Greetings bloodsuckers and legions of the undead,

How’s eternity treating you? Hope you’re finding some great books to entertain you on those endless nights. Speaking of books, it’s time for another book review!

This time I read The Crimson Corset (The Vampires of Crimson Cove #1) by Alistair Cross.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Alistair a while back (check out our interview here) and I’ve been kicking myself that I haven’t gotten around to reading any of his works. Luckily I did enough catch up on my TBR that I was able to take a crack at it. I’ll admit, I haven’t read a lot of vampire novels in recent years, though I absolutely love those fanged demons of the night.

So, how did my first read by this author go? Keep on reading to find out!

Blurb

Welcome to Crimson Cove

Sheltered by ancient redwoods overlooking the California coast, the cozy village of Crimson Cove has it all: sophisticated retreats, fine dining, and a notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset. It seems like a perfect place to relax and get close to nature. But not everything in Crimson Cove is natural.

When Cade Colter moves to town, he expects it to be peaceful to the point of boredom. But he quickly learns that after the sun sets and the fog rolls in, the little tourist town takes on a whole new kind of life – and death.

Darkness at the Edge of Town

Renowned for its wild parties and history of debauchery, The Crimson Corset looms on the edge of town, inviting patrons to sate their most depraved desires and slake their darkest thirsts. Proprietor Gretchen VanTreese has waited centuries to annihilate the Old World vampires on the other side of town and create a new race – a race that she alone will rule. When she realizes Cade Colter has the key that will unlock her plan, she begins laying an elaborate trap that will put everyone around him in mortal danger.

Blood Wars

The streets are running red with blood, and as violence and murder ravage the night, Cade must face the darkest forces inside himself, and perhaps even abandon his own humanity, in order to protect what he loves.

“Put Bram Stoker in a giant cocktail shaker, add a pinch of Laurell K. Hamilton, a shot of John Carpenter, and a healthy jigger of absinthe, and you’ll end up with Alistair Cross’s modern Gothic chiller, “The Crimson Corset” – a deliciously terrifying tale that will sink its teeth into you from page one.”
– Jay Bonansinga, New York Times Bestselling author of THE WALKING DEAD: INVASION and LUCID

“This drop-deadly tale of seduction and terror will leave you begging to be fanged … ”
– Tamara Thorne, international bestselling author of HAUNTED and MOONFALL

“I couldn’t put this book down. It’s got more hooks than a day boat out of San Pedro Harbor!”
– QL Pearce, bestselling author of SCARY STORIES FOR SLEEP-OVERS

GoodReads

Amazon

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I am an Amazon affiliate and earn a tiny commission for purchases made through the Amazon links in this post at no cost to you. It’s a great way to help me keep things running on my blog if you’re already intrigued enough to make a purchase. 

The Review

Riveting, horrific, original. This book was an amazing read, and I’m so glad I gave this a shot!

This novel centers on Cade Colter, a young adult moving back to Crimson Cove where his brother Brooks lives. Looking to start anew he quickly finds a job, but can’t ignore the strange individuals that walk the streets at night and people that go missing. It all seems to involve him somehow. What is really happening in Crimson Cove? Can Cade figure it out unscathed, or will he become another victim of the night?

Let’s start with characters. Cade is a great MC to follow around. He’s your typical writer guy with not a lot going for him. We got to know a bit about his backstory, and while he didn’t have a ton of depth there I think we got more depth from what’s happening in the present and how it changes him. Brooks was something of a douchey brother, but his character felt authentic in its own way.

There’s a plethora of other characters throughout, human and nonhuman, and many of them get their own chapters, however small they are. I think that really added to the story to see it from all sides. Oh, and extra kudos for the lovable kitty Purrcy!

Plot was really great. Most chapters were relatively short, which I loved, and each scene felt important to building up the story. This was a slow burn, but it amped up with each chapter for an amazing climax that was super exciting. There are some erotic scenes in this book, but they are well placed. After all, lust is integral to a vampire’s existence, so to cut that out would be insane. I don’t tend to read erotic horror, but after this book I may have to rethink that! Cross approached it in a tasteful manner that didn’t really bug me at all, so I think the average reader will be fine with it.

Ultimately, this was a stellar beginning to what I hope will be an unforgettable series. I can’t wait to start the next book!

That’s A Wrap!

Well that’s it for this book review. I hope you enjoyed it!

Have you read this book? Are there other similar books you’ve read that you simply have to gush about? Feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to start a conversation!

Have a great day!

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