Brighton Sucks by Jarek Adams

Freya is attacked by vampires. When no one believes her, she is committed to a mental hospital. She escapes and seeks sanctuary with her friend, a gay vicar, in the quirky English seaside town of Brighton, but she soon finds herself surrounded by undead people who want to kill her. Two gorgeous men offer her protection, but she isn’t sure if she can trust either of them, and their animosity towards each other creates a complicated lust triangle. As her life spirals out of control, Freya learns secrets about her past, and is thrust into a desperate battle for survival. Brighton Sucks is an Urban Fantasy with plenty of action, some tongue-in-cheek ideas on vampirism, and a healthy smattering of steamy sex. Book Description.

This book was great fun – made me laugh at times and yet some parts had a poignancy that had me on the edge of tears. It a fantasy book about Vampires and Guardians – the people who organise the staking and clean up when vampires go rogue and kill. The main character Freya is at a park with her boyfriend and two other friends when they are attacked by vampires and Freya is the only one to escape. Of course no-one believes her story and she ends in a mental hospital. She knows what she says is true but also knows she has no way of getting believed and when a chance to escape happens after six months she takes it and flees to Brighton. There she meets up with an old friend Ryan, a gay vicar. Ryan plays a big part in the book and his character is just so good – he's just not what you expect a vicar to be – young, gay, swears ( “F*%# me Freya – is that you?” is the intro we get to him) and yet he's devoted to his church and the elderly lady stalwarts of it. I love him – he'd be the best sort of friend to have.

 In Brighton Freya meets Barton, he's gorgeous and wants to help but seems selective in what he'll tell her and his comments raise more questions than they answer, and Freya doesn't want to recognise as true what he does tell her. She then meets Danny, another hot bloke who says he wants to help – but its clear the two men don't get on, and their animosity to each other grows along with their attraction to Freya. Freya is attracted to both, both offer her help and yet she doesn't know who to trust. She finds out that here in Brighton some people are vampires and they aren't all evil, don't kill and just want to get along with their lives. She needs to take care who she talks to and trusts though in trying to avoid being send back to hospital herself.

 The story continues with twists and turns and directions that I wouldn't have envisaged and is engrossing and amusing. There are times when I want to kick Freya’s arse such as when she is supposed to be finding out more about who killed a vampire friend but goes shopping! Somehow it doesn't fit what I thought she would have done – she is a genuinely caring person so although it leads neatly into a scene essential to a later part of the story I feel Jarek could have found a better way – Freya appears callous here and yet she's not that way at all.

 I didn't guess the ending –made a successful stab at who one or two characters were along the way but was totally surprised at who some of the people turned out to be – I like a book that keeps me guessing, its dull if everything is so clear that the ending is easy to judge. I was really sad at one part of the end – a very touching scene, and also glad at the choice of men Freya finally took.

 I feel Jarek has left the opening for a sequel and do hope she continues Freya’s story, and includes Ryan as a main character – he's too good to get left behind. Jarek has a great entertaining way with words and I'd certainly buy any further books in a series if she takes that route.

 Brighton Sucks is currently only available on kindle, and at 318kb is a decent novel length for a bargain price. Personally I'd give this a star rating of 4, thoroughly enjoyed it but not quite the length and polish I'd rate a five star book. If you want a book about vampires that will make you laugh at times, sad at times and keep you entertained Brighton Sucks fits the bill perfectly.

                                           4 Stars!

You can purchase "Brighton Sucks" here : DarkissReads Bookstore

You can find Jarek Adams :http://jarekadams.blogspot.com/

 Reviewed by Midnight Ruby