His Consort

By: Mary Calmes

Narrated by: Scott Smith

A new life in New Orleans is all Jason Thorpe had hoped: His quaint little store attracts a devoted staff, and his warm, loving heart grants him a loyal circle of friends. He's perfectly content, having left behind the chill of a confusing and danger-filled night in Washington, until he discovers something unbelievable lurking in the steamy darkness of the shadowy streets of the Vieux Carré, something that turns out to be terrifying...and utterly mesmerizing.

The prince of the vampires, Varic Maedoc, is visiting New Orleans when he finds out the man who once helped his counselor is there in the Quarter. He thinks to simply meet and thank Jason - until he lays eyes on him. Varic’s devoted himself to protect the honor of his race, and he's never wanted a mate before...but he immediately knows he must have this man, and no one else will do.

Varic may want to bring Jason safely into his world, but someone who doesn’t like the human's soothing influence on vampires has deadly plans that would disrupt Varic's dreams. Now, unable to tell friend from foe, Jason finds himself wondering how to hold on to the prince’s heart when he’s fighting for his life.

©2018 Dreamspinner Press (P)2018 Dreamspinner Press

A Refreshing New Redefinition

His Consort is a refreshing new redefinition of the tried and true Vampire genre, in the model of Dracula, to one of co-evolution with humans of a different species called Vampyrs. Gown is the sleeping in coffins, bursting into flames in sunlight, garlic aversion, wood stakes, and the mindless blood lust to dink only human blood. Blood drinking remains but only as a civilized consensual act. Humans are genially off the menu by order of the Vampyr monarchy centered in Malta. The other tip of the hat to traditional vampire lore is the need for humans to give consent for a Vampyr to enter their home. Finally silver has been modified so it no longer burns Vampyr flesh but will weaken their powers so they may be bound.

With the above flexibility Mary Calmes has fashioned an action packed story that forms the background to a romance between the Prince of the Vampyrs and a human, ex-special forces military, with a recessive gene, bridging the gap between the human race and the Vampyr race; making them ideal mates. All this occurs in the middle of factions, conspiracies, and betrayals by Vampyrs motivated by greed and lust for power. This action makes a good read and a great listen.

This story is narrated well by Scott Smith. Mr. Smith provides multiple voices and accents for the different characters all with a pleasant tambour to the ear.

loved the story

I have listened to this several times over the years and I have the same reaction. Story great, narrator good but I have to say Jason is the most annoying character ever. A toddler doesn't question/argue as much as he does.

Stunning!

Wow, what an amazing new Story! Magnifico! I loved this. This has been exciting, romantic and absolutely absorbing. I simply wanted this to continue on and there is definitely more story to write, that a second novel is a chance. I hope Mary will produce a second story,

i love it

you will not be disappointed it is so worth it you will love it too I don't want it to end if she makes another book that goes to this one I would really love it

Iffy narrator

The story was as typically instalove and bonkers as any Mary Calmes story ever is and I thought the narration was sub-par, so this one ranks between two and three stars for me. The narrator doesn't have much range in voice characterizations, and inexplicably chose to have most of the characters sound like they were from New York. The one character who is definitely from NOLA had a southeastern-southern accent, Tiago, a vampire born during the French revolution, had a whiny California surfer dude accent, and Hadrian, a vampire born in ancient Rome, had an American accent that was barely different in timber from the one used to voice Varic and later Doro, so good luck telling those characters apart. All in all, I would say the narrator ruins what is otherwise an entertaining though slightly weird story.