On the shores of the St. Lawrence River there lies a secretive biomedical research facility. Within that facility’s deepest recesses are two vampires. One is a ravenous humanoid bat. A true apex predator. The other appears human but is no less dangerous than its monstrous peer.These vampires have amazing regenerative abilities, enabling them to rapidly heal from the direst of wounds. The facility’s scientists are trying to understand those unparalleled recuperative powers so they might be harnessed and applied to medical science. Their goal is to craft a universal panacea, fashioning medicines from monsters.Such a therapeutic would have nearly limitless possibilities for treating a myriad of conditions, including wounds, infections, or diseases. Many could be saved. A select few would profit.Dr. Wil Goggins, an eager research scientist, is thrilled to receive the promotion that grants him access to the mysterious secure areas of the facility. He will soon learn that many dark choices must be made in service of the greater good.As the scientific teams study the vampires, investigative teams work to find and procure more such creatures. Their efforts will take them to a town in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, where monsters are on the prowl. Although, whether the more fearsome monsters are vampires or humans is far from certain.Blood is often the price of progress.
"A Bleak Remedy" hit the spot for me with its unique combination of thoroughly fleshed-out elements. More than just a simple or traditional vampire tale, it explores the concept of such creatures being studied in a scientific setting, ostensibly for the purposes of medical research, and many of the facets that would be involved in such an endeavor.
There are a lot of characters, a lot of interweaving plot lines, and a lot of tantalizing questions that are asked and answered to varying degrees throughout the book's duration, which go a long way toward keeping things compelling and engaging, and staving off the fatigue that its length might have otherwise elicited. That said, there were a few things I didn't love, or even outright disliked, about the read but they were more a matter of conflicts with my personal tastes and preferences than with any objective deficiencies in the story or its execution. At the end of the day, even when things occasionally happened that I wasn't particularly fond of, they always felt at the very least interesting, well-earned, or contextually relevant.
It is worth noting that, despite its length and a reasonably satisfying conclusion, "A Bleak Remedy" does leave a lot of loose ends and unresolved plot threads that are apparently addressed in its equally-substantial sequel, "A Multitude of Menaces," so those looking for a "one and done" sort of experience with a strong sense of closure may want to look elsewhere. Personally, I feel the book could stand on its own for readers who enjoy open-ended conclusions but I think this is a case where a heads-up might be helpful in terms of setting expectations. Along those lines, it probably goes without saying but, as a tale primarily focused on vampires of various sorts, there is a lot of blood and gore, so those not into, or at least okay with, that sort of thing need not apply.
Bottom line: If you're looking for a dense, thorough, and unique speculative-fiction novel that confidently carries its extensive intricacies and narrative ambitions, "A Bleak Remedy" is one I'd highly recommend.