The Blood of Kings : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Tricked into Dignity
Review: In all the time I have spent reviewing books, my least favorite sub category would have to be GAY VAMPIRE NOVELS. Generally, they all follow the same plot...some young blond guy sees some mysterious guy in all black, blah blah blah. Not interested.
So, when my books to review for the month contained not one but three GAY VAMPIRE NOVELS, I was less than pleased.

The only one of the three that didn't get thrown across my room in frustration half way through the read was The Blood of Kings, a new novel by John Michael Curlovich.

Something interesting happens while you're reading about twenty year old Jamie and his love affair with the Egyptian Professor Danilo. There is no lesson about the power of love. There are no interesting dressing tips on the sides of the pages. No recipies for succesful parties. Instead, we are tricked into learning about homosexual historical figures, and Mr Curlovich actually makes it interesting.

Professor Damilo tells the reading audience that homosexuals have the blood of kings in them, and if we chose to accept it, then we can do some amazing things. If we don't, then we are no worse than the people that would persecute us.
If we don't, then we are no worse than the people that like to pretend homosexuals never did anything positive towards our worlds history.

Professor Damilo reminds us that our ranks once included Richard the Lion Heart, Chopan, Louis XIII, and lovers Antinous and Hadrian.

What do our ranks include now? Talk show host and make-over experts? Closetet movie stars and musicians? We may not be burned at the stake or killed with burning hot pokers any more, but how far have we really come?

As for the actual plot, there is some depth and mystery to the relationship between Jamie and his professor, but two thirds of the way through the book, everything about the professor is explained. The readers only drive to read the book is to find out more about homosexual history and Egyptian mythology. For me, this was more than enough.

In this day and age when our own culture tricks us into thinking our only heritage is bath houses and color themed parties, it's nice to have some one take the time to show us
that we actually come from some absolutally amazing places. We were kings. We were pharos. We were composers. We were famous. And there are those out there that would have us never ever know this. There are historians that are doing what they can to remove the "homosexual element" from American history.

John Michael Curlovich says it best himself. "...It's a slow uphill fight. Homosexuality may not frighten the horses anymore, but it makes a lot of academics really skittish.

Thank you for educating this man a bit on where he really came from. A place of Dignity.

Rating:
Summary: Romance along the Nile!
Review: What a totally fascinating book. The main character, Jamie, engages the reader from practically the first sentence of the novel, and maintains his unique character throughout. This is not your average, cookie cutter Gay Vampiric story. Rather, this is a saga that spans millenia and uses aspects of history to advance the plot line. THE BLOOD OF KINGS is extremely well written and is highly readable. Each of the characters is fully developed and seem to live on the pages. One can easily visualize the situations within the book and see the players play their respective parts. Danilo?...WOW!...what can one say about him except that he is dangerous and sexy all at the same time. Only under certain conditions would I ever want to meet him, but to do so would perhaps be the height of passion and wisdom. If you are looking for a quick read,(it can be read in one sitting if you want), then THE BLOOD OF KINGS is for you. While it is a quick read, it by NO MEANS is shallow or short of plot. Rather, the book flows so well, that the reader finds himself unwilling to put it down. I TOTALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK, and found it one of the most satisfying reads I have had in the last few months. IT IS A WINNER!