Review: Vampirism And You! by Missouri Dalton

Reviewed by Fehu
Vampirism and You! by Missouri Dalton
Prizm Books
Novel: 199pgs
3.75 Pants Off

Blurb:
Louis’ whole life was planned right to a bite on the neck at his seventeenth birthday. The British native has a whole lot of changes coming his way. There’s the cravings, the urges, the relocation to rural USA…it’s a lot for a teenager to handle. Throw in the possibility that he might not be as straight as he always thought and it’s a tangled mess as Louis tries to navigate his new life as a vampire.

Things aren’t going to be easy though, and his foster-vampire Duncan is determined to make Louis a fine upstanding example of vampirism—or else. Louis has his handbook though to explain well, some things. But not everything.

When a new vampire shows up in town, Louis thinks he’s finally found someone to confide in, except Eli has his own agenda and Louis is about to find out that being a vampire means more than drinking blood and causing mayhem—there are also dirty politics, dark secrets, and a whole lot of reading assignments.

Review:
Let's talk about book chemistry! With some stories I can get into the story from the first sentences and this was the case with this one, though I don't read a lot of vampire stories, Louis's bratty voice drew me in. I liked the references to modern shows and movies, like Twilight and Interview with a Vampire; they were all worked well into the story. So what is the story about?

The first person narrator is Louis, who has been rather less willingly turned into a vampire and now has to move away from his family, that is serving a vampire countess and move in with his new vampire guardian Duncan, to the USA. Now Louis have to learn how to be a proper vampire, there is a guide book (which is pretty funny) and adapt to a new live as a high school student, as if being a vampire wasn't enough of a challenge and his sadistic foster parent makes him participate in a drama club as a punishment, which wouldn't be so bad, if all his new classmates didn't smell like food to poor Louis. While Duncan is out of the house Louis meets Eli, another vampire and his blood brother, bitten by the same countess, who he later finds out is also a psycho killer, who doesn't stop from killing his own or drinking their blood unwillingly, even if that is forbidden. All is not well in the archaic vampire society and Louis and Duncan find out they are in the thick of things, they have strong allies but their enemy is the current Lord Dracula himself, if they want to have their revenge for the people they lost or change things in the vampire society, Louis will have to fight Dracula for his title.

I did mention that I did fall into the story quickly, the characters are well developed and I liked the sarcastic comments or the funny way the vampire guidebook was written (for the most part). The story is not fun and light like it appears in the beginning and it's not all about teenage angst or adapting to a new role/ way of life. There are some serious themes mentioned, like rape of a minor, which happened in the past, and is not graphic but it's still one of the darker parts of the story same as a mass murdering of humans, which is described, so this part of the book might not be for everyone’s taste.

Honestly I liked the first part, which was light-hearted quite a bit more and would have given the book a better rating had it stayed that way. The adventure and intrigue part progressed rather quickly and the arising challenges were solved too fast for my taste, especially after all the build up. I'm giving it more that 3 pants off for engaging characters, making me laugh and an interesting take on a vampire story.

What's Happening This Week!!

Howdy folks, hope you all had a fab week once again? This week for me was a slow one, but I got some things done like registering my little one for school (I can't believe that both my boys will now be in school). Come next week both have separate doctor appointments, so its gonna be busy, busy. There's also much to come for this week on the blog also.

I am gearing up to do my first theme week in April, which will be all about the Geeks *squee*. I love me some sexy nerds and can't wait to spend an entire week on their awesome. So look forward to an official post about dates and what to expect. I am very excited!!!

Here's what’s causing a pants losing this week...


Reviews:
Until It's Time To Go by Connie Bailey
Plan B by SJD Peterson
Vampirism & You by Missouri Dalton (Fehu)
Poacher's Fall by JL Merrow (Fehu)
Caribbean Blues by Ari McKay
Caller's Secret by Charlie Piersol

Guest Posts & Giveaway:
Angelia Sparrow (blog tour)
Excerpt & Giveaway with Chris T. Kat (Too Good To Be True?)

~Have A Great Week!~

Review: Bittersweet by Dallas Coleman

Bittersweet by Dallas Coleman
Prizm Books
Novella: 140pgs
3.75 Pants Off

Blurb:
Twins Marcus and Micah have moved all over the country, trying to find a place to run their favorite business. They love their coffee shop, but there's always something, some sort of malevolent presence always ruins it for them. They don't know who or what it is that haunts them, only that they can't seem to escape it.

This time, though, they may have found just the right place to help them exorcise what ails them. Their new hometown has Spook, who has a pregnant friend, a demon belt buckle, and a way with spirits, as well as a host of other folks who are ready to take Marcus and Micah's problem on. Things get complicated quickly, and nothing is what it seems in this fast-paced urban fantasy.


Review:
In an odd way, I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, sad, and filled with many unique qualities. Yet, there was missing; the length for one is an issue with so much going on. I wanted more, and for the life of me how is this categorized as YA.

Twin Marcus and Micah have been running from something. They don't know what to call it but they know it has been creating problems for their business. They have had to move a few times and almost every time it never works out. Now they have a new coffee shop, but something still is not right. In comes Spook a Goth looking kid sent by his boss to check out what’s happening in the coffee. He's making the twin nervous and shit all but hits fan when witch Moira arrives, and in comes a talking gigantic bird. Suddenly what was supposed to be a quick job turns into utter disaster with a dead body.

Alright, there is so much interesting things going on in this story but it wasn't fleshed out properly. Too many viewpoints made it jumbled, and all the characters that just popped out of nowhere made it even messier. The reader will have to spend a serious amount of time trying to figure out what's happening and who's who. Mostly I spent all my time going "WHY?" and did all that crazy really needed to happen.

There is no romance, but most of the characters seem to have some romantic entanglements. Which means there is a story for each of the characters (it’s just not written into the story) usually something like that wouldn’t bother me but there was so much, I sorta needed their back-story. I felt like fish out of water flapping around and trying to make sense but in the end succumbing to being on land (wow look at me).

Should You Read It? There is so much to like in this story, and yes it is quite different. However, the level of activity going on required a lot more pages and a tighter plot. Yet, I found it interesting and enjoyed it cus I gobbled it up in about an hour and a half. I wouldn't mind a bit more from this world. The title surely is fitting too!