A Subtle Agency (Metaframe War #1) by Graeme Rodaughan ★★★★★

BOOM! I loved this indie vampire action movie and gave it all the stars! Yes, technically, it's a book but as there were more bullets than words spoken I'm calling it an ACTION MOVIE.

Similarly to Stargate and X Men Apocalypse this story begins as an origins tale in a fantastically advanced version of ancient Egypt. 

Ahknaton's wife has just died and he's determined to bring her back using his super secret Pharaohs Eyes Only technology. His brother Hakron says this is a terrible idea. Ahknaton doesn't listen, thus the creation of vampires. Hakron vows to stop the vampires. 

Five thousand years and two secret societies of vampire slayers later and the vampires are still going strong. And thank goodness because my favorite character is a vampire!

General Chloe Armitage of the Vampire Dominion is smart, strong, and ruthless. A former vampire slayer, before turning over two hundred years ago, Chloe is a three dimensional thinker who knows all the players and is actively gaming to win. Yes, technically, she is the baddie but she's my hero and I think she'll be yours too!

Li Wu - this teen is already an MIT grad and a master swordswoman. She's been training since the age of three to kill vampires and becomes the MC Anton's weapons master. Lin keeps a level head throughout the challenges in her life and wisely deflects all of Anton's come on's. 

Louise Wesson is a Shadowstorm operative who has no idea she's working for vampires. Ex Black Ops/CIA she's done a lot of shady things for shady people but always for the right side. Now she's starting to realize the best play might be to frag the boss.

Now the MC is Anton Slayne, a teenage hockey player, who gets thrown into the deep end by the existence of vampires. He has daddy issues, anger management problems, and a generally rebellious streak. He's a teenage boy.

He neither adds nor takes away from the story. I know that's a strange thing to say about an MC but I often end up liking the secondary characters better. 

I think the least successful character was Cornelius Crane, leader of the Vampire Dominion. He's spent a thousand years getting back pieces of the Pharaoh Tech from the vampire slayers because he's afraid they'll use it to end vampires. But they haven't... in five thousand years. Also Crane's single (stated) bestowed characteristic that allows him to lead the Vampire Dominion is his dramatic... height. Hmmm. 

Still, not enough to detract from enjoyment. Best of genre - five stars!