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33 reviews for:
Seize the Night: New Tales of Vampiric Terror
John Ajvide Lindqvist, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Scott Smith, John Langan, Lynda Barry, Seanan McGuire, Laird Barron, Rio Youers, Robert Shearman, Tim Lebbon, Charlaine Harris, Dana Cameron, Leigh Perry, David Wellington, Joe McKinney, Christopher Golden, Dan Chaon, Lucy A. Snyder, Gary A. Braunbeck, Brian Keene, Michael Koryta, Kelley Armstrong
3.74 AVERAGE
33 reviews for:
Seize the Night: New Tales of Vampiric Terror
John Ajvide Lindqvist, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Scott Smith, John Langan, Lynda Barry, Seanan McGuire, Laird Barron, Rio Youers, Robert Shearman, Tim Lebbon, Charlaine Harris, Dana Cameron, Leigh Perry, David Wellington, Joe McKinney, Christopher Golden, Dan Chaon, Lucy A. Snyder, Gary A. Braunbeck, Brian Keene, Michael Koryta, Kelley Armstrong
3.74 AVERAGE
All of these stories could have seriously been helped with some editing….excepting one story, these were way too long and meandered like crazy. Because of this most stories lacked tension and terror, which I was promised by the title and the editor’s introduction.
I liked a few, loved none, and the rest were just ok.
Stories I liked:
We Are All Monsters Here by Kelley Armstrong
May the End be Good by Tim Lebbon
Direct Report by Leigh Perry
Last Supper by Brian Keene
What Took You So Long by John Ajvide Lindquist
I liked a few, loved none, and the rest were just ok.
Stories I liked:
We Are All Monsters Here by Kelley Armstrong
May the End be Good by Tim Lebbon
Direct Report by Leigh Perry
Last Supper by Brian Keene
What Took You So Long by John Ajvide Lindquist
Bleak, twisty, fun, ridiculous, original - these vampire short stories run the whole spectrum and was a fun way to be introduced to a bunch of famous and up-and-coming horror, thriller and speculative fiction writers. I'm not sure I was ever actually scared though? The Koryta definately had me on the edge of my seat.
There are so many different styles of vampires and writing in this anthology, I'm sure most people can find a favorite. Hopefully you will discover a new-to-you-author to try out. For me, those that were my favorite authors, were not my favorite stories. The authors I had never tried before ended up being my favorite. Anthologies are the way to go when looking for something new to read.
The vampires in these stories didn't all seem old-school to me as the book description states. They were not all doom and gloom, unattractive and predictable. No, there were some very unpredictable stories, but they were also modern twists on the vampires as well. I was hoping for something truly scary or blood curdling, but the stories seemed to lack the terrifying vampires I was hoping for.
Book Received: For free from publisher in exchange for an honest review
Reviewer: Jessica for Book Sake
The vampires in these stories didn't all seem old-school to me as the book description states. They were not all doom and gloom, unattractive and predictable. No, there were some very unpredictable stories, but they were also modern twists on the vampires as well. I was hoping for something truly scary or blood curdling, but the stories seemed to lack the terrifying vampires I was hoping for.
Book Received: For free from publisher in exchange for an honest review
Reviewer: Jessica for Book Sake
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.
I was told this anthology would bring scary back to the vamp genre, and I was not disappointed. There were only 1 or 2 stories that I was disappointed with -- on the whole, I found this to be a delightfully creepy read, with a few moments sure to haunt your nightmares. Perfect for horror buffs.
I was told this anthology would bring scary back to the vamp genre, and I was not disappointed. There were only 1 or 2 stories that I was disappointed with -- on the whole, I found this to be a delightfully creepy read, with a few moments sure to haunt your nightmares. Perfect for horror buffs.
A mixed bag, but some good stories. I especially liked Seanan McGuire's and Sherrilyn Kenyon's contributions.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Another anthology, another familiar challenge. Do I give this collection a rating based on its best stories or its worse?
This is a good collection. There are no stories that I thought were just awful or tragic, though a few that didn't quite run with the pack. And there were some original ideas in here that, whether or not you like them, you have to feel some sort of awe toward someone who thought it up. There are vampires from cultures I've never seen vampires from, and I was so happy for it. There was Scott Smith - I will read anything that man writes.
So it's a fun collection if you like vampires. Maybe also if you don't, but definitely less.
This is a good collection. There are no stories that I thought were just awful or tragic, though a few that didn't quite run with the pack. And there were some original ideas in here that, whether or not you like them, you have to feel some sort of awe toward someone who thought it up. There are vampires from cultures I've never seen vampires from, and I was so happy for it. There was Scott Smith - I will read anything that man writes.
So it's a fun collection if you like vampires. Maybe also if you don't, but definitely less.
Because eternal life means eternal, whether you live inside a puppet of meat or the materials used to produce the pages of a book. Eternal life means eternal.
I could tell you so many things in this review to attempt to convince you to read this collection.
For starters, I could remind everyone that for what feels like months, I've searched for a decent short story collection. I've stumbled across some great short stories, and some decent-ish collections of 3 stars stories. But the majority have been so massively disappointing as to push me away from collections all together.
I could tell you that this collection knocked me off my feet and flat onto my ass. That some of these stories led to sleeping with the lights on, and contemplating what was lurking behind me in the dark when walking through my house.
I could point out that unlike the Emo Vampire trend of the last decade or so, these stories feature old school vampires. Vampires that hunt and feed and want blood, want to unleash pain. This is William the Bloody, not Soulboy Spike. Angelus, not Angel. Lestat, not Edward fucking Cullen.
I could pin point the lusciously written vampires of so many different worlds and cultures and mythologies. A vampire made up entirely of fireflies. A Manananggal from the Phillipines. And a teacher with just the right touch to calm hyper students.
Tales that read more like The Walking Dead than The Vampire Diaries. Stories of Vampire Kings, of plagues that leave vampires starving and alone and in search of someone, anyone. To feed, or just to talk to. And some tales that actually feature good old slayers.
I could tell you all of this.
Or I could let you know that buried in this volume is a story about a vampire book.
Not a book about vampires.
A book made of paper, like any other book. Paper made from a tree, like any other paper. But a tree planted specifically to cover a spot where ashes were dumped. Ashes that were once venomous, evil creatures that killed men, women and children. Immortal creatures, eternal. Creatures that don't die just because you stake them and torture them and burn them.
What happens when you turn a vampire into a book? What kind of monsters would be interested in a vampire book, and what kind of person would want to stop the books from doing harm?
That story in itself is reason enough for you to go now, immediately, and get your hands on this book.
Received from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I could tell you so many things in this review to attempt to convince you to read this collection.
For starters, I could remind everyone that for what feels like months, I've searched for a decent short story collection. I've stumbled across some great short stories, and some decent-ish collections of 3 stars stories. But the majority have been so massively disappointing as to push me away from collections all together.
I could tell you that this collection knocked me off my feet and flat onto my ass. That some of these stories led to sleeping with the lights on, and contemplating what was lurking behind me in the dark when walking through my house.
I could point out that unlike the Emo Vampire trend of the last decade or so, these stories feature old school vampires. Vampires that hunt and feed and want blood, want to unleash pain. This is William the Bloody, not Soulboy Spike. Angelus, not Angel. Lestat, not Edward fucking Cullen.
I could pin point the lusciously written vampires of so many different worlds and cultures and mythologies. A vampire made up entirely of fireflies. A Manananggal from the Phillipines. And a teacher with just the right touch to calm hyper students.
Tales that read more like The Walking Dead than The Vampire Diaries. Stories of Vampire Kings, of plagues that leave vampires starving and alone and in search of someone, anyone. To feed, or just to talk to. And some tales that actually feature good old slayers.
I could tell you all of this.
Or I could let you know that buried in this volume is a story about a vampire book.
Not a book about vampires.
A book made of paper, like any other book. Paper made from a tree, like any other paper. But a tree planted specifically to cover a spot where ashes were dumped. Ashes that were once venomous, evil creatures that killed men, women and children. Immortal creatures, eternal. Creatures that don't die just because you stake them and torture them and burn them.
What happens when you turn a vampire into a book? What kind of monsters would be interested in a vampire book, and what kind of person would want to stop the books from doing harm?
That story in itself is reason enough for you to go now, immediately, and get your hands on this book.
Received from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
The usual... some stories work, some didn't. The only reason I took so long reading this one was due to reading novels here and there.
Definitely worth a read if you're interested in different takes on what is a "vampire." John Langan's "Shadow and Thirst" tale is a perfect example—more of a vampire of the soul tale. Scott Smith's "Up in Old Vermont" is disturbing because you do not see the end coming. It is a wicked story which makes me doubt my decision to vacation in Vermont this summer.
Michael Kortya's "On the Dark Side of Sunset Basin" disturbed me for many reasons. My partner is a photographer, and she often challenges me in her quest for the perfect shot. This story really gave me the shivers.
As I said, definitely worth a read if you relish your "vampires" as nasty and lethal.
Definitely worth a read if you're interested in different takes on what is a "vampire." John Langan's "Shadow and Thirst" tale is a perfect example—more of a vampire of the soul tale. Scott Smith's "Up in Old Vermont" is disturbing because you do not see the end coming. It is a wicked story which makes me doubt my decision to vacation in Vermont this summer.
Michael Kortya's "On the Dark Side of Sunset Basin" disturbed me for many reasons. My partner is a photographer, and she often challenges me in her quest for the perfect shot. This story really gave me the shivers.
As I said, definitely worth a read if you relish your "vampires" as nasty and lethal.
If you like vampire stories than you may want to check out this anthology. However be warned as these vampires are not "Edward" they don't sparkle and they are killers. Lots of blood will be spilled. This is what I enjoyed about this anthology. It was dark and the stories gritty. Although, it seemed that I liked a little less stories than I would have liked. Therefore, this is the reason for my rating on this collection of stories. Yet, I have to comment and say that I have read many vampire stories and it did seem like I had not read these stories before. There were a couple that did leave me on the fence about my thoughts on them. What I mean by this is that they were good but somewhat out of this world unbelievable. I did not really up any new author fan base with this anthology. The authors' I already liked I enjoyed their stories and the authors' that I had not cared for or thought were only so, so my feelings did not change reading their stories.