“So you have been having dreams too?” Maddie asked. “With vampires?”
I find that when you continue a series, the second book either builds upon the story set in the first book or it absolutely blows it out of the water and takes everything to the next level. Coldharbour II by Laura Clarke Walker did the latter. It took everything I loved about the first book – the messy dynamics amidst the Wilde siblings and the next generation they’re raising, the fascinating allure of Power, the gothic atmosphere of the dreary seaside town – and mixed it with something else I absolutely adore in literature: vampires. And even better yet? Festive vampires. This deliciously gothic read takes place over the holidays, which somehow makes the whole thing even more delightful.
As with the first book, we spend time with Alex Wilde, her girlfriend Elizabeth, and her siblings Matthew and Shaz as a mysterious force settles over the sleepy town of Coldharbour, this time blanketed in a sheet of snow in the dead of winter. Emphasis on dead, because their latest adversaries are seemingly just that. Walker has an absolutely delightful style of storytelling, combining laugh-out-loud humor with some of the richest gothic atmosphere I’ve seen in ages. With nods to classics like Dracula and a thread to period-appropriate media like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this story strikes a uniquely Nineties/Aughts vibe that anyone who grew up in the era will love sinking their teeth into. And really, what more could you want from a Christmas read than vampires, family dysfunction, supernatural chaos, and a healthy dose of nostalgia? The atmosphere was absolutely delectable, from the garlic-and-mistletoe-covered entryways to the thirteenth century vaulted ceiling that met its unfortunate demise (though “There are far better examples in Essex, let alone the rest of the country,” as Mouse says). This world is filled to the brim with texture and tension, and I adored every minute spent in it.
There’s so much charm in the Coldharbour series, and I believe everyone who was glued to their tube TVs in the era when shows like Charmed ruled the airwaves will find something equal parts familiar and fresh in it. It’s nostalgic without feeling derivative, gothic without taking itself too seriously, and somehow manages to make a sleepy English seaside town feel like the center of the supernatural universe. Walker has truly built an incredible world, and I cannot wait to get my hands on book three! I’d very highly recommend this series to readers of modern gothic lit, supernatural fiction, and throwback urban fantasy.