stranger_sights's review against another edition
5.0
You can check out my full review at: https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020/09/23/the-gray-man-of-smoke-and-shadows-by-todd-sullivan/
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads.
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads.
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
4.0
Volume two of Todd Sullivan’s Vampire Series of Extreme Horror picks up where Butchers left off, this time focusing on Hyeri, a character introduced in book one. Right away, Sullivan’s growth as a writer is on display. In my review for Butchers, I mentioned that the dialogue and language could be clunky at times. The Gray Man of Smoke and Shadow is a considerably smoother journey.
This story revolves around revenge, but with a few interesting twists. Hyeri utilizes her vampiric abilities to try and exact revenge on the uncle who tortured her, but quickly finds out there is more to the titular Gray Man than meets the eye. Adding to this, the Gwanlyo, the organization introduced in book one, is back and trying to rein in this rogue employee.
Many of things that Sullivan did with Butchers are on display again here, both to the book’s success and detriment, including the South Korea setting that sets this apart from other vampire lore . The story fits perfectly into the novella format, and at 113 pages, feels neither too fatty or like we’re missing anything. The pacing makes use of short, quick, bite-sized chapters to rapidly change character point-of-view and keeps the story barreling forward.
Another point I made in the review for Butchers is that it reads like a portion of a series, which of course it is. In book one, unanswered questions are par for the course, so long as we get answers moving forward. They don’t have to come in book two by any stretch of the imagination, but when book two introduces more nefarious creatures with limited explanation, and doesn’t go far toward answering questions, especially regarding the Gwanlyo, that I still had from book one, I get a little concerned. Book three could come along and totally allay my fears. I’m just cautious.
The Gray Man of Smoke and Shadow is a fast-paced, brutal, relatively self-contained vampire story set in South Korea. If that sounds like your think, then Sullivan may have just the series for you.
I was given a copy by the author for review consideration.
This story revolves around revenge, but with a few interesting twists. Hyeri utilizes her vampiric abilities to try and exact revenge on the uncle who tortured her, but quickly finds out there is more to the titular Gray Man than meets the eye. Adding to this, the Gwanlyo, the organization introduced in book one, is back and trying to rein in this rogue employee.
Many of things that Sullivan did with Butchers are on display again here, both to the book’s success and detriment, including the South Korea setting that sets this apart from other vampire lore . The story fits perfectly into the novella format, and at 113 pages, feels neither too fatty or like we’re missing anything. The pacing makes use of short, quick, bite-sized chapters to rapidly change character point-of-view and keeps the story barreling forward.
Another point I made in the review for Butchers is that it reads like a portion of a series, which of course it is. In book one, unanswered questions are par for the course, so long as we get answers moving forward. They don’t have to come in book two by any stretch of the imagination, but when book two introduces more nefarious creatures with limited explanation, and doesn’t go far toward answering questions, especially regarding the Gwanlyo, that I still had from book one, I get a little concerned. Book three could come along and totally allay my fears. I’m just cautious.
The Gray Man of Smoke and Shadow is a fast-paced, brutal, relatively self-contained vampire story set in South Korea. If that sounds like your think, then Sullivan may have just the series for you.
I was given a copy by the author for review consideration.
stranger_sights's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.5
You can check out my full review at: https://mediadrome.wordpress.com/2020/09/23/the-gray-man-of-smoke-and-shadows-by-todd-sullivan/
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