This book is almost inexplicably bad. It is bad in so many ways, that I'm not sure where to begin. Let's take the plunge. There are huge swaths of writing that are completely unnecessary, contribute nothing to the story, and have no drama or point whatsoever. For instance, the protagonist Michael journeys to the South Pole via ship then helicopter. Much time is spent on the ship, but absolutely nothing happens. It is simply an exceedingly long description of being on a ship heading to the South Pole. Chapter after chapter. For no reason. Then one briefly dramatic thing happens, but that only serves to get the characters onto a helicopter for the rest of the journey. Again, chapter after chapter of being on a helicopter. For no reason. When the characters arrive at the South Pole, there is then chapter after chapter of description of the station. But nothing happens. All of this takes up about the first 40% of the book. Endless, boring, needless description.Second, the writing is bad to the point of being cringe-worthy. (See the end of the review for examples.) The dialogue sounds as if a mediocre high school student wrote it. The interactions between characters are unrealistic and sappy. Similes and metaphors are beyond trite.Third, the storyline regarding the developing relationship between Sinclair and Eleanor is boring and pointless. About 100,000 romance novels have done a far better job.Fourth, characters don't react to extraordinary events in anything resembling a realistic fashion. (Spoiler Alert!) The people at the arctic station realize that 200 year old people, who have been frozen at the bottom of the sea for more than 150 years, have thawed and come back to life. And they are vampires. The reactions? Surprise. Interest. Curiosity. (They exhibit approximately the same reactions as when a new fish is discovered.) The station head doesn't want to tell anyone back in the regular world about this discovery, because he doesn't want to have to complete extra paperwork before his retirement. ????? Not one single character seems particularly shocked or amazed or worried.Fifth, there is no dramatic tension. Essentially no conflict, no drama, no narrative drive. Nothing. All of the characters are sympathetic. None of the characters are really in conflict with each other. Nothing really happens. There is no story. Beyond boring.There are so many other problems with the book, but if I tried to describe them all, I'd write endless pages. Overall, this is one of the worst books I've ever read. I'm not sure how it got published. And I am shocked beyond belief that any entity, especially respectable ones, gave it starred reviews. The author is successful in the entertainment industry, so perhaps that is just professional courtesy, or quid pro quo, or fear of retaliation. Don't know, but there's got to be a hidden reason.I usually don't do this, but the writing is so bad, I really must give a few examples:"She had a crisp, no-nonsense attitude about her; even the short brown hair peeking out from under her cap seemed cut for maximum efficiency.""What he would have given to have her there with him now, and to hear her say it just one more time.""No, he wouldn't be sorry to leave the boat and get to Point Adelie. That's where he could begin his work in earnest.""'I'll do that,' the captain said, in a tone that made it clear he would not.""'We call the scientists beakers.'Michael got it. Beakers, as in lab equipment.""Charlotte and Darryl and Michael exchanged puzzled looks.""His teeth were as white as Chiclets.""It was as if she put up books as a barrier to intimacy, a way of steering clear of emotional entanglements.""To Michael, with their blond hair braided into coils atop their heads, they looked like a pair of Valkyries." (describing 2 Scandinavian-type women)"He just hoped she wouldn't have to give him the hernia test, by holding his testicles and having him cough.""'G'day mates, I'll be your divemaster'""'I was too scared.' The words were like ashes in his mouth""And when they kissed, it held a bittersweet and valedictory note." Robert Masello has given us a great new slant to the traditional vampire tale. Wonderful storytelling and masterful integration of two timelines. Good historical research and page turning suspense.His characters of Eleanor and Sinclair are exquisite, the double timelines between the power’s and present meshed beautifully with the provocative discovery of the lady in the ice. Both tales historically accurate, gave us not only of view into the carnage of early warfare, where the dashing Sinclair encountered his ultimate fate on the battlefield. Although he survived his life was forever altered, and in turn he unknowingly damned the love of his life.This is a beautifully written love story, but the sacrifices made for that loved by both men served to move this story hauntingly forward. The landscape of both stories were of the harshest possible, and yet somehow love survives.This book is definitely worth your time, and any this author chooses to write in the future.I am seldom surprised by a vampire tale, but this one left me breathless.
Do You like book Eisiges Blut (2009)?
Good book, kept me interested from the beginning but then the story started to lose it at the end.
—Karan
Good read although not quite believable. And shame about the 'happy end'
—SirReadington
Absolutely loved it! Definitely the ending I wanted to see.
—Kas
