A librarian who moonlights as an erotic dancer goes on a hike in northern New York's Adirondacks is befriended by a woman who turns her into a living vampire.
"The Dancing Valkyrie," for readers looking for the next step beyond "The Interview With a Vampire" series.
The new novel,"The Dancing Valkyrie," by Adirondack author Pete Klein is the story of a young woman who is an erotic dancer at a topless club in Schenectady, NY, who becomes a vampire while on a hike in the wilds of the Adirondacks. The novel follows her rapid acclimation into being what she was born to be - a vampire with a lust for both blood and sex, and draws to a conclusion when she meets with a vampire who lives to kill other vampires - and whose name is Van Helsing.
Excerpt
The Dancing Valkyrie
Chapter 1
page 1
“If you like what you do, do it. There is absolutely no reason to
change your life, Mary,” Joseph Gottsched was saying to Mary Hoffman in
the great dining hall of his castle in the Adirondacks where he sat with his
wife Elizabeth next to him on a leather sofa. Mary was sitting opposite of
them on the raised hearth stone of the massive fireplace. The stone was
almost cold to sit on, not having been warmed much by the sun that was
now setting and casting the last of its rays into the castle.
Mary smiled and thought, “No reason to change my life?” But that
thought was quickly replaced by thinking of how beautiful were Joseph and
Elizabeth Gottsched, especially Elizabeth whom she had come to think of as
Beth, her Beth.
Beth was sultry in a Mediterranean way with some Gypsy and
Spanish blood in her. She was svelte in figure, had long black hair, yet
exuded an aura of strength beyond the smallness of her frame. Joseph had
about him a curious blend of European handsomeness and world weariness.
There was also about him a little boy’s innocence and youthfulness that
floated on a nonchalant attitude most strikingly seen in the way his eyes
twinkled and his lips seemed almost always ready to break his usual
seriousness with a smile. He was neither short nor tall, neither fat nor thin,
had black hair like his wife, though not as long, and in the proper lighting,
he could almost be mistaken for being a brother, rather than a husband to
his wife. Both appeared to be in their late twenties or early thirties at most.
But in their cases, in more ways than one, appearances could be very
deceiving. With glass of red wine in one hand and cigarette in the other, Beth
said, “Show Joseph how well you dance, Mary. You know I won’t mind.
You know how I love to watch you dance.”
Mary laughed, “Here?”
“Obviously,” Elizabeth said. “Oh! I suppose you would like some
music, even though I know you don’t need it. I’ll put something on.”
Mary shrugged her shoulders and stood. Why not? Her world had
gone totally crazy over the last few days and dancing might restore some
degree of normalcy. She watched Elizabeth look through a pile of CDs next
to the CD player on a nearby table and suggested, “Something moody but
with a good beat. And not slow. Afro-pop or something like that. Rock is
good too.”
Professional Reviews
ALLBOOKS BOOK REVIEW
ALLBOOKS BOOK REVIEW
www.allbooksreviews.com www.allbooksreviews.ca
Genre: Fantasy / Erotica
Title: The Dancing Valkyrie
Author: Peter Klein
Blood and sex. Of course love, but not the way humans think about it.
This is the recurring theme throughout The Dancing Valkyrie, a story about Mary Hoffman, librarian by day and exotic dancer by night. Mary, needing some time alone takes a hike along a secluded upstate New York trail. She is saved from two predatory young men by Beth, a beautiful woman slightly older than Mary. The two join together for the rest of the trail, becoming romantically involved along the way. Beth, it turns out is a vampire, and quickly introduces Mary to the mystical world she lives in. After inviting Mary back to her castle, built by her brother, Joseph, in a remote area, Mary is seduced into becoming a vampire as well. Joseph and Beth are hundreds of years old, and pose as brother / sister, but are husband and wife, or, in vampire terms, father and daughter. Thus begins the fascinating story of Mary’s transition from human woman to vampire.
This book is full of rich and incredibly descriptive prose that makes you feel you are in every scene. The dialog is both thought provoking and believable (or course we are talking about vampires), with an excellent mix of philosophical, religious and historical references mixed within the real time story. The plot is not complex, as the story is more of a journey than a twisty-turny, keep you in the dark project. It is more than adequate, however, as you quickly become submersed in the protagonist’s discovery process. Klein presents vampires in a light never seen before, and frankly one of the most inventive and most original depictions I’ve ever read.
This is an absolute must read if you are a vampire fan. It should be tempered with the fact that it is an erotic novel. However, the sex is an integral part of the novel’s framework and not only necessary, but adds to the overall richness of the work. A pleasant surprise on the last page was: “TO BE CONTINUED.”
Highly recommended.
Reviewer: Gregg J. Haugland, Allbooks Reviews.
Title: The Dancing Valkyrie
Author: Peter Klein
Publisher: Ravenwolf Publish
ISBN: 1-4116-5965-1
Pages: 232 Price: $24.95
May 2007
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