After being shot outside a club on her twenty-first birthday, Pandora Todd, aka Dora, finds herself in the bed of a handsome stranger with a pair of snake-like fangs. Now, instead of a hangover, Dora wakes with an intense hunger for blood and the strange ability to control all things dead, a distinctly un-vampire trait. Unfortunately, just when Dora grows accustomed to the vampire aspects of her … her eternal life, she finds herself targeted by a rival necromancer. Soon, Dora becomes wrapped up in a plot that will shape her past, present, and future.
WARNING: This is part of a trilogy and ends on a cliff hanger.
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Pandora Syndrome: Stories of Ithiria popped up in my recommendations not too long ago. Though I’m not a vampire story fan, I read the blurb, and added it to my TBR list. Here are my thoughts.
Synopsis (from the author):
After being shot outside a club on her twenty-first birthday, Pandora Todd, aka Dora, finds herself in the bed of a handsome stranger with a pair of snake-like fangs. Now, instead of a hangover, Dora wakes with an intense hunger for blood and the strange ability to control all things dead, a distinctly un-vampire trait. Unfortunately, just when Dora grows accustomed to the vampire aspects of her eternal life, she finds herself targeted by a rival necromancer. Soon, Dora becomes wrapped up in a plot that will shape her past, present, and future.
What I liked:
First, I enjoyed this book! April Wahlin did a great job of taking vampires, werewolves, zombies, and other horror denizens and made them more human than monster. It was an interesting way to make the story different from others. Seen through the eyes of Dora, the story follows her transition from new adult to vampire – something she doesn’t particularly like to be. Pandora Syndrome also handles Dora’s relationships with other supernatural beings in a humorous and entertaining way. All told, a fun read!
What I didn’t like:
I only have two minor complaints about Pandora Syndrome. First, the story moved a little slowly in places. Second, the cliffhanger ending. I know, personal preferences, but that is why they are minor complaints.
Overall impression:
April Wahlin did a good job with her characters, the story, and building a supernatural world superimposed on Los Angeles. A few slow spots and the cliffhanger ending bothered me a little, but not enough to knock the rating. If you like supernatural stories, read this one!
My rating:
5 Stars
This is a fantastic and entertaining read. I was intrigued throughout and absolutely enjoyed the humorous take on the vampire’s life. The world building is great. I am a little disappointed in the editing which is far from perfect. The writing style is great, but enough errors slipped through to be irritating.
All things considered, I thoroughly enjoyed Pandora Syndrome and look forward to reading the next book.
What a fun read this turned out to be!
Although the book is quite long it is very readable and flows along at a cracking pace. As no section dragged it seemed a much shorter read.
Dora, the central character is turned when drunk on her 21st birthday in 1982. This gives an early indication that the book is a fun, fresh, modern take on the world of vampires and werewolves. I especially liked the reference to the film, The Lost Boys. There are the older characters who have been around for centuries but the story centers on Dora and how she combines her new reality with modern life and attitudes. Her maker, Remy is a great character and gives a new twist to the more traditional vampire.
The book is probably aimed at the twenty-something reader but as an older reader, I thoroughly enjoyed the read. The book is suitable for all ages from teenagers upwards.
The book is beautifully written and although I’m not a fan of the technique, extra effort has been put into the book’s formatting which many will appreciate.
Two niggles. 1 – I don’t think the cover does full justice to this very good book. 2 – It was very naughty not to explain why Dora was held in cement!
Highly recommend to fans of the modern vampire genre.