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on 14 March 2017
Fantastic book bought it many years ago so I am right chuffed I am able to listen to the book
on 11 March 2017
great comic adaptation of a classic novel
on 22 February 2017
Read this on the strength of 'A Song Of Ice and Fire,' and found it another thoroughly enjoyable read. Good vampire yarn.
on 19 December 2016
Read this years ago. Felt the need to re-read because, although I couldn't remember the story v.well, just knew it had made a lasting impression and was good..
So glad to find it on Amazon. It was like reading from new all over again, one of those 'can't put down' books. Strong characters, intense, moving story. So well written. Lots of lovely detail about the world of river life and paddle steamers too, you sort of imagine you're there amongst them all (hoping you don't bump into the 'you know whats'). Don't normally read vampire lit. any more. Seen the films, been there, done that etc. This was altogether different and very clever. Felt real loss when I'd finished it.
Is now patiently waiting in my bedside table drawer - till next time!
George RR Martin had a winner with this one. Fully Recommend
So glad to find it on Amazon. It was like reading from new all over again, one of those 'can't put down' books. Strong characters, intense, moving story. So well written. Lots of lovely detail about the world of river life and paddle steamers too, you sort of imagine you're there amongst them all (hoping you don't bump into the 'you know whats'). Don't normally read vampire lit. any more. Seen the films, been there, done that etc. This was altogether different and very clever. Felt real loss when I'd finished it.
Is now patiently waiting in my bedside table drawer - till next time!
George RR Martin had a winner with this one. Fully Recommend
on 11 December 2016
Vampires on the Missisippi!
on 13 November 2016
Well well, what do we have here? And where do I even start with this? Fevre Dream is written by Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin and is set on the Mississipi in the 1800s in a sort of historical steampunk vampire story.
Vampires, really, are the point of this book, and for the first couple of hundred pages or so, I wasn’t sure that Martin was really adding anything. Vampires have been overdone, and so it’s hard for authors to come up with an original story line that really feels as though it works. I was worried, for a while, but then a big twist is introduced that makes you rethink all of that, and Martin’s use of the old-school vampire stereotypes – such as a hatred for garlic, silver and the cross – actually works well in hindsight, because it throws the reader off the trail.
The writing here is fantastic, and while it is a little slow to read through it – especially when compared to a typical novel, although it’s still faster than reading through one of the A Song of Ice and Fire books – it’s a pleasure along the way. In fact, once you pick it up and find yourself getting into the story line, you’re going to find it tough to put it down.
What’s interesting here is that there’s the perfect triumvirate of believable characters, a fascinating setting and an interesting story line. It’s tough for me to pick just one of them that I liked more than another, but the characters here were particularly enjoyable, even if they weren’t necessarily easy to love. Even the bad guys were fun, which is an accomplishment all in itself, although Martin is good at doing that in his other books and so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Overall then, I’d definitely recommend this book, whether you’re new to Martin’s work or not. It’s arguably a better introduction to him than any of his other standalones, and while I’d also recommend his A Song of Ice and Fire series, there are a whole bunch of books there for you to work through. Either way, though, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone, but particularly to fans of steampunk and vampires.
Vampires, really, are the point of this book, and for the first couple of hundred pages or so, I wasn’t sure that Martin was really adding anything. Vampires have been overdone, and so it’s hard for authors to come up with an original story line that really feels as though it works. I was worried, for a while, but then a big twist is introduced that makes you rethink all of that, and Martin’s use of the old-school vampire stereotypes – such as a hatred for garlic, silver and the cross – actually works well in hindsight, because it throws the reader off the trail.
The writing here is fantastic, and while it is a little slow to read through it – especially when compared to a typical novel, although it’s still faster than reading through one of the A Song of Ice and Fire books – it’s a pleasure along the way. In fact, once you pick it up and find yourself getting into the story line, you’re going to find it tough to put it down.
What’s interesting here is that there’s the perfect triumvirate of believable characters, a fascinating setting and an interesting story line. It’s tough for me to pick just one of them that I liked more than another, but the characters here were particularly enjoyable, even if they weren’t necessarily easy to love. Even the bad guys were fun, which is an accomplishment all in itself, although Martin is good at doing that in his other books and so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Overall then, I’d definitely recommend this book, whether you’re new to Martin’s work or not. It’s arguably a better introduction to him than any of his other standalones, and while I’d also recommend his A Song of Ice and Fire series, there are a whole bunch of books there for you to work through. Either way, though, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone, but particularly to fans of steampunk and vampires.
on 18 October 2016
For any George R. R. Martin fan, you should already know what to expect. He is one of those authors whose writing style is recognisable no matter what genre of book he is writing. His particular style makes the books easy to read, keeping you interested from start to end, constantly curious as to what happens next. Whilst this book does not follow the path of his most famous series (A Song of Ice and Fire) it is a great book for any of his fans or anyone who simply loves a good vampire book.
The story takes place across thirteen years, mixing history and fiction to create a great story. Whilst it isn’t my favourite vampire story of all time it is truly great and is very high up on my list. One thing that really hit me is the way in which many of the more recent vampire stories seem to have aspects of this one within them. Whether this is simply a coincidence or something more I cannot say for sure, yet it is safe to say that at the time of this book being written it would have been a standalone in that realm.
Another thing that really struck me was the realness to the characters, considering the time in which the story took place. It is easy to believe that these characters (vampires and human alike) could have been around at that time. Even in the case of racist characters whose actions and words leave you frowning, you have to admire the real quality this gives the book as such people would have been around at that time.
Overall, I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves Martin’s work or simply wants a unique and enjoyable vampire story.
The story takes place across thirteen years, mixing history and fiction to create a great story. Whilst it isn’t my favourite vampire story of all time it is truly great and is very high up on my list. One thing that really hit me is the way in which many of the more recent vampire stories seem to have aspects of this one within them. Whether this is simply a coincidence or something more I cannot say for sure, yet it is safe to say that at the time of this book being written it would have been a standalone in that realm.
Another thing that really struck me was the realness to the characters, considering the time in which the story took place. It is easy to believe that these characters (vampires and human alike) could have been around at that time. Even in the case of racist characters whose actions and words leave you frowning, you have to admire the real quality this gives the book as such people would have been around at that time.
Overall, I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves Martin’s work or simply wants a unique and enjoyable vampire story.
on 12 October 2016
When you pick up a novel by a famous author, it's hard not to have preconceptions about the style and subject, so having read (and watched) the entire Game of Thrones series I expected another epic world in Fevre Dream. Written 14 years before Game of Thrones, this was actually his first fantasy novel and is a marked departure from his earlier science fiction books.
Instead of spanning continents, Fevre Dreams is contained in one small stretch of river in the deep south of America. The descriptions of the setting are, however, every bit as evocative as "the Wall" and "Kings Landing": you can feel and breathe the heat, humidity and closeness.
Instead of competing dynasties, the novel is focused on two men, closely following their dreams and troubles over the years and into old age.
And instead of a wide cast of high profile lords, ladies and warriors, the lead character is an ordinary working man. His emotions are so vividly described that it's impossible not to feel every high and low along with him.
This is a brilliant and original book, far more thought provoking than most fantasy genre novels that I have read.
Instead of spanning continents, Fevre Dreams is contained in one small stretch of river in the deep south of America. The descriptions of the setting are, however, every bit as evocative as "the Wall" and "Kings Landing": you can feel and breathe the heat, humidity and closeness.
Instead of competing dynasties, the novel is focused on two men, closely following their dreams and troubles over the years and into old age.
And instead of a wide cast of high profile lords, ladies and warriors, the lead character is an ordinary working man. His emotions are so vividly described that it's impossible not to feel every high and low along with him.
This is a brilliant and original book, far more thought provoking than most fantasy genre novels that I have read.
