Official Review: Sylvio: Past and Present by R. E. Beebe

[kandscreeley]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sylvio: Past and Present" by R. E. Beebe.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Sylvio: Past and Present tells the story of a vampire named Sylvio. The story is two-pronged and tells not only of present events but also how Sylvio came to be who he is. Rachel is the narrator of the story. She is one of a group of people that allow Sylvio to feed off of them in exchange for health, a place to live and an allowance.

Rachel was dying of bone cancer when she made a deal with a vampire. If she allowed Sylvio to feed off of her, his blood would in turn heal her. She agreed and moved into one of his houses with five others. It was then that she learned that she was a witch. She is still learning about her powers but has already used them to defeat demons in the past. The time may soon come when she’ll need to draw on those same powers again.

Sylvio started out like any other person. His father was a powerful man who became the King of the Vandals. However, his mother was a house slave. As he was part royalty, he was bound for a life of fighting which was better than being a slave. He was a strong fighter, but one of the battles became too much for him. He suffered a mortal blow. He was not meant to die, however, as a vampire brought him back from the brink of death. This vampire then made him his slave.

I was unsure about reading this book after perusing the summary and Amazon. I learned that it was the second in a series, and I always hate feeling like I’m missing something. However, after reading the book, I was pleasantly surprised to find I had no need of the first novel. The author, R. E. Beebe, has written the story so well, that there are no gaps whatsoever. I can guess at what the first novel was about, but she seamlessly integrates that into the back story of this novel. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it done quite so well.

I also enjoyed the fact that the author puts her own spin on vampires. There are a lot of similarities but enough differences to keep me intrigued. For example, Vampires in this story can walk around in daylight if the good in them outweighs the bad.

I will say that this book is not for the faint of heart. There is plenty of violence in this book from the vampires, the demons, the witches and even some werewolves. The scenes can be graphic at times. If that bothers you, I would recommend not reading this book. In the same light, the vampires have a lust for sex while they are feeding. There are no explicit sexual encounters, but there are sexual situations and language that would not be appropriate for some readers.

Overall, I would rate Sylvio: Past and Present a 4 out of 4 stars. I enjoyed each moment of this novel. I loved learning more about what powers Rachel had as well as how a “good” vampire like Sylvio came to be. I am definitely putting the first book in this series on my to read list, and I hope that there are many more to come.

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Sylvio: Past and Present
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Like kandscreeley's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Kitkat3]

I've tried to take a break from the whole vampire thing, because so many people have jumped on the bandwagon, but this sounds good. I like that you say that she puts her own spin on vampires and that the story is written really well. I'll give it a try. Great review!

[Amagine]

It sounds like an interesting vampire tale. I like the fact that the author puts their own spin on vampires. A vampire that can walk in daylight if they're good enough, that's unique. I'm kind of tired of vampire books and shows but this one sounds like it might be a little different.

Great Review! ?

[Shreyoshi Sen]

Excellent review. I love stories based on vampire's but only if they are well written
Loosely written plots are a big no for me. Though this one sounds interesting.

[kandscreeley]

Thanks everyone. Vampire stories are overdone right now. However, this one is unique and interesting. I would encourage people to check it out.

[Chrys Brobbey]

I find the review good and exhaustive, and it makes me feel almost like I've read the book. It's on my shelf, and I'll make it a reading priority. Thanks.

[kandscreeley]

Thanks Chrys. I think you'll enjoy it!

[Guppy]

Sounds really different from all the other vampire stories out there, which is surprising. A great review!

[kandscreeley]

Thanks Guppy. If you get a chance, give it a try!

[christinac_2585]

Great Review! I have read books like this for the past 10 years, and this one seems unique enough that it can stand out in the genre. I'm always looking for a new read so this will have to go on my list.

[Jaime Lync]

This sounds very intriguing. I don't think I am faint of heart so I hope to read this one day. However, even though you said that there is no need to read the first book my mind is telling me that I should read the first before the second.
Great review.

[kandscreeley]

I have no doubt that the first book would be good. If you enjoy vampires, this would definitely be a good one to read.

[gali]

A story with a new twist on vampires? Sounds intriguing. I also prefer to read series in order, so it is nice to know this one can be read on his own. I will definitely check it out. Thank you for the review!

[Scerakor]

I love it when authors take the traditionally accepted fantasy elements and adapt them to their own personal work. This one definitely seems like it has a lot of those fantasy aspects to it, and a lot going for it. Thanks for the review.

[Heidi M Simone]

A new twist of vampires with witches, demons, and werewolves? Wow, this sounds like a great book! I like how the author wrote this book in a way where the reader doesn't necessarily have to read the first one to understand what's going on. I don't mind some violence, especially in a vampire book, so I'll have to check this one out. Thank you for the great review!