After recently reviewing Steven L. Shrewsbury's new book, BULLETPROOF SOUL, for this e-zine the folks over at Black Death Books asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing any of their other titles. I took a look at their catalog, picked a few interesting-looking novels and, in no time at all, the review copies appeared in my mailbox.

The first of those books that I chose to review is a dark and haunting novel titled SLAYER by Karen Koehler. Since Black Death Books is known for their horror titles, I had a pretty good idea of what kind of a story I was getting into with SLAYER. Reading the review quotes and story summary on the book jacket, I then knew that this was a vampire novel. Being a fan of both the horror genre and vampire stories, I was quite happy with this combination and was eager to begin.

What I didn't know before I started this book, but which became apparently clear within the very first few pages, is that SLAYER is not just another in a very long line of vampire novels. Indeed, this work is something much more, a different take on the vampire legend, a different type of underworld than the one we as readers and moviegoers have been used to.

I was immediately fascinated with SLAYER, wanted to know where this story was taking me, wanted to learn more about the Coven and the dhampiri, the secrets of the Ninth Chronicle and the Slayer Alek Knight. Ah, I see that I have your attention as well. Mysterious terms, these are, and the answers behind them were lying within the pages yet to be read. So, read them I did.

As the pages turned, I found that this Slayer is not a mere mortal out to annihilate vampires like we've all seen in recent TV shows. No, Alek Knight is one of their own, a quasi vampire-policeman, who can walk freely in the sun, enforcing the laws of his kind in deadly fashion. I loved this change of pace, the concept of vampires policing themselves in order to keep control lest some zealous vampire attempt to stir the attentions of the mortal human masses. This was something that I had not read before in vampire fiction, a new twist on the vampire legend and it was told in rich and blood-curdling detail.

SLAYER is a novel that flows freely through your mind on a rapid current of exquisite language and vivid imagery, a story told in bright splashes of color and brisk pacing. This is the tale of Alek Knight, a man who is not merely a man, who kills his own with sharp steel, a very confused individual, tortured by the memory of his slain sister, yet destined to ascend to the all-powerful position of Covenmaster at some point in the near future. A truly flawed hero, or anti-hero (depending on your particular perspective), Alek Knight is a good soldier, he follows his orders, finds his strength in the taste of blood on his tongue, has great love for those who are important to him and yet can not seem to accept love in return. He is a man torn with himself, torn with his life and torn at what he learns he must do to the one who he thought loved him the most...

Strange to say it but, despite the gory details and the rivers of blood that flow throughout, SLAYER is a beautiful novel told in a style that will bring each scene to life in your mind, you'll see the events happening through your own eyes, you'll smell the smells, and you'll feel for these characters.

I won't go into the details of the plot here for fear of ruining the story if you decide to give this book a go but, suffice it to say, if you enjoy vampire fiction, horror stories and books that can take you to another place in your imagination, then SLAYER is the book for you. I found myself deeply disturbed by parts of this novel, then rooting for the main character, then grieving for some heartfelt loss, then hating the villain and all the while unable to put this book down.

Although I was already a fan of vampire fiction long before reading SLAYER, Karen Koehler has left a new mark on this horror sub-genre. A mark that she has expanded upon with more tales told in this universe?SLAYER: Stigmata and SLAYER: Black Miracles, both also available from Black Death Books. I'm greatly looking forward to more work from this talented author, whether set in her SLAYER Universe or not. For, even now, two days after finishing this novel, I continue to find myself mesmerized by the tortured lead character Alek Knight and where he will go from the events at the end of this novel. There aren't many stories that have that effect on me. When one does, I know that I've just experienced something special.

Everytime I start to think that there is nothing new to be done with the world of the Vampire someone comes along and proves me wrong! Initially, from the blurb on the back of the book, Slayer struck me as a case of "Buffy crossed with Highlander" (I suppose this is mainly down to the description of a Vampire Slayer running around wielding an ancient Katana). However, the book is nothing of the sort. Alek Knight is a member of the Coven; a group of Vatican-trained dhampiri (human/vampire half-breed) dedicated to the eradication of the Vampire race.

The Covenmaster, Amadeus, seems to be schooling Alek to take over as Covenmaster. Then, one day (or should that be one NIGHT) something happens to destroy Amadeus's plans. Suddenly Alek goes from Hunter to Hunted.

Slayer is a well-paced novel set in the dark vampire underworld where monsters with inhuman strength battle for supremacy. It is a fairly complex tale that requires concentration but I certainly found it worth the effort. There are some excellent characters and good descriptive writing. One interesting touch was the use of violence. Karen Koehler manages to describe some extremely violent acts without resorting to excessive descriptions. I have read many a vampire story where the author found it necessary to describe the horror in infinite detail (so much you could practically count the drops of blood!).

I understand that this story took a number of years to gain hard-copy publication. Hopefully Karen's next book won't take so long to get into print.