Darksome Thirst (Alicia Anderson Novel) [Kindle Edition]

I'm always a little nervous when reading new vampire stories. It seems the majority of them always fall into a cliché or stereotype category. Rarely is the vampire genre given a fresh new look on the monsters. Morven Westfield didn't just take a risk in writing a modern vampire story, however, she's writing a whole series.

Darksome Thirst is the first book in that series. There were a great many good things I found while reading the book, but I won't lie and say there weren't any Bad, or Ugly for that matter. I don't believe in book bashing, so this won't be a flame review, but I won't keep it one-sided either. Hopefully this will be a fair attempt at rating all sides of the book. The story isn't about one particular character, but actually a great many. Most work in a computer environment, but the reader also falls into the point of view of supernatural club members and even the vampires themselves. The reader gets to learn a lot about the character's jobs (too much) and lifestyles, but the point of view changes every other paragraph making it very hard to concentrate on what's actually happening to what character.

If I were forced to only pick on only one thing about this book, it would be the

ridiculously often change in point of view. Each 12-page chapter has at least 6 character changes. It was a writing style that I never got used to, ever. I'm still not sure what characters went through what simply because they all mixed together as I read along.

On a more positive note, I loved Westfield's inclusion in folklore and superstition information. You can tell she's either well educated in the subjects or researched them extensively. There was also some characterization where one of the computer programmers often thinks about the vitamins she takes, and some interesting back story about one of the girl's ex-boyfriends. Simple yet impressive

characterization.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Morven Westfield is a very talented author, you can tell that much from reading Darksome Thirst, but there were definitely some flaws in at least this story. First, it took what felt like forever for any action to take place, however that slump may be accounted for the tricky prose where choppy point of view switches made picking up the book more of a chore than a joy. Knowing it was a series and the ending wouldn't be an ending at all, but a "To Be Continued" didn't increase my excitement either. That being said, I'm sure I'll end up reading the next book in the series just to see what happens next.

Don't you just love it when you find a book where the Pagans are the heroes?

Stories like these are too few and far between, so here comes Morven Westfield to the rescue. Darksome Thirst is the first in what will be a thrilling series of novels.

The novel is set in southern New England in the 1970's and follows Alicia Anderson who is a hard-working computer operator on the night shift at Theoretic Scientific Devices. Working alone during these shifts, she thinks she is imagining strange things in the shadows until she can no longer deny that she has company - the vampire, Wesley.

Matricaria is a young witch who is on the receiving end of some very disturbing messages, which she and her coven take very seriously. We see the group pulling together to try to solve the mystery and do what they can to help. Of course, the answers aren't obvious, so the two story lines run parallel to each other building the suspense beautifully.

Ms Westfield's lyrical prose and attention to detail make this an enjoyable read. I will have to admit, though, that I preferred to read this page-turner in the afternoon while sitting in the sunlight rather than at night before going to bed!

Vampires, Witches, and technology... an intriguing combination, and Morven Westfield has put them together in an ingenious and entertaining story. In this, the first in a planned series, we meet Alicia, a computer operator who dreams of becoming a programmer, and Matricaria, a Witch-in-training, in the late `seventies. Strange things are beginning to happen around the company where Alicia works, and Matricaria has had a vision of terrible evil. Meanwhile, a vampire named Wesley has set up camp in this small central Massachusetts town, and he is looking for a more permanent abode and perhaps even a mate. How will these two women overcome a seemingly unstoppable horror? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Filled with deliciously rounded characters and believable situations, Darksome Thirst is a delight to read. Morven has captured the inner voices of her characters, and the reader can see people they know, and perhaps even something of themselves, in them. Each one has a distinct voice, which remains consistent throughout the book. You really care what happens to them, because they could be your friends or even you.

Full of suspense and surprises right to the very end, you will find yourself looking forward to the next book in the series. Anyone who is a fan of vampire stories and horror that's not over-the-top will enjoy Darksome Thirst.