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albsbooks_'s review
dark
funny
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Favourite stories where:
The Boys from Blood River
A guidebook for the newly sired desi vampire
Mirrors, windows & selfies
First kill.
In Kind (as someone disabled really loved this one!)
While none of the stories were bad, (none I'd rate lower than 2.5 stars) they were either confusing or forgettable for me. The editors notes also annoyed me at times when it felt as if they had nothing interesting to say about how the story played into vampire tropes and the rhetorical questions at the end.
The Boys from Blood River
A guidebook for the newly sired desi vampire
Mirrors, windows & selfies
First kill.
In Kind (as someone disabled really loved this one!)
While none of the stories were bad, (none I'd rate lower than 2.5 stars) they were either confusing or forgettable for me. The editors notes also annoyed me at times when it felt as if they had nothing interesting to say about how the story played into vampire tropes and the rhetorical questions at the end.
geegee_02's review
5.0
My favourite stories were The House of Black Sapphires and A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire! They were really fun to read and both tackled the issue of race in interesting ways. Also after reading this book, renew First Kill for season two!
dreaming_ace's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun collection of vampire stories. I will say I loved the little Vampire Mythology lessons by Zoraida and Natalie after each story which helped highlight how each story was revisioning what it means to be a vampire.
lilaezz's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5/5
My top 3 favorite short stories:
3. The Boys From Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse (4/5)
2. Mirrors, Windows and Selfies by Mark Oshiro (4.5/5)
1. First Kill by V.E. Schwab (5/5)
My top 3 favorite short stories:
3. The Boys From Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse (4/5)
2. Mirrors, Windows and Selfies by Mark Oshiro (4.5/5)
1. First Kill by V.E. Schwab (5/5)
sydneykaye's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
gspear's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
countlessshenanigans's review
3.0
2.5
Sadly not nearly as interesting as I was hoping. I picked it up for my Vampires Uni class final essay hoping to find a story that had POC, queer, or disability representation. As I thought the vehicle of Vampires would be particularly potent. (And to escape the overwhelmingly straight/white literature I’ve seen revolving around Vampires— when mythos has them as a literal representation of those pushed to the borders of society with incredibly heavy queer undertones.)
Anyways, I was pretty underwhelmed. Didn’t feel like any of the stories used the Vampire to it’s fullest.
The boys from the blood river be Rebecca Roanhorse - ★ ★
Loved the start! It was so eerie. Loved the Haunted jukebox. Loved the main character— both queer and native— and how he wanted to escape his little close minded town. The first half was perfect. The second half didn’t live up to the spooky atmosphere with its morally gray cowboy vampires… yeah.
In Kind by Kayla Whaley - ★ ★
I loved the idea of disability and Vampires! I also loved how the MC doesn’t loose her disability when she’s a vampire— which we see A LOT. Didn’t land perfectly for me though. Can’t say exactly why
A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire - ★ ★ ★ ★
This was SO FUN. Title explains the premise very well. I loved how quirky it was. A fun read while also talking about the harms of colonialism. Loved.
First Kill by V.E Schwab - ★
This is what I picked up the book for. I actually really like V.E Schwab but I did not like this short story. The writing really grated on me. I was really not a fan of how she wrote the MC’s love interest— Calliope— who was black. In my opinion it was not very well done so felt quite jarring, which was upsetting because I was very excited for a vampire romance with diverse voices. I wish she had reached out to more sensitivity readers or gotten a co-writer to help.The writing was fairly slow too. Oh well.
Sadly not nearly as interesting as I was hoping. I picked it up for my Vampires Uni class final essay hoping to find a story that had POC, queer, or disability representation. As I thought the vehicle of Vampires would be particularly potent. (And to escape the overwhelmingly straight/white literature I’ve seen revolving around Vampires— when mythos has them as a literal representation of those pushed to the borders of society with incredibly heavy queer undertones.)
Anyways, I was pretty underwhelmed. Didn’t feel like any of the stories used the Vampire to it’s fullest.
The boys from the blood river be Rebecca Roanhorse - ★ ★
Loved the start! It was so eerie. Loved the Haunted jukebox. Loved the main character— both queer and native— and how he wanted to escape his little close minded town. The first half was perfect. The second half didn’t live up to the spooky atmosphere with its morally gray cowboy vampires… yeah.
In Kind by Kayla Whaley - ★ ★
I loved the idea of disability and Vampires! I also loved how the MC doesn’t loose her disability when she’s a vampire— which we see A LOT. Didn’t land perfectly for me though. Can’t say exactly why
A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire - ★ ★ ★ ★
This was SO FUN. Title explains the premise very well. I loved how quirky it was. A fun read while also talking about the harms of colonialism. Loved.
First Kill by V.E Schwab - ★
This is what I picked up the book for. I actually really like V.E Schwab but I did not like this short story. The writing really grated on me. I was really not a fan of how she wrote the MC’s love interest— Calliope— who was black. In my opinion it was not very well done so felt quite jarring, which was upsetting because I was very excited for a vampire romance with diverse voices. I wish she had reached out to more sensitivity readers or gotten a co-writer to help.The writing was fairly slow too. Oh well.
msrcreation's review against another edition
5.0
I have finally read the whole anthology! Here's my thoughts for each story but overall I really loved this book which is a rare one for me since I struggle to like short story collection.
-Seven Nights for Dying - 3 stars
This was an interesting start. I like the exploring of why you would want or not want to become a vampire. Relationships seem interesting if they got more time. Not bad but by the end of the book I kind of forgot about it.
-The Boys From Blood River - 5 Stars
I loved this one. It gave me Near Dark vibes for some reason and I loved it. I like the use of the song and liked the main character. The vampires were great and I would easily read a whole book for this story.
-Senior Year Sucks - 5 Stars
This had a slow start but once it got going I adored it. I could see a full novel of this hate to love sapphic vampire/slayer romance and I would buy it instantly. I will always enjoy a vampire and slayer learning to understand each other and a relationship growing between them.
-The Boy and The Bell - 3 Stars
This went a completely different direction than I was expecting which I really enjoyed. A violent end and the use of the bells were great. Another slow start that ends well. But I will say it was one I forgot about by the end of the book again.
-A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire - 3 Stars
This one was super unique. Being a guide book for a new vampire was wonderful and it was hilarious to read. It didn't blow me away but I still really enjoyed it.
-In Kind - 5 Stars
I think this was a lot of peoples favorite from some of the reviews I read and it's for good reason. This is so good! It's dark and sad. Watching her struggle was heartbreaking but really feels good as a conclusion. I also truly loved the conversations on chronic illnesses and disabilities. Wonderful story from start to finish. It's one that works so perfectly as a short story but is also something I would read hundreds of pages about.
-Vampires Never Say Die - 3 Stars
A bit disappointed in this one. I think I expected it to be gay the entire time and was just so let down that it wasn't. I liked it just not as much as others.
-Bestiary - 2 Stars
Was a bit bored with this story. It's sad because I really love the idea with her connections with animals. That was interesting but the story as a whole didn't really do anything for me. I wanted more from it.
-Mirrors, Windows, & Selfies - 2 Stars
What a let down. It mainly came down to the end that ruined this one. It is such a build up with his parents and the other vampires and all these questions. And you never get any answers which just makes it fall flat.
-The House of Black Sapphires - 2 Stars
These last few stories weren't great and this one was unfortunately the same. The ending really just ends. It's so quick a cut off. Maybe this one really needed a full book I'm not sure but not one of my favorites.
-First Kill I actually read back in June 2022 so here is my review from then-
5 Stars
It’s just too short! I know it’s a short story and it’s such a well done short story but I could easily see this being an entire series and I would love every second. I do plan on reading the rest of the anthology this is a part of but wanted to get through this one before the show. I’m about half way through the show and loving it. But it just solidifies my thought that this could be a great book series.
-Seven Nights for Dying - 3 stars
This was an interesting start. I like the exploring of why you would want or not want to become a vampire. Relationships seem interesting if they got more time. Not bad but by the end of the book I kind of forgot about it.
-The Boys From Blood River - 5 Stars
I loved this one. It gave me Near Dark vibes for some reason and I loved it. I like the use of the song and liked the main character. The vampires were great and I would easily read a whole book for this story.
-Senior Year Sucks - 5 Stars
This had a slow start but once it got going I adored it. I could see a full novel of this hate to love sapphic vampire/slayer romance and I would buy it instantly. I will always enjoy a vampire and slayer learning to understand each other and a relationship growing between them.
-The Boy and The Bell - 3 Stars
This went a completely different direction than I was expecting which I really enjoyed. A violent end and the use of the bells were great. Another slow start that ends well. But I will say it was one I forgot about by the end of the book again.
-A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire - 3 Stars
This one was super unique. Being a guide book for a new vampire was wonderful and it was hilarious to read. It didn't blow me away but I still really enjoyed it.
-In Kind - 5 Stars
I think this was a lot of peoples favorite from some of the reviews I read and it's for good reason. This is so good! It's dark and sad. Watching her struggle was heartbreaking but really feels good as a conclusion. I also truly loved the conversations on chronic illnesses and disabilities. Wonderful story from start to finish. It's one that works so perfectly as a short story but is also something I would read hundreds of pages about.
-Vampires Never Say Die - 3 Stars
A bit disappointed in this one. I think I expected it to be gay the entire time and was just so let down that it wasn't. I liked it just not as much as others.
-Bestiary - 2 Stars
Was a bit bored with this story. It's sad because I really love the idea with her connections with animals. That was interesting but the story as a whole didn't really do anything for me. I wanted more from it.
-Mirrors, Windows, & Selfies - 2 Stars
What a let down. It mainly came down to the end that ruined this one. It is such a build up with his parents and the other vampires and all these questions. And you never get any answers which just makes it fall flat.
-The House of Black Sapphires - 2 Stars
These last few stories weren't great and this one was unfortunately the same. The ending really just ends. It's so quick a cut off. Maybe this one really needed a full book I'm not sure but not one of my favorites.
-First Kill I actually read back in June 2022 so here is my review from then-
5 Stars
It’s just too short! I know it’s a short story and it’s such a well done short story but I could easily see this being an entire series and I would love every second. I do plan on reading the rest of the anthology this is a part of but wanted to get through this one before the show. I’m about half way through the show and loving it. But it just solidifies my thought that this could be a great book series.