Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Review: Blood & Love and Other Vampire Tales

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Blood & Love and Other Vampire Tales
Rhiannon Frater
Release date: March 7th, 2012

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Award-winning author Rhiannon Frater delves deep into the vampire mythos in her new short story collection featuring the beautiful, but deadly undead.
Spanning a hundred years and a diverse cast of characters, Rhiannon explores the themes of loneliness, revenge, blood and love in seven tales.
How far will the bloodthirsty vampires go to find love, revenge, and family? Discover the truth in Love & Blood and Other Vampire Tales.
*A copy was provided by Rhiannon Frater for review purposes*

Eeeeh, vampires à la Rhiannon Frater? Yes please!

This vampire anthology gives us vampiric tales from the vengeful to the romantic. Divided in 3 parts, we’ve got a good bunch of unique short stories that sticks with the classic vampire beliefs. The first part’s stories are very short but they’re fun; perfect to get you in the mood – like those little preluding mini movies in Pixar films. Although these ones aren’t so cutesy. I mean – coming from Rhiannon and all.

All about strong, dependent women who don’t take kindly to be treated like trash, part 2 is all about revenge on creeps who deserve it. Treating girls like a possession – manipulating and stalking them – has been ongoing in novels these days so I’m relieved when I read about empowered females who fight back. And these ones surely do. One thing I’ve noticed about Rhiannon’s work is how she handles the fate of the hateful characters. They get everything that they deserve and my sadistic side relishes this! I could not have ended these better even if I tried.

As for part 3, we get a trilogy filled with romance, magic, and a touch of heartbreak. Each short story is a different point of view showing us unique sides of this family’s tale. My personal favorite – of this part as well as the whole book – is The Memoirs of Moniki the Great. It’s the POV of a little girl who’s only 7 years old. Her tale is tragic and heartbreaking, but so very sweet. I loved her voice, she’s so compelling she basically put me in her shoes. I felt her pain, her hope, and above all, her innocence. For a short story it was surprisingly profound. It’s worth a read just for this one. It’s unorthodox, though, as it includes a touch of magic, but I thought it was brilliant. Just a quick note of the final story of this trilogy. It was my first venture in a 2nd person narrative so it was very different for me. I’m not sure I would enjoy reading a full length novel with it, but it was interesting to see it applied.

True to its title, Blood & Love and Other Vampire Tales contains plenty of blood and an abundance of love inside this fantastic variety of vampire themed stories. Fans of Rhiannon Frater – this one’s a given! Not a fan yet? You are missing out!

4 Hot Espressos
  Blood & Love and Other Vampire Tales is FREE today and tomorrow!
Click here to grab it (pdf)!
Check Amazon tomorrow to get it Free for Kindle!

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Giselle

Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

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33 Responses to “Review: Blood & Love and Other Vampire Tales”

  1. The Teen Book Guru

    Great review, Giselle! I haven’t heard of Rhiannon, but am definitely going to pick this book up at the library. There are so many vampire tales these days… I hope this one stands out! And I am all for strong, independent women!! They are my favorite type of characters… GIRL POWER babes!!

  4. Evie

    I keep on hearing about Rhiannon Frater (especially on your blog!), her zombies and vampires… and I kind of feel that I’m missing out on something great. Am I missing out on something great? I saw you trying to seduce her the other day with your m&m pants *glares* 😀 But that’s beside the point! Great review, I need to check her out *by her I mean her books of course* :d

  5. Mel - Thedailyprophecy.

    I still haven’t read anything from Rhiannon, but it sounds really good! Normally, I’m not a fan of anthologies. I have only read one before and I wasn’t thrilled by the short stories, but I like the sound of this one. I mean: strong heroins and the bad guys get what they deserve? 😀 That is something for me.

    Thanks for the review ^^

  6. Amy

    Well just because it’s Rhiannon Frater I need it!! That cover is gorgeous too!! It sounds really interesting how it is in different parts. Great review pumpkin!! *runs off to get it*

  7. Giselle

    Thanks for dropping by ladies

    @Evie: I seduce her all the time! She loves me and my pants! Bahaha. Your comment made me almost spit my coffee! But yes you are definitely missing out her zombie series is the best everz!!

    @Amy: I know you’ll enjoy this one Amy! Plus it’s free right now so get it! ( It will be free for Kindle tomorrow!)

  9. Shellie

    OoOo I just downloaded it. I still haven’t read any of her work yet, but now that things are settling down and I have time to read now I’m going to be getting some of her work (all thanks to you).

  10. Nick

    You sure do love Rhiannon Frater’s books don’t you ? 🙂
    Your obsession with her books is very cute ! 😀
    I’m really going to have to check out her books some time. Your reviews are always so convincing !
    I love that the heroines are strong and independent.
    Great review, doll ! 🙂

  11. Silverlight

    I read this one and I enjoyed the different stories, especially loved The Pedator and Vengeance. Great review, and who doesn’t love those Pixar shorts? Loved “For the Birds” –honk! 😉

  13. Sarah Elizabeth

    I hadn’t heard of Rhiannon Frater before today! Sounds like you like her though!
    I’m not a fan of short stories really, but think I might check out her other work 🙂

  15. Nerd Girls

    I have not heard of this book but it sounds like an interesting read! The idea that it’s broken up into three parts (different parts) definitely catches my attention.

    Plus, um, I still love vampires!

    Jenny

  17. Shooting Stars Mag

    Awesome review. I hadn’t heard of this author, but it sounds like you really love her, so that’s great. I like books of short stories…I really should read more, and this one sounds cool because they are connected more in parts.

    -lauren

  18. Maja (The Nocturnal Library)

    I don’t doubt that these stories are all very bloody and gory, hers always are. Somehow the short story firmat rarely works for me, but since I never can resist vampires, I’ll probably give this one a go at some point.
    awesome review, Giselle!

  20. Aneeqah

    I keep hearing about this author, I definitely need to pick up a book of hers! This book sounds pretty great, and I’m hoping that it’ll be a unique twist on the whole average vampire thing. Fabulous review!

    -Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life

  23. Hafsah - IceyBooks

    That is one creepy cover. I have never read any adult novels, so I’m not sure if this one will be my first – but your review has me excited nonetheless. I’ve never read any 2nd person narratives either! 🙂

  26. Eileen

    Blood & Love and Other Vampire Tales sounds like such a dark book and I’d probably end up running for the hills because I CANNOT handle blood and gore and all that. I got that other Rhiannon Frater book that was free when you did a review on it, but I still have to start it. It sounds like she has a flare for writing really original and dark vampire novels. I’ll have to get to that soon. 🙂 Great review!

  28. Katie @ BlookGirl

    Admit it, Giselle… You were just WAITING for me to come comment on this. Weren’t you? 😉

    I just finished Pretty When She Dies and must admit, I really enjoyed it! Still not sure if zombies are my thing, so I’ll stick with vampires for now. I’ll definitely grab Blood & Love and Other Vampire Tales today!

    Love you! <333

  30. Rachel @ Unforgettable Books

    Sounds fantastic Giselle! So far i tried one book in second person, You by Charles Benoit and thought it was okay.
    This sounds like a fantastic anthology with strong female characters!
    Thanks for telling me about the download link, i will definitely read it tomorrow!

  31. Cindy

    I am not a big fan of short stories, but this one intrigues me quite a bit. I am glad you enjoyed it and I might be tempted to read it in the future, so I will be snagging a free copy, thanks. Awesome review 🙂

  32. Camille Picott

    Cool, a new Frater book! I agree — I love the way Frater makes sure the bad guys get theirs in her books. There was a certain pair of sisters in As the World Dies who took a fabulous exit!

    Nice review!