Timely, scary, and a blast to read. I have so much to say about this one that it won't all fit here, so I'm saving most of it for a much longer review piece on my blog for the book's official release date. Highly recommend this not just to horror fans but also to fans of historical fiction in general or just anyone having a tough time with the current political climate. Markus Redmond's foreword lays out why he felt the need to write this book right now and it helped contextualize things for me in a big way. Don't worry, vampire fans -- it's not all political, there's plenty of blood. But like ALL good horror, there's a lot more bubbling under the surface in this one.

Blood Slaves is a brilliant blend of vampiric horror and alternate history. Set on a Southern plantation in 1710, we follow enslaved man Willie as he suffers at the hands of Big Jim Barrow and his underlings. The first half of this book is an emotionally tough read, with our enslaved cast of characters being subjected to beatings and rapes, alongside inhumane working and living conditions. But that painful setup is necessary, not only because it’s true to life, but because witnessing the abuse allows the reader to fully understand why Willie would be driven to extreme measures—i.e. becoming a vampire—in pursuit of freedom.

At its heart, Blood Slaves is a bloody story of revenge. Anger crackles off the pages as the injustices mount and mount, leading to a satisfyingly blood-drenched conclusion once the fangs come out.

This work was incredible, historical fiction at it's best. Where else but the civil war could vampires be better used? The strong emotions, the lore, the incredible cast of characters-there was no part of this that didn't work for me. I particularly loved how descriptive the fight scene was. I feel like it was almost cinematic, and I would absolutely watch a series or movie adaptation for this. I think it's going to a be a huge hit, and this writer has a bright future. 10/10, no notes.