Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary

By: Jordan Castillo Price

Narrated by: Gomez Pugh

Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Michael is a waif in eyeliner who's determined to wipe vampires off the face of the earth. Wild Bill's got the hots for Michael and will stop at nothing to go home with him. Forget about moonlit castles and windswept moors. These bad boys haunt all-night diners and cheap motels, cut-rate department stores and long, lonely stretches of the interstate. Ride along with Wild Bill and Michael as the twists and turns of Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary unfold in America's heartland.

©2009 Jordan Castillo Price (P)2015 Jordan Castillo Price

Unique vampire book

It was definitely unique. I sort of liked the characters, sometimes. Although it wasn't the best vampire book I've ever listened to, it wasn't bad at all. There was a lot of sex and I'm not sure there was a plot, but it was entertaining nonetheless. I thought it was also pretty well written with plenty of interesting detail.

While I like that I could tell the characters apart, I really hated Bill's voice for the first half of it before I got used to it. That being said, the narrator did a great job. There was nothing wrong with the tones or pacing, I guess I just don't like husky voices. It doesn't detour me from listening to other books by this narrator.

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Awesome Horror/Vamp story

**Audiobook**

Another EXCELLENT book by Jordan Castillo Price. While I have loved her Psycop series I was curious to pick up a book of hers that wasn't from that series.... and I wasn't surprised to find that her excellent writing skills flowed into this story as well.

This is sort of a dark and twisted story, but at the same time there is some love and other things going on. If you like dark and dirty vamp stories, you will love this story!!

Ah... and then there was Gomez Pugh. He did an excellent job.. as usual. I actually didn't even realize it was him until near the end and was thinking that I needed to look up the narrator! So I have to say well done on not sounding exactly the same as the Psycop stories or the other stories I have heard from you.

All in all, I can't wait to see where the second part of this series goes.

I received a free copy of this book to read for Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.

If you like DARK romances and GREAT narration...

Originally these were a series of short stories, with some novellas thrown in along the way. This is the first 5 main stories told back to back as one “story”. Each chapter was originally it’s own story and was told by one or the other MC. As a result each chapter has a distinct feel as the POV shifts. (Luckily, in audio format, the master narrator, Gomez Pugh, has given us two entirely different voices so that POV shift is patently obvious and allows the reader/listener to become easily immersed in the new mind set.)

First, I want to comment on the gorgeous covers – I believe Jordan does all her own art and WHAT A TALENT! The dark, mysterious, highly sexual images of these covers really set the scene.

Next, I want to comment on the vast difference between Psycop and this series. Yes, both are dark and deal with sort of anti-heroes, but both Vic and Jacob are obviously good guys. They fight on the right side of the law. They might be depressed at times or be willing to bend the law, but they are always on the side of “good”. Now, these two, Michael and Wild Bill, are not necessarily “bad”. But their version of “good” isn’t as readily apparent to an outsider. Especially Wild Bill. I highly recommend, to those of you who find this as fascinating as I did, that you look at the post scripts from the author. Jordan has added her own thoughts about these men and it really helps to understand them more. (Plus it’s super interesting!)

Payback
This series starts with Michael seeking revenge for the death of his friend., Scary Mary who he KNOWS was killed by a vampire. No, the world doesn’t know about Vampires, but Mary did and Michael believed her. Specifically, he’s hunting a vampire who kills indiscriminately. While waiting for his “prey” he meets Wild Bill, but doesn’t realize Bill, too, is a vamp.
The three of them end up in a clench and the night does not end how anyone thought it would, but that isn’t the end of this story, only the beginning.
**
Amazing. Jordan Castillo Price writes amazing characters. Dark. Brooding. Broken. Fascinating. What I love about this series/book (and her work in general) is how much she portrays with a minimum of words. Each phrase, word, thought adds to the story and in such an economically but erotically beautiful way.
No doubt about it, the eroticism of this series is off the charts, but not eclipsed by the character development and the emotional attachments that develop.

Vertigo
Now we see Wild Bill’s perspective. He acknowledges that he can’t get Michael off his mind and is excited when he finally runs into him again. But Michael has been planning this meeting and he isn’t about to let Bill get away this time, not without hearing him out.
**
Wowza. This was a very sexy, creepy, book/chapter two of the series. There are some questionable acts that somehow seem to just work for these two dark figures. You can tell, right from the start, that this relationship is not ever, ever going to be smooth sailing, but it will be hot as hell.


Manikin
This is from Michael’s perspective. He’s on the hunt again and in a lot of trouble. Fortunately Bill took the hint and finds him, in the “nick of time”. He’s also bought Michael a van, and thus starts their relationship with Big Red.
Bill is now, more of less committed, at least in the short term, to seeing where things go with Michael. Michael is both ecstatic and trepidatious about getting involved with a vampire, and specifically Wild Bill.
**
Again, JCP blows us away with another super-erotic scene between our two “heroes” and their budding relationship is both needy and fulfilling in the way that only two such amazingly flawed characters can possibly share.

I loved the examples of his enchantment for Michael that Bill lets slip through. He lets Michael have his “Harlequin” fantasies, and tolerates his jealousy over getting blood from others, and “bites” Michael on the neck, just to make him happy. Michael, in turn, is both determined to persevere and virginally seductive (the shaved bits showcase this so metaphorically) and ever questioning of Bill’s experiences.


Tainted
Ever exploring, Michael uses his newly acquired (and pink!) smart-phone-type device to continue his research into vampirism and discovers Dr. Jim, a vamp who is researching it from a DNA perspective. Bill has been “protecting” Michael from turning by using condoms, but Michael is looking more and more frail and less and less human. Bill wants answers, too.
Well, they get them, and it’s not what you would think. In a way Michael is devastated by the news, but also relieved. As is Bill. This new development opens doors for the couple and closes others.
**
This is definitely a turning point in their relationship and I found it fascinating how this played out. On the one hand, both are both sort of resigned to the importance the other now plays in their lives. They both clearly – dare I say it – LOVE one another, but neither is really completely happy about it. There is still too much uncertainty about the future for it to feel entirely good, but there is still an element of extreme hopefulness in their lovemaking that lets us think it may all just work out.

**
JCP excels at making her characters real. Really real. Michael isn’t all sweetness and devotion. He kills and he was the one who started the killing spree. Bill clearly loves Michael, but he has his own selfish agenda and it sometimes enables Michael in a way that isn’t the healthiest. In JCP’s own words on GoodReads: “Wild Bill and Michael form a sort of feedback loop, where Michael’s depression feeds Bill’s lust, and then Bill’s remorse lets the flames burn down a bit, until their need for connection draws them into a new conflagration, and everything begins again.”
But they are still clearly moving forward in the relationship and it has its own elements of sweetness and tenderness that satisfy the romantic in me.
The audiobook ends here ☹ But… if you’re hooked you can still read the individual stories or the collection.
There’s a lot more to their story and this is kind of a crappy place to leave them, but… they’ve got their own tentative HFN here but I think we’re left with far more questions than answers.

Audiobook

Well, you know by now, that I just ADORE Gomez Pugh, so it’s no surprise that I found his narration here to be DIVINE. God, he gives Wild Bill just the right voice, and Michael, too for that matter. (I did have to consciously tell me that it wasn’t Vic or Crash in the story, but the characters are so different that after listening for awhile it was easy to picture the new MCs over the old.) Of course he does a lovely job with all the myriad secondary characters as well, and I just can’t recommend this narrator enough.

I love this author, narrator and series. Be forewarned, it’s very dark and you’re gonna want to keep going once this narration end – I’m hoping the sequel is coming soon!

(JCP said next year maybe?)

As good as his others - but I'm not a vampire fan

If you like vampire stories I'm certain you'll enjoy this. I am a big fan of his other stuff I just didn't read the description carefully otherwise I wouldn't have purchased it. I don't like it solely because of personal tastes but I will continue to buy his other books - I'll just be more careful reading the synopses in the future.

five full stars

Five stars, five full stars.

Other reviewers have mentioned that there is a lot of sex in these novellas. I'll go a step farther and say these books are like 85-90% sex. But I don't think I've ever read an erotica (straight or queer) that managed so much character growth and plot progression with so little. Bill and Michael seem to work all their problems out in bed (or the van or the graveyard or the shower...........). But they work them out. They tackle tough issues and personal demons and I adored them, Bill, especially. Despite all his jaded ennui, you could just feel his desperation for human warmth (and I don't just mean physical warmth).

This audiobook (which Gomez Pugh did an amazing job narrating) is a compilation of the first five novellas. It brings the story to a satisfying conclusion and a natural stopping point. I finished wanting more, but not feeling slighted to not have the next several novellas at my fingertips. In fact, I think I want to wait for them to come out in audio. I enjoyed the narration so much.

Again, five stars.

Note: I received an AUdible code for a copy of this audiobook. I chose to listen and review it.

Great audiobook and fun vampire smex!

I liked but didn't maybe love this story. It started with too much smex and filthy steam in my taste. It felt like PWP but turned later to a stunning touching love story. All in all five good short novellas. Looking forward to the audiobook with the next five.

Awesome

Writer plus Reader equals Pure Win. I loved everything about this. I recommend this for anyone who digs vampire stories.

JCP and Gomez knock it out of the park AGAIN

Just when I thought it wasn't possible, JCP proves me wrong. I'm normally not the biggest fan of paranormal vamp type of stories but my my - this may have been the story that turned me. Jordan - so much humor...so much smexy m/m action. And my gawd I wish there was a way for audible to capture every thing I bookmarked and then spit those pups out for me in written form. Too many classic-kind of lines - I know I'm going to have to get the ebook version just so I can highlight and laugh some more.

Gomez - if you ever read these reviews - just know that I thought you were incredible before this book and now that I've heard Wild Bill, well, you've set a bar so high that I can't imagine anyone else will ever come close to what you've done with these characters.

Get ready for the sexy times

What does Gomez Pugh bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Gomez Pugh is an amazing narrator!

Any additional comments?

3.5 stars for the story, 5 for the narrator

This book has tons of sex. I actually loved the storyline and the bits that dug in, like when the vamp almost got the best of him, the one with the creepy dead people decorating her house, and when they went to the compound with vamps that were draining the girl. Oi, freaky! I liked that stuff, and I did of course like the sexy, but I would have liked more of the hunting and fighting to balance the sex. Bill's sarcasm was entertaining. Toward the end, I liked how I could feel the love between Michael and Bill. This was unique and appealing. I would like to read more about what happens next for these guys.

Dark and Intense vamp romance, with a little humor

What made the experience of listening to Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary the most enjoyable?

I think the story itself was just amazing. How Price created the dark, fantasy world, but made it seem so realistic.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Wild Bill. I loved his raspy tone and how he turned out to be the sane one.

Which scene was your favorite?

The open field, when Michael first finds Wild Bill, before they officially set out on their cross country ride in the sex wagon full of stakes and Bill's haul from "shopping".

If you could rename Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary, what would you call it?

I think the series title, Sweet Oblivion, is far better. I don't even remotely understand the title.

Any additional comments?

Michael is bound and determined to cleanse the earth of the vile race of vampires. Well, until he falls in love with one. When Michaels best friend Mary was killed, drained by bad vamps, he set out to kill them all. His messenger bag is full of wooden stakes and blister packs of rohypnol. When Michael meets Bill in a bar, he takes him for just another horny guy and blows him off. Michael not only learns he was wrong about Bill, but he’s wrong about vamps, they aren’t all murdering psychos.

Bill only wanted to kill one vampire, the one that accidentally created him when he fed on Bill then left him for dead. He figured out quickly what Michael had planned, so he helped the kid out, then dumped him off at the greyhound station. What Bill didn’t count on was the twenty one year old with those sexy, kohl lined, blue eyes, and dyed black hair tracking him down.

Michael has found something intriguing in Wild Bill, the James Dean-esque vampire that cranks his shaft. And while Michael is figuring out that not all vamps are bad, he still makes it his life mission to kill the bad ones, with his bad ass vampire lover by his side. They are a very passionate couple, let me tell you. They go at everywhere from parks to picnic tables, abandoned houses, seedy motels and the back of their van that they’ve turned into a coffin on wheels. What really drew me into their love story was how normal it was in the middle of all the madness, murder and mayhem.

In the beginning, Bill tells Michael he doesn’t kiss, it’s too personal. But by the end, he can’t kiss Michael enough. He’s very possessive of Michael, but he’s just as protective of his human lover. They even have the whole meet the parents drama most couples face right down to the grand parents that have joined a prayer group to pray for Michaels soul. You know, since he’s going to hell and all for being in love with another man.

The writing was off the chains intense, serious and yet, slightly hysterical. It mirrored the storyline and the characters which only made the story that much better. It’s a dark, fantasy world where vamps live out in the open and at the same time, the way Price has written the characters the story has a depth of reality to it. There are several twists and turns along the way, Michael gets himself into a tight spot here and there and you are left to wonder if Bill will always be there, be himself.

Narrated by Gomez Pugh, the story is written and told from alternating POV, from both Michael and Bill’s perspectives. I absolutely loved the way Pugh conveyed the character of Michael. He was headstrong and driven, even a bit on the melancholy side at times, and Pugh nailed that throughout. Then there was the raspy, sexy tone he used for Wild Bill. There were a few times during the more erotic aspects of the story that Pugh had to go back and forth from one mind to the other and he did an amazing job of keeping each guy completely separate voice wise, as well as enticing the listener with lovely little moans and groans.

I had just one little issue with this story, it is just a deal breaker for me. I absolutely loath the term ‘piss slit’. It makes my skin crawl, it is not even remotely sexy, romantic or endearing. If I read or hear those two words being used one after the other, I will mark off for it every time. I usually take off a point for the term, but I loved this sexy, psychotic duo so much, I’m only taking off half a point. If you like vampire stories, especially True Blood, you’ll really enjoy this concoction of serials. I felt liked Wild Bill was a lot like Bill in that series. Just if Bill had fallen for Lafayette instead of Sookie!