Paranormal Bromance

Kitty Norville #12.5

by Carrie Vaughn

Sam has been a vampire for 15 years, and now he's having a midlife crisis. That is, if he were still human, he'd be turning 40 and having a midlife crisis. He's just met exactly the kind of woman he's always wanted -- but these days, all he really wants is blood. Maybe he could work through it, but his vampire roommates just don't understand. Wasn't unlife supposed to get easier?

This novella is set in the world of Carrie Vaughn's bestselling Kitty Norville series.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Vampires, Audiobook, Paranormal, Short Stories, Fiction

69 pages, ebook

First published December 11, 2014

About the author

Carrie Vaughn is the author more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories. She's best known for her New York Times bestselling series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. In 2018, she won the Philip K. Dick Award for Bannerless, a post-apocalyptic murder mystery. She's published over 20 novels and 100 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. She's a contributor to the Wild Cards series of shared world superhero books edited by George R. R. Martin and a graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop.

An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.

Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com

For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn

Reviews

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was funny. I liked that it was set in the Kitty Norville world, loved the role that Rick played with the geeky vamps. The big battle at the end was just what you think vamp geeks would come up with.

[Denise Lauron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a story about a set of semi-reluctant vampire roommates trying to make their way in the world. The story was quick and there wasn't much action, but it was an ok read.

[JustJams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrie Vaughn is a freaking delight. Everything she writes is just fun.

[Matthew Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun side story to the Kitty Norville universe. I really enjoyed this trio of non-standard vampires and their geeky ways. :)

[Hobart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up--emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
---
Three guys who never should've been turned, and likely wouldn't have survived as vampires if they weren't in Rick's Denver, are the focus of this novella. Since they've been turned, they camp out in their basement apartment and live largely human-ish lives. Basically, they're the kind of guys who need advice from Kitty Norville, but who've never called into her show (or even listened)

Because they're clearly the weakest, most pathetic excuses for Vampires (one sells collectibles online, another reviews video games) they're targeted as a way to Rick by an enterprising reporter. While dealing with that, Sam starts to fall for a mortal—exactly the kind of woman he would've dreamed about dating as a human, but now he's still feeling like she's out of his league.

Watching Sam and his roommates deal with his friendship with the woman on the one hand and then the reporter on the other brings out the kind of fun that Vaughn didn't often get to show in the Kitty-verse. It was a pleasant way to spend a few hours while packing/cleaning—and like I've said, any time in the world of Kitty Norville is a pleasant time.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This shows up as 12.5 in the series, but is totally not set there. It’s set where Rick is still in charge of the vampires of Denver and still his amazingly chill self.

This is a very short read that gives us an insider look at the lives of some “normal” vampires who want no part in the politics (or long game). There are some truly relatable ideas about what to do with forever, assuming you have no larger plans than become good at Xbox. This band of nerds, plus one less nerdy guy all end up being pretty excellent at just barely scraping by. We see a brief cameo by Kitty in the form of a helpful call-in made by Sam. Sam, as it turns out, has made a new friend during one of his friend’s failed attempts at making him social. I guess it actually wasn’t so much a failure, just less successful in said friend’s eyes.

Sam struggles with where to go next in this new-to-him world of having a new friend. He even goes as far as addressing the fact that he could be her father, though they look the same age. Bravo – for actually confronting this idea head on! This was a cute and quirky addition to this universe but probably totally unnecessary in the larger scheme of things. It was nice to see old Rick again, though.

[RavenT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 60-page novella was a ton of fun. It's in the Kitty Norville series, but the only connection is a call one of the characters makes to her radio show. It's about three relatively normal Gen X dudes who get turned into vampires and have to deal with life, with a bit of romance and adventure along the way. This standalone novella would be great for introducing a new reader to the series and the supernatural world in that storyverse--well, at least the vampire portion of it. I'd rate it PG for violence, but really, it's something an adult would appreciate more.

[Andover Public Library, KS]

I’ve read/listened to most of Carrie Vaughn’s works, especially her Kitty Norville series. She’s a favorite genre writer of mine. Paranormal Bromance is a novella set in the world of Kitty, but it stands alone. It’s a good jumping on point for anyone interested in a contemporary world where vampires are real. These vampires in question are not your stereotypical vampires. The main character is a video game playing nerd. This short work has wit and humor aplomb. And the narration is good. If you have any interest in this, it’s worth the short run time.

Reveiw by Tom Taylor, APL Director

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, sweet, fun, and short. With blood. Not really much bromance, just three slacker-type guys who are are roommates. They are connected to an earlier Kitty Norville book, in which they were (anonymously, at the time, I think) turned into vampires. This is 15 years later. Kitty is still doing her radio show, so she gets a cameo.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun look at the world of The Midnight Hour but with almost all new characters. A couple of favorites do make an appearance, but it's mostly new one that have a very fun little adventure all on their own. Nice little fill in that gives a slightly different look at the world. Most enjoyable.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little interlude to the Kitty saga (she does make a cameo "appearance"). It is interesting to see another side of how the "coming out" is affecting other folks. And nice to see that vampires aren't all "hot".

[Tira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. Down to earth Vampires and the actual gamer girl!
Squashing and making fun of Vamp tropes and nostalgia was the best!
My Geek Flag waves. Sam was my fav. Jack and Aaron were pains.
I enjoyed how they got it together by the end.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little story about one of Kitty's callers and his roommates.
What if regular unremarkable guys were turned into vampires and got unwillingly pulled into supernatural politics? They'd make chest armor out of collectible lunchboxes and duct tape, of course. XD

[Oleander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute short story about young vampires figuring out how to be vampires. The story takes place in the Kitty Norville world and the radio show is featured. The climax is quite fun and satisfying.

[Thomas Tymstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

If was light and fun and just what I needed. I would like more of Sam and the guys from Denver.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was ridiculous and I should not have enjoyed it as much as I did.

[Godiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun story, enjoyed it

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

With all the dramatic weight of a Scooby Doo episode- I liked the silly vampire story. Fun find.

[Loy · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a short story set in the Kitty Norville world.
Really enjoyed it

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

TLDR: I loved it.

https://klishis.com/reading/archives/...

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun, a little dark, and a nerdy cute story. Short and sweet.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Raygun ∆ Gothic · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover...... it's....so bad. but I can't actually scold anyone for it because it is literally the reason I chose to read the book. I was like, "what the f*** does this even mean? Who are these skeezeballs?"

Just a nice wholesome story about a vampire and his roommates. I do wish Sam had gotten his girl, though. It does seem like she's considering him--maybe it's just a friend, but he seems pretty happy with just having someone with common interests to spend time with.

[Glennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Kitty Norvell universe but can be read as a stand alone story. Three average guys have been living together as vampire roommates since they were turned in the same week 15 years prior. Sam plays and reviews video games and doesn’t go out much except to the club to help his roomie meet women for meals. Rick, the Master of Denver has pretty much left the three of them on their own since they were turned. When a reporter approaches them for a story but is really using it as a way to get info on Rick, Sam and his buddies now have to deal with older vamps coming after them and hope that Rick can get to them in time.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read: December 2014

Despite having a cheesy title and cover art this story was really entertaining. It introduces us to three young vampires; Sam, Jack and Aaron who were all turned into vampires around the same time in the late 1990s when they were in their twenties. They describe themselves as typical of generation X in that they don't have the burning ambition of older vampires, they are happy to flat-share, sell stuff online to make money and play Xbox games. As this story is set in the world of Kitty Norville, vampires and werewolves are now common knowledge and they can capitalize on the popularity of books like Twilight to meet the women who grew up reading it and who think vampires are sexy. Sam is our protagonist and when he meets Ginny - a human woman - at a local vampire club, the story starts to move along. The group also meet a young journalist who seems overly keen to learn everything she can about the vampires in Denver and in particular about the master vampire Rick.

Rick makes an appearance in the story, as does Kitty through The Midnight Hour when Sam calls in to ask her for dating advice.

The story can be read as a stand-alone. It actually reminded me of something that could have been written by MaryJanice Davidson as she also enjoys messing with popular vampire tropes and humanising her vampire characters.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to a 4/5 stars)

[Jenevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review first published on My Blog. Check out all my reviews there!

A short story set in the world of Kitty Norville. Sam, Jack, and Aaron are typical bachelor roommates except for the fact that they are fairly young vampires. Made in their 20s by a rouge vampire who was then taken out by the Family, the guys decided they would rather be out on their own then try to join up. Their life has turned into a fairly boring and conventional one, ordering pizza on a regular basis so they can take a few sips off the driver, playing video games, selling stuff on eBay, etc, Sam has been okay with it until he meets Ginny and starts developing a mid-life crisis filled with all the 'what-ifs' her presence brings up in him. His roommates don't understand his melancholy or his new desire to have a maid in to get the place in order.

I really enjoyed the heck out of this. Seeing a group of vampires trying to figure out life and deal with more day to day type of stuff while not being super rich, or super powerful, or super sexy as most vampires we see in books are.

[Tom Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read/listened to most of Carrie Vaughn’s works, especially her Kitty Norville series. She’s a favorite genre writer of mine. Paranormal Bromance is a novella set in the world of Kitty, but it stands alone. It’s a good jumping on point for anyone interested in a contemporary world where vampires are real. These vampires in question are not your stereotypical vampires. The main character is a video game playing nerd. This short work has wit and humor aplomb. And the narration is good. If you have any interest in this, it’s worth the short run time.

[Lindsey Mcfarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this is the best of the whole series. I loved the teen vampires learning that although they will look like teenagers forever they still have to get on with their lives. And the fight scene's great, and the romance is cool, and it has action and humour and mature flexible writing- it's a gem. Go ahead and read it even if you don't like vampires, because it shows growing up without giving up.

[Pedro Marroquín · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy divertida historia sobre un vampiro que lleva desde que se convirtió, 15 años, jugando a la play y haciendo reseñas para revistas. Y no sabe hacia donde va su vida. Y un día encuentra una chica "gamer". Y al mismo tiempo llegan unos vampiros malos a la ciudad. Y... Lo malo es que la batalla entre el prota, con sus amigos, y los malos es demasiado tonta.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is definitely one of those stories you shouldn't judge by its cover. It's a fun wee enjoyable read. And it's nice to read a story where the vampires are ... normal! I know people who are just like these guys. OK, they're not vampires of course, but it terms of personality and lifestyle.
It makes a nice change from the typical vampire story.