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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
I love the concept of the different kinds of vampires and vampire hunters stretching across centuries! My favorites were "No Mirrors," "Bloodthirsty," "The White Hunger," "Attrition," "Sweet Sister," and "Cape Canaveral."
Vampire Hunters: An Incomplete Record of Personal Accounts from Speculation Publications has a variety of horror authors’ contributions. All of these stories are varied with homages to famous vampires and historical accounts. I especially liked the contributions from Gwendolyn Kiste and TT Madden. This is a unique anthology as it reads as records and letters. This title was not on my radar through social media, but was glad to come across this unique take on vampire stories.
Thank you to Speculation Publications and NetGalley for the digital ARC for an honest review.
Thank you to Speculation Publications and NetGalley for the digital ARC for an honest review.
Let me start by saying I understand that so far, I am in the minority, but hear me out.
I like the concept, love love love an anthology, but I just didn't like this book.
I think some of my dislike lies in the vampire topic. It is so over done! I know more about vampires than any other mythological creature, fantasy creature, cryptid, folkloric creature... you get my point. I also acknowledge that some of my distaste for how certain chapters were handled affected my overall opinion of the book.
Case in point- Edgar Allan Poe. I adore his works, and am well acquainted with his history. What is not appreciated, is to accuse or imply that someone (who is not here to defend themselves) has committed a crime (that has not basis in the real world), or try to make someone's mental illness seem more like a personality choice. Poe was a deeply troubled man, who did not live a fancy and happy life. He was a poor poet, who only had a couple of well known pieces during his lifetime. He dearly loved his wife Virginia (regardless of any feelings about the nature of said relationship). I would have 100% been on board with pointing to his poems and trying to find vampiric meaning, or saying he was in fact a vampire hunter himself and maybe that is why Virginia died. But instead that story rewrites history and paints Poe as a vain monster, who killed his own wife. I take a serious issue with that.
Ichabod Crane was a strange choice, but I much prefer that than trampling on someone's memory. I would have much preferred the authors taking one of two routes: 1) Using completely fictional characters and turning them into vampires or hunters- Ichabod Crane or Van Helsing as are present in this book. or 2) Using real historical accounts/fictionalized stories from those times, and just writing as though we are getting a first hand account of the actual events- Vlad the Impaler, or even Bram Stokers version of Dracula.
The other issue I take is the inconsistency of the vampires. Throughout history the way vampires look is very standard, it is how they act or their weakness/powers that differ. In this book there are normal vampires, bat vampires, tentacle monster vampires. It is far too much. Throughout the world vampires look the same, so reading about these "real life accounts" but the vampires just aren't actually vampires is boring.
I don't understand how this is a horror, other than because vampires are present. I thought it was interesting, and I love the concept, I am just deeply unhappy with the execution. I would not personally recommend this book.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I like the concept, love love love an anthology, but I just didn't like this book.
I think some of my dislike lies in the vampire topic. It is so over done! I know more about vampires than any other mythological creature, fantasy creature, cryptid, folkloric creature... you get my point. I also acknowledge that some of my distaste for how certain chapters were handled affected my overall opinion of the book.
Case in point- Edgar Allan Poe. I adore his works, and am well acquainted with his history. What is not appreciated, is to accuse or imply that someone (who is not here to defend themselves) has committed a crime (that has not basis in the real world), or try to make someone's mental illness seem more like a personality choice. Poe was a deeply troubled man, who did not live a fancy and happy life. He was a poor poet, who only had a couple of well known pieces during his lifetime. He dearly loved his wife Virginia (regardless of any feelings about the nature of said relationship). I would have 100% been on board with pointing to his poems and trying to find vampiric meaning, or saying he was in fact a vampire hunter himself and maybe that is why Virginia died. But instead that story rewrites history and paints Poe as a vain monster, who killed his own wife. I take a serious issue with that.
Ichabod Crane was a strange choice, but I much prefer that than trampling on someone's memory. I would have much preferred the authors taking one of two routes: 1) Using completely fictional characters and turning them into vampires or hunters- Ichabod Crane or Van Helsing as are present in this book. or 2) Using real historical accounts/fictionalized stories from those times, and just writing as though we are getting a first hand account of the actual events- Vlad the Impaler, or even Bram Stokers version of Dracula.
The other issue I take is the inconsistency of the vampires. Throughout history the way vampires look is very standard, it is how they act or their weakness/powers that differ. In this book there are normal vampires, bat vampires, tentacle monster vampires. It is far too much. Throughout the world vampires look the same, so reading about these "real life accounts" but the vampires just aren't actually vampires is boring.
I don't understand how this is a horror, other than because vampires are present. I thought it was interesting, and I love the concept, I am just deeply unhappy with the execution. I would not personally recommend this book.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I first started this book, I was a bit worried about the format. Many people LOVE the epistolary format, but it’s not my favorite. In addition, I’m not a huge historical fiction fan and feel a little lost or disconnected the further back things go. However, very quickly that worry was dissolved. The format is done well, with some pictures thrown in and a very clear break between entry within one writer and between the writers themselves.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is how grim it is. I’ve read a few ‘dark’ books or creature books that shy from being too gory, but this is vampires - you have to give us the harsh reality. There’s also a vast variety of stories, both in time and location. My favorites were Saint Orianne, A Drink of Death, No Mirrors (Angel of Death), All the Devils at Once, and Party Time at 413 Dallyn Road (I was SO glad we got to see someone through the change from human to vampire). The last entry set in the year 2025 was also a favorite, bringing the collection all the way to present day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Speculation Publications for the advance review copy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fantastic short story collection about vampire hunters in different time periods and cultures. I really enjoyed how creative this was with so many different takes on vampire mythology. My absolute favourites were "The Strix", "Saint Orianne", "Sick", and "19 Nights in Kiribati". I also really enjoyed the mixed media aspect with the photographs and drawings, which brought the stories even more to life.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This anthology is an epistolary collection of accounts from vampire hunters throughout the ages. There are some truly unique stories in here, taking place in times and locations I never thought of vampire stories taking place. The first story takes place during the Trojan War, and I was absolutely hooked from that point on.
Like all anthologies, some stories are stronger than others; but even when I didn’t care for a setting or narrator, it still felt worth reading. Speculation Publications should be very proud of this anthology.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I am also considering buying copies of this for my friends, so I have someone to gush about it with.
Like all anthologies, some stories are stronger than others; but even when I didn’t care for a setting or narrator, it still felt worth reading. Speculation Publications should be very proud of this anthology.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I am also considering buying copies of this for my friends, so I have someone to gush about it with.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I've read a lot of anthologies, but none has gripped me quite like this one did. I adore the framing of the book: as a collection of information curated and passed down between family through the centuries.
It created a strong world that grew and developed throughout the book. The chronology means you see vampires develop from their original form into different species and subtypes. You also see how hunters develop over time, and how technology has an effect on both sides.
There's a wide variety of perspectives and characters throughout. Some are sympathetic and tragic, others you root for. It creates a nice mix and I found each story snapped my attention up.
The stories themselves are written in the form of 'found footage', which also develops through the years. It creates an intimate perspective which also bolsters the characters - the good and the bad. The story also doesn't handhold the reader, with many of the stories left open-ended and the character we're following not always being the hero.
I really enjoyed reading this, and will look out for other anthologies released by this publisher!
It created a strong world that grew and developed throughout the book. The chronology means you see vampires develop from their original form into different species and subtypes. You also see how hunters develop over time, and how technology has an effect on both sides.
There's a wide variety of perspectives and characters throughout. Some are sympathetic and tragic, others you root for. It creates a nice mix and I found each story snapped my attention up.
The stories themselves are written in the form of 'found footage', which also develops through the years. It creates an intimate perspective which also bolsters the characters - the good and the bad. The story also doesn't handhold the reader, with many of the stories left open-ended and the character we're following not always being the hero.
I really enjoyed reading this, and will look out for other anthologies released by this publisher!
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Honestly, one of the best vampire stories that I've read in a while. I enjoyed how the stories all melted together to form a kind of cohesive web. My personal favorite was the final story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Trafficking, Alcohol, War
Moderate: Antisemitism
Honestly, almost every content warning is here.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I really liked the setup of the book. Decades of vampire hunters and the ones that they hunt through journal entries and transcripts. Every chapter being written by a different author makes for an interesting read. The variety in writing styles and story settings are so much fun.
My favorites among them(in no particular order) are:
Saint Orianne
A Drink of Death
The White Hunger
Sweet Sister
Sick
Thank you Net Galley for the eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Torture
Moderate: Violence, Blood
Minor: Animal death, Racism, Murder, War