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5 Star Review
This is the first book I have read from this author, but I would definitely like to see more.
Hunters are those special people destined to fight the vampire. One of those Hunters goes by the name of Darius Creed. He has been a hunter for quite some years, once traveling with another by the name of Takada. Takada though very strong in his own right, was killed by Lord Rasmere and since then he has been traveling alone.
On one evening Darius must seek the help of a gypsy healer after a fight with a vampire. While visiting the gypsy Darius meets what is to be his new love. Selena is the gypsy's granddaughter and she knows just what she wants. She seduces Darius and works her way into his heart. When Darius leaves he takes Selena with him as not only is he in love with her but it is her destiny to be a Hunter Of The Shadows as he is.
Darius will need all the help he can get since all signs point to one of the vampires attempting to bring about the Dolmage. The Dolmage is a legend among the vampires about a war where the vampires will become the rulers. Along the way many new things happen. In the process of attempting to recover Takada's long lost sword Darius meets another who is also destined to become a Hunter.
Together Darius, Selena and their new found friend go about trying to kill the vampires. This is no easy task as they knew. Yet during their trials and tribulations they end up with an unlikely ally a vampire lord by the name of Rasmeer. Rasmeer is the same lord that killed Takada so many years before. With the help of Rasmeer they track and attempt to kill the vampire who wants to bring about the Dolmage. In so doing they must face minions of hell and earth.
I enjoyed this story and found it full of action. It will keep your attention and doesn't read like a typical vampire story. I found at the ending I wanted more.
Copyright © 2002 Carol Castellanos <mailto:carpathian@simegen.com> All Rights Reserved. (reprinted with permission)
Hunters of the Shadows
by Mark Haeuser
Vampire stories - they've become almost as much of a nuisance as the vampires themselves. Well, they don't exactly drink your blood, but they waste your time and bore your brain with tired old plots and characters. Still, I should remember - it's not the story that palls or thrills.. It's the telling of it. That was well illustrated when 'Hunters of the Shadows' arrived on my desk for review. "Another vampire book," I sighed.
My husband, sympathetic chap that he is, picked up the book to commiserate with me.
I never got it back until he finished the last page. And he is not a fantasy fan! He kept telling me the wild, fun and fascinating twists and turns the story took, until finally, I said, "Okay. You review it." And he did. (Now I can get a chance to read it.)
Hunters of the Shadows
reviewed by Chuck Goldstrom
Vampire stories today fill books, films, plays, role playing and children's games, ad infinitum. Count Dracula, and his bad copies, are everywhere, it seems. But not in Hunters of the Shadows!
It was a joy to read a well-written cohesive, fascinating story that just happened to be about vampires - among other weird and strange characters. The author, a former police officers - ten-year veteran - SWAT team member and sniper, knows his vampires.(One wonders where he did his policing....?)
Action scenes, and there are plenty, are done in an almost choreographed manner. The blows are delivered, the wounds are received, the utterances of pain and hate - all are totally believable. I especially enjoyed the unique way of speaking given to the vampires. They don't just speak, they hiss their words in an immediately recognizable fashion. To mis-quote a popular advertisement, "When a vampire talks, we listen!" And even better from the viewpoint of the reader, we know immediately who is speaking.
Mr. Haueser has skillfully integrated several plots, large and small, with enough "old-worldly" magic, spells, potions, witches and place names to warm the blood (oops!) of any vampire devotee.
All in all, this was a delightful read, and one of those books that you just can't lay down, because you know another exciting part is only a few pages away...and there it is! Who will win? The gypsy prince? The incredibly evil and powerful vampire lord? And is Shach Meril really what he says he is?
If you grab this action-filled book,you will read a good vampire tale that shames many other attempts at this interesting genre. I would hope a film of Hunter in the Shadows is in the making. It's that good, it's that visual.
The only slight problems I had with this book was the typesetting. Reading would be easier if the paragraphs were indented instead of starting at the left margin. And if the type size were increased a couple of points, middle-aged-plus eyesight (which also likes to read outstanding vampire stories) would appreciate it very much.
But these are very minor negatives compared to the many delightful positives in this book.
Enjoy!
-- Chuck Goldstrom
This is Jean again. Chuck really loved that book. But he forgot to tell you about the animal characters! That is why I want to read it. He said cats - especially one very special and unique cat - played quite an important part in the story. This one special cat was the chieftain of all t he cats, and he was described as, at times, wearing his ceremonial garb which included a red and gold-trimmed cape. Or a gold red-trimmed cape. Something like that. Now I've gotta read that book. Chuck, where did you put it?
About the author:
Mark Haeuser was born and raised in the beautiful farm country surrounding Fountain City, Wisconsin. After earning a two-year associate degree in Police Science, he worked in law enforcement for ten years. In 1997 he began writing, after feeling frustration at the lack of realistic action books available. As a former police officer, SWAT team member, SWAT sniper and a recognized expert in tactics and firearms, he decided he would try to write his own stories. Using over 20 years of martial arts training as well as his police experience he has turned out a string of novels, of which Hunters of the Shadows is just the most recent.
Mark can be found on web sites including Zinos.com and Authorsden.com.
***** = A vampire book for people who hate vampire books
Reviewer: Jean M. Goldstrom from Keystone Heights FL 32656
Well, I don't really -hate- vampire books, but Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" was enough for me. But my husband read this book and said, "You MUST read it." So I did. Wow! What a fun, exciting and interesting book! Yes, there is this handsome, sexy, Gypsy guy (woo-woo) who has been at war with this big cheese vampire (boo hiss) for ages, but they both band together to fight an even -more- evil vampire. Now, here comes the even more terrific part. Their indispensible ally is ...a CA T! Yes, a regular alley cat, or so he does appear. Actually he is a king of cats, has a lot of wisdom, and I wish he had his own book series. Anyway, when the last great battle of the book takes place, the Gypsy hunk plus his former nemesis vampire against the Incredibly Evil Vampire, we get to see (in our mind's eye) a great sight: The Cat King, decked in his battle dress of the red cape with golden trim, his silver earrings and silver necklace, flanked by 40 of his mighty cat warriors similarly attired. Double wow! Who would not gladly go into battle with such blade-brothers at their side? All I will add is this is one heck of a book -there is -always- something happening that you can't wait to find out the result of (scuse ending that with a preposition. ) And that cat -oh me oh my. Reportedly there is a sequel to this book on its way. I can't wait. I hope it has a lot in it about the glorious Cat King.
The Gypsy guy is okay, too.
--Jean (Cat Fancier) Goldstrom
6/15/02
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