Author: Cynthia Fridsma
Publisher: CynthiaFridsma.com
Released: November 24, 2021
Received: Reedsy

Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding is the latest novel to come from the mind of Cynthia Fridsma. This book blends the fantasy elements of vampirism with the suspense that comes with a good thriller novel. What really struck me about Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding is that it is the first fantasy novel I’ve read set during the pandemic. What a wild realization!

Sybil Crewes works as part of an Anti-Terrorism Unit. Or rather, she did. She hasn’t been able to work since the pandemic started for obvious reasons. Sybil may have been content to stay in her home, taking this extended break one day at a time, had something not occurred to change her plans.

An alarming phone call reveals that Harry Brown has been kidnapped, and Sybil isn’t going to sit around and do nothing while her friend is missing. So this vampire is gearing up and going hunting. Those that get in her way better not expect mercy.

“Or press the red button when it reaches the red zone.”

To say that there was a lot that surprised me in Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding would be the understatement of the year. I have never read a novel following a vampire that is a member of the ATU. Likewise, until now, I hadn’t read any fantasy novel that was set during the pandemic. And the surprises don’t stop there.

It made for an exciting read. I never knew what would happen next, and that alone was enough to keep me turning the pages. I did get the feeling that Pandemic: Chaos is Bleeding is not the first Sybil novel, so at some point, I should really look into that and see if there is more I can read.

In general, I know that people either love or hate it when a fantasy novel brings in real-world elements. So I know that including COVID-19 isn’t something that all readers will love. On that note, I should mention that there are some relevant politics that go alongside this plot (it should be reasonably easy to predict what sort of politics I’m referencing here). So if that isn’t your jam, consider yourself warned.

Personally, I really enjoyed the grounding element that these real details brought into the story. It made everything else feel more plausible and vibrant, which I appreciated. It was easy to connect with Sybil’s character when she’s dealing with the same stress and anxiety that so many of us have felt (and that was before throwing a kidnapping into the mix).

Thanks to Cynthia Fridsma and #Reedsy for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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