In the Shadows

In the Shadows
J L Day
Chippewa Publishing
Fiction, Paranormal Erotica
Reviewed by Qetesh

In the Shadows is a compelling short story about an ancient vampire Lamprior an Bas. Written in first person, you are thrust into the dark inner thoughts and dialog of Lamprior as he happens on a coven of witches casting a ritual circle in the woods.
He watches them but remains undetected while pondering their actions with amusement. His thoughts turn to various subjects as he sizes up his prey. He muses on religion and philosophy, as well as the how the intended victims might taste at his next meal.
He is taken by surprise and mesmerized when one of the witches disrobes and begins dancing nude around the circle. She is exquisite, a goddess in her own right. He can tell that there is something different about her, something that he feels be must possess and make his. He takes action and begins the process of bringing her over to become a child of the night. He intends to make her his companion in every way. This story has strong religious overtones, as well as strong opinions about religious beliefs that may be offensive to some people. I found the book to be a unique and intriguing approach to the often worn and overdone vampire theme. The vampire character was fresh with an opinionated, sometimes sarcastic outlook on people, the world, and religion. I was intrigued by the dual nature of his character. Deep down he was not as jaded as he would have you believe. Although ancient, he still has a deep romantic passionate core that allows him to see the beauty of innocence. The sensual scenes in the book were a mixture of romance, erotic passion and savagery. I fell in love with the author’s style immediately. My only complaint is that this book is not longer. I am eager to see more of this author’s work in the future and hope that this story continues.