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Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires
Ten vampire stories by ten
1. TANGLED DREAMS by Liv Rancourt
Sometimes it's safer to leave history's secrets alone.
2. REALITY BITES! by Jim Bernheimer
Vampires have problems just like the rest of us.
3. NIGHT TRAIN by Rayne Hall
The train is about to enter a tunnel - and vampires are on board.
4. WINTER FLOWER by Jonathan Broughton
Dark desires unfurl where shadows thrive.
5. IT'S IN YOUR BLOOD by Pamela Turner
Be careful when accepting an invitation.
6. THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN by Debbie Christiana
When you help someone, it may come back to bite you.
7. THE FLEDGLING DOUBT by Lana Bange
What if you're one moment too late to protect a victim?
8. THE DHAMPIR'S KISS by Carole Ann Moleti
Can any vow survive immortal life?
9. EXILE by April Grey
Death could be just the beginning.
10. WHY I WON'T READ SONG OF SOLOMON by Douglas Kolacki
A vampire may feed off a victim without leaving bite marks on the neck.
Some of these stories have been previously published in magazines and e-zines.
This book is part of the 'Ten Tales' series of anthologies.
1. TANGLED DREAMS by Liv Rancourt
Sometimes it's safer to leave history's secrets alone.
2. REALITY BITES! by Jim Bernheimer
Vampires have problems just like the rest of us.
3. NIGHT TRAIN by Rayne Hall
The train is about to enter a tunnel - and vampires are on board.
4. WINTER FLOWER by Jonathan Broughton
Dark desires unfurl where shadows thrive.
5. IT'S IN YOUR BLOOD by Pamela Turner
Be careful when accepting an invitation.
6. THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN by Debbie Christiana
When you help someone, it may come back to bite you.
7. THE FLEDGLING DOUBT by Lana Bange
What if you're one moment too late to protect a victim?
8. THE DHAMPIR'S KISS by Carole Ann Moleti
Can any vow survive immortal life?
9. EXILE by April Grey
Death could be just the beginning.
10. WHY I WON'T READ SONG OF SOLOMON by Douglas Kolacki
A vampire may feed off a victim without leaving bite marks on the neck.
Some of these stories have been previously published in magazines and e-zines.
This book is part of the 'Ten Tales' series of anthologies.
ebook
First published February 15, 2012
6 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Rayne Hall
115 books1,437 followersRayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction, some of it quirky, most of it dark. She is the author of over sixty books in different genres and under different pen names, published by twelve publishers in six countries, translated into several languages. Her short stories have been published in magazines, e-zines and anthologies.
After living in Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, she has settled in a small Victorian seaside town in southern England. Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more. Outside publishing, she worked as a museum guide, apple
picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, trade fair hostess, translator and belly dancer.
Currently, Rayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction and tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can republish them as e-books.
Her books on the writing craft (Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, The Word-Loss Diet, Writing Dark Stories, Writing About Villains, Writing Short Stories to Promote Your Novel, Writing About Magic, Twitter for Writers) are bestsellers.
Rayne Hall is the editor of the Ten Tales anthologies:
"Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires"
"Scared: Ten Tales of Horror"
"Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts"
"Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates"
"Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft"
"Spells: Ten Tales of Magic"
"Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies"
"Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance"
"Dragon: Ten Tales of Fiery Beasts"
"Cogwheels: Ten Tales of Steampunk"
with more titles coming soon.
The stories in her Six Scary Tales series and the Thirty Scary Tales collection are subtle horror: suspenseful, creepy atmospheric, unsettling. Although they contain little violence and gore, they may not be suitable for young readers. Many of these stories have been previously published in other books or magazines.
British English: All Rayne Hall's books use British words, spellings, grammar and punctuation. If you're allergic to British English, avoid them. ;-)
Mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/boqJzD
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/raynehal...
YouTube "Ten Random Facts about Rayne Hall" (2 minute video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXR4T...
Contact Rayne Hall on Twitter
@RayneHall follows back writers and readers. http://twitter.com/RayneHall
After living in Germany, China, Mongolia and Nepal, she has settled in a small Victorian seaside town in southern England. Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more. Outside publishing, she worked as a museum guide, apple
picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, trade fair hostess, translator and belly dancer.
Currently, Rayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction and tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can republish them as e-books.
Her books on the writing craft (Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, The Word-Loss Diet, Writing Dark Stories, Writing About Villains, Writing Short Stories to Promote Your Novel, Writing About Magic, Twitter for Writers) are bestsellers.
Rayne Hall is the editor of the Ten Tales anthologies:
"Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires"
"Scared: Ten Tales of Horror"
"Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts"
"Cutlass: Ten Tales of Pirates"
"Beltane: Ten Tales of Witchcraft"
"Spells: Ten Tales of Magic"
"Undead: Ten Tales of Zombies"
"Seers: Ten Tales of Clairvoyance"
"Dragon: Ten Tales of Fiery Beasts"
"Cogwheels: Ten Tales of Steampunk"
with more titles coming soon.
The stories in her Six Scary Tales series and the Thirty Scary Tales collection are subtle horror: suspenseful, creepy atmospheric, unsettling. Although they contain little violence and gore, they may not be suitable for young readers. Many of these stories have been previously published in other books or magazines.
British English: All Rayne Hall's books use British words, spellings, grammar and punctuation. If you're allergic to British English, avoid them. ;-)
Mailing list:
http://eepurl.com/boqJzD
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/raynehal...
YouTube "Ten Random Facts about Rayne Hall" (2 minute video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXR4T...
Contact Rayne Hall on Twitter
@RayneHall follows back writers and readers. http://twitter.com/RayneHall
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 25, 2013
I have always been intrigued by undead, mythological, and sea creatures. The stories in this collection explore the different beliefs surrounding one of the undead creatures, vampires. Vampires as we know them have been around for almost 200 years. In that time a lot of superstitions and beliefs have come and gone. Some that have endured are explored in ten short stories are written by the talented authors; April Grey, Douglas Kolacki, Carole Ann Moleti, Debbie Christiana, Pamela Turner, Liv Rancourt, Rayne Hall, Jonathan Broughton, and Jim Bernheimer.
The Night Train written by Rayne Hall was one of my favorite stories in this anthology. As I had traveled alone when younger, I could relate to the young woman traveling alone at night. Not knowing who to trust and wishing for the morning light to come.
I also really enjoyed Exile by April Grey. This story makes you ponder your choices in life. How many of us would ignore the consequences and let ourselves get swept up by the thrills of passion and desire?
Another good read was The Land of the Rising Sun by Debbie Christiana because it brought a humanitarian element to the story. But like many of us with addictions – drugs, alcohol, and food – a vampire’s need for blood is his undoing.
All of the stories are well written by some very talented writers. I enjoyed each one and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a traditional vampire story.
Be sure to watch this awesome book trailer on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVQk0o...
The Night Train written by Rayne Hall was one of my favorite stories in this anthology. As I had traveled alone when younger, I could relate to the young woman traveling alone at night. Not knowing who to trust and wishing for the morning light to come.
I also really enjoyed Exile by April Grey. This story makes you ponder your choices in life. How many of us would ignore the consequences and let ourselves get swept up by the thrills of passion and desire?
Another good read was The Land of the Rising Sun by Debbie Christiana because it brought a humanitarian element to the story. But like many of us with addictions – drugs, alcohol, and food – a vampire’s need for blood is his undoing.
All of the stories are well written by some very talented writers. I enjoyed each one and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a traditional vampire story.
Be sure to watch this awesome book trailer on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVQk0o...
October 19, 2012
Bites is ten different stories written by ten different authors. Each author has taken their own individual views on vampires and created this fun and entertaining anothology.
First up:
Tangled Dreams
by Liv Rancourt
(mysterious)
Choir chick, Allie, meets a mysterious and very handsome man, Roderick, after choir practice one night and after an amusing conversation about the choice of music, the pair agree to a dinner date. Allie's sister Renee imposes herself on their date and so it is that the three go to dinner. Dinner is bizarre, to say the least. After excusing herself to the ladies room, Allie returns to the table to find that both her sister and Roderick are gone. Several hours late, with the help of a waiter from the restaraunt, Allie locates her sister. Renee is sitting on a bench with a blank star, mumbling. What did Roderick do to Renee to leave her walking like a zombie? That is the question...
Reality Bites
by Jim Bernheimer
(fun)
Reality Bites is a fun read. Mr. Merrill is now a member of the undead and he wants his life insurance money. Unfortunately, Fundamental Insurance doesn't recognize vampires as being actually dead, since they haven't officially experience death.
Night Train
by Rayne Hall
(macabre)
Shelley, having just been touring Switzerland, decides to board a train and move on to less rain laden territories. The train is crowded and Shelley has a difficult time finding a sleeping car to occupy for the trip. Once finding a car to sleep in, she settles in for the night. Moments later, the conductor comes around to collect tickets. A polite man, he offers a friendly warning to Shelley about robbers and...vampires. She immediately thinks he's joking, but then other occupants of her car nod in agreement. The conductor continues to explain this is especially a problem in the winter. Right away she starts thinking of ways to get off the train but the next stop isn't until morning. Paralyzed by fear, she climbs into her little space to wait out the night...and to see who didn't make it.
Winter Flower
by Jonathon Broughton
(romantic)
Set in London in what I can only guess is early 1900's, Cecelia is anything but the proper lady her mother wishes she was. Old widow Lady Milligan is known for her psychical research and her knack for successfully matching couples. Cecelia's social climbing mother has high hopes that Lady Milligan has chosen Cecelia for a very important match. Cecelia has no desire to marry anyone she doesn't love and would rather spend her time in the gardens tending to her flowers. Despite her mother's insistence to stop acting like a common gardner, Cecelia persues her love of horticulture.
During her visit with Lady Milligan, Cecelia becomes entranced with Antoine, the Lady's servant. Upon learning of her love for horticulture, Lady Milligan asks Cecelia to accompany Antoine to the library and help him translate the names of the herbs he needs. Almost too excited to contain herself, Cecelia agrees to help Antoine. Once the pair are alone, Cecelia learns of Antoine's true intentions. The match has been made. This story really displays the romantic side of vampires nicely.
It's in your blood
by Pamela Turner
(Goth)
"Emily claimed Goth citizenship, Anna carried a green card"
The two met in college when Anna became curious about the music Emily was listening to. It was in that moment the two became friends and Emily taught Anna everything she needed to know about the Goth subculture. One night, Anna and Emily are preparing to go to a party in a cemetary, though Anna is reluctant. Once they arrive at the party, Anna realizes this is no ordinary party and that she is the guest of honor.
The Land of the Rising Sun
by Debbie Christiana
After a deadly earthquake hits Sendai, Japan, Karl and his search and rescue team go in to look for survivirs that the former search and rescue team couldn't reach. Karl's team has certain advantages over the other team. Moments into the their search, Karl and his partner find a young woman who has been crushed from the waist down, clinging to life. Karl sits with her while his partner goes for help. In the brief moments alone with the young woman, Karl makes a monumental mistake, one that will cost many people their lives.
The Fledgling Doubt
By Lana Bange
Vampire hunter, Amy Hunt, is tracking a fledgling through the Farrington Subway station when it all goes terribly wrong. The fledgling is killed, leaving behind a gory mess but before he was killed, he managed to bite his victim, only Amy isn't sure about that yet. So, she accompanies the woman to the hospital and stands vigil until she knows if a change will occur. By the time the whole ordeal is over, the only thing Amy wants to do is leave London.
The Dhampir's Kiss
by Carole Ann Moleti
(revenge)
This is a hard one for me to sum up and review. I can't say I really enjoyed this story. Lord Dhampir Raul recalls the events of the night his mother was killed and he was changed into a vampire, as he stalks Taina. If I am understanding this correctly, Taina is seeking revenge against the vampire and werewolf that attacked her more than a decade ago. Raul plans to silence her either by turning her or killing her. You'll have to read this one and judge for yourself.
Exile
By Amy Grey
(erotic)
Madeleine Jameson, a Vegas showgirl, decides to take a vacation after injuring her leg during a chorus. Laying out poolside at the resort, she meets fellow American, Ricki Shannon who openly admits to her use of gigalos and suggests Madeleine gives it a try. Madeleine, slightly appalled, politely excuses herself and goes about her business. Days blend into weeks and Madeleine is enjoying the "zen-like balance" she has achieved, her bizarre conversation with Ricki already forgotten. One night, while getting ready for bed, a man knocks on her door saying that Ricki sent him. With every fiber of her being, she wants to deny him entrance but something inside her won't let her. Their night together is nothing short of amazing and they agree to meet again for a second time. After their second time together, they both admit to falling in love. Madeleine knows that if there is a third time, she will become one of him, a vampire frozen in time and pain free. The idea of this new kind of life is so appealing that she almost goes thru with it. Almost....
First up:
Tangled Dreams
by Liv Rancourt
(mysterious)
Choir chick, Allie, meets a mysterious and very handsome man, Roderick, after choir practice one night and after an amusing conversation about the choice of music, the pair agree to a dinner date. Allie's sister Renee imposes herself on their date and so it is that the three go to dinner. Dinner is bizarre, to say the least. After excusing herself to the ladies room, Allie returns to the table to find that both her sister and Roderick are gone. Several hours late, with the help of a waiter from the restaraunt, Allie locates her sister. Renee is sitting on a bench with a blank star, mumbling. What did Roderick do to Renee to leave her walking like a zombie? That is the question...
Reality Bites
by Jim Bernheimer
(fun)
Reality Bites is a fun read. Mr. Merrill is now a member of the undead and he wants his life insurance money. Unfortunately, Fundamental Insurance doesn't recognize vampires as being actually dead, since they haven't officially experience death.
Night Train
by Rayne Hall
(macabre)
Shelley, having just been touring Switzerland, decides to board a train and move on to less rain laden territories. The train is crowded and Shelley has a difficult time finding a sleeping car to occupy for the trip. Once finding a car to sleep in, she settles in for the night. Moments later, the conductor comes around to collect tickets. A polite man, he offers a friendly warning to Shelley about robbers and...vampires. She immediately thinks he's joking, but then other occupants of her car nod in agreement. The conductor continues to explain this is especially a problem in the winter. Right away she starts thinking of ways to get off the train but the next stop isn't until morning. Paralyzed by fear, she climbs into her little space to wait out the night...and to see who didn't make it.
Winter Flower
by Jonathon Broughton
(romantic)
Set in London in what I can only guess is early 1900's, Cecelia is anything but the proper lady her mother wishes she was. Old widow Lady Milligan is known for her psychical research and her knack for successfully matching couples. Cecelia's social climbing mother has high hopes that Lady Milligan has chosen Cecelia for a very important match. Cecelia has no desire to marry anyone she doesn't love and would rather spend her time in the gardens tending to her flowers. Despite her mother's insistence to stop acting like a common gardner, Cecelia persues her love of horticulture.
During her visit with Lady Milligan, Cecelia becomes entranced with Antoine, the Lady's servant. Upon learning of her love for horticulture, Lady Milligan asks Cecelia to accompany Antoine to the library and help him translate the names of the herbs he needs. Almost too excited to contain herself, Cecelia agrees to help Antoine. Once the pair are alone, Cecelia learns of Antoine's true intentions. The match has been made. This story really displays the romantic side of vampires nicely.
It's in your blood
by Pamela Turner
(Goth)
"Emily claimed Goth citizenship, Anna carried a green card"
The two met in college when Anna became curious about the music Emily was listening to. It was in that moment the two became friends and Emily taught Anna everything she needed to know about the Goth subculture. One night, Anna and Emily are preparing to go to a party in a cemetary, though Anna is reluctant. Once they arrive at the party, Anna realizes this is no ordinary party and that she is the guest of honor.
The Land of the Rising Sun
by Debbie Christiana
After a deadly earthquake hits Sendai, Japan, Karl and his search and rescue team go in to look for survivirs that the former search and rescue team couldn't reach. Karl's team has certain advantages over the other team. Moments into the their search, Karl and his partner find a young woman who has been crushed from the waist down, clinging to life. Karl sits with her while his partner goes for help. In the brief moments alone with the young woman, Karl makes a monumental mistake, one that will cost many people their lives.
The Fledgling Doubt
By Lana Bange
Vampire hunter, Amy Hunt, is tracking a fledgling through the Farrington Subway station when it all goes terribly wrong. The fledgling is killed, leaving behind a gory mess but before he was killed, he managed to bite his victim, only Amy isn't sure about that yet. So, she accompanies the woman to the hospital and stands vigil until she knows if a change will occur. By the time the whole ordeal is over, the only thing Amy wants to do is leave London.
The Dhampir's Kiss
by Carole Ann Moleti
(revenge)
This is a hard one for me to sum up and review. I can't say I really enjoyed this story. Lord Dhampir Raul recalls the events of the night his mother was killed and he was changed into a vampire, as he stalks Taina. If I am understanding this correctly, Taina is seeking revenge against the vampire and werewolf that attacked her more than a decade ago. Raul plans to silence her either by turning her or killing her. You'll have to read this one and judge for yourself.
Exile
By Amy Grey
(erotic)
Madeleine Jameson, a Vegas showgirl, decides to take a vacation after injuring her leg during a chorus. Laying out poolside at the resort, she meets fellow American, Ricki Shannon who openly admits to her use of gigalos and suggests Madeleine gives it a try. Madeleine, slightly appalled, politely excuses herself and goes about her business. Days blend into weeks and Madeleine is enjoying the "zen-like balance" she has achieved, her bizarre conversation with Ricki already forgotten. One night, while getting ready for bed, a man knocks on her door saying that Ricki sent him. With every fiber of her being, she wants to deny him entrance but something inside her won't let her. Their night together is nothing short of amazing and they agree to meet again for a second time. After their second time together, they both admit to falling in love. Madeleine knows that if there is a third time, she will become one of him, a vampire frozen in time and pain free. The idea of this new kind of life is so appealing that she almost goes thru with it. Almost....
February 25, 2015
If I could just be clear on one thing...Vampires DO NOT sparkle in the daylight! Now that I've gotten that off of my chest, if you like the traditional, blood-sucking, dangerous type of vampire then this anthology is for you. Once again, Rayne Hall has strung together a collection of vampire stories written by ten authors who each have their own creepy, chilling, funny, thought-provoking and scary stories about the undead.
Are vampires to be pitied for their vulnerabilities, or envied for their powers? How do we know who is a vampire? How do we know what vampires want from us? What if they are expressions of our own forbidden desires? What if the victims give their blood willingly, in return for a boon? What if they drain from their victims not blood, but something more precious - their courage, their faith, their ability to love? Is what they offer a fair exchange for what they take? Do you yearn for thrills, for immortality, for everlasting youth? Would you be willing to pay for this with your blood, your life, your soul?
Ten authors probe these questions in their tales. Each story in this book explores a different concept of vampires, a different question, a different danger. To reflect the authors' individual voices, you will find both American and British words and spellings in this book.
1. TANGLED DREAMS by Liv Rancourt
Sometimes it's safer to leave history's secrets alone.
2. REALITY BITES! by Jim Bernheimer
Vampires have problems just like the rest of us.
3. NIGHT TRAIN by Rayne Hall
The train is about to enter a tunnel - and vampires are on board.
4. WINTER FLOWER by Jonathan Broughton
Dark desires unfurl where shadows thrive.
5. IT'S IN YOUR BLOOD by Pamela Turner
Be careful when accepting an invitation.
6. THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN by Debbie Christiana
When you help someone, it may come back to bite you.
7. THE FLEDGLING DOUBT by Lana Bange
What if you're one moment too late to protect a victim?
8. THE DHAMPIR'S KISS by Carole Ann Moleti
Can any vow survive immortal life?
9. EXILE by April Grey
Death could be just the beginning.
10. WHY I WON'T READ SONG OF SOLOMON by Douglas Kolacki
A vampire may feed off a victim without leaving bite marks on the neck.
What I liked most about this collection is how different each author approached the concept of their vampire (not all vampires are blood drinkers) in the story. Just when you think how the story will end, there's a twist! I especially enjoyed Rayne Hall's Night Train, a macabre story following the adventure Shelley had one evening while touring Switzerland. She decided to board a train and struggles to find a sleeping car to occupy for the trip - once she does settle into one for the evening she is interrupted by the conductor who warns her about robbers and vampires. She think's he's joking but the other occupants of her car nod in agreement. She thinks about getting off the train at the next stop, but to her horror the next stop isn't until morning. All she can do is wait it out and see who doesn't last the night!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for review purposes. Opinions are 100% my own.
Are vampires to be pitied for their vulnerabilities, or envied for their powers? How do we know who is a vampire? How do we know what vampires want from us? What if they are expressions of our own forbidden desires? What if the victims give their blood willingly, in return for a boon? What if they drain from their victims not blood, but something more precious - their courage, their faith, their ability to love? Is what they offer a fair exchange for what they take? Do you yearn for thrills, for immortality, for everlasting youth? Would you be willing to pay for this with your blood, your life, your soul?
Ten authors probe these questions in their tales. Each story in this book explores a different concept of vampires, a different question, a different danger. To reflect the authors' individual voices, you will find both American and British words and spellings in this book.
1. TANGLED DREAMS by Liv Rancourt
Sometimes it's safer to leave history's secrets alone.
2. REALITY BITES! by Jim Bernheimer
Vampires have problems just like the rest of us.
3. NIGHT TRAIN by Rayne Hall
The train is about to enter a tunnel - and vampires are on board.
4. WINTER FLOWER by Jonathan Broughton
Dark desires unfurl where shadows thrive.
5. IT'S IN YOUR BLOOD by Pamela Turner
Be careful when accepting an invitation.
6. THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN by Debbie Christiana
When you help someone, it may come back to bite you.
7. THE FLEDGLING DOUBT by Lana Bange
What if you're one moment too late to protect a victim?
8. THE DHAMPIR'S KISS by Carole Ann Moleti
Can any vow survive immortal life?
9. EXILE by April Grey
Death could be just the beginning.
10. WHY I WON'T READ SONG OF SOLOMON by Douglas Kolacki
A vampire may feed off a victim without leaving bite marks on the neck.
What I liked most about this collection is how different each author approached the concept of their vampire (not all vampires are blood drinkers) in the story. Just when you think how the story will end, there's a twist! I especially enjoyed Rayne Hall's Night Train, a macabre story following the adventure Shelley had one evening while touring Switzerland. She decided to board a train and struggles to find a sleeping car to occupy for the trip - once she does settle into one for the evening she is interrupted by the conductor who warns her about robbers and vampires. She think's he's joking but the other occupants of her car nod in agreement. She thinks about getting off the train at the next stop, but to her horror the next stop isn't until morning. All she can do is wait it out and see who doesn't last the night!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for review purposes. Opinions are 100% my own.
September 26, 2013
This collection is a fantastic collection of vampire stories. The stories are long enough so as to feel complete but, at the same time, short enough to finish in one sitting. This is an important feature in a book for me right now; with a toddler who likes to get into stuff when you're not looking, it makes reading a book possible.
Vampires are supposed to be scary, dangerous and non-glittery. That's right Twilight fans, vampires do not glitter in the sunlight. They die or at least start to burn up. Though I have read my share of non-dying-in-the-sun vampire stories that were quite good...the point stands. Vampires are dangerous not cute.
Vampires have always been a fascination of mine (as well as other undead, werewolves and the like). I've studied so extensively vampire history that I could right a school report on them from memory right now. That being the case, I'm a little picky sometimes when it comes to my vampire fiction.
I won't spoil any of the stories (because you should buy the book and enjoy them yourself!), but the first story, Tangled Dreams, is my favorite in the anthology. It's got a mysterious thing going on and I liked it. After reading Tangled Dreams, it was hard to top the feel. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the book did not disappoint...it was a great read all the way through. Something about Allie, Renee and Roderick just hooked me and wouldn't let go.
So, let's get down to it...Would I recommend this book? If you are a connoisseur of vampire fiction, you have to read this anthology. Seriously, spend the dollar and get 10 great vampire stories to add to your collection. For the casual vampire fiction reader, I say the same thing. This is a must read for anyone interested in the genre.
I will say this, this is not one of those "read to your toddler" books, which is okay. We moms need to read some books that don't rhyme once in a while. My best guess on youngest appropriate age is about 10 years old or so.
Vampires are supposed to be scary, dangerous and non-glittery. That's right Twilight fans, vampires do not glitter in the sunlight. They die or at least start to burn up. Though I have read my share of non-dying-in-the-sun vampire stories that were quite good...the point stands. Vampires are dangerous not cute.
Vampires have always been a fascination of mine (as well as other undead, werewolves and the like). I've studied so extensively vampire history that I could right a school report on them from memory right now. That being the case, I'm a little picky sometimes when it comes to my vampire fiction.
I won't spoil any of the stories (because you should buy the book and enjoy them yourself!), but the first story, Tangled Dreams, is my favorite in the anthology. It's got a mysterious thing going on and I liked it. After reading Tangled Dreams, it was hard to top the feel. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the book did not disappoint...it was a great read all the way through. Something about Allie, Renee and Roderick just hooked me and wouldn't let go.
So, let's get down to it...Would I recommend this book? If you are a connoisseur of vampire fiction, you have to read this anthology. Seriously, spend the dollar and get 10 great vampire stories to add to your collection. For the casual vampire fiction reader, I say the same thing. This is a must read for anyone interested in the genre.
I will say this, this is not one of those "read to your toddler" books, which is okay. We moms need to read some books that don't rhyme once in a while. My best guess on youngest appropriate age is about 10 years old or so.
May 27, 2012
"Bites" is a vampire short story collection and just like its title, you can read it in bites, meaning a story at a time. Rayne Hall, the editor of the vampire tale anthology, is also one of the writers featured. Just the description to her story made me feel a sense of dread: "The train is about to enter a tunnel - and vampires are on board." You can tell from the edited collection of stories that she has a special affinity for the vampire story genre. What I found really interesting about the vampire ebook was how each author seemed to have a different approach to their vampire fiction such as fantasy, horror, supernatural or even "the emotional vampire". I'm a sucker for vampire fiction (no pun intended) and found some authors in this collection of vampire stories I wasn't familiar with, but now I will look for more of their work. My fave vamp story in the book was Pamela Turner's "It's In Your Blood" about a shy girl who goes to a midnight Goth party in a cemetery and then...you'll just have to read the story to find out her fate. I went thru a Goth phase back in college and some of my Goth friends and I would frequently discuss vampires and their symbolism in our culture, the desire for staying young forever and the curse of immortality. I also thought the first story "Tangled Dreams" (which seems to be a reader/reviewer favorite) was really creative. It was a great story to launch the anthology with. I hope the author, Liv Rancourt, will expand the Allie character and choir geek theme into a longer work someday.
May 1, 2015
I received this item for free in exchange for an honest review from Amazon.com.
I absolutely love some of the stories in Bites, and I'll be looking for more work from some of the authors once my reading list is shorter. There are a few stories here which I absolutely love. This is definitely a fantastic collection of stories for the avid vampire fanatic such as myself.
Tangled dreams - enjoyed this one very much. Kept me on the edge of my seat, didn't want to stop reading. Excellent.
Reality Bites - funny, unexpected twist and absolutely perfect last line.
Night Train - very good, seemingly predictable but with a nicely twisted end.
Winter Flower - excellent story although I felt it ended too abruptly. I definitely wanted to keep reading more! Lovers of vampire romance must read this story.
It's in Your Blood - unexpected, quite good
The Land of the Rising Sun- okay, seemed to be lacking something, but well written.
The Fledgling Doubt and The Dhampir's Kiss were not my favorite. They both were well written but just ok, didn't really hold my interest.
Exile I really enjoyed up until the end, which I felt was kind of dumb. It was a well written, good story but it just fell flat for me.
Why I Won't Read Song of Solomon- I'm guessing this would mean more if I had ever read Song of Solomon but I haven't, so let us continue, shall we? I found this story to be somewhat interesting, and I did enjoy the different perspective of the idea of a vampire, appreciating the cynicism.
I absolutely love some of the stories in Bites, and I'll be looking for more work from some of the authors once my reading list is shorter. There are a few stories here which I absolutely love. This is definitely a fantastic collection of stories for the avid vampire fanatic such as myself.
Tangled dreams - enjoyed this one very much. Kept me on the edge of my seat, didn't want to stop reading. Excellent.
Reality Bites - funny, unexpected twist and absolutely perfect last line.
Night Train - very good, seemingly predictable but with a nicely twisted end.
Winter Flower - excellent story although I felt it ended too abruptly. I definitely wanted to keep reading more! Lovers of vampire romance must read this story.
It's in Your Blood - unexpected, quite good
The Land of the Rising Sun- okay, seemed to be lacking something, but well written.
The Fledgling Doubt and The Dhampir's Kiss were not my favorite. They both were well written but just ok, didn't really hold my interest.
Exile I really enjoyed up until the end, which I felt was kind of dumb. It was a well written, good story but it just fell flat for me.
Why I Won't Read Song of Solomon- I'm guessing this would mean more if I had ever read Song of Solomon but I haven't, so let us continue, shall we? I found this story to be somewhat interesting, and I did enjoy the different perspective of the idea of a vampire, appreciating the cynicism.
September 28, 2013
This is a collection of 10 different tales of vampires by different authors. The different authors each portray their own version of vampires in each story. I find this extremely intriguing because it just opens your mind to the variety of ways vampires can be besides the stereotypical blood-sucking daylight fearing night crawlers.
Rayne Hall's Night Train and Tangled Dreams by Liv Rancourt were my favorites in this collection. They are suspenseful and fast paced, thrilling and captivating all at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed these two and will definitely be rereading these ones again for sure!
There is bound to be a story that you will like because of the range of vampires these authors have come up with in the varying story settings.
This book is only $.99 on Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com for all ten stories. This is a great deal!! I do however do not like the fact that I am unable to skip to each individual book through the Table of Contents. That fact however does not affect how these stories have been written or how they will definitely keep you wanting to read more.
Rayne Hall's Night Train and Tangled Dreams by Liv Rancourt were my favorites in this collection. They are suspenseful and fast paced, thrilling and captivating all at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed these two and will definitely be rereading these ones again for sure!
There is bound to be a story that you will like because of the range of vampires these authors have come up with in the varying story settings.
This book is only $.99 on Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com for all ten stories. This is a great deal!! I do however do not like the fact that I am unable to skip to each individual book through the Table of Contents. That fact however does not affect how these stories have been written or how they will definitely keep you wanting to read more.
March 2, 2015
/I received the book for free through First Reads/
It is always difficult to review an anthology of short stories written by different authors. I first gave stars to each story separetely and what you see up is the media.
Some of the stories were amazing, others a bit disappointing. In general, I believe everyone can find «their kind of story» in this book.
My favourite were deffinitely 'Tangled Dreams' by Liv Rancourt, 'Reality Bites' by Jim Bernheimer, 'Night Train' by Rayne Hall and 'Exile' by April Grey. I would give each of this stories 4 stars, mostly because of their psychological approach.
'Winter Flower' by Jonathan Broughton and 'The Land of the Rising Sun' by Debbie Christianne are really close behind with 3,5 stars.
It tells it all: 6 stories with a really high level,interesting plot and something to reflect on. I will look for other works of their authors.
Unfortunately the other 4 stories would only receive between 1 and 2 stars. 3 of them were just too predictable and one I truely disliked: both the content and author's style.
It is always difficult to review an anthology of short stories written by different authors. I first gave stars to each story separetely and what you see up is the media.
Some of the stories were amazing, others a bit disappointing. In general, I believe everyone can find «their kind of story» in this book.
My favourite were deffinitely 'Tangled Dreams' by Liv Rancourt, 'Reality Bites' by Jim Bernheimer, 'Night Train' by Rayne Hall and 'Exile' by April Grey. I would give each of this stories 4 stars, mostly because of their psychological approach.
'Winter Flower' by Jonathan Broughton and 'The Land of the Rising Sun' by Debbie Christianne are really close behind with 3,5 stars.
It tells it all: 6 stories with a really high level,interesting plot and something to reflect on. I will look for other works of their authors.
Unfortunately the other 4 stories would only receive between 1 and 2 stars. 3 of them were just too predictable and one I truely disliked: both the content and author's style.
February 23, 2012
As a huge fan of vampire fiction, it was with great pleasure that I devoured this anthology of vampire short stories. Each tale is well written and unique. The excellent world building in two stories -- “Tangled Dreams” (choir geeks - great concept) by Liv Rancourt and “The Dhampir’s Kiss” by Carole Ann Moleti -- made me wish they were novels. I wanted to know what would happen next in their respective worlds. My absolute favorite of the ten is “The Land of the Rising Sun,” by Debbie Christiana, a story so haunting and clever I read it again and again. The humorous "Reality Bites" by Jim Bernheimer, and the suspenseful "Night Train" by Rayne Hall hooked me as well. In truth: all ten stories are great reads. I highly recommend this anthology.
October 12, 2013
Bites: Ten Tales Of Vampires is a collection of assorted Vampire tales. Each tale uses different versions of vampire lore so not all stories feature the same sorts of vampires. All of these stories are well written and enjoyable in their own way. Some are great the way they are as short stories. Others seem like they would be better as full stories (which is not a bad thing) perhaps with some encouragement these authors will develop their stories further. Overall it is a very interesting set of stories each with a different form of vampire. There is something for every vampire lover.
This novel was given to me in exchange for an honest review. Please visit me at http://www.theproductschool.org to view my full review.
This novel was given to me in exchange for an honest review. Please visit me at http://www.theproductschool.org to view my full review.
August 31, 2013
This is a fabulous collection of vampire stories by extremely talented authors. What I liked most about this collection is how different each author approached the concept of their vampire in the story. Just when you think how the story will end, you get quite a shock. I love reading stories where you cannot predict the ending. Each story is fast paced and has intriguing characters that you wanted to know more about.
I cannot choose just one tale as my favorite. I was totally engrossed in all of them. I couldn’t put this book down.
If you are fan of the vampire genre, then you must get this book. You definitely will not be disappointed.
I cannot choose just one tale as my favorite. I was totally engrossed in all of them. I couldn’t put this book down.
If you are fan of the vampire genre, then you must get this book. You definitely will not be disappointed.
September 26, 2013
What I loved about this collection was the variety, how different each story is, the different approaches to vampires, and the unique mythologies created by the authors. There were a few stories that I found somewhat confusing and others that I would have loved to seen more drawn out but overall, this book is a definite win!
These are well written, intriguing tales, and I recommend this book to anyone that loves a good story; especially those that love vampires!
Please check out our FULL review by visiting us at Griffin's Honey http://www.griffinshoney.com/book-rev...
These are well written, intriguing tales, and I recommend this book to anyone that loves a good story; especially those that love vampires!
Please check out our FULL review by visiting us at Griffin's Honey http://www.griffinshoney.com/book-rev...
September 27, 2013
I was given the opportunity to read and review this book. This is a fantastic collection of vampire stories by talented authors. What I liked most about this collection is how different each author approached the view of their vampire in the story they were not all the same. I cannot just choose one story, I liked a few more than others but they are all really great reads. I enjoyed each one and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a traditional vampire story. I love all the stories of the undead, and the supernatural and for anyone else who truly enjoys the same, you will love this book.
October 31, 2014
Nothing but more love (blah) stories with the exception of two.
The majority of the stories were more of women falling in love with the creatures of the night. I’m sure the Twilight gang will love them. I should have known the cover. Believe it should be rethought.
To be honest, when I realized a story was just another one where a woman was fawning over a creature of the night, it was skipped.
However, there were two that stood out: “Night Train,” by Rayne Hall and “Land of the Rising Sun,” by Debbie Christiana.” Both had original story lines with excellent, gritty endings. Nothing sparkling here. Very refreshing!
Three stars
The majority of the stories were more of women falling in love with the creatures of the night. I’m sure the Twilight gang will love them. I should have known the cover. Believe it should be rethought.
To be honest, when I realized a story was just another one where a woman was fawning over a creature of the night, it was skipped.
However, there were two that stood out: “Night Train,” by Rayne Hall and “Land of the Rising Sun,” by Debbie Christiana.” Both had original story lines with excellent, gritty endings. Nothing sparkling here. Very refreshing!
Three stars
September 28, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book. Out of all the stories, my two favorites were "Night Train" and "Why I Won't Read Song of Solomon." These stories were long enough to have a plot, but short enough to get to the point. I, like another reviewer, would love for some of these stories to be full-length books.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. See the full review at All In A Day's Kitchen.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. See the full review at All In A Day's Kitchen.
January 21, 2015
I love vampire stories and thought this was an interesting mix of vampire tales. My most favorite stories out of this series was the 1st story Tangled Dreams by Liv Rancourt and the 4th story Winter Flower by Jonathan Broughton. These two were my favorites because of the great detail in the characters and story lines. The book as a while is good because it has different types of vampirism. Not just blood drinkers.
I received a copy of this book for review.
I received a copy of this book for review.
November 12, 2012
I absolutely loved this book! As an avid reader of everything. Including vampires. I really enjoyed reading this. In fact when I found out that some of the stories were in other books. I am going to be looking up those books to get them. If your a fan of paranormal, vampires. Then you should definitely get this!
January 28, 2014
I really enjoyed the short stories in this novel. The different authors seemed to blend well and the tales are definitely interesting. I did like some more than others, but all in all this was a great read and the combined works of the authors are entitled to a five star review.
September 7, 2013
Excellent read. recommended.
Want to read
January 24, 2014Free on Amazon today, 01-24-14
July 10, 2014
Love the short stories
I enjoyed the way the tales draw you in so you can't wait for the next one! I will be looking for full novels by these authors. free download
I enjoyed the way the tales draw you in so you can't wait for the next one! I will be looking for full novels by these authors. free download
May 1, 2014
Nice to have different perspectives on the vampire mythology.
Fun read.
Fun read.
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