Blood, Sex and Violence: A Vampire's Rebuttal

The Rabbit Saga Collection

Fiction - LGBTQ
200 Pages
Reviewed on 09/23/2019
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Author Biography

Emil Jersey lives with his family in Atlanta, Georgia. Reclusive and private by nature, he hopes his readers enjoy his creative imagination as expressed in his novels. Follow this author for automatic updates on his next release, Malcontent, expected Summer 2020 from Run Rabbit Books. The author maintains a personal website at emiljersey(dot)com.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Blood, Sex and Violence: A Vampire’s Rebuttal is a work of paranormal dark fantasy fiction penned by author Emil Jersey, which forms part of The Rabbit Saga Collection. This novella is a response to the novel Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider by author Ellen C. Maze, in which the title character writes about the godlike bloodthirsty race, the Rakum. This companion piece tells the history of this race from the Rakum’s own perspective, glorifying their acts of violence, sex, and gore as they reveal the secrets of their carnage and their race. It is recommended for mature audiences due to its themes, though the content is not explicitly graphic.

Having read Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider some time ago, I was intrigued to see this story somewhat retold from an alternative perspective. One of the most impressive things about this novella is its strength of voice, which emanates from every page with grandeur and extensive use and commitment to vocabulary that keeps the rebuttal feeling authentic on every page. However, I feel this volume contradicts its original inspiration in some ways that didn’t fit as convincing oppositions or alternate explanations. That said, the LGBT relationships which featured were an original and refreshing change from hetero-centric vampire tales, and the plot builds to an interesting conclusion that I would love to see continued. Overall, Blood, Sex and Violence: A Vampire’s Rebuttal is a strongly written novella with great authenticity of voice and a diverse representation of characters and relationships.

Lex Allen

As I started reading Blood, Sex, and Violence, the term “Rakum” stuck in my mind—had I read this before and didn’t remember the title? I had to know, so I linked into the Amazon book page and read this: First-person account of Jersey as a rebuttal: “I wrote this book in response to the bestselling vampire novel, Rabbit: Chasing by Beth Rider, a pen name for Ellen C. Maze. Beth Rider was writing about us, the Rakum. This is my rebuttal.” ~ Jersey. Aha… That’s where I’d read the term, Rakum, before. It was with a bit of trepidation that I continued with Emil Jersey’s (a. k. a. Emil Stern) side of the Rakum story. I needn’t have worried and I’m so glad I continued. The author’s synopsis is better than anything I could add or invent: “I AM A RAKUM, an ancient, godlike race descended from fallen angels. Blood, sex, and violence is (are) what we care about and we know everything there is to know about pain and pleasure... Read on and you will understand how she missed the best part about being a god. ~ Jersey”

The premise is fascinating, the characters, though near-mythological in description and nature, are true to life, the pacing is page-turning fast, and the basic techniques of writing fiction and editing are better than most. But, the merit of Blood, Sex, and Violence that I really want to stress in this review is verisimilitude and the cinematic aspect. Verisimilitude is the creation of a sense of reality. From the story to the characters and scenes, readers have to buy it; they have to believe in the reality of what they’re reading. The second is something that few writers strive for, much less accomplish, and that is providing the reader with movie-like images as the story unfolds. Emil Stern, the real author here, has captured both of these skills perfectly. In closing, the “trigger warnings” on the book page are sufficient to ward off those who are sensitive to the sexual orientation and scenes, as well as the use of profanity. So, please don’t read the book and then downgrade the rating because you were upset by those scenes and the use of “strong profanity.” I loved the story and look forward to the continuation of the series.

K.J. Simmill

In Emil Jersey's Blood, Sex and Violence: A Vampire's Rebuttal, Jersey was recognized as ish-mikhan, a fix-it man, when he was but a boy. Cut and trained, his role is to bring pleasure to any he meets. Passed between elders, he learns and hones his skill, rising to favored status and becoming the glorious being he should be. His master's will is his will, and yet he knows their minds best, what will elate them to a state only one of his kind can induce. In turn, he learns something new from each new master. Favored by almost all, spoiled, Jersey reveals all from the age of seven onward.

Blood, Sex and Violence is part of Ellen C Maze's The Rabbit Saga, while this book is attributed to Emil Jersey, the character whose experience it encompasses. It isn't necessary to have an understanding of the other works, as this is more of a spin-off detailing a particular aspect of the Rakum, specifically one whose gift is in giving pleasure to others. I enjoyed exploring Jersey's character in depth, learning how he sees himself and others in this mature read. It was great watching him grow as his time with each elder tempered and honed different aspects of his talent. Sensual, erotic, a little humorous, and enlightening, this is a great addition to the saga, allowing the reader to delve deeper into this world. This naughty but nice read will appeal to readers who enjoy mature content, orientated around some vampire lore, sex, and violence. No two masters are ever the same, and this book explores the different facets and also delves into the bonds and relationships formed.

Christian Sia

Blood, Sex and Violence: A Vampire's Rebuttal: The Rabbit Saga Collection by Emil Jersey is a steamy read. Let me begin with fair warning: only open this book if you’re open to discussions around sex, even in its wildest form. In this novel, Jersey, born in 1699, shares his story as a Rakum. While most of his kind turned into humans in 2012, he remained a Rakum, descendant of an ancient powerful race. He is a character existing in another series and, frustrated that he is not well-explored in that series, he decides to tell his own story. He is the “fix-it man” with unique abilities in the art of sex and pleasure. In this story, he shares his memoirs and, particularly, his expertise in pleasure. From his early days as a Rakum boy in 1706 to contemporary days, he takes readers on a steamy ride where pain and pleasure commingle in the art of human intercourse.

There is a lot to enjoy in this novel. The author introduces readers to a tradition and a style of life peculiar to an imaginary, ancient race. The story is told in a voice that is strong, clear, and irresistible, from Jersey’s introduction of himself to his manifold adventures. Emil Jersey is a great storyteller and I must admit that at times I was led to believe that the protagonist of this tale is the author. The inspiration for this tale is intriguing, a character plucked from another book. I loved the prose, the author’s ability to capture details in the descriptive prose, and the humor that permeates the entire writing. Blood, Sex and Violence is steamy, emotionally rich, and tantalizing.