Three years ago the world ended when a group of rogue scientists unleashed a virus that awakened long-dormant strands of human DNA. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the opportunity to read this book. I like Dez and his friends, new and old, and there’s a vampire child I need to get to know. There’s something to hope for that previously wasn’t even an option. I’m keen to sink my teeth into the next book. You could read this book without having read The Raven but you’ll have more fun if you read them in order. While I often find sequels a bit of an ‘are we there yet?’ journey on the way to the big finish of the third book, I actually enjoyed this one even more than The Raven. I didn’t understand why vampires would keep something where they were living that had the potential to harm them but that’s just one question mark surrounded by the exclamation marks that populated my mind every time someone’s insides became their outsides. There’s also talk of the Children (ten feet tall subterranean creatures) and there’s definitely something lurking in the water. Some of the other potential nasties to look out for are werewolves, witches and nuckelavee (straight out of Scottish mythology, they’re sort of like a centaur but creepier). While so much of the action results in bodies that look like they’ve been through a meat tenderiser, there are some tender moments too. On their way to Blood Country, Dez and his friends encounter plenty of once upon a humans: cannibals, trolls and, of course, vampires.

There’s plenty of bloodshed in this book, some of which Michael conveniently sleeps through. “You came at feeding time,” Quincey said. Basically, if their head is still attached to their body, you’ve got a problem. They’re super fast, super strong and they’re the biggest Bads in a world almost exclusively populated by Big Bads. Well, they would be if they were useful weapons in this world but these are not Buffy’s vampires. The stakes are well and truly raised in this book. Susan and Cassidy were taken during the battle at the Four Winds Bar and sold to a horde of vampires.

are currently on a suicide mission to rescue Dez’s girlfriend, Susan, and Iris’ five year old daughter, Cassidy. Still, you don’t want to travel this world alone.ĭez and co. Caring for anyone means they can be used against you in hostage situations or as bait.

Friends are helpful in this world because maths … increased numbers could mean that you don’t die as quickly because you can surround yourself with literal human shields. Now Dez has friends: siren Iris, pyrokinetic Michael and Levi, a fellow Latent who may have a secret. When we first met Dez, a Latent in a world of monsters, he was a loner.

The Raven by Jonathan Janz