an unpleasant experience?   YourNextRead is an online service that can help you out with this.  According to the website:

At YourNextRead we only feature books you have told us you have read, enjoyed and recommended for others to read. We believe that people are the best analysers of the intangible connections which link great books together. So we thought of a simple way to recommend books - the thumbs up/down button you see in our "map of books". By clicking on the thumbs up/down buttons you tell YourNextRead and, more importantly, the world that these two books are recommended as similar. If you don't like any suggestion you see on the screen, then you can always click on the thumbs down button, though please only do this if you have read both books :D

To see if this is useful, I signed up and did a search.  I found it somewhat confusing.  But the idea is good.  Give it a shot − it is a free service.
I did not receive any remuneration for blogging this.


What I'm Reading:

MaryJanice Davidson's Off Genre Drop Dead Gorgeous - just finished; surprisingly not paranormal
Just finished Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse short-story anthology A Touch of Dead.
Taking a PNR break with a little Diane Mott Davidson.
Then Laurel K. Hamilton's Flirt. 

And, True Blood is on tonight.  Woo Hoo!