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Brokeula
A broke vampire’s last ditch effort to escape the blood sucking monster of capitalism through an ill-conceived multi-level marketing scheme.
James Sugre has never been this broke before in his centuries of living. Down and out, he’s had a terrible string of luck investing in companies crippled by fraud and always late to the next crypto-fad. He spends most of his time in his coffin, too broke to go out in public.
As the video game industry reaches record-breaking heights, Sugre tries his luck one more time with his own game studio. When he encounters a game developer and self-professed fan of vampire lore named Lauren, Sugre becomes hopeful that his luck might finally be on the up-and-up.
But the market is rocky, and nothing is as stable as "un-death." Sugre learns the hard way that a dollar is worth more than a drop of blood. Trading immortality for cash, Sugre and Lauren create a—not entirely legal—business of turning humans into vampires for a fee. The business expands, but Vampire Nation has to protect their own investments, and Sugre learns the hard truth of the system he can’t escape.
James Sugre has never been this broke before in his centuries of living. Down and out, he’s had a terrible string of luck investing in companies crippled by fraud and always late to the next crypto-fad. He spends most of his time in his coffin, too broke to go out in public.
As the video game industry reaches record-breaking heights, Sugre tries his luck one more time with his own game studio. When he encounters a game developer and self-professed fan of vampire lore named Lauren, Sugre becomes hopeful that his luck might finally be on the up-and-up.
But the market is rocky, and nothing is as stable as "un-death." Sugre learns the hard way that a dollar is worth more than a drop of blood. Trading immortality for cash, Sugre and Lauren create a—not entirely legal—business of turning humans into vampires for a fee. The business expands, but Vampire Nation has to protect their own investments, and Sugre learns the hard truth of the system he can’t escape.
120 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
Michael J. Seidlinger
32 books466 followersMICHAEL J. SEIDLINGER is the Filipino American author of The Body Harvest, Anybody Home?, and other books. He has written for, among others, Wired, Buzzfeed, Thrillist, Goodreads, The Observer, Polygon, The Believer, and Publishers Weekly. He teaches at Portland State University and has led workshops at Catapult, Kettle Pond Writer's Conference, and Sarah Lawrence. You can find him at michaeljseidlinger.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 6, 2025
While I mostly enjoyed this short story that draws comparisons between vampirism and capitalism, I did also find it frustratingly repetitive as well.
Honestly this story was so short and a lot of it so repetitive that I don’t have too much to say. The book ended about how I thought it would because when you think about it, how exactly does one sustain a vampire MLM? 🤔 🧛♂️
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC In exchange for an honest review.
Honestly this story was so short and a lot of it so repetitive that I don’t have too much to say. The book ended about how I thought it would because when you think about it, how exactly does one sustain a vampire MLM? 🤔 🧛♂️
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC In exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2026
In just about every Vampire story I’ve read, the vampires have been around forever, and they are all extremely wealthy. Well, in Michael J. Seidlinger’s Brokeula, the vampires are broke. Over the years, or I should say centuries in, the Vampire James made some pretty bad investments and decisions that led him broke. What’s a guy or vampire to do? Come up with an MLM scheme, of course!
Brokeula, a 102-page book, was a fun and humorous read that conveyed some underlying messages that I appreciated.
Thank you to Books Forward PR and Author Michael J. Seidlinger for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Brokeula, a 102-page book, was a fun and humorous read that conveyed some underlying messages that I appreciated.
Thank you to Books Forward PR and Author Michael J. Seidlinger for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 1, 2026
Thank you to CLASH books for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
Brokeula is a fun and campy satire with sharp notes on late stage capitalism and consumer culture.
One would think the eternal inevitability of being a vampire would result in endless opportunity and fortune. This is not the case for James Sugre, a centuries old vampire who is down and out after a few upside-down investments. He concocts a sort of multi-level vamp scheme in order to pay off his crippling debt. Unfortunately for him, there’s always competition in capitalism.
This was a fun and quick piece. I appreciate the creativity and fun formatting; the pictures were a particularly endearing touch. So much of James Sugre’s struggles are so very relatable, particularly the vampire part… naturally.
I struggled a bit with the dialogue and breakneck pacing. There were times when the characters spoke like contemporary young adults and others where they leaned traditional Transylvanian, if you will, and It was off-putting. The characters lacked nuance or intrigue. Still, their startup endeavor was humorous and worth sticking around for!
Brokeula is a fun and campy satire with sharp notes on late stage capitalism and consumer culture.
One would think the eternal inevitability of being a vampire would result in endless opportunity and fortune. This is not the case for James Sugre, a centuries old vampire who is down and out after a few upside-down investments. He concocts a sort of multi-level vamp scheme in order to pay off his crippling debt. Unfortunately for him, there’s always competition in capitalism.
This was a fun and quick piece. I appreciate the creativity and fun formatting; the pictures were a particularly endearing touch. So much of James Sugre’s struggles are so very relatable, particularly the vampire part… naturally.
I struggled a bit with the dialogue and breakneck pacing. There were times when the characters spoke like contemporary young adults and others where they leaned traditional Transylvanian, if you will, and It was off-putting. The characters lacked nuance or intrigue. Still, their startup endeavor was humorous and worth sticking around for!
December 18, 2025
Forged with dark nihilism, which could have you thinking this is something Chuck Palahniuk had penned; whilst also being reinforced with a satirical sense of humour (I chuckled my way though it) makes Brokeula by Sidlinger one of the standout books of the year.
Ross Jeffery, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of ‘I Died Too, But They Haven’t Buried Me Yet’ & ‘The Devil’s Pocketbook’
Ross Jeffery, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of ‘I Died Too, But They Haven’t Buried Me Yet’ & ‘The Devil’s Pocketbook’
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much for providing an advanced copy of Brokeula via NetGalley. It was a pleasure to dive into Michael J. Seidlinger’s sharp, satirical world where the traditional vampire mythos meets the crushing weight of late-stage capitalism. Brokeula offers a sharp, satirical take on the "immortal vampire" trope by stripping away the usual gothic wealth and replacing it with the crushing reality of financial ruin. It is a story where vampirism serves as a direct allegory for the inhumanity of late-stage capitalism.
The Premise: Monetizing Immortality:
The story follows James Sugre, a vampire who has spent centuries making poor investments and missing trends, to the point that he can no longer afford his own coffin. Desperate to outrun ruin, he meets Lauren, and together they launch an illegal multi-level marketing scheme that turns humans into vampires for profit. The book explores the absurdity of being "unliving" while being sucked dry by a system that demands constant growth.
Strengths & Highlights:
. Sharp Commentary: The book excels as a comedic satire on how capitalism "sucks the life out of you," regardless of whether you are dirt poor or stinking rich.
. Witty Characterization: James Sugre is an "endearingly incompetent" protagonist who would likely remain destitute without Lauren’s intervention.
. Visual Flair: The inclusion of artwork throughout the book adds a unique touch to the reading experience.
. Quick Pace: At roughly 90 pages, it is a fast read that can be enjoyed in a few sittings, making its message about unsustainable resource consumption very clear.
Critiques & Observations:
1. Structural Identity: Readers noted the book sits in a strange middle ground, longer than a typical short story but shorter than a standard novel, leading some to describe it as a "novelette" or a thin novella.
2. Prose & Pacing: While the writing is engaging, it can occasionally become verbose or "wordy," with walls of commentary that some may find tiring if read in one sitting.
3. Underdeveloped Threads: Some elements, such as the promised ties to the video game industry or the inner workings of the "Vampire Nation," felt slightly rushed or left "thin on the bones" in favor of the central message.
My Perspective: Brokeula is a fun, absurd horror-comedy perfect for readers who enjoy sharp social satire. While it sacrifices deep world-building for a poignant message, its clever premise makes it a worthwhile, quick read for anyone who has ever felt "drained" by the modern economy.
The Premise: Monetizing Immortality:
The story follows James Sugre, a vampire who has spent centuries making poor investments and missing trends, to the point that he can no longer afford his own coffin. Desperate to outrun ruin, he meets Lauren, and together they launch an illegal multi-level marketing scheme that turns humans into vampires for profit. The book explores the absurdity of being "unliving" while being sucked dry by a system that demands constant growth.
Strengths & Highlights:
. Sharp Commentary: The book excels as a comedic satire on how capitalism "sucks the life out of you," regardless of whether you are dirt poor or stinking rich.
. Witty Characterization: James Sugre is an "endearingly incompetent" protagonist who would likely remain destitute without Lauren’s intervention.
. Visual Flair: The inclusion of artwork throughout the book adds a unique touch to the reading experience.
. Quick Pace: At roughly 90 pages, it is a fast read that can be enjoyed in a few sittings, making its message about unsustainable resource consumption very clear.
Critiques & Observations:
1. Structural Identity: Readers noted the book sits in a strange middle ground, longer than a typical short story but shorter than a standard novel, leading some to describe it as a "novelette" or a thin novella.
2. Prose & Pacing: While the writing is engaging, it can occasionally become verbose or "wordy," with walls of commentary that some may find tiring if read in one sitting.
3. Underdeveloped Threads: Some elements, such as the promised ties to the video game industry or the inner workings of the "Vampire Nation," felt slightly rushed or left "thin on the bones" in favor of the central message.
My Perspective: Brokeula is a fun, absurd horror-comedy perfect for readers who enjoy sharp social satire. While it sacrifices deep world-building for a poignant message, its clever premise makes it a worthwhile, quick read for anyone who has ever felt "drained" by the modern economy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Brokeula" isn't a great title. Which is kind of fitting, because it also isn't a great book. It's also not a terrible one. It's a bit weird. I don't really know how to classify books or stories according to their lengths, at roughly 90 pages or so, this is longer than a short story (that wasn't written by John Langan), yet shorter than a novel, or even novella. Is this what a "novelette" is? I don't know.
Penned by Michael J. Seidlinger, this is the story of broke vampire James Sugré, who tries to improve his unliving conditions by going all in on capitalism. There are some interesting and clever ideas in here, that sometimes get lost in the shuffle of Seidlinger's slightly verbose writing. Maybe this should have been a short story? It structurally feels like one, foregoing much of the character development (or maybe even outright characterization) and world-building that a longer book might have, in order to paint the world with broad strokes and arrive at the poignant conclusion it heads for right from the start, but... yeah, then it sometimes became too eager to explain itself in a way too wordy way, that made me go "Alright, I get it, just get on with it".
Yeah, this thing is caught between the stools, in both directions, because with more characterization, more world-building, less cheeky "I've got a message that I need to get across first and foremost"-impulses, this could have been a... I don't know how to put it... "real novel"(™). The way it is, it is clever, sometimes witty, has moments of real insight, but then it somehow manages to be too long and too short simultaneously. Plus the strange attempt at tying this to the video-game-industry, which even the book's marketing-blurb mentions, but then the story itself kind of forgets about after some token gestures in that direction, feels very underdeveloped.
Still, at under a hundred pages, it's a quick read with some good moments, so I'm giving it a 3/5. Can't say that I've read any worse "vampirism as an allegory for the unsustainability and inhumanity of late-stage capitalism"-stories lately, but... also no better ones.
Penned by Michael J. Seidlinger, this is the story of broke vampire James Sugré, who tries to improve his unliving conditions by going all in on capitalism. There are some interesting and clever ideas in here, that sometimes get lost in the shuffle of Seidlinger's slightly verbose writing. Maybe this should have been a short story? It structurally feels like one, foregoing much of the character development (or maybe even outright characterization) and world-building that a longer book might have, in order to paint the world with broad strokes and arrive at the poignant conclusion it heads for right from the start, but... yeah, then it sometimes became too eager to explain itself in a way too wordy way, that made me go "Alright, I get it, just get on with it".
Yeah, this thing is caught between the stools, in both directions, because with more characterization, more world-building, less cheeky "I've got a message that I need to get across first and foremost"-impulses, this could have been a... I don't know how to put it... "real novel"(™). The way it is, it is clever, sometimes witty, has moments of real insight, but then it somehow manages to be too long and too short simultaneously. Plus the strange attempt at tying this to the video-game-industry, which even the book's marketing-blurb mentions, but then the story itself kind of forgets about after some token gestures in that direction, feels very underdeveloped.
Still, at under a hundred pages, it's a quick read with some good moments, so I'm giving it a 3/5. Can't say that I've read any worse "vampirism as an allegory for the unsustainability and inhumanity of late-stage capitalism"-stories lately, but... also no better ones.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am a super freak for vampires and my review history will prove my love for sharp critique of capitalism, so the use of one in service of the other is, in my opinion, an inspired choice. It's a fun concept, looking at the life of the undead when you're immortal but not quite living either. Turns out, undeath is just as expensive (or more so!) than life. This is packaged up very tightly into a circular narrative that explores the rise and fall of a way out of this mess.
Unfortunately, the length left me struggling to connect to our main character, which meant his experiences didn't hit as hard as I would have liked. Additionally, though I understand something being satirical doesn't mean it has to be funny, I was disappointed that there was little that I found particularly funny in the book, other than the set up itself. I wish it had taken the premise a little more seriously, let the horror have more weight, rather than keeping things light and ironic (but not quite enough so that it totally succeeded in that direction either). It was also a shame that the summary/blurb that was provided on goodreads & netgalley covered so much of the plot of the book that there wasn't much left to surprise me in the novella itself, which I think is especially important when it's rather short and doesn't have the benefit of space to expand upon the ideas presented in the summary. The entire premise & plot is simply laid out to you, which means I didn't engage with the book itself as strongly as I already knew a lot of what would happen. Finally, I found some of the writing itself to be a little repetitive. I wish that the limited pages had been used to add to the intrigue or horror of the situation, rather than ensuring that the reader definitely got the point of something that was said. A little more space for uncertainty and mystery is never a bad thing.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, the length left me struggling to connect to our main character, which meant his experiences didn't hit as hard as I would have liked. Additionally, though I understand something being satirical doesn't mean it has to be funny, I was disappointed that there was little that I found particularly funny in the book, other than the set up itself. I wish it had taken the premise a little more seriously, let the horror have more weight, rather than keeping things light and ironic (but not quite enough so that it totally succeeded in that direction either). It was also a shame that the summary/blurb that was provided on goodreads & netgalley covered so much of the plot of the book that there wasn't much left to surprise me in the novella itself, which I think is especially important when it's rather short and doesn't have the benefit of space to expand upon the ideas presented in the summary. The entire premise & plot is simply laid out to you, which means I didn't engage with the book itself as strongly as I already knew a lot of what would happen. Finally, I found some of the writing itself to be a little repetitive. I wish that the limited pages had been used to add to the intrigue or horror of the situation, rather than ensuring that the reader definitely got the point of something that was said. A little more space for uncertainty and mystery is never a bad thing.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
tt: @theaarontodd | ig: @aarontoddreads
📖 Aaron Reads | Book Review
Brokeula x Michael J. Seidlinger
⭐ Star Rating: 3.75
🔪 AT Intensity: 2.75
Quick Plot Points: broke vampire, capitalism satire, MLM scheme, startup culture, immortality vs money, dark humor, repetitive structure
One-Sentence Take:
A weird, clever vampire satire that uses capitalism and MLM culture as its core horror, but feels a bit stretched for its length.
Review
I was hooked from the cover! A broke vampire trying to survive capitalism should not work as well as it does… but in this economy? It kind of does…
I liked the idea behind it. Vampirism is less about lore and family legacy and more about survival within a system that never lets you win. Our main vamp is immortal, and still broke, still chasing trends, still trying to find his way out. It was actually somewhat triggering/ exhausting to read considering current affairs ha. The MLM angle especially works because it taps into that same cycle of selling people a dream that ultimately benefits the people already at the top. Oof.
That said, I definitely felt a bit of repetition. The author circles the same ideas a lot, and because it sits in that middle space between short story and novella, it doesn’t fully build out the world or characters in a way that makes everything hit as hard as it could.
I would have read a full 200 page novella about these characters! I enjoyed them. laughed out loud a few times!
I appreciate what the author aimed to say and the creativity behind it. It’s clever, it’s weird, and it has moments where the message really comes through (I loved the Starbucks interview scene).
Ultimately, I just wanted it to go deeper or be tighter.
Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley & Clash!
📖 Aaron Reads | Book Review
Brokeula x Michael J. Seidlinger
⭐ Star Rating: 3.75
🔪 AT Intensity: 2.75
Quick Plot Points: broke vampire, capitalism satire, MLM scheme, startup culture, immortality vs money, dark humor, repetitive structure
One-Sentence Take:
A weird, clever vampire satire that uses capitalism and MLM culture as its core horror, but feels a bit stretched for its length.
Review
I was hooked from the cover! A broke vampire trying to survive capitalism should not work as well as it does… but in this economy? It kind of does…
I liked the idea behind it. Vampirism is less about lore and family legacy and more about survival within a system that never lets you win. Our main vamp is immortal, and still broke, still chasing trends, still trying to find his way out. It was actually somewhat triggering/ exhausting to read considering current affairs ha. The MLM angle especially works because it taps into that same cycle of selling people a dream that ultimately benefits the people already at the top. Oof.
That said, I definitely felt a bit of repetition. The author circles the same ideas a lot, and because it sits in that middle space between short story and novella, it doesn’t fully build out the world or characters in a way that makes everything hit as hard as it could.
I would have read a full 200 page novella about these characters! I enjoyed them. laughed out loud a few times!
I appreciate what the author aimed to say and the creativity behind it. It’s clever, it’s weird, and it has moments where the message really comes through (I loved the Starbucks interview scene).
Ultimately, I just wanted it to go deeper or be tighter.
Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley & Clash!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Books Forward PR for a copy of Brokeula! Here are my thoughts.
In his centuries of living as a high-end vampire, James Sugre has never been broke… until now. He invests in every potential money maker he can think of until he meets a human, Lauren, who teaches him that becoming a vampire is worth a whole lot of money.
I love a fun, quick novella that pokes fun at the current economy as well as people’s desperation to climb that financial ladder by any means necessary. This novel does that. James Sugre is a witty but desperate, conflicted main character who you can’t help but feel for. I liked him and the way he decides to throw caution to the wind in his ventures.
The pace of the novel is excellent, and it pairs horror and fantasy really beautifully with a sprinkle of satire. The financial planning and aspects of this book were super funny, and the crazy thing is we all know people that would fall for these schemes. The book also touches on how humans have used up a lot of natural resources, which puts our species in danger. Well, the vamps start using those resources too and the outcome could be quite treacherous for them.
I was surprised by how quickly I read this, and I really didn’t want to put it down. I was supposed to go to a group building lunch for a thesis writing course I am in, but I skipped it to finish my book. This could be due to my anti-social heart or my desire to see what would happen next in Brokeula.
I won’t go too much into the plot and scenarios because I don’t want spoilers. If you want a fun read, with some cool art and a wee bit o’ blood then this is a must read!
In his centuries of living as a high-end vampire, James Sugre has never been broke… until now. He invests in every potential money maker he can think of until he meets a human, Lauren, who teaches him that becoming a vampire is worth a whole lot of money.
I love a fun, quick novella that pokes fun at the current economy as well as people’s desperation to climb that financial ladder by any means necessary. This novel does that. James Sugre is a witty but desperate, conflicted main character who you can’t help but feel for. I liked him and the way he decides to throw caution to the wind in his ventures.
The pace of the novel is excellent, and it pairs horror and fantasy really beautifully with a sprinkle of satire. The financial planning and aspects of this book were super funny, and the crazy thing is we all know people that would fall for these schemes. The book also touches on how humans have used up a lot of natural resources, which puts our species in danger. Well, the vamps start using those resources too and the outcome could be quite treacherous for them.
I was surprised by how quickly I read this, and I really didn’t want to put it down. I was supposed to go to a group building lunch for a thesis writing course I am in, but I skipped it to finish my book. This could be due to my anti-social heart or my desire to see what would happen next in Brokeula.
I won’t go too much into the plot and scenarios because I don’t want spoilers. If you want a fun read, with some cool art and a wee bit o’ blood then this is a must read!
July 7, 2026
🧛🩸𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙪𝙡𝙖🩸🧛 // 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘑. 𝘚𝘦𝘪𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳
This vampire novella was so fun!
Don’t be fooled though, it’s not just another vampire story- it’s deeper than that, making overt allegorical correlations between vampirism and capitalism. The satire with a healthy injection of dark humor is brilliantly done.
The story basically centers around a vampire, James Sugre, who has gone into so much debt that he’s become quite desperate, unable to afford even leaving his house. While concocting a plan for a new video game, he meets a girl named Lauren. Together they come up with and even better plan- what they believe is a lucrative MLM vampire business that offers humans the chance to become immortal for a fee (with various benefits, depending on the package level they choose). James and Lauren learn that this semi-illegal business isn’t all blood and money, and the system James wishes to escape isn’t so easy to break free from.
I found James pretty relatable, albeit he’s a vampire. In our current times, who isn’t keeping their eyes peeled for a way to get ahead? The whole story, below the surface level, is one that certainly holds a mirror to our current societal structures and situations. The horror-comedy humor had me smirking as I turned the pages, and the charts, graphs, illustrations, flyers, and running bank balance chapter titles really added to the capitalistic theme.
Those looking for a quick vampire read that tackles deep societal issues, but will have you laughing, will surely enjoy this novella.
🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
💫 Thank you @booksforwardpr @clashbooks and @michaelseidlinger for the #gifted copy!
This vampire novella was so fun!
Don’t be fooled though, it’s not just another vampire story- it’s deeper than that, making overt allegorical correlations between vampirism and capitalism. The satire with a healthy injection of dark humor is brilliantly done.
The story basically centers around a vampire, James Sugre, who has gone into so much debt that he’s become quite desperate, unable to afford even leaving his house. While concocting a plan for a new video game, he meets a girl named Lauren. Together they come up with and even better plan- what they believe is a lucrative MLM vampire business that offers humans the chance to become immortal for a fee (with various benefits, depending on the package level they choose). James and Lauren learn that this semi-illegal business isn’t all blood and money, and the system James wishes to escape isn’t so easy to break free from.
I found James pretty relatable, albeit he’s a vampire. In our current times, who isn’t keeping their eyes peeled for a way to get ahead? The whole story, below the surface level, is one that certainly holds a mirror to our current societal structures and situations. The horror-comedy humor had me smirking as I turned the pages, and the charts, graphs, illustrations, flyers, and running bank balance chapter titles really added to the capitalistic theme.
Those looking for a quick vampire read that tackles deep societal issues, but will have you laughing, will surely enjoy this novella.
🖤🖤🖤🖤/5
💫 Thank you @booksforwardpr @clashbooks and @michaelseidlinger for the #gifted copy!
July 7, 2026
James Sugre is broke, his accounts are overdrawn. A common enough problem for the everyday person that is intensified by the fact that James is a vampire. Living in the modern world is costly and investing hasn't panned out for James. After stumbling into a gaming convention, James had an idea to create his own video game centered around his experiences as a vampire. James takes out a loan and finds Lauren, a video game developer and vampire enthusiast. However, when Lauren discovers James's truth, she develops an entirely different business model: turning humans into vampires for a fee. The profits are through the roof, but the business model isn't exactly sustainable.
Brokeula is a fun short story that mixes vampires and capitalism for an interesting twist. Since this is a short story, James's character wasn't super developed; however, his desperation is evident. I liked the idea of James and Lauren's business model, but I was intrigued by how they would sustain their rate of growth. I was interested in the process of turning humans into vampires and how they felt and functioned afterward. While the story highlights Lauren's transition and her first subject, it doesn't provide much detail. The story focuses very well on the business aspects, mirroring multi-level marketing schemes and health and wellness scams. By the end, the business's impact had significantly changed James and Lauren's outlook on immortality.
This book was received for free in exchange for an honest review.
Brokeula is a fun short story that mixes vampires and capitalism for an interesting twist. Since this is a short story, James's character wasn't super developed; however, his desperation is evident. I liked the idea of James and Lauren's business model, but I was intrigued by how they would sustain their rate of growth. I was interested in the process of turning humans into vampires and how they felt and functioned afterward. While the story highlights Lauren's transition and her first subject, it doesn't provide much detail. The story focuses very well on the business aspects, mirroring multi-level marketing schemes and health and wellness scams. By the end, the business's impact had significantly changed James and Lauren's outlook on immortality.
This book was received for free in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2026
𝖡𝖱𝖮𝖪𝖤𝖴𝖫A by Michael Seidlinger
🧛♂️ Vampire vs Capitalism | 🫠 Satirical | 🩶 Grey Morality
vibes ------×-- plot
tension -----×----
ＹＥＳ 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰:
• Crave tongue-in-cheek dark satire.
• Want relatable + jaded protagonists.
• Love unique commentary on modern capitalism.
ＮＯ 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘧:
• You expect wealthy, traditional vampires.
• You dislike completely abrupt endings.
• You prefer high-octane horror/action.
ＴＨＥ ＰＬＯＴ:
To escape total financial ruin, a centuries-old broke vampire launches a dangerous, illegal multi-level marketing scheme that turns humans into vampires for cash.
ＴＨＲＩＬＬ－Ｏ－ＭＥＴＥＲ: 🩵🩵🩵🩵🤍
Have you ever looked at your piling bills and thought, "Who actually has the funds to survive forever?
Sinking into this jaded nightmare is a deeply relatable, cynical trip that completely subverts every wealthy vampire trope you have ever met.
The narrative leans entirely into the raw, exhausting mechanics of self-sufficiency, making an ancient predator look like a dollar-store Dracula trapped in a corporate cage.
I loved the blunt writing that highlights the crushing financial pressure of a broken economic engine. It was incredibly refreshing to swap out romanticized gothic castles for a gritty, stressful business venture built on desperate choices.
The story twists into a chaotic spiral before cutting off into a cold, jaded void that mirrors the absolute burnout of the rat race. This bleak, brilliant satire will hit hardest for readers who want to watch the immortal soul get utterly crushed by the machine of modern survival.
🧛♂️ Vampire vs Capitalism | 🫠 Satirical | 🩶 Grey Morality
vibes ------×-- plot
tension -----×----
ＹＥＳ 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰:
• Crave tongue-in-cheek dark satire.
• Want relatable + jaded protagonists.
• Love unique commentary on modern capitalism.
ＮＯ 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘧:
• You expect wealthy, traditional vampires.
• You dislike completely abrupt endings.
• You prefer high-octane horror/action.
ＴＨＥ ＰＬＯＴ:
To escape total financial ruin, a centuries-old broke vampire launches a dangerous, illegal multi-level marketing scheme that turns humans into vampires for cash.
ＴＨＲＩＬＬ－Ｏ－ＭＥＴＥＲ: 🩵🩵🩵🩵🤍
Have you ever looked at your piling bills and thought, "Who actually has the funds to survive forever?
Sinking into this jaded nightmare is a deeply relatable, cynical trip that completely subverts every wealthy vampire trope you have ever met.
The narrative leans entirely into the raw, exhausting mechanics of self-sufficiency, making an ancient predator look like a dollar-store Dracula trapped in a corporate cage.
I loved the blunt writing that highlights the crushing financial pressure of a broken economic engine. It was incredibly refreshing to swap out romanticized gothic castles for a gritty, stressful business venture built on desperate choices.
The story twists into a chaotic spiral before cutting off into a cold, jaded void that mirrors the absolute burnout of the rat race. This bleak, brilliant satire will hit hardest for readers who want to watch the immortal soul get utterly crushed by the machine of modern survival.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review
Thank you, NetGalley and CLASH Books, for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 stars.
This was a quick and easy novella to read. I've taken my time with this story and read smaller chunks over time, which helped me enjoy it better. I think I would've been overloaded with commentary if I finished this in one sitting.
Speaking of, I love the comedic commentary on capitalism and how it can just suck the life out of you (pun intended). The author explored the different sides of it through his vampire protagonist. He went from dirt poor to stinking rich in what seems like a blink, and both extremes seem like a miserable time.
Even with immortality, you'll still get the short end of the stick if you don't have any money. And if you do have the money to last several lifetimes, it's never going to be enough.
The protagonist, James Sugre, is also hilariously incompetent and would still be dirt poor if it weren't for Lauren. The Vampire Nation was set up to be this scary organization, but the hypocritical steps they took to punish James are also hilarious.
I also loooove the artwork included in the novella!
Some things I found lacking were the rushed ending. The walls of commentary can also be tiring at times.
This is an overall nice, quick read if you're looking for an absurd horror comedy with some worthwhile things to say about capitalism and the power of money.
Thank you, NetGalley and CLASH Books, for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 stars.
This was a quick and easy novella to read. I've taken my time with this story and read smaller chunks over time, which helped me enjoy it better. I think I would've been overloaded with commentary if I finished this in one sitting.
Speaking of, I love the comedic commentary on capitalism and how it can just suck the life out of you (pun intended). The author explored the different sides of it through his vampire protagonist. He went from dirt poor to stinking rich in what seems like a blink, and both extremes seem like a miserable time.
Even with immortality, you'll still get the short end of the stick if you don't have any money. And if you do have the money to last several lifetimes, it's never going to be enough.
The protagonist, James Sugre, is also hilariously incompetent and would still be dirt poor if it weren't for Lauren. The Vampire Nation was set up to be this scary organization, but the hypocritical steps they took to punish James are also hilarious.
I also loooove the artwork included in the novella!
Some things I found lacking were the rushed ending. The walls of commentary can also be tiring at times.
This is an overall nice, quick read if you're looking for an absurd horror comedy with some worthwhile things to say about capitalism and the power of money.
June 22, 2026
So I picked this up and honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. A broke vampire? Okay, I’m in.
James Sugre is a vampire who just can’t catch a break financially, and the longer the story goes on the more broke he gets, which I absolutely loved. But his fortune changes and his bank account starts to flourish, the question is, at what cost?
He spends a lot of time in his coffin, custom stitched with a design he came up with on the spot, which tells you everything you need to know about him really. He’s also a self-harming vampire, which adds another layer to him as a character.
Then along comes Lauren, a game developer and self-professed vampire fan, and together they hatch a plan — turning humans into vampires for cash. Because of course they do.
Now before you assume this is some gory horror fest, it really isn’t. Yes there are vampires, yes there is death, but it never goes full gore. This is actually a story about greed and consequence. About what happens when you start trading immortality for cash. It’s dark, it’s funny, and it’s got something to say.
At only 116 pages the pacing is spot on, the story is easy to follow, and I read the whole thing in one sitting. So if you’re looking for something to tick off your Goodreads target this is a brilliant shout.
Overall a really interesting read and it’s got me wanting to explore more of Michael J. Seidlinger’s work. Definitely one to check out.
James Sugre is a vampire who just can’t catch a break financially, and the longer the story goes on the more broke he gets, which I absolutely loved. But his fortune changes and his bank account starts to flourish, the question is, at what cost?
He spends a lot of time in his coffin, custom stitched with a design he came up with on the spot, which tells you everything you need to know about him really. He’s also a self-harming vampire, which adds another layer to him as a character.
Then along comes Lauren, a game developer and self-professed vampire fan, and together they hatch a plan — turning humans into vampires for cash. Because of course they do.
Now before you assume this is some gory horror fest, it really isn’t. Yes there are vampires, yes there is death, but it never goes full gore. This is actually a story about greed and consequence. About what happens when you start trading immortality for cash. It’s dark, it’s funny, and it’s got something to say.
At only 116 pages the pacing is spot on, the story is easy to follow, and I read the whole thing in one sitting. So if you’re looking for something to tick off your Goodreads target this is a brilliant shout.
Overall a really interesting read and it’s got me wanting to explore more of Michael J. Seidlinger’s work. Definitely one to check out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've previously read another book from Seidlinger--the Body Harvest (loved it)--and the vibe of this one is so different it's almost hard to believe they were written by the same person. This book follows James Sugre, a down on his luck vampire, as he digs his way out of financial desperation. To do so, he starts charging humans to turn them into vampires, quickly building an empire.
This book was just super fun to a read. It's quick and there's not a ton of depth to the characters, but that doesn't even matter. It's not what this book is for. It's just a quirky and fun story. I loved the little charts and graphs and all of the detail showing us that this thing is run like any other ruthless corporation. Our MC is successful, and at the end we're left with the impression that maybe he didn't get all of what he wanted out of it--not to mention he's broken the vampire code by turning people the way that he is. The only thing I think might've added to this is a little more interaction between James and the Vampire Nation. We hear about it but see very little of it in action. All in all I would definitely recommend this book if you're at all into vampires.
And let me just say I'd love for Seidlinger to give us an answer to the big question--what happens when everyone's a vampire??
Thanks to Net Galley and CLASH for giving me the chance to read this ARC!
This book was just super fun to a read. It's quick and there's not a ton of depth to the characters, but that doesn't even matter. It's not what this book is for. It's just a quirky and fun story. I loved the little charts and graphs and all of the detail showing us that this thing is run like any other ruthless corporation. Our MC is successful, and at the end we're left with the impression that maybe he didn't get all of what he wanted out of it--not to mention he's broken the vampire code by turning people the way that he is. The only thing I think might've added to this is a little more interaction between James and the Vampire Nation. We hear about it but see very little of it in action. All in all I would definitely recommend this book if you're at all into vampires.
And let me just say I'd love for Seidlinger to give us an answer to the big question--what happens when everyone's a vampire??
Thanks to Net Galley and CLASH for giving me the chance to read this ARC!
July 22, 2026
Conceptually, Brokeula has a very fun conceit: vampires but without luxury. We are thrown into James world of being a vampire with nothing, who is desperately trying to regain his foothold in the "Vampire Nation" at large. With the costs of living rising by the day, he sees his bank account drop lower and lower with no foreseeable change.
In his hunt to resolve his financial woes, James stumbles into a series of circumstances that eventually turns into a vampire creation MLM scheme. What follows is a series of morally scrupulous acts that fluff up his bank account, but not his social standing.
While the premise is clever, and once the story gets moving it offers a sharp critique on capitalism, there isn't a lot of meat to the story itself.
One of the things I think is missing is some backstory. The circumstances to how James himself was turned, or details on his falling out with "Vampire Nation." How long has James been a vampire, and how he so out of touch with common cultural touchstones of current society? What are the costs of this blood elixir that only the height of vampire elites are able to enjoy?
For a novella it takes a little time to get it's pacing, and once it gets going it's a quick and funny satire. However, I just was left wanting more horror.
Thank you to Clash Books and Books Foward PR for an advanced copy of this title which is out now!
In his hunt to resolve his financial woes, James stumbles into a series of circumstances that eventually turns into a vampire creation MLM scheme. What follows is a series of morally scrupulous acts that fluff up his bank account, but not his social standing.
While the premise is clever, and once the story gets moving it offers a sharp critique on capitalism, there isn't a lot of meat to the story itself.
One of the things I think is missing is some backstory. The circumstances to how James himself was turned, or details on his falling out with "Vampire Nation." How long has James been a vampire, and how he so out of touch with common cultural touchstones of current society? What are the costs of this blood elixir that only the height of vampire elites are able to enjoy?
For a novella it takes a little time to get it's pacing, and once it gets going it's a quick and funny satire. However, I just was left wanting more horror.
Thank you to Clash Books and Books Foward PR for an advanced copy of this title which is out now!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you so much NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review <3
the theme of this book is so insanely fun and clever to me. a broke vampire trapped in the shackles of capitalism?! sign me the hell up. were so used to rich, world dominating vampires that getting the complete opposite, a perspective id never even considered, felt like it had the potential to be something really special.
i genuinely loved the characters and especially the dynamic between the vampire and the FMC. unfortunately, and I do think this is largely because the book is so short, the story ended up feeling quite superficial. everything moved so quickly that there was no real time to fully sink into any moment or idea before it rushed on to the next.
i would love to see this concept expanded into a longer and more fleshed out story. i wanted deeper character development, more time spent building their relationship, and a stronger focus on the events and the creation of their new company. this world and these characters deserved more room to breathe.
a fun and creative idea that left me wishing there had simply been more of it - but that i did still have so so much fun with!
the theme of this book is so insanely fun and clever to me. a broke vampire trapped in the shackles of capitalism?! sign me the hell up. were so used to rich, world dominating vampires that getting the complete opposite, a perspective id never even considered, felt like it had the potential to be something really special.
i genuinely loved the characters and especially the dynamic between the vampire and the FMC. unfortunately, and I do think this is largely because the book is so short, the story ended up feeling quite superficial. everything moved so quickly that there was no real time to fully sink into any moment or idea before it rushed on to the next.
i would love to see this concept expanded into a longer and more fleshed out story. i wanted deeper character development, more time spent building their relationship, and a stronger focus on the events and the creation of their new company. this world and these characters deserved more room to breathe.
a fun and creative idea that left me wishing there had simply been more of it - but that i did still have so so much fun with!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This review was written after reading the ARC from NetGalley. All Opinions Are Entirely My Own
I did have a lot of enjoyment with this book.
Positives:
1. The humour was very good. I did find myself laughing at certain comments and jokes throughout and would have 100% read a full length book with this style of humour.
2. The concept was truly unique. I would have read a full length book about this and been very impressed. I think the concept was big enough to be a 400 page book, especially if we delved into the morality of man.
3. For such a short book I was truly impressed. I read it in one sitting and wished there were more pages. I especially enjoyed the beginning with the comic-on event. This opening truly set the tone of the book perfectly !
Improvements:
1. The pacing was too quick. This book took place over several years and it was a little difficult to keep up. However, I do believe this was due to the book being under 300 pages long. If we would have had 400-500 pages I do believe the author would have been more in depth.
2. More character depth was needed. I did feel as though the FMC was introduced and immediately thrown into our MMC life. I needed more of a somewhat realistic reaction at the revelation of our MMC not being human.
I did have a lot of enjoyment with this book.
Positives:
1. The humour was very good. I did find myself laughing at certain comments and jokes throughout and would have 100% read a full length book with this style of humour.
2. The concept was truly unique. I would have read a full length book about this and been very impressed. I think the concept was big enough to be a 400 page book, especially if we delved into the morality of man.
3. For such a short book I was truly impressed. I read it in one sitting and wished there were more pages. I especially enjoyed the beginning with the comic-on event. This opening truly set the tone of the book perfectly !
Improvements:
1. The pacing was too quick. This book took place over several years and it was a little difficult to keep up. However, I do believe this was due to the book being under 300 pages long. If we would have had 400-500 pages I do believe the author would have been more in depth.
2. More character depth was needed. I did feel as though the FMC was introduced and immediately thrown into our MMC life. I needed more of a somewhat realistic reaction at the revelation of our MMC not being human.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The biggest thanks to CLASH books and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
First of all, I think this title Rocks I'm sure some may find it to be corny, but it's what Immediately made this book interesting to me.
Then I read the premise which is a very neat match to what I like to read. I'm always down for a fun(ky) vampire story And a critique of capitalism.
I'm sure some folks will say that the critique is very on the nose (because it is), maybe even too much (and to each their own) but I actually liked how on the nose it was. I think it was a great match with the title (which is also on the nose).
The story was definitely very fast paced - and I like my stories to be fast paced - but I feel like sometimes it maybe went a bit too fast and it could've gone a bit deeper into certain elements, such as providing more context for the Vampire Nation and a bit more elaborating on the characters themselves. It did tell enough to follow the storyline, but in the end it left me wanting more, especially a deeper understanding of characters and especially this world.
All in all, I did have a good time and the book sure read like a breeze so absolutely zero complaints there!
First of all, I think this title Rocks I'm sure some may find it to be corny, but it's what Immediately made this book interesting to me.
Then I read the premise which is a very neat match to what I like to read. I'm always down for a fun(ky) vampire story And a critique of capitalism.
I'm sure some folks will say that the critique is very on the nose (because it is), maybe even too much (and to each their own) but I actually liked how on the nose it was. I think it was a great match with the title (which is also on the nose).
The story was definitely very fast paced - and I like my stories to be fast paced - but I feel like sometimes it maybe went a bit too fast and it could've gone a bit deeper into certain elements, such as providing more context for the Vampire Nation and a bit more elaborating on the characters themselves. It did tell enough to follow the storyline, but in the end it left me wanting more, especially a deeper understanding of characters and especially this world.
All in all, I did have a good time and the book sure read like a breeze so absolutely zero complaints there!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What if a vampire started a multi-level-marketing scheme? Brokeula tells us.
A cash strapped vampire makes a desperate attempt to outrun financial ruin by diving headfirst into a risky business venture. After centuries of bad investments and missed trends, James Sugre is too broke to afford even his coffin. His luck changes when he meets Lauren. Together, the pair take a darker path, monetizing immortality itself through an illegal scheme that turns humans into vampires for profit.
Seidlinger’s goal for this novella is clear: showing the overlap between vampirism and capitalism. I found this story well written and engaging. I enjoyed my time with James and have always thought that somewhere in the vampire-world there had to be at least one vampire who didn't become financial sound. We finally get his story. It is a fun satire and sharp commentary on capitalism, though I would have loved more character development. Overall, there is not much meat on the bones of this novella, but its message is very clear. Sucking resources dry is never sustainable.
Thanks to CLASH Books and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A cash strapped vampire makes a desperate attempt to outrun financial ruin by diving headfirst into a risky business venture. After centuries of bad investments and missed trends, James Sugre is too broke to afford even his coffin. His luck changes when he meets Lauren. Together, the pair take a darker path, monetizing immortality itself through an illegal scheme that turns humans into vampires for profit.
Seidlinger’s goal for this novella is clear: showing the overlap between vampirism and capitalism. I found this story well written and engaging. I enjoyed my time with James and have always thought that somewhere in the vampire-world there had to be at least one vampire who didn't become financial sound. We finally get his story. It is a fun satire and sharp commentary on capitalism, though I would have loved more character development. Overall, there is not much meat on the bones of this novella, but its message is very clear. Sucking resources dry is never sustainable.
Thanks to CLASH Books and NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the title, loved the premise, loved the biting* satire of capitalism (even the immortal undead cannot escape being crushed within its cogs!), but ultimately I wanted MORE; both longer in length and more detail. I can appreciate a snappy novella (novelette?), but at times this story felt like the quick sketch of an idea to be fleshed out later, synopsis-like in its delivery: this happens, then this happens, and then this...
The setup is simple: James is a broke-ass vampire, beaten down again and again by failed investments. He may be undead, but he's not immune to the whims of the stock market or the elites of his kind, Vampire Nation, who run it all for those who drink blood. I won't offer more of a summary because it'll give too much away, but James is a hapless vampire a la What We Do In The Shadows but definitely having less fun than our favorite Staten Island ghouls. I think if you go into this one expecting it to be more like a short story, you'll enjoy the hell out of it. 3.5/5; rounding up to 4 stars where necessary. Big thanks to CLASH Books & Michael Seidlinger for the e-ARC via NetGalley!
*pun unintended but absolutely invited inside!
The setup is simple: James is a broke-ass vampire, beaten down again and again by failed investments. He may be undead, but he's not immune to the whims of the stock market or the elites of his kind, Vampire Nation, who run it all for those who drink blood. I won't offer more of a summary because it'll give too much away, but James is a hapless vampire a la What We Do In The Shadows but definitely having less fun than our favorite Staten Island ghouls. I think if you go into this one expecting it to be more like a short story, you'll enjoy the hell out of it. 3.5/5; rounding up to 4 stars where necessary. Big thanks to CLASH Books & Michael Seidlinger for the e-ARC via NetGalley!
*pun unintended but absolutely invited inside!
Review of advance copy
4 ⭐ ARC Review -
TLDR; A quick, enjoyable satirical take on a broke vampires hungry for money.
🧛🏻For Fans of:
- vampires
- satire
- horror
- fast-paced
- questioning life
- novella (120pgs)
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
What happens when a vampire makes the wrong investments and ends up thinking he’s going to be broke for the rest of forever?
You get a multi-level marketing vampire, duh.
That’s essentially what happens in Brokula and I enjoyed seeing how it all played out.
The drawings, graphs, charts, and flyers between the chapters (along with the bank account balances) kept me from ever being confused about timeline and did a great job of seeing the scene for every chapter.
It was a short read but I loved seeing the character arc from what he wants out of his eternal life when he’s broke, to what his future is at the end of the book.
🖤 Thank you to author Michael J. Seidlinger, publisher Clash Books, and Books Forward PR for the physical advanced reader copy (ARC)!
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Brokula by Michael J. Seidlinger
📅 Release Date: July 7, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5
TLDR; A quick, enjoyable satirical take on a broke vampires hungry for money.
🧛🏻For Fans of:
- vampires
- satire
- horror
- fast-paced
- questioning life
- novella (120pgs)
✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
What happens when a vampire makes the wrong investments and ends up thinking he’s going to be broke for the rest of forever?
You get a multi-level marketing vampire, duh.
That’s essentially what happens in Brokula and I enjoyed seeing how it all played out.
The drawings, graphs, charts, and flyers between the chapters (along with the bank account balances) kept me from ever being confused about timeline and did a great job of seeing the scene for every chapter.
It was a short read but I loved seeing the character arc from what he wants out of his eternal life when he’s broke, to what his future is at the end of the book.
🖤 Thank you to author Michael J. Seidlinger, publisher Clash Books, and Books Forward PR for the physical advanced reader copy (ARC)!
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!
📚 Book: Brokula by Michael J. Seidlinger
📅 Release Date: July 7, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️4.5 Immortal side hustles
💭 Imagine:
Waking up to another overdraft notification.
-$58.64
Hunting humans is illegal, & besides, cheap blood is full of diseases & barely keeps the hunger away for a day. The premium synthetic stuff lasts nearly four days, buuut unless you've got money, that's someone else's luxury.
You head to the mirror.
Nothing.
Oh, right. Reflections are a subscription now.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Maybe a video game company fueled by microtransactions is the answer. Orrr maybe the real money is in selling immortality itself. 💡
Welcome to Brokeula.
Michael J. Seidlinger takes classic vampire lore & turns it into a sharp satire where wealth determines everything, even how long you can stay fed. It's funny, absurd, & honestly super relatable. Because apparently even after centuries of being alive, you can still be one bad bill away from disaster.
×̷̷͜×̷ Why you need to read this immediately:
🍷 It’s honestly just so refreshing: We finally get a vampire who is stressing over his bank account instead of a love triangle.
🍷 It hits a little too close to home: The vampire world Seidlinger created feels real. Turns out, not even eternal life can save you from sub fees & cost-of-living spikes.
🍷 It’s genuinely hilarious: Watching a centuries-old creature of the night panic over the exact same financial chaos we deal w/ every day makes for such a fun read.
Big thanks to @clashbooks & @michaelseidlinger for my gifted copy!
💭 Imagine:
Waking up to another overdraft notification.
-$58.64
Hunting humans is illegal, & besides, cheap blood is full of diseases & barely keeps the hunger away for a day. The premium synthetic stuff lasts nearly four days, buuut unless you've got money, that's someone else's luxury.
You head to the mirror.
Nothing.
Oh, right. Reflections are a subscription now.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Maybe a video game company fueled by microtransactions is the answer. Orrr maybe the real money is in selling immortality itself. 💡
Welcome to Brokeula.
Michael J. Seidlinger takes classic vampire lore & turns it into a sharp satire where wealth determines everything, even how long you can stay fed. It's funny, absurd, & honestly super relatable. Because apparently even after centuries of being alive, you can still be one bad bill away from disaster.
×̷̷͜×̷ Why you need to read this immediately:
🍷 It’s honestly just so refreshing: We finally get a vampire who is stressing over his bank account instead of a love triangle.
🍷 It hits a little too close to home: The vampire world Seidlinger created feels real. Turns out, not even eternal life can save you from sub fees & cost-of-living spikes.
🍷 It’s genuinely hilarious: Watching a centuries-old creature of the night panic over the exact same financial chaos we deal w/ every day makes for such a fun read.
Big thanks to @clashbooks & @michaelseidlinger for my gifted copy!
July 10, 2026
Thank you so much to Books Forward for sending me an ARC of Brokeula!
I don’t think I’ve ever felt more seen by a character than I did with James Sugre, a “dollar store Dracula.” & I’m 100% referring to the fact that this guy is broke, broke.
On a more serious note, Brokeula is a satirical horror novella about a “broke vampire’s last-ditch effort to escape the blood-sucking monster of capitalism through an ill-conceived multi-level marketing scheme” & this take on Dracula isn’t like anything I’ve read before.
Brokeula had me cackling at times; some of the comments hit so close to home, it took me off guard 😅. & due to the novella length story, this was an easy quick read.
However, although the concept was different than other vampire stories & was extremely hard-hitting with commentary on late stage capitalism, the actual story itself didn’t have a lot of umph to it. I didn’t have any reason to care about the characters or anything that was happening outside of “lol capitalism sucks.”
So, although I definitely enjoyed the concept & a bit of the humor, I didn’t necessarily love the entire ride.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt more seen by a character than I did with James Sugre, a “dollar store Dracula.” & I’m 100% referring to the fact that this guy is broke, broke.
On a more serious note, Brokeula is a satirical horror novella about a “broke vampire’s last-ditch effort to escape the blood-sucking monster of capitalism through an ill-conceived multi-level marketing scheme” & this take on Dracula isn’t like anything I’ve read before.
Brokeula had me cackling at times; some of the comments hit so close to home, it took me off guard 😅. & due to the novella length story, this was an easy quick read.
However, although the concept was different than other vampire stories & was extremely hard-hitting with commentary on late stage capitalism, the actual story itself didn’t have a lot of umph to it. I didn’t have any reason to care about the characters or anything that was happening outside of “lol capitalism sucks.”
So, although I definitely enjoyed the concept & a bit of the humor, I didn’t necessarily love the entire ride.
August 8, 2026
Huge thank you to Books Forward and CLASH for an advanced copy of this book!
“Your living situation doesn’t fit with the lore. You’re like a dollar store Dracula.”
I never encountered a vampire novel where because the vampire is immortal, he has to figure out how to pay for normal, human expenses just like everyone else, so that right there was a unique spin on vampire survival. James Sugré has survived centuries, but somehow the thing that finally gets him is overdraft fees, not a hunter with a stake. The events that led him to his video game idea and meeting Lauren were pretty funny, and watching a centuries-old vampire get wrecked by crypto and startup culture is a genuinely fun ride.
I was surprised by how quickly he agreed to Lauren's ideas, but since James is desperate and the book is only 115 pages long, I let it slide.
If you want something quick and different, this is your book. Perfect for an airport layover, a weekend coffee shop read, anything where you want to start and finish a book in one sitting. Fun, weird, and surprisingly sharp about money and survival, but make it vampire.
3.5⭐️ rounded up
“Your living situation doesn’t fit with the lore. You’re like a dollar store Dracula.”
I never encountered a vampire novel where because the vampire is immortal, he has to figure out how to pay for normal, human expenses just like everyone else, so that right there was a unique spin on vampire survival. James Sugré has survived centuries, but somehow the thing that finally gets him is overdraft fees, not a hunter with a stake. The events that led him to his video game idea and meeting Lauren were pretty funny, and watching a centuries-old vampire get wrecked by crypto and startup culture is a genuinely fun ride.
I was surprised by how quickly he agreed to Lauren's ideas, but since James is desperate and the book is only 115 pages long, I let it slide.
If you want something quick and different, this is your book. Perfect for an airport layover, a weekend coffee shop read, anything where you want to start and finish a book in one sitting. Fun, weird, and surprisingly sharp about money and survival, but make it vampire.
3.5⭐️ rounded up
December 22, 2025
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a vampire? well as it turns out you’d have the same problems as the living! This book delves into the life of James Sugre, a broke vampire, as he tries to find a way to make some money without angering the Vampire Nation, leading to him creating a pyramid scheme for turning people into vampires. I do wish we had gotten a chance to have more plot development as certain steps were jumped in the business process that could have been interesting to explore.
Stylistically I really enjoyed using his bank balance as a form of chapter title, helping segregate the story into different stages of success. I also really enjoyed the drawings dotted throughout keeping things light hearted. For such a short book though I think the spreadsheets and graphs could have been left out as they were very difficult to read and took up quite a bit of space without providing any benefit to the narrative.
For lovers of vampires in need of a quick easy read I’d say pick this up when it comes out and decide for yourself if it’s the life you want!
Stylistically I really enjoyed using his bank balance as a form of chapter title, helping segregate the story into different stages of success. I also really enjoyed the drawings dotted throughout keeping things light hearted. For such a short book though I think the spreadsheets and graphs could have been left out as they were very difficult to read and took up quite a bit of space without providing any benefit to the narrative.
For lovers of vampires in need of a quick easy read I’d say pick this up when it comes out and decide for yourself if it’s the life you want!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5
Brokeula is a quirky, fast-paced horror-comedy that blends vampires, corporate greed, and MLM culture into a clever satire. It's absurd and funny. Proving that even immortality can't save you from bad financial decisions.
James Sugre is such a disaster of a protagonist. Watching a centuries-old vampire repeatedly make terrible investment choices and then stumble into an even worse business idea made for plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
The humour is definitely the highlight, but beneath all the ridiculousness is a sharp critique of capitalism, wealth, and the endless chase for more.
The artwork and formatting gave it extra personality and made the reading experience feel unique. At times the dialogue threw me off a bit. Even so, Brokeula is a fun, weird, and entertaining read that delivers plenty of laughs alongside some surprisingly thoughtful observations about money, consumerism, and modern society.
Thank you @booksforwardpr & Michael J. Seidlinger for the #gifted copy!
All opinions are my own!
Brokeula is a quirky, fast-paced horror-comedy that blends vampires, corporate greed, and MLM culture into a clever satire. It's absurd and funny. Proving that even immortality can't save you from bad financial decisions.
James Sugre is such a disaster of a protagonist. Watching a centuries-old vampire repeatedly make terrible investment choices and then stumble into an even worse business idea made for plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
The humour is definitely the highlight, but beneath all the ridiculousness is a sharp critique of capitalism, wealth, and the endless chase for more.
The artwork and formatting gave it extra personality and made the reading experience feel unique. At times the dialogue threw me off a bit. Even so, Brokeula is a fun, weird, and entertaining read that delivers plenty of laughs alongside some surprisingly thoughtful observations about money, consumerism, and modern society.
Thank you @booksforwardpr & Michael J. Seidlinger for the #gifted copy!
All opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A hilarious and surreal novella about a broke vampire and all of his audacity.
Imagine being gifted with immortality but being broke the entire time? I love taking the trope of vampires living in castles and mansions and just flipping it on it's head. Immortality isn't so fun if you have to work forever and can never retire.
Our main character, James, is a fairly new vampire doesn't have funds for the lavish lifestyle he craves. With all the audacity of a mediocre white man, he decides he's going to start a video game company, without ever knowing anything about coding or the videogame industry. It all spirals from there as he accidentally stumbles from success to success.
What to expect
🧛 Dark comedy novella
🧛 Dollarstore Dracula (positive)
🧛 Laugh out loud
🧛 Trust cost of immortality
🧛 Criticism of capitalism
🧛 Everyone is a sucker (polysemy)
This book is best read while buying VIP tickets to SuckerCon, and investing your lifesavings into an MLM.
Imagine being gifted with immortality but being broke the entire time? I love taking the trope of vampires living in castles and mansions and just flipping it on it's head. Immortality isn't so fun if you have to work forever and can never retire.
Our main character, James, is a fairly new vampire doesn't have funds for the lavish lifestyle he craves. With all the audacity of a mediocre white man, he decides he's going to start a video game company, without ever knowing anything about coding or the videogame industry. It all spirals from there as he accidentally stumbles from success to success.
What to expect
🧛 Dark comedy novella
🧛 Dollarstore Dracula (positive)
🧛 Laugh out loud
🧛 Trust cost of immortality
🧛 Criticism of capitalism
🧛 Everyone is a sucker (polysemy)
This book is best read while buying VIP tickets to SuckerCon, and investing your lifesavings into an MLM.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
As soon as I saw the cover and premise it was one of those “I need to read this immediately” books —and it was darkly fun.
It’s short, weird, and actually really funny.
Vampires + capitalism? I’m sold
I loved the quirky extras like the drawings and charts—they added such a fun, chaotic energy to the story and made it feel super unique.
My only issue was the pacing. Everything moved so fast that I barely had time to settle into one idea before we were onto the next. I also found myself a little confused about the timeline—like, are we talking days, months, years? It felt rushed at times.
A broke vampire, desperate to escape eternal financial ruin, dives into a questionable multi-level marketing scheme—turning humans into vampires for profit—only to learn that capitalism might be the real monster he can’t outrun.
It’s a super quick (about 115 pages), entertaining read that’s equal parts absurd and clever. Definitely worth picking up if you want something different and darkly funny.
It’s short, weird, and actually really funny.
Vampires + capitalism? I’m sold
I loved the quirky extras like the drawings and charts—they added such a fun, chaotic energy to the story and made it feel super unique.
My only issue was the pacing. Everything moved so fast that I barely had time to settle into one idea before we were onto the next. I also found myself a little confused about the timeline—like, are we talking days, months, years? It felt rushed at times.
A broke vampire, desperate to escape eternal financial ruin, dives into a questionable multi-level marketing scheme—turning humans into vampires for profit—only to learn that capitalism might be the real monster he can’t outrun.
It’s a super quick (about 115 pages), entertaining read that’s equal parts absurd and clever. Definitely worth picking up if you want something different and darkly funny.
December 11, 2025
James Sugre is a broke-ass vampire who can’t even afford his own reflection. After sinking his money into one failed get-rich scheme after another, he’s now immortal and in debt - truly the worst combo.
Spotting the boom in video games, he decides this is his last shot at making it big. But when he meets Laura, someone he’s supposed to be interviewing for his company, the two of them pivot and turn Bloodsucker LLC into a full-on MLM:
1. Get turned into a vampire
2. Get your next meal
3. Convince your meal to get turned
4. Receive your assigned role
So capitalism, but make it undead.
I really appreciated the satire. Capitalism is a bitch, and it’s funny watching it haunt the undead too. But after a while, the story starts looping through the same conundrum, over and over. James’s inner monologue drones on, he fades into the background, and by the halfway mark the plot just… loses steam. His constant self-doubt becomes exhausting, and the ending repeats the same pattern of self-destruction, but with less impact.
There’s great potential here, even as a novella, but it fizzles hard in the second half.
Thank you NetGalley and CLASH Books for the e-ARC!
Spotting the boom in video games, he decides this is his last shot at making it big. But when he meets Laura, someone he’s supposed to be interviewing for his company, the two of them pivot and turn Bloodsucker LLC into a full-on MLM:
1. Get turned into a vampire
2. Get your next meal
3. Convince your meal to get turned
4. Receive your assigned role
So capitalism, but make it undead.
I really appreciated the satire. Capitalism is a bitch, and it’s funny watching it haunt the undead too. But after a while, the story starts looping through the same conundrum, over and over. James’s inner monologue drones on, he fades into the background, and by the halfway mark the plot just… loses steam. His constant self-doubt becomes exhausting, and the ending repeats the same pattern of self-destruction, but with less impact.
There’s great potential here, even as a novella, but it fizzles hard in the second half.
Thank you NetGalley and CLASH Books for the e-ARC!
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