Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2010) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 3 stars

“Parts of the book were confusing- particularly how it begins with no resolution to the one gaining the journals. I found the movie WAY BETTER than the book. Way Better!”

• Rated 5 stars

“A captivating read.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Seth Grahame-Smith's ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER is a clever adaption wherein Lincoln leads a secret life as a vampire hunter. Everything in Lincoln's life, his political career, and the events of the Civil War revolve around exterminating the vampire menace. Not only does the author shed "new light" on historical facts, he also has historical pictures! (Ha-ha! My children enjoyed looking for Abe's ax in the pictures and figuring out who were vampires in the pictures.)

The story was enough of an entertaining read that it sustained my interest when the story lagged a bit in the later half of the book. And yet it never felt heavy-handed or preachy in regards to the central topic of slavery, partly because it focused more on the conflict between human and vampire.

This book was a fantastic ride from beginning to end.”

• Rated 4 stars

“As a book lover I thought this novel was very well thought out. However, the historian in me has many problems with it. Being able to compartmentalize the book lover and the Historian in me made it possible for me to finish and like this novel.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Awesome, awesome and awesome!”

• Rated 3 stars

“This book was different than I expected it to be. I was expecting much more action and gore with a few tidbits about his life interspersed. In reality, exactly the opposite is true. This book read like a biography of Lincoln's life - from his childhood in Kentucky to his eventual rise through state legislature to the office of the president and the civil war. There were tons of historical details that made this feel like a historical account rather than fiction.

The vampire aspect of the story is woven rather seamlessly into this historical account. Certain details of Lincoln's life, political motivations of the time, slavery - all include a vampire element that is actually a believable alternative to the truth we know.

Other reviewers have said that this is a "gory" book. I disagree. While there are some pretty bloody and disturbing scenes, I don't think there are enough of them to justify calling this book gory. Actually, there was a lot less gore than I was expecting. There are scenes of vampire hunts but more often these episodes are only mentioned rather than described. There are scenes describing horrible things done by vampires but these scenes are not described in enough detail to be gory. They set the scene well and have a definite creep factor but are not downright scary. Maybe I've just been desensitized by too many horror movies.

Overall this was enjoyable but did not have as much action as I would have liked.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Very enjoyable and well done. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“surprisingly good and not too gross so far. really liked how it read like a true diary and historical account. he blended facts with fiction seamlessly.”

• Rated 5 stars

“An awesome read. It was a very interesting take on history I loved this book.”

• Rated 4 stars

“"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal..."

Perhaps one of the most famous speeches of American history by one of the most famous men, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, and vampire hunter. The book follows Lincoln through childhood where the deaths of family members introduces him to the world of vampires. From then on, he makes it his destiny to fight vampires. The book was a nice weaving of Lincoln's life and major events with that of vampires taking over the South. I have to say this book was tailor made for me. I love Lincoln and I love vampire stories; a marriage made in heaven!

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Vampires exist. And Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest vampire hunters of his age. His journal-beginning in his twelfth year and continuing to the day of his assassination-is an altogether astonishing, heartbreaking, and revolutionary document. One that casts a new light on many of the seminal events in American history and adds immeasurable complexity to a man already thought to be unusually complex."

"Judge us not equally, Abraham."

"With this he disappeared, leaving me to my anger. I shouted after him: "Why haven't you killed me!" His answer came calmly from the next room. "Some people, Abraham, are just too interesting to kill.""

"Without death, he answered, life is meaningless. It is a story that can never be told. A song that can never be sung. For how would one finish it?"

"And when this intoxication has worn away...when every desire is fulfilled and every language learned-when there are no more distant cities to explore; no classics to be studied; not another coin to be stuffed into one's coffers-what then? One can have all the comforts of the world, but what use are they if there is no comfort in them?"”