Ed's Mini Book Review - Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

After not being too enthralled with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I was little on the fence with the next piece from Seth Grahame-Smith, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. Having a degree in History, however, had me intrigued on how Grahame-Smith would weave the actually accounts of the life of one of our greatest Presidents, with a story about vampires.

Overall, not a bad mash-up, actually it is very good. Bored as I was with P&P&Z, I was completely taken with the story of good ol' Abe, from his birth to his assassination at the hand of John Wilkes Booth. Along the way, Grahame-Smith weaves into the journal writings of Abraham Lincoln (some genuine and some not), an interesting story involving vampires and the roots of America.

I found the best parts of the book were early on and in to the middle of the book, dealing with Abe's childhood and coming of age as well as his introduction to vampires. Towards the end, it feels a little rushed with there not being much meat, so to speak, during his political career and his presidency.

I am purposefully being vague here and not trying to give out too much as to the role vampires play in Abe's upbringing and into his adult life. The weaving of them into what is known and unknown of Lincoln is fantastic and the best parts of the book. Figuring out who is a vampire and who isn't a vampire, maybe just manipulated by them, is part of the fun though I am sure you can make a good guess at one historical figure that Grahame-Smith has being one of the undead in this book.

Good stuff here, just a little short of being great but still a recommended read.

My Grade: B+

LL