Blood Stained Teeth - Review

Author: Christian Ward

Genre: Graphic Novel

Format: Paperback

Pages: 144

Another interesting find thanks to my library FYP page. The cover and title definitely caught my eye, as well as the synopsis. It also helped that Scotty Snyder gave it a blurb. So my interest peaked. I'm also weak for vampire noir style anything. Noir style anything really, the vampire part was just an added bonus really. I was hesitant because some of the Goodreads reviews were not kind, but sometimes that means I really end up liking a book for the reason a lot of people don't like it. On the other hand, all the blurbs said it was a new twist. So I jumped into it.

On a positive note, as a whole, I really did like this story and the world. I liked how they used Bram Stoker in this, and the idea of this secret vampire society. Even the idea of what the good doctor is doing is a solid addition. And, while Atticus is definitely not a good guy, I do kind of like him. Without a doubt, he's a terrible person, a bad guy, but he also knows this about himself. He isn't playing a part, he's just surviving with what he has. And those are always my favorite characters. The ones who don't try to be anything more than what they are.

Also, I really like the way he solves a problem. Which is to not have a plan, but run face-first into and assume the fact he's a vampire will save the day. Also, his sidekick is lovely, and there were some solid one-liners in this volume that made me laugh. This is definitely one of those stories you would love to see picked up as a mini-series because it's brutal enough to make a good action show, but funny enough it wouldn't take itself too seriously. 

Now, that being said, I think calling it a new twist on the vampire story is a little bit of a stretch. It's a good set-up, I love the gritty noir feel of it. I'm always down for a secret society-type trope, and the council is definitely a secret society. However, we've seen the vampire council before. It appears with Anne Rice, Kim Newman, and Stephan Franck, and I'm sure I deep dive into other authors. Also, everything that's happening with the Doctor character, it's very in the vein of Blade. Not the same cure, but the same sort of idea. 

So, yeah the blurbs kind of let me down because I was looking for some new sort of thing in this story, and I really didn't find it. However, I wasn't put off by it because like I said, I really enjoyed the universe and the Atticus. I've already put the second volume on hold to see where the story is going. I just think the blurbs are a little miss leading.

Also, I will say I'm not a huge fan of the art style they chose for this. I think it's well done, different, and oddly fits the story. It was just a personal thing I just didn't spend as much time taking in the details of the panels because it kind of hurt my eyes, and screwed with my brain in places. Though a hundred percent that might just be my problem.

Like I said though a solid read, an interesting read, and I like that's really no set of good guys in this either. Because really, if you did bad things for good reasons, are they then considered a good thing? Also is killing evil vampires a bad thing? 

HAPPY READING!!