Bookworming in the 21st Century: Review: Blood Prophecy

Author: Stefan Petrucha
Publication Date: October 2010
Genre: Adult Historical Fantasy
Copy provided by: Publisher
Summary (via Goodreads):
His name is Jeremiah Fall. A soldier of fortune, he has been fighting his own war for 150 years—ever since the beast in him was born.
Desperate to restore his lost humanity, Fall crosses the sands of Egypt, discovers a lost city off the coast of France, and finally arrives at the birthplace of all mankind. Shunning daylight and feeding only when he must, he battles the monster who transformed him forever. He can share his deepest secret with no one . . . not even the beautiful woman he starts to love, the only human who grasps the mysteries of an ebony stone as old as creation itself.
Across the world, across time, Fall seeks the stone's secret. But has he found a cure for himself or unleashed a final curse on all mankind?

Why I read this: I haven't been reading a lot of adult novels, but this one really peaked my interest, involving vampires mixed with history.

Plot: Jeremiah was the son of a farmer in the colonies of America, until one day the prison of a creature both human and animal like is uncovered and the creature attacks Jeremiah's father, turning him into something surreal. Jeremiah then becomes one, only manages to start to control the beast that stirs inside of him. He spends his life researching what he is, trying to find out what the creature that made him this way truly was and how to become human once again.

His journey leads him into war during Napoleon's reign of conquering as many countries as he possibly could before failing against the British. Jeremiah discovers what could cure him or end the world and he must choose what is more important - preserving humanity or finding out more about what he is and curing himself from the beast.

Mix in some romance, and a ton of action and Petrucha has really made a stunning novel that philosophizes the vampire and what it truly is.

Characters: Jeremiah was an interesting character. A flawed one and it was interesting to try to analyze how he could have possibly tamed the beast for so long. His romantic interest was somewhat of a bore to be honest. Typical smart, yet damsel in distress mode with a slight twist at the end. I didn't fall for her and wasn't quite sure why he did in the novel. Stranger things could have happened.

As for the ultimate evil, well it definitely was creepy. I wouldn't want to be fighting that thing, super human strength or not. Definite heebee jeebees on that aspect.

Relatability: I think those that enjoy some a little more historical with a vampiric twist will enjoy this novel.

Cover Commentary: Nothing like a sexy man with a sword, although he doesn't quite fit my image for Jeremiah quite completely.

Rating: 4/5 Roses