- Genre
- Sonoran Gothic: vampire crime noir and historical gothic horror set in Tucson, Arizona, in 1892 and 2000 (Vampire Society Noir / Historical Gothic)
- Themes
- Permission and pride; a gilded cage versus an open one; truth a mentor chose not to tell; building something of your own; what a city remembers.
- Tone
- Cold, precise and darkly funny, a slow-burn power game among predators who keep ledgers, not confessions.
- Tropes
- vampire politics, power struggle, gangster vampire, ancient vampire, loyal right-hand man, secrets and lies
- Heat level
- Implied only. Vampires in this world can't have sex, so any spice stays off the page.
- Status
- Prologue through Chapter 4 published; the serial continues. The published run pauses on an alliance offered, not a cliffhanger.
- Where to start
- Start here or read it anytime. It sets up Tucson: the vampire order, the powers and the city the other books step into.
- Content note
- A study of power, pride, and predation among Tucson's oldest vampires. Contains violence, references to coercion and exploitation, and strong language. Mature themes, restrained depiction.
- Who it's for
- Readers who like vampire politics, mob stories and power games among predators.
- If you enjoyed
- Vampire: The Masquerade or the movie Abigail.
- Length so far
- 6 published parts (Prologue Parts 1-2, Chapters 1-4), 19,103 words.
