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Bloodline
 | Bloodline Kate Cary Date: 18 August, 2005 — $11.55 — Book Rating: |
John Shaw, a British communications officer during World War I, records in his journal the horrors he experiences in the trenches of France. Among the horrors are the actions of his cruel but effective commanding officer Quincey Harker. After John is injured in battle, he is sent back to England where he is nursed back to health by the kind Mary Seward. When Harker appears and begins courting John's innocent sister Lily, no one suspects the danger she is in. Although John worries about his sister's heart, he should be worried about her soul since Harker is the descendant of Count Dracula.
This novel is told in a series of letters and journal entries. Most of the action is described in entries by John, Lily, and Mary, but even Quincey keeps a journal. ( I guess when you're undead a journal helps keep the years from running together.) However, except for one brief entry to start the novel, Quincey's entries don't appear until the very end of the book when the author needs a way to explain his actions and motives. The prologue journal entry from Quincey tacked on the front of the book reveals that Quincey is a vampire and only ruins the suspense for the reader. The ending is rushed and unsatisfying. The main characters make a few pathetic attempts to escape and when those don't work, they get personality implants and start behaving totally out of character. Doors that were locked and guarded when they attempted to escape are suddenly accessible when they want to talk to one of the other characters. The motivations of the villans are questionable at best. Even the surprising revelation can't save this otherwise average novel from a terrible ending.
The plot itself seemed so promising, but the execution is sloppy. Very disappointing.
