Sanguine Summer

by Abe Moss

The guest in Room Ten is starving—and it's not just blood she's hungry for.

Deep in the backwoods of Tennessee, the Silver Lining Motel has long been a refuge for the lost and the damned—but never a guest like her: a woman with mesmerizing eyes, beastly fangs, and an appetite for blood. Her arrival is no coincidence, and her monstrous plans will soon ripple through the lives of three unsuspecting strangers.

A male escort in pursuit of independence no matter the cost.
A dollar store cashier with an unhealthy fixation on a new customer.
And a married man whose double life promises to be his undoing.

As their fates converge at the lonesome motel, the guest in Room Ten watches. Waits. Hungers. The darkness is her playground. The night is still young. And their nightmare is only just beginning...

Experience true Southern Gothic terror in Sanguine Summer - a spine-chilling tale of hope and loss, obsession and retribution, and bloody vampiric horror!

Genres: Horror, Vampires

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Abe Moss has been writing horror stories for as long as he can remember, and hopes to never stop. He loves creature-features, psychological horror, supernatural horror, cosmic horror, you name it. With each book he writes, he hopes to try something a little different. The possibilities are endless and that's what he really loves about storytelling. He hopes you'll enjoy his stories, too!

Reviews

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ruth fetched a teabag and a mug, which she filled with water and microwaved for two minutes."
What in the actual blue hell is that quote? When I tell you the audible gasp that escaped my mouth when reading that...american's don't have the first clue about making tea...

[Karen Oldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I wanted to devour this book in one sitting but mom life refused to allow it is so frustrating.

Looking for a good vampires are monsters not friends story that is jam packed with flawed characters who pop off the page and make you love and hate them? This is it.

Dario is 21, has been abandoned by his parents for being gay and is living in a seedy motel when Carissa finds him. The way his story line kept breaking my heart, giving me hope and then terrorizing me with the threat of Carissa’s true nature had me turning pages and keeping my kindle in my pocket so I could squeeze in every possible second of reading.

Ruth is young, working a menial dead end job and struggling with more grief than she is even consciously aware of. Watching her grow from a lonely yes girl to potentially unhinged and unreliable, to a strong brave young woman willing to do what needs to be done was an absolute chefs kiss.

Carissa is a vampire who has an interesting origin and will keep you on your toes. Is she just lonely and looking to avenge her young human self, or is she a charismatic ghoul?

How these three and more collide had me absolutely eating this book up.

A perfect summer camp read if you prefer them messy, violent and uninterested in romance.

[Wren Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin! Firstly, thank you to the man himself, Abe Moss for sending me this ARC to review, it was such a crazy train and I had so much fun reading it!

Maybe it’s just my luck, but when I think about vampires and stories and tv and movies about them, my mind immediately goes to the romanticized, beautiful, flawlessly perfect version of such mythical beasts. While Carissa, vampire lady of the hour is described as beautiful, she falls completely outside of the previously described blueprint.

If you’re looking for a vampiric novel that deals more heavily in the life and strength sustaining habits of vampires, the brutality, the gore, the overall wretchedness of their manipulative existence… this is THE ONE.

The story follows a complex, but NOT confusing web of characters, that all somehow get caught up in the dealings of this local vampire, doing her vampire things. But when their lives all converge together at the will of her hand, oh boy does it literally feel as satisfying as physically snapping pieces of the puzzle into place.

You have Dario, a freshly 21 gay man looking to find himself
Ruth, a dollar store employee, and amateur sleuth/kind of a stalker
Zachary, a family man…
And MY BOY NED WHO DESERVED THE WORLD.

The only thing I would like to see, is a prequel AND a sequel to Carissa’s story. So Abe, my boy, please get on top of that. 👉🥺👈

[Amanda Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect summer-ween read!

It’s got vampires NOT romanticized. Gore. And a thrilling storyline that always keeps you on your toes.
I loved the different POVs.

[Katherine 🫶🏼 · Rating 3 out of 5]

~ 3.5. I had higher hopes for this one but still very fun and on brand for October! Still super fun and had a little bit of a creepy vibe. I do love when vampires are actually bad guys. Bit of an underwhelming ending in my opinion. But otherwise the setting is perfectly creepy. You question so much and how it will all connect so you just want to keep reading.

[Lily Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ arguably one of the best vampire books I have ever read. each character was a chefs freaking kiss. I didn’t expect to be fully crying by the end, but I was! this was exactly the summer vampire thriller that I needed to get me ready for spooky season. aaaaand now I just need to read everything Moss has written cause wow, just wow.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the plot to this one and considering it was about vampires I thought there would be a lot more gore to it but it was just the right amount.
Following different characters with their points of view was interesting with this one and seeing what happened and then how they come together at the end.
I would have liked to have seen more from what happened with certain character but overall I really enjoyed it and it flowed well.
A quite easy to follow and well paced read

[VintageVamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really nice to read a good vampire horror novel after so many paranormal romance series. Vampire horror is what I truly like. This author got it right. But, now I want to know more about what grabbed Carissa.

Abe Moss wrote a novel about messy humans and a vampire.

🩸🩸🩸1/2 rounding up to 4

[Kay Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A trip back to the long forgotten hometown unravels years of buried bloodied roots, which reveal nightmarish revelations. This was the perfect summer horror. Poetic and lyrical but not overly so. It managed to still maintain a strong intensity and gripping suspense.

[Crush Critiques · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on the vampire mythos.

Multiple POVs which usually can get confusing, but in this instance it worked rather well as it added to the suspense and confusion as to what exactly was taking place to connect all these people together.

The ending confrontation left a bit to be desired; it definitely seemed like the author took the easy way out in wrapping things up. It still was a decent story though and definitely entertaining, so I’m rounding up my review from 3.5 to 4.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Silver Lining Motel is a small isolated motel it just got a new guest. This is no ordinary guest. Now several people are in a battle with a powerful hungry monster. Unique vampire

[Spooky Mama🎃 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an incredible vampire book, it had me hooked from the very beginning. I would highly recommend reading this book.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a sparkly vampire story, but it’s one of the best I’ve read.

[Pieter Cryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a quick read. There isn’t much to this story, so if Bram Stoker is more your style, this won’t do.

I was intrigued enough. There is a lot of ambiguity to Carissa’s story so my impression is that Abe Moss is not done telling readers about her. I can see Carissa being of the True Blood universe and that might have been Moss’s inspiration. If there is in fact more, I’ll read it. If there isn’t, I can’t say for sure I’ll remember this as a standalone story, though.

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Story focuses heavily on the characters and their struggles and inner turmoil. themes of loss, depression, longing, and loneliness and can be felt throughout, as well as a heavy helping of negative consequences and actions and none of that weighs down the story. over all, I really enjoyed this even when it was lacking in some areas! I enjoyed Dario's perspective , and really empathized with him, and his development, and so did Ruth she grew on me exponentially. i truly enjoyed the characters, they felt pretty real and fleshed out save for carissa but i loved her every second!! I would recommend this to any Vampire fan who missed when Vampires were the villain in their Vampire media.

***** SPOILERS*******











the Vampire(s) lore was intriguing and still lacking in my tastes, I'm really disappointed we don't get more information on Gregoire, or what other supernatural talents or enhancements they have or gain with ahe
and in the beginning with the two teens, I felt as if this might still have a slasher element to it, but I feel that really didn't lead anywhere. obviously, I'm assuming it was just Carissa feeding, perchance gregoire by the end of the novel, but still, it didn't feel integral. writing over all was well done. However, it went way into detail on trivial things and glossed over descriptions that would have elevated the scene. for example: you get almost a full paragraph of a man struggling to get dressed after an adult transaction ( struggling to button up his shirt, zipping his pants) the steps of opening, closing, or unlocking doors. Just steps to actions. which isn't bad, I just would have liked there to be that much detail in surroundings, more detail about the characters, the tactile feeling of more plot focused action/ scenes, etc. I wanted more from Carissa character wise, but I think that may be the point she's not the focus, she's meant to be a mystery, a wild card of sorts. This book was well done, fun and exciting despite the melancholy themes and tones.

[Jacquetta Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

  At the Silver Lining Motel on the edge of town, Ned Philips the owner hoped it would be the silver lining for the customers for the night

    At 11 pm packing up to shut the front desk on a Heat drenched night in June. Lights off, Ned stretched and he suddenly heard the bell ring at the door. Turning the light on, Ned sees a slender woman, white teeth twinkling, dark eyes so dark with small sharp pinpricks of light in them. Her skin the color of cream, almost translucent As Ned stared at the young woman and saw her iris and eyes changing shape, his own eyes felt they were wobbling in reply. She asked for one room, room 10 and for the rooms around room 10 not be rented out.

    21 year old Dario has been living in room 4. Dario met a man Ian and brought him back to his room. But Ian must have drugged Dario's drink, he was very sleepy when they got to his room. Which made it easy for Ian to try to kill him. 

    Hearing the noise, Carrisa was drawn to the room. She stopped Ian and saved Dario's life. Leaving Dario scared of her, terrified even. But then after watching how she killed Ian, Dario was afraid she would come after him next. Instead she gives him a gift...and money. Money he wants the gift he craves. He slowly becomes dependent on her for money and the small special gift she gives him and she is dependent on him for her supply of food and cleaning up after her. He's tired of it and wants to quit, but 'the money' and 'the gift' that helps him stay calm and sleep. 

And he fears if he will be the one she gets rid of next.

How do you escape your maker? Unless she is taken first. 

If you are traveling, don't stay the night at The Silver Lining Motel.

[Cathrine Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely riveting!

Sanguine Summer is a haunting and lyrical novel that blends the beauty of a sun-drenched season with the undercurrents of psychological tension and emotional reckoning. The author masterfully juxtaposes idyllic summer imagery with a dark, slow-burning narrative that unfolds with deliberate precision.
At its core, Sanguine Summer is about memory—how it shapes us, deceives us, and sometimes traps us. The protagonist’s return to their childhood hometown sparks a cascade of unsettling revelations. Each chapter peels back layers of nostalgia to reveal the bloodied roots beneath the rose-colored past.
The prose is evocative, often poetic, making even the most mundane moments feel atmospheric. Characters are well-drawn and believable, especially the central figure, whose inner turmoil is both relatable and devastating. While some may find the pacing a bit slow in the first third, those who stay the course will be rewarded with a deeply satisfying payoff.
This is a story for readers who enjoy tension without the need for constant action, and who appreciate the emotional weight of character-driven fiction. Sanguine Summer lingers long after the final page—like the fading warmth of twilight, touched with a hint of blood.

[Chasity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC for a review from Abe Moss.
Thank you so much for letting me read before the release date!
We follow along with a couple different POV's throughout the book with splashes of another character here and there. Vampire, summer and the south are very big themes. We do get to see Dario have some major character development and Ruth quite a bit as well. For me, it was a very very slow build up to get anywhere within the first 50% of the book that I was just getting kind of bored. I was also kind of meh with the characters at first because I feel like there wasn't much depth to them. After the 50% I definitely felt like the story was moving and progressing somewhere and things were getting heightened. I loved the vampire woven into the modern day and Carissa was actually the one I was most interested in above everyone else. It was a fun book and I enjoyed it but just wanted the pacing to be a bit faster.

[VaseFullofAcid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just want to start of by saying I love me a story with multiple points of view. Alot of times they fall short and dont connect as they should and im unable to keep track of who's who and what's what. But Abe has done and amazing job of this the ease of reading and keeping each story their own had me devouring this book I couldn't put it down.
I love that this isn't a story about glamorous, dusty vampires but more of the realness, drama and gore side of the vampire world. It was such a refreshing read to be able to have that more realness to vampires and how in a modern day world they would need to interact and sustain themselves.
I will say in the beginning the book is a more slower read but not in the way you have to push your self and struggle through but in a way that you need to get to that next chapter and find out more. I love a good buildup and this book absolutely delivers.

10/10 read i would absolutely read this again and again.

[Judith Trail · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of the blood and gore (come on, this is about vampires!), this is a surprisingly tender story that I think would make an amazing movie! Dario is young, gay and kicked out of his family by a very rigid, angry father. He lives in a motel, turning tricks to eke out a living. Ruth is a young adult living a very curtailed existence, having zero sense of self-worth but a lot of true goodness in her character. Carissa is a vampire, recently moved into the motel where Dario lives, and she is doing what vampires do. Their stories intersect and we see both Dario and Ruth grow as individuals and adults as a result of the ensuing circumstances. It is a story about self-love and self-confidence, about family and family loyalty, about being brave, taking action when scared out of your mind, and the power of love. I will read more in this series because these characters just completely bewitched and charmed me.

[Rhonda Almodovar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern Fried Horror

Okay this is my first book by this author. I was prepared for outright horror but felt I got something else entirely by the time I got to the end. Yes, there’s a vampire named Carissa & she’s unhinged as most vamps are. She befriends Dario, who is a male escort. They’re both residing at this inconspicuous hotel named The Silver Lining Hotel, run by Ned. There’s also Ruth, Marcus (her love interest), Shaylee (Ruth’s roommate), & Zachary, one of Dario’s regulars. Dario also has a sister, Arianna (AKA RiRi). He’s estranged from his family as his dad is fanatically against him being not only an escort but homosexual as well. This story involves horror, gore, love, loss & family.

Que "Arrival” by Marc Korven.

[🥀 Rose 🥀 · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2 1/2 stars. I this was very readable and somewhat entertaining but not my type of vampire story. During the spooky season, I’m more inclined to want vampire/gothic vibes. The story was pretty basic 3 separate stories all converging together by the last quarter of the story. I wasn’t terribly invested in the characters except maybe Dario the 21 year old prostitute who I cared about during the climax of the story.

This lacked atmosphere which made it a big miss for me. It also lacked the one character who needed a better backstory and that was the vampire herself. We are in everyone’s head but hers and she was the most interesting so why ?

I found myself easily distracted away from the story. Not typically a good sign.

[Melissa Lozano · Rating 5 out of 5]

What.. did I just read?!

If you want a good vampire horror book, without the spice, pick this up asap. The mystery.. the drama.. the gore! It’s so good!

Not only will you be intrigued by the vampire’s story, but the story of each of the three humans will have you equally as intrigued. You will have favorites, there will be annoyances (or this could be just me lol), but in the end it all wraps up so nicely that you’ll be content with the finality of it all.

Seriously, I loved this. The only vampire books I have read were all romance, so reading a honest vampire horror book was fun. I need more of them.

[Oralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanguine Summer is a vampire novel that is reminiscent of the old gothic novels but with much more gore. The silver lining motel is at the center of this tale. A refuge for the down and out it becomes a refuge for the wrong women. Centered around Dario and Clarissa the vampire. It is a story about fear, but not just the fear of the killer but fear of not being good enough, fear of disappointing others and fear of having the truth revealed. It is also a story about rising above these fears and finding redemption. Well written this story is not your average vampire novel but much deeper than just that. A great read to sink your teeth into.

[Glance Ghoulish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sanguine summer was one of those books that had me really interested in the beginning, lost me in the middle and then pulled me back towards the end for me to only be let down by the climax.

I really enjoyed the characters, Dario especially but Ruth was equally as strange and quirky, they kept me going. Clarissa the vampire herself really left me wanting more.

I feel at the end of this book we had lots of unanswered questions and loose ties.

Sanguine is a vampire horror, but it just wasn't giving enough horror for me, there were horror elements, but I just wanted more gore and fear.

I didn't dislike it and it kept me reading, but I just wanted more HORROR and less Renfield.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I am not a fan of vampire stories, the writing style, characters and plot made up for it in this book. I liked that much of the story focused on the characters and not just a vampire or bunch of vampires out killing people. There is some gore in this, but not too much. It's definitely a different take on vampires with where she stays and how she goes about selecting her victims. Dario and Ruth were certainly interesting characters. I predicted parts of the story, but still overall enjoyed it. If all you like is gore and such, you might not like this book. It has a lot more to it than just gore and blood.

I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Jennifer McCain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - it was an easy read and kept my interest. It was different from many other vampire books in a lot of ways but that kept it a bit more interesting. My main complaint is that I was ambivalent towards most of the characters. I didn’t feel that their backstories (or current ones, for that matter - why can’t vampires do certain things? How do you kill them?) were complete enough. I didn’t feel they were created in a way that allowed me to feel for them through either triumphs or setbacks. The true fear of what was happening wasn’t there for me. I good book, I just didn’t think it was a GREAT book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW!

This is my first book where a vampire isn't romanticized! And I'm here for it. This harkens back to the original vampire of lore: a master manipulator, a bloodthirsty creature, and DARK.

Carissa is out for blood, and the seedy motel is perfect. Secluded, no one would miss the people living here, or even wonder what was going on. She was at her prime, her evil prime.

Here's what got me...when I thought I knew what Carissa would do - NOPE. She's off the rails and took me right with her on the crazy train.

[Wendy Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your romance vampire story!! Imagine you meet someone new that you thought could be your friend, that gets you, but is just out to make you their own in the worst way possible. That’s probably confusing. It’s a great vampire story that mixes a few different peoples lives in ways you won’t understand until the end. Abe Moss has created a world with characters that come alive. Great story. Couldn’t wait to see how it ended. The ending was fantastic btw. Highly recommend for horror fans and vamp fans.

[Amandatory Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good! Not the typical vampire novel involving a seductive vampire and romance. It’s about a manipulative and vengeful vampire named Carissa. The people who get sucked into her world whether they realize it or not. There’s Dario and Ruth who I rooted for the entire book! Some characters get what they deserved while others remind you that unfortunate things happen to good people. Sometimes life isn’t fair. Sometimes life is surprisingly good. Sometimes you meet a vampire with a traumatic past and they no longer care who gets hurt. A fast paced novel with a nerve-racking ending!