The Vampire Book of the Month Club

December 15, 2015
A 17-year-old author of vampire pulp finds herself starring in real-life vampire pulp. Since the first adventure of vampire hunter Scarlet Stain went bestseller, Nora's been living the dream. Far from the trailer park where she grew up with her single mother, Nora's at boarding school in Beverly Hills, surrounded by the high school glitterati. Roommate and BFF Abby's a B-movie actress, and luscious best boy pal Wyatt's a model. A book signing heats up when a smoldering, chocolate-eyed stranger appears among the blathering goth fans; seductive Reece Rothchild attempts to beguile her with his vampiric wiles, though Nora displays sensible distaste. But alas, Reece is an evil vampire, and he'll happily use Abby and Wyatt as weapons. The friends are more props than believable characters (readers' introduction to Abby focuses on her "long, coltish legs" and "the bottom of her perfect butt poking out from under her nightshirt" followed by an honest-to-goodness dorm-room pillow fight--perhaps the B-movies are coming true just like the vampire pulp). Still, the rapid-paced prose (one-sentence paragraphs abound) moves fans of the undead quickly though this thin but entertaining offering. Here's hoping the profoundly unkind depiction of vamplit fans (Nora's "vannabe" readers are bedecked in "outdated frills" and give themselves names like Countess Cruella) won't insult the very readers who might enjoy the gory vamp silliness. (Horror. 13-17)

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January 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-In the vein of Fischer's "Living Dead Love Story" series (Medallion), this campy offering introduces teen author Nora Falcon, a Beverly Hills prep school student with a best-selling "fang fiction" series that attracts the attention of a manipulative young vampire, Reece. With a suitably diabolical agenda, Reece is determined to help Nora past her writer's block by threatening all she holds dear. Supporting players Abby, Bianca, and Wyatt bring the bestie, mean-girl, and boy drama familiar to teens and serve as pawns for Reece. However, like Nora and Reece, they never surpass stock characterization. The plot and pacing is reminiscent of the horror/comedy meld of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, only the dialogue doesn't have the same sassy insight but instead relies on cliches and dated slang (hunk, rump, duds, etc.). The obsessive fandom, with its tenuous grip on reality, rings true, and Fischer gets points for a cheeky meta moment, in which he pokes fun at the genre's popularity. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries still catering to the "vannabes" or those looking for a tongue-in-cheek option for reluctant readers, where the white glare of a laptop screen can be weaponized to battle the rodent-eating undead.-Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ

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