I was on vacation recently and strolling through the fantasy section of a book store looking for a beach read. I happened across Bite, one in a series of anthologies of short stories by Laurell K. Hamilton, Charleen Harris, Mary Janice Davidson, and Angela Knight.
The first story in this book is "The Girl Who Was Infatuated with Death" by Laurell K. Hamilton. It is noted that this short story is set in a time between Hamilton’s books Blue Moon and Obsidian Butterfly. I enjoyed this nostalgic trip backwards in Anita’s relationship with Jean-Claude, when the tension was still thick and the passion still new. The romance lies in the background of this short piece, both thrilling and aggravating Anita as she works to solve the mystery at hand. It is a must-read for any hardcore Hamilton fan, and for anyone who enjoys the vampire genre.
The next story, "One Word Answers" by Charleen Harris, was disappointing. Harris is a new author for me to read, and while the story was entertaining, it paled in quality to the other authors in this anthology. As I read it, it appeared to me it was pulled out of a longer piece omitting important information that would have made the story more interesting to the reader.
The anthology continues with "Biting in Plain Sight" by Mary Janice Davidson, another new author for me and one I will seek out in the future. The book chronicles the story of a woman veterinarian, who happens to be a vampire, in a small community. In a refreshing twist, she is a valued and protected member of the small town and is accompanied by a local man, who is head over heals infatuated with the woman, as she takes important information about a serial murder to the vampires in charge. The story has plenty of romance along with action is a very enjoyable read.
Article comments
1 - Nicolette Rivers
If you like that, you'll like: Cravings
2 - Connie
Thanks, Nicolette,
I actually just ordered that today.
3 - Nicolette Rivers
The best one in Cravings (IMO) was the MaryJanice Davidson one: Dead Girls Don't Dance.
I'll definitely get a copy of Bite...Vampire Vet is my type of story.
4 - Connie
Thanks for the tip. Biting in Plain Sight was the first MaryJanice Davidson story I had read, and I was quite impressed with her work.
I think you will like the stories in Bite as well.
5 - DrPat
I got hooked on vampire tales by my daughters, who simply couldn't get enough of them when they were teens. My favorite for my own reading is Poppy Brite's Love in Vein series.
6 - Connie
Thanks, Dr. Pat, Love in Vein sounds just like my type of read. I'll have to look it up.
7 - boldergeizd
Anne Rice's vampire books impressed me more than any other vampire story ever did before and after reading them in '93 or so.
Way beyond just another beach read.
boldergeizd
8 - Connie
You know, I've never got around to reading Anne Rice. I only really started the vampire genre about 18 months ago with the Laurell K Hamilton series and have branching out to other authors from there, as well as working on my own vamp novel this year. She is definately on my must read list though.
Thanks for the input, blodergeizd.
9 - Nicolette Rivers
Ann Rice is talented, but she tends to really repeat herself. LOL, can we acknowledge she was the real person to invent metrosexuals?
I think she deserves a lot of credit for being one of those people that, if you write vampire fic, you have to know that she opened a lot of doors, and added much to the style and feel of the genre.
10 - Connie
Nicolette,
As I mentioned I haven't read her work yet. Of course I've seen Interview with a Vampire, so I get the gist of her realm. I really do plan to read at least some of it, if I can squeeze some time away from my own writing.
Thanks for your input. I've enjoyed reading everyone's comments so much.
11 - Sarah
Connie, I sincerely recommend that you give Charlaine Harris another try. Her Sookie Stackhouse "Southern Vampire" series is really wonderful.
I haven't read this particular short story and it's not unlikely it was in fact pulled from a longer piece, as I've read that it sets up the sixth and latest Sookie novel, which is sitting on my shelf begging to be opened.
In any event, don't write off these excellent books on the basis of one half-baked short story, because you'll be missing a treat.
12 - Connie Phillips
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for that information. I think I will give her another chance. I have gone on to read more of the other authors from this anthology and have enjoyed all their work.
13 - chrissie
My favourite vampire books include Diaries of the family Dracul, especially Children of the vampire and Lord of the vampires, and Dracula in London. I think Anne Rice writes stylish but dull books.