Dead Sexy Cover Picture

Dead Sexy graphic

Amanda Ashley

Published 2007              353 pages

Synopsis

In a futuristic America vampires have been declared an endangered species.  They are supposed to be confined to the park, where they are fed synthetic blood and can not harm humans due to a force field that keeps the vampires in the park at night and the humans out.

A spate of brutal murders is taking place in the city both in and out of the park.  The M.O (victims drained of blood) suggests vampire attack but the bodies are also mutilated and some of the victims are vampires themselves, which the police have not seen in vampire attacks before.  They call in ex-vampire hunter Regan Delaney to investigate.

Joaquin Santiago is an ancient vampire and Master of the City.  He recognises the work of an old enemy in the spate of murders that bring Regan Delaney to the park.  Mutual attraction flares between Regan and Joaquin despite their obvious differences but this just makes Regan a new target for the murderer who still has an old score to settle with Joaquin.

The Review

This one is bad!  Initially I was worried that this book was going to be an Anita Blake clone (it was probably the whole vampire hunter meets and falls in love with the Master of the City blurb on the back of the book that gave me this idea) but it soon became apparent that this book has more problems than a less than original plot line.

I always try to provide balanced and informative reviews - tell people my opinion and let them make up their own minds about whether they want to read the book but sometimes a book comes along with so few redeeming qualities that it’s hard to give an informative review.

The setting of this book is supposed to be a futuristic America but apart from a mention of space colonies, coffee making robots and “satellite screens” (aka as TV to you or me) the setting could be America today.  The author really hasn’t put any thought, or even effort, into making this book have a realistic futuristic feel.   If a book is supposed to be set in the future the least an author can do is show us their vision of that future. 

Regan, the heroine of the story, is a strange mixture of character ideas.  On the one hand she is a fearless (ex) vampire hunter on the other hand she is so squeamish that can’t bear to see a vampire drink synthetic blood.  One wonders how she actually managed to slay any vampires if the sight of blood makes her feel ill.  Her reasons for becoming a vampire hunter are clichéd – yet again we are served up a half-baked revenge motive (a vampire killed one of her friends.)

I could go on and on about the characters, setting and plot lines that didn’t make sense but frankly I don’t see the point.

Summing up - the romance in this novel is lukewarm at best and the paranormal elements are either clichés or ill-formed and half-arsed ideas.  If you like paranormal romance there are many good authors writing quality novels – just try J.R. Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Lara Adrian, Kresley Cole or Lynsay Sands – don’t waste your time with Dead Sexy.

LoveVampires Review Rating: Review Rating: 1 star out of 5

For information on Amanda Ashley’s books visit Amanda’s website

If you liked this story you may also enjoy:

Bite Me If You Can by Lynsay Sands
Dark Side Of The Moon Sherrilyn Kenyon
Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian
The Jaded Hunter by Michelle M. Pillow

Latest Reviews

Evernight by Claudia Gray - reviewed 15th May 2008

The Host by Stephenie Meyer - reviewed 7th May 2008

Dark Needs At Night’s Edge by Kresley Cole - reviewed 5th May 2008

Embrace The Night by Karen Chance - reviewed 2nd May 2008

Editor’s Choice

Wicked Game
by Jeri Smith-Ready

Wicked Game Cover Picture

Wicked Game is an original urban fantasy novel with a whole new spin on vampires. Check it out for yourself. Read Chapter One of Wicked Game, or read Wicked Game review.

Stephenie Meyer Book Giveaway

The Host Novel Giveaway

WIN a copy of The Host! To celebrate the launch of Stephenie Meyer's latest novel, The Host we have THREE hardback copies of the book to giveaway to THREE lucky readers. Giveaway entry form and prize details.

Latest Interview

From Dead To Worse Cover Picture

This month our interview is with Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series novels. With From Dead To Worse, the eigth novel in the series due out in May I thought now would be a good time to catch up with Charlaine and talk to her about her latest novel, the True Blood TV series and her future plans for Sookie... Read Charlaine’s interview.

Latest Releases

Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole (29th April 2008)

Scions: Insurrection by Patrice Michelle (1st May 2008)

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (6th May 2008)

Blood Noir (Anita Blake 16) by Laurell K. Hamilton (27th May 2008)

Review Ratings

5 stars = Excellent

4 stars = Good

3 stars = Average

2 stars = Below Average

1 star = Poor