Reflections of a Vampire

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: This interesting, if somewhat quirky, tale is the story of Arnaud St. Larue, a vampire who is coming to the end of his first millennium and needs to take an eighteen month nap to revitalize. In not quite a week Larue must acquire some fledglings or minions who will guard and tend his nesting spot while he sleeps the long sleep of the dead. This is made a bit more complicated by the fact that he is pursued by agents of the Daemonion Council and by his vampire father, a sorcerer of considerable strength, and a perpetual meddler in the affairs of Arnaud and his beloved sister, Brigitte.

St. Larue also has become entranced by the idea of writing his memoirs, causing a publisher and a ghostwriter endless grief, and greatly upsetting his fellow vampires. Finally, Arnaud has become infected by a strange form of aids, that exaggerates his normally gruesome feeding habits and predisposes him to careless violence. As a result, the police, in the person of Detective Solomon Wiese become aware of him, and adding further risk to St. Larue's continued survival.

On the surface, this story reads a bit like a hybrid of 'Interview with a Vampire' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' Sexy French vampires who turn into horrific monsters when the hunger is upon them. Creatures with an array of powers awesome enough to make them virtually unconquerable. They fly, change shape, grow extra appendages, ride on the outside of airplanes, and write memoirs with the speed of summer lightning. In fact, the humans fare very poorly by comparison in this story, and the only thing that seems to be effective against Kirk's inventions is their own coquettish unpredictability.

Damion Kirk does a fine job with his characters, who are uniformly interesting in novel ways. This is less a horror story than a comedy of terrors, made notable by the conversation and action that embellish what would otherwise be a straightforward plot. In this environment conversation and inner dialogue take on great importance, and Kirk seems as comfortable with this challenge as he is with the many intricacies of plot he introduces. Kirk has bent for taking an original viewpoint. He is, to date, the only writer in some time who noticed that it is humans, not vampires, who are unable to see vampire reflections.

In the end, it will not be Kirk's skill or the amount of violence or romance that will decide the reader's reaction to 'Reflections of a Vampire,' but how one feels about his style of vampire. This is a problem, which plagues all writers in this genre. What powers, what vulnerabilities, are they forces of nature or spirit? These questions directly affect the believability of the plot and the atmospherics of the tale. Personally, I found St. Larue too powerful for the purposes of the story. The same is true of his father, who is an even more extreme variation on the same theme. When vampires approach invulnerability and have a vast number of powers to call on, the plot has no choice but to become whimsical with the vampire acting as deus ex machina. I found the story quite enjoyable despite this, and many will be far less bothered by it than I am. As such I think this is a tale worth pursuing.

Rating:
Summary: A Bite Too Far
Review: This interesting, if somewhat quirky, tale is the story of Arnaud St. Larue, a vampire who is coming to the end of his first millennium and needs to take an eighteen month nap to revitalize. In not quite a week Larue must acquire some fledglings or minions who will guard and tend his nesting spot while he sleeps the long sleep of the dead. This is made a bit more complicated by the fact that he is pursued by agents of the Daemonion Council and by his vampire father, a sorcerer of considerable strength, and a perpetual meddler in the affairs of Arnaud and his beloved sister, Brigitte.

St. Larue also has become entranced by the idea of writing his memoirs, causing a publisher and a ghostwriter endless grief, and greatly upsetting his fellow vampires. Finally, Arnaud has become infected by a strange form of aids, that exaggerates his normally gruesome feeding habits and predisposes him to careless violence. As a result, the police, in the person of Detective Solomon Wiese become aware of him, and adding further risk to St. Larue's continued survival.

On the surface, this story reads a bit like a hybrid of 'Interview with a Vampire' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' Sexy French vampires who turn into horrific monsters when the hunger is upon them. Creatures with an array of powers awesome enough to make them virtually unconquerable. They fly, change shape, grow extra appendages, ride on the outside of airplanes, and write memoirs with the speed of summer lightning. In fact, the humans fare very poorly by comparison in this story, and the only thing that seems to be effective against Kirk's inventions is their own coquettish unpredictability.

Damion Kirk does a fine job with his characters, who are uniformly interesting in novel ways. This is less a horror story than a comedy of terrors, made notable by the conversation and action that embellish what would otherwise be a straightforward plot. In this environment conversation and inner dialogue take on great importance, and Kirk seems as comfortable with this challenge as he is with the many intricacies of plot he introduces. Kirk has bent for taking an original viewpoint. He is, to date, the only writer in some time who noticed that it is humans, not vampires, who are unable to see vampire reflections.

In the end, it will not be Kirk's skill or the amount of violence or romance that will decide the reader's reaction to 'Reflections of a Vampire,' but how one feels about his style of vampire. This is a problem, which plagues all writers in this genre. What powers, what vulnerabilities, are they forces of nature or spirit? These questions directly affect the believability of the plot and the atmospherics of the tale. Personally, I found St. Larue too powerful for the purposes of the story. The same is true of his father, who is an even more extreme variation on the same theme. When vampires approach invulnerability and have a vast number of powers to call on, the plot has no choice but to become whimsical with the vampire acting as deus ex machina. I found the story quite enjoyable despite this, and many will be far less bothered by it than I am. As such I think this is a tale worth pursuing.

Rating:
Summary: throw out the Rice,here is the new King of horror
Review: This is the mother of all vampire books. Kirk has the infinite depth of spiritual understanding along with an unflinching eye toward the most heinous evil imaginable. With this book you can feel exhilaration along with terror, like a truly great roller coaster. (Not at Disney world!)

I look forward to the sequels and (God willing) the movie.

Rating:
Summary: sexy, witty ghoulish fun!
Review: those are the adjectives that come to mind when I turned the last page of this incredible vampire novel! Damion Kirk has created a memorable anti-hero in the vampire Arnaud St. Laurue, a thousand year old vampire who must enlist some minions to protect him while he takes a millennium rest that all ancient blood drinkers do and he decides to write his memoirs too! Our rather "evil" hero's mission is jeopardize on two fronts: one is shadowy organization of shape-shifters called Daemonion Council who believe that St.Laurue is passing a deadly aids-like virus and the other is possessive vampire father who has his own agenda.Kirk's gruesome vampire saga has it all:characters like Brigitte, St.Laurue' sister who helps him and battle the council and their father. Fury- a teenage St. Laurue selects to become his minion, Elke another would be vampire that St. Laurue wants and who has some deadly secrets of her own! Bevan Preston, a book publisher who's life is turned upside down by St.Laurue. This novel gives us a rather chilling "bat and mouse" game between the vampires, shape-shifting agents and wily retiring homicide det named Solomon Wiese.Gruesome scenes of bloodletting carnage will shock you as St.Laurue lets nothing stand in his way and pity the poor mortal who knows too much.St.Laurue is character who does some truly horrible deeds but still very likable and charming!the plot twist are ingenious because in St.Laurue's world nothing is what appears to be and appearances could be deadly and last surprise awaits you on the last paragraph that should "I hope" lead to a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Meeting Damion Kirk
Review: To make a long story short I received the book from the author himself after giving him one of the best haircuts ever! After giving me a brief description I was ready to dive into the deep dark world of vampires. Once I started to read I could't put it down without wondering what would happen next. I could picture the story in my mind like I was living it. What a great experience. Can't wait for the next book!

Rating:
Summary: Great Story Line
Review: What a great story line. The book is a bit choppy to follow, but I was pleased none the less.

Rating:
Summary: Editor's Choice!
Review: When Damion first approached me to edit Reflections of a Vampire, my first thought was, 'not my genre'. Wrong! Once I began reading Reflections of a Vampire, there was no turning back. These vampires passionately draw you into their intriguing world of romance, mystery and ancient wisdom. Like his vampire, Gérard Arnaud St. Laurue; Mr. Kirk spellbinds his audience with impeccable style, wit and - oh - the horror of it all!