When I first picked up A Vampire’s Dominion by V.M.K. Fewings, I was very intrigued. The back cover sucked me in. It tells the story of two rival vampires, Jadeon and Orpheus, who have hated each other for centuries. One day, they awake with two minds, but only one body. Nobody understands how the two enemies have been joined together into a vampire named William, but everyone is on the hunt for the spell to undo it. It has everything you could want in a novel: vampires, vampire hunters, and a lady love interest for each of the men, forming something well beyond a love triangle. I dove right into this book.
As I was reading, I kept feeling like I was missing something. References were made to past events and other characters without any elaboration. There wasn’t much in the way of history for the two characters, or introductions for anyone. I was following the story, but just barely. Upon further inspection (thank you, internet), I realized I had picked up the third book in a trilogy called the Stone Masters Vampire Series. My inkling that I was missing something was correct. In fact, I was missing two somethings: A Vampire’s Rise and A Vampire’s Reckoning. I decided to keep reading the third book, hoping the missing pieces of the story would somehow fall into place.
What you would need to know to enjoy A Vampire’s Dominion is this: A Vampire’s Rise is Orpheus’s story. How he became a vampire, and not just any vampire, a vampire royal with a grudge. A Vampire’s Reckoning is Jadeon’s story. As punishment for something Jadeon’s father did to Orpheus, he turns Jadeon into a vampire, and the two men are forever immortal enemies.
Picking up A Vampire’s Dominion, the book opens within the head of a very confused man. He is running, but he doesn’t know where, or away from what, to the point of passing out. He awakens in a coffin, surrounded by familiar faces, with no recollection of how he got there. Slowly, it unfolds that Jadeon and Orpheus have become one. Both minds exist independently within William’s head, with both memories, love for both of Jadeon and Orpheus’s ladies, but lacking the reasons for hating each other now that the two vampires must share their existence in one body. William is not just a combination of Jadeon and Orpheus. Over the course of the book, his unique personality appears, as well as the daily struggle he faces with Jadeon and Orpheus’ memories fighting for a place in his head. He seeks out a group known as the Stone Masters for answers about his unique dual existence, and is very surprised with what he finds.
There is action, there is romance, there is intrigue, and there is mystery; all the puzzle pieces for an exciting story fall into place. I wouldn’t say the book blew me away, but it was an enjoyable read. Next time, I just hope to read the first book first instead of the last book first! Be sure to check out vmkfewings.com for more information on this trilogy.
