The Phantom Paragrapher review of "An Unholy Embrace" by Neil Benson

The Phantom Paragrapher

Review of "An Unholy Embrace" by Paula Phillips

Are you loving the whole mortal/vampire love storyline ? Edward and Bella in Twilight , Elena and Stefan / Damon in Vampire Diaries , Dylan and Claire in The Gates (though Claire is now turned) , Alexander/ Jagger and Raven in Vampire Kisses and Dimitri and Rose in Vampire Academy or Hugo and Elizabeth in The Point and who can forget our Sookie Stackhouse and Eric/Bill.

With Vampire Novels now on the rise for the last two years , reading an article -the world of Vampires has hit the money-making world of $7 Billion Dollars in Books, Movies, TV and Merchandise.

Today's Review is that whole mortal/vampire love affair but in today's book it contains the twist of the female being the Vampire and the mortal being the male.

Review : Unholy Embrace - Neil Benson -2010

A popular storyline lately has been the tale of the mortal/vampire love story and the majority of them have ended up writing the male as a Vampire and the female as the lovestruck mortal. One thing that I really liked in Neil Benson's book is that he decided to use gender reversed roles and make the male the lovestruck mortal and the female the Vampire. Having it this way, was a nice change for once.

The story starts when Frank and Nessa are out on a date and are attacked by Werewolves, the attack causes Nessa to extract her fangs and go all- vampirey , something that Frank hasn't really experienced before. From then on , we are transported back to the beginning -where they first met and how their relationship started and of course how they reached the point in the story.

What follows is Nessa explaining and opening her 400yr old heart to Frank and telling her story on how she became a Vampire starting in Hungary all the way to her travels via Vienna and Paris to the Present time in New York.

We read as the Werewolves attacks are just the beginning as Nessa has been on the run nearly 400 years and has been tracked by Narice - the vampire lover of the Vampire who turned Nessa and in return Nessa Killed out of vengeance.

When Frank realises the consequences and danger of being with Nessa , can he stand strong and embrace the unholiness of being with a Vampire or will he take the white feather coward option out and leave Nessa to follow a path of a normal life ?

An excellent story that shows readers in a paranormal and supernatural way that no matter what happens and how terrifying obstacles can be - love between not only mortals but mortals and supernaturals can stick tog

http://www.amazon.com/Unholy-Embrace-Neil-Benson/dp/0982679505/ref=tag_stp_s2f_edpp_neil_b11on

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/56944

Night to Dawn Magazine - October 2010 issue - Vampire Short Stories

The October issue of Night toDawn magazine contains over 15 vampire short stories, including my short story, A Problem with Werewolves.  My story is about a female vampire who was assigned by the vampire council to kill a terrible creature. Before she can do that, she must fight her way through a pack of werewolves guarding the demon. Her mortal boyfriend, meaning well, volunteers to help her before he hears the complete mission.  Not wanting to back out, he finds himself in a battle that should have taken place in hell.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Unholy-Embrace-Neil-Benson/dp/0982679505/ref=tag_stp_s2f_edpp_neil_b11on

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/56944

Unholy Embrace vampire novel by Neil Benson - in the eyes of a vampire

 A mortal, Frank, enters a wannabe vampire bar in Manhattan and finds himself scrutinized by a beautiful real vampire

“You're not an overgrown boy or a self-styled stud eager to add me to his sexual trophy case.”

“You can tell that just by looking at me?”

“That and much more.”

“Okay, tell me what you know.” Her gaze caught mine as I issued the challenge.

“You're an architect in his mid-thirties who would rather be a painter,” she said without hesitation. She leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers, her bright green eyes studying my every move.

“How do you know that?” Was she a mind reader or something?“There are traces of light green ocher paint under the nails of your index and middle fingers on your right hand.” I couldn't see anything, even when I held my nails under a light.

“I have excellent vision, especially at night.”

“There's nothing there to see,” I said.

“You failed to wash off all the ocher and pale yellow egg tempera paint you used.” She licked her lips.

Nessa had just described the colors I had been working with earlier in the evening. “I don't know how you guessed what I was using, but there's no way anyone could  see the paint in this dim light.”


“A vampire could.” She leaned forward, opening her mouth, and showing the tips of sharp pointed fangs.

“Are those real?” I asked in a voice barely a croak. My heart thumped against my ribcage.

http://www.amazon.com/Unholy-Embrace-Neil-Benson/dp/0982679505/ref=tag_stp_s2f_edpp_neil_b11on

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/56944

Unholy Embrace vampire novel - attacked by a white werewolf

Nessa is attacked by a white werewolf

When I turned around, a tall, muscular, blond haired, young woman stood between me and the door. Her large hands held a six-foot long round metal pipe with both ends capped by pieces of steel sharpened to fine points. Silver coated the last few inches on the tips. She had a feral look on her fine featured face. The way she held the pipe, and balanced on the balls of her feet, indicated her training as a martial artist.

No human, however skilled in the martial arts, could hope to take on a vampire, even when armed with a lethal weapon. When I examined her more closely, I saw the heavy covering of fine blonde hairs on her arms. She was a werewolf, requiring me to be more careful in fighting her.

When I took a step forward, she jabbed at me with the pipe, but not with the intent of stabbing me, but rather to test my reaction. I took another step, which gave her a chance to pierce my heart with the point of the pole. She jabbed at me, but before it reached my body, I grabbed it with both hands and snapped it towards the ceiling. She responded by snapping downwards on the pipe, breaking it in half. This caught me by surprise.  The force of my own momentum carried my half of the pipe into the ceiling, almost jarring it from my hands leaving me defenceless for a moment...

http://www.amazon.com/Unholy-Embrace-Neil-Benson/dp/0982679505/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274835629&sr=1-2

Review of Unholy Embrace by Trish Martin at Horrornews.net

REVIEWED BY "TRISH MARTIN" http://www.horrornews.net/

Unholy Embrace by Neil Benson is the story of a romantic and dangerous love affair between a beautiful, ages-old vampire and a mortal man. This story is enchanting and sexy with an edge of excitement. Not only do we read about vampires but of werewolves and demons. The New York night life and seedy underbelly do well to create a dangerous atmosphere. I enjoyed reading about the main character’s blossoming relationship but also the horrific demons and monsters that lurk about in the night. Nessa Harcanu is the sexy vampire born in 1597 in a small town near Budapest.

Though Nessa is voluptuous and sultry, she posses a power beyond mortal imagination. She becomes involved with a mortal man named Frank Thornton who is an attractive architect that is skeptical about the existence of vampires and demons. Also joining the story are members of the Meyer family of which Nessa becomes close with early on in her life as a vampire; they come to serve her and assist her with her needs throughout the ages. We also come across a weaker vampire named Narice whom, after her master is killed by Nessa, begins following Nessa waiting to exact her revenge. There are a few other characters we run across in the story who serve as a backdrop in the evolvement of the two main characters. The interaction with these other characters gives us insight to the character’s lives and personalities.

Nessa’s tale of how she became a vampire and her life up until present day is one of intrigue and even sadness. Frank listens to Nessa’s story and becomes even more enchanted with her and begins to understand her a little better. Their relationship is really one of master and subservient, Nessa the master and Frank the subservient. Even with the uneven balance of power the relationship between the two becomes stronger and the need to protect one another grows. The appearance of a demon creates more drama and trouble for the two and they realize in order to save humanity they must defeat this demon in any way possible.

I would classify this story as less horror and more romantic suspense but it is still a wonderful and exciting tale. As I delved deeper into the book I found it hard to put down. It is definitely an easy read and isn’t cluttered with unnecessary plot and lag time. There were times of some light eroticism mixed in with story to give it an edge above the teeny-bopper vampire love stories. Also we examine great power within Nessa making her almost super-heroine like in her conquests. Frank’s mind is torn between his deep love of Nessa and his wish for normalcy in his life. My only complaint as far as this novel was concerned was that I felt that the ending was a tad rushed; I felt that maybe the writer was a little unsure of how to resolve the conflict without creating more trouble for the characters.

Neil Benson has a rare talent for creating a story where you can identify and truly care about what happens to the characters. Giving life to character’s like Nessa and Frank enables the reader to walk in the footsteps of the characters, getting more in-depth in the story and almost being able to see the world through their eyes. I would also have to give Neil Benson props on creating a dueling perspective between the characters; by doing this we can see the story from the perspective of both Nessa and Frank. I would highly recommend this book to all vampire lovers out there and especially those who enjoy romantic flights of fancy.

http://www.amazon.com/Unholy-Embrace-Neil-Benson/dp/0982679505/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274835629&sr=1-2

Vampires and Jesus or Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider

In Rabbit:Chasing Beth Rider, Ellen Maze has written a truly unique and creative novel. When I first read about this book, I was intrigued by the notion of true Christianity meeting vampires. I wasn't disappointed by the novel. Ellen gives a fresh perspective the relationship between vampires and mortals. I admit to being confused by whether Beth was a rabbit for a few pages. Once I understood the metaphor, I enjoyed it. From my perspective, the entire novel was a metaphor. This wasn't just about good and evil, or Christianity and the devil, so to speak. It was about the nature of the way people relate to each other. Vampires are bullies, "people" who use other people. The world is filled with such people even if they aren't officially vampires. Instead of Van Helsing or Blade coming after the vampires, a small woman armed with her only her faith confronts the whole evil race and... To say more would be to give away the entire novel. I was intrigued, interested, and thoroughly enjoyed Ellen's unique perspective and her writing style. I strongly recommend this novel to anybody who is interested in a new view in vampire novels.

Unholy Embrace vampire novel by Neil Benson - an excerpt Paris 1899

New Year's Eve 1899: Nessa walking alone through the streets of Paris.

At 11:30 in the evening, I walked out of my house and joined the thousands of people celebrating the coming of the new century. As I walked among the crowd, I felt disconnected from the people and the celebrations. Alive, or rather undead, for three hundred years, I wandered among people mostly under age forty. What did I have to celebrate? Living forever had been more of a curse than a blessing.

I was walking joylessly through the streets, when a tall, dark-haired man came up beside me. He turned and wrapped his arms around me. He kissed me with great vigor on both cheeks. His eyes glistened, and I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

“It is a great time in which to live,” he said.

“I suppose so.”

“You suppose so? Mademoiselle, you are young and beautiful. The twentieth century will be filled with wonders we cannot imagine.” He put his arms on my shoulders and looked into my eyes. “Be alive, be alive. There is so much joy in life.” He kissed me on the lips then walked away into the crowd, sharing his joy with other women.

If he only knew.

http://www.amazon.com/Unholy-Embrace-Neil-Benson/dp/0982679505/ref=tag_stp_s2f_edpp_neil_b11on

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/56944

The Changeling - Poem about a werewolf submitting to the Alpha male by Neil Benson

The Changeling

The full moon rises.

I hear your call.

The change begins.

My hair stand up,

and my breath quickens.

Tendons stretch,

and muscles grow.

Bones expand,

and fleshy yields.

My jaw protrudes,

and fangs appear.

great claws form,

and grip the ground.

A tall, horrid creature arises,

and greets the night with a howl.

Finally, I am whole.

To you I run, swift and sure.

Through grassy fields,

into a dark forest,

up a great mountain,

ever higher I go.

Past the tree line,

and into thin air.

Faster and faster,

my legs carry me forth.

Until you stand above me,

mighty and supreme.

I bare my throat,

and submit to your will.

You sniff my body,

and my passion burns.

Our bodies join
and I and complete. 
 

In Dark Journeys, short stories and dark poems describe perilous paths taken by mortals, vampires, and other creatures of the night. One story is about the surprise that awaits a mortal man when he has a picnic with the Queen of the forest. In A Problem with Werewolves a mortal male and his beautiful female vampire lover battle a pack of werewolves and a hideous demon. Dark poems tell of the painful and sometimes fatal relationships between mortals and vampires.If this sounds interesting, and I hope it does, please follow the link and buy the anthology for only $.99.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AERRMIM