Review of It's Hard to Be a Vampire
-
Gayatri Tripathi
- Posts: 413
- Joined: 05 Jul 2023, 10:10
- Favorite Book: E M P Honeymoon
- Currently Reading: Neither Safe Nor Effective (2nd Edition)
- Bookshelf Size: 33
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gayatri-tripathi.html
- Latest Review: It's Hard to Be a Vampire by Viktoria Faust
Review of It's Hard to Be a Vampire
[Following is a volunteer review of "It's Hard to Be a Vampire" by Viktoria Faust.]
It's Hard to Be a Vampire by Viktoria Faust is a collection of nine horror stories, each one different in tone and impact. Some pulled me in, while others did not quite land. Overall, it is an intriguing collection.
The first story, sharing the book's name, is the most humorous, though it is still dark. It tells the story of a woman who changes her body for an unusual goal. The sadistic tone fits nicely with the horror vibe of the book.
The second story, Gallery of Horrors, was the highlight for me. The story is about a painter who uses unorthodox methods to create art. The internal monologue, along with the dark undertones, makes the narrative a masterclass in horror. I would recommend the book for this story alone.
The third story, The Painting Strikes Back, continues the previous story but adds a layer of fantasy. It lost a bit of the gritty realism that made the first part so strong. However, it stands on its own as a decent read with a more tragic tone.
The fourth story, Do Vampires Dream of Slaughtered Sheep?, is one of the more traditional horror tales. It follows a vampire hunter and offers the familiar thrills one would expect. It is not groundbreaking, but still enjoyable.
The fifth story, Narcissus, was short and mysterious, maybe too much. I could not grasp what motivated the characters, but the tone worked strangely.
The sixth story, Quietly They Rise From The Fog, is where the collection shines again. It effectively uses the fear of the unknown, relying on vagueness to create unease, something that not all stories in the book are able to do.
The seventh and eighth stories, Behind the Door and The Invisible Ink, did not do much for me. They felt flat and lacked the punch the others had. I would not even consider them horror stories.
Thankfully, the final story, That Bloody Useless Bloodless Body!, ended things on a high note. It is written more clearly than the rest and feels like a classic horror tale about a writer and an unsettling fan.
Overall, I found this book to be a fun read. The only problem I had with the book was the quality of writing. The text is vague and does not give enough context for the events of the stories. Some stories are enhanced by not knowing the full context, but others are worse off because of a lack of explanation. I feel like Narcissus, Behind the Door, and The Invisible Ink would benefit from added context for the stories. Considering all the above points, I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dark horror stories and can look past issues with the writing.
******
It's Hard to Be a Vampire
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
It's Hard to Be a Vampire by Viktoria Faust is a collection of nine horror stories, each one different in tone and impact. Some pulled me in, while others did not quite land. Overall, it is an intriguing collection.
The first story, sharing the book's name, is the most humorous, though it is still dark. It tells the story of a woman who changes her body for an unusual goal. The sadistic tone fits nicely with the horror vibe of the book.
The second story, Gallery of Horrors, was the highlight for me. The story is about a painter who uses unorthodox methods to create art. The internal monologue, along with the dark undertones, makes the narrative a masterclass in horror. I would recommend the book for this story alone.
The third story, The Painting Strikes Back, continues the previous story but adds a layer of fantasy. It lost a bit of the gritty realism that made the first part so strong. However, it stands on its own as a decent read with a more tragic tone.
The fourth story, Do Vampires Dream of Slaughtered Sheep?, is one of the more traditional horror tales. It follows a vampire hunter and offers the familiar thrills one would expect. It is not groundbreaking, but still enjoyable.
The fifth story, Narcissus, was short and mysterious, maybe too much. I could not grasp what motivated the characters, but the tone worked strangely.
The sixth story, Quietly They Rise From The Fog, is where the collection shines again. It effectively uses the fear of the unknown, relying on vagueness to create unease, something that not all stories in the book are able to do.
The seventh and eighth stories, Behind the Door and The Invisible Ink, did not do much for me. They felt flat and lacked the punch the others had. I would not even consider them horror stories.
Thankfully, the final story, That Bloody Useless Bloodless Body!, ended things on a high note. It is written more clearly than the rest and feels like a classic horror tale about a writer and an unsettling fan.
Overall, I found this book to be a fun read. The only problem I had with the book was the quality of writing. The text is vague and does not give enough context for the events of the stories. Some stories are enhanced by not knowing the full context, but others are worse off because of a lack of explanation. I feel like Narcissus, Behind the Door, and The Invisible Ink would benefit from added context for the stories. Considering all the above points, I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dark horror stories and can look past issues with the writing.
******
It's Hard to Be a Vampire
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: It's Hard to Be a Vampire by Viktoria Faust
