Blood Groove

by Alex Bledsoe

Book Overview

When centuries-old vampire Baron Rudolfo Zginski was staked in Wales in 1915, the last thing he expected was to reawaken in Memphis, Tennessee, sixty years later. Reborn into a new world of simmering racial tensions, the cunning nosferatu realizes he must adapt quickly if he is to survive.

Finding willing victims is easy, as Zginski possesses all the powers of the undead, including the ability to sexually enslave anyone he chooses...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765323087
• ISBN13: 9780765323088
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

The not so likable vampire

I have only a few words to say about this book. Its not the sterotypical Urban Fantasy of recent years. If you want something different this is it. A comment on the Professional Review of this book, WHAT a load of garbage! Reminds me of the critism of the movie Hounddog with Dakato Fanning. Racial Sterotype, women slurs? Well folks I lived in the 1970 as an adult. That was the norm of the time. Reminds me also of the critism of Huckfinn by Mark Twain. They reflect the times they were written about and the times they were written in. I am honestly surprise that Alex was able to do this so well. A Baron from the early 1900 would no more consider a black person human then he would his dog. So how could a person reading this expect a vampire baron to be any different. He did not live through the changing mores of mid to late 1900 This book did a great job of reflecting the attitude of the people in their times and places. A great entertaining story. Oh, in my opinion every black american should read Huckfinn and Uncle Tom Cabin. I understand why some black considered the term Uncle Tom to be an insult. But read the book to see the realistic situation of the mid 1800's in America, don;t bury your head in the sand.

Culture Shock and the Undead

A doctor leans over a desiccated, ancient body. It has a curious crucifix-shaped dagger protruding from its ribcage. She removes the knife. The corpse comes to life. How many horror movies contain this scene? That's the opening of Blood Groove but from that point on, there are very few cliches and quite a few surprises. Rudolfo Vladimir Zginski, the only man ever to be tried and found guilty of being a vampire, and executed for it, is brought back to life in the mid-70's in Memphis, Tennessee. He doesn't know how he got there and really doesn't care. All he's concerned about is surviving. He stumbles across Fauvette, a perpetual 14-year-old vampire, and learns from her of a band of very young nosferatu living in the city. He's appalled to discover all they know about vampirism is what they've seen in the movies or read in books, and some of it is a total fallacy. When a sinister gray powder robs them of the desire to drink blood, even the will to survive, Zginski determines to find the source of the powder and eliminate it. The vampires are--dare I say it?--likeable people, indeed more likeable than the humans, with their personalities described in a few well-chosen words. In the beginning, Zginski is portrayed as the Old World vampire par excellence--handsome, exuding sexual power, aristocratic, cruel, and totally self-absorbed. When he meets the beautiful, tragic Fauvette, he begins to change though he himself doesn't realize it at first. More protagonist than hero (after all, he's killed hundreds with impunity) one can't help but hope he isn't rushing to his doom as he searches for the maker of the mysterious powder. When he reluctantly admits he feels something other than lust for Fauvette, one wants to cheer him on. By the end of the story, he makes a commitment to stay in Memphis though there's a hint of a demi menage-a-trois since Mark, one of the youngsters, likes Fauvette and though she clings to Zginski, she has feelings for Mark, also. The story is an easy read, well-written, descriptive, not too bloody or violent. In fact, the only complaint I have is that it's a little too spare. There isn't enough of it! More detail, more description. Please! Zginski had plans to transplant the purchased inhabitants of a Russian village into a deserted Irish town, yet when we first meet him as a living entity, he's in Wales. Did he go to Ireland? What happened to the peasants he brought with him? There should have been more background on him, and the young vampires are too sketchily described. How was each turned? How did they find each other? As I read the novel, questions kept popping up. Zginski is discovered to be a vampire because he doesn't breathe. How many of us can tell when a person is breathing and when he isn't--unless he's under exertion? Breathing is automatic and very subtle. Zginski accosts a young man and steals his clothing. Later, he finds the young man's sister and enthralls her. Several da

unique vampire thriller

In 1915 in Passelwaithe Wales, Judge Sir Francis Colby agreed with the villagers' claim that Baron Rudolfo Zginski was a vampire since the accused did not breathe or have a pulse. Although some of the myths re vampires proved false, a crucifix was thrust into the heart of Rudolfo. The Judge buried the corpse where he felt no one would find it in his home state of Tennessee. Six decades later, Tennessee pathologist Dr. Rosberry performs an autopsy on a man with a crucifix sticking out of his remains. When she removes the stake, Zginski awakens but is crazed with a need for blood; he drains the doctor. To survive in this modern world, Zginski must learn the common technological advances; when he finds a vampire nest living in the shadows, he knows who will teach him. He selects Fauvette turned at fourteen years old as his guide to 1975 America. Soon Zginski is shocked with what the young vamps believe is deadly as the Lugosi-Lee legends (after his first time) has become the fact. He offers to train them in remedial and advanced vampirism, but they must become his loyal subjects. Most refuse as products of the social unrest of the times make "slavery" unacceptable. However, Zginski will soon be tested when Fauvette is snatched. The time and place are keys to this unique vampire thriller as Zginski who was an egomaniac for centuries in his previous existence has to adapt to the radical changes WWI and WWII brought and more so to the strong civil rights movement (just a few years after the assassination of Dr. King). Thus Zginski instead of being a king of the local vampires as he expects becomes more of a fatherly mentor to the ignorant brood. Alex Bledsoe has written a terrific unique urban historical fantasy as the aristocratic displaced lead character finds life in 1975 Tennessee is not simple or anything like his past and has a major impact on how the newbies think especially the innocent the charmer Fauvette. Harrier Klausner