Blood of the Lamb: A Novel of Secrets by Sam Cabot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
BLOOD OF THE LAMB is essentially THE DA VINCI CODE with vampires. These genetic mutants could conceivably be swapped out with any other secret society and you’d still get an interesting treasure hunt. Despite that, I enjoyed this book, especially the scenes where the two main characters are running around Rome looking for hidden pages torn out of a book of centuries-old poetry. The writing is well-done, and doesn’t have any jarring sections where it’s noticeable that one author switches to another (the author is a pseudonym of a mystery writer and a professor).
I suppose the novel tries to turn vampirism on its head, what with it being a mutation, and tries to stay away from tropes like garlic (though they don’t like bright light and shy from fire). But their enhanced senses and super-speed don’t make these vampires stand out from, say, elves or werewolves in other fantasy novels.
Other reviews have called this a cross between THE HISTORIAN and the aforementioned CODE, but I was never able to get through THE HISTORIAN (it’s currently supporting a lamp in my living room), whereas I finished this book in a few days. This type of book always has a twist, and the twist in this one is pretty big (although the title is apt, and I wasn’t far off in my guess). I’m sure that if any very religious folks read this book it would mess with their heads, but honestly, there have been enough books like this where a fundamental truth of a certain religion is exposed, that it’s almost not surprising.
The setting is lush and well described, and the relationship between the two main characters is suitably strained, as one is a Vatican librarian and the other a vampire. Plenty of times I found myself asking “what is this character doing?” or “how is this plotline going to fall out?” The writing isn’t as simplistic as the DA VINCI CODE, which is nice. If you want a page-turner that might make you think about the impact of vampires on Catholicism, check this out, but don’t read it if your faith is shaky (or your imagination can get the better of you).
Received as a free digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher, though finished as a library book.