Nocturnal by Raquel Zepeda Fitzgerald
Vampires have evolved in the 21st century, striving for a peaceful existence. These modern vampires have lost their need to drink blood from the vein thanks to a billionaire who has spent centuries fixing vampire blood lust and building an empire on the rich’s craving for eternal life. Benedictus is haunted by memories of the past when he encounters a reincarnation of an old love while facing vampires with traditional habits, government agencies with corrupt agendas and a series of murders that, on the surface, appear to be related to vampires.
AN OPENING SCENE THAT MAKES A STATEMENT
Author Raquel Zepeda Fitzgerald, in book three of the Nocturnals series, also called Nocturnal, doesn’t waste any time diving straight into the action by setting up the murders that set up the rest of the story. This grisly opening scene is told from the perspective of four reporters as if they’re on an adrenaline high. These characters are seen joking and bantering, which creates an interesting calmness against the violence that just happened a few pages prior. The opening is a prime example of the balance seen throughout the book with the dialogue used as a basis for humor against dramatic elements in the plot. From this moment, readers are propelled into Benedictus’s lavish life as he’s traveling to an island which creates a contrast between him versus the reporters and the cops, such as Lieutenant Loya.
VAMPIRE LORE ROOTED IN CURRENT EVENTS
The prose is fast-paced with a variety of characters whose perspectives are woven throughout, pulling together different threads of the story. Fitzgerald blends different elements seamlessly together in a way that feels balanced with exploring Benedictus’ past, the conflict between modern and traditional vampires, government experiments and murder. Setting the story in our present day is a clever way of addressing our experiences through the fictional lens of vampires and the concept of eternal life. Benedictus has created a company that exploits vampire-based needs, such as drinking blood and creating a way to buy your way into living forever.
Vampire reputations are explored in an internal war between the old ways — drinking blood from victims — and the modern ways — drinking synthetic blood. These warring ideals create a conflict that heavily impacts the story and each of the characters. These vampires don’t sparkle in this gritty modern setting where a billionaire is catering to the rich with the promise of eternal life and reporters are staking out a hot story on a vampire-like murder.
A NEW TAKE ON VAMPIRISM
This modern setting is a reflection of our own, except the vampire obsession is a reality and is the primary theme of their surroundings, demonic nail polish and holy water nail polish remover included. Vampires are a concept that has been prevalent in our pop culture for years, so I enjoyed the modern take which places them into the world we have today with references to TikTok and COVID-19.
Our real world receives a supernatural flair to reflect our current reality in “Nocturnals,” which is based on the intriguing concept of buying literal immortality. A gritty tone pairs well with humorous banter, with a dash of murder, and vampires are retold through the lens of reporters, a billionaire and government agency agendas.
About Raquel Zepeda Fitzgerald:
Raquel Zepeda Fitzgerald is an accomplished author, artist and entrepreneur. “My passion is entertaining people,” she has said many times. If you have read any of her books, you’ll know this is true. Described as entertaining, fun, a page-turner, unique, brilliant, and engrossing, she definitely is good at entertaining through her books.
Nocturnals is a series about a medical student who was first bitten by a vampire during the Renaissance period. Surviving through thousands of years, he developed treatments to overcome their burdens. In this 21st century, they have evolved as a group in so many ways, now some mortals want to transform themselves into Nocturnals. Unfortunately, only a chosen few can enter their world. Books in this series are as follows: Torrent Tragedy, Bloody Urn, Nocturnals and Moon Garden, which is coming soon.
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