The Blood of Life

by NightEyes DaySpring

Radic Horban should have stayed dead—the curse that raised him has brought him endless hunger. Now, a hundred years after he was turned into a vampire, he has returned to the village of his birth to pay his respects to the family he left behind. It was supposed to be a short visit, but the intervention of a leopard named Ekrem has not only cast the events of his past into a new light, but also rekindled desires he thought were beyond him. Yet attacks like the one that doomed Radic are again happening nearby, and he has no desire to let others suffer as he has. Who better to stalk the hunter in the darkness than one now bound to the night?

Content Warning:

The following work contains scenes of explicit male/
male sex and includes descriptions of violence and
death. This book is intended for adults only, and reader
discretion is advised

Paperback

Published July 4, 2025

About the author

NightEyes DaySpring is an author who specializes in furry fiction. His work has covered a number of different genres with furry fiction as he continues to explore his voice.

Reviews

[J.F.R. Coates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. The characters were fascinating, especially the main two, and I enjoyed how the author used a lot of the vampire tropes and mythos, while establishing his own personal touch. The setting was also used well, adding another unique touch to the story.

I'm unsure if this is a standalone or part of a series. If a standalone, then the ending is certainly a detraction as there is so much left unanswered and plot threads seemingly just about to expand. But if a series, then it leaves me excited for what is still to come.

[Shiloh Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might enjoy this book if you:

-Enjoy gay supernatural romances
-Like vampires
-Miss the classic vampire powerset and lore
-Want something that's not too scary
-Are a nudist (no, really)

To summarize:

The Blood of Life will delight both fans of supernatural romances and fans of classic vampires alike. It features a vampire character who is made more interesting by the weakness of his blood-starved state, and whose powers pay homage to classic vampire folklore. It's also a quick read with good pacing and a direct, easygoing writing style. There are some missed opportunities on the romance front, and one might at times forget the novel is in fact a romance novel, but the main plot is thrilling and mysterious enough to keep things interesting.

Full Review:

The Blood of Life is NightEyes DaySpring's second novel and is, in my opinion, a noticeable improvement over his first. This gay vampire romance follows Radic, a vulpine vamp who, after a century away, has returned to his hometown to learn how his family fared after his "death." During his visit, he meets Ekrem, a handsome leopard who provides him with leads on his family's fate. As a romance blossoms between them, so too does a conspiracy that sees Radic pursued by dangerous people for unknown reasons, putting both Radic and his new lover in danger.

It's a setup that will delight fans of supernatural romances, but even those who usually avoid supernatural romance might find this book worth a go. It uses some clever tricks to subvert some of the genre's tropes and to make the story more believable--tricks that mainly stem from the nature of our main character.


Interview With a (Naked) Vampire

At first glance, Radic is a pretty typical vampire. He's dark and brooding, with a bit of a temper, and he's constantly stewing in his own melancholy. What starts to make him a unique character is his refusal to drink human blood for the majority of his undeath. As a result, Radic is a comparatively weak vampire, which ironically makes him a stronger character.

Now lots of vampire stories have weakened vampires who only drink animal blood. (I've unfortunately read all the Twilight books. I'm very aware.) But I find that those stories often forget to substantially weaken the vampire in a way that truly affects the plot. Meanwhile, Radic's weakness makes the story more interesting on many occasions. Radic isn't overly strong, he doesn't heal very fast, he can't compel people to obey him, and he lacks any night vision. As you'd imagine, these vulnerabilities make it difficult to protect oneself and one's newfound lover from powerful forces threatening their survival, and that adds some welcome tension to the story.

It's not as if Radic is powerless though. He's still immortal, eternally young, and quite strong. Most importantly, he can turn into a bat--a power that there's quite a lot of focus on. However, the transformation does not bring along Radic's clothing. Since Radic sees the ability to fly as one of the only real perks of being a vampire, he stays naked most of the time to make transforming more practical. So Radic is essentially a nudist vampire. I love the creativity of that, especially because losing his clothes is just another obstacle he constantly needs to overcome in creative ways.

Getting the vampire at the heart of the vampire story right is important, obviously, and I think this weakened, naked, bat transformation-loving fox is great. He brings a lot of complexity and uniqueness to the story. However, I acknowledge that many readers may find a weakened vampire like Radic uninteresting. I can just hear a few readers asking what the point of a vampire story is if the vampire doesn't rip a couple dozen heads off. Which, if that's your cup of tea, fair, but I'm personally happy with the reserved vampire we've got here.


Old blood, New Veins

I think a lot of vampire fans will appreciate how many classic vampire powers and themes are used here. It's tempting when writing a modern vampire story to do away with some of the inconvenient or bizarre abilities, but I think this book pays homage to them very well. When I heard that this book was keeping in the rule that vampires must be invited before entering a home, I got excited right away, because that's often a sign that a vampire story is going to have a decent mix of the old and the new.

A major theme of vampires is that they're trapped between the past and present, so a mix of old and new vampire powers helps to serve that theme. The Blood of Life goes a bit further with it though. Radic is investigating events from 100 years ago and dealing with very modern threats. Ekhem runs a curiosity shop of historical items both old and new. Even the threat against them mixes the old with the new in an interesting way. Local folklore even gets called in at one point. It's great.

I will say one element of vampires is missing here: fear. This book isn't all that scary. It's mostly mysterious, with a dark and moody tone that I think it sets very well. However, I don't typically find a lack of horror to be much of a dampener on the vampire genre myself, so I didn't find this to be an issue.

So I think people who are concerned about the supernatural romance element getting in the way of doing vampires justice here need not be afraid. I think vampires are depicted in a respectable way here, both in character and in theme.


The Vampire's Not the Only One Who's Thirsty

Ekrem, the love interest in this story, is a leopard who owns a curiosity shop with a lot of historical items, including the journal of Radic's long-dead sister. This prompts Radic to meet him at a local inn, and the story/romance blossoms from there. If I were to describe Ekrem in just a few words, I'd say that he's empathetic, loyal, and a bit of a dork. You'd have to be empathetic to warm up to and trust a vampire so quickly, and loyal to stay with him and help him out despite the potential dangers. His occasional dorkiness also helps make him endearing.

However, I can't say I was overly impressed with Ekrem as a love interest. He works well enough, and perhaps his potential will be unlocked in an eventual sequel, but I didn't think he was given enough of a spotlight to shine as a character (I mean, other than him looking extremely hot on the cover). He often takes a back seat to the conspiracy that's driving the plot forward. Oftentimes he's separated from Radic, and when they're together there are a lot of missed opportunities for further growth in their relationship.

This isn't something that NightEyes is usually deficient in. I've read plenty of his short stories where the relationship is built up splendidly. Unfortunately, it feels like some of that romantic depth was overlooked here in favor of plot.

This is my main criticism of the book, because it also brings down the romance aspect, and readers may at times forget they're reading a romance. It felt more like a gothic thriller by the end. A good gothic thriller, and with an interesting mystery, but rather light on the intended love story.


The Prose of Book

Time for the stuff that nobody but me notices. I wanted to comment on the writing style of this book, because I had some trouble with the style in Scars of the Golden Dancer, which I found a bit clunky at times. I'm happy to report this book is a noticeable improvement.

The polish here is appreciated, and I didn't spot nearly as many breaks in flow. The prose still sometimes feels a bit wooden and direct to me, with not much freedom and creativity taken in the wording itself, but that may just be a me issue, as I tend to appreciate unique writing styles.

The pacing is also quite good. Blood of Life is a shorter story than Scars, and I think it's exactly the length it needs to be (barring maybe 20-30 pages or so to help round out Ekhem's character). I can't think of much that I'd cut out. If you're a fan of shorter novels, think this is a good choice for you.


The Dawn has Come

The Blood of Life is a flawed gem, like Scars of the Golden Dancer before it, but I think it's considerably less flawed. NightEyes continues to improve his novel writing capabilities. Improvements like these are one of my favorite things to see in any artist, so I can't wait to read whatever book he comes out with next.

[Ty Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

NightEyes DaySpring, author of the excellent Scars of the Golden Dancer, has again hit the mark with his second novel, The Blood of Life. With an engaging, well-paced plot and a refreshing take on the Gothic horror setting, it is a welcome addition to the canon of LGBTQ furry fiction.

One of the things I loved most while reading this novel was how it was able to take on an introspective tone without compromising the flow of the narrative. We follow the (post-) life of Radic Horban, a fox forever frozen in youth after a fateful encounter one century prior, as he tries to uncover the truth behind a series of violent attacks that have struck his hometown. His likable if brooding personality permeates the pages; even if we can’t specifically relate to what it’s like to be an immortal vampire (or so I assume!), his character is easy to empathize with as we become intimately familiar with his inner world. Where I have found that other books told from the first-person perspective can struggle to find the balance between introspective asides and “plot” passages, these are interwoven in The Blood of Life nearly seamlessly. The story itself is tight, well structured, and buoyed by a strong supporting cast, most notably Radic’s romantic foil, a sweet leopard named Ekrem.

The Blood of Life’s Gothic horror trappings are firmly grounded in 19th-century Eastern Europe: gloomy, foreboding, and perfectly complementing the horror aspects of its story. And this is indeed a vampire story, not merely a story with vampires in it! I greatly enjoyed NightEyes’s approach here, borrowing from traditional vampire lore while putting a furry twist on it. The supernatural elements of the book’s characters and story feel fully enmeshed in its setting, making for a cohesive and engrossing reading experience.

My one (very minor) criticism of the novel is simply that there isn’t more of it. While I would not want to add anything that would detract from its great pacing, there are aspects of the story I would have loved to have seen further developed. In particular, Radic and Ekrem have an easy chemistry, their scenes together are strong; I found myself wanting to see more of them together. More generally, I would say that The Blood of Life's focused story gives us a glimpse into its rich setting without fully exploring it. It is excellent as a standalone novel, nothing more is required of the book itself...but, speaking for myself, I would be eager to dig in deeper.

Overall, I loved The Blood of Life from cover to cover, and I’m positive that even the most casual fans of furry fiction will as well. Wholeheartedly recommended!

[Rye Dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

(minor spoilers for general, inspecific plot beats in the second part past the //)

During the height of the industrial revolution in the twilight years of the Habsburg Empire, a century-old vampire returns to his sleepy village for the first time since he clawed out of his grave. Seeking some sort of closure or meaning to his empty existence, hiding in the shadows to conceal the monster he became, Radic instead stumbles head-first into the arms of Ekram; a bookish, thoughtful, and sympathetic leopard who can see through the monster to the fox still inside like no mortal he had ever met.

As the two grow close, they begin to unravel a mystery generations-old, as love helps Radic rediscover his [fox]manity he believed was taken from him, and the true meaning of eternal life.

//

Nighteyes presents a tale as old as time: of mortals and monsters seeing through each other's masks and learning about themselves and how to live along the way. It's difficult to put down during the lows, and thrilling during the highs. Clear care is put into fleshing out the mildly fictional world around Radic, as well as the contemporary rules of vampirism and how a man of the 19th century might realistically engage with them. Nighteyes' fondness for history is on clear display with the deeply-researched and grounded setting.

The story's mystery is both engaging and lucid, with the reader discovering just as the characters do exactly what is intended for our heroes, via the new machinations of power in a changing world that feel familiar even in our time. If the story must be criticized for anything, it's that occasionally the writing is repetitive, with characters repeating their goals out loud across consecutive chapters, or minor characters describing events witnessed by readers. For the most part the reader is appropriately trusted to remember what has happened and know what the characters intend.

On the good side of things it is clear when Nighteyes is deeply passionate or personally thrilled about a plot element or part of the setting, as the words flow readily across the paper, pulling the enraptured reader along the pages of a story the author clearly loved creating. The passion on display will keep me coming back, and hungry for more 💚

[Joshua Mousey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite the sympathy for monsters who don't want to be monsters.

As the first vampire story I've looked into in literary form, as well as the first book I read from NightEyes DaySpring, I was intrigued to kill two birds with one stone. Besides a few grammatical errors here and there, which is understandable since this is a first edition paperback copy, the standout component of The Blood of Life is the main characters. Radic is someone doing his damndest to maintain a sliver of humanity within him, especially for the sake of Ekrem, who he finds solace and comfort in, because he doesn't want to give in to the vices that plague his conscious. At times, he believes he doesn't deserve such a thing, and is bound to the fate bestowed upon him unwillingly. That lead him to make some annoying choices here and there that jeopardize his, Ekrem, and Lorilei's safety, but if they would help him at all with freeing himself and others of his curse, than by god he's going to commit to that choice. Ekrem, on the other paw, gets the sorrow of being alone, so he shares companionship, and then some, with Radic. What he's willing to do for Radic to help him can be questionable, but it's great to see him looking out for the only one who genuinely showed him love given how much of a minority he is in town. Both of them working through and discussing their problems with each other, regarding how they can make their bond last and what can possibly be done to rectify Radic curse kept me guessing on if they would remain together, or if one would perish at the end, and I was glad to have seen both of them working as hard as they could to help each other out despite the circumstances of forbidden love. This just might be the book to tickle one's fancy for furry, vampire literature, a combo you never see often. Although it didn't amp up my interest for vampires in general, I was glad to experience it here nonetheless.

[TJ Minde · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Blood of Life, NightEyes DaySpring's sophomore novel, is a period piece following vampire Radic as he digs more into his past. Overall, I think this story was really engaging, but had some issues as I read.

The overall story had my interest from jump and I was excited to see where it went. From first meeting Ekrem, the leopard who is able to bring Radic a spot of sunshine he'd been missing, to...plot points further along I don't want to spoil, I was engaged and excited to read. This is one I had to wait a few days to finsh because, at a certain point, I knew I wasn't going to stop once I continued. NightEyes knows how to craft a very interesting and engaging story.

While I loved the core story, there are bits of nitty-gritty details that rubbed me the wrong way, mostly in the form of telling instead of showing. The first example is how this story treats vampirism as a whole; instead of really showing us how the curse works in his world, it relies a lot on the reader having prior knowledge of vampire lore. There is so much in this that read--at best--as a reminder of what Radic can do or needs, when really it could have been shown.

A second, quicker example of the telling versus showing is the introduction to the vampire hunter Lorelei. When Ekrem first mentions her, Radic remembers her firing on him once in his past, but that's it. No explanation how he knows her name, knows she's a vampire hunter, no hint as to how she might have even found him. It is just given as fact as the story carries on.

This really was a good story. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next and cared about the outcome of many of the characters. This is a story I would recommend to folxs, but expect less horror, more period slice-of-life style mystery with some spicy scenes.

You know; the good, solid kinda stuff one has come to expect from NightEyes.

[Renard Avec-Histoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great read! I really enjoyed Radic as a character. You can tell that the author did a lot of research and had a solid understanding of vampire lore. I really appreciate how Radic doesn’t let the curse he was afflicted with control him. His burgeoning relationship with Ekrem is very sweet and well done. The opening scene of the book is very poignant and thematic, and it really sets the tone for the story as a whole. I highly recommend this story!

[Poofy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One temptation makes one feel whole and alive, another temptation makes one feel like a monster. I feel like we all have such struggles, even if our temptations aren't ones so drastic that results in loss of life.