The Eater of Flies

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

A fun and spooky romp that does some interesting work with vampire lore! Highly enjoyable read! Thank you to NetGalley and Deixis Press for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4 STARS FOR ME. I LIKED TO READ THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I LIKED THE CHARACTERS. THE PLOT THE WAY THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN.

3.5/5

I review this book as someone who has never read horror. I am familiar with Vampire films.

The story follows a debt collector who goes to recover the money owed from a wealthy businessman in Transylvania. Returning to London from the successful trip, a dark turn of events means the streets of London are even less safer than normal.

London in the 1800's is depicted brilliantly. Dirty and foggy. Focussing heavily on theatre performers and the patrons who visit to view the stage productions. The social observations are sharp with the class divide playing quite a role. There's a level of subtle detail that pops up from time to time in the references of the people, conversations and the surroundings that will raise a smile.

The story is broken up at times with journal entries form various characters offering further insights. (I would have liked more of these please)

Initially I felt a strong resemblance to Bram Stokers as the story was really gothic. Similarities ended when the Story moved to London.

I really did enjoy this book. The characters were at times a little dumb in the decisions made but not having been in their situation I'll have to cut them some slack :P

I am unsure why the book is called 'The Eater of Flies' as only one fly was harmed during the story that I recall.

If I were to be critical. I think 'Clacking of teeth' didn't fit the tone the rest of the descriptions took. Cheapened the mood. Less tongue in cheek references to being hungry "I had a light Lunch" etc , There was a point with Host 2 that the reference to being hungry was borderline annoying.

Thank you Netgalley and Deixis Press for letting me read your book.

The atmosphere in this book is everything. In word this book is amazing. It reminded me a lot of classic vampire books like Carmilla and Dracula. It was just the right amount of thrilling and scary. A boon that you'll think about long after you are done with it. This is an author to look out for!

A retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula which absolutely hit the mark for me.
I’ve never read Stoker’s original but the 1992 Francis Ford Coppola movie adaptation remains one of my favourite films. I loved that the author included reimaginings of the main characters (with a few changes) and even found some laugh out loud moments amongst the grit and gore of the vampyr’s quest in Victorian London.
For me this book was a really easy read. Other reviews cite the slow pace but I really can’t agree with that. I found it gripping and atmospheric and definitely recommend!
This was a 4.5 ⭐️ for me

To celebrate this spooky season, what could be more apt than a re-imagining of the classic tale of Dracula?

When a mysterious sealed box is transported to London from Transylvania, the performers and guests of the Holmwood’s Music Hall are about to experience the folklore of the Vampyre first hand.

The Eater of Flies isn’t quite a re-telling of Dracula although there are all the characters that are familiar from the original book such as Harker, Renfield, Lucy and Van Helsing. In this version the Vampyre is more of a parasite – infecting others and becoming them, so it’s harder to tell who is friend and who is foe. I enjoyed this twist on the story, and it really added a great new element and some additional stakes to the story we all know and love.

I did think the pace of the book was quite slow to start off, but this increased as the stakes got higher and the chase began. Some of the characters did make silly decisions at times which was frustrating, but overall it was a solid, spooky read.

The Eater of Flies takes an interesting spin on the well-known tale of Dracula and re-tells it in a new way – perfect for spooky season. Thank you to NetGalley & Deixis Press for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vampires! This fun and spooky story had me gripping the edge of my seat. I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting.

The Eater of Flies is the most creative remix of the gothic vampire story I've ever read! Gadz takes the classic vampire and transforms them into an entirely new, terrifying monster.

In a tiny Transylvanian village, an English business man arrives to collect on a debt, and ends up taking home far more than he expected. A bloodthirsty vampyr has been released in new hunting grounds, and it's up to a group of friends to track it down before London falls. But how can ordinary people defeat a monster?

I absolutely loved this book. The author pays homage to the great Gothic classics (especially Dracula) in the setting, so as the reader, you initially feel like you're in a familiar world; but then he pulls the rug out from under you once you are introduced to his new, horrifying vampyre. I was hooked all the way through, and want to read more of this author's books now.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves gothic stories and vampires; you won't be disappointed!

⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙊𝙛 𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 - Richard Gadz

Release Date: 10/24/24
Add it to your TBR!! 📖

Recommended for readers who love:

🩸Vampire Stories
🩸Gothic Style Writing
🩸Possessions
🩸Blood, lotsa blood

The writing style is beautifully gothic; Victorian without sounding full of itself. I was immediately drawn in by the descriptive scenes and interesting characters from the first page.

Even though the book starts out jovial, with a festive wedding, things quickly go off the rails. When one of our main characters goes to the mountains to collect a debt, they unintentionally release Hell itself after a mysterious box is opened. They are then thrust into a 'plague' of nefarious ministrations that they may not be able to escape. Lots of teeth clacking (trust me, it's creepier than it sounds), bloody attacks, and piles of corpses.

While the story starts in the Carpathians, it quickly makes its way back to the bustling epicenter in the city of London, which soon becomes wild with fright as people fight for their lives in this fresh and exciting take on the Dracula story we all know and love.

Even though I get heavy Bram Stoker's Dracula vibes from this twisted retelling, it's not a copy, and it's not a quick rehash. This version of events brings a new perspective to the classic by incorporating themes of possession and cursed objects. If you're looking for something spooky and bloody, definitely consider picking this one up in October!

I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this. A gloomy and atmospheric Victorian era story, full of crime and greed, and most importantly - vampires. This unique Dracula reimagining puts an interesting twist on the traditional vampire, but with nods to the original story and vampire lore across the globe. I liked seeing how each of the (very different) characters all came together. The end was extremely satisfying and this was an all around good read.

The book opens with a short recount of a vampire attack in a village in Transylvania before the main plot. Then in 1868, a debt collector from London goes to the same village to take possession up to the debt. Unwittingly, he takes a beautiful casket back to London which contains a vampire, Dracul.

The opening chapter is gripping, but after that the pace slows for a few chapters. That is until Dracul is released.

I’ve seen mention this is a retelling of Dracula, but I struggle to agree with that. At a high level, the plot is the same. A man travels to Transylvania to settle a debt, travels back to London, and a vampire “follows” him and begins terrorising the city. There are further nods, like characters sharing names, and a diversion to Whitby. The book even uses epistolary elements like Dracula.

That being said, Gadz excellently captures the writing style and atmosphere of Dracula. This book feels much older than it is, high gothic style, without becoming simpering as many emulations do. And it’s one of my favourite portrayals of a dark, brooding, Victorian London.

While Gadz nods to and borrows from various vampire materials before, there is something new in his take. (At least new to me!) in that his vampire rather than being a physical presence, is a possession. The idea it could inhabit anyone at any time helps to build tension. However the reader is told right away who is inhabited, and the suspense doesn’t last long and it’s always fairly obvious who the vampire will next take on. Perhaps some more unseen action or less obvious possessions would help to build the suspense still further.

Ultimately, I really appreciated the skillful homage to Dracula and gothic literature. It feels familiar but still brings something fresh to the Vampire subgenre.

Thanks to Richard Gadz, Deixis Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.
I find myself with two very different opinions on this book, hmm strange I know.
1. Too slow not enough action to make me want to keep reading.
2. Extremely well researched, the format and behaviour of vampires intriguing, characters varied and interesting and a very exciting, albeit gory, ending.
Recommend this to readers who prefer a slightly slower pace.

Thank you NetGalley and Deixis Press for providing me with a digital ARC of the Eater of Flies in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions expressed are my own.

The story begins, in the only acceptable place a story about vampyres could start, in Transylvania. Arthur Flemming is sent to collect debt and chooses among a veritable assortment of artifacts including a small antique box hastily sealed with lead. Upon bringing said box home he is warned not to open it. What ensues is the tale of Dracul and how it bounces between hosts in London, finishing with a grand finale of copious, ethereal death.

I want to point out that I've never read Dracula (I know, I know!). But maybe not being familiar with the gold standard of the vampire category leant itself to the fun I had reading this book. I have no idea what the difference between “vampyre” and “vampire” is, but again, rather than hindering, maybe it helped. I suffered from confusion once more by the list of characters thrown around at breakneck speed. I could not make sense of who was an important character and who was just a lowly extra. Gradually I realized they were all ensnared within a singular web unknowingly spun by a singular predator. Expectedly this made for a splash of gore every so often but I think readers not usually comfortable with the horror genre should be ok. It reads more like an old gothic horror novel (i.e. Frankenstein) than a modern slasher film.

The description of the various settings in this book is what really stood out. There was a line describing the general atmosphere of Victorian London that gives a small taste of what I’m talking about: “the industrial, gnat-soaked air was dyed an amber tint”. I have read a lot of books set in Victorian London, never has one line so succinctly captured walking through the streets in the evening must have felt like. Overall the Eater of Flies was an entertaining read to start off this halloween season and I genuinely look forward to reading more novels by Richard Gadz.

I actually enjoyed this book! The beginning hooked me in, and I was excited to read more about this different version of vampires. It was a new take on them from what I usually see in the media. I read Bram Stoker's Dracula years ago, but from what I can recall, we get to see little "easter eggs" in the characters, places, and events from the original in this version.

I thought it was great that the author included Dracul's perspective and the people he was controlling. It made the story very creepy and terrifying to see how it was thinking and trying to survive, especially towards the end!

Overall, I thought it was interesting. I will say that after the book's opening scene, it did slow down from there and felt like a blur till Dracul was set free and made his way through historic London. I wish there would have been more!

I plan on posting my review to my "Bookstagram" once it gets closer to the publishing date. Thank you, NetGalley and Deixis Press, for allowing me to read this book and share my thoughts!

Thank you NetGalley and Deixis Press for the e-ARC. The opinion is my own.

Four stars to me.

A retelling of Dracula with an overhaul in its mythology and characters! The first chapter is such a good chapter, unfortunately it did pepper out during the rest of the book and didn't stay at the same level. Still, I liked it.
This author brings a possession spirit as a vampire instead of the typical undead plaguing the streets and here our dear friend Harker was twisted into another character with only the name as its similarity (well, also still traumatized). This happened with a handfull of characters. You will never guess who is Van Hellsing here. He does exist! It's basically just for the cheeky reference but he's here and present in the action. Speaking of, this book has chapters that are third person and then we have the occasional journal entries, again as a nod to the original Dracula I'm assuming.

One thing of the plot I think could have been stretched on was with the bookseller The characters discovered both secrets too fast in my opinion, though Ruby's turn, I think, is very good. A bit confused on the vessel thing though and how the possession truly works.

Now, this is a much faster paced book, with a lot more blood and death happening, so if you expect it to be very similar to Dracula. It is not. It is however a book on its own even while borrowing certain assets and characters names.

Strong Dracula vibes with historical fiction. It has horror, it has thriller, it has suspense, and most importantly: vampires. As a vampire lover, this book was perfect and just scratched every itch. Really recommend if you love historical horror.

This is an entertaining take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Gadz maintains the feel of a 19th century novel with a third party omniscient POV, which was a bit confusing until I realised what was going on. This POV really works here as it gives an almost cinematic feel as the focus moves from character to character. The prose captures the frenetic, hunting ground feel of the crowded theatre district that Dracula stalks. Another nod to the original is that the author also tells the story through diary entries and letters.

After an engaging opening the story slows down a bit while Gadz sets the scene and introduces the characters, but once Dracula has been let loose the tension ratchets up. In this story Dracula is a spirit that inhabits peoples’ bodies, which just adds to the suspense as the characters realise it could be anyone. I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it!

*The Eater of Flies* is a thrilling dive into Victorian Gothic horror, blending the eerie allure of traditional vampiric lore with a gripping tale of crime, corruption, and dark humor. Set against the bustling and morally ambiguous backdrop of London’s West End in the summer of 1868, this novel immerses readers in a world where the opulence of high society collides with the gritty underbelly of the city.

The story kicks off with a tantalizingly sinister premise: a mysterious box from Transylvania, sealed and enigmatic, falls into the hands of unscrupulous individuals. When the box is opened, it releases a vampyr—an unsettling wraith-like creature with a parasitic nature. Unlike traditional vampires, this vampyr hides inside its host, whether young or old, man or woman, and its thirst for blood spells disaster for those around it.

The narrative is set primarily around Holmwood’s music hall, situated just off The Strand. This locale serves as the novel’s heart, where the arrival of the vampyr triggers a nightmarish chain of events marked by betrayal, murder, and a desperate race to contain the malevolent force before it can wreak further havoc. The story explores the depths of human greed—whether for money, power, or blood—and examines how it fuels the chaos unleashed by the vampyr.

What sets *The Eater of Flies* apart is its departure from conventional vampiric lore. The vampyr’s unique characteristics and the way it infiltrates its victims offer a fresh take on Gothic horror. The novel’s atmosphere is richly crafted, evoking the dark, foggy streets and the glittering yet morally ambiguous world of Victorian London. The setting is as much a character as any of the individuals, contributing to the story’s menacing and immersive ambiance.

The author’s use of pitch-dark humor adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, balancing the horror with moments of sharp wit and irony. This humor is particularly effective in highlighting the rampant greed that drives the plot, making the characters’ vices as compelling as the supernatural threat they face.

The characters themselves are vividly drawn, each with their own motivations and flaws. Their interactions and the unraveling of their secrets add depth to the story, making the eventual confrontations and revelations all the more impactful. The tension builds steadily as the vampyr’s influence spreads, and the stakes rise with each page.

Overall, *The Eater of Flies* is a masterful Victorian Gothic tale that deftly combines horror, crime, and dark humor. Its innovative take on vampiric lore and its richly detailed setting make it a standout in the genre. Readers who enjoy a blend of suspense, supernatural intrigue, and biting commentary on human nature will find much to savor in this chilling and entertaining novel.

I’ve not read Dracula so I’m appreciating this on its own merits.

Pros:
Good mix of villainous humans and monsters.
I really like the possessed characters point of view chapters.
Fun cast of characters and Victorian slice of life.

Cons:
A 45 word sentence followed by a 77 word sentence, neither of which add to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

A great take on Bram Stoker's Dracula that subverts expectations that come with the genre and offers a fresh perspective on vampire mythology.

Thanks to Netgalley and Deixis Press for this ARC eBook in exchange for my honest review. (October 24)

Ok, so...

If Bram Stoker wrote Dracula in a parallel dimension, it might read something like The Eater of Flies - a novel that puts a different spin on vampire lore. And I ate it up!

The story is set in the mid eighteen hundreds, but what I found so impressive is that it truly feels like it was written in the 1800's.

It felt like reading an unpublished (till now) tale by one of my favorite authors of olde. I was thoroughly entertained throughout, and I also feel it stuck the landing.

It's had horror. It had some gloriously gory greatness. And it had some biting humor as well.

I'll be highly recommending this Halloween to any fans of Dracula, or vampires in general. Also, certain elements brought to mind Guillermo del Toro's (& Chuck Hogan's??) The Strain, so I'd also recommend it to those who enjoy that series.

I'll certainly be reading more from Richard Gadz myself.

3.75 / 5

This might be the best vampire novel of all time. The writing has left me totally starstruck. If you're looking for a vampire horror that strikes every chord, this is the one. Best to ever do it. I'd double the stars if I could.

An adventurous and gruesome retelling of the story of Dracula, with carnage aplenty. Instead of victims becoming valleys themselves, Dracul is crafted to be a specter/parasite-choosing his victims based on what benefits him the most. He is still the blood-thirsty and brutal destroyer we know so well.

The duo who teams up to hunt him down, Valentine Harker and Alfred Flemming, embodied Holmes/Watson energy, and make a well-oiled machine. They are formidable and cunning, but wrestle with fear and shortcomings. Gadz’s shaping of the team makes them likable, relatable, and you find yourself rooting for them until the end.

One of the things I really liked about this version was the incorporation of different cultures and their take of Dracula-specifically how armies used vampires to their advantage, and left devastation in their wake. It illustrate how the desire for power can lead to ruthless choices.

Ultimately, the heart of this story is how greed can, in the end, destroy you. The desire for more-more money, more power, more prestige-will be your ultimate downfall, and maybe, the death of you.

I enjoyed this reimagining of such a well known story, and how the author gave it new life-bloody and all.

As a fan of vampire stories I really enjoyed this mid-victorian world. I loved the story's use of vampire lore as well. The atmosphere is another fantastic part of this. I'm interested in where the author can take this in the future.

An interesting take on Vampirism that is often overlooked.
This books is an interesting read and a comfy one.
A bit of horror mixed with fantasy does the soul a world of good.
Well written, a great story with solid bones.

Firstly, I thank NetGalley and Deixis Press for the early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I give it a 3,5 out of 5!

The first chapter quickly introduces us to the story, without failing to completely drawn us to it!

I was missing this sort of old classic vibe that this book gives us, as well as the anxiety kicks when you don't know what will happen and who will get caught!

There is also the occasional wink to the reader with some references to known characters or others associated with vampire stories, particularly with our very well know Bram Stoker!

This is merely my preference, but I believe it could be a bit more eerie, it could have a bit more suspense. Nonetheless, it is quite a gory story and one that leaves you hoping for more!

This was a unique concept for a vampire novel, it had that overall feel that I was looking for in a Gothic tale. The concept was strong and I was enjoying figuring out this world and thought the vampyr worked so well overall. I enjoyed how everything worked together in the story. I enjoyed the way Richard Gadz wrote this and can’t wait for more.

This book is a loose Dracula retelling where vampyrs are non corporeal and have to inhabit human hosts in order to feed. Dracul arrives from Transylvania to Victorian London in a sealed box and is accidentally let loose on the people of the West End. Our intrepid heroes have to battle not only the vampire but also human greed in order to save England.

I have to say that this was a nice throw back to more traditional vampire tales while also putting a unique twist on it. Did I need a break from vampires just being leads in paranormal romances? Yes, yes I did and 'the Eater of Flies' definitely hit the mark. The story was well paced and well written. The writing style was reminiscent of the Victorian era while still being easy to read. Our cast of characters didn't get the most detailed development but it was enough for us to care about them. (Or not care about them if they were, in fact, the worst.)

I really liked this book and thought it was a great read for spooky season.

Reviews went live on 10/27 on Fable and Tik tok, will be going live on Goodreads and Storygraph on 10/28.