Title: A Vampire’s Redemption
Series: The Inquisition Trilogy
Author: Casey Wolfe
Publisher: Ninestar Press
Release Date: June 03, 2019
Heat Level: 1/5
Pairing: M/M
Length: 453 pages
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy/Urban Fantasy
Synopsis:
Marcus was likely dead, killed by the Inquisition, or so it was believed. Then the vampire was found, broken beyond words, in an isolated prison fortress. Marcus had never expected to see daylight again, let alone be rescued by his mate. Now he worries he’ll drag Caleb into his darkness.
Caleb was the one who pulled Marcus out of his prison cell, and he’s determined to drag him from the nightmares of his mind as well. After all, that’s what mates are for, and Caleb had lost hope at finding his. And if he can help destroy the entire Inquisition? Well, all the better.
Dealing with Marcus’s physical and mental healing from his trauma is difficult enough, but Inquisition holdouts are causing chaos everywhere, and sinister plots are rampant. Marcus and Caleb have no choice but to fight back. It’s a good thing they are not alone.
Author’s Note: This title should not be read as a stand-alone.
My Review:
This is the second book of The Inquisition Trilogy, and Wolfe has stayed true to their voice and writing style. A Mage’s Power had some fantastic and detailed magic, and one scene that still stands out was during the Charm making. A Vampire’s Redemption is very much the same vein (all the puns intended), but instead of the focus on Rowan the magician, we are told the story of Marcus, the vampire. Marcus, recently rescued from one of The Inquisition’s experimentation facilities, is living with PTSD, and rehabbing from the loss of a limb.
This is not your typical Vampire, Urban Fantasy novel.
First, I don’t think anyone would expect a Vampire to be exposed to enough trauma to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but considering Marcus’s journey, you can easily understand how that happened. Wolfe’s take on the Vampire mythology is creative and unique but holds true to some of the expected mythos. Be prepared to learn a whole new way of considering our blood-sucking friends.
But this unusual take on vampires is similar in the Urban Fantasy ambiance of the novel. At times you’d think you were immersed within a Melanie Rawn or Stephen R Donaldson type like world, and then Wolfe throws modern-day elements into the mix like cell phones and cars. Some might find it slightly jarring, or at the least, take time to settle into, but again, I thought it was a fresh look at the genre – perhaps it was a mashing of Urban Fantasy/Paranormal and Fantasy.
As much as the entire trilogy centers around The Inquisition and our hero band of special ops trained characters, you would think that the vast majority of the novel would revolve around the plot to root out and diminish the nefarious Inquisition. You’ll get some of that, and the cloak-and-dagger feel is delicious. But you also get, and what I think was the mainstay of the novel, the gradual development of Marcus, reacquainting with his chosen family after a horribly violent and torturous imprisonment by what amounts to a terrorist-like organization along with the imprinting of a fated mate in Caleb.
The relationship between Marcus and Caleb, a vampire and a werewolf, is equally as interesting, as inter-species relationships are explored and prejudices are challenged.
On the whole, not what I expected, and then equally, exactly what I did expect from Wolfe. This may not be for all readers, but if you like your fantasy, you might want to give this a try. If you like your Urban Fantasy, but you’re looking for something a little different, this series might be just the thing.
The third novel should tie this all up. Looking forward to it.
Rating:
Available At:
NineStar Press | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo
Meet the Author:
Casey Wolfe
“Everyone deserves a Happily Ever After.”
History nerd, film buff, an avid gamer, and full-time geek; all of these things describe Casey Wolfe. They prefer being lost in the world of fiction—wandering through fantasy realms, traveling the outer reaches of space, or delving into historical time periods. Casey is non-binary and ace, living with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, all of which informs their writing in various ways. Happily married, Casey and their partner live in the middle-of-nowhere, Ohio with their furry, four-legged children.
Catch up with Casey here:
J.P. Jackson 