There are many forms of redemption; only one form of true friendship. This is a fantastic narrative that tells us the story of a merchant marine officer who, during his off-hours, accepts the offer of a mysterious figure to take charge of the most modern and elegant steamship on the Mississippi, the Fevre Dream. The economic benefits of the river route are not the only objective of the disturbing investor. The plantations and cotton fields are the target for the vampires, and someone is trying to stop them. But there are more secrets to uncover.

Do you want to know more about the book, without spoilers? Visit:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/2013/01/sueno-del-fevre.html

It was interesting that until now I hadn't read anything about blood shame.

It had the ability to continue like a crown and a throne.

If anyone had told me that a book which combined Mark Twain's tales of the Mississippi with the allure of "Interview With a Vampire" would be a great idea and an enjoyable read, I would have thought them crazy. However, George R. R. Martin has truly done a remarkable job!

I was aware that the author had been writing for a long time before he published the first book of the ASOIAF series. For a long while, I was curious to know if his other stories were as vivid and captivating. This, along with my love for vampires, led me to pick up this book.

At first, I was a bit put off by the Scottish narrator since the story is set in the American South with steam boats, and it didn't seem to fit the setting. But very quickly, I came to appreciate the narrator. He is really good, and his native accent provides a nice contrast to the southern accent he uses for the dialogues.

The story itself revolves around a down-on-his-luck steam boat captain who receives an offer of a lifetime from a strange man. Naturally, he accepts it, imagining they will embark on an adventurous life. But he is in for a huge surprise and a very long journey.

It is also a story about vampires. In fact, it was quite interesting how the author portrayed this race. Especially the concept of them believing in a sort of Messiah while simultaneously making fun of religious humans was highly entertaining.

But that is by no means all this book is about. Essentially, GRRM offers us a thorough character study - what drives people, what tempts them, what corrupts them, and what makes them redeem themselves. All of this is wrapped up in an atmospheric tale of the American South before and after the Civil War, when the river was wild and so were the people traveling up and down it.

However, what really got on my nerves was Joshua York, the man who had paid for one of the grandest steam boats on the river, who turned out to be a vampire and his awful preaching about not killing anyone, not even the most despicable creatures in the story! If it wasn't for him and his weak character, many things could have been easily prevented.

The descriptions of the boats, the food, the people, the landscapes - all are extremely vivid, real, and atmospheric, conjuring up a wonderful world that has long since disappeared due to a terrible war and progress. It evokes all the smells and excitement of the time. Naturally, there are also dark descriptions of slavery, white trash, and awful things happening to good people. But this only serves to make the tale even darker, allowing a slow sense of terror to creep up one's spine.

It was really nice to see time pass and how the history of the area was intertwined with the story. Of course, this always brought a characteristic melancholy, a sense of loss, darkness, and loneliness. However, this had another effect: the author never makes anything easy. Sometimes it was extremely frustrating, but then I realized how disappointed I would have been if the conclusion had come more easily (since it would have been unrealistic, after all Julian is thousands of years old).

Last but not least, the poetry by Lord Byron and Shelley was a very nice touch, and I ended up googling a number of those poems because they are truly beautiful.

All in all, it is a great story with a few weaknesses (thus not as good as ASOIAF), but I'm very glad I didn't miss out on this wild ride.

This review was originally posted on my blog: http://jonathanjanz.com/2012/06/01/ge...

You might wonder why I, a writer with my own second novel set to be released in five days and whose last big purchase was a Wii for my children (including the MarioKart Fun Pack!®), am talking about a decades-old novel by a writer as rich as Croesus. Maybe it's because I'm an idiot. Or perhaps it's because George R.R. Martin truly deserves it. When Mark Sieber at the Horror Drive-In said Fevre Dream should've won the Best Vampire Novel of the Century Award at this year's Stokers, I just frowned at my monitor. I not only didn't agree with him (how can any book be better than Richard Matheson's I Am Legend?), but I hadn't even heard of the novel. Now I'm seriously thinking of turning in my "Well Read for My Age" badge. How on earth did I not know about this amazing novel before?

Here are the reasons why you should read this book if you haven't. First, there's Abner Marsh. I've never encountered a protagonist like him. I suspect that's because no one else has written one quite like him. He's gruff, profane, and shockingly unattractive. But I loved him. I loved his flaws, his obesity, and the fact that he became an abolitionist gradually rather than being forced into it like most writers would have done. I promise not to give away any more of the book. Believe me, you'll want to enjoy its little surprises completely unspoiled. Abner March is one of the novel's major surprises. In the early stages, I kept waiting for the real protagonist to show up. I thought I'd found him when we were introduced to Sour Billy, but a couple of paragraphs of his wretched world view quickly disabused me of that notion. No, it became clear that Abner Marsh was the character on which the book would succeed or fail, and he swims beautifully! It's no exaggeration to say that he became one of my favorite characters in all of fiction. He's up there with Stephen King's Stu Redman and Ray Bradbury's Guy Montag.

Second, the novel is immersive. If you've ever been completely lost in the world of a book, you'll understand what I mean. That's the kind of story this is. The details are so well-chosen and the atmosphere so rich that you'll find yourself daydreaming about the Mississippi River, steam boating, and stopping at woodyards to barter for more fuel. During idle moments, you'll smell the dank, dark waters. Late at night, after turning out the lights, you'll wonder about Joshua York's vampire history and how plausible it seems. Could such things really exist?

And that brings me to the last reason you should delay all other reads to make room for this fine novel. It's scary. Did I mention that this is a horror novel? Maybe not, because it's not just that. Sure, it has vampires and shocking brutality (including a scene that made me put the book down, walk away, and gather myself to finish the episode; those of you who've read it will likely know the scene I'm referring to... the only hint I'll give you is that it involves something so hideous in the main ballroom that it horrified the paternal instinct in me and gave me nightmares). But it's also an incredible slice of history, a deeply moving tale of an unlikely friendship, and a testament to the power of loyalty between two individuals.

This book is definitely one of the best fantasies in all of history.

In some places, the main characters fall into extremely difficult situations that I didn't even think they could get out of.

However, Martin still shows his writing skills and an interesting event occurs.

The story is filled with rich and vivid descriptions, making the readers feel as if they are in the fantasy world themselves.

The complex relationships between the characters add more depth and excitement to the plot.

Overall, this is a must-read for all fantasy lovers.

It will take you on an unforgettable journey filled with magic, adventure, and mystery.

Whether you are a fan of the genre or just looking for a good book to read, this one is sure to satisfy.

So, pick up this book and let yourself be沉浸 in the wonderful world of fantasy created by Martin.

Riverdream or El sueño del Fevre is one of the first books that R.R Martin wrote before we knew him for his more famous work, A Song of Ice and Fire. The premise really appealed to me and since it was October, I decided to read it and finally give it a chance.

I read this work in French. As for its language level, it falls between intermediate and advanced. The only thing that might cause some problems is the vocabulary related to ships or the argot of the time.

On the one hand, the idea for the story seemed very original to me. Being in the middle of the 19th century, in the middle of steamboats crossing the Mississippi and with the so-called "creatures of the night" really attracted me a lot. Moreover, I really liked the dark tones that the novel provides. I don't say this because of the plot or because the scenes are developed in the middle of the night, but because as soon as you immerse yourself in the story, you are only able to see everything with a palette of dark colors from black, grey, through brown, red, etc.

On the other hand, the characters were okay, and they even had some depth. However, they didn't completely attract me, so the events that happened to them throughout the novel seemed a bit indifferent to me.

Finally, the plot was a bit of a struggle for me because everything seemed very slow (a typical quality of Martin), and that's why it didn't hook me as much as I wanted. However, I have decided to reread it in a couple of years, and maybe in this way I will have a more positive view of the novel.

Personally, I'm not a fan of bloody romance novels. However, I read this one because of the rose on the cover and its being a standalone. As a standalone, it was really a good thing. But I have to say that in my opinion, this book can't be classified as a horror genre at all. Maybe because they say there is a "bloody" element in the story, so it's a horror story. But in my view, the author doesn't make much effort to evoke a sense of suspicion and fear in the reader. The vampires themselves are more of a means to represent the issue of discrimination and the lower status of blacks in the historical context of the story.

However, despite this, the story wasn't without flaws. Willian's story could have been much better and could even have presented more fascinating aspects of the history of human-vampire relations. The hero rejects a thousand-year-old immortality.

Another problem I had was with the ending of the story. Not the ending itself, but the way it was presented. It seemed emotionless and anti-climactic. On the one hand, Martin makes some actions - like not fulfilling an old prediction - that make me wonder if it's the author's courage or clumsiness.

As a relatively old work of Martin's, I enjoyed it. And it can be seen how much Martin has improved from this book to the third volume. I hope that in the recent few years when there is no news of Book 6, it is still in the process of improvement. No more mistakes!

P.S.: Apparently, Martin has a great interest in steamboats in addition to food. In the first few chapters, Morticia is just fiddling with her steamboat.

Una rivisitazione originale del mito vampirico a metà tra Ann Rice e Mark Twain offre una ricostruzione storica accurata. Il capitano Abner Marsh sembra quasi un antenato dello stesso Martin. Inoltre, la parte riguardante Caino e Nod ha probabilmente ispirato notevolmente Mark Rein·Hagen quando scrisse l'ambientazione del suo popolare gioco di ruolo Vampiri : la Masquerade.

La storia è valutata con ☆☆☆. Tuttavia, Abner Marsh e Joshua York sono una straordinaria coppia di personaggi. Ho adorato l'esplosivo finale e il suo epilogo agrodolce.

Questa opera è raccomandata a tutti i fan di George R. R. Martin, ai suoi ex-fan (visto che probabilmente non vedremo mai la fine delle sue popolari Cronache del Ghiaccio e del Fuoco), e a tutti coloro che preferiscono i racconti di vampiri brutali e sanguinari a quelli rubacuori e luccicosi.

In "Fevre Dream," Martin takes us to a setting that has become almost habitual in vampire stories, the southern United States during the 19th century, specifically the lower Mississippi River basin, Louisiana, New Orleans, and so on.

This doesn't mean that "Fevre Dream" is going to be a carbon copy of certain novels by Anne Rice. There are things that are logical and fall into place on their own, and this setting is perfect for dealing with certain themes that can be very easily related to vampires and their fundamental characteristics.

In terms of the plot, the novel is about Abner Marsh, the owner of a steamboat company that operates routes along the Mississippi River. Several of his boats have become unusable after severe freezes that blocked the river. A mysterious man named Joshua Yotk contacts him to propose becoming his partner and building the boat of his dreams in exchange for being the second captain and having decision-making power over the routes and operations of the boat. Abner accepts without knowing Joshua's true intentions, but determined to fulfill his dream of owning the fastest and most luxurious steamboat on the Mississippi River.

The plot is very well done, it doesn't lack surprises and has an undeniable interest. But for me, the main thing is that Martin skillfully uses the setting and the characters to talk about certain relevant themes, establishing quite evident parallels between the intrinsic decadence of vampires and the decline of prosperity and the existing way of life in the southern regions caused by the advance of the railroad and the abolition of slavery. It seems like a commentary on how the passage of time passes over those who don't adapt and on the reluctance of certain people to give up ideas that are firmly implanted in their heads.

Sueño Del Fevre - George R.R. Martin

The night is beautiful, and in its dark splendor, we can also find peace and nobility. There are too many people who irrationally fear the darkness.

Captain Abner Marsh of the steamboat is not having a good economic time. So, he doesn't hesitate much about the offer from the mysterious gentleman Joshua York. They form a society between them. With Abner's vast experience and Joshua's financing, the best boat that will sail the Mississippi is born: the Sueño De Fevre. York's condition is not to bother him during his daytime sleeping period and not to inquire about other possible strange customs. The captain doesn't expect the journey through the darkness that he will take along with his dreamed ship.

Sueño Del Fevre was published in 1982 and is the second novel written by George RR Martin. Most of the story takes place in 1857, during the tumultuous years before the Civil War.

It is one of the most original vampire stories that can be found in a bookstore. Martin immerses us in mid-19th-century New Orleans with detailed descriptions of the landscape, objects, inhabitants, and sensations. Special mention for the theme of slavery, a fundamental part of the plot. As we read, it is impossible not to think that vampires are not the only monsters in this story. Regarding horror, Georgito also doesn't spare, the scenes are quite gory and cruel. The whole story itself is quite oppressive and with a constant sense of tension.

It is an excellent vampire horror book with moments of great melancholy and poetry (that final scene!) that takes a lot from the classic stories of the genre but with Martin's particular touch.

This was not for me. From the very start, I was bored, and the story failed to grip me at all. I ended up skimming through most of it.

To be fair, it was quite atmospheric, and the early chapters that described the steamboats and life on the river had some charm. Even the plot had its moments here and there. However, I simply did not like any of the characters. The writing, too, was just so cumbersome and difficult to get through.

Joshua's backstory was not too bad. In fact, I got a bit of an Anne Rice vibe from it, and Joshua reminded me a little of Louis. But, I'm sorry to say, he is one of the lamest vampires I have ever come across. And Julian, the big, bad bloodmaster, was just so dull that he put me to sleep. He was really neither interesting nor scary.

Overall, this was just a dull and out-dated read. I was initially going to give it two stars, but as I write about how much I did not enjoy this, I find myself reconsidering. Goodness me, am I ever glad that I am finally done with this!

I don't like vampire stories. This stems from the fact that I don't like things when they become trendy. I'm sort of a "cultural snob". When the movie "Interview with the Vampire" brought this topic back and then everything that followed with the "Twilight" saga, I took a dislike to the bloodsuckers. The thing is that among the shelves of [Gigamesh] I saw this book with good reviews and it seemed to handle the topic in a different way.

Getting to the point, I quite liked the book. The plot revolves around two very different characters and has the Mississippi River and the era of the glory of steamboats as its backdrop. Moreover, the way it treats the vampire theme seems reasonable to me, giving sense and coherence to their origins and nature. It's curious because this fact has allowed me to take a certain interest in another vampire book that I had set aside due to my aversion, which is "Blindsight". Curiously, they almost seem to have the same solution for the real existence of vampires.

In conclusion, an interesting and entertaining novel. It's not a masterpiece but its [4 stars ****] I think it deserves.