The Dark Passenger Arises

Dexter is your typical guy; he lives in Miami, has a job for the Police Department as a blood splatter analyst...and he kills people. Dexter Morgan is a serial killer, but it's okay because he only kills the bad ones. For years, he has hid behind his "Dark Passenger"; the one who drives him to kill those who deserve to be punished. Dexter holds onto this secret, continues through his life with no emotions, and just tries to blend in.
When his foster sister, Deb, calls him about an undercover case she is working, Dexter is faced with a killer who does not leave blood on his victims. The bodies are drained clean. As he admires the killer's work, more bodies begin to surface; all without blood and all artistically arranged. Dexter is not even phased when the killer begins to send personal gifts to his apartment as if to say, "Want to play?" However, Dexter has been having weird dreams where he ends up washing blood off his hands...could he be the killer and not realize it? Has his "Dark Passenger" taken complete control?

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay makes the world rethink the mind of a serial killer. Maybe there is an acceptable time to kill, especially if the person has done more despicable things.
Just like with every movie/ t.v show scenario, I wish I had read the series BEFORE watching the show. Lindsay's writing is so funny; funny to the point where you begin to wonder why you are siding with a complete sociopath like Dexter. Dexter is so socially awkward, he is dripping with sarcasm, and yet there is something so loveable about him. Each page turn, you want him to overcome his troubles, you sympathize with him, and you even start to laugh and agree with him. The issue I continued to run into was I kept picturing the actors from the show. And because I knew what was going to happen, the surprise ending was not a huge surprise.
HOWEVER, the book is a lot different. The characters have more depth, the plot is a little tighter, and there is a huge twist in the ending of book one. The creators of the show branched off to do their own thing, which is great for readers, like me, who just saw the show before they caught on to the craze.

It was an enjoyable book. Will I read the rest, I don't know yet. I want to continue to see what else is different, and I do want to dive more into Dexter's world of madness, yet it isn't so pressing that I need to read it ASAP.
Definitely fun, and it really does give a whole different meaning to the idea of "bad guys".

Now, We All Walk In The Sun

Dawn and Victor's fight for the city has not ended. Sin's wrath has left Dawn with answers she cannot understand and questions she cannot even begin to ask. Upon escaping Sin, Michael and her find themselves in a town where vampire and humans co-exist, but they protect each other; they need each other to survive. Is there a possibility that this can be a way of live for the future?
Her return home was short lived as Dawn realizes she must go with Victor to face the Old Family vampires. She must reveal Sin's plans for expanding his empire of "Chosen", infected vampires, and she must help Victor convince the rest of the families that the time for action is now. They have to take out Sin's plans for reproduction, and the Old Family vampires must find a way to attempt to bring order back to the scared, desolate world Sin has created. But will Dawn be able to understand and embrace this secret she has learned about herself and her family? Could this secret help protect

Denver, and, in the end, can this secret create a bond between two worlds?

After Daybreak by J.A London is the last in the Darkness Before Dawn trilogy. This novel is all about Dawn embracing her heritage and understanding how this gift could serve the city she once stood to protect. Just like with the others, the vampire aspect appears so realistic, that the reader almost feels there is a possibility this outbreak and fear could exist.
Dawn's feelings for Victor are stronger, and after expressing the truth of her heritage, it appears she can be of more help to the ultimate cause. And, with Sin's goals and followers rising, there is no choice but to go forward in hopes that this plan will bring a stop to the chaos.

The ending was nice, but I really feel like the whole "boss battle" at the end was too quick. The build up to finding Sin was great, but the ending just happened a little too fast for me. And, call me a cynic, but I was expecting at least ONE of the good guys to die. We know it can't be Victor because the love between Dawn and him is the piece that will create a better life for the citizens, but no one? Really? I went into the last chapter bracing myself for who would bite the dust because sometimes it is really hard to part with certain characters. It was a tad disappointing when I read to the end and not one person was mourned.
What I really DID like about the book was the overall concept, and Dawn discovers something about her family that is a really interesting twist. It reminded me a little of True Blood at first, but it was something that ended up being an important piece to the puzzle. And there were points in the book when she did perform like a strong female lead, which by now you know I am a sucker for.
The overall idea behind the book is a good one. It's a different twist on a vampire concept, and it's one that works. Dawn isn't a bratty female character, and she does strengthen as the trilogy progresses. Readers have to go into this trilogy expecting to just read and be entertained. There are no underlying symbols and there is no reason to make an assumption that this book will shake up your world. It is a young adult dystopia with a female lead who eventually comes into her own by the end. It was entertaining, and I did read the series fairly quickly because of that. Yes, there were things I was disappointed with, but the trilogy as a whole worked and served the purpose it was intended to serve.