Disclaimer: I love Rin Chupeco. They captured me wholly with The Bone Witch trilogy and I will probably enjoy everything they write, forever and ever. 

I slogged my way through Priory of the Orange Tree and haven't watched Castlevania, so I went into this series blind. Still, it somehow turned out it wasn't what I was expecting when I heard gothic and vampires. Make no mistake, I liked it. A lot. I'll be real though, I couldn't work out when or where it was set in my mind. Much of the dialogue felt very modern in tone, there was plenty of cursing, teasing and sarcasm, which kind of contrasts with the horse-drawn carriages and sword-fighting aspects. I enjoyed it all, though I can understand if readers can't make sense of it all put together.

Remington (our main character) is a badass asskicking reaper. A reaper is a human who takes performance enhancing drugs to keep up with crime fighting and bounty hunting unruly vampires. Remy is a "not like other reapers" kind of reaper - they all hate and mistreat him, including his father who is a legacy reaper, because he's rumoured to not be totally human but not totally vampire either. Remy wanders through life feeling perpetually "other" and not accepted by any. That is, until he falls in with some misfit vampires and they team up to face a bigger threat known as "the rot", a virus or mutation which is causing havoc for vampires and humans alike. 

I adore Remy, he's an unlikely and clumsy main character but a sweetheart who has been so mistreated by those around him. Still, he turns up every time, does his duty and forgives transgressions. An absolute cinnamon roll if ever I've seen one. I loved the honesty and authenticity of his interactions with Xiaodan between finding out she was married and becoming closer to the couple. There's so much to connect with in his face growing flushed, while determinedly not making eye contact or saying anything to blow the nonchalance he's trying so hard for. It's sweet, endearing and oh so relatable. 

Malekh is that very typically cold on the outside and warm and soft on the inside male main character. I eat it up when he and Remy play fight and he brings out Remy's inner brat. Xiaodan seems very warm and loving on a surface level but I'm hoping we get to see some more depth to her in future books. 

I really don't like Remy's father figure. I think he's given an easy ride and I kind of resent him for it. He came out of this like the Teflon Don. I'm going into book two hoping to see some real consequences and punishment to be doled out to him.