(Cover picture courtesy of Goodreads.)

It all started with a murder. Two victims lay dead at the hands of Peter Dawes, but what laid in wait for him was not the sound of sirens or the banging of a gavel. It would turn a doctor into a killer and a man into a monster.

Follow Peter as he exchanges his blood-stained clothing for tailored suits, his scalpel for fine-crafted daggers, and reinvents himself as the newest vampire-child in a coven of decadent sophisticates. He even takes on the name ‘Flynn’ – a child of red – in honor of his new-found devilish side, and to remove one of the last tethers to his human past.

For four years, Flynn embodies every bit the bloody immortal he was sired to become. Under the reign of his maker, Sabrina, he establishes a reputation as the most feared assassin to ever terrorize the covens of Philadelphia. But the surefooted-steps and quick hands that make him a virtuoso when it comes to killing humans and vampires alike are a mark of the mortal destiny which haunts him even beyond death. And despite his efforts, Peter’s humanity is not as dead as some would prefer.

On the verge of completing their vie for power, Sabrina’s ‘dark-killer’ will suddenly find himself at odds over his devotion to his mistress when an impish sorceress named Monica awakens the hidden powers he was destined to possess. In this world of macabre and shrewdly practical immortal beings, will Flynn’s supernatural gifts be used to orchestrate the wicked deeds of his maker? Or can the cold-blooded nature of a vampire be warmed by the compassion of a Seer?

EYES OF THE SEER is a gripping tale conspicuously authored by Peter Dawes – years later, he’s decided to put the story of his life to paper, albeit listed as ‘fiction’. (Vampires can’t really claim to exist, after all. It would ruin the whole gig.)

[Full disclosure: I received a free paperback copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]

I’ll admit it: I like vampires.  Not the wimpy sparkly ones of Twilight, but the cold-blooded killers that are as ruthless as they are beautiful that you find in many movies and other books.  So when I was contacted about reading Eyes of the Seer, I knew I was in for a treat.  I was not disappointed.

Flynn/Peter is a complicated character.  He just killed his fiancee and her lover and then is suddenly turned into a vampire.  Not only that, his maker seems to think he has a higher purpose and is determined to make him into a vampire super-assassin.  But is everything as it seems?  Of course not and that’s what makes Flynn’s journey from mild-mannered but slightly morose doctor to a ruthless killer to something else (I’m not going to spoil it for you).  It’s fascinating as Flynn struggles to find his true self and it’s not at all simple, so you’ll be in for an emotional roller coaster.  There are times when I hated Flynn and times when I loved him, but by the end I was satisfied as to how Peter Dawes developed his character.  It felt like a believable transition.

The best part about this book is that although it is quite character-driven, it is short and has a very fast plot.  Like I said, it’s not a simple plot so you’re in for one heck of a ride as you try to guess what will happen next.  Some of the twists and turns are predictable while most are not.  Flynn has a long road to go down in only five years and he’s constantly adapting to the latest developments, including the appearance of the mysterious and beguiling Monica.  He has to make some pretty tough choices and he is constantly fighting a battle with his two sides (the good side and the ruthless vampire side); sometimes one side beats the other, but the beaten side never stays down for long.  It definitely keeps you guessing.

The writing was excellent.  Peter Dawes has a very concise writing style, but also a very beautiful one.  He can describe things in perfect detail without going too far overboard and boring readers.  It’s a tough balancing act, but he’s able to keep up the suspense during the many fight scenes while at the same time giving readers a good picture of what’s going on.  Not many authors can do that, so I was very impressed.

Finally, the world-building was actually pretty good.  It wasn’t the “oh wow” level but it was pretty darn close.  Just when you think that you know everything there is to know about vampires in Dawes’ world, he throws you for a loop.  For one, there are other supernatural beings out there that are just as nasty (if not more) than vampires.  Flynn has created himself a few enemies, but because of his unique nature, a few friends to compensate for the enemies.  I can’t really go into detail without spoiling some of the good surprises, but I will reiterate my point: this book keeps you guessing.

You really can’t ask for more than that in a vampire book.  You have a believable vampire mythology, an interesting if not entirely sympathetic main character, awesome writing and lots of plot twists.  The book ends on such a cliffhanger that you’ll be like me, though: begging for the next book.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

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