Origins, by Sean Hayden



Cover art from Echelon Press

 From the publisher's site

Ashlyn Thorn was born different. Born with all the characteristics of a vampire, she lives in a world where vampires, elves, and werewolves work, play, and die side by side with normal humans. But everyone knows vampires aren’t born, they’re made. The only thing she wants is to know her true origins.


Ashlyn’s quest to discover the truth of her differences is all that matters. But with every answer, she uncovers more uncertainties. To make things worse she has found herself an enemy of the most powerful vampires of the city who fear her powers are too dangerous to let go unchecked.

Salvation comes at the hands of the government, or does it, who trains her in the ways that best serve their purposes. Ashlyn is torn between two worlds. She can either be a monster, or she can help destroy the monsters.


Fun story (in the sense that it's a fun/quick read). Ashlyn is a walking dysfunction. She's sorta a vampire, she's not really a vampire. She's orphaned suddenly, after never having had anything interaction with the outside world--yet she somehow manages to be recruited by a government agency (that has lots of other "sups"--super humans--working for it).

The action picks up almost immediately, and runs through out the story. It's a page turner (well, would be if it was offered in print). Characters are likeable, but no one but Ashlyn is very well-developed. There's a few loose ends as you go that I would've liked tied up. The story development is just too neat and tidy, although it is a short-ish novel, so there's not a lot of room for messiness.

If I had to rate it out of 5, I'd give it a 3.


Hayden, Sean. Origins. Echelon Press, February, 2011. (eBook only)
 
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free from Echelon Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”