Book Review: The Vampire’s War (The Realm of the Vampire Council Book 5)
The Vampire’s War (The Realm of the Vampire Council Book 5). Damian Serbu, NineStar Press, 27 December 2022, Paperback and eBook, 341 pages.
Reviewed by Shanti Nagarkatti.
This fifth and latest volume in the Realm of the Vampire Council series follows Jaret Bachmann, a young vampire alone in the world. After losing his entire family because of an angry ghost, Jaret struggles to find his true self and decide how he wants to spend the rest of his eternal life.
The book opens with war brewing among vampires and the Vampire Council facing extinction at the hands of a rogue vampire. Jaret, both vampire and witch, thinks the Council’s elders move too slowly. He has powers to help them defeat the enemy but grows frustrated the longer Council members keep him at arm’s length about their plans.
The narrative is told from Jaret’s point of view, as he runs up against the Council’s rules and faces the allure of Charon, a hot, renegade vampire, not sure if he is friend or foe. Alongside Jaret’s preparations for the cliff-hanging final battle is his soul-searching personal journey. Having been through turmoil and tragedy in his life, Jaret is a complex, sympathetic character. I found myself rooting for him and his vampire dog, Darth, who accompanies Jaret on his adventures.
The author, Damian Serbu, shines at shaping relationships that are dimensional and real, helping to advance the reader’s understanding of the characters’ internal motivations. Styx, the villain, is pure evil and a perfect foil for Jaret. The flirtatious exchanges between Jaret and Charon can best be described as “it’s complicated,” while the bond between Jaret and his lover Anthony, the most powerful and oldest vampire in the world, is deep and committed. I would have liked to have seen more nuanced depictions of some supporting characters, especially Council members, as it was challenging at times to keep track of them.
As a reader who is new to this series, I was worried that I would be at a disadvantage in terms of understanding the backstory. My concerns quickly dissipated, and I became immersed in the globetrotting, bloodthirsty, and at times bacchanalian exploits of this group of supernatural beings.
Chicago readers will be entertained by a description of one of the vampires wanting to climb to the top of the Hancock Tower at night but being told not to because people could see him. The action overall unfolds at a pace that creates suspense and tension, with cliffhanger chapter endings further engaging the reader.
The author’s background as a historian is evident. I was engaged by Serbu’s style of referencing events of the past within the narrative. In one scene, Jaret, vexed by what he sees as the Council’s passivity in the face of impending war, remarks to Anthony, “But maybe we need some of my spice to get the war going. To protect ourselves. Caution may well kill us. Have you ever studied Europe’s reaction to Hitler in the 1930s?” Later, after hurrying across Europe with vampiric speed, Jaret is in Pompeii. He tours the sights of the fabled city, described by the author, reflecting that his time as a “nighttime tourist” alone with Darth and history made him refreshed and ready to tackle Council business.
As well as being an entertaining story, the narrative explores universal human themes – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Even in the face of violence, loss, and sadness, there can be feelings of love and connection, prompting the reader to pause and reflect on these profound yet contradictory emotions.
For readers who enjoy books by Anne Rice and Rick R. Reed, as well as fans of vampires, ghosts, horror, and thrills, The Vampire’s War is an exciting, timely addition to the gothic canon.