Darksome Thirst [Paperback]

Morven Westfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2003

What happens when a logical, no-nonsense computer operator encounters a vampire among the machinery? When Alicia Anderson first became aware of the shadows in the computer room, she dismissed them as figments of an overactive imagination. Meanwhile, fledgling witch Matricaria has begun to receive psychic messages - vivid dreams and tarot card readings - that point to a terrible fate for someone near her. She and her coven attempt to decipher the symbols, hoping to prevent a tragedy. Soon the lives of these very different women intersect. Can Matricaria, a mere trainee, decode the nightmares in time to save Alicia? Is Matricaria or her coven any match for a vampire who has lived for nearly a century? Darksome Thirst is a fast-paced, atmospheric tale of a young woman who must resolve the difference between what her logical mind tells her and what she is actually experiencing, the first in a series of novels about Alicia and Matricaria and their battles against the unknown. The sequel, The Old Power Returns, is due in June 2007.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Impressive debut novel. This is why we buy books! The intriguing plot keeps one turning pages way into the night. --Jimahl, author, A Voice in the Forest

Remember the name Morven Westfield. She's an exciting new voice in the Horror/Vampire genre. --Raymond Buckland, author, The Witch Book,

Impressive debut novel. This is why we buy books! The intriguing plot keeps one turning pages way into the night. --Jimahl di Fiosa, author, A Voice in the Forest

From the Publisher

Author Morven Westfield’s strong characters and deft pacing create a believable blend of the unlikely worlds of high tech and the supernatural.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harvest Shadows Publications (June 26, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974174033
• ISBN-13: 978-0974174037
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,259,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Debut, June 18, 2006

By 

Tate - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Darksome Thirst (Paperback)

I'm always a little nervous when reading new vampire stories. It seems the majority of them always fall into a cliché or stereotype category. Rarely is the vampire genre given a fresh new look on the monsters. Morven Westfield didn't just take a risk in writing a modern vampire story, however, she's writing a whole series.

Darksome Thirst is the first book in that series. There were a great many good things I found while reading the book, but I won't lie and say there weren't any Bad, or Ugly for that matter. I don't believe in book bashing, so this won't be a flame review, but I won't keep it one-sided either. Hopefully this will be a fair attempt at rating all sides of the book. The story isn't about one particular character, but actually a great many. Most work in a computer environment, but the reader also falls into the point of view of supernatural club members and even the vampires themselves. The reader gets to learn a lot about the character's jobs (too much) and lifestyles, but the point of view changes every other paragraph making it very hard to concentrate on what's actually happening to what character.

If I were forced to only pick on only one thing about this book, it would be the
ridiculously often change in point of view. Each 12-page chapter has at least 6 character changes. It was a writing style that I never got used to, ever. I'm still not sure what characters went through what simply because they all mixed together as I read along.

On a more positive note, I loved Westfield's inclusion in folklore and superstition information. You can tell she's either well educated in the subjects or researched them extensively. There was also some characterization where one of the computer programmers often thinks about the vitamins she takes, and some interesting back story about one of the girl's ex-boyfriends. Simple yet impressive
characterization.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Morven Westfield is a very talented author, you can tell that much from reading Darksome Thirst, but there were definitely some flaws in at least this story. First, it took what felt like forever for any action to take place, however that slump may be accounted for the tricky prose where choppy point of view switches made picking up the book more of a chore than a joy. Knowing it was a series and the ending wouldn't be an ending at all, but a "To Be Continued" didn't increase my excitement either. That being said, I'm sure I'll end up reading the next book in the series just to see what happens next.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love It, February 11, 2004

By 

D. Taylor "D. Taylor" (Smyrna, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darksome Thirst (Paperback)

Don't you just love it when you find a book where the Pagans are the heroes?

Stories like these are too few and far between, so here comes Morven Westfield to the rescue. Darksome Thirst is the first in what will be a thrilling series of novels.

The novel is set in southern New England in the 1970's and follows Alicia Anderson who is a hard-working computer operator on the night shift at Theoretic Scientific Devices. Working alone during these shifts, she thinks she is imagining strange things in the shadows until she can no longer deny that she has company - the vampire, Wesley.

Matricaria is a young witch who is on the receiving end of some very disturbing messages, which she and her coven take very seriously. We see the group pulling together to try to solve the mystery and do what they can to help. Of course, the answers aren't obvious, so the two story lines run parallel to each other building the suspense beautifully.

Ms Westfield's lyrical prose and attention to detail make this an enjoyable read. I will have to admit, though, that I preferred to read this page-turner in the afternoon while sitting in the sunlight rather than at night before going to bed!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Witches and believable vampires!, October 24, 2003

By 

LizzieBelle (Westfield, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Darksome Thirst (Paperback)

Vampires, Witches, and technology... an intriguing combination, and Morven Westfield has put them together in an ingenious and entertaining story. In this, the first in a planned series, we meet Alicia, a computer operator who dreams of becoming a programmer, and Matricaria, a Witch-in-training, in the late `seventies. Strange things are beginning to happen around the company where Alicia works, and Matricaria has had a vision of terrible evil. Meanwhile, a vampire named Wesley has set up camp in this small central Massachusetts town, and he is looking for a more permanent abode and perhaps even a mate. How will these two women overcome a seemingly unstoppable horror? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Filled with deliciously rounded characters and believable situations, Darksome Thirst is a delight to read. Morven has captured the inner voices of her characters, and the reader can see people they know, and perhaps even something of themselves, in them. Each one has a distinct voice, which remains consistent throughout the book. You really care what happens to them, because they could be your friends or even you.

Full of suspense and surprises right to the very end, you will find yourself looking forward to the next book in the series. Anyone who is a fan of vampire stories and horror that's not over-the-top will enjoy Darksome Thirst.