Of Saints and Shadows (The Shadow Saga, Book 1)

Moving back in time to the 90's, I read this wonderful little book and a few of its sequels and did my squee because the story really broke the Anne Rice vampire mold. Not only that, but it went firmly into the baby UF territory long before the whole movement took off and had thousands of lookalike vampire/werewolf/witch/whatever private investigators dealing with all the things that go bump in the night.

This author blazed not only that trail, but boldly screwed with all our expectations about where a tale OUGHT to go.

So what IS this book?

A murder investigation that moonlights as a later Dan Brown book that combines sympathetic vampires, evil renegade Catholic sorcerers as the Enemy, and a humungous media blow-out that was made show more popular, to a lesser degree, by Anita Blake and later with Sookie Stackhouse.

What I really get is a rip-roaring fun vampire read that tackles not only self-perception in a really big way, but hoards of demons blowing up Venice.

DELICIOUS.

And I'll be honest, the first time I read this I kinda thought a particular discovery that later lends itself to a complete revolution of thought might have been a bit too... FAST... in this novel. But thinking about it much more has led me to think it is ABOUT TIME. These are long-lived vamps, after all. None of Peter's concerns and exhortations were new. Indeed, they had all been thinking about this very problem for a century. Just because no one but Peter, the black sheep, had a breakthrough, it doesn't mean that they couldn't learn super-fast when the TRUTH is right in front of them in all its glory. :)

So I've revised my original estimation UP. More than that, I wish this had it's own TV series. It could be BETTER than Discovery of Witches, on the same level or much, much bigger.

It certainly has tons more guns, more slathering monsters, and a much more delicious cast of baddies. Oh, you naughty Vatican, you. :) show less

I was so happy to see Christopher Golden's Shadow Saga getting re-released in new editions with an emphasis on urban fantasy, and a new volume on the way. This is my favorite vampire novel, right alongside with "The Vampire Lestat." These two are my favorites for the same reason - they are very original, and have dynamic, charismatic vampire protagonists. Plus, I like when vampires are not all evil - it's more fun when their motives are just as murky as a human's. Peter Octavian is a private investigator, and a vampire. The Catholic Church has been on a secret crusade for centuries to harness or destroy all paranormal creatures - including vampires. When a priest gets hold of a book of shadows that could shift the balance of power, show more Octavian must intervene.

The character development here is strong (especially when well-known historical figures turn up as vamps), the world-building is detailed and Golden is exceptional at taking common vampire myths and making them fresh again. His explanation of why holy water burns, and vampires can turn into bats, made me laugh out loud at his cleverness and sheer audacity. I felt myself drawn in like never before. Highly recommended, and the rest of the saga as well (Angel Souls, Devil Hearts; Of Masques & Martyrs; The Gathering Dark). show less

*Audiobook Review

Narrated by John Lee

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There's nothing better than liking a monster. Peter Octavian is a creature of the night, but he's one of the good guys. Peter is a "Defiant One", a vampire, but he’s so much more than that. He's an investigator, and he's on a case for a friend, to find a missing young lady. Of Saints and Shadows, by Christopher Golden, goes not only into a crime drama, but how vampires go against the church.

When a book is stolen from the Vatican, a mission is set into place. The mission places, through the church's clandestine army, a death sentence on all vampires. Unfortunately, with a particular killer, Liam Mulkerrin, on the job, there's more than just vampires at stake. Anyone who knows of Vampires or show more who’s had their lives touched by vamps are in danger. It's up to the kind and humanitarian side of Octavian to set things straight, and bring an end to the mystery.
Of Saints and Shadows is an amazing book, though its basic premise is the same as most vamp tales. What makes the novel original, is Peter Octavian. He seems to still hold to his humanity, though he's not been one for hundreds of years. He's a gentle man, looking only to punish those who deserve it- but not through his animal nature, but the law. Until a special legion of sorcerers step into the picture.

I’ve read nothing like it, so I was impressed. Golden found a way to keep the story in realms of both the real world and the paranormal. This book fits into the thriller genre, while bringing those things that go bump in the night to the surface. The narrator, John Lee, made this happen, just as much as the author who wrote it, with his cryptic reading style and perfect voice. The graphic imagery, the history, combined with the reality of the church and protection of the faith made Of Saints and Shadows an excellent vampire read. Check it out, while I move on to the next read!

*For full review: www.areneehunt.com/books-books-books
Of Saints and Shadows
Christopher Golden
JournalStone Publishing
September 23, 2016 show less

What if vampires weren't necessarily evil--they've only been brainwashed to think they are? And what if all their traditional weaknesses: sunlight, holy water, crosses, aren't actually weaknesses at all, but also the result of brainwashing? What if they're even more powerful than they realize, but the Church has used superstition to keep these Defiant Ones under control? That's the premise of Of Saints and Shadows, as it follows renegade vampire Peter Octavian on his search for the truth and his efforts to save his fellow vampires on the eve of the Blessed Event, when the Vatican's secret army intends to wipe out the Defiant Ones once and for all. Excellent story. I'll be getting the sequel.

Peter Octavian is a PI in Boston. He is also a vampire who is trying to live as much as a human as possible. He is separated for the vampire community but when a series of obviously supernatural killings come to his attention, he is determined to find the cause. Soon it is up to him to rescue a demonic book from an evil branch of the Catholic church, destroy the magicians who control it, and stop a vampire apocalypse. Whew!!!

I enjoyed this book even though it was bloodier than I usually like. The bloodiness was not in the entire book so there were breaks. It took a bit to get some of the concepts in this world, the church is basically controlling all the evil beings in the world, except vampires. The characters in the book are pretty show more irresistable though. Peter Octavian is very compelling. I am curious to see where this story is going. I can't believe that I only learned about it recently. show less

A thrilling new take on the "vampire" genre. Spoiled only by the ending which disintegrates into a confusing free-for-all. Perhaps the author had too much of an eye on the staging of the movie adaptation?

Positively outstanding! A fresh vampire story, while paying homage to all the wonderful myths we love so well. Christopher Golden has flawlessly blended horror, dark fantasy, noir, romance, and adventure into a rollicking good yarn. Shame on me for taking so long to read this!