Title: The Blazing: A Vampire Story
Author: Buffy M. Brinkley
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-7960-6109-3
Pages: 261
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Christa Hill
Pacific Book Review
With an eerie paranormal feel this book has a sophisticated twilight vibe. The author Brinkley creates genuine characters that even though they are of a fantastical nature they have a realism that is important for story. The main character, Richard, has deeply interesting conversations with other characters that pull at ideas of power and value in a narrative structure that forces the audience to think more. The second character of Viveca is a nice contrast to the gloomy vampiric world. She appears authentic, cheerful, and steely.
As a reader I found the writing engaging, the scenes vivid, and the characters compelling. However, the near rape scene during the early chapters of the book felt slightly out of place for that point in the novel. Though the author returns to this scene many times throughout the book, I felt that another scenario would be a better fit for the most likely demographic for this novel. Even as the encounter (and the re-encounter) showed Viveca’s metal the last few details were a few too many.
The unique setting of Louisiana is an immersive environment for the telling of this story. The city that the characters live in seems like a character in and of itself. Brinkley pulls the reader into the lives of Richard and Viveca with dramatic flair. The Blazing is an intense read that keeps you turning pages straight up to the end.
The author makes a point of staying within the paranormal fantasy genre, heating up the romance faster than a microwave can ding, and providing a “fallen angel” as our hero. This book is well suited to a young adult audience that is eager to engage with adventure and is seeking a relatable protagonist. Some of the power elements that are explored early on in the book are abandoned towards the end, which is vaguely disappointing. On the whole the novel is a quick read with captivating writing and a distinct tone. If edited a second time, I would whole-heartedly recommend this novel to a young adult audience
