Title: Staked
Author: J.F. Lewis
First published March 11, 2008
370 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781416547808 (ISBN10: 1416547800)
Rating: 3.69
Overview
Meet Eric, a vampire with a short-term memory problem that makes it hard for him to remember who he ate for dinner yesterday, much less how he became a vampire. His best friend, Roger, is getting tired of their strip club, and his girlfriend, Tabitha, is pressuring him to turn her into a vampire so she can join him in undeath.
But when he finally turns Tabitha, he finds his desire for her waning, and her younger sister, Rachel, catches his eye. And if that isn’t enough, he ends up killing a werewolf in self-defense, making him the target of a pack of born-again lycanthropes seeking holy retribution.
Meanwhile, Tabitha and Rachel have their own agendas, and Eric must navigate car crashes, enchanted bullets, sunlight, sex magic, and werewolves on ice to stay alive. In this darkly humorous tale, Eric just wants to run his strip club, drink a little blood, and be left alone, but being undead isn’t easy, and it sure beats the alternative.
Editoral Review
Staked by J.F. Lewis is a dark, gritty urban fantasy novel that is sure to please fans of the genre. Set in modern-day Charlotte, North Carolina, the book follows the exploits of Eric, a centuries-old vampire who has recently relocated to the city to escape a group of vampire hunters who are hot on his trail.
As Eric attempts to settle into his new life, he finds himself drawn into a web of intrigue and danger that threatens not only his own existence, but the lives of those around him as well. J.F. Lewis is a skilled writer who knows how to balance action, humor, and drama to create a gripping page-turner.
His prose is both stylish and accessible, drawing the reader in with vivid descriptions of the novel’s characters and settings. Throughout the book, Lewis demonstrates a deep understanding of the mythology and folklore surrounding vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures, using this knowledge to create a rich and immersive world that feels both familiar and unique.
To say too much about the plot of Staked would be to spoil the many surprises that Lewis has in store for his readers. Suffice it to say that the novel is a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns, featuring a cast of memorable and complex characters who are all struggling to survive in a world that is not always kind to those who are different.
Eric, in particular, is a fascinating protagonist, more than just a standard vampire archetype he has a wry sense of humor, a sharp intellect, and a deep sense of honor that makes him much more than a one-dimensional monster. That being said, Staked is not without its flaws.
Some readers may find the pacing a bit slow in places, and there are points where the narrative becomes bogged down in exposition or backstory. Additionally, some of the secondary characters including Eric’s vampire roommates are not given as much depth or development as they perhaps deserve.
Despite these issues, Staked is an impressive debut that showcases J.F. Lewis’s considerable talent as a writer. With its mix of action, humor, and horror, it is sure to appeal to fans of the fantasy and horror genres, as well as those who enjoy complex, multifaceted characters and nuanced world-building.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling, immersive reading experience. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
