The Last American Vampire

The concept still gets me. I love the innovative idea behind the books of Seth Grahame-Smith and the fast paced style. Maybe not the prose of Shakespeare, but his books are tremendously entertaining, this one being no exception.

Seth Grahame Smith has written a wonderful sequel to Abraham Lincoln vampire hunter. The story of Henry Sturges is well conceived and follows American history from the secret shadows. I look forward to further adventures for Mr.Sturges.

It was great, can't wait to see it become a film. But only if they can get Dominic Cooper and Benjamin Walker back. The book was very good,the Virginia Dare relationship was a bit unsettling but otherwise I would love to hear more about the adventures of Henry Sturges.

I loved Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter so I was curious as to where Smith would take the story once Lincoln was dead. Well, it continues the fascinating story of Lincoln's vampire mentor, Henry; taking him all the way up to 1963. I must say Henry is a far more complex character than Lincoln and I was glad Smith decided to explore his past.
As in the first book, Henry the vampire finds himself at several key moments in history which, as it turns out, are pretty much orchestrated by vampires. Readers will visit the American colonies, White Chapel Road in London and even Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois. It is a tightly woven narrative that moves along at a very quick pace.

I enjoyed this book. It reads quick, keeps your attention without being too drawn out. I end up googling all the characters while I read the story. It's fun bc they are all real people and true stories that are worked into this fictional work.

What a wonderful stroll through history from an American Vampires perspective. The path of historical events is woven seamlessly together and are as unique as they are surprising symbols on the rings of the historical ladder up to the present.

Engaging as well as engrossing. Henry is such a enigmatic character and the settings as well as the narrative style just holds you. And its rare for me to get stumped in surprise twists and this book did just that

I read the first book and loved it but everything I loved about that one was missing from this book. It skipped all around and started plot lines to never finish them or lightly touch on them 100 pages later.

This book is amazing for all adult readers. It has a hand in fiction and history. For those of you that love the supernatural, check it out. I love Seth Grahame-Smith and I hope he writes many more excellent novels.

Another masterful work. It is very important for anyone who read and enjoyed 'Abraham Lincoln:Vampire Hunter' to also read this one. I was genuinely upset to read the final page of this book and I hope for more.

If you enjoyed the first novel that parallels Abe Lincoln's biography, you will likely enjoy this novel. It gives a better back story to Henry's origins, in that he is the main protagonist this time around.

I recommend reading the first novel, Abe Lincoln VH first. Btw, the novel smoked the film version.

I look forward to a trilogy.

I have become a fan of Seth since reading Abe Lincoln:VH. Now I am so glad I picked this book up... It works to bring the story full circle. I FULLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!! Read and Enjoy the story of Henry Sturgis. Thanx Seth.

This 3-chapter preview gives a nice glimpse into Seth Grahame-Smith's sequel to "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter". I really enjoyed that book, and "Unholy Night", so I am eagerly looking forward to reading "The Last American Vampire". This preview is a great teaser and I found myself reading it with the same interest as "Vampire Hunter". You get a nice bridge from that book and get into the start of the new journey with this preview edition. If you're a fan of Grahame-Smith's "Vampire Hunter" and "Unholy Night" stories, based on this preview, it looks like readers may be in for another treat.

I’ve been a fan of horror for most of my life. So when I first heard of the concept of taking famous people like Abraham Lincoln and making him the fiercest vampire hunter of all time the concept intrigued me. The result of the book ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER delivered on all levels. The only problem was that it ended.

Not to fear as author Seth Grahame-Smith returns us to the world of the vampire picking up where the previous book left off. But don’t think it’s all about Lincoln as he apparently doesn’t make it past the opening of the book. Instead this book follows the life and adventures of Henry Sturges, the vampire who helped Lincoln win the War Between the States. It follows his life after Lincoln passed and in the changing world of not just humans but vampires as well. With the south defeated the bad vampires (yes there are good and bad vampires in this world) seem to be dwindling. With the exception of one major enemy.

Sturges is called on by the leader of the good vampires, those what want to live in conjunction with humans, to seek out an evil vampire that has been killing the emissaries sent to Europe. It’s near the turn of the century and Henry does so obligingly, taking the opportunity to visit his homeland for the first time since leaving it all those years ago. As he does so he also fills the reader in on how he came to be a vampire and what happened to him in the years before Lincoln.

As with the first book famous people from various walks of life cross paths with our hero. When he first arrives in London he meets a famous author as well as a doctor friend of his who knows a lot about deductive reasoning and detective work as well. He’s framed for a series of murders occurring in the west end of London (guess who this gets called on) and he works his way about seeking his prey who in turn has sought him out as well.

The story progresses through the ages, taking him through both world wars and into the present. Along the way he gets involved with Tesla, Mark Twain, Rasputin, a zeppelin, the assassination of JFK and more. These aren’t really spoilers, as you read the book it becomes abundantly clear where he is going from one point to another. And through it all is the mysterious evil vampire that he’s been searching for through the years. The revelation of who that is becomes the surprise twist in the book and comes far earlier than the last chapters.

The book is an easy read and Graham-Smith presents and engaging story that holds your interest throughout. Perhaps the only problem lies in the amount of time covered in the book. To take on so many years in a single book is a bit much but it does a fine job of it. It will also seem inconceivable to some that he would meet so many famous people over the years. But hey, this is fiction and makes for a good time while reading. Suspend belief and jump on the bandwagon. Enjoy the ride.

In the end my only regret was that the book ended. And with it following Sturges up to the present another sequel isn’t likely. Perhaps more books involving other good vampires that crossed Sturges path could happen. Only time will tell. And fortunately Henry Sturges has plenty of time on hand.

Like ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, the previous novel in Seth Grahame-Smith’s speculative historical horror series, THE LAST AMERICAN VAMPIRE will instantly suffer the indignity of being misjudged as B-movie-style fiction or a monster mash-up. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you judge this book merely by its cover --- or title.

What Grahame-Smith has accomplished once again is a novel incredibly ambitious in scope that hits on all cylinders. It gives us the story of vampire Henry Sturges, as told to the author himself, and the role he played throughout centuries of historical events. To begin with, by placing himself as a character here, Grahame-Smith does a brilliant job of blending fact with fiction --- sort of the literary version of watching a film like The Blair Witch Project and speculating what was real and what was merely the fictional creation of the author or filmmaker.

Henry was introduced in ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER and formed an allegiance with the famous American President who had been hunting down vampires since his teens. Lincoln, Henry and other immortals were part of a group that called themselves “The Union” and were sworn to protect mankind. At the beginning of the novel, when Henry meets with Grahame-Smith to share his history, he ruminates that “nothing kills a vampire as quickly as the past.” His recollections begin with his resurrection of the recently assassinated President. Having failed to protect his friend from John Wilkes Booth's fatal bullet, he proceeds to “make” Honest Abe an immortal by passing on to him his vampire curse.

Confused and shocked, Lincoln accepts his death and rejects his revival. He promptly throws himself into a fire to escape his new fate --- leaving Henry alone once again. Henry travels to Europe where he befriends mortals and vampires alike as he continues his mission to protect mankind from evil vampires. He works with Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle to thwart Jack the Ripper --- a nefarious individual who ironically is the immortal vampire that was Henry’s own maker.

Henry touches upon one historical event after another, leaving his mark everywhere he goes. He was the impetus for theater manager Bram Stoker's writing of the novel DRACULA, as well as inspiring the work of famous inventors/writers such as Nikola Tesla and Mark Twain. However, it was a series of events taking place in the New World era that saw the colonization of America from the Native Americans that would form a deadly relationship that will follow Henry through time. His “making” of a woman named Virginia Dare --- the actual female who saved Pilgrim John Smith --- will create a nemesis that haunts him throughout history.

THE LAST AMERICAN VAMPIRE races through time from event to event, including both World Wars, Russia's October Revolution, the fatal Hindenburg flight and JFK's assassination. Along the way, Henry is surprisingly reunited with Lincoln --- who did not perish by burning --- and the two colleagues become active participants in all the events mentioned, and much more. All the way, their work is shadowed by Henry’s New World creation, Dare, who always seems to be a step ahead of them.

This novel is a wonder to behold, even if you see vampire fiction as light fare. The history involved is credible and spot-on, and the speculative job of blending the tale of immortal vampires throughout these events is nothing short of amazing. Seth Grahame-Smith is on the verge of taking off to meteoric heights as he is not only involved in bringing more of his novels to the big screen, he is rumored to be reworking Stephen King's IT for the big screen, along with remakes of Ray Bradbury's SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES and Chris Columbus' Gremlins. Enjoy THE LAST AMERICAN VAMPIRE and witness an enormous talent with boundless imagination.

Reviewed by Ray Palen.

Just as certain fictional characters hold a dear place in my heart (Sherlock Holmes being an example); so too do certain types of fictional characters. I admit to having a long time fondness for vampires in all their myriad shapes and forms. From the original vampires in Dracula and Carmilla to the newest incarnations in The Strain novels, I continue to find myself profoundly fascinated by them. So when I learned there was to be a sequel to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and the story would center on the enigmatic vampire Henry Sturges, I was thrilled.

The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith follows Henry Sturges immediately following the death of his friend and protege Abraham Lincoln. He is not alone in mourning the death of his friend though as the country also mourns its President. Without Lincoln, Henry must once again try to find some kind of purpose in his undead life.

It is at this time that I am sure some of my readers are going ‘Now wait a moment….’ and believe me, I too had pause when I read the book jacket originally. All I can say is trust me dear Reader, all is explained in time.

With no reason to remain in America, Henry decides to return to his original place of birth – England. However he is soon called back to the States where he learns a mysterious someone has been killing vampires and its only a matter of time before they come after him.

From the Victorian era to modern(ish) day America, Henry sees history happen as only a vampire can; first hand. Along the way he meets friend and foe alike, from Nicola Tesla to Mark Twain, and from Jack the Ripper to Rasputin. If it had a major impact on history, then somehow Henry had a hand in it and a front row seat.

Supposedly narrated by Sturges to Grahame-Smith, the book has a bit of an Interview with the Vampire feel. Something Grahame-Smith himself makes mention of in the opening chapters when he is describing how the book came to be. There is also a tiny side plot with Sturges, his vampire sire and a child that also feels a touch familiar and I am sure the reader will notice it when they see it.

Like his other novels, Grahame-Smith has a gift for weaving stories. Here he seamlessly meshes real history with fantasy in a way that is completely plausible. Real life individuals are true to what history knows of them although admittedly a few have been given a minor tweak or two to fit in with the story line. There are also a few pictures scattered throughout that have been given the same treatment.

Having greatly enjoyed the first book, I was excited to learn of the second. It continues the story in a way that should appeal to a variety of readers. It is a sweeping tale covering decades of history in a most amusing manner. Personally I loved it and will definitely be reading it again.

I read good and bad reviews for this book, but all that matters is what I think of it. Let me start this review by saying...SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!!

OK, now, the book. I think the story was very good. Just like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (AL:VH), the main character, Henry, meets interesting historical characters. Tesla, Mark Twain, Howard Hughes, to name a few. There is a ton of action in the book, which can be expected when vampires are involved. But the detail, the descriptions of the violence, it almost reads like an autopsy report, or a crime scene report. Very graphic and very entertaining.

For the plot, this story picks up where AL:VH ends, with the assassination of President Lincoln. But, since this is about the life of Henry Sturges, we get to see a lot more about his origin story, and all that he did to help the United States during his multi-century life. It is here, in his life story, that I had the most problems with the book. Again, SPOILER ALERT!! In AL:VH, we learn a little about Henry. We learn that he came to the New World and set up the settlement on Roanoke. He mentions how the doctor that traveled with this was a vampire and killed all the villagers, except him (the doctor turns Henry into a vampire because he wanted someone to talk to) and a baby, Virginia Dare, the first English baby born in America. Then Henry, in AL:VH, goes on to talk about how the doctor carried him and the baby south, to Florida, to the Spanish settlements. During the trip, the doctor did a good job feeding on wild animals until he couldn't take it anymore, and fed on the baby, Virginia. When writing The Last American Vampire (TLAV), Seth Graham-Smith apparently didn't like what he had written and changed this completely. Henry's origin story is only somewhat similar in TLAV to what it was in AL:VH. This drove me crazy!!

Other than that, I really enjoyed the book. I couldn't put it down in the last 100 pages. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know how it ended. I recommend this to any who read AL:VH, and if anyone else shares my frustration with the plot differences, please comment on my comment. Thanks!

I picked this book up from the library shelf based on the eye catching cover and without knowing anything about the author or the book. I had heard of the movie Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, but hadn't realized it was based on a book. Honestly, I had no interest in the movie and had I known this was the sequel to it, I might have skipped it.

What a mistake that would have been!

This book pulled me in. You do not have to have read the first book to understand and enjoy the sequel. What it will do is make you want to go out and find that first book, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. While the movie trailer made me roll my eyes, and I'm a horror movie fan, I now am on a mission to read that book as well.

Back to this book - it is a great blend of speculative fiction, merging real people into a captivating story that just so happens to feature vampires. The characters are strong, complex and the book blends the current action with flashbacks and memories that help cement the link to the past and present for the readers. While this can be confusing when done wrong, it was done seamlessly in this book, so the reader never felt lost or confused while the book spans a lengthy timeline, taking you on a journey from the start of America, up to nearly modern times.

I hope there are more books coming in this series, as I am now a solid fan of this author! The characters, the plot and the writing are all solid and highly enjoyable. I had trouble putting this book down.

I liked "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and looked forward to this sequel and learning more about Henry. I admit, I was put off by the cover; it's disrespectful and a poor choice of photograph to abuse. I did like the addition of old photographs in the text though., but the text itself left a lot to be desired. Overindulgent; the use of two different sizes of fonts to say the same thing, and no real insight into Henry or his character. How he was able to blend in, using one name (although the author may have eventually explained this but I was skimming by this point, wondering which celebrity might pop up next). As someone who does love history, I found most of it pretty outlandish and forced to fit without many details. Overall, not a good book.

I think it's safe to say that the majority of viewers enjoyed Forrest Gump. Picture this quiet and unassuming man, present at – and occasionally inadvertently contributing to – some of the 20th century's most iconic moments, and meeting some of the people that made the century what it became.

Now, let's take that same concept and twist it around a little – no, a lot. To begin with, let's take away the tangential connection between the protagonist and events – let him take an active role in actually shaping history, especially American history. Then, take away the limitations of time – instead of beginning with the 1950s, let's go all the way back to the first American colonies. How – employ the immortality (and other aspects) of vampirism.

“The Last American Vampire”, by Seth Grahame-Smith, is a follow-up to the author's successful “Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter”. A strong supporting character in the first novel, vampire Henry Sturges, takes the lead for this epic novel, spanning approximately 400 years of American and world history. Grahame-Smith allows us glimpses into the lives – and occasionally, deaths – and very occasionally, rebirths – of various historical characters from that vast time period.

Much of the novel centers around some of the great historical mysteries of the past 4 centuries. What DID happen to the colonists at Roanoke? What was the real story and motivation behind Jack the Ripper? And was there a conspiracy behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy? Most importantly, the novel addresses the concept of “What IS an American? What IS the American Spirit?” And, who better to address that ideal than someone who has lived through the entirety of it?

HOWEVER … I found one major frustration in this book. Our main antagonist … I never did learn just what motivated this character to get involved in events. What drove this person from who they were at their beginning to evolve – or revolve – into the person they became? I picked up a hint or two, but it never seemed to me that the author was interested in their motivation, nor the factors that led them to change from their initial appearance to the plotter & schemer they became. (It is extremely difficult to write this without providing a spoiler – I trust I succeeded for those who have not yet read the book.)

I am VERY glad that I took the time to read this book – or in my case, listen to the audio rendition. Despite it's one glaring hole, I enjoyed it very much. I hope to see Henry Sturges again in a future work, providing the author can come up with a fresh take on him and on his circumstances.

RATING: 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars where appropriate.

On occasion, I read a book that is so incredible that I feel no matter how hard I try; no review I write will even come close to demonstrating how great the book is in actuality. The Last American Vampire is one of those very few books.

If you did not read Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter: also by Seth Gramme Smith, and want to read that book I recommend you stop reading this review, as this review WILL spoil some of that book’s plot.

That being said, this book is the sequel to ALVH, however this story’s narrator is Henry Sturges, not Abe. Our story starts with Henry grieving at Abe’s funeral in Springfield. The selfish vampiric bastard can’t stand the thought of his old friend being dead, and decides to resurrect Abe via vampirism. Much to Henry’s horror, after rising from the dead Abe can’t stand the thought of being a vampire, and hurls himself out the window into the sunlight, disintegrating before he can touch the ground. Afterwards Henry is called to the Union’s headquarters to receive a special assignment. A mysterious figure calling himself A. Grander VIII has begun killing key Union diplomats, Henry is sent to England to investigate, instead he finds Jack the Ripper, whose identity I will not reveal for story related reasons, but he does not find A. Grander VIII. He does however meet in this order Bram Stoker, Henry Irving, and Arthur Conan Doyle, who quotes Sherlock Holmes twice, a character whom he created! That would be like J. K. Rowling quoting Harry Potter!

I’m going to stop there so I don’t ruin too much of the book. While ALVH always had a slight undertone of comedy, TLAV is much more serious though it still has some comedy at times. While the actual prose is only above average in my opinion, the author’s clever use of knowledge gained in ALVH to obscure the truth of its sequels plot is ingenuous. Many historical characters appear throughout TLAV and Mr. Smith presents them as historically accurate as possible. Even I learned a few things about some of my favorite historical characters that I never knew before. TLAV also contains the narrative/antique feel of ALVH it also adds into the mix the assorted funny little facts about being a vampire that Mr. Smith made up, yet they are extremely practical at the same time. Along with the shear amount and complexity of the story The Last American Vampire is the second book of the dozens I have reviewed which I believe deserves a 5 star rating.

Review by: Brennan Palm
Full Reviews Available at: http//:www.thebookendfamily.weebly.com

I love history and Grahame-Smith weaves vampires into some of the biggest events in history from the folks who disappeared at Roanoke to JFK’s assassination. He takes us to London, with Jack the Ripper and introduces us to Tesla, Edison and Mark Twain. It was riveting from his re-telling of the Hindenburg crash to visiting Teddy Roosevelt in the White House.
The tale is relayed through Henry Sturges the Vampire who hunted with Abe Lincoln. We get a full account of his life as a vampire and his patronage to America. Henry is a likable character and quite noble for a vampire. His friendships, interactions and the path he blazed had me spellbound.
While Grahame-Smith twists our history to include vampire involvement he did so in such a way that it felt realistic, even dare I say plausible. I love when the lines of reality and fiction blur and he does so seamlessly. Think of this as a memoir of Sturges life with twists, turns, loss and love. At 400 pages/15 hours of audio both my husband and I were never bored. It was broken up into events and stories with an overall threat that kept us both engaged.
MacLeod Andrews narrates and he has quickly become one of my favorite narrators. From voices to his tone, he adds another level of enjoyment to listening that heightens my reading experience. We came across many characters and I was amazed at his ability to give them each voice and accentuate their personalities through pitch.
Grahame-Smith’s imagination, writing style and ability to tell a tall tale made the Last American Vampire a story I will long remember. I became attached to the characters and caught up in the overall plot. Copy provided by publisher, full review at caffeinated book reviewer.

I got this book because I love the cover, and I love vampires. The Last American Vampire is the story of Henry Sturges. It is complete and covers the entire adventures of this vampire. This book had so many historical figures and facts it almost sounded as if it was written by someone who had been there.

I didn’t realize this book had anything to do with Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, which I didn’t read or see. This book is a sort of spin off of that book, from what I understand. I honestly didn’t read that book, or see the movie, because I was afraid it would be poking a bit of fun at Lincoln. Lincoln is not someone I want to see made fun of. Luckily, this book (and I imagine Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) didn’t make fun of Lincoln at all. Lincoln is the most beloved character, other than Henry himself, in this book.

This book paints the entire picture of Henry Sturges. From his life before becoming a vampire to his rise to infamy as one of the oldest vampires remaining today. Henry comes over as one of the original English settlers in America. His vampirism takes him into every major war and gains him a captive audience with every single president from Lincoln on. There is a lot of name dropping this book. Henry meets almost everyone who was ever important and has influence on them or is influenced by them. This book imagines Bram Stoker, Nikola Tesla, Eliot Ness, Howard Hughes, Rasputin, Mark Twain, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jack the Ripper, Teddy Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Arthur Conan Doyle, Lee Harvey Oswald, Hitler, Abraham Lincoln and so many more. This book sounds less like fiction and more like facts as seen by a person who lived through the ages. I loved all the history in this book, even if it was told by a fictional character.

I found this book completely engrossing. What did it for me was the shift in periods, the flashbacks, the introduction of new historical figures. I enjoyed the writing style overall. There were a few almost diary like entries which were a bit unnecessary. To me, at least. I don’t think they took anything away from the story, but they might be confusing for some people. (I did receive and eARC, so they might not be so confusing in the final edition). This type of writing won’t work for everyone. But for the people who want a grand adventure (about 400 years worth) with a really cool vampire this story will fulfill better than most others.

This book includes so many people it was like actually being there. I really enjoyed the mix of horror, history, and comedy. Somehow the author made this all pull together into one novel and it was pure entertainment. I loved this book and will definitely be looking for more from this author.

If I were a history teacher, I would use this book to teach it. This is the best historical horror novel I have ever read, and though I am no history buff, I recognized people in the story and events. It takes the name of Henry Sturges, right out history and hurtles him through time, meeting significant people and taking part in significant events , The novel is complete with photos from the periods of history, and footnotes supporting facts. I loved this book and I was disappointed to reach the end. I highly recommend this book, even if you don't care much for history.

I did not read Grahame-Smith's first book, however I did see the movie that was made from it which I found to be a bit ridiculous but amusing nonetheless. This book, although it is a sequel, is able to stand on its own and I didn't feel lost when reading it. As the book even mentions this is very reminiscent of Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire, since it written as if someone is actually interviewing Henry Sturges.

From Roanoke to the JFK assassination this book takes you on a tour through American history which is fairly historically accurate, with the exception of the vampire thrown in here or there. For those of us who are not history buff's this was an interesting way to be introduced to some historical figures that we may not have known about but after reading about them here I found myself doing google searches on them to find out more about them and to see what was accurate and what was embellished.

I really loved the way this book is written. With pieces of it pulled out like it was being quoted or taken from a diary and other parts written as a narrative you get drawn into the story. I found myself whipping through this very interesting novel and was almost upset to find myself at its end. However, being left wanting more helps me to know how much I felt invested in the characters.

Things that I felt were missing weren't very important but things that stuck with me, such as, what happened to so many of the vampires? Why are there so few left? I doubt that Henry was able to wipe out that many in his travels. I understand that if you were in the Union you were sworn not to make any new vampires, but what about those who weren't part of that group? Surely they were making new vampires? So that part confused me a bit. Maybe I will get answers in a future book.

Revisiting the past is something that interests me. Rewriting the past is something else that just blows my mind. Grahame-Smith has done so with The Last American Vampire.

In The Last American Vampire, Grahame-Smith tells the tale of Henry Sturges, dear friend of Abraham Lincoln and a vampire. There are recollections of events that accompany his adventures. From the Civil War, Sturges returns to London. There his tale unravels, piecing together history through his eyes in the 19th Century. Henry encounters many famous figures, placing himself during the times of several important events. Times of Jack the Ripper, Mark Twain, and even Howard Hughes (to name a few). But in the dark corners of this world, there is a villain. She is a cruel and intelligent, making for a very worthy adversary.

Henry was an amazing character in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and I enjoyed him in this story. Henry's recollections are realistic, almost to the point of plausibility. He is much like I remembered him in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, despite the time passed.

Grahame-Smith retells history in a very fresh perspective. For those of us who are not history buffs, or can even remember what happened in years past, The Last American Vampire makes it interesting. This story surprises you and throws you for a twist. Regardless if history is familiar and already known, Grahame-Smith has reinvented it in a way that will keep you at the edge of your seat. There's mystery, entertainment, and danger. I loved every moment of it.

I appreciated the more expansive approach to Henry's storyline. I enjoyed that it was not necessarily a sequel, but more of a story set in the same world. Henry is an enjoyable character to get to know in depth.

The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame-Smith

History told of a small alliance of immortals lead by a clever vampire hunter named Abraham Lincoln conquer a confederacy of undead. In the aftermath, vampires were forced to scatter throughout Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. Over time new and disturbing intentions of conquering humanity began to surface. Vampire, Henry Sturges, whose ability to break free of death's grip, provides a rich 400 year historical treasure of tales that embody these rumors in a new novel by Seth Grahame-Smith titled, The Last American Vampire.
Traveling to London on a lead finds Henry in the middle of a violent crime spree. As investigations proceed, the public soon has a nickname for the bloodthirsty perpetrator...Jack the Ripper. With the help of new found friends Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker, the group set out to reveal the true identity of the killer. Having this experience of working with Henry to apprehend "The Ripper", gives Stoker new inspiration to publish a fictional tale of a vampire who comes to London. This written account would be in the form of a collection of diary entries called Dracula. As historical events occur one after another the reader can only wonder how the friendship of Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla's outlandish plan of snuffing out the evil invincible vampire Rasputin can succeed.
As a freelance writer, Seth Grahame-Smith made his big breakout with an idea of a literary mash-up combining Jane Austin's classic Pride and Prejudice with zombies. His follow up best seller Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter made it to the big screen. Now Seth leads this new creative style of literary genre with his newest creation The Last American Vampire. A novel that lays out a entertaining time sequenced past clashing with clever fiction to form Henry Sturge's life changing events that the reader will delight in.

I absolutely loved Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and couldn't wait to read this. It started out great and I was hooked until it turned into, as another reviewer said, Forest Gump or Woody Allen's Zelig. It became laughable when Henry and Abe were put into every historical moment. For me, the book went up in flames with the Hindenburg. "Oh the humanity!" Each chapter became another short essay starring history's most infamous. The cohesiveness was gone and I just thumbed through from Kennedy to the end. Alexi Romanov? Really? Nyet!!

If you like gross out then this book will be perfect for you. As expected, this book is as gimmick filled and silly as the previous, but I think I enjoyed this one slightly less. Frankly, some of it was interesting and made me curious to read on and some of it felt redundant and just boring.

I liked all of the connections to historical figures in this book and I believe that the author has a lot of abilities as a writer...that being said, I think this is definitely what I expected from this book, and so although I wasn't shocked by the content, I wasn't particularly impressed either.

There is humour in this book, and it is the kind of humour that lasts throughout, which helped to relieve some of the bleakness in the slower spots.

If you are a fan of horror that has no limits and you enjoy a really good bone cracking, blood-fest, then you should definitely read this book.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Last American Vampire is the sequel to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, a book that I haven't read (yet). In this book, we follow Henry Sturges through the centuries. He has seen it all he has seen America throughout the centuries becoming the land it is today. He has traveled to his homeland England for the first time since he became a vampire. He has met many quite famous men like; Bram Stocker, James Irving, Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Nikola Tesla, Teddy Roosevelt, Rasputin, Eliot Ness, FDR, Howard Hughes and Jack Kennedy. He even met Jack the Ripper!

But deep in the shadow is an enemy lurking, someone called A. Grander III, but no matter what Henry does or where he goes he just doesn't seem to be able to find this A. Grander III. This mysterious enemy seems to want to bring chaos into the world.

Yes, there were moments when I thought the book was too long when I read it, it was just so much happening during so many years that I just felt that this could have easily been two books. But in the end when I was finished and looked back; everything was important, every encounter led in the end to the confrontation between Henry Sturges and A. Grander III. But still it was very much happening and I was left a bit exhausted in the end like one do when a book has had a so strong grip of you that you hardly know what to do when you have finished the book. But what a great read. This review is actually one of the hardest I have had to write because so much happened, but I don't want to give much away and I don't want to write an awful darn long review with me just writing how much I loved this book. I'm sure you all aren't that interested in that...

In the end, I just have to say, I really felt drained after reading this book (pun intended)...

"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" never appealed to me. Somehow the notion that the 16th US President could get embroiled in tracking down Confederate vampires just seemed so absurd to me that I never read the book.

But what if you were turned into a vampire before the US became a country and "lived" through the world's major events? Such is the premise of Seth Grahame-Smith's new book.

Henry Struges is the author's leading protagonist who leads us through a fanciful tale from his landing at Roanoke Island in North Carolina through major events of the 20th century. Along the way, Sturges is often involved, and influences, many well known events and people. Grahame-Smith does an outstanding job of taking the slightest of instances and inserting Sturges into them. For instance, could Bram Stoker have received his inspiration from actor Henry Irving (who himself had been a vampire?) Was Grigori Rasputin, the influential and so-termed mystical faith healer associated with the family of Tsar Nicholas really a vampire? Might even billionaire Howard Hughes avoided sunlight because he was a vampire?

The Last American Vampire is a creative and entertaining read for anyone who likes their characters immersed in history. It's all there...the world's wars, significant people and memorable events (why did the Hindenburg explode?) and Henry witnessed, and perhaps, influenced it. I liked the tongue in check premise and will likely go back and read Vampire Hunter. Well done!!

I love the first book Abraham Lincoln the Vampire Hunter, and when I heard of this sequel, I jumped at it with gusto but unfortunately, it was not as good as I hope it is. I believe the problem is very much to do with the amount of history that the author has to squeeze into a single book.
While the first book deal with the story of Lincoln, cleverly interlocking and weaving the vampire thread into every aspects of his life, this book attempts to weave it into the much of US, and even the world's history itself. From the Roanoke disappearance, to landing of John Smith, Jack the Ripper, Tesla, Arthur C Doyle, WW1, WW2, Howard Hughes, etc, the list goes on and on. While it may provide a very good reading, the magnitude is just too big and leave behind too many holes to poke, some which are quite ridiculous. The research spent on Book 1 is quite apparent, while the lack thereof in Book 2 is almost as glaring.
Nevertheless, it is a good read and exciting and I certainly hope if there is ever a Book 3, it will be a more focused one.

I swore in my last review and they wouldn't let me post it so here's the PG-13 version

All in all: the last American vampire wasn't /very/ good. Sure I liked the character, and i even 'awed' A couple times, but I easily picked out many continuity errors along with general writing errors. The villain also had a weak motivation, and acted on a grudge that should have been long forgotten. I did however like that it went full circle, and made every seemingly meaningless interaction or character pull into or have an impact on the final pages

All this said, I did read it for 10 hours straight, so take my review with a grain of salt

Also: it had a dante's inferno vibe to it, in which you saw so many admirable or at least notable people in history that it almost seems unbelievable. A couple times I went "okay i get it he's a vampire and has been around a while but does that mean he knows this guy, this guy, this guy, this guy, and this guy from history?

At the end of the day i did kinda enjoy the book. I love when vampires in literature and television have a suave '21st century media' vibe while also keeping the essential element in vampire stories that keep us coming back: people just (here's where the swear word was, close your eyes children!) dying.

*NOTE: This is my husband, Seth's review. He is a guest reviewer on my book blog, and is helping me with my NetGalley Challenge*

AWESOME SEQUEL!!!

If anyone has bothered to read my infrequent reviews, they would know I don’t give out 5 out of 5 reviews often. When I first read the book, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, I rolled my eyes and wondered what I was getting myself into. I couldn’t help it, the premise was absurd, or so I kept telling myself all the way up to the last page after a sleepless night of reading it. Then they left a spoiler for the next book. So, I was eagerly awaiting that. Suffice it to say, it went about the same way with this book as it did the first. I love how my wife seems to be able to pick out the books I like to read even before I know I will like them. She’s got a knack for that it seems, I mean she just brought me coffee while I’m writing this review without me having to ask her. Anyways, if you like historical fiction I highly recommend this book.

After having read Seth Grahame-Smith's Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter I was so excited to see a sequel had been written. Focusing on Henry Sturges, vampire bestie to Abe Lincoln, we read the history of Henry from when he was created to present day.

Henry was created in Roanake, VA in the 1500's so we are looking at a span of over 500 years. That's a lot of time and although Grahame-Smith does an admirable job of touching on important events of the many centuries, I sometimes felt some instances were tedious and banal, and could have been left out.

Henry's story is exciting and full of interesting historical figures but perhaps because he himself is not a historical figure, this book didn't have the sense of wonder and suspension of disbelief that ALVH was able to cast.

I purchased this book from Half Priced Books to read. All opinions are my own. ????? The Last American Vampire by Seth Grahame Smith.  Take a 500 year walk through History, but be careful what you think you already know might be seen a bit differently through the eyes if Henry. A fun read with a little bit of history mixed with gory humor and fiction. Packed with action you didn't expect to see coming.

I know my 3 stars will be unpopular but for me, that's where this book was. I Like this author's work. Three stars for me is when I finish a book but have to push myself to do it. The first 3/4 of the book were great. The story twisted in and out of history and wove the vampires in perfectly. It was quite entertaining and humorous to see how the author fit his vampires into historical events. The last 1/4 seem to drag. Like the author felt he had to hit all points in time regardless of how they fit in. I actually read other books while trying to finish this one. It ended, finally, with what seemed a new beginning for future work. Maybe not with Henry Sturges but with another historic character turned vampire.

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

And, I loved it! Which really doesn't surprise me. So this is the sequel to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and is all about the life of Henry Sturges. To be completely honest I really liked this one more than the first, but that's only because this one is all about Henry. I tried to read it slowly so the book would last, but that didn't happen. Instead I devoured the history of Henry. It was everything I love about a Seth Grahame-Smith book: gory, fast paced, and funny. A couple of times I had to throw the book down and walk away, because I was not expecting that! The ending was very similar to the way Abraham Lincoln ended, sort of open, like there could be another one. Which I'd totally be down for. Henry is one of my favorite vampire characters right now!

Last American Vampire is one probably my favorite book my Seth Grahame-Smith, tied with Unholy Night. In the end I really enjoyed this book and have gushed about it since I started it. If you love Seth's other book, this is must read. If you love badass vampire books, this is for you. Just read it! Henry is awesome!

THE LAST AMERICAN VAMPIRE continues the story of Henry Sturges, the vampire first introduced as Abe Lincoln's mentor in ABRAHAM LINCON: VAMPIRE HUNTER. While Abe's story concentrated on the years that Abe was alive, first as a young vampire hunter mentored by Henry, and later as the President who worked to hold our country together while abolishing slavery, Henry's story gives us glimpses into some of the most important years of American History, as seen through the eyes of the vampire.

Henry's starts telling us his story first with the years immediately after President Lincoln's death. Drawn into the politics of the Union - the secret group of vampires who want to keep America free - Henry finds himself confronting his own past as he is sent to England to search for a person called A. Grander VIII. While his question to find Grander is not immediately successful, Henry instead finds himself as a suspect in the Jack the Ripper case.

Henry's adventures continue, showing him hobnobbing with Presidents, generals, royalty, and common soldiers while fighting in the two World Wars. Henry also seems to be in the right place at the right time, often meeting those who would become some of the most famous minds known: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mark Twain, Nicola Tesla, and Rasputin along with others.

THE LAST AMERICAN VAMPIRE doesn't quite have the same brilliance of the first book, which gave us an exciting look into a man pivotal in the creation of our country as it is today. Instead of concentrating on one segment of history and intertwining the storyline with the history as we know it, Henry Sturges's story gives us 500 years of history compressed into one novel, with additions and changes to intersperse the history of vampires (and Henry in particular) with the history of America. It is a good story - well written and interesting - but doesn't quite have the impact of the first novel. The characters aren't quite as real - with the exception of Henry, of course - since we don't get to learn as much about them, and even the segments of the book that show us Abe are missing the power and presence of the man.

As a lover of history, it was great to see some of the most important segments of American history and life mentioned, and to get a glimpse into the back story of what may have happened. Even realizing that the vampiric influence alters the actual events as they were, it was fun to spend an afternoon with Twain and Tesla, and to "meet" Howard Hughes. Henry is a great narrator and shares the world as he has seen it, providing and intimate look into a world only known now through books and movies. Though I did not love this book as much as I did it's predecessor, I still enjoyed it and recommend this to anyone who enjoys the Alternative History genre.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished this book last night and I must say it is one of the best books that I have ever read and I have read a LOT of books! Seth Grahame-Smith has created a new genre of writing that is unlike any other. I call it historical horror. You know its fantasy, but it's so well-written and plausible. Back in the day, I was a Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Anne Rice fanatic, but as I grew up, I acquired more "literary" tastes, but after reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, a few years ago, just because of the title, mind you, I am totally hooked on his books. This one is definitely going in the hardcover collection. I have to physically have it, because I AM going to read it again, and this is rare for me!

(Full disclosure: I received an ARC through Goodreads’s First Reads program.)

“It’s one of the few true blessings to the curse of being a vampire. For in those ephemeral moments we cease to be monsters and get to be superheroes.”

I have a confession to make: I’ve never read ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER. Sure, I watched the movie – when it came to DVD last autumn – and liked it. Just not enough to check out the book on which it was based, apparently.

So when I spotted a Goodreads giveaway for THE LAST AMERICAN VAMPIRE, I was torn. Usually it’s pure folly to read a series out of order, but the alternate history aspect proved impossible to resist. Also, it looked like the story was far enough removed from ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER that I might enjoy it anyway; as of this writing, Goodreads doesn’t even list them as part of the same series, though this could very well be a temporary oversight.

While fans of ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER will undoubtedly get more out of THE LAST AMERICAN VAMPIRE, this newcomer loved it just the same. The story follows Henry Sturges – Abe’s immortal friend and mentor – in the years before and since the fatal shooting in Ford’s Theater. Breaking one of the Union’s few rules – “A vampire will make no other vampire.” – Henry stalks Abe’s funeral procession, finally stealing the corpse from its casket in Springfield some three weeks after Abe’s death. Henry lovingly resurrects his friend, nursing him back to health, only to have Abe commit suicide by sunshine upon realizing what he’s become.

Henry is alone in the world, but only temporarily; as time passes the wheel of history churn forward, he befriends an impressive roster of intellectuals, artists, and celebrities, from Bram Stoker and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to Nikola Tesla and Mark Twain. Henry serves as an “errand boy” to multiple American presidents (Teddy Roosevelt? What a dick!); unmasks Jack the Ripper, with whom Henry shares a surprisingly intimate acquaintance; gathers intelligence abroad, as a one-man precursor to the CIA; faces Rasputin and lives to tell the tale; tries (and fails) to kill Hitler; fights in the trenches of both world wars; hunts down JFK’s assassin; and, along with Howard Hughes, embarks on a decades-long search for a cure (of sorts) for vampirism. He lives through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, Prohibition, and the Hindenburg disaster (he’s the cause of that last one, truth be told) – as well as the social progress of women’s suffrage and the Civil Rights movement of the ‘60s. When Henry decides to earn a bachelor’s degree in English lit, he’s the only one in his class who can honestly say that he met their subjects face-to-face.

All the while, Henry pursues a mysterious vampire agitator who goes by the name “A. Grander VIII”; this hunt gives way to flashbacks of Henry’s brief life as a human, as well as his early days as a vamp. With his young wife Edeva in tow, Henry immigrated to America in 1586 aboard The Lyon - like many others, the young couple was in search of a better life. But little did they know that a vampire was in their midst. Before long, the settlement at Roanoke will come to ruin. Only three of the colonists survive, but are lost to history: Henry Sturges; Thomas Crowley; and a red-headed baby girl named Virginia. The rest, as they say, is history.

THE LAST AMERICAN VAMPIRE is a fun and unpredictable romp through (alternate) American history – from a vampire’s world-weary and unnaturally long point of view. Emily Dickinson, Jack Ruby, Eliot Ness, Pocahantas, Adolf Hitler: almost as surprising as those historical figures who are “outed” as vampires are those who turn out to be ordinary people (relatively speaking). Henry makes for an engaging and mostly likeable narrator...expect for that one thing he did, back when he was still a baby vampire. Not without its fair share of gore and cynicism, THE LAST AMERICAN VAMPIRE is also quite witty and humorous, with a touching ending that’s full of humanity. (I especially love that Henry targets those who enjoy abusing others – nonhuman animals included.)

On the downside, it’s also a surprisingly white view of history: there are very few people of color to be found. Aside from a brief stint he and a friend spent scaring Ku Klux Klan members into abandoning their lynching ways in the 1930s, there isn’t much mention of African-American history. (Henry lives through the Civil Rights era, but it doesn’t merit a mention. Ditto: the three waves of American feminism.)

That said, I do have to give Grahame-Smith points for his astute explanation as to why this job necessarily fell to white vampires:

“Typically, we killed a few of them and let the rest run off to tell their friends. We always let them see our faces – that was key. Otherwise, they might run off thinking it was a group of local blacks that’s attacked them. There might be retributions. You might ask – where were the black vampires in all of this? It’s a fair question. We never intended, as two white vampires, to act like the saviors of an oppressed people. But the truth is, I didn’t know any [black vampires] in those days. Even if I had, it would have been a bad idea for them to join our raids, for the reasons I just mentioned.”

The Last American Vampire

REVIEW OF AUDIBLE AUDIOBOOK

Author Grahame-Smith and, especially, narrator Holst did so well with the prequel, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," that the sequel, "The Last American Vampire," was a true disappointment. A different narrator was used, but the characters' speaking voices were unsettlingly different from "Vampire Hunter" -- not to mention the repetitive text and the book-within-a-book-within-a-book topos -- that I soon enough lost interest.

As much as I wanted ‘Last American Vampire’ (2015) to equal or exceed ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ (2011), it didn’t. The book started off strong and did have moments as it swept through history from the Civil War to the Cold War, there were slow parts and under developed characters. While reading AL:VH, I felt for Abe Lincoln or at least felt like I was there with him. I didn’t get the same emotion for the main character in LAV, Henry Sturges. Although Henry’s origin story through a flashback to early-Colonial America was well done and interesting, his character was a little less than 3-dimensional throughout the rest of the book. Or at least Henry Sturges the vampire was harder to identify with than Abe Lincoln in AL:VH. Overall, a great idea, but I have to give LAV 3-1/2 stars, where I would give AL:VH 5-stars.

4 Stars!

This book first came to my attention because of the cover which I absolutely love. I really enjoyed reading this book. I found some sections of the book were amazingly good while other sections seemed a bit tedious for me. Overall, I liked it and found it to be a worthwhile read. This is the first book by Seth Grahame-Smith that I have had a chance to read and while this is listed as a follow up book to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, I thought it read just fine as a stand alone novel.

I can't remember reading any other book that would be classified as an alternative history before reading this book so I went in not knowing what I should expect. I was not surprised that the book included a long list of important historical figures and events from the past several hundred years. I really enjoyed how so many people from the past found their way into this story. The author choose very well know people and events to include in this story and it was fun to imagine the possibilities.

I was a bit surprised by the style used to write this book. This book read very similarly to books that I remember from history class packed with photos, footnotes, and excerpts. I could not believe the number of footnotes that were a part of this novel. Sometimes, I felt like the footnotes didn't add anything to the story but just gave a tedious unrelated detail. I didn't mind that the book was written with footnotes but I do wish that only ones that really added to the story were included. The photos included in the book were really fun and I thought that they really brought a lot to the book. There were a lot of excerpts from Henry's journal so the voice the story was told in shifted often.

This book told the story of Henry Struges. Henry Struges was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln and I believe he had a major role in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Henry Struges is also a vampire and has been one for quite some time. This book focuses on his life and his encounters with many historical people and events. This book focuses mostly on the period of after the civil war until present day with some focus being given to the very beginning of our nation, actually when the English first started to settle in the New World.

One of the main problems that I had with the book was that it read very much like a compilation of short stories. We would learn about one event in Henry's life and then move on to the next with only a very small thread holding everything together. I would have liked to see everything tie together more strongly.

It was very nice to read a vampire book that had absolutely no focus on romance. I would recommend this book to others that like a good vampire tale especially fans of Seth Graham-Smith. This is the first book by Seth Graham-Smith that I have read and I do plan to read more by this author.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing via Net Galley.

Seth Grahame Smith is BRILLIANT!!!! This book follows his "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter". I've read many vampire novels and stories and these two are among the best, if not THE BEST. His interweaving of historical events and fiction is a masterful. His style of writing that allows us to see the events both as an onlooker and as part of Henry Sturges' thought process is very exciting. There is never a dull moment in this book. I recommend both books to any true vampire lore lover.

I just finished this book last night and I loved it. I had found Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter to be an interesting read and when I heard about this sequel, I knew I had to read it. Following Henry through history and what he witnessed, from Jack the Ripper to Nikola Tesla and beyond alternately made me laugh and left me stunned; Henry definitely got around. I really enjoyed reading of his past and making in the Roanoke colony and living with the Native Americans.

It's only March, but one of the best things I've read so far this year.

I have learned more about American history than I ever did in high school. Seriously, every history class in high school should have their students read this. American history: boring. American History with vampires: exciting! My only complaint is how it skipped around a bit. The first chapter has dates at the beginning on each chapter (always appreciated), towards the end the chapter did not have dates. Reading should be relaxing and fun. I don't want to be trying to figure out what year the character is in!

The unexpected sequel to Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter is just as magnificent as the original. Turning viewpoints to that of Abraham Lincoln's vampire mentor Henry Sturges, we get to see the birth and the multiple near-deaths of America and its citizens. We see the life of the greatest American soldier, on and off the fields of battle (which take place mainly on our very own soil). A terrific sequel to a terrific book, The Last American Vampire lives up to its hype!

I'd never read a historical fiction out alternate history style book before. I'm more of a sci-fi/fantasy girl, really. By my sweet 6 year old picked this one up for me for my birthday because she's a creepy little brat and liked the cover. (She carries around my copy of Pride and Prejudice and Vanpires, which i havent gotten around to reading yet) I'd seen the Abraham Vampire Hunter movie and thought it was epically fun, so I jumped into this book. It is really interesting! I very much enjoy the writing style, the changes in perspective, the tie-ins of historical conspiracies. I believe I may just give other books like it a try.

I was so delightfully surprised by this book, I am going back to book one and will read everything by Seth Grahame-Smith that I can find. Grahame-Smith is an EXCELLENT writer and this is far more than a vampire genre book.

I won this book from "The Reading Room" in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first "vampire" genre book I have ever read and I absolutely loved it!!! I loved the blend of history, fiction, horror, and yuck. I enjoyed this book so much that I have added Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies to my TBR list.

Seth Grahame-Smith takes real events from history and writes a fictional account from the eyes of Henry the vampire. This story is well written and travels through history and the world with grace and humor. This is a sequel to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire hunter which I have not read. I had no problems following this book. An enjoyable read.

Another great read from Seth Grahame-Smith. Fast,interesting read that will keep you glued to the pages and anxious for more. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and looking forward to reading more of his work.

The Last American Vampire is quite a bit different book than I am used to. It was kind of fun to go through history and see the author's take of possible vampires among the famous people we have heard about through the years. The book was kind of comical at times and I couldn't help to laugh at some areas. I did not care for some of the language and I could have done without the sexual scenes.
I give this book 3 1/2 stars.

I received this book through a GoodReads.com Giveaway and read a review saying to read ALVH first, so I did, and I am glad I did!

Both were great, quick reads. Roughly 135 years of bloody, fantastic, historical fiction in about 400 pages. I really enjoy how Seth makes himself a character/narrator in these stories.

Buy it, read it, and give it 5 stars!

To be honest, I have read the ARC, not the final book, so there may be changes from the final printing and the ARC I read.

Seth Grahame-Smith tries to return to the great world of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and fails. While this book has solid writing and has great stories, it ultimately falls flat. This is clearly an attempt at an Interview with the Vampire-type story, which is referenced even by Seth Grahame-Smith himself in the novel, but it tries to be bigger than that and doesn't hit all the notes.

There are several issues with the book. First of all, it tries too hard to cover too large a period of time. The story goes from the end of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter with the death of Abe and continues all the way to 9/11/2001 with a brief detour to the 16th Century. So with all this time to cover, there is a lot going on. This ultimately hurts the story. Grahame-Smith clearly has several favourites and darlings through out the history that he wants to touch upon, so he steers the story and forces it to go into directions that he wants to play with historical figures and time periods he wants to play with. This leads to odd coincidences like Henry Sturges, the main character, being drawn into the Jack the Ripper case and solving it or the weird adventure in Russia with Rasputin and Nikola Tesla. It's just too odd and too pat. Also these stories, while interesting, do not serve the plot at all. In fact, what plot there is comes out a little jumbled and gets lost in the sea of stories and historical personalities. The main villain is not developed in any real way while we get a half chapter in the perspective of Lee Harvey Oswald and his assassination of John F. Kennedy, that was ultimately pointless and could have been handled a different way. There is just too many "darlings" in this. Too many attempts to play with too many different time periods and historical figures that makes it a disjointed mess honestly. It really needs more to connect the events together and flesh out that villain a little more.

Add to the fact that footnotes and picture captions are often weird and repeat information that was already explained before or openly spoil story elements before revealed in the story and.. the book just never comes together.

Also the format does not help it. It's an attempt at the journal format of Abraham Lincoln, but adding in more interjections from Henry to get more of his personality into the book just.. don't really work. Often times the interjections add nothing and the straight story form just works and flows better. Now the addition of letters and newspaper clippings and what not do work.. but Henry's own words added into it often do not and it's hard at times to see WHY that needed to be in Henry's words when the description and way it's presented is very similar to the way the way the fictional Seth Grahame-Smith does.

Steeped in history... This read was based around many factual events. I found myself consulting Wikipedia numerous times throughout the novel to confirm events. An excellent narrative weaving fantasy and fact together seamlessly. I almost believe vampires do exist!

I enjoyed the novel but not as much as the first one

For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/the-last-american-vampire-by-seth-grahame-smith and follow me on Twitter @josenher

Excellent sequel to Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter!! Excellent writing prose. Action everywhere, really keeps the reader engaged! Smith takes historical figures out of the woodwork to be a cast of characters in this book, brings the reader back in time, from days of Jack the Ripper to JFK. Follow Henry Sturges, Abe Lincoln and company through another blood sucking adventure! Highly recommended!!!

The book cover is in very bad taste! To alter and use this iconic photo this way is very disrespectful and in poor taste. This photo has long been a symbolic representation of of the return of our brave soldiers in WW II. Shame on you!!