This holiday I am especially excited--I'll be unveiling the cover of the latest Demimonde book WOLF'S BANE in a few days. This cover is rockin' and well it should, since one of the Weres is pretty rockin' himself. (I can't keep the grin off my face just mentioning him.) Hope you'll join me on Dec. 20th when we unveil the cover...
Until then, I'll keep busy re-watching episodes of NBC's Dracula. Although the title character is the guy to watch (JRM is a favorite actor of mine, even when he portrays awful men), I find the most compelling character in the series to be Renfield.
Yes, I said Renfield.
I've come across a lot of Renfields in my time. Remember the creepy bug eater from Gary Oldman's version? YECK. Just--yeck.
Much more amusing was Xander's unwilling assumption of the role in the Buffy TVS episode. (Season 5 Episode 1) Xander was pretty much an awesome Renfield and, until this year, had held the coveted place of honor as BEST RENFIELD EVER.
But, alas. Xander has been dislodged from his lofty perch by the newest Renfield, because this particular incarnation is simply perfection.
Unlike Dracula's previous day walkers, the new Renfield is noble, devoted, and completely loyal to Dracula... by choice. Recently, I watched the episode of Renfield's origin story and found out there was even more reason to adore the guy.
Remember how Xander tried to fight the vampire's compulsion? Hysterical, really. But our new day walker isn't bespelled--he chooses to serve, because Dracula saved him from a fatal beating. Rennie's fealty was born out of gratitude.
See, Rennie was a lawyer--a cunning and shrewd man who can size up the chess board and spot the strongest piece. Small wonder he speaks up and provides key financial information that would benefit Alexander Grayson (Dracula's human alias)-- he could tell the strongest player was Mr. Grayson, and took a chance to align himself with him.
It earned him a solid clubbing from the men trying to foil Grayson. Broken, bleeding, and staring down a bullet, Renfield watched Grayson massacre every last man in the room. Dracula took Rennie to safety, thus earning his gratitude and unfaltering loyalty forever.
That was the element that had kept me from truly resonating with the Renfield character all these years--free will. I'm not big on slavery and I really don't like the idea of being forced to do something that I don't want. There was always an element of coercion involved in the character, until now.
And I think it adds a definite spin on Dracula's character, as well. He didn't force Renfield's hand, or his mind, or his spirit. He earned Renfield's service. Makes Dracula all the more compelling, I think. He is bewitching through his actions, his cunning, and his persuasion--not through a magic force that humans can't ignore. (Plus, he's got those JRM eyes. Never hurts.)
What about you--are you a fan of Dracula? What do you think about his day walker, Renfield?
Comment to win... just fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter a gift card and ebook giveaway!
1 Kindle Fire HD 8.9 inch or equivalent value Amazon Gift Card
3 Bewitching Prize Packs full of books and book swag goodies- open to US Shipping- prize packs may contain print copies of The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle, Would Be Witch by Kimberly Frost and Earth Angel by E Van Lowe, Paranormal Pleasures by Roxanne Rhoads, Tasty Christmas Treats by Roxanne Rhoads- books will be distributed among the 3 prize packs
1 e-book set of the first three books in the Seven Seals Series by Traci Douglass
1 Release, book 3 of The Angler series by Annie Nicholas
1 ebook copy Murder on Mars A New Orleans Mystery by MM Shelley
1 Ebook giveaway Hollow’s End by Marianne Morea
1 Ebook copy of Tigress by JE Taylor
1 ebook copy of In Flames by Jessica Jayne
1 copy of River Road by Suzanne Johnson
1 ebook copy of Visionary- Unleashed by N Dunham
1 copy of each Bleeding Hearts and Blood Rush by Ash Krafton
1 ebook copy of Soul Meaning (Seventeen Book 1) by AD Starrling
1 ebook copy of Blaze Ignites by JL Madore
1 e-book copy of Operation Earth by Maria Hammarblad
1 Earth’s Requiem. Print if in the U.S., an e-copy otherwise.
1 ebook copy Silent Oath (Book 2 of the Locked Within Trilogy) by Paul Anthony Shortt
1 Ebook: Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy from the Season of Seduction Carina Press erotic holiday anthology
1 eBook: An Unexpected Bride (The Bride Series, Book 1) by Shadonna Richards
1 eCopy of Divine Destiny by Joanna Grace
1 Ministry Protocol: Thrilling Tales of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
1 Ebook giveaway. "Beautiful Stranger" by Katalina Leon
1 ebook copy of Chasing the Star Garden by Melanie Karsak
1 ebook copy of Cleaning Up by Jophrael L Avario
1 One e-book copy of Haven by Celia Breslin
1 one e-book copy of Dragon Fire by Dina Von Lowenkraft
1 ebook copy of Hex and the Single Witch by Roxanne Rhoads
1 one kindle copy of Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective by Christine Amsden
1 One ecopy of Cursed Ever After by AC James
1 copy of The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter by Jillian Stone
1 ecopy of Catwalk:Messiah by Nick Kelly
1 ecopy of Wucaii by Pembroke Sinclair
1 ecopy of The Bottom Line by Shelley Munro
1 Ebook copy of Dangerous Pursuit by Margaret Daly
I have a feeling that you'll want to keep reading, then, because Bewitching Book Tours is hosting a Sizzling Summer Giveaway that you don't want to miss.
I'll try to keep this post lean. There are so many prizes you might drown under them all. #awesomewaytogo
Details are all on the giveaway page...you'll find the breakdown of each of the prize packs. You can also see whose goodies are up for grabs by looking at the pictures.
Now, here's the biggie: There are four different giveaways going on so be sure to enter them all. Just click on the links below each photo to go right to the Rafflecopter form.
If you'd like to share any of these contests, be my guest--the share links are also on the main giveaway page tab on top.
Since one of the contest entries is to leave a blog post comment, let me give you some food for thought...what book are you looking forward to reading this summer? Is there a book on this list you'd love to win? Let's hear your recommendations so we can build our TBR lists.
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