Rice, Christopher

An engaging read, ideal for those who enjoy comic book story lines and TV shows such as Scorpion and Jessica Jones.

As gothic as one could expect from the author (The Heavens Rise) and son of Anne Rice, this tale of evil vegetation that feeds on the blood of those seeking revenge for past wrongs is gruesome (and somewhat overwrought). While the racial tensions underlying the story could have been more nuanced, there are dark thrills for horror fans.

Rich with New Orleans history and atmosphere, this hypnotizing supernatural work delves into dark family secrets, ancient powers, and superhuman abilities. The book is curiously, if a bit disjointedly, organized, with the third-person narrative arranged by the major characters of Ben, Anthem, and Marshall (offering those particular protagonists' viewpoints), while Nikki's journal entries supplement the story line. Despite this flaw, supernatural horror and thriller readers who enjoyed Douglas Clegg's Neverland and Robert McCammon's Boy's Life will want to pick up Rice's quick-paced coming-of-age story of a group of friends hoping to escape their haunted past.