Customer Reviews

The Book of Common Dread

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have to disagree with some of the other reviewrs of this book who may have found it less than pleasing. Monahan gives us a fresh view on the common vampiric myth and brings it up to a modern level. I found it to be more light-hearted than the Anne Rice series with less voluminous expounding on virtue, feelings and setting. Monahan has delivered a work that tantilizes with just enough background to make it interesting and believable yet leave the reader wanting more (which can be found in the sequel).

This book is not for those seeking the lengthy ramblings of Anne Rice whom I found boring at many times. It is more action oriented and focuses on mystery.

The plot has to do with demonic forces wishing to destroy a certain set of ancient scrolls which could be their undoing. The vehicle of these forces is a vampire. The main character (Simon) is set to stop the destruction of the scrolls and kill the vampire, until....

You'll just have to read it yourself to find out what goes on!

I absolutely recommend the book THE BOOK OF COMMON DREAD by Brent Monahan. This book was very exciting and it kept me engrossed in the plot up until the very last page. The book was well written and the concepts were amazing. Overall, the book was very enjoyable. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate this book a 9. The author, Brent Monahan, thought of things that most people would never think of. The concept of the book is not new, but he gives the authors of the vampire genre something to strive for. Brent Monahan has "raised the bar" on the vampire novel. The characters were both appealing and intriguing, and the plot really sucks you in. For example, in the prologue alone, a number of people suffer extremely violent deaths. Before the end of the book several more people are violently murdered. For the history buffs out there, there is also a bit of history intertwined into the story line. For example, the main character, Vincent DeVilbiss, was born in 1464 in Europe. If you like mysteries and new twists every couple of chapters you will enjoy reading THE BOOK OF COMMON DREAD by Brent Monahan.

I had not planned to write a review of this book, but I noticed that the posted reviews from other readers were very negative. What can I say? I liked it. I don't mind vampires who can take sunlight. I don't mind sexual content. I don't mind vampires who don't fit the traditional mold. I found this book enjoyable.

I loved this book and its sequel, The Blood of the Covenant. It plays like a film in your mind, and is not your average, stereotypical vampire novel. If you want that, go with Anne Rice. If not, pick this book up and give it a read.

The characters are varied and great. The story stays on target, and is a lot more than your everyday vampire tale. All I can say is that it's a terrific contemporary vampire novel, and will remain one of my favorites.

Once again, I have to thank Monahan for giving readers something rare: an original vampire novel!

Can you really believe in the classic vampire, the creature who lives only to extract blood and perhaps, in the sexy vampire novels, to inject a bit of his own fluids? Who would want to live for eternity in a coffin filled with dirt, able to rise only when the sun is down? And was Rice's explanation of the origin of vampires unsatisfactory?
Try Monahan's take on it, in The Book of Common Dread. It is quite a novel novel in the supernatural thriller genre. Other than his highly original vampire, his characters are the usual stock ones, but the action rolls on and on, the situations are uniquely believable, and he even manages to inject dry humor. This would make a heck of a motion picture. So would its sequel.

This book is one of the most original vampire novels that I've read in a long time. It's spooky but told in a way that makes it almost believable. I loved the academic setting of Princeton, and I even grew to like the vampire, Vincent DeVibliss. I actually think that he was the most developed character by the end of the story.

Some of the explanation of how vampires came into existence was simplistic, but the book was still great. I couldn't put it down.

I absolutely recommend the book THE BOOK OF COMMON DREAD by Brent Monahan. This book was very exciting and it kept me engrossed in the plot up until the very last page. The book was well written and the concepts were amazing. Overall, the book was very enjoyable. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate this book a 9. The author, Brent Monahan, thought of things that most people would never think of. The concept of the book is not new, but he gives the authors of the vampire genre something to strive for. Brent Monahan has "raised the bar" on the vampire novel. The characters were both appealing and intriguing, and the plot really sucks you in. For example, in the prologue alone, a number of people suffer extremely violent deaths. Before the end of the book several more people are violently murdered. For the history buffs out there, there is also a bit of history intertwined into the story line. For example, the main character, Vincent DeVilbiss, was born in 1464 in Europe. If you like mysteries and new twists every couple of chapters you will enjoy reading THE BOOK OF COMMON DREAD by Brent Monahan.

I have to say this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Its so rare to find a well written vampire novel, especially these days. I HIGHLY recommend this book, its a fresh perspective on a tough genre to write for. You can't help but hate/love Vincent throughout the book.

the story leaves a lot to be desired because it doesn't really explain enough as to character plot or assingnation, it doesn't go as deep as Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire because it doesn't explain DeVilbisses background enough or the reasons as to why he wants to destroy the scrolls and what the scrolls would do to him and what is that strange part about the voices that control him, who is the secret society that is giving him the elixer that is keeping him alive? And the part as to where Simon Penn has something missing from his character to where he investigates DeVilbiss in the first place, what motivates these characters.

I tried to finish this book, wanting to escape from the Anne Rice serials for a fresh outlook on my favorite mythos creature.Yet what I found was this garbage I can't believe I wasted a day reading half way through. The author makes an attempt to mix subtle elements of Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos, with character archetypes from that semi-awful book I,Vampire into one crappy story in which the vampire can walk around during the day and eat burgers and fries. There is also a wimpy male character whose goals are petty and annoying and a female character whose dapplings in the occult are somewhat meaningless to the already silly plot.