This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite
Beyond Sunlight: A Story of the Vampire Melanie Brace by David Crane is a unique and different take on the vampire theme. Melanie Brace is happy with her lot in life as a professional illustrator in Manhattan. But a chance encounter with a jazz musician will alter her life in ways that she never expects. To Melanie, the way Martin Dubois plays the flute feels like a refreshing spring breeze. His music works like magic and it stirs powerful emotions and visions within her. On top of that, Martin has the ability to see through people, and while they are getting to know each other, Martin tells her that she has inoperable cancer. After her doctor confirms it, Melanie meets with Martin again, who confesses that he belongs to a race of vampires called Urtama. One of their dates turned into horror when they were attacked by muggers that left Melanie mortally wounded. Melanie wakes up in the hospital, but she has no heartbeat and has a body temperature that is twenty degrees below normal.
Beyond Sunlight is a unique spin on vampire stories, and it’s a good reason for you to read it considering that films and books are saturated with vampire tales loaded with the common tropes. Character development is an easy part when you think that bloodsuckers operate on certain rules that dictate their existence. Sure, Melanie is an unwilling vampire—that trope about being converted into a vampire and initially living in denial is an easy part, too. But David Crane has created his own vampire, and certain driving ideals behind Melanie’s creation are what make her tick. Moreover, her transformation allows Crane to delve into the mysteries of what we don’t understand in themes like second chances and a more scientific perspective on the origins of vampires. The novel is entertaining and intelligent as it is not confined to your standard blood and gore fest. It is thrilling and grounded and a much welcome take on vampires as opposed to bloodsuckers that sparkle.
