Embraced by the Shadows
by Mayra Calvani
Premise: Alana has always had a fascination for the supernatural and macabre. Then she lands what seems to be a dream job, manager of a new restaurant/club called La Cueva del Vampiro (The Cave of the Vampire), with all the supernatural trappings she could ever desire. It is there, while juggling the new job, the usual clashes with her roommate, and a few issues that haunt her from her past, that Alana spies a man that appears like something from one of her recent and very vivid dark dreams.
Review: I think the setting is one of the most innovative and entrancing things about this book. Imagine – Vampires in a sunny, tropical island! Though unfortunately there is not as much description of the unusual location of San Juan, Puerto Rico as I might have liked (I have my fingers crossed this will be fixed for the print version! :P) there’s still enough to give the reader a feel of a different place for these dark encounters. Alana’s fall into darkness, and her eventual realization that it was never to be truly of her own choice are nicely done. Add in the extra mystery of her mother’s veiled death years ago, the interesting cast of characters, and bids for immortality and you’re in for an interesting ride. ***1/4! (This title is currently only available as an E-book)
