I am the Night by Ruth Miranda

The short: If you like intense reads with bloody vampires and a gritty reality that holds nothing back, READ THIS.

The long: This companion novella to The Blood Trilogy fits between Blood and Scars, books 1 & 2. It can be read alone simply for the story of a newly turned vampire learning about his new life, or with or after reading the trilogy. Where you jump in depends on what you want - if you want Marcus's POV and character development from the events in Blood before moving on to Scars, then read it after Blood. If you want the maximum emotional effect, read it after you finish Marianne.

Marcus's energy and confusion are palpable from the start as the whirlwind of his life throws everything but kindness at him. This poor boy, from a poor family, knows nothing of true friendship or love, but is intimate with ridicule and brutality. It's no surprise that he both embraces and loathes what he becomes. It speaks to the effects of abuse and the questioning nature of accepting our actions, acting on impulse, enacting revenge, learning from mistakes, and growing to love ourselves. Although it comes from a preternatural angle, the emotions are raw and quite human. The wild fluctuations of Marcus's state of mind transition seamlessly and believably. Caught in a moment where everything ever known shifts in an instant, adrenaline and base emotion deliver a powerful blow that forces us to stay on our feet however we can. Marcus's resolve makes him do just that. Life keeps kicking him, but he's not one to fall flat and get trampled.

As a fan of the original trilogy, I loved seeing Marcus's side of things from Blood, seeing his character development, and hearing his thoughts, feeling his emotions. Ruth Miranda has a distinct voice and a writing style that flows with the way many of us think. We generally don't think or speak with grammar in mind - there's a stream of thought, of words and fragments - and that's what makes slipping into Marcus's head so easy. The reader becomes one with his thoughts and, to me, that pulls you in even more. I don't mean this as a slight or insinuation that grammar is foregone. On the contrary, I feel that there is magic in the wordsmith'ing that Ruth Miranda pulls off and it sets her writing apart.

All in all, I loved all of it. It's an emotional, gritty read that tackles tough issues while delivering an entertaining and thought provoking story. I enjoyed the entire series, with Marianne standing out as the highlight and emotional peak, but this adds layers and insight into Marcus that fans will love. I'm so happy Ruth Miranda choose to write this companion novella, and, as others have said, I hope she writes more like this in the future.