When Vampires Attack by Matthew J. Gleason

-

When Vampires Attack is Matthew J. Gleason's debut novella and it will definitely leave an impact on you after you finish reading.

The main character is Glenna, a young woman whose life was just upended by her father's sudden transformation into a vampire, tells you her story in a conversational style that lulls you into complacency before attacking you with surprising plot points.

Life has not dealt Glenna the easiest hand. In her short life, she has already faced tragedy and has to deal with being neurodivergent and overweight in a society that isn't kind like it should be. Then one day, her father "goes leech" which is the term used to describe a sudden transformation into a vampire.

"Going leech" is the most interesting part of this book. In this world, vampirism is a gene and those who have it can turn at any moment without warning. There is no specific trigger or anything to predict it. As soon as they turn, the vampires engage in a brutal killing spree until they are either captured or killed. The turning scenes are the scariest part of When Vampires Attack, leaving the reader with some truly chilling images. The scene in Birthday chaos is especially scary.

Glenna is a sympathetic, well-developed character. If anything, she is too hard on herself and I often wanted to just stop her and give her a pep talk. This made me care about her more and I wanted her to find some happiness, especially with all the chaos she has to face.

Suddenly turning into a vampire is the most interesting part for me. In other vampire stories, someone else makes them into a vampire. This could happen at any time, to pretty much anyone. I would have liked to have seen more of the worldbuilding around this concept. Gleason does address this with their prison and other aspects, but I wanted to see more of this and the impact it has had on the world.

Overall, in When Vampires Attack, Gleason gives us a compelling world state, a sympathetic character, good representation, and a story full of surprises.


I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monthly Microfiction - December 2021 - Billy's Special Blanket

-
Billy's Special Blanket       Billy tightened the blanket his mother made him around his head. She promised no monsters could hurt him through his special blanket.    The closet door creaked open and all of the monster’s legs spilled out. It crawled across the floor and up onto the bed. A multitude of legs prodded Billy. The monster roared when it could not breach the blanket’s power.  In fury, the monster flailed about, destroying Billy’s room.   His parents charged down the hall and through the door. Then screamed in terror when the creature attacked.    Billy was safe under the blanket, but his parents were not.       Originally published in Beneath from Ghost Orchid Press on May 5, 2021  
Read more

Monthly Microfiction: Under the Ice

-
 Under the Ice  I came to the lake to rescue my sister. Ice covers its surface and I drop to my knees. Together, we bang against the icy barrier between us as I spout useless apologies. Her angry eyes gut me. I didn’t mean to condemn her to this when I brought her body here. Local legend claimed she would come back on the thirteenth day of winter. It did not mention the ice. With a loud crack, her hands break through. Joy fills me but quickly turns to terror when instead of escaping, she pulls me down under the ice with her.   Originally published in Beneath from Ghost Orchid Press on May 5, 2021
Read more

Review: It Calls from the Veil by Eerie River

-
Image
“Eighteen terrifying tales of what lurks behind the veil.” I’ve now read several collections from Eerie River and even with one theme, they always deliver a wide variety of stories, characters, and chills. In our daily lives, the veil separating us from death seems strong, but in this collection, the curtain is little more than thin gauze and dark creatures have no problems creeping through.   Typically when I review an anthology, I try to pick my favourite three stories to highlight, but there were five stories that really stood out for me.   Little Feet by RB Kelly   Alison, her husband, Ben, and their daughter, Mia visit an isolated cabin for Christmas. Setting this tale in the heart of winter, far from their home, added the element of isolation. When they arrive, little Mia finds a creepy doll and becomes obsessed with it. The doll terrifies Alison and begins to torment the family. Alison has to face her seemingly irrational fears to keep her family safe. I appreciated
Read more