Teen Fantasy Book – Night Runner by Max Turner

Night Runner is a vampire novel that I am very happy to have found. The author, Max Turner, has written a story for teens that works for readers of any age. The story centers around a fifteen year old boy named Zack Thomson who was orphaned when he was seven. His mother died when he was two and his anthropologist father was killed in a tomb cave-in five years later – while Zack watched. Even worse, as his father lay dying, Zack was attacked by some kind of wild dog and he ended up with a strange disease.

Some people have called his illness “allergies” but whatever his condition, it causes him to sleep all day and eat a very restricted diet. His unique medical problems also cause irritability, so much so that a mental institution has become his home. At the institution, Zack is given the attention and the exclusive strawberry smoothie diet that he needs to thrive – all under the special care of Nurse Ophelia – a woman who has become like a mother to him.

After spending eight quiet years in the mental institution with Nurse Ophelia, Zack’s life is about to change. In a big way.

To start, Zack meets a man claiming to be his long lost uncle. Through this man he’s told about his parents and their demise; stories Zack has a hard time believing.

After his uncle leaves a crazed man crashes through the window to his ward, yells at Zack to run for his life and then proceeds to help him escape from the institution. Once outside the institution, the man takes him to a safe house. Through him Zack finds out more about his odd disease and about the secrets kept from him by his family.

But Zack isn’t sure who to trust.

However, his best friend Charlie has always been faithful and trustworthy so Zack contacts him and they go on the run together, trying to figure out what the heck is going on in Zack’s life. Through their adventures Zack meets a girl (the first girl his age he’s ever met) and begins to learn about the world outside his old institution.

This particular fantasy novel really caught my attention because it’s unique and has such an original storyline. I casually picked it up, looking for something to help me go back to sleep one night and ended up staying up half the night reading it until I was finished. Max Turner took the story of a fifteen year old boy finding out he was a vampire and made it realistic. As such, regardless of your age, you’ll have an easy time identifying with Zack, his feelings and his actions. The pacing was good, the characterizations were realistic and the suspense and intrigue kept the story moving forward quite well. Max Turner has written a thoroughly entertaining and believable fantasy story and I hope he’s busily working on a sequel!

Get Night Runner while it’s on sale!