With the third book in the Alex Van Helsing series coming out this summer, I figured it was about time to give the original a re-read. Confession: I have known the author, Jason Henderson, since we went to college together at the University of Dallas. He was the first published author I ever knew in real life and was something of a celebrity on campus after getting his first novel published during his junior year. In a campus full of people planning to write a "great American novel" someday, Jason proved to me what writing is really about: dedication, focus, organization, humility, unceasing work, and a probably unhealthy amount of caffeine.
Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising introduces Alex, a 14 year old boy who has just been sent to a boarding school in Switzerland. There he encounters a mysterious teacher, menacing bullies, a few true friends... and vampires?! All his life, his father has told him that the famous stories about the Van Helsing family being vampire hunters are pure fiction. But when two of Alex's friends are captured by the fearsome vampire known as Icemaker, Alex has no choice but to embrace his dangerous destiny.
The Alex Van Helsing series mixes elements of classic literature (You'll never guess Icemaker's origin!), horror, adventure, suspense, and spy stories. My favorite character is actually one of Alex's friends, Sid, whose encyclopedic knowledge of vampires and passion for manga make him an invaluable asset as Alex tries to learn more about his family's past and about the challenges in store for him.
The second book in the series is called Voice of the Undead (HarperCollins, 2011) and the third book, just out at the end of July, is The Triumph of Death.
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