Vampires take Vacations Too!

It seems that these days supernatural themes are very popular. That, and I really enjoy reading about monsters and that kind of thing. So today we're looking at a short piece that seemed to hold promise.

101 Tips for Traveling with a Vampire
Joleene Naylor
24 pages

This short piece has a highly humorous tone to it. I'm guessing though, that rather than being a stand alone short, it was intended to be a supplement to the authors other work. Which annoyed me slightly. I had no idea when I added it to my reading list that it was going to give me more questions than answers. Yes, I am being honest when I say that it annoyed me slightly.

On the bright side there's enough cute funny tidbits to make it worth reading. For example:

"Before you buy your vampire friend an undead rubber ducky, make sure they have a sense of humor."

All in all it honestly wasn't bad. But previous exposure to the authors works may be beneficial in order to fully appreciate the piece. Though I can't give a rating for her other work, this piece is appropriate for a general reading audience.

^_~

A Winter Court Story

I am quite content with my decision to share the following piece with you, because even though it isn't exactly a holiday story, it revolves around The Winter Fairy Court, referred to by some as the Sidhe. While it is not singular in it's presentation of various fairy actions, we get a fast paced story.

The Winter Princess
Stacey Jaine McIntosh
180 pages

If you can make it past the first spelling error, you're looking at a decent story. Partly the story seems to be a diary, due to the types of language and information used. But it also tends to bounce through various perspectives, moving between different characters. Sometimes it's a bit difficult to know who is speaking at first. That all said, it seems to be directed at the now popular "teen" audience.

In the beginning, we learn that our main character is a pregnant teenager. (that said, maybe it's not appropriate for all readers). By page 12 you'll get the idea that unlike the now cliche vampire vs werewolf scheme many stories have going on, we're dealing with a triad. Werewolves v.s. Vampires v.s. Fairies.

Honestly though, besides the spelling mistakes, I found the story quite appealing. The author takes liberties by utilizing various fae lore, but it creates and enjoyable piece as a whole. The main character is a strong female character, although at times I was led to wonder what motivates her actions. At times the various male characters seemed bi-polar, but that generally had to do with them not being human.

There is a decent number of references to sex in this book, which while playing to it's teen audiences desires, may not be appropriate for early teens. The idea of consequences, is well presented, as well as the fact that revenge sometimes affects more people than us alone.

Just so you know, I did toy with calling this post "Sex, Drugs, and a Fairy War". But I figured a less comical title would be appropriate.

Anyway, if you read this piece, I do hope that you enjoy it.

Gossip Gets You Nowhere

Ok. So the title honestly made me think about the commercials that I saw for Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. And at the beginning it really was a smidgen irritating. But I'm going to tell you about it , because I did enjoy it once I got into the swing of it.

The Gossip Ghouls by Z
424 page read

This is a fun and interesting read, most likely meant for teens. It looks at a different dynamic and use of Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies. Not only that it throws all three of them into the High School Setting that many of the intended audience would be familiar with.

I enjoyed it's catty and very girly characters that seemed to be fairly web savvy. The way the author used technology to make the story seem relevant was fun.

Honestly, it is a bit much at times. Some of the authors decisions about her characters actions seem a bit harsh. Teenagers getting married for instance. That sent shudders down my spine. But marriage in general is an institution that I am not entirely on friendly terms with at this point in my life.

Some books that are similar in content are the Monster High books. If your reader is a bit younger (say starting between 10 and 13) I would recommend letting them read those mainstream novels first. Gossip Ghouls is good, but it's messages aren't always clear. Not only that it doesn't display the lines between right and wrong clearly. There doesn't seem to be any negative consequences for any-ones actions. The writer even makes it seem as though death is not permanent.

A fun read though, definitely something to add to your eBook stash if you're hording for a rainy day. Just don't expect Anne Rice, think of it as more of a ....fluffy read.