Knight Of Swords

One of the best vampire stories on Authonomy in my opinion. Rich in detail, sumptuous in design and excectued with skill. Everything Twilight is not. This is a serious story with serious messages. Nathan is a fully formed character and everything that a great vampire should be. There are not many books within this subgenre I would buy, this is one of them
Backed with pleasure
Carl
The Time hunters

At first, I wasn't sure where you were going with your first chapter.
What a pleasant surprise for the second. I enjoyed your writing style and the pacing is good.

Rated high.

-Judith
[Twice Reborn]

You have written a very interesting and unique historical storyline, which I do like, and created a most memorable main character in Nathan. The dialogue is realistic and well written and the pace of your story flows well. All of this along with your descriptive writing makes your fantasy a pleasure to read. Backed.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

Breathtaking action and a vampire with a unnerving sadistic streak. Excellent first chapter - vivid and compelling.

Sara, you have created a rich and memorable main character in Henry Valancourt and you have constructed a diabolically sinister and tortuous plot to plunge the poor man headlong into! Congratulations on your evocation of the wealthy side of late Victorian London - I hope we are going to see something of the seedy side in later chapters.

Your pacing in excellent and you have plenty of suspense to make the reader keep turning the page - so much so that I think you could easily delay a while before introducing Juliet, and hence making it seem less of a convenient coincidence.

Two very small points. I think you mean her "inane giggling" in chapter one not innate, and Savile Row has only one L.

Congratulations - I've backed it

Excellent concept and twist on the ususal vampire stories. This does the hybrid thing much better than Blade ever did and the threat is tangible. Excellent.

Vampire stories are getting a bad rap as the new "in thing" on its way out, but some have the power to endure. This could be one of those. It looks beyond the shallow erotica of vampiric behaviour to the seriousness and horror beneath, and we're with Nathan and Juliet from the start. This is complex and very promising.

Backed with pleasure.
Abi xxx

I am eating this up! I like your authentic voice and your dramatic flair. I backed this because I hoped to see more!

Best of Luck,
Christa

The opening scene of Whitechapel, being contemporary with the days of the Ripper, is wonderfully atmospheric and spine-tingling.
A strange poignancy I can hardly define; in that the narrator is caught between his lust for Sophie as a mortal and yet his gross mishandling of her in his incarnation as a vampire, tinged with regret.
There is a powerful frisson on that razor sharp edge between the erotic and the graphically violent which you capture; almost as in the roughness of love when most abandoned.

Backed.
Ray
(A Child from the Wishing Well)

I loved your book cover, but it seemed rather too modern compared to your short pitch. There are many, many vampire stories around at the moment and it is really difficult to stand out, but in my opinion you have achieved this, probably because your book is more serious and less frivolous than others in the same genre. Also, Nathan is a character of depth and as a reader it is important to be able to latch onto to the people in the book and actually care about them. Your pace is good and your paragraphs follow on smoothly and seamlessly. Congratulations on a great book - this is especially a compliment from me as vampire books are not really me. Best wishes - Paula (Cuthbert: How mean is my Valley?)

Love the detail in this. Intense, gripping and very well done. Backed.

Amy
Love Match

Sara, you are an amazing writer. The pace is good and the voice is captivating. You have created a very chilling beginning. I appreciate the stylish writing.
Scott
The Esrevinu Chronicles/Secrets of the Elephant Rocks

One of the best vampire stories on Authonomy in my opinion. Rich in detail, sumptuous in design and excectued with skill. Everything Twilight is not. This is a serious story with serious messages. Nathan is a fully formed character and everything that a great vampire should be. There are not many books within this subgenre I would buy, this is one of them
Backed with pleasure
Carl
The Time hunters

The first 2 chapters are the winner. The portrayal of the monster and his thrilling action really scared me to death. You really bring the vampire story to life. It looks so real. I would like to see the romance part of the story since you are so good in a vampire part.
Backed,
Bamboo Promise

A very atmospheric opening, and I felt really sorry for Sophie. This is good!

This my kind of book, I loved it. Good luck with it. E.Loraine Royal Blood Chronicles book one

Sara, your writing is beautiful. Your first two chapters are a smooth, entertaining read. Nothing to nitpick in these sections.

Sincerely backed.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

Fantasy can be a little had to grasp for mere mortals like myself, however not this, this feels very grounded, very believable!
I very much like the gothic/Victorian feel to your style of writing, it adds a new dimension to your narrative. Great story, well told.

Hello Sara, Oh, My God! This is superb! I want so desperately to read more but time is against me. Loved the opening chapter - so graphic and well descriptive. shelved these last few days - but need the space.
Paula - Ruined Echoes - Have you had a chance to look at mine and let me know what you think?

Wow - what a cracking first chapter ! the title Knight of Swords, didn't quite prepare me for the premise of vampires.. your writing is absolutely chilling as the monster feasts on Sophie's broken body.. I am hooked - more please! Backed and best wishes

Sara, hi... I've been looking forward to reading this (as I follow its progress on Twitter!) and you didn't let me down. It has the dark, claustrophobic feel of the original gothic tales and you create a plausible period feel - though I did wonder if 'like the plague' would be accurate for that time!
There were some places where I thought it could be made tauter, even better. You use a lot of adjectives and some of them are a tad cliched - on my notepad I have: terrifying ability; fateful bond; cruel murders; secluded alley, piercing shriek, cawing ravens etc...
I wondered if you meant inane giggling, rather than innate?
'seemed to surround him' - would be stronger as simply 'surrounded him' IMHO.
'chillingly announced' - watch your adverbs too!
squealing - chimed the wrong note for me - made her sound like a piglet.
additional ravens - sounds a bit clinical.

those, for what they're worth, were my nits. But I do like this - if anyone is sick of the modern vampire, all shiny and cuddly, this is the antidote - as I said before, it takes us back to the origin of the genre - when vampires were filthy, dirty, downright nasty little beasties.

HUGE good luck. Jane

What's not to like? Well written - all aspects. Premise, setting/atmosphere, characterizations, pace suspense/intrigue - all come together neatly into a read that will definitely appeal to your target audience, and beyond. Well done, and backed with respect.

Sara: I do like both pitches but have you thought of breaking down that longer pitch so it reads faster. Grabbing the casual reader's eye is everything here. Also, the pitches. Perfecting your pitches is how you climb in ranking to gather more exposure and comments to better your novel. The writing is good so I am SHELVING you.

Though I have been a very active member for over a year, I can still use your comments on my book when you get the chance. Every little bit helps. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key

Dear Sara-Curran, I love fiction, romance, & fantasy - what a combo. :) Your blurb is good because it prepared me to read your book. Your story is a good read because you create interest by having short paragraphs & dialogue, which makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm backing/commenting on your book to help it advance. Could you please return the favor by taking a moment to back/comment on my TWO books, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" & the unedited version? "Tell Me True Love Stories." Thanks, Susie :)

This is an imaginative story. I like the way you've set it in London rather than create a fantasy world for this; makes it seem real. You have good characters in Nathan and Juliet. Both are likable, the kind of character a reader wants to follow to see if they can win in the end. Makes this a good read. I’m adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

What a treat! Thrilling and suspenseful. You write this very well and in a way it makes hard for the reader to tear away. I hope the mC really does kill the beast.

A pleasure to read and good luck

THE LORD OF THE DAWN. BEYOND 2012

You scared me!! Thanks for that!! LOL

Unbelievably strong writing that does literally grab you by the scruff and drag you through your tale.
Superb descriptions of the kill that will linger all evening, thanks again!!

Happily shelved
Melxx

Brilliant opener which makes this a promising read. Well written with style and flair - backed
andy and vesna
When Spirits Break Free

Very well-written. And very disturbing. This has a strong beginning, and it has a lot to offer to those who like this genre.
Best of luck!
-Libby

Absolutely not my cup of tea but stil very well written. I will back this story even thought I can't stand the genre.

I daresay that any reader who enjoys vampire tales will be unable to stop reading after the first chapter. The portrayal of the beast's kill is as brilliant as it is chilling. To see it from the POV of the 'innocent' and captive narrator adds a depth to the act like I've never seen in similar stories. This is an absolute winner. I'm proud to back it.

Richard Bard
BRAINRUSH (2010 ABNA Quarter-Finalist)