(Photo from a 8/10 Mississippi writer's conference, a new RABBIT CHASER ready to start chasing!)
This review is from: Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider (Paperback) also Kindle (link)
Ellen Maze can write! That is the first thing I look for in an author - someone who can spin a world, and draw you into it for a great ride.
"Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider" is one of the most original and courageous novels I've read in a long time. There's no way around it, so I might as well just spit it out:
this is a Christian story about vampires. Or possibly it's a vampire story about Christians.
If that offends thee, you might as well stop right here!
Ellen herself is an interesting person, who could be a character from the pages of her novel. She is a Messianic Jew who lives in Alabama. Sounds like a mythical creature? Turns out, she's mystical instead.
Much of Ellen's research comes out of her heritage. Her vampires are called "Rakum," based on an old Hebrew word. And make no mistake: these vampires are not the near-vegetarian milksops of the "Twilight" variety. The predators of the old vampiric tales, and of Ms. Maze's novel, would eat them for breakfast.
Instead, "Rabbit's" blood-suckers are ancient creatures of biblical proportions.
The center of good in the story is the title character, Beth Rider. And "rabbit" refers to the state in which she is transformed by a powerful vampire.
Beth Rider is a novelist, and her most recent effort suggests that there is a way the Rakum can leave their demonic state and find life. Her nemesis is offended, and he comes to teach the puny woman a lesson. He has the ability to transform her into delicious prey that will bring the brethren from far and wide, to sample her female charms, and feed on her.
We know what rabbits do - they run!
But Beth has an unusual ally among the Rakum. And more importantly, she possesses a secret weapon - one that may save her life, and threaten the entire race of ancient monsters.
"Rabbit" is a romance, no question, one with a strong female lead, akin to the "Twilight" series. But there many of the similarities end, for Ellen Maze's story faces the essential evil of the Rakum race, and instead of seduction, offers redemption.
A word of warning: this may ruin other vampire stories for you.
Read at your own risk!
Timothy Dean
Teeth - The Epic Novel with Bite (The South Pacific Trilogy, Volume 1)
