I asked (texted) a friend the other day asking her, “Why do I find books almost a year before publication? Especially book one of a series?” She answered it was because I was in the early book business. Reader copies are machines to the future (publication of a book), but also they are the dynomite used to open the passages for the trains of reading in the first place. And if the found early book is a stinker, no problems. But when you find something like Hunger’s Bite by Taylor Robin you actually cry out and say, “Why were you so good? And now you make me wait!” I know that late February 2025 will come, but that means volume two won’t be out until… whenever….!
This book is humorous, horrifying and the ending is an, OH NO YOU DIDN’T! (insert wagging finger). While light on the horror side of things (leaning towards heavy thriller), it does have moments not for the sensitive reader. Action is medium, but the growth of the main character is the main focus. The idea of a mystery on a ship is limited, yet Robin knows what they are doing. Overall a wonderful read and I am very upset that book two won’t be out in the foreseeable future! (yes this will be a recurring theme in my promotion for this book).
I liked the characters in this book, not because they were necessarily likable, but because they were fun, and interesting. Even if I didn’t like them (yes I’m looking at you Honeycutt) they are clever. Each one has a personality that maybe is a bit stereotypical of their “station in life” but that plays an important role in the overall picture of things. They allow things to be familiar, relatable and still give us a story that has a good message without it being totally “in your face.” There is a little history included (remember the Titanic) and a bit about classism, and friendship, family, love and duty.
We have some representation with a family from India, a nod towards our vampire character is “more Camilla than Dracula” (GLBTQ+ nod), and even a bit of gender role switches.