Immanuel's Veins by Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker is closing out his Thomas Nelson publisher run with Immanuel's Veins. From here on out he will be published by Hachette.

Immanuel's Veins tells the story of two men (Toma & Alek) tasked with protecting a family for the Russian Queen Catharine. Toma is the hero who has won many battles, Alek is the womanizer.

Once on the family's estate, the men are introduced to some bizarre neighbors who reside in the Carpathian Mountains. Led by one named Valerik, these neighbors have a thing for biting lips...and drinking blood. (Yes, this is Ted Dekker's version of Twilight but this isn't your typical vampire novel.)

Alek is quickly seduced by the beauty of the women and escapes to the castle in the mountains where all kinds of debauchery occur. In their defense, these vampire-like-people admit to simply acting on their great love for life.

Toma must rescue not only his friend, but also the two daughters he is ordered to protect and having fallen madly in love with one of them, you'll read Dekker's signature battle of good vs. evil surrounded by love.

This isn't Dekker at his best. It is a new perspective as he writes in first person (something brand new for Ted Dekker). The setting is new and different, (Russia in the 1700s) and you will definitely get caught up in the story. Ted has a unique ability to capture your attention from the get-go and hold it throughout the novel. Sadly the overall plot is one that Dekker has used far too often.

Man falls in love with girl. Bad guy wants to seduce girl. Girl falls for bad guy. Good guy confronts bad guy to win girl's heart.

We've seen this in the last 5 or 6 novels by Ted Dekker.

One a really positive note: fans of The Circle Series and The Books of History Chronicles will get some well deserved answers in this story.

Give this book to your vampire-loving friends then do a compare and contrast book club.


This book was provided for review by Thomas Nelson publishing.