Don't let the massive size of this novel intimidate you. I can't remember the last time I read through a book this long so quickly. The pace keeps moving and Cronin is full of surprises. The most frustrating thing about this book is knowing that the second book isn't scheduled to come out until 2012. If you enjoyed Guillermo del Toro's The Strain, you may want to give this a try. Though the creatures in this novel aren't technically vampires, they share similar traits to the legendary monsters and Cronin's epic is more complex and detailed than del Toro's.