Bloodwolf

An unfortunate encounter long ago with um al duwayce has changed Baudouin Delacor. Most would have died from the bite of the succubus, but some humans merely became vampires. However, Baudouin was not a mere man but such a one who answered to the call of the moon. There was no precedent for what he has become. For almost 1,000 years now he has been the BloodWolf.

The creature that tainted him has 5 manifestations. If he can successfully destroy each one, there may be some slim hope for ending his curse.

Lauren Cole left the rat race in LA for a position at the University of Phoenix. She met Randy Anders, a professor there and romance blossomed into an engagement. All is not well in their relationship. Randy seems more interested in his old bones than in his fiancé and their libidos and lovemaking styles seem incompatible.

They and a few students are digging at a site when a discovery is made of a highly unusual fossil. Strong cravings for sex burst forth but the price is high.

This is a story to bring a shiver down the spine and one feels the eerie malevolence slowly grow from ephemeral discomfort to skin prickling tension.

We are given a clear picture of the difficulties in the relationship of the engaged couple. However, one finds Lauren somewhat more compelling than her lover. She is a woman who has taken the risk to make a big change in her life and is not altogether sure that she likes the results in at least one aspect. On the other hand, Randy seems like a nice enough man but one wonders to what the heroine was truly drawn.

Baudouin is a great tragic hero. Ms Dafoe gives him a depth that thoroughly captivates. His love of the innocence and beauty that can be seen in humans is very moving. As a reader, one could not help but think that this was a hero who deserved happiness and wish that the heroine could have been paired with him.

The demon creature’s draw and power to manipulate gave this erotic horror story a very sharp edge. This is recommended for readers who enjoy reading tales of things that go bump in the night.

November 2006