Customer Reviews

The Cost of Eternity

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love "Thirty Days" and am glad to read more from this writer.
The Cost of Eternity is an emotionally charged vampire erotica, with a tightly paced plot. I like both men here. Unlike most vampire tales, the writer does not glorify the vampire character. Rather Lorcan seems quite ordinary in physique which actually makes this character credible and appealing. Kevin is endearing in his innocence and vulnerability and Lorcan's protectiveness over his younger human lover is most touching. I love the chemistry and strong bond between these 2 men. Their sex is hot but it is the emotional pull of the story which I enjoy.
This is the first of a series, as there are 2 books so far, but it is equally satisfying as a "stand alone".

The second book focuses on a different cast of characters with a more complex plot. As for the relationship it is "more than a menage a trois" which I do not favor as I question the romantic notion of a M/M/M/F (ugh...).
Lorcan and Kevin do feature in the second book, 2/3 through the story, and their short appearance certainly enliven the plot. I hope the writer will switch back to Lorcan and Kevin in future volumes.

Vampire Lorcan MacKenna is so tired of having to hire his blood donors. Unwilling to obtain blood via scare tactics, Lorcan tries his best to make his blood suppliers enjoy giving their blood even though the encounters leave him cold. While he longs for something more, he knows to love someone is to lose him to mortality. It is after one such unemotional feeding that Lorcan comes across a man being accosted in an alley. Seeing the young man's face in the flickering darkness and feeling an instant attraction, Lorcan finds himself saving the hapless victim and taking him home.

Kevin St. James is a starving actor. Literally. Doing his best to make ends meet without asking for help, Kevin has resorted to servicing men for money. It is during one such encounter that Kevin's life is threatened and aid comes in the form of a stranger. When Kevin wakes up and realizes what has happened, he is at once scared and then secretly aroused by the emotions his rescuer brings forth in him.

Lorcan and Kevin explore their relationship and each other. There is just a bit of a problem; while Lorcan hasn't told Kevin he is a vampire, Kevin hasn't revealed something vital either. Will their relationship continue to thrive, or will the exposure of secrets and involvement of others tear them apart?

THE COST OF ETERNITY by new author Shayla Kersten was emphatically one heck of a book. Totally absorbed, I didn't put it down until I finished with it. I laughed, I cried, and I raged at the antagonists. I can't imagine having to make a decision like Kevin had to make. I loved him for his naiveté and I adored Lorcan for his loyalty.

While homoerotic love stories are not for everyone, I found myself forgetting that one small fact and concentrating on the plot. I was blown away by the emotions of the characters and the love they shared. THE COST OF ETERNITY is the second book I have read by Shayla Kersten and, all in all, it was a thoroughly gratifying read. I can't wait to see what else this wonderful new author releases!

Kevin is a young male prostitute serving men in an alley when the trick turns bad. The vampire Lorcan happens to hear the potentially-fatal turn and saves Kevin by bringing him back to his lair. When Kevin awakens, the two have sex and Lorcan nearly kills Kevin by feeding on him. Kevin easily accepts both the existence of vampires and Lorcan's need to drink from him -- which I found patently ridiculous. Oh yes, and he also accepts a fact that he had previously ignored -- that he is gay. One would think any of those three discoveries would be worth more than a page or two of exposition or action. One would think. But suspending that disbelief, I continued on hoping for a good love story.

My hopes were ill founded. The main characters were two dimensional and their motivations beyond basic survival and staying with each other were unclear. The vampire subculture was glossed over, a particular problem given the 'surprise' ending which should have been foreshadowed at some point. The 'bad guy' was a one-dimensional evil black hat of a pedophile whose machinations were obvious and easily thwarted, one would think, by using the vampire subculture.

All in all, not believable in the slightest on any level -- logistical, pragmatic, or emotional. More time, attention and words needed to be employed to create believable and tangible cultures, places, people, and emotional truths. For a dark vampire book full of angst (including attempted rape, rape, and murder), this book was curiously lightweight in terms of emotional resonance.

And SPOILER ALERT:



I was not happy to have a negative ending.

Kersten was able to take an old tale and put a new twist on it. The imagery and word play were simply breathtaking. Where the twists and turns were expected, to me anyway, the book was still fantastically written.

I bought it because I read good things about it, but then, when I read it, what a deception! I liked it and it's good but not so great. Very erotic but didn't capture my attention.

I enjoyed this book. Had not read anything by this author before but after reading this I got a couple of others books by her and enjoyed them too. She is a good story teller and writer.

I had to force myself to finish this book. I was hoping for some new twist on the boy meets vampire boy love story. Sadley, nothing new here. I didn't find the characters particularly engaging and the plot was so predictable I lost interest.

I love this book. It is very well written and it kept me up all night, I couldn't put it down.

Classic vampire stories bore me to tears; all that stuff that is supposed to be scary is just creepy and not in a good way. Then I discovered books featuring Gay vampires. From Dean James's hilarious stories set in a very proper English village to Michael Schiefelbein's monasteries, there is something for everyone. Ms Kersten's Lorcan knows how love can hurt and loosing one's lover can hurt even more. Refreshingly, Ms Kersten did not make Lorcan movie star gorgeous or with a "body to die for." Against better judgement, Lorcan rescues Kevin from a Gay bashing. Lorcan represents a warmth and security Kevin has never known. And a chance to discover how right the love of a good man can be. Throw in an evil "family values" politician and you have the makings of a hot read, a sexy hot book.

Lorcan is a centuries old vampire who live in New York City. He is not an eager vampire, he almost has a simple and normal life. Only he lives by night and during the sex he drinks blood from his partners. But he only chooses [...] as sexual partner, cause he doesn't want the strings derivating from a love relationship. From the death of his last mate and love, a male, he has chosen to deny himself a male lover.

Then he meets Kevin. Kevin is a young man [...] himself to gain quick money. But his third john almost kill him, and so Lorcan take him at home and soon falls in love for him. But Kevin has his own segrets and maybe the fact that Lorcan is a vampire will not be their bigger problem.

I like the characters of Shayla Kersten; like in Thirty Days we have a lover more caring and protective of the other, but the feelings of love are mutual. What I like best is that Lorcan is not so special: he is a real person (apart the fact he is a vampire!!!) not so beautiful, not so overwhelming... very normal, but the love makes him invincible at the eyes of Kevin. He is his dark savior.

A really inusual vampire romance where you can find more sentiment and romanticism than paranormal element. A sweet Valentine's reading.