Vampires are hot. Vampires with souls; vampires that sparkle; or just the regular kind with the long, mean teeth: people just can’t seem to get enough, and it is on this premise that these three erotic tales are based.
In Laura Baumbach’s first story, “Winner Takes All,” ancient vampire Malcolm Crane seeks out the son of the man he desired but never had, in hopes that perhaps the next generation will be able to satisfy his physical and emotional needs. The second story, Jet Mykles’ “Wolfe’s Recluse,” tells of techno-geek Matt’s loss of his boyfriend, and the new life he finds in the arms of the vampire who stole him away. “The Gift of the Raven,” by Angela Fiddler, details a three-vamp battle to claim the love of a boy named Corbin.
As a whole, the collection is entirely, blandly adequate. The stories are competently told, the sex hot enough to serve its purpose,
which in this case seems to be gay titillation made by, and for, straight women, as it lacks the more primal urgency men create for themselves (though the BDSM element in Fiddler’s story comes closer). Nonetheless, the title offers nothing truly original, nor anything that can’t be found for free on a thousand slash blogs. Libraries should save their money for the next vampire collection, whose publication is as inevitable as sunrise.
Reviewed by, Amanda Clay
Librarian, Lakeview Elementary School
Oklahoma