King Carrion - Rich Hawkins - 5*

King Carrion

Rich Hawkins

*****

In a town in southern England, people are going missing.

Mason, a homeless ex-con, arrives in the town to beg his wife for a second chance and atone for past mistakes.

A vampire god once worshipped by ancient Britons has awoken from hibernation and plans to turn Great Britain into a vampire isle. But first, people of the town must be converted, and the gospel spread.

Within a week, the town is quarantined by the military, and the nights belong to the undead.

There will be no escape for the survivors.

King Carrion, though certainly undead has given a breath of new life into vampire horror. A short novel that is sharp and riveting, it keeps you engrossed from beginning to end. Rich Hawkin's has a brilliant way with words and is a rich and vivid storyteller with a killer descriptive style. Mason as a character was brilliantly flawed and in the beginning you wonder how he grows as a character, which he certainly does. We meet some interesting individuals along the way on this dystopian trip. Reminiscent of 28 Days Later and 30 Days of Night, King Carrion can quite respectfully be filed amongst the horror greats that stick with you. A fresh take on something thought done to undeath and a decadent horror that certainly was a great bite to read...