Title: The Nosferatu Conspiracy: Book Two: The Sommelier
Author: Brian James Gage
Publisher: KDK 12 Press
ISBN: 978-0-578-98963-1
Pages: 654
Genre: Literature & Fiction / Occult Horror
Reviewed by: Alyssa Avina
Pacific Book Review
The genres which blend all too well with the terrible events within the wars of our world, in a fictional sense, have to be historical fiction and horror. For it is human history to question what would have happened if things had been different in an especially tragic moment, while the circumstances of war tend to be horrific as it is, so adding gothic or horror themed story elements are such a natural extension of these real-world events. Battling supernatural creatures with thoughts of world destruction is after all a great way to study the impact war has on those who are forced to fight in it.
In author Brian James Gage’s The Nosferatu Conspiracy: Book Two: The Sommelier, the author continues to explore the legends and mythology of the Nosferatu set against the backdrop of the political and historical events of WWI. This, the second book in the series, follows a young man and his allies around Europe as they seek out remnants of the Nosferatu and the dark cabal that nearly led to Rasputin’s victory in the previous book. However dark times are descending, and as the infamous Battle of Arras during WWI kicks off, a dark and malevolent force known as Elizabeth Bathory threatens to escape the confines of her long imprisonment. Exploring an alternate history in which WWI’s events were kickstarted not only by the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, but by the carefully laid out plans of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Prussian Secret Police, the novel sees dark and powerful forces threatening to use the chaos of war to unleash hell on Earth, and a ragtag group of protectors who must face this darkness head on and discover truths about themselves they never thought possible.
The world-building and mythos the author continues to develop here in this novel is truly incredible. The rich and vivid imagery and settings paint a gripping picture with dark and cold tones to match the era and events transpiring around the cast of characters. The balance the author struck between the historical events and figures that were brought to life and the gothic horror themes that built up the majority of the narrative made this such an exciting read.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy historical fiction, especially when the narrative also features elements of gothic horror, occult horror, and mythology. As a fan of gothic horror and history, it was so refreshing to see a story developed in this genre which felt natural and all the moving pieces of the narrative just fit together so well. The chilling imagery of some of the creatures faced in this story and the utilization of renowned historical figures who have found immortality through fiction over the years was the added danger and fear that this overall theme needed to cement itself as an instant classic.
Haunting, gripping, and entertaining as heck, author Brian James Gage’s The Nosferatu Conspiracy: Book Two: The Sommelier is a must-read novel of 2022! The perfect historical fiction tale meets occult horror, the exploration of the depths of humanity’s need for power and the calling others feel to face the darkness head on for others to live in the light was deeply felt in this read, and made for a captivating story that is not to be missed.
