Abner Marsh is truly one of the most remarkable characters ever crafted in literature.

From the very beginning, even before I had finished reading chapter 1, I found myself completely captivated by him and the story.

The character of Joshua is equally outstanding, adding another layer of depth and intrigue to the narrative.

Together, they create a world that is both engaging and unforgettable.

This book is simply extraordinary. It has a unique charm that draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very end.

The writing is superb, the plot is thrilling, and the characters are brought to life in the most vivid way.

If you haven't read this book yet, I highly recommend that you do. You won't be disappointed.

Trust me, once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down.

So, what are you waiting for? Pick up this amazing book and embark on an adventure like no other.

READ IT!

This was good,

but I just feel like I can't give it more than three stars compared to other stories I've read and certain issues I had.

I definitely agree with a friend where this is a strong historical fiction story with the vampire storyline being a subplot, so to speak.

I liked the different take on the vampire storyline, but just know not a lot happens when thinking of other vampire stories you may have read.

Martin also did a lot of info dumps, telling vs showing, in the vampire storyline which I didn't care for.

A lot of missed opportunities there.

And I really struggled with the huge time jump towards the end.

Thirteen years? That just didn't work for me.

Loved the character of Abner Marsh, though.

He was a complex and interesting character, full of flaws and yet still endearing.

The way Martin developed his character was quite well done.

However, despite my love for Abner, the overall story had its drawbacks.

The pacing could have been better, especially with that large time jump.

It felt a bit rushed and disjointed at times.

But overall, it was still an enjoyable read, just not one that I would highly recommend.

Maybe if Martin had addressed some of the issues I had, it could have been a five-star story.

As it stands, three stars is a fair rating.

Dear lord, will this book ever reach its conclusion? It truly feels as if I've been engrossed in its pages for an eternity.

To be fair, it's not a terrible book. The writing is decent, and the plot, although somewhat generic, still manages to hold some interest. This is quite a compliment considering I'm relatively new to vampire literature. However, I'm firmly convinced that a good 200 pages could have been neatly edited out. There are long passages filled with completely pointless information about steam boating and overly detailed descriptions of the color of the river. Quite frankly, I couldn't care less.

Moreover, the timeline of this story was a complete mess. And then, out of nowhere, 13 years later, more steam boat-related stuff occurs. Blah, blah, blah. *sighs and feels like giving up*

And Marsh! For goodness sake, get over that darn boat already. A crazy vampire is now in charge of it. Just move on with your life, man!

Thankfully, I'm finally done with this one.