Vampires, alternate universes, magic, steampunk, romance and adventure – it’s everything you could want in a vampire novel, and Wicked as They Come by Delilah S. Dawson has it all – and more! When I picked up this book I had no idea it was about vampires, mainly because they aren’t called that in the books, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was more than I had hoped for.
Wicked as They Come follows Tish Everett, who forces open a ruby locket she finds at an estate sale, not knowing that a deliciously rakish Bludman has cast a spell just for her. She wakes up in a surreal alternate world, where Criminy Stain, the dashing proprietor of a magical traveling circus, curiously awaits. Before she can decide whether to risk her fate with the mischievous charmer, the locket disappears, and with it, her only chance to return home. Tish and Criminy battle roaring sea monsters and bloodthirsty bunnies, vengeful ghosts and crooked Coppers in a treacherous race to recover the necklace from the evil Blud-hating Magistrate.
Wicked as They Come is hands down one of the best novels I have read this year, and I have read a LOT. This is by no means your average vampire book, frankly, there’s nothing normal about it, which is what makes it so fantastic. Readers are thrown into a bizarre world full of magic and creatures that feed on blood to survive. There are bludmen, bludbunnies, bludmares, and more, all living in an alternate universe completely unlike our own. There is also a lot of steampunk goodness in the novel, as well as political mayhem. This is truly an innovative novel, one that impressed me from the start.
On top of an amazing and adventurous story, the characters are fantastic as well. I developed a book crush on Criminy the moment he came on page. He’s charming, mischievous, intelligent, and dangerous. As for our leading lady, Tish, I had mixed feelings towards her character. One moment she was incredible, then the next she was blah. In the end I loved them all.
Overall, I am in love with Wicked as They Come and I eagerly await the second book in this unique series. It has everything you want in a fantasy novel, and so much more. This is definitely a book I recommend! It’s not your average blooddrinker novel, but that’s one of its many draws.
– Moonlight
If Wicked As They Come ever becomes a movie, I nominate Timur Bekmambetov for director.