Theoden

New Haven, Book #0

By Nicholas Bella

ISBN# 9781986740067

Author’s Website:  https://www.nicholasbella.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

This is the story of vampire Lord Theoden, and how he got to where he is today.

Theoden was born to a mother that wasn’t willing or prepared to care for him.  She went to the church for help when she was having complications during labor.  And, the church took her burden off her hands.

The church raised Theoden, not allowing him to have toys, or to even play more than one hour a day.  They were raising him to be a warrior and his training was paramount.  They told him that he was a gift from God and that he had a purpose from God.  To fight the scourge of the blood drinker.  And, Theoden served them well.  Killing vampires and even an occasional werewolf in his teen and young adult years.  It was all going great until he was tricked by the evil blood drinkers and was turned into one.  

Theoden is now everything that he knew to be evil.  Feeding off of humans and giving in to carnal desires that he knows are sins.  His vampire father feels that he has freed him, by exposing the church’s lies.  He also revealed to Theoden why the church found him so special; that he wasn’t completely human, but part dragon as well.  Dragons usually kill their hybrids as they are considered abominations.   However, they’re allowing Theoden to live since the king owes Ara a favor that he is cashing in.  It’s up on Theoden to either accept the gift that Ara forced on him, or to continue to be punished for his rebellion.  Can he accept his new life or will he forever be stuck in the past?

This is a new author and series to me.  And this is a prequel that was written after the series had already been well-established.  I wasn’t sure if I should read it first or last, but I ended up starting with it.

First and foremost, there is a lot of detailed gay sex in this book.  The vampires believe in keeping it in the family.  The vampire sires enjoy sharing their bodies with their children … often.  And, it’s usually a group affair with all the siblings taking part.  So, I can see how this can be off-putting to some readers with the incest aspect.  And, you have to be okay with the gay orgy aspect as well.  It also has some anti-religion themes.

This was touted as a dark erotica, but it didn’t feel all that dark to me.  Gay erotica? Absolutely!  Maybe the actual series is darker, but this book did not have that feel for me.

The last third or so of the book started to drag, as they started glossing over everything.  One Hundred years later this happened, three hundred years passed and that occurred and so on and so forth.  I think this is most likely due to this being a prequel made after the fact.  I’m assuming these events are covered in more detail in the actual series and the author was trying not to repeat too much.  It did make for some boring reading for this new to the series reader.

Of all the characters not named Theoden, I found Tylendel to be the most interesting.  He’s a Dragon Knight, and a Prince.  He helped Theoden get a handle on his dragon powers.  And, was obviously the person that Theoden was most attracted to.  

The dragons in this world seem to have a bit of Incubus blended in as they feed off of lust and have an abundant sexual appetite.

Overall, I didn’t mind this book.  It’s definitely smutty, but it did have a decent storyline, which I appreciate.  It didn’t blow my socks off, but it was an okay read, for what it was.  I don’t see myself rushing out to get the next book, but I wouldn’t shy away from reading more of the series either.