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Darkly Dreaming: Book 1 of the Darkly Vampire Trilogy Paperback – October 31, 2015

by Chloe Hammond (Author)

4.1 40 ratings

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‘Very wow’ ‘A rich velvet novel’ ‘Modern and funny’ ‘Dark and seductive’ ‘Suprisingly human’Have you ever longed to leave your life behind? Sever all ties and disappear? Even for just one second? What if it wasn’t a choice anymore?Darkly Dreaming is a literary exploration into a sinister world where vampires lurk in our shadows. As interested in our heroines’ emotional changes as their physical transformations, the story leads you through their infection, transformation, and difficult adaption to their strange new life. We experience their hopes and compromises, heartbreaks and rage as deeply as they do. A modern gothic, these vampires aren't the undead, they have been infected by a virus and undergone physical changes as radical as a butterfly during metamorphosis. These vampires are as beguiling, cruel and fatal as cats, and just as irresistible.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 31, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 262 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1518834388
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1518834387
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1.29 x 8 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.1 40 ratings

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About the author

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Chloe Hammond

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Born in Liverpool, Chloe Hammond grew up in rural West Wales. They didn’t have a T.V so books became her favourite escape, and when a teacher read the class a poem about a dragonfly, she discovered the joy of playing with words herself. She studied Behavioural Sciences and Creative Writing at the University of Glamorgan.

She always planned to write- life just got in the way. When she lost her joie de vivre, she was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Usually stubbornly self-sufficient, Chloe refused to give the depression the isolation it craves, and decided to talk about her experience with the illness. She feared judgement, but instead found compassion and support.

She made time to write again. Darkly Dreaming came as nightmares, vivid scene at a time. She started writing them down, and quickly Rae and Layla’s characters introduced themselves and took over, taking the story into unexpected twists and turns.

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Scott James

A great read!

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2019

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Grabs you from the git-go, fast paced, a fun read if you're into horror!

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Hayley Kiwibird

Refreshing take on the modern vampire novel

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2016

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More than just about vampires, Darkly Dreaming is a novel about identity, friendship, love and belonging. There is a little bit of everything is this novel. It has just the right amount of darkness and depravity that you would expect from a modern vampire/horror novel and just the right amount of thoughtfulness and depth that you would expect from a novel containing elements of romance. The characterization in this novel is superb, particularly the characters of Rae and Layla, whose camaraderie was one of the things I enjoyed most about this book. And to be frank, I found it refreshing that the author chose to write older, well established characters with adult issues, rather than jump on-board the teenage vampire trend.

The author, Chloe Hammond, writes very well. She consistently maintained a style that seemed almost effortless on the page. Her words were easily readable and the story kept a cracking pace from start to finish with only a few lulls in between. There were a few areas that I would have liked to have been fleshed out a little more but I would happily read another work by this author.

Such a great read.

Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2016

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A different slant on the oh so raging vamp theme. I loved this. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Eat, Prey, Love

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2018

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This is an unusual vampire novel. Two divorcees (or near-divorcees) are wrestling with the problems of mid-life, jettisoning their unfulfilling husbands and struggling with work and the prospect of trying to have children - when an encounter leaves them forever changed. They become vampires. Beautiful, ravishing vampires.

They proceed to try to make sense of their lives as they chart their unlife. Their vampire existence brings new passion, occasional accidental lesbianism, and a desire for growth. Eat, Prey, Love, you might say.

I must say this book is not for me - I feel I'm very much not the target audience. It's mildly racy and it's deeply wish fulfillment at work, but if that's what appeals to you, you might want to dip into the first pages preview.

I'm giving it three stars - but not being the intended reader for this, I wouldn't take that as a criticism. I like my vampires darker and more dangerous, whereas with this, being undead has never been so life-affirming.

One person found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2016

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Good book

One person found this helpful

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Jirinka

A better kind of vampire story

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2016

This novel is not just another vampire novel. It is so much more and I send huge thanks to Chloe Hammond for allowing me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rae and Layla are just normal women, both at a sort of loss of what to do with their future, when they decide to relive their youth and revisit their favourite places in France. What they do not anticipate is that they won’t be returning to their ‘normal’ lives.

In a way of a bizarre accident, they get infected by the vampire virus and transform into beings they never thought existed. They have to come to terms with their new existence, looks and lives, taken in by a Pride of vampires living on a rural farm to learn about their news gifts and skills.

Without giving away too much, of course nothing goes that well for them. Life is never easy and with the added complication of being that different, it is harder than ever for Rae and Layla to fit in and be happy, or at least content.

The reader can definitely see where the author was influenced by other vampire stories, I could identify various TV shows and books, but Chloe has managed to pick out the best bits and put them very skilfully into her book and make them her own.

What I loved most about this novel is the relationship between Rae and Layla. You can clearly see when they disagree with something the other one is doing, but they still support each other in such a beautiful way. They really would die for each other.

The writing is colourful, characters likable and the story flows so well, it just sucks you in and spits you out at the end wanting more. And thankfully this is only the first instalment in the trilogy. I cannot wait for the next book to come out.

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Maria Riegger

A coming-of-age vampire tale

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2018

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A fast-paced, intriguing, and thought-provoking read. This is a vampire novel, but it is certainly more than that. It's a story with well-developed characters with real-life motivations, trying to find their way through life. I definitely sympathize with main character Rae, who escapes the monotony of life through daydreaming, and who is trying to be herself in a world where everyone tries to change her.

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Top reviews from other countries

Dina Williams

Love love love this book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2015

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I started reading Darkly Dreaming one evening with the full intention of reading the first chapter and then continuing in the morning... Several hours later I finally was able to put it down, having devoured the whole novel in its entirety, in one sitting. And the feeling I just couldn't shake that I was desperate to read more about the brave, yet misunderstood heroine Rae.

Darkly Dreaming is a deceptively devious debut from Chloe Hammond. The story lures in the unsuspecting reader with familiar fare - middle class, middle aged woman reinvents herself and goes on a French jolly with her mates. But then the story takes a shocking and macabre twist that takes the reader away from the tedious comfort of similar tales, as Rae and her best friend, Layla embark on a nightmare that dives them both head-first into the fantasy horror genre with relish.

It's about time vampires weren't all tormented souls and slightly annoying youths, full of their typical and over-documented teen angst (I mean, get a grip, and grow up). The vamps in Darkly Dreaming are graceful, beautifully creepy, horny, powerful, savage and at times, downright evil. But they are also startlingly human, with their own problems, pettinesses, power struggles and insecurities. While Hammond isn't afraid to explore darker aspects of this horror story, - and at times the adult themes are graphic - she balances this with a good level of humour and one liners that you just wish you'd come up with yourself.

If you read the Twilight saga and wanted to give Bella Swan a damn good slap, this book is for you. If Sookie Stackhouse was ever so slightly too in love with herself for your liking, Darkling Dreaming will not disappoint. Aimed at an older audience, the 90s nostalgia is spot on, as are Hammond's observations of a woman drowning in her own seemingly perfect life, yet relying on her day dreams to maintain her facade of sanity. To be robbed of her ability to dream following her transformation into a vampire, is a horrific realisation for Rae - almost as repugnant to her as her newly formed lust for human blood.

I'm hoping that this is not the last we'll hear from our heroine nor this novelist; but something tells me we'll be hearing the names Rae Reeves and Chloe Hammond for some time to come.
Read this book, you will love it.

One person found this helpful

M. Kutch

... never read a vampire book before but this was recommended by a friend of mine who was adamant I ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2016

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I have never read a vampire book before but this was recommended by a friend of mine who was adamant I would enjoy it and they were right! I enjoyed every part of the story and couldn't put it down. The characters are totally believable and I loved being part of their world for the short time I was reading the book. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

One person found this helpful

LAJ

Sensuous and intriguing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2019

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I've rarely read vampire stories but this one was recommended by a colleague and I thought I'd give it a go. Sensuous, at times lyrical and occasionally brutal, I found it well thought out and as plausible as a work of fantasy could be. Enjoyably intriguing, I will definitely read the sequel.

mrs stone

Anne Rice would want to be you

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2017

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What a deliciously lovely book and a refreshing new take on the vampire trope.
I love Chloe's ideas on who turns and who they turn into after their transition.
I felt for Rae so much always picking the wrong men, her anxiety and quietness I understood completely and eagerly await the next in the trilogy for Rae and Layla two half's of a coin.

CleoGray

A good recommendation!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2016

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect with it being about vampires living in France, but I thought it was great. Can't wait to read 2 and 3!

2 people found this helpful

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