Customer Reviews

Cameo and the Vampire (Trilogy of Shadows Book 3)

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Cameo and the Vampire is book three in the Trilogy of Shadows series by Dawn McCullough-White. Picking up where book two left off, Cameo heads back to Opal to try and make sense of what happened at the end of book two and even has a few new scars - thanks to Edel's vampire bite - to get used to.

After Opal is badly wounded, Cameo decides to enlist the help of Kyrian - a magical healer she hopes can mend Opal's badly broken hands. During their travels, Cameo realizes that something has changed from the new vampire bite she received and that she is changing although she doesn't want to admit it to herself or her traveling companions. Along with her inner turmoils, Cameo is also left to question where her heart truly rests - and with whom.

If you are looking for a quick and unique read, I highly recommend giving the Trilogy of Shadows a try. Not only will you be swept away in the unique world that Dawn McCullough-White has created, but you will be left thinking about the characters long after you have finished reading the story.

Beware! This review contains spoilers from the first two books!

Cameo and the Vampire is the third and final installment in Dawn McCullough-White's dark fantasy following Cameo and her not-so-merry band of men as she travels with a severely injured Opal and Haffef's new thrall, Jules, to find Kyrian. It is her hope - and Black Opal's - that Kyrian the acolyte can heal Opal's injuries and now that Haffef has her sister Ivy's bones Cameo can be free of him.

Cameo has come very far by now. She's realized she's not just a thrall that can be ordered about. She still thinks, feels and knows she is capable of love, even as one of the undead. As this motley crew treks through the cold to find Kyrian, Jules and Cameo come to the realization that they may not hate each other as much as they thought.

Opal is still the finest dandy in all the land...and he doesn't let anyone forget it, although his role in this story is greatly diminished compared to the first two. I attribute that to his injuries and Cameo having to travel without him several times.

In Cameo and the Highwayman, Cameo is bitten by Edel the Vampire (who was also created by the Vampire Haffef), so in this sequel, she begins to experience the changes that go along with that. I loved the initial internal struggle she had with these changes, and the details the author gives us each time Cameo feels the urge to consume...things. ;)

I also fell even more in love with Jules, if that is even possible. [SPOILER!!!] I thought he was just awesome from the beginning, but as this story progressed, he got even better and I was sorely disappointed that after he and Cameo shared that kiss, they didn't end up together. I know most people love Opal the best, but I'm a die hard Team Jules fan and you ain't gonna sway my mind! So I was REALLY sad when he died. However I guess she gets to keep him as a thrall so it works out. [/SPOILER]

Anyone who has read books 1 and 2 also knows by now that Haffef wants Ivy's bones and can probably deduce that he was in love with her. What he tries to do with those bones and why he ever turned Cameo (aka Gwen) is so very interesting and goes to show just how much a vampire can truly love.

Overall, the plot felt more tightly woven together than the previous two and I think that is a by-product of the coming-together of the conclusion of the story of Cameo. The entire series is just done very well and I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys dark fantasy. It's witty and well-written, the characters are charming and the world is beautifully dark.

My full review can be found at thebawdybookblog dot com

The Trilogy of Shadows series by Dawn McCullough White is a wild, unique, captivating ride. Each book has felt completely different from the others in the series, and as the story evolved so did the characters. Set in a fantasy world in a time where there are no cars or modern technology, and monarchs rule the land; vampires, zombies, and other paranormal entities clash and Cameo struggles for freedom.

Cameo and the Vampire picks up immediately where book 2 left off, Cameo has been bitten and Black Opal is severely injured. Jules has been tasked by the master vampire to follow Cameo, who takes Opal in search for Kyrian to heal Opal's wounds. Meanwhile, Kyrian has met up with other acolytes who are determined to find the master vampire and kill him. The master hates Cameo, and she may never be free of him.

Because of the events (*ahem* vampire bite) Cameo experienced in book 2, Cameo is experiencing changes. She doesn't understand what is happening and she tries to hide it from Opal. Cameo and Opal's relationship is an odd one. They are attracted to each other, but their personalities and their distant natures give their relationship an odd feel. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but I can say that this entire series is completely unique and I was thoroughly engrossed in each story.

I did feel that in this installment in the series, the plot felt a bit scattered. There was not a ton of action going on, but many different things were happening to different groups of people. Cameo, Opal, and Jules had their own interesting interactions, Kyrian and the other acolytes were naively trying to figure out how to bring down a powerful vampire, and the vampire was doing crazy things with the bones of Cameo's sister. Oh, and zombies were farming. So, there was a lot going on, but it did all tie in at the end, and I really did enjoy the book. As for Cameo, her story is pretty much all tied up, and at the end I was satisfied with her story. However, not every storyline was tied up. Hopefully, Dawn McCullough-White will write a spin off so readers will know what becomes of some of the characters whose story lines were left open.

I highly recommend this series to any fans of paranormal books. Whether you like zombies, vampires, or even magic, it's all in this series in a new, unique world. This series needs to be read in order, or you will most likely be lost. There is some romance in the series, but not a lot, and it is not a steamy read. So, give it a try, I hope other readers enjoy this series as much as I have.

*I received this book for review*

Let me start by reminding you that you can't judge a book by its cover. I will be the first to admit that this cover would be a total turn-off if I hadn't already read the first two books in this series. But since I was already a fan of Cameo, there was no way I was going to miss the chance to see how her story ends.

This book picks up right where the last one left off. Cameo has barely escaped with her life after being bitten by Edel, then witnessing his murder. She makes her way back to Opal, with Jules --the former assassin and newly turned zombie-- trailing along. Once reunited, Cameo and Opal decide to seek out Kyrian to help heal Opal's injuries.

Kyrian, meanwhile, has met with other acolytes who have called to him for help. They are planning to take down Haffef, who by the way, is focused solely on bringing Cameo's sister back to life. There are a lot of twists and turns that carry us to the inevitable showdown between Cameo and her maker. And that's kind of a double edged sword. One of the things I like best about this series is that it's so different from the other books out there. The characters can't be compared to your standard supernaturals. The setting is unusual and the plotline, unpredictable.

But. There are what felt like a lot of red herrings in this installment. Or maybe they are dangling plotlines... which is bothersome for the conclusion of a series. For instance, there's a surprise baby thrown in and it seems like that might go somewhere and then --it doesn't. Hints of a possible love triangle linger, then crash and burn. And perhaps most disturbing of all is the fate of Cameo's sister. What did she become? Where did she go? She was pretty much the impetus for everything that happened. Then the thread was just dropped.

Obviously, these things bothered me, but I still enjoyed the story. Opal is still a complete enigma to me, even after three books. Cameo is fascinating in her tortured and macabre way. And the series just reeled me in and didn't let go. There was a pretty concrete ending, but it was kind of surprising and left me wondering where things would go from here for our characters. I guess the author believes in leaving them wanting more. Because if she wrote another book, I'd read it. Almost 4 stars.

P.S. If you've never read this series, this book is not the place to start. Give Cameo the Assassin a try. It's usually $.99 on the Kindle.