Choosing a Master is a well written book. I can't wait for the next book. Thanks to NetGalley, for this free copy. My opinion is my own.

I generally try to avoid vampire stories, but thought I'd give this tome a go. 'Choosing a Master' by S.M. Perlow is unlike any regular vampire stories I have read before.

Vampires are a common thing in this world. But they are split into two distinct factions: the Sanguans, who feed on fresh human blood; and the Spectavi, who have set themselves up as the protectors of humankind, and only feed on mass-produced synthetic blood.

The book features a different character in each chapter, from a human named John, who's blood has the power to heal all human ailments, including death, and particularly tasty to vampires, through to a various other vampires and humans.

Each character is fairly well developed, and quite likeable. However, there weren't many actual antagonists in the story. The book seems have been intended to act as a kind if 'origins' story, covering a little bit of conflict, but nothing that really grabbed me. The 2nd half of the book includes a section whete John and his lover are tricked by a Sanguan with evil intentions, but didn't seem to really get the tension up as expected.

Overall, this was a fun, quick read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes supernatural subjects, but I would advise not to expect too much. A good 3.5 stars from me.

A copy of this books was sent to me for an honest review.

I was on the fence about this book until about 90% of the way through. The writing was a little unpolished, but the story was compelling and I loved the world that Perlow created. But the ending left a bad taste in my mouth and pushed me over the fence into disliking the book.

In Choosing a Master, there are two types of vampires that live among humans: the spectavi--who only drink synthetic blood and work together with human governments and police to keep order, and the sanguans--rogue vampires who drink human blood and do not play by spectavi rules.

The story is told from three overlapping perspectives:

Ethan is a young vampire whose high school sweetheart has been in a coma for over a decade. He's searching for a human whose blood might be the cure.

Vera is a human employed by the spectavi vampires at their research center. Along with making improvements to the synthetic blood they drink, she searches for a cure for two vampires in eternal mental anguish.

John is a human who find himself a bit lost in life after getting divorced young. While wandering Europe, he meets a beautiful woman named Madison who may be able to give his life meaning again. But he also discovers that his blood is unusually appealing to vampires.

About 80% of the way through the book, new chapters are introduced that are not from any of these three perspectives and instead follow Dosu, a vampire who is part of a cult in the African jungle. The introduction of these chapters is when the story both begins to derail narratively and get into uncomfortable racial territory.

The part I disliked was the ending, so spoilers: [The main villains of the story turn out to be the Big Bad Black Men in the middle of the African jungle. They get described as "savages" by some of the other characters and fall into uncomfortable stereotypes. They aren't introduced until 80% of the way through the book, and they never really get fleshed out, so they mostly feel like a racially charged plot device. The book would have been far better off not including this African cult at all, or at the very least introducing them earlier and handling them with more nuance.

An intriguing take on vampires, with an interesting look at the power of blood, Choosing a Master makes for an exciting read, even if it does succumb to some unfortunate clichés in the final chapters.

S.M. Perlow suggests a world where vampires live openly among us, feared, tolerated, and admired, depending on the circles in which they operate. The Spectavi thrive in circles of business, politics, science, and more, earning the world's acceptance by adopting a diet of synthetic blood. The Sanguan, meanwhile, linger in back alleys, bars, and clubs, with feeding a sexual experience for those who accept it . . . and a deadly one for those who don't.

Connecting them all is the legend of a rare human blood type, one with a taste like no other, and the power to cure any mortal wound. It is the search for a carrier of the blood around which the story revolves, and the implications of finding him that drives it to a climax. Choosing a Master is about far more than just deciding who to follow or who to feed, it is about a decision that could change the world.

There is a lot to like about this. The characters are well-rounded, with genuine relationships that make it worth reading. Their worlds are distinct, and I really liked the interplay between powers. It's a largely mortal world, one where faith and superstition really don't play a part - except for the one area where they might, and that's where the story shies away from something truly deep and original, and falls into that cliché I mentioned at the opening.

I loved the idea of a vampire priest, and was fascinated by the potential he represented, especially with the story of his homeland. It's a window into a deeper war between Spectavi and Sanguan that lies at the heart of the wider story, but unless there's a twist in the next book that reverses the twist here, then it makes for an uncomfortable climax. What could have been really exciting is, instead, ugly and disappointing.

Choosing A Master is the first book in the new series Vampires And The Life Of Erin Rose. It is also the first book by SM Perlow that I have read so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a well written story about two types of vampires and some humans. This book can be read as a standalone but it ends in a soft cliffhanger for another book. There is violence and some adult content.

The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat that all of that info here. The characters are well written and multidimensional. The author does a good job of keeping a steady pace throughout the book to keep this reader interested. Though since each chapter is told from the viewpoint of a character, you need to pay attention to who it is. The story keeps you guessing what twists and turns will be revealed in the pages ahead. I do want to find out more about these characters and will continue to read future books when written.

Love this! Definitely a modern vampire live story. It almost reminds me of interview with a vampire only there is more hope than depression.! So much drama! Definitely read it!