Lewis, J.F.: Staked
Staked (2008)
Written by: J.F. Lewis
Genre: Horror/Urban Fantasy
Pages: 370
I've eyed this book often since its release. After all, it's got a Chris McGrath cover. But one of the reasons I passed it by was because it was yet another book about vampires, though the promotional discussion I'd heard about it promised the book to have a slightly different take.
It wasn't until I read an Urban Fantasy Land's interview with the author last fall that I promptly ordered the book. Why? Because, and keep in mind the author lives in Alabama, which is DEEP SOUTH, some people from his church read the book, were horrified by all the bad, horrific stuff, and made it clear he was no longer welcome in the congregation. The interview uses the term "excommunicated," even though that's a Catholic term, but it fits in a way. The author was shunned, and I think his wife was too since he dedicated the book to her and she runs his website. I don't know what the current status is of Lewis's relationship with this particular church, but that bit of jackassery was what made me decide the author deserved a little support from this reader. I didn't care how bad or good the book really was either: no writer should be judged for his/her characters' actions in a fictional setting (or in any setting, but I can't imagine a non-fictional setting in which a writer's characters would be acting upon). Writers are not what they write, nor do they literally write what they know. Ignorance is common on this subject, I know, but really, just because someone writes a book about vampires committing mass murder and sleeping around with lots of women doesn't mean that's author's soul is black as sin. And even if it is, who gives a fuck? Unless the author is acting out his/her fiction (and that too is quite rare, especially in the horror department), there's no reason to be alarmed. You may not LIKE the fiction, and that's fine. But thinking the author is a bad person because of it? That's just stupidity in action.
Anyway, I've ranted enough. What's so bad about this book that it made some Deep South Protestant church get its panties in a wad?***
The premise: Eric is a vampire with a memory the consistency of Swiss cheese, which is a problem: when he gets mad, he blacks out and can't remember who he's killed or why, and this time, it's gonna cost him: one of his murders has the werewolves on his tail, and they won't let up until Eric is dead-dead. And if Eric doesn't have enough problems, his human girlfriend Tabitha won't leave him alone until he changes her to a vampire, and then he meets Tabitha's little sister Rachel, he finds her much more appealing (which would make sense, since she's not a vampire and Tabitha is). The problem is, he isn't convinced the women in his life don't have something up their sleeves, and it's all he can do just to stay alive right now. Well, as alive as a vampire can be, that is.
Spoilers ahead.
I want to make one thing clear: there is NOTHING in this book that should horrify or offend the typical horror/urban fantasy fan. If you like vampires, you won't have a problem with this book's portrayal of vampires, let alone their actions. Anyone who IS bothered by this book, like the above-referenced church, is someone who isn't going to like horror/urban fantasy at all unless it's on the REALLY light UF side in which vampires are romantic, tragic heroes who won't kill people for food (aka, people, and I don't just mean teenaged girls, who'll only read Twilight). Eric is a vampire that LIKES what he is and makes no apologies for it. That alone should appeal to the target audience.
What pulled me in right away is Eric's voice. At first, I found it pretty odd that Eric comes out of a fight with no clue what just happened, who the vampire was he killed, or why he killed the guy. But the amnesia is established pretty quickly as a regular occurrence, which adds a kind of interesting conflict/mystery to the story. Eric attributes it to the fact they embalmed him when he died (which is really damn funny), but once the story is over, you can't help but wonder if there's more to his blackouts than that.
We also get the POV of Tabitha, Eric's once human but now vampire girlfriend. Once he turns her, he doesn't want anything to do with her though, because vampires crave warm bodies and heartbeats, and Tabitha just doesn't have that anymore. She's trying to prove that she's still worth his interest, but more so, she's trying to prove to him that he really loves her, despite what he says to the contrary. This isn't exactly a very endearing subplot, I've got to say. On one hand, I liked how Tabitha's change taught the reader the rules of what vampirism is in this world and how vampires function, especially once they change. And I appreciate, but don't love, that Tabitha discovers she's unique among vampires. There's usually four classes: Drones, Soldiers, Masters, and Vlads (lowest to highest in that order). Eric's a Vlad, and just because your sire is something doesn't mean you'll be that too, but in Tabitha's case, she is. However, she learns she's something more, a Doll, a vampire that has the power to be human in every way, shape, and form by igniting their heartbeat, breathing, and viewing her reflection. The latter is fortunate for Tabitha, as her bitching about not being able to use a mirror was getting frustrating to the tenth power.
The thing about Tabitha being special is key to Eric, I think: Talbot, the werecatish something he is, made the remark that all of the vampires Eric makes are usually special in some regard, and Tabitha is more special than most. And there's a remark made by Rachel at the end that Eric isn't really a Vlad, but an Emperor, which might explain his ability to go uber-vamp and Hulk out when he rages, turning him into a big, black, winged monster thing that creates mass destruction.
The thing is, Eric doesn't even know what he is, let alone how he turned. This book gives us bits and pieces, especially in regard to the conspiracy involving the werewolves (it was all a set-up by Roger, which was something I smelled coming a MILE away) where Roger reveals some of his hatred and jealousy of Eric and why he's done what he's doing. We still don't get any real answers, let alone ENOUGH answers, and I'm confused as to who became a vampire first: Eric or Roger. I thought maybe it was Eric, but now I'm thinking it might've been Roger. Marilyn's involved somehow, giving the backstory a rather Count of Monte Cristo vibe (two friends in love with the same woman, and the one gets rid of the man the woman really loves in order to be with her), but the truth is, I don't know jack, and for that matter, neither does Eric. And if there's a real flaw in this book, that's it: we get mystery and the hints to answers, but never any solid answers themselves. Let's hope Lewis plans to clear all that up (and if not ALL then MOST) in book two, ReVamped.
I really hope we see some kind of growth and evolution in Tabitha. All she cares about is how she looks and getting Eric to realize he loves her. She's such a selfish creature that she doesn't even stop to think for a moment outside of herself, doesn't even try to understand that there's a real danger to Eric and the people closest to him, Roger and Marilyn, are involved, and she doesn't try to help. She's too pissed because Eric's pushing her away and she's going to find a way to make him come crawling back. Stupid little bitch. The only thing that makes her remotely sympathetic is her backstory regarding her sister Rachel and how her life might've been had Rachel not died. I hope Tabitha gets a bigger story in the next book, and I hope she gets over herself, because she's annoying as shit right now.
And, that makes me consider another flaw in the book: not a single female character is good or trustworthy. Eric's true, mortal love (an idea that I adore, the mortal love refusing to let her now-vampire love turn her or even touch her, but still stays with him as she ages) Marilyn is somehow involved in a conspiracy to hurt him (I'm guessing it's against her will and it involves magic, but the next book will tell) even though she's trying to protect him. Tabitha, I've already explained, is a selfish bitch who cares only about herself. Rachel is a witch, and whether she's really the Rachel that died or not is in the air, but she was paid to be involved in this conspiracy, and I don't think she has Eric's best interest at heart. The only loyal character I can make a case for is Greta, Eric's "daughter," whose only real flaw is that she has no trouble killing, no matter who or what the victim is (yes, she'll kill children). But she's the best of the bunch, and my love of her was solidified in this passage:
Greta opened the front door and one of those fake-looking werewolves was there waiting for us. His hair could have been badly dyed rabbit fur glued over latex rubber skin, and his smooth tan teeth reminded me of a botched resin model kit. He snarled, snapping at Greta.
"Bad dog!" she admonished. "No biscuit!" Greta caught him by the muzzle, snapping his jaws shut with a pop and giggling when he whined. "Can I keep him, Dad?" (p.203)
Best. Passage. EVER. I read it over five times just to keep giggling.
At any rate, there's a lot of interesting tidbits in this book against what appears to be a typical vampire background (the strip club being typical and vampire sex in general, but the aging mortal love taking care of her now-vampire fiance being interesting and unique, as is how sex with Rachel in particular triggers Eric's heartbeat and breathing). This book isn't complete by a longshot, and it leaves even minor things hanging (what happened to Talbot after he dropped Tabitha off, why wasn't he there in the final battle?), but there is a kind of resolution, and I like how in the end, we got to see Eric handling his problem with the werewolves through talking and negotiation, even though he had to kill several just to reach that point. I'm definitely interested in the sequel, but if this series goes on much further, I can't say how long I'll stick around. It'll depend on the growth or lack thereof of the characters and whether or not the author keeps withholding information. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally game for the next book, but I don't want the next book to build in action but end with more hints than answers, like this one did. That'd get frustrating fast.
My Rating
Worth the Cash: if you're looking for vampires that are not the tragic, long-suffering, romantic hero types, you're going to like Eric. He enjoys what he is and makes no apologies for what he does, even when he SHOULD be making apologies. There's some typical vampire conventions used, but I think Lewis also introduces quite a number of interesting riffs on the genre. The world-building is also pretty interesting, because Lewis dumps all manner of things on the reader (werewolves, magicians, demons) without it getting overwhelming, and the humor in this book, sadistic as it sometimes is, is quite enjoyable. The one warning I would give to readers is that while this book does END with some kind of resolution, there's a lot left hanging and we get only hints to the answers that I really, really, REALLY hope are in the second book, ReVamped, which I do plan on getting my hands on. But for its flaws, Staked is an enjoyable, fast read that's solidly written and one I'm glad I got my hands on it.
Cover Commentary: like I said, it's got a Chris McGrath cover and therefore it's always caught my eye. It's a little creepy with the stripper (though thankfully a rather fully DRESSED stripper) dancing at the pole with a man I can only presume is Eric lurking in the background staring at her. Kudos for the bite marks on the front of her neck, something I'm not sure you can see in the thumbnail, but kudos. :)
Next up:
I know, I know. I keep reading other stuff instead of finishing Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh, and I'm working on it, really. Cherryh just takes some time to get through, which means if my attention wanders, I need to read other stuff, which means you'll keep seeing reviews for other books before I finish Downbelow Station.
*** = I'm well aware of the cynicism and sarcasm that's coming through regarding religion/Christianity/etc when I'm talking about this subject, but this is the kind of thing that makes me embarrassed to be a Christian, and I have to remind myself that CHURCH does not equal GOD, and that the actions and ignorance of a few assholes is not necessarily representative of the whole. But I live in the South too, not quite the Deep South, but a small town where what happened to Lewis could EASILY happen here, and I'm sorry, but I don't care what religion you are or aren't: this just isn't right.