Despite his own incongruous past, all Wolfe Stewart wants is a simple life, free from persecutions of the Crown. And when he rescues a Child of the Mist from an “Asian man who disappears into the snow as if he were never there,” Wolfe has received his wish. But mysteries still plague him.
He gets no answers, but more questions when a familiar yet strange man, Captain Campbell, arrives with his cousin and Regiment soldiers to take up the hospitality of the MacDonalds of Glencoe for a fortnight.
Little did the clan suspect what would soon befall them. After the massacre on 13 February, 1692, most MacDonalds lay dead, many exposed to the elements perished, homes burned. Wolfe and his friend Fergus are taken away for reasons unknown.
But why would Campbell and his men commit such a hideous and unholy crime? The truth will not be found in history books. The beast behind this tragic night holds nothing but greed within his heart, and using the Jacobite risings as his cover, he gets what he wants and leaves behind death and suffering.
Christine Church's Blood Moon: Diary of a Highland Massacre offers an interesting, heart-pounding, alternate point of view to the 1692 Scottish tragedy. Her book is a thrilling clash of history, mystery, romance, and the supernatural that intrigued me. She has managed to faultlessly weave together aspects of history and the paranormal, to the point that I questioned myself whether or not this is what maybe happened in the 17th-century massacre. Although this is the third book in her series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone and the story is paced evenly so that it is endlessly strong in its telling. As I read through Wolfe's journal entries in Church's wonderful creation, the careful thought and reasons behind the massacre were so believable that it had me ensnared in an instant. I wholeheartedly loved this book and will definitely be looking into more works by Church. I can't wait to see what more this author has in store for us.
Church's vehicle for this story is the first person account of one Wolfe Amus MacDonald Stewart. In his 17th century journal, he describes a different story that sheds light on the massacre and the ages-old mystery that led to the murders. Though Blood Moon is a continuation of the series, Church quickly establishes its stand-alone characteristics. She writes with authority, excellent use of verisimilitude, and a pace that never slows, moving steadily towards a surprising climax. Introducing the character of Yin is a superbly exploited insertion that lends itself to a vampire connection while adding paranormal aspects to this alternative history tale. Her characters come to life, and the accurate and consistent use of Scottish brogue dialogue was a pleasure to behold and read. Blood Moon is a fascinating story told by a talented authoress. So much so that I intend to read the entire series and recommend every reader who loves alternative history and unique vampire stories to do so as well.
Is it fact or is it fiction? Real or imaginary? Blood Moon: Diary of a Highland Massacre (Fate of the True Vampires Book 3) by Christine Church is a tantalizing novella which blends history and fiction in such a way as to leave readers asking those very questions. Easily read as a stand-alone, Blood Moon tells the tale of Wolfe Amus MacDonald Stewart and the events which led to the very real tragedy known as the Massacre at Glencoe. Under orders from the crown and after breaking bread with their hosts (and intended victims), a regiment of soldiers proceeded to put the residents of Glencoe to the sword.
Blending elements of history and romance with the supernatural, Blood Moon weaves a captivating tale. Written in the form of journal entries penned by Wolfe, we learn of how he rescued a young maiden from the clutches of an evil, possibly monstrous man. We witness the blossoming of their love, their betrothal, and eventually suffer alongside Wolfe as everything he loves is torn savagely from him. The purported motivations behind the Massacre at Glencoe put forth in Blood Moon is where Christine Church's creativity shines. As readers, we are given a plausible, fantastic alternative to embrace as part of the 'real' history we already know. It's brilliant! The writing is crisp and manages to convey a lot of information in short order. I really enjoyed Blood Moon and will be reading the first two offerings in the Fate of the True Vampires saga in short order.
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