World War II, Russian Front. With the enemy of the Iron Will in full retreat and soldiers finding themselves both tired and hungry and starved for provisions, what could make both sides forget their climactic ending? Victory - maybe. Too much Vodka - it would have to be some really good vodka. Vampires - hmmm, that might do it.
When I picked up the first Red Snow, I wanted to keep reading and know how the world would end for the people involved. As viewers catching a glimpse of warring factions you see (1) people trying to survive both the terror of the Germans and the fear inspired by hungry forces pushed by the bayonet tips of Stalin's rifles, (2) German soldiers finding themselves trapped in a desert of snow and wondering how they will make it out alive, (3) Russian soldiers that are both hungry and cold and in constant fear that Stalin will find something flawed in their performances, (4) and the enemy that no one expects. It is the enemy that no one expects that makes the story both interesting and odd, too, with fangs finding fields no longer rich and people encountering nightmares that go well beyond sharpened metal and rapid-fire projectiles.
Thinking how terrible that would be; finding yourself on the Russian front and trying to survive only to find out that the stuff of legend is not the stuff of legend. It is the stuff of "right next door."
For anyone that enjoys a different approach to vampires, this is a great story with a lot to offer. It has a plethora of characters, monsters both inhumane and inhuman all thrown together, and a fight for survival that really doesn't come with a guaranteed get-out-of-jail-free card. I found myself really drawn to that and to the way it was presented, with the coloration showing how bleak the situation could possibly be and the shadows showcasing just how deep that place beyond vision goes.
It is a stand-alone story, too, and does not require any background in the 30 Days of Night world. Perhaps that is a good thing for some people that want a good story and do not want the commitment of having to keep up with an ongoing struggle, too, or just something that 30 Days of Night fans will enjoy.
I highly recommend this as both a read and reread.