A WALK IN THE SUN

A debut vampire novel, set in 19th-century Europe, full of romance and revenge.

Nicholas Justine was born into money but neglected by his family. At age 17, he’s attacked by a vampire and, as a result, turned into one himself. As he struggles to comprehend and deal with his new fate as an immortal, supernatural being, he still desires his human love, Elena, and dreams of marrying her—even though it seems that they couldn’t possibly be together. As he pursues her, he also encounters the story’s villain, Count Victor Du Fay, a practitioner of the dark arts who is driven by his ambition and greed. Fate, and the conventions of the genre, require that Nicholas and Du Fay battle each other for Elena’s love—and for power. The novel’s suspense comes as a result of this battle between good and evil, as readers wonder which will win out: Will Nicholas manage to defeat Du Fay and be united with Elena, or will Du Fay destroy his hopes and ruin any possibility of love? The vampire genre appears to be boundless in its appeal; Machat’s entry may satisfy avid genre fans, with its briskly paced story and direct, engaging style. Its diary-entry format is reminiscent of the earliest vampire novels (such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula). The novel may especially please readers familiar with the classic horror from such practitioners as Ann Radcliffe and Matthew Lewis. Although the plot—a vampire, in love with a human, battles an archnemesis—is fairly standard fare, and the setting recalls 19th-century Gothic romance more than modern horror, fans looking for a familiar tale with appropriate chills may find much to satisfy them in this thriller.

A fast-moving, romantic vampire story that convincingly harks back to Gothic conventions.