- ASIN: B09JM2MQ6C
- Language: English
- Print length: 654 pages
- Genre: Literary Horror
The BookViral Review:
Following on from his impressive debut novel, The Sleepwalker, Gage’s latest release in The Nosferatu Conspiracy, The Sommelier, confirms his place as a rising star amongst the best Gothic Horror authors.
With the ever-growing popularity of the horror genre, there’s been a deluge of literary historical novels that cross the border into the realms of supernatural fantasy but few have Gage’s flare for creating searingly haunting storylines.
As with The Sleepwalker, Gage has clearly done his historical research with the many historical figures who make up the cast of characters in The Sommelier depicted in convincing detail to sustain a fine balance between historical fact and Gothic Horror fantasy.
Set during the Battle of Arras in March 1917 Gage has created his own taxonomy of vampires which combined with the occult and nefarious societies underpin an alternative history where Kaiser Wilhelm’s quest for World War is driven by his pursuit of immortality.
With the best the Gothic Horror genre has to offer the scare factor isn’t really the most important thing. Far too many authors in the Gothic horror genre are content doing no more than delivering garish shocks whilst failing to appreciate that the most frightening things are in our own minds.
Gage understands this and in doing so mines emotional seams that not only raise the hairs on the back of your neck and work up to exceedingly chilling climaxes but deep dive into the emotional issues his characters face, with Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein being a superb example as she plunges into the depths of madness and despair.
A simply superb Gothic Horror, Gage has once again delivered an extraordinary five star read with The Sommelier unreservedly recommended!