Cruxim

HELLO, BEAUTIFUL COVER! OK, now that I've gotten that out of the way... *wipes drool from chin*

I don't think I've ever read a book such as this before. I cracked this baby open thinking it would be your typical vampire novel, minus the sparkles, but it is SOOO much more than that. Written in a very old-world, gothic style, Cruxim is a new kind of paranormal, seamlessly blending angels, vampires, and mythology into this brilliant tale. This story is told from the POV of Amedeo: fallen angel and vampire hunter who sustains his own strength through the blood of the undead -- vampires, not zombies. Stay with me here, this is gothic, not Zombieland. Amedeo's voice is reminiscent of Louis de Pointe du Lac in Interview with a Vampire -- intelligent, eloquent, swoon-worthy.

The story begins with Amedeo (Ame) who has been locked away in a tower in Sezanne for decades, feared by the townspeople who were convinced he was in league with the devil. At first they attempted to kill him, but failed due to his immortality. Then came the torture, gruesome acts that would surely result in instant death to anyone other than Ame. They concluded there was no other reasonable choice but to imprison him, and after forty years he remained in that cell.

"I have given up trying to convince them that I have more in common with man than with those merchants of death: the bloodsucking agents of hell they so fear. I have given up wondering how they could mistake me so, for I am neither demon nor devil. My work is holy."

- Karin Cox, Cruxim

A great deal is learned in just the first few chapters of this book. We learn about how Ame met Joslyn more than two hundred years ago, and how she was turned from a good girl into a bloodsucking vampire by Beltran, Ame's nemesis. We also find out how Ame met Sabine, the female Sphinx, over a century ago. Yes, there is a Sphinx in this book, half-woman, half-lioness, and she is all sorts of badass! I love this character! The author applied such incredible detail, and fleshed out these characters in such a way that you fall squarely into the center of their lives. I can't believe how much information was packed into this book, yet it flowed like water through my fingers. No aspect felt rushed or overwhelming in the least. It is perfectly balanced.

The villains of Cruxim are truly horrific creatures. Beltran, the vampire that Ame desperately wants to bleed dry, and has for centuries, and Gandler, who is human, but the most sadistic bastard you'd never want to meet, even in the most crowded of places. These characters kept me on the edge of my seat. I loathed them both so much I wanted to "skidoo" into the book and kill them myself! The action in this book is enough to cause an adrenaline junkie to overdose, very intense and meticulous. I caught myself wincing and gasping numerous times while reading this book.

I highly recommend Cruxim to lovers of true gothic horror and paranormal genres. This story provides a fresh spin on old-world vampire lore. I will be stalking this author for the rest of this series and beyond!

This was the first time I heard of a Cruxim, so of course, I got curious. It turned out, curiosity really did kill the cat ... and rose again. The author, Karin Cox made this book very easy to read so I give props to her. I really appreciated it how she carefully visualized Amedeo, a dark, driven, fallen angel and how this immortal vampire-killer lived his solitary life. And I specially liked how she portrayed vampires for what they really were - cunning, ruthless, bloodsuckers.

Likewise, there was Sabine, a mythical or mythological creature called a Sphinx, a character I don't normally found in YA/Fantasy books. A quite intriguing half-human, half-lioness. I found myself rejoicing a little whenever she came back alive every morning like a Phoenix. Sadly though, during the day, when she's not free, she's at the hands of a cruel mad scientist who painstakingly killed her every night. Yes, I preferred her more than Joslyn, and I was equally fascinated with her being. I look forward to reading more about her on the second book.

Karin Cox is talented and witty and poetic. She knows how to characterize the villains in her book. Bertran & Gandler were equally sick and disgusting, I definitely disdain Bertran for what he had done to Amedeo and his love interest. His ultimate end was a satisfaction to me. Gandler on the other hand, was a psycho who rejoiced in investigating and experimenting otherworldly creatures. The epitome of most villainous character.

The story was unique and it had a considerable amount of action and adventure. Inasmuch as I would like to tell you more of Amedeo and Sabine and the vampires, I am afraid I might give the whole story right away. But the fact remains that Karin Cox is on her road to stardom. She writes really well and she's remarkable. If this was her first foray in writing, I didn't realize it. If I were to compare her the fashion world, I'd say, she belongs to the High-Fashion society.