The Greyfriar is one of those books that I find good, but it will not become a personal favorite. The spouses Susan and Clay Griffith launch the promising steampunk vampire series The Vampire Empire.
The year is 2020. Humanity, pushed to the equator area by the vampire invasion 150 years ago, is preparing for a reconquista of Europe. The hope for a united attack on vampires is based on the political marriage between the next heiress to the Equatorian Empire and an U.S. senator. When the airship of Princess Adele is attacked by a large vampire clan, and she gets separated from his guards, the hope of the people dies.
On the horizon, however, appears the heroic figure of Greyfriar - the mysterious defender of the humans, who leads a guerrilla war inside the Vampire Empire. As you can guess, Greyfirar saves Adele and both of them fall into adventures and romance.
Although The Greyfriar is a bit weak steampunk and pretty standard vampire novel, the combination of the two genres is a successful one. Mainly, because the writers provide detailed close-ups on both species and on several societies. The people have mastered the steam, produce chemical weapons, and have abandoned their religions and the use of magic. In the calm moments of the novel, one can clearly see the contrast between free Equatoria (former British Empire), quite young and aggressive America, and various paralyzed by fear settlements in Northern Europe.
As opposed, there are the vampires who do not build anything, they do not seed crops or breed cattle (even with people being the cattle), they do not write books or music. Generally they lack any signs of civilization. However, the vampires are not mysteriously silent or driven entirely by instinct animals. They resemble a barbaric society during expansion. And they are entirely different species, not walking undead.
Indeed, the plot is predictable here and there, since it is interwoven of several well-known clichés - the princess in distress, the obsessed with fame intended bridegroom, the romantic prince being the enemy, the mysterious Force. Yet, I was pleased to embark on an adventure across Europe, to read about the besieged by vampires London and Edinburgh. Along with the adventurous flavor, the authors introduce some very funny scenes, which highlight the overall gloomy setting.
The biggest asset of this novel is Greyfriar himself, who is the result of the collision of two cultures. I cannot mention more details about him, because I will drop spoilers, but he is the most trusted character in the book, albeit a bit more romantic and idealized than I like.
As a liability I could point out, that while reading, I was having the vague impression of reading an anime script, instead of a novel. The battles are described in details and to the smallest swing and slash and cut, while the feelings of the characters are presented unusually clumsy. For example, instead of writing how Adele is looking out the window towards home, I was reported that she was homesick. I find this kind writing style somewhat irritating, due to its simplicity. Not bad, just ... really, it is a great material for the screenplay of an anime movie something resembling "D., Vampire Hunter".
I recommend The Greyfriar, since it offers a nice adventure story-line with elements of steampunk, romance and fantasy, and it is suitable for bloodthirsty YA audience. It might not be classified as something extraordinary by mature people, but it is still entertaining and dynamic book.
Rating: 4/5
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