Dhampira by Amy Pennza ~ a Review

by MK French

Corinthe has a human mother and vampire father, and lives in a small village as if she is only human. When she accidentally exposes her gifts, she's captured and sold to Vander. He is a vampire knight, fighting for the cruel and deranged King Rasimir, who wants to extend his empire beyond the Feyline and into the human holdings. The king intends to marry her off to Prince Lorcan and use her daywalking abilities to his benefit. Corinthe yearns to be free, and both Vander and Prince Lorcan offer to help her. The problem is, she isn't sure if she can trust them.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

June 2026; Ace; 978-0593956045
audio, ebook, print (496 pages); fantasy

Billed as True Blood meeting A Court of Thorns and Roses, this book is the first in a vampire ménage trilogy. The world of humans and fae is separate, and the elves retreated from Noctis to a different realm. Witches, werewolves, and mystical creatures share Noctis with vampires. It's a realm where magic is so present that it blocks out the sun and allows them to walk outside. Vampires can take on the power of those they drain, though they risk madness; in his drive for superiority and power to rule Noctis, King Rasimir is volatile and willing to kill everyone if they're not useful. This includes the captain of the guard, Vander, and Prince Lorcan, who was king of a conquered group of vampires. Rasimir holds court to vampires who revel in the misery of others, jockeying for blood and scraps of power, since weakness is ruthlessly weeded out. It's into this world that Corinthe is dropped into, and she has to learn quickly how to survive in it, as well as try to overthrow her father.

The novel is one that doesn't romanticize the bloodletting and cruelty that these creatures are capable of. Rasimir is paranoid even of Corinthe, and the threat of murder and torture is constant. Gradually, we learn about the different factions in Noctis and how the magic works. I like the concept of power words, of the battles to earn more, and the few irreversible spells. Of course, there are limitations to this, and we learn at the very end exactly why Corinthe was having such a hard time with magic. While this is the first book in a trilogy, I appreciated the fact that it doesn't end on a cliffhanger. We have a satisfying conclusion that still has room for more in this world. I'm sure Corinthe will have a lot of work to do in the next two books to make good on the promises she made in this one.

Buy Dhampira at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever. 

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