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Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'
Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite by Natalie C. Parker, Zoraida Córdova
7 reviews
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I. Love. Vampires.
If you know me, you know I devour vampire media like a blood-starved monster. I will read just about anything to do with them, or variations of the myth. I've owned this collection for a while and wanted to pick it up finally because of the First Kill adaption!
Since this is a collection, I have a breakdown below of my thoughts on each short story! Overall though, I really enjoyed each story for what they offered and the different angles they approached vampirism. To be fair, I wanted to give this a five star for the four stories I love, but I can't justify it since I really didn't like a couple.
Seven Nights For Dying by Tessa Gratton: 3 stars
This story had an interesting approach on the turning myth! It takes place over seven days and the two vampires luring the main character to immortality are sexy and interesting. I was annoyed by the main character's slightly childish approach to everything, which docked a couple stars.
The Boys from Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse: 5 stars
Oh. My. God. I love the Lost Boys and this story is inspired by it! I really loved the legend and folklore aspect woven into the Boys' backstory. Without giving too much away, it was chilling and the perfect promise of more at the end.
Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy: 5 stars
I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did! It gave me serious Buffy vibes, with a touch of something forbidden and dangerous. I would read a whole novel about the two main characters and the town Julie Murphy created, she always nails the southern atmosphere.
The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Heilig: 2 stars
I wish I liked this one more. With it being set historically and on a main character who is trans, it sounded really promising. I thought the plot was flimsy for my tastes and the characters were a little wooden.
A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed: 3 stars
This one had a more light hearted and funny approach. I liked the tongue in cheek writing and the cultural approach to vampirism! It was a really nice "revenge is okay sometimes" and accept yourself message.
In Kind by Kayla Whaley: 2 stars
I'll admit, I keep forgetting what this one is about and having to look back at my copy. It's like The Boy and the Bell - the premise is good and I wanted to like it more, but the characters fell flat. I will say, the newspaper articles were really well done and my favorite parts.
Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker: 4 stars
I really liked this one by the editors! The two characters were interesting, the premise was funny but entertaining, and the end promised happiness eventually for everyone involved.
Bestiary by Laura Ruby: 2 stars
I struggled with this one. The main character was a little too early 2000s emo for me and the zoo aspect was bizarre. It was an interesting setting for a vampire to work but more information needed to be fleshed out. It almost felt post-apocalyptic, but there was no concrete way for me to tell. (Other than the environmentalism aspect)
Mirrors, Windows, and Selfies by Mark Oshiro: 3 stars
I opened this one really expecting to dislike it because of the formatting. As I got into it, the blog posts grew on me, but it still really detracted from the story. I liked the end and the premise, but I know I would have loved the story more had it not been told like tumblr posts.
The House of the Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton: 5 stars
This blew me out of the water. I'm a HUGE fan of Kalynn Bayron's "This Poison Heart" and this was like a condensed short story version. I loved the magical world, the building of tension, and the end right on the breathless climax. I'll be rereading this one.
First Kill by V.E. Schwab: 5 stars
This wholeheartedly deserved its own TV Show and they better not screw it up. I LOVED this, Schwab never misses. I don't think it's possible for her to ever misstep. The backstory of Calliope and her family is fascinating, it was the Vampire Diaries meets Supernatural and wonderful in every way.
If you know me, you know I devour vampire media like a blood-starved monster. I will read just about anything to do with them, or variations of the myth. I've owned this collection for a while and wanted to pick it up finally because of the First Kill adaption!
Since this is a collection, I have a breakdown below of my thoughts on each short story! Overall though, I really enjoyed each story for what they offered and the different angles they approached vampirism. To be fair, I wanted to give this a five star for the four stories I love, but I can't justify it since I really didn't like a couple.
Seven Nights For Dying by Tessa Gratton: 3 stars
This story had an interesting approach on the turning myth! It takes place over seven days and the two vampires luring the main character to immortality are sexy and interesting. I was annoyed by the main character's slightly childish approach to everything, which docked a couple stars.
The Boys from Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse: 5 stars
Oh. My. God. I love the Lost Boys and this story is inspired by it! I really loved the legend and folklore aspect woven into the Boys' backstory. Without giving too much away, it was chilling and the perfect promise of more at the end.
Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy: 5 stars
I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did! It gave me serious Buffy vibes, with a touch of something forbidden and dangerous. I would read a whole novel about the two main characters and the town Julie Murphy created, she always nails the southern atmosphere.
The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Heilig: 2 stars
I wish I liked this one more. With it being set historically and on a main character who is trans, it sounded really promising. I thought the plot was flimsy for my tastes and the characters were a little wooden.
A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed: 3 stars
This one had a more light hearted and funny approach. I liked the tongue in cheek writing and the cultural approach to vampirism! It was a really nice "revenge is okay sometimes" and accept yourself message.
In Kind by Kayla Whaley: 2 stars
I'll admit, I keep forgetting what this one is about and having to look back at my copy. It's like The Boy and the Bell - the premise is good and I wanted to like it more, but the characters fell flat. I will say, the newspaper articles were really well done and my favorite parts.
Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker: 4 stars
I really liked this one by the editors! The two characters were interesting, the premise was funny but entertaining, and the end promised happiness eventually for everyone involved.
Bestiary by Laura Ruby: 2 stars
I struggled with this one. The main character was a little too early 2000s emo for me and the zoo aspect was bizarre. It was an interesting setting for a vampire to work but more information needed to be fleshed out. It almost felt post-apocalyptic, but there was no concrete way for me to tell. (Other than the environmentalism aspect)
Mirrors, Windows, and Selfies by Mark Oshiro: 3 stars
I opened this one really expecting to dislike it because of the formatting. As I got into it, the blog posts grew on me, but it still really detracted from the story. I liked the end and the premise, but I know I would have loved the story more had it not been told like tumblr posts.
The House of the Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton: 5 stars
This blew me out of the water. I'm a HUGE fan of Kalynn Bayron's "This Poison Heart" and this was like a condensed short story version. I loved the magical world, the building of tension, and the end right on the breathless climax. I'll be rereading this one.
First Kill by V.E. Schwab: 5 stars
This wholeheartedly deserved its own TV Show and they better not screw it up. I LOVED this, Schwab never misses. I don't think it's possible for her to ever misstep. The backstory of Calliope and her family is fascinating, it was the Vampire Diaries meets Supernatural and wonderful in every way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation
All your common triggers for vampires. The Boy and the Bell features a main character who is Trans and they are often referred to with the wrong pronouns and misgendered. Relationship lines are blurry in some stories with characters being teens and in relationships with hundred year old vampires. Death of a child is a child turned vampire. Abuse is inflicted on a main character as his parents isolate him.sofipitch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
The collection was mostly just fun. Some stories I have strong opinions on, which I'll share, but the ones I don't mention were mostly just entertaining. I'm a sucker (haha) for vamps so I'm usually biased in the favor of vampire stories already.
Some stories I'd give 5 stars to: In Kind, A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire, and First Kill. I'm very excited for First Kill being adapted by Netflix, it's fun on it's own but I'm really looking forward to seeing this story expanded upon. In Kind deals with disabled rights and the value of a life and Guidebook deals with vampires as a metaphor for colonialism while staying really funny and original in concept.
The House of Black Sapphires is in a weird spot where I really likedit but it felt like it ended too abruptly, it honestly felt like the beginning of a full book and not a short story.
And then the bad ones were the ones that felt way to infantile. This collection is YA which means all the protagonists are teens, but these stories just felt like the authors assume teens lack any depth, and feel like they are belittling their reader with how they write them. They feel like it's more important to name drop words like instagram, selfie, and ao3 (which gave me massive brain damage) than connect with their audience. These stories that are total skips are: Vampires Never Say Die, Senior Year Sucks, and Mirrors, Windows & Selfies.
Some stories I'd give 5 stars to: In Kind, A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire, and First Kill. I'm very excited for First Kill being adapted by Netflix, it's fun on it's own but I'm really looking forward to seeing this story expanded upon. In Kind deals with disabled rights and the value of a life and Guidebook deals with vampires as a metaphor for colonialism while staying really funny and original in concept.
The House of Black Sapphires is in a weird spot where I really likedit but it felt like it ended too abruptly, it honestly felt like the beginning of a full book and not a short story.
And then the bad ones were the ones that felt way to infantile. This collection is YA which means all the protagonists are teens, but these stories just felt like the authors assume teens lack any depth, and feel like they are belittling their reader with how they write them. They feel like it's more important to name drop words like instagram, selfie, and ao3 (which gave me massive brain damage) than connect with their audience. These stories that are total skips are: Vampires Never Say Die, Senior Year Sucks, and Mirrors, Windows & Selfies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Chronic illness, and Colonisation
Minor: Homophobia and Death of parent
stormywolf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My library has been a bit hit-or-miss with the Vampire Book Club's selections, but I was able to find this one for December. Admittedly, I wasn't in the best mental space to read books surrounding death and immortality, having lost my grandmother earlier this year and having that wound reopened with our cat's death (cancer) just after reading the first story. But after a bit of time (and some Christmas movies & music) I was excited to dive back in and experience some new takes on one of my favorite paranormal creatures.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a fine anthology filled with some of the best vampires I've encountered. There was a huge variety, not only of genders, sexualities, and skins, but of vampiric powers, weaknesses, settings, and societies. If I had to pick my favorites, I'd probably stick with the peppier school-based-fare of Senior Year Sucks and First Kill, but I also found a lot to love in the more sombre stories of Seven Nights for Dying and The Boy and the Bell, not to mention the vivid world-building packed into The House of Black Sapphires. Needless to say, I definitely have a few authors to add to my watchlist. So if you have a hankering for some unique YA takes on old blood-sucking favorites, or if you're seeking a quick nibble to break up longer reads (or to break back into reading at all!), then I'd definitely recommend this anthology.
Read my full review at The Wolf's Den
Overall, a fine anthology filled with some of the best vampires I've encountered. There was a huge variety, not only of genders, sexualities, and skins, but of vampiric powers, weaknesses, settings, and societies. If I had to pick my favorites, I'd probably stick with the peppier school-based-fare of Senior Year Sucks and First Kill, but I also found a lot to love in the more sombre stories of Seven Nights for Dying and The Boy and the Bell, not to mention the vivid world-building packed into The House of Black Sapphires. Needless to say, I definitely have a few authors to add to my watchlist. So if you have a hankering for some unique YA takes on old blood-sucking favorites, or if you're seeking a quick nibble to break up longer reads (or to break back into reading at all!), then I'd definitely recommend this anthology.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Chronic illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Cannibalism only in the sense that vampires used to be human and feed off of humans.yeojinqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
individual ranks are as follows
seven nights for dying: 3/5
the boys from blood river: 5/5
senior year sucks: 5/5
the boy and the bell: 3/5
a guidedbook for the newly sired desi vampire: 4/5 (this one is a interesting format and unique story)
in kind: 5/5 (again one of the more interesting stories in here)
vampires never say die: 4/5
bestiary: 4/5
mirrors, windows, and selfies: 5/5
the house of black sapphires: 5/5 (in my opinion the most interesting story in the book)
first kill: 4/5
great stories over all. i believe that senior year sucks, in kind, and the house of black sapphires are the best stories in the book and also the ones i would most want to see turned into a full book
seven nights for dying: 3/5
the boys from blood river: 5/5
senior year sucks: 5/5
the boy and the bell: 3/5
a guidedbook for the newly sired desi vampire: 4/5 (this one is a interesting format and unique story)
in kind: 5/5 (again one of the more interesting stories in here)
vampires never say die: 4/5
bestiary: 4/5
mirrors, windows, and selfies: 5/5
the house of black sapphires: 5/5 (in my opinion the most interesting story in the book)
first kill: 4/5
great stories over all. i believe that senior year sucks, in kind, and the house of black sapphires are the best stories in the book and also the ones i would most want to see turned into a full book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gore, Transphobia, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Outing, and Alcohol
lyderz_'s review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I picked up this anthology because one of my favorite authors, V.E. Schwab, is featured in it and her story “First Kill” is getting a Netflix adaptation. Other than that, I didn’t go into this book with any sort of expectations. I’ve been stressed out because of midterms so I just wanted something light and entertaining to read, and this book was exactly what I needed. These stories are full of diversity, they include fresh imaginings of the vampire that I have never considered before, and they explored some classic vampire lore. Overall, I had fun with this book but I did reach a slump in the middle. It was the fact that Schwab’s story was at the end that kept me going. The thing with these stories is that a lot of them left me wanting more, I felt unsatisfied for most of them, but I think that might be a me problem... maybe I just have to learn to appreciate short stories for what they are. I have a hard time reviewing this book as a whole because I liked some of the stories a lot better than others, so I broke it all down and ranked them from most favorite to least favorite, with a one or two sentence review for each.
Ranking:
1) “The Boy and the Bell” by Heidi Heilig: This one was by far my favorite. I loved the Victorian setting, I was pretty much instantly attached to Will, it was atmospheric, and the writing felt sophisticated and chilling.
2) “First Kill” by V.E. Schwab: We’ve got a classic case of “do I want to kill you or kiss you??” and a blurring of lines between good and evil. I’m super excited to see where this story goes in the adaptation and I love how Cal and Jules’ narratives parallel each other.
3) “Seven Nights for Dying” by Tessa Gratton: I really liked the blunt writing style, the unique creation ritual, and the fact that it was focused on choice rather than a big vampire reveal. I think it was a strong opening and I even got choked up.
4) “The Boys From Blood River” by Rebecca Roanhorse: I really felt for Lukas... he is so flawed and he knows it too. Also, I can’t even blame him for getting so caught up in Silas because I would take one look into those eyes and forget to see the monster underneath too.
5) “The House of Black Sapphires” by Dhonielle Clayton: This one was so descriptive and absolutely magical, I liked the character dynamics but it left me with a lot of questions.
6) “Bestiary” by Laura Ruby: This one was so unexpected, basically the world is ending and a lonely vampire girl finds solace among animals. Jude was likable in a sad way, I felt for her.
7) “Mirrors, Windows & Selfies” by Mark Oshiro: This one was good! I don’t usually like stories that are structured like… blog posts… but this one worked. I got really invested in Cisco super fast.
8) “A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire” by Samira Ahmed: Okay this one was fun, sarcastic, and a whole new vibrant take on 21st century vampirism, with the inclusion of serious undertones as well.
9) “In Kind” by Kayla Whaley: I liked Seanan, she was kind which is so unlike many vampires. This one had decent writing and explored a heavy topic.
10) “Vampires Never Say Die” by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker: Featuring a real life vampire catfishing a teenage twihard, what could go wrong? This one was alright, I liked the glimpse of the vampire politics of New York.
11) “Senior Year Sucks” by Julie Murphy: I liked the concept of the resurrection home and the town history, but the whole thing felt rushed and I wasn’t a fan of the writing style.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Blood
Minor: Chronic illness and Death of parent
feuillycakes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This is this first anthology I’ve read since I was a child, and it didn’t disappoint. Each story brought something new and unexpected to the table, and I found myself liking each one in its own way. I’ve loved vampire stories since I was a child, and this new take on them was refreshing and exciting. The one thing I could wish for from this book is that some of the stories were longer. They set my imagination running wild and I found myself wanting more. My favourites were SEVEN NIGHTS FOR DYING , THE BOYS FROM BLOOD RIVER , and IN KIND, but they all brought something to the table that I can’t quite explain, except to say that they got me in my emotions and they did it quick. The latter two were also super dramatic and I’m in to that in a vampire story. A close contender for a favourite is BESTIARY , because the world building that occurs in this story is fantastic, what with a seemingly dystopian setting that is somehow also set in the near future but the very very near future.
Anyway this book is the diverse rep we always needed from teen vampire books so kudos to all the authors for being awesome!
(That being said there are brief descriptions of the negative stuff that comes along with being any variation of non cis/white/straight/able bodied in the world, so take care, but it’s not extreme and is shown to be a negative thing in the writing.)
Anyway this book is the diverse rep we always needed from teen vampire books so kudos to all the authors for being awesome!
(That being said there are brief descriptions of the negative stuff that comes along with being any variation of non cis/white/straight/able bodied in the world, so take care, but it’s not extreme and is shown to be a negative thing in the writing.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Blood
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Transphobia
All the content warnings except for the blood is shown as negative, and is mostly looked down on or addressed in story. There is a scene of a gay man being beaten for being gay and the perpetrators are punished, and another of a trans man being misgendered where once again the perpetrator is punished. Both are dealt with violently. The adult/minor relationships are implied, what with the vampires being very much above the age of consent in years if not in appearances and the other party being 17. This is not illegal or even frowned upon in most countries but it’s important to note for the places that have the age of consent higher than 16.kelsireads's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This has become one of my favorite anthologies. I'm a sucker (ha) for a good vampire story, but I haven't read anything inventive or out of the ordinary in years. This anthology featured so many different concepts and characters revolving around vampire lore, and I'm SO glad it lived up to my expectations. I loved that several of these stories discuss the fictional appeal of vampirism to teen girls, the physical power it gives them in a world where they often feel very powerless. Also, it's super gay. Thoughts on each story are below.
Seven Nights for Dying by Tessa Gratton - 5 Stars
Damn, what a way to start things off. This ended up being my favorite story in this book. The main character is offered the opportunity of a lifetime and has seven nights to decide if she wants to live forever. Tessa Gratton did an amazing job with characterization - this main character has so much depth and introspection in just a few pages than some books manage or hundreds. The bisexual/mga rep is excellent. The discussions of strong emotions like grief, anger, and compassion are beautiful.
"I said, “Is grief like anger? Will I take it with me?”
Esmael said, “Come here, and I’ll show you, instead, how it’s all just love.”"
Mirrors, Windows & Selfies by Mark Oshiro - 5 Stars
This story is formatted like a blog post, and it worked very well for this story. The main character is a child of vampires, told from a young age that he shouldn't exist and has to be hidden away for his own safety. He writes this anonymous blog as a diary and slowly uncovers secrets his parents are keeping from him, all while desperately trying to see himself - literally, he has never seen a reflection or image of himself. The parallels between vampirism and queerness are pretty obvious, but excellently done. The main character experiences attraction to another boy in the story, but it is not romance focused.
The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton - 3 stars
The lore and worldbuilding of this story are really the standouts. The main character, along with her mother and sisters, have been brought to New Orleans to make their home for the foreseeable future, brought by the firebird of the Turner family. This short story is packed with an inventive world where supernatural beings gather together and Black people are NOT vampires, but Eternals, beings who were turned by slave owners but whose ancestors sent firebirds for protection and guidance. I was not very invested in the plot, and there were too many characters to get a clear picture of everyone in such a short time.
The Boys From Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse - 4 stars
This was definitely the creepiest of the anthology. The main character is lonely, the child of a dying mother and an outcast among peers in his small bigoted town for being Native and gay. A mysterious song summons a group of boys who offer to become his family and take him away, all in exchange for "sharing a meal" (we all know what that means). There's an interesting twist on the 'vampires must be invited in' trope that I loved.
Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy - 2 stars
This is an attempt at a sapphic vampire/ slayer romance that just didn't work for me. The chemistry between the characters wasn't there for me. I did appreciate the fat vampire slayer that's also cheerleading captain and very bossy, but that didn't do enough for me to enjoy it overall.
The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Heilig - 3 stars
This story follows a medical student moonlighting as a grave digger who stumbles upon a ringing bell in a graveyard - someone was buried alive. He digs him up only to be confronted by an ungrateful rich asshole who tries to blackmail him. The main character is a trans man, and there is intentional misgendering in this one so be aware.
In Kind by Kayla Whaley - 3 stars
This is a great confrontation of the typical able bodied, physical "perfection" that is standard in a lot of vampire stories. The main character is a victim of a so-called mercy killing, is saved by a friend, and decides whether to exact revenge. There is quite a bit of ableist language so be aware of that going in.
A Guidebook For The Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed - 4 stars
This was SUCH a fun concept and super well executed. As the title says, this story reads as a guidebook for baby vampires. It is laugh out loud funny with pop culture references and super dry disdain for obnoxious British tourists. There are great references to technology and how it would adapted for modern use by secret groups of people.
Bestiary by Laura Ruby - 2 stars
This was an intereseting concept that lacked in execution. The near future world was underdeveloped and the plot and main character's inner thoughts were confusing and disjointed.
Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Cordova & Natalie C. Parker - 4 stars
I loved the world building and set up for the relationship in this story. There are two perspective, both women who met on Instagram, one human, one vampire. The story is much more plot driven that character driven, but it was unpredictable and the characters had super engaging personalities. This is a story of friendship and I really enjoyed that theme.
First Kill by V.E. Schwab - 5 stars
I'm a die hard Schwab fan so please take this review with a grain of salt. I loved it. In this world, vampires are born, and our first main character is a teen vampire. Our second main character is a teen slayer. This story has an awesome twist, so I don't want to say anything more! I just love the way Schwab reveals new information a little at a time but the reader never feels left in the dark.
Seven Nights for Dying by Tessa Gratton - 5 Stars
Damn, what a way to start things off. This ended up being my favorite story in this book. The main character is offered the opportunity of a lifetime and has seven nights to decide if she wants to live forever. Tessa Gratton did an amazing job with characterization - this main character has so much depth and introspection in just a few pages than some books manage or hundreds. The bisexual/mga rep is excellent. The discussions of strong emotions like grief, anger, and compassion are beautiful.
"I said, “Is grief like anger? Will I take it with me?”
Esmael said, “Come here, and I’ll show you, instead, how it’s all just love.”"
Mirrors, Windows & Selfies by Mark Oshiro - 5 Stars
This story is formatted like a blog post, and it worked very well for this story. The main character is a child of vampires, told from a young age that he shouldn't exist and has to be hidden away for his own safety. He writes this anonymous blog as a diary and slowly uncovers secrets his parents are keeping from him, all while desperately trying to see himself - literally, he has never seen a reflection or image of himself. The parallels between vampirism and queerness are pretty obvious, but excellently done. The main character experiences attraction to another boy in the story, but it is not romance focused.
The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton - 3 stars
The lore and worldbuilding of this story are really the standouts. The main character, along with her mother and sisters, have been brought to New Orleans to make their home for the foreseeable future, brought by the firebird of the Turner family. This short story is packed with an inventive world where supernatural beings gather together and Black people are NOT vampires, but Eternals, beings who were turned by slave owners but whose ancestors sent firebirds for protection and guidance. I was not very invested in the plot, and there were too many characters to get a clear picture of everyone in such a short time.
The Boys From Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse - 4 stars
This was definitely the creepiest of the anthology. The main character is lonely, the child of a dying mother and an outcast among peers in his small bigoted town for being Native and gay. A mysterious song summons a group of boys who offer to become his family and take him away, all in exchange for "sharing a meal" (we all know what that means). There's an interesting twist on the 'vampires must be invited in' trope that I loved.
Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy - 2 stars
This is an attempt at a sapphic vampire/ slayer romance that just didn't work for me. The chemistry between the characters wasn't there for me. I did appreciate the fat vampire slayer that's also cheerleading captain and very bossy, but that didn't do enough for me to enjoy it overall.
The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Heilig - 3 stars
This story follows a medical student moonlighting as a grave digger who stumbles upon a ringing bell in a graveyard - someone was buried alive. He digs him up only to be confronted by an ungrateful rich asshole who tries to blackmail him. The main character is a trans man, and there is intentional misgendering in this one so be aware.
In Kind by Kayla Whaley - 3 stars
This is a great confrontation of the typical able bodied, physical "perfection" that is standard in a lot of vampire stories. The main character is a victim of a so-called mercy killing, is saved by a friend, and decides whether to exact revenge. There is quite a bit of ableist language so be aware of that going in.
A Guidebook For The Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed - 4 stars
This was SUCH a fun concept and super well executed. As the title says, this story reads as a guidebook for baby vampires. It is laugh out loud funny with pop culture references and super dry disdain for obnoxious British tourists. There are great references to technology and how it would adapted for modern use by secret groups of people.
Bestiary by Laura Ruby - 2 stars
This was an intereseting concept that lacked in execution. The near future world was underdeveloped and the plot and main character's inner thoughts were confusing and disjointed.
Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Cordova & Natalie C. Parker - 4 stars
I loved the world building and set up for the relationship in this story. There are two perspective, both women who met on Instagram, one human, one vampire. The story is much more plot driven that character driven, but it was unpredictable and the characters had super engaging personalities. This is a story of friendship and I really enjoyed that theme.
First Kill by V.E. Schwab - 5 stars
I'm a die hard Schwab fan so please take this review with a grain of salt. I loved it. In this world, vampires are born, and our first main character is a teen vampire. Our second main character is a teen slayer. This story has an awesome twist, so I don't want to say anything more! I just love the way Schwab reveals new information a little at a time but the reader never feels left in the dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Transphobia, and Blood