D Scott Meek

Reading Dying Light felt like reading a movie in many ways. Many things felt glossed over or missing completely. It seemed as though the reader was either supposed to infer the meaning of many events, or possibly the vague hinting was supposed to entice the reader to continue on. Either way, the lack of pertinent details left me wondering what exactly had happened and what, if anything, it had to do with the the current action. Ultimately, I was left with the feeling that I was wasting my time.

I continually felt a likeness to the movie Underworld, just without the werewolves. Charlotte reminded me so much of Selene that I could picture on one else but Kate Beckinsale. Somehow Michael had betrayed the vampyres (or maybe he didn't - it wasn't exactly clear) and Charlotte is sent to kill him. But *spoiler alert* Michael is Charlotte's husband and she loves him, wanting to save him against her master's wishes. Oh, but he seems to have a minor case of amnesia, so even he isn't sure what's going on.

There is also some political stuff going on, where the ruler of the USA (she isn't the president, but the premier) and the leader of the vampyres (who seems to have been the vice president for a day about 400 years ago) are in negotiations to bring peace among their people. See, the vampyres are persecuted when they really haven't done anything wrong - besides kill humans for food.

There are some flashbacks that don't always specify what characters past we're looking at. There's some current scenes that don't seem to relate to the plot at all. There is a large build up to what will come of the negotiations and then nothing. The book ends in a way that isn't exactly open ended but in it's attempt to be shocking negates any forward momentum the book managed to gain.

Dying light isn't dull by any means. It's got lots of action and the story races quickly to its disappointing conclusion. It's an easy read as long as you aren't looking past the surface for any meaning, answers or sense.… (meer)

Wow, what a thrill-ride! You know how all books (well, the good ones) get to a point that has you completely enraptured? That "point" in Dying Light starts at page one, and doesn't end until that last page. I could not put this one down.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous going in. The blood virus thing has been done before, and if you can't name a vampire book that has come out recently, you must be living on another planet. My nerves were quickly diminished as soon as I started reading. The blood virus was entirely original, and Meek brings vampyres back to the way they were meant to be. The way they would be if they truly existed. They are dangerous and blood-thirsty. But at the same time, they are living in our world. You are just as likely to walk by a vampyre on the street as you would a human. They are tougher, scarier, and sexier. Now when vampyres pop up in my mind, they have bright blue eyes.

What made this story for me was the phenomenal scene building done by Meek. He would slowly add in elements to the scene, until you felt like you were in the scene yourself. I was mesmerized. Another highlight is the love story between Charlotte and Michael. When we are introduced to Charlotte - who is one of the coolest chicks I have read about - we see her longing for Michael. I immediately wanted to know more of this romance, and I wasn't disappointed.

The story ended in a big old cliffhanger! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book to see where these characters go from here. I am definitely a fan of this new "post-dystopian" genre. Dying Light was a story that kept me up late at night, trying to consume it all at once. I was dying to figure everything out. If you like books that make you think, this is one not to miss.… (meer)