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A review by kandicez
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
4.0
This book was fun. It wasn't a smashing good time, but absolutely fun. Jinks has a new take on Vampires. Not only are they not indestructibly beautiful, sexy and dangerous, they are positively pitiably weak and the absolute opposite of dangerous.
Jinks' vamps are infected with the vamp virus. This results in their literally puking up their guts and becoming unable to digest anything but blood. They bleed from their bodily orifices if exposed to too bright an artificial light, and many other weakly "issues". These vamps are reformed so don't ingest human blood. Instead they take "supplements" so that the blood if guinea pigs is enough to sustain them. As a result they often feel nauseated, are pretty weak, and all in all a fairly unsatisfied bunch. They meet on Tuesday nights to "support each other" much in the way drunks meet at AA. Sorry, reformed drunks, or alcoholics.
The story is told from the POV of Nina. Nina was 15 when she was given the virus in 1971 and has been living under her mother's protection ever since. Included in the group is a ex-nun, an old biddy, a seedy old guy, a vamp who relishes his disease and so dresses and acts the part, and Dave. Dave is another "teen" who also happens to have been a rocker. There's a bit of a "love" angle there, but it very much takes the back seat to the plot.
The vamps are protected and helped by Father Ramon. He is not a vamp and so, like Nina's mother, can watch over them during the day when they become, literally, dead. These vamps don't just rest, sleep or hide from daylight. They are completely out of commission from dawn until dusk.
The story really begins with the slaying of one of the group and the other members searching for the slayer. Along the way they discover weres and other "bad guys", some of whom become good guys. Like I said, fun stuff!
Jinks' vamps are infected with the vamp virus. This results in their literally puking up their guts and becoming unable to digest anything but blood. They bleed from their bodily orifices if exposed to too bright an artificial light, and many other weakly "issues". These vamps are reformed so don't ingest human blood. Instead they take "supplements" so that the blood if guinea pigs is enough to sustain them. As a result they often feel nauseated, are pretty weak, and all in all a fairly unsatisfied bunch. They meet on Tuesday nights to "support each other" much in the way drunks meet at AA. Sorry, reformed drunks, or alcoholics.
The story is told from the POV of Nina. Nina was 15 when she was given the virus in 1971 and has been living under her mother's protection ever since. Included in the group is a ex-nun, an old biddy, a seedy old guy, a vamp who relishes his disease and so dresses and acts the part, and Dave. Dave is another "teen" who also happens to have been a rocker. There's a bit of a "love" angle there, but it very much takes the back seat to the plot.
The vamps are protected and helped by Father Ramon. He is not a vamp and so, like Nina's mother, can watch over them during the day when they become, literally, dead. These vamps don't just rest, sleep or hide from daylight. They are completely out of commission from dawn until dusk.
The story really begins with the slaying of one of the group and the other members searching for the slayer. Along the way they discover weres and other "bad guys", some of whom become good guys. Like I said, fun stuff!