Writing coach Lauren Sapala reviews the 2nd book in my 9-part Enoch Wars saga:
One of the hallmarks of a truly great writer is the ability to write comedy and horror at the same time. This is one of the many things I love about Ben Settle’s novels. They horrify me and make me laugh, sometimes all in the same scene.
In Vampire Apocalypse (The Enoch Wars Book 2 for superfans), we watch the continued saga of Azriel Creed (weakling-kid-turned-Predator) unfold as Azriel is called to the next phase of his monster-hunting journey.
I say that we “watch” it unfold because reading this story honestly feels more like watching a movie than reading. I noticed that with the first novel in this series too. There is such a strong feeling of having an experience with a movie instead of a book.
Part of it is the graphic imagery, but it’s also the dialogue and the way the action is structured. And the dialogue, by the way, is hilarious.
A big part of the story in this second book is Anghel “Fezziwig” Belasco, a 5,500-year-old vampire who is the Big Daddy Vampire of them all, and everything out of his mouth made me actually laugh out loud.
He was my favorite character by far, and I’m really hoping he shows up again later in the series, although I’m not sure that’s possible considering how it all went down at the end of this book (Don’t worry, I won’t give spoilers).
We also get more of the backstory in this book as to how Azriel came to be the way he is, and what it all means.
And when I say “backstory,” I mean there’s an epic backstory of grand proportions that has a beautiful “great ancient mystery” feel to it that’s woven throughout this series.
This isn’t just a surface-level horror story told in installments, it’s an intricate story made up of many different threads that you have to pay attention to, and that all mean something and come together in a very precise way to form a bigger picture.
That’s why I love it. Because I know it’s something I can come back to again and again, and if I keep reading on, even more of the pieces will be revealed over time.
And now I’m off to read Book 3…
Two things about not only this novel but all of the ones in the 9-part series I’ve written:
1. They are written in “copywriting” style.
If you like my sales copy and emails, you’ll probably enjoy reading them, too. If you don’t, then you almost certainly will not enjoy them. I try to remove all fluff, and I do not try to be a “great writer.”
I simply strive to engage & entertain..
2. I loosely merge some Method Acting into my sales copy.
Specifically, for when I write in others’ voices.
Take the character Fezziwig Laura mentioned and got such a kick out of. His personality is something that came about as a result of writing in a certain client’s “voice” for several years. A crotchety old grizzled guy who was an a genious at buying businesses using none of his own money.
I didn’t even realize it at the time.
But nowadays it’s very obvious his voice is in my head to this day.
In fact I have many “voices” in my head from my client days.
And a litmus test to know if you’re a freelancer doing your research correct is, you should literally have multiple personalities that sit in your psyche from writing in their voices/personalities/thought patterns.
That’s my opinion, at least.
Do what you want with it.
You can read the novels on Amazon if they interest you.
Otherwise?
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Ben Settle
P.S. It was good to see Fezziwig finally getting the lovin’ he’s always wanted.
I really appreciated Lauren’s review. And I can assure her and others who have read the 2nd book, you have not seen the last of Fezziwig. He pops up all across the 9-books in all kinds of unexpected, sick, and completely twisted ways..
