Blood Dry


Young Adult - Paranormal
235 Pages
Reviewed on 02/21/2020
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Blood Dry is a work of fiction written in the paranormal genre which is aimed at young adults and penned by author Stephanie Marie. The book adds a new angle to the vampire story by including elements of survivalist and post-apocalyptic storytelling, taking place after humanity’s battle against vampire kind has been fought and lost. A group of survivors scattered throughout the woods holds on to each other for survival in the face of deadly vampire predators, desperate human survivors, and an oncoming drought that could either finish them off forever or give them an edge against the beings who have claimed their world.

Author Stephanie Marie delivers a fantastically exciting and highly engaging tale for young adult readers across the age range, and plenty of adults will enjoy it too. Keeping violence to the necessary minimum for the nature of the adventure, the chills and thrills of this high-stakes survival story are to be found in the atmosphere of Marie’s excellent prose. As the four distinct central characters find their own ways of surviving and learning from one another, the narrative wraps them in a well-described world where terror may lurk at every corner, and the time of night means certain death for many. I particularly liked Bray, whose backstory was heart-breaking and character development hugely strong, and I’m certain that each reader will have their favorite among Marie’s plucky survivors. Overall, Blood Dry is a high-quality fantasy and paranormal work that is sure to please vampire fans looking for a fresh and original angle on the genre.

Lit Amri

“The world was made for us. We’re the ones who breathe the air. We drink from the streams. We live in the shade of the trees. We eat the fruits grown from the dirt of the earth.” It’s a dark world where vampires rule in Blood Dry by Stephanie Marie. Humans are either surviving and hiding from them in the woods or become their prisoners-their blood supplies. As the prolonged drought makes the water scarce, humans are dying of thirst and vampires are losing their precious drink. Mason, one of the prisoners, was left to die outside of Prosolis, the vampires' city, when he was saved by Soka, Elora, and Bray, a trio living in underground caves. However, there will never be peace as long as the vampires keep hunting them. The humans want to take back their world.

Thirst defines the desperation for both humans and vampires in Blood Dry. Stephanie Marie's dystopian world is gloomy where the sun only provides a temporary reprieve before hellish night engulfs the humans again, especially the ones in Prosolis. The solid characterization strengthens the plot. Soka is a resilient protector for the delicate but intelligent Elora, the one with the knowledge of the past and the one whom I related to the most. I found Bray's kindness invigorating and Mason's change from powerless to vengeful satisfyingly justifiable. The vampires are sadistic antagonists and easily resonate with the horror and grisly elements. Readers will find unpredictable twists as the story moves towards its thrilling ending, which is filled with instances of gratifying vengeance but also devastating loss. Intriguing, disturbing, dark, and emotional, this is a solid and entertaining read.

A. L. Peevey

Blood Dry by Stephanie Marie is not a typical vampire novel. No cities exist where the vampires can hide and prey on humans, but instead, they hold most of the human population confined like animals in a place called Prosolis. The humans, apathetic and barely alive, serve a single purpose: supplying the vampires with blood. The main characters are humans, including Mason who has lived in vampiric captivity most of his life, feisty Soka, who along with young, analytical Elora, resides in a mountain hold, and wandering Bray, who carries the marks of many fights but shows a childlike devotion toward Elora. Other free humans roam the land as well, all sharing two common foes: the vampires and a drought. This water scarcity means a drought of blood for the vampires. In the inevitable battle to stay alive, who will win? The vampires or the humans?

Blood Dry by Stephanie Marie gives us a unique view of a world ruled by vampires. They are not invincible against nature but are affected by its whims through their human prey, and I like that. Blood Dry has the time-honored fact that while vampires are superhuman, humankind is not completely helpless before them. Humans can fight back and win, even if the threat of vampires is not gone forever. The writing is consistent and conveys the dread and desperateness of the characters, both human and vampire. I feel the story is unique in that it puts vampires back where they belong - haunting the night. Blood Dry is a brisk read, combining vampires with dystopian tropes and characters who refuse to surrender. If readers enjoy these features, this book comes highly recommended.