The Vespertine

GOTHIC FANTASY/HISTORICAL:  Fifty years ago, The Great Vanquish happened, wiping out all the vampires of England. Now, in 1887 London, it turns out that the vampires left something—or rather, someone—behind when they were destroyed: The Vespertine. These creatures may appear human but when they appear at dusk, their vampire side is revealed. 

Tally Bryce, the protagonist, leads quite the sorrowful existence. As a serving girl in Whitechapel, she doesn’t have many prospects, if any. Her mother’s fate is even worse, however, as she is lingering on her deathbed. This is when a possible solution presents itself… A solution in the form of a half-vampire creature who could turn Tally’s bad luck around and perhaps even save her mother’s life.

While the plot isn’t particularly original, the author does manage to craft an intriguing tale about vampires, salvation, and a young girl’s choice. Tally is a solid protagonist, one who, despite the odds stacked high against her, doesn’t give up and always finds a way to go on. She’s rather resourceful and clever, and also kind and loving, which makes it easy for the reader to root for her. However, she’s no Mary-Sue; she’s flawed, and often too naive for her own good. Without wanting to spoil the rest of the plot, this book is an engaging read for fans of historical novels and of vampire books. 

Majanka Verstraete