ReVamped (Void City Series #2)

REVAMPED, J.F. Lewis'twisted saga of uber-vampire, Eric. Welcome to the VOID!

In his second installment of his Void City chronicles, neophyte author J. F. Lewis continues his twisted telling of the trials and travails of Uber-Vampire Eric, who stumbles his way through fogs of forgetfulness, webs of deceit, mounds of body parts, and the willingly (and unwillingly) exposed throats and parted legs of witches, thralls and everyday humans, all while attempting to discover not only who and what he actually is, but also why every sort of supernatural being in non-existence seems to be trying to obliterate him.

Revamped is preceded by Staked (and to be followed by a third installment, Crossed.)Let me first say that I don't sample very much from the current and seemingly endless horde of authors writing Vampire/Werewolf /Supernatural novels. And while I haven't watched much television lately, as a youth I did sit through countless horror and sci-fi movies and I still enjoy the genre. But Vampires seem to be inescapable these days, with the "Twilight" movies and all the vampire - themed TV series.

My curiosity was piqued while rummaging about my local Barnes and Nobel where I first spied and picked up Staked. A week later I ordered Revamped. And as much as a part of me cringes at the desire, I now almost eagerly await Crossed. Simply stated, it is a continuing and twisted tale that is bold, sexy, horrific and fatally funny - and quite well written.

To my uninitiated eyes, I found the stories original, at least in the portrayal of the lead vampire Eric and his (should I call it) "alter-ego" - Fang the 'Stang. Eric may not revel in the reality of who he is, or for what is required of him to gain and retain his Emperor of the Undead status,

".I murder, on average, roughly one hundred and thirty people a year. I've been doing it for over four decades. Overall, I suppose I have been responsible for the deaths of over ten thousand human beings. Charles Manson can kiss my ass. He has no comprehension . Most vampires I know haven't killed a third of the people I have. They.don't have my control problems. I don't like what I am, but I'm too selfish to let anyone kill me."

But he does possess something of a semi-apologetic moral code that sets him apart from the rest of the local Vampire High Society - and he won't eat children.

On another level, it's a classic tale of the "rebel" - the unwitting, evolving and still adjusting hero thrust into a society he despises. He takes pleasure in his unconventional attacks on the rotting core of the status quo (which, in this case, is of supernatural origins and in many cases, is actually rotting.) There's twisted love, betrayal, and loyalty both unsought and bought. Even when he's burned, dismembered and atomized, Eric survives to the consternation (and amusement) of many.

Surrounded by a cast of kinky, cruel, and often comatose characters, J.F. Lewis' creation is different, it's entertaining, it's horrifying, and it's wonderfully funny. Welcome to the Void.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Revamp by J.F Lewis

This book was a wonderful read. My 16 yr old son isn't in to the romantic-type books, but loved ReVamp. This book had the thrill of horor, With enough of the romance and action for most readers over the age of 14. I loved it!

ReVamped is the sequel of Staked also by J.F. Lewis. You will love the books. I can't wait for the next one that follows ReVamped.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

an entertaining bloody vampire thriller

In Void City, vampire Eric Courtney struggles with his new existence. A few days ago his business partner at the Demon Heart Strip Club Roger blew up the place with Eric in it (see STAKED). Now Eric is a ghost, which makes taking a bite of blood a bit difficult.

His former fiancée Marilyn begins to fill in the details of his last living undead days in Void City, but before she can explain how he was betrayed, J'iliol'lth the demon takes her soul. Eric cuts a deal with J'iliol'lth. In exchange for him finding the Stone of Aeternemthe that raises the dead, the demon will grant him immortality and give him Marilyn's soul. All that seems simple enough, but he finds the hardest thing to accept is his Mustang has become a vampire and worse he must enter Vampire High Society with his almost girlfriend Tabitha if he is to complete his end of the Faustian deal.

Much more in your face (make that neck) humor than the biting jocularity of Eric¿s first tale, REVAMPED is an entertaining bloody vampire thriller with the spin of the hero becoming a ghostly blood sucker. The story line is fast-paced as Eric is the Murphy of the supernatural world in J.F. Lewis' fine urban fantasy in which he learns that even being an undead dead does not prove any safer.

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another fun read!

Eric & friends just get better and better. Loved the non-stop action and the laugh-out-loud humor!! This is proving to be a great series. Highly recommended!

Still Good..

The book was a great spin from the first one.. I am enjoying the books and the Characters.. Looking forward to Book 3

coolcat

this book was so freaken asome!!!! I recomond this book and the first STAKED to the whole world. JF lewus was pure jenues!

Better than the last

I liked the previous novel, Staked, but this one reads a little bit better after having gotten used to the switching of points of view established in Staked. Like the first, this is a refreshing take on vampires that doesn't go overboard in trying to transform them into romantic heroes. Despite Eric's tendency towards murder and mayhem he is much more sympathetic in this sequel. Tabitha also undergoes some growth of her own.

The story, fortunately, never takes itself too seriously. Eric is more coherent in this tale than the last, which makes it slightly less humorous, however, there is more action in this story than the previous and the story which makes up for it. The plot really comes together and many of the questions raised in Staked are answered.

Sequel to Staked

It makes a lot more sense if the previous book in the series, Staked, is read first. I find the "two person point of view" writing style to be very disjointed, irritating, and conducive to losing the plot. This style alternates; with every even chapter written from one character's viewpoint (1st person) and the odd chapters in between written from a second characters viewpoint (also 1st person). Using this style occasionally in a book is OK but is very annoying if used throughout. I found myself just skimming one character's chapters while paying close attention to the other's story. I guess that's better than not being interested in either character.

Void City, take two..

I enjoyed this book very much. The story picks up exactly were Staked left off. Eric, Marilyn and his strip club have been blown up by Roger. They both spend a bit of time wandering the Demon Heart reminiscing, until Marilyn's time approaches for her to move on. Unfortunately, her afterlife may not be as serine and quiet as one would hope. The background information is revealed on how Roger tortured Marilyn for more than 40 years. I totally loved the parts with Fang The Stang aka Eric's sidekick Zombie Mustang (no exaggeration, the car actually eats people). When Eric finally gets his body reformed, he crosses paths with a demon named J'iliol'lth. This is where the story heats up and moves quickly. He's force to strike a deal with the demon in order to save a loved one and also to be able to achieve true immortality. We also find out what Rachel is, what she's been up to and who she works for; when Tabitha and Rachel cross paths again it is not pretty! Void City may be short one strip club but not to fret it's gaining a vampire bowling alley! There was quite a bit of twisted-humor, which I enjoyed very much. I can't wait for the next installment which should follow Eric in old gay-pari, where he is on the quest to find his sire. I recommend this book to Urban Fantasy readers and look forward to the next book in the series.

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