Customer Reviews

Blood Prophet: A Novel

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The events in BLOOD PROPHET take place two years after the events in THE BLOOD OF KINGS. There's enough exposition in BLOOD PROPHET that reading the first book isn't essential, but for a fantastic and imaginative read I recommend starting with THE BLOOD OF KINGS.

As much as I loved the first book, with its vampire plot entwined with revelations about actual significant gay figures in history, I found its sequel even more compelling. Once again we're thrust into the world of Jamie Dunn, an immortal sired by the ancient Danilo, who depends on the blood of kings for his continued existence. Through his narrative, author John Michael Curlovich helps us imagine the possibilities of a culture not steeped in a guilt-ridden, life-denying reactionary worldview exemplified by religious zealotry. Though the plot is a complete fantasy, the author is able to convey the reality that this worldview corrupts and destroys everything it touches. Using the idiom of gay identity to illustrate his point-and I'll point out that both the heroes and the villains are gay, so this isn't a story about poor put-upon gays being victimized by conspiring straights-the author creates a credible, though fanciful, case for the ubiquitous homophobia of religious conservatives, and the value and empowerment of Pride.

While the author clearly has more on his mind than just spinning a good horror yarn, it's obvious that the first order of business for this novel is to be entertaining. And what a good time it is! The exposition moves quickly, and the whole thing is so fast paced I read the entire book sitting out in the sun this past Saturday afternoon. For those interested in thematic structure and character development, you won't be disappointed. Anyone just looking for a good book to read during a weekend afternoon at the beach, you couldn't make a better choice.

I could not put down "The blood of Kings" and the same goes for "Blood Prophet" even though I started reading the latter first. Fortunately I realized that I had ordered the previous novel in the same shipment. The themes and concepts are superbly fantastic and I absolutely love this novel. My only negative is the awful spelling and poor editing! It remains a great read and has taken my attention away from Anne Rice's Vampires for now!

At first, the book starts out confusing. It misses something important...oh yeah, the vibrant character of Danilo. However, after many chapters, you are engrossed in the new story and loving it. The ending...somewhat predictable but interesting!

********WARNING! THERE WILL BE SPOILERS! NOT OF THIS NOVEL, BUT OF THE PREVIOUS ONE!********

It's been two years since twenty-one year old college student and pianist Jamie Dunn's lover, mentor, teacher, spiritual advisor, and "sire" Danilo Semenkaru has disappeared. Jamie has now become a fixture at West Penn, and his Chopin fixation continues unabated as he continues to study classical music. Especially the compositions of past masters that were gay, and of "Royal Blood".

Jamie is now starting to perform live, and to meet a whole new cast of characters. One of which is the traditional and Christian composer Lazar Perske, whose music bores Jamie, but to whom he gravitates to in the hope that Perske will help him in building his composition skills.

Another is the sixteen year old Adam Pilarski who has run away from home after being constantly abused by his fundamentalist Christian parents. Adam sees beauty and inspiration in Jamie's music and inspirations.

He also meets Paul Koerner, a student and singer in the music department. First briefly and professionally; he sings something for one of Jamie's recitals. Then the professional relationship becomes personal as the two will become lovers and confidants.

After two years, Jamie's life suddenly starts to get interesting again. The murders that plagued the campus two years before, and were the result of Danilo and Jamie feeding, start again, although this time Jamie is not responsible. In fact, the murdered are usually connected in some way to Jamie.

Then Adam is murdered in an act of religious fervor by his parents and his parent's congregation. Jamie is heartbroken, and vengeance is mine sayeth Jamie, and the results ain't pretty.

Jamie also becomes the focus of a Christian sect hellbent on censoring Jamie and everything that he does. Jamie's father-figure, and music teacher, Roland MacTavish, warns him of their building influence but Jamie just shrugs the warnings off. This will come back to haunt him, as the group's leader will turn out to be somebody that will betray Jamie's trust.

The events, and murders, continue to escalate. Somebody murders his estranged step-family and after settling their affairs, he finds that he has been willed his biological father's diaries. They will be stolen, but the damage is done. He finds out a closeted secret about his father, that his father was ritually murdered, as Jamie murders those he feeds on, and who the murderer is. The murderer is the person that has been sabotaging his life, and is the person that is responsible for his lover's disappearance.

Then Paul talks him into participating in a Ouija board session as conducted by this novel's token woman, Joe "Josephine" Maggio. During which the skeptical Jamie experiences an extreme vision, an extreme stigmatic experience, and is told where Danilo is. And we are then off to the races.

You don't have had to read the first novel "The Blood Of Kings" to read "Blood Prophet", but it helps, especially as there is much about Jamie that is simple not explained in this novel. Jamie has been informed that almost all gays can trace their bloodline back to the earliest pharaohs. This makes certain gays of "Royal Blood", who, then when turned, into a form of superman. This also gives them them right to prey, to keep themselves healthy and young, on other gays. While billed as a vampire novel, this is really a serial killing, vampire and cannibalistic, paranormal romance. Yes, Jamie drinks blood, but only usually before ripping out other men's throats, cutting out their eyes, heart, and genitals for consumption.

Again, as like the first book, in this alternate world there are almost no non-gay men, unless they show up to be small-minded gay-bashers, and there are NO women. All great historical figures, including Jesus Christ, (yes, there will be blasphemy) in culture, politics, music and the like are gay, and all historians have conspired to keep these facts from you. And this constant droning on about this just gets tiresome and predictable. And once again, Curlovich speculates that if you have a problem with pedophilia or incest, it's you that have a hang-up and a problem with real sexuality, not gays of the Royal Blood for whom such things should be considered beautiful and natural. In love with a teen-ager? Try the Royal Blood defense in court and see how far that gets you.

There are no transsexuals, and if there any bi-sexuals, they are lumped in with those that refuse to be open with their sexuality, and true to their homosexuality, and therefore are to be considered cattle to be slaughtered. Jamie is especially hypocritical, as at one point in the novel he says that he is fighting for those who can't come out into the open, yet it is these that Jamie feeds upon. In fact, Jamie is just a pretentious git as he commits multiple murders, but acts as if the rest of us are just one bad smell that he has to endure to live here. He justifies his boorishness through his "Royal Blood" theory. And after eight years of incompetent leadership under the Bush regime, haven't we all just grown tired of this type of self-serving and delusional self-appointed royalty? Also there is a vague whiff of racism here as all the gay men are either Caucasian, or of Egyptian heritage, none are Latin, African-American, or Asian. And almost all the men are beautiful.

On the other hand, by ignoring contemporary politics, music, culture, and current events Curlovich's "Blood Prophet" takes on a timeless feel that will allow it to be read by anybody. This novel's plot has more twists and turns, therefore making it more of a thriller than the previous novel "The Blood Of Kings".

On the downside, and no pun intended, but the typo fairy has really gone hog wild here. At one point Jamie says "I smirk a thim". A "thim"? What is a "thim"? Do I have one? Or then there is this gem ". . .not its uszzzzzzzzual brilliant blue." WTF?!?

There was also meant to be a third novel in this series I think. There are a number of plot holes that are never filled. Primary amongst these is that a tall, dark and somber figure comes up to Jamie and tells him that Danilo has left him behind to watch over Jamie. We NEVER find out who this character is. Even so, most major plot threads are tied up, and the Royal Blood mythos is kinda fascinating. This novel also continues Curlovich's fascination with ancient Egypt. Something that can also find in his thematically linked Egyptian trilogy ["Cities Of The Dead" (1988), "The Colors Of Hell" (1990), & "The Mummy: Dark Resurrection" (2007)] that he wrote under the Michael Paine name.

For this site I have reviewed the previous novel in the Jamie Dunn series:

The Blood of Kings: A Novel

and his three thematically linked Egyptian novels:

Cities of the Dead
The Colors of Hell
The Mummy: Dark Resurrection

and these other books as by Michael Paine or as himself:

The Night School
Owl Light
Stage Fright
Steel Ghosts
Triptych of Terror: Three Chilling Tales by the Masters of Gay Horror