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Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite
The opening book in the Fate of the True Vampire series, Sands of Time by Christine Church, sets up a story with a unique premise regarding the origin of vampires. The author sets her story above and beyond conventional vampire stories by linking the Pet Mer (as the alien beings were known) to the Egyptian dynasties and their status as gods among the Egyptian people. The building of the pyramids, designed to provide a dark and safe haven for these god-like beings, and the voluntary blood donations to feed the gods, indicate the unparalleled storyline. Another unconventional aspect of the book is the writing style. I was instantly intrigued by both. The writing style is unusual and interesting in the way it provides the reader with a strong sense of verisimilitude. Ms. Church uses the finding of ancient documents, discovered over a period of several decades but only recently translated, to relate the story of Kesi. As documents are translated and released for publication, the story will continue. It’s a neat writing device I liked very much.
While I could quickly empathize with the primary character, Kesi, and loved the writing device used to tell her story, I thought there was too much ‘tell’ and not enough ‘show.’ Unlike many books that have a preponderance of telling passages, Sands of Time does not drag its way into boredom. The story is compelling enough to keep the reader turning the pages, but, oh how much better it would have been if the author had paused in the journal recital, jumped back in time and ‘showed’ us what Kesi was experiencing. Hoping future volumes in this series shifts into a more equal exchange of telling and showing passages, I recommend this first book and the series. I am looking forward to more of Kesi’s story.
