Have you read Melabeth? If you haven’t yet, you should. Not even a month or so ago and I wasn’t aware it even existed. I’ve often had the feeling there are these hidden gems left undiscovered by circumstance and wished there was an easier way to discover them. Fortunately, I received an email from the author E.B. Hood and took a look at the website at www.melabeth.com. I wasn’t that impressed with the site at first to be honest, but the first chapter was free to read, so I obliged.
Melanie Dare is a teenage girl. Drugs and abuse by her parents change all that. She is raped and murdered and finds herself awake in a new decade. Melanie becomes Melabeth the vampire, and she is thrust into events outside of her control. Meeting a small circle of friends – not all who can be trusted – she finds herself obsessed with revenge against her killers… but along the way finds love. Her battle for revenge has terrible, unintended consequences, and she will question, who, and what she is. Can her love survive her need for revenge? This is the first part of a three part series about forgiveness.
While reading that first chapter, I immediately felt an attachment to Melabeth. I love my Kindle, as most of you know. I saw a Kindle version and it was only $3.99 so I snatched it up right away. There was so much more I still needed to know. I wanted to see her grow and give forgiveness, yet I also wanted to see her exact revenge. While lacking the usual editorial mechanics, Melabeth weaves a tale in such a way that you won’t want to put it down. The story has its twists and turns and it takes a direction that vampires don’t often take these days. The plotline was very refreshing.
The story tells of Melanie Dare, a fifteen year old girl who lived in the sixties with her hippie parents. She goes through many changes due to her parents druggie, free nomadic lifestyle, and loses her mom early on. Her father as a result goes downhill, going so far as to let his daughter be taken in order to settle some debts. Melanie is murdered by the men who take her, and she is saved by her maker, Nicks. Melanie wakes up fifteen years later, oblivious but a fast learner of the world of vampires and other supernatural beings. The book follows through her journey.
The book had an interesting way of answering questions the readers may have about the vampires in Melabeth’s world. Through her training and learning the reader learns alongside her. The characters are very realistic and relateable. They show obvious development among each and they have a depth to them that stories often lack. Dynamic characters can make or break a story, and in this case it was greatly to Hood’s advantage.
All in all, this book was captivating and interesting. I’m thrilled to read the next book of the series. I’ve recommended this book through the span of reading it to many a friend or teacher and I would continue to eagerly promote it as long as Hood continues to write it.
I’ve already asked him when the next story is ready to be told in the Melabeth series, and he said this summer. I hope so, I’d like to find out what’s next. Go read that first chapter today at http://www.melabeth.com/!
no i havent read melabeth how good of a book is ti.
It’s a great book, take a look at it
Hello, my name is Dan Olwell. I am an artist, and I will be working on the book illustration for the second book in the Melabeth Sereies.
Melabeth is a great book. I am half way thru it and can’t put it down. The author did and excellent job writing this book. Can’t wait until the next one comes out. Kris T.