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Lycanthrope Rising: The True Story Behind The Vampire-Werewolf Wars (The Toronto Vampire Chronicles) Paperback – August 27, 2017

by John Matsui (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
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Lycanthrope Rising: The True Story Behind the Vampire-Werewolf Wars is Book II in The Toronto Vampire Chronicles. Headlines scream Toronto police have arrested Dragul Mangorian, a 'real vampire,' and that he’s the last of a race of vampires awakens a terrifying enemy. The Lycanthrope Clan’s blood lust won’t be satisfied until it completes the extinction of its mortal enemy, the vampire-like subspecies of humanity, the Homo Sanguinus. The Lycans are a special breed of humans whose mastery of technology, animalistic ferocity and alliance with wolves saved mankind from enslavement by the Homo Sanguinus 30,000 years ago.After learning of the Sanguinus' secret vulnerability, the Lycans used it to vanquish the Blood Eaters and believed them to be extinct.Mangorian's capture in Toronto raises him to celebrity status as the ultimate 'bad boy' in Toronto, a city that celebrates diversity.Mangorian enthusiastically agrees to work with scientists who want to unlock secrets held in his genome. He's 208 years old and is immune to cancer and blood borne pathogens. In exchange, Mangorian wants genetic and fertility support to revive his species. He's ecstatic when he discovers Skyla whose one-in-a-billion First Nations genome makes it possible for her to become the Eve to his kind. The rich and powerful Lycans recruit former playboy Tim Gracey and his stripper girlfriend to lead murderous forces that will stop at nothing to keep Mangorian and Sklya from mating.Lycanthrope Rising is part medical mystery, part horror, part action adventure, part sci-fi, and 100 per cent a fast-paced thriller.Lycanthrope Rising is a banquet of genres, leaping from dark fantasy, to police procedural, across social commentary, into reimagined history, back to the present as a medical/techno drama, Mafia crime story, special forces action adventure, political satire, and, of course, vampire horror.A dog's breakfast?Perhaps, but reviewers of Matsui's previous titles, Late Bite and Gravity Games, say the author is able to meld "all these genres flawlessly." On Late Bite: "What kind of novel is this? Late Bite is a page turner, but it is also a novel that will make you think. I’m not sure how to define this novel in terms of a genre. Thriller with mystery and horror elements? An action/ adventure packed crime novel? Or should we read it as a psychological and paranormal character study?" On Gravity Games: "You know when I mentioned that it was a mash-up? It was. From Foodie Thriller to Government Conspiracies to one hell of an awesome Con Game, all the while having all the trappings of SF, fantastic characters, and really tight plot? The novel not only shifted gears effortlessly, it even made it reasonable."
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Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 2
    The Toronto Vampire Chronicles
  2. Print length
    292 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    August 27, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.73 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0993754872
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0993754876
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lycanthrope Rising (August 27, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 292 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0993754872
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0993754876
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.73 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the author

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John Matsui

John Matsui

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My latest novel, Lycanthrope Rising, is available now as an eBook and as a paperback. While the continuing story of my vampire Dragul Mangorian follows the events in Late Bite: Vampire On Trial, the Toronto Vampire Chronicles, Book 1, it's written as a stand alone novel.

Key background events in Book 1 are provided to make it so but are filtered through the eyes and memories of people other than lawyer Al Hamblyn who narrates Late Bite. I took my cue from the classic Japanese film (1950) Rashomon that related a story three times. Important details changed when each of the three participants retold the tale.

An updated version of Late Bite that includes a new cover, and Gravity Games, the first in the Nathan Sherlock Foodie Thriller series, are available on Amazon sites worldwide as eBooks and paperbacks and through other major web purveyors as eBooks. I hope you'll take a peek and check out the Gravity Games video on this page.

It's strange to have three novels out and more books in both series and work started on two new book series under way.

How did I arrive at writing novels?

I had plenty of experience writing — non-fiction. I worked as a journalist and communication consultant. A few years back, a friend challenged me to try my hand at fiction. A month later, I had the finished (first draft) manuscript for Late Bite and have been loving the ride ever since.

Judy and I live in Wortley Village, a quaint neighbourhood in that other London — London, Ontario and so far all of my writing has been set in Canada.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
16 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

S.J. Galler
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
Great story from a wonderful and imaginative writer
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Future Boy
3.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing but a little wobbly
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2018
This book has its moments of brilliance, but often it lurched from one sub-plot to another, trying to find its footing but often throwing in one plotline after the other. Having lived for several years in Toronto, I did enjoy and recognized the extensive Toronto references, in the same way I enjoyed the grand Canadian mystery series Murdoch Mysteries, which is also based in Toronto.

Eventually, I understood the premise of the book: a millennia-long rivalry between two supernatural forces: wolves and vampire-mutants, all resembling humans in some way when in resting state. (The wolf clan, however, can revert to a form that completely looks human, whereas the vampire clan can never quite shake off its alien-looking appearance). The wolf clan looks much like a super-rich, powerful, Mafia-like network the world over, hiding their true supernatural identities. However, while very powerful in natural fighting ability, the vampires are very few in number, struggling mightily with the procreation of new generations.

The book came together much better near the end where the inter-species war became more apparent and in fact, started to do battle. The beginning, while beguiling, was often baffling as I wasn't sure where the book was going. There are multiple characters each with his or her own point of view. The battles are ferocious and well-described in gory, shocking details. The two main characters, Dragul Mangorian (what a spooky, Dracula-like name) and Tim Gracey (a snobbish, posh name) are both quite unlikeable, as they want nothing less than a takeover of the world--on his own terms. I think Jimmy Jacks, the prison superintendent, was the only character I respected, whereas Mangorian and Gracey were entertaining, but also repulsive, like watching a train wreck. In this book, more than usual, supporting characters are treated like props, to commit to death as soon as his or her usefulness was expended.

I don't buy the premise that a main character can be charged with crimes and then have these charges dropped, in the case of "assisted suicide" of several dead victims. Assisted suicide is a very serious charge in Canada, and there have been very rare occurrences of physician-assisted suicides where a mentally sound adult with a terminal, devastating disease has asked a medical doctor to end his life. These cases are still prosecuted, despite some legislative moves in Canada's Parliament to de-escalate the seriousness of those medical cases. In this book, the deaths were definitely not medical-related. With newly emerging cases of on-line encouragements and cyber-bullying of despondent victims, suicides are not to be treated lightly.

The cover is a little puzzling. From that alone, I would have deduced it was a romance novel. Then, perhaps paranormal romance. But there's no romance in this book.

For the book's moments of brilliance but acknowledging the wobbliness in some of the plot, I award this three stars.
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Walter Pevcevicius
5.0 out of 5 stars A dark, twisty and different vampire tale
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2018
It’s been more than a year since I read Late Bite, the first book in the Toronto Vampire Chronicles, so I was happy that Lycanthrope Rising jogged my memory by recapping key details.

Author John Matsui used a neat technique to keep the story fresh — replaying events through the eyes and filter of different characters.

The series’ main character, Dragul Mangorian, is a vampire who’s not Dracula or the Cullens of Twilight or any bloodsucker you’ve ever met in fiction.

He’s the last of the Homo Sanguinus, a species that mutated from humanity 30,000 years ago. In the second book we learn more about how Homo Sapiens (us) all but wiped out their blood-sucking rivals.

Surprise, surprise. A vicious secret society whose members are as vicious and blood-thirsty as werewolves led human forces to exterminate the Sanguinus. The Lycans don’t shapeshift but run with wolves and used the myth of werewolves to disguise their killing ways.

The stakes could not be higher for Mangorian. He ‘s driven to perpetuate his species, which can’t be replenished through a neck bite. He finds Skyla whose unique genome will allow her to mate with him. That drives the Lycans mad and thirsting to complete the extinction of the Sanguinus.

The cover, partly clothed lovers with a wolf baying at a full moon, absolutely fits the story but fans of Twlight be warned. This is no sparkly supernatural romance. Lovers of dark fiction who invite edgy (but not explicit) sex and gory battle scenes that contribute to the storyline will have a feast to remember. And like Late Bite, the author peppers Lycanthrope Rising with cringe humour and plenty of gut-wrenching twists.
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Brad Horner
5.0 out of 5 stars Mashup genres housed in a UF that manages outright satire! Complicated? Never mind! Trust the author! :)
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2017
Lycanthrope Rising continues to take the whole Vamp/werewolf convention and turn it on its head, crafting a courtroom drama out of an outed vampire, seeing how he enjoys the limelight as a spiritual guru and on the other side of the coin is an introduction and complicated tale of modern werewolf society as seen through heavy corporate drama mixed with a distinctive Godfather feel.

How could people be missing this? It's awesome!

Granted, I'm a huge fan of mixed genres and Mr. Matsui here not only has a grand and deft hand at all these genres, but he manages to weave them as skillfully as I've ever seen.

Honestly, these books are a real treat for well-read fans of all these genres, but I doubt even the casual reader is gonna complain. There's great tension, pathos, commentary, satire, drama, all based on solid reason. Hell, we even have plausible science, a genetic twist, ancient history, a bit of romance, and a really cool gladiator twist.

How? Just... how?

I should really just say... TRUST THE AUTHOR. :) These are a really wild ride and this sequel to Late Bite is keeping up the quality. :)
3 people found this helpful
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Theressa
5.0 out of 5 stars A great late night read!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2017
I really enjoyed the book! It was thoroughly engaging and I didn't once feel like I was missing out having not read Late Bite, John Matsui's first book in the series.

One of my biggest beefs with series is when individual books don't stand up on their own. I could tell that the author put a ton of research into the various aspects of the book and a lot of thought into character development.

I liked that the book was set in Toronto (so many are set in the States regardless of where the author is from) and even tried to look up some of the locations the book referenced. I feel like the ending was just enough of a tease to go back and read the previous book as well as look forward to the next!
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Top reviews from other countries

Walter Pevcevicius
5.0 out of 5 stars A dark, twisty and different vampire tale
Reviewed in Canada on February 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
It’s been more than a year since I read Late Bite, the first book in the Toronto Vampire Chronicles, so I was happy that Lycanthrope Rising jogged my memory by recapping key details.

Author John Matsui used a neat technique to keep the story fresh — replaying events through the eyes and filter of different characters.

The series’ main character, Dragul Mangorian, is a vampire who’s not Dracula or the Cullens of Twilight or any bloodsucker you’ve ever met in fiction.

He’s the last of the Homo Sanguinus, a species that mutated from humanity 30,000 years ago. In the second book we learn more about how Homo Sapiens (us) all but wiped out their blood-sucking rivals.

Surprise, surprise. A vicious secret society whose members are as vicious and blood-thirsty as werewolves led human forces to exterminate the Sanguinus. The Lycans don’t shapeshift but run with wolves and used the myth of werewolves to disguise their killing ways.

The stakes could not be higher for Mangorian. He ‘s driven to perpetuate his species, which can’t be replenished through a neck bite. He finds Skyla whose unique genome will allow her to mate with him. That drives the Lycans mad and thirsting to complete the extinction of the Sanguinus.

The cover, partly clothed lovers with a wolf baying at a full moon, absolutely fits the story but fans of Twlight be warned. This is no sparkly supernatural romance. Lovers of dark fiction who invite edgy (but not explicit) sex and gory battle scenes that contribute to the storyline will have a feast to remember. And like Late Bite, the author peppers Lycanthrope Rising with cringe humour and plenty of gut-wrenching twists.
Report
Brad Horner
5.0 out of 5 stars Mashup genres housed in a UF that manages outright satire! Complicated? Never mind! Trust the author! :)
Reviewed in Canada on October 7, 2017
Verified Purchase
Lycanthrope Rising continues to take the whole Vamp/werewolf convention and turn it on its head, crafting a courtroom drama out of an outed vampire, seeing how he enjoys the limelight as a spiritual guru and on the other side of the coin is an introduction and complicated tale of modern werewolf society as seen through heavy corporate drama mixed with a distinctive Godfather feel.

How could people be missing this? It's awesome!

Granted, I'm a huge fan of mixed genres and Mr. Matsui here not only has a grand and deft hand at all these genres, but he manages to weave them as skillfully as I've ever seen.

Honestly, these books are a real treat for well-read fans of all these genres, but I doubt even the casual reader is gonna complain. There's great tension, pathos, commentary, satire, drama, all based on solid reason. Hell, we even have plausible science, a genetic twist, ancient history, a bit of romance, and a really cool gladiator twist.

How? Just... how?

I should really just say... TRUST THE AUTHOR. :) These are a really wild ride and this sequel to Late Bite is keeping up the quality. :)
Report