The Vampire's Heart

by Mark A. Roeder

Ever wonder what it would be like to be fifteen-years-old forever? Ever wonder how it would feel to find out your best friend is not what he seems? Graham Granger is intrigued by the new boy in school. Graham’s heart aches for a friend, and maybe a boyfriend, but is Josiah the answer to his dreams? Why is Bry Hartnett, the school hunk, taking an interest in Graham as well? When strange happenings begin to occur at Griswold Jr./Sr. High, Graham’s once boring life becomes more exciting than he can handle.

Genres: Gay, M M Romance, Fantasy, M M Young Adult, Young Adult, LGBT

226 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2002

About the author

Mark A. Roeder grew up in southern Indiana - near a small town similar to those that appear in his novels.

Reviews

[BWT · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Young Adult story that reads very young. Graham is thirteen, just figuring out he's gay, has no friends, is super small and "puny", and exceedingly lonely. After deciding to take his life one day he's stopped when he sees a wolf in the forest where he hangs out by his lonesome.

After he goes home and realizes what a huge mistake he almost just made, Graham decides to turn things around and try harder to make a friend and maybe get a boyfriend.

When he goes back to school there's a new student, Josiah, who immediately captures his interest and attention. Graham begins a subtle campaign to win over the taciturn boy, and after many weeks, finally succeeds.

Their friendship isn't the only new one Graham makes, he also gets a job as a kind of helper to an old man running errands and doing yard work, etc. He loves his job, and the old man, Mr. Basil Diggory. Turns out Basil is the son of his new 15 year old friend, Josiah. And his new friend is actually a hundreds of years old vampire.

Though the narration was very good, the story itself lags in places. Then it inexplicably sped up, practically galloping, toward a very rushed ending, which, while fine and has a HEA, wasn't very satisfying.

Like I said before - this is a Young Adult story that reads very young. While I would have no problem with my thirteen year old (or my eight year old for that matter) nephew reading this, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for the over eighteen crowd.

I suppose I can chalk that up to liking my YA to be a little more "adult". Plus it sort of creeped me out when Josiah has to turn Graham in order to save him, knowing the two were in "love" but Graham is a small thirteen - and would remain so forever.

Bottom Line: Good narration and a not terrible, but definitely young, story.

This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.

[Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate all books by Mark A. Roeder with 5 stars because I find them extremely entertaining. What better criterion?

[Syd Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good I read it twice!

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graham is at a bit of a loss in his life. He’s coming to terms with his sexuality while feeling like an outcast (even at home). He finds a job with a very… interesting… man and begins to realise there is more to the world than he realised.

Josiah is a vampire on an existence long mission. He’s struggling with extreme loneliness and depression and all the angst as he arrives in Graham’s town. Graham becomes a beacon in his world.

Graham is stuck in the middle of forces he has no real clue about and torn between the new kid (Josiah) and the sudden attentions from the school hot shot, Bry.

I thought this was a total stand alone, but it’s really the backstory to some of the characters that make an appearance in the Graymoor books. It DOES 100% work on its own, but it’s a cool side glimpse as well.

[Ian Dubaurrenfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't look to Mr. Roeder for great writing, but rather for a story with well defined characters and unusual or compelling plot development. He does a good job with fleshing out his characters in the Vampire's Heart. But the crucial point for me is that he employs a MC of 13 years old. The undersized, bullied teen male is pretty much a stock character. However, we're pushing the boundaries when a boy so young is asked to display romantic and sexual longing of this intensity. Certain reactions on his part seem the stuff of melodrama and shock devices.

This is a quick read, easily done in one sitting. It could also have been done by a somewhat gifted high school student.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kill it, kill it with fire! All the worst pastiches of romantic vampire fiction can be found in this book. I have a feeling the author has read the vile 'Twilight' books and though "Mmm you know what the world needs, it needs a gay version; but filled with an even wetter main character and more clichéd filled dialogue..."

By the time I reached the 74% mark, I did the humane thing and burnt my kindle and scattered the ashes to the four corners of the world, in the hope that this book will never return from the dead.

[Eloquent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was clearly not up to par of the previous books, I found it to be quite excessive at times to the point where I skipped over a lot of the text that had really not much to do with the actual story line.

[Richie · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of his better works. I enjoy his books because of their simplilcity and escapist feelings. I just don't think this is an area he needed to delve into. I just didn't care about the characters and they didn't seem to fit the costumes his characters normally where. This was a diversion that wasn't necessary. i would have much rather heard more about some of the other characters after their "happy ending", like old friends. This was not one of those. Sorry, but this is a MISS.