Vampire Verses

by LindaAnn LoSchiavo, Dawn Wilson (Editor), Giulia Massarin (Illustrator)

"Vampire Verses" explores the seductive mystique of the shadow sphere and savors the forbidden allure of encounters with the supernatural — illustrated by spooky full-page artwork.

For lovers of Gothic poetry and vampire lore, this collection captures what makes these immortals their paradoxical existence where death becomes a gateway to living more intensely.

Genres: Poetry

65 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2025

About the author

Native New Yorker and award-winner, LindaAnn LoSchiavo is a member of British Fantasy Society, Horror Writers Association, Science Fiction Poetry Association, and The Dramatists Guild.

Between 2018-2025, she has had nine chapbooks and two full-length collections released by various presses in the USA, the UK, and India.

Book Accolades: Elgin Award for "A Route Obscure and Lonely"; Chrysalis BREW Project’s Award for Excellence and The World’s Best Magazine’s Book of Excellence Award for "Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems"; and the Spotlyts Story Award from Spotlyts Magazine for "Apprenticed to the Night."

Additionally, "Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems" achieved recognition as a 3rd Place Finalist in Chrysalis BREW Project’s Readers’ Choice Awards, 2024 - 2025.

In 2023, her poetry placed as a finalist in Thirty West Publishing's "Fresh Start Contest" and in the 8th annual Stephen DiBiase contest.

LoSchiavo is a Prohibition Era historian and her Texas Guinan film won "Best Feature Documentary" at N.Y. Women's Film Fest (Dec. 2021).
― ― links ― ―
https://linktr.ee/LindaAnn.LoSchiavo

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire Verses
By: LindaAnn LoSchiavo (Author), Dawn Wilson (Editor), Giulia Massarin (Illustrator)
Publisher: Independently published
Published Date: November 28, 2025
ASIN: B0G34BPH34
Page Count: 63

Triggers: Blood imagery, predation themes, death/undead, gothic dread, horror references (including slashers), dark romance undertones.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: 💀💀

What Did I Just Walk Into?
A bite-sized chapbook that treats vampirism like a mood, a metaphor, and a mischievous party guest. It’s gothic poetry with a wink, sometimes lush and candlelit, sometimes modern and petty (yes, Dracula on a dating site), with full-page illustrations that keep the vibe spooky instead of stuffy.

Here’s What Slapped:
The range. Some poems feel like old-world velvet and grave soil, others feel like your phone buzzing at 2 a.m. with a text you absolutely should not answer.

The humor shows up at the exact right moments, especially the pop culture pieces (the “Nightmare on Elm Street” angle is wildly fun).

The collection understands the “why” behind vampire obsession, hunger, power, longing, and the delicious danger of wanting what you know will ruin you.

The artwork is not filler. It actually amplifies the atmosphere and gives your brain a shadowy hallway to pace in between poems.

What Could’ve Been Better:
If you want clean narrative arcs, this will feel more like a haunted gallery than a straight-line story.

A few poems hit so hard conceptually that you’ll wish they lingered longer, but it’s a chapbook, it vanishes like a bat the second you get attached.

Sum Up:
Reading this feels like being alone in a quiet room with the lights low, amused and slightly uneasy, the kind of book that leaves a soft bite-mark on your mood.

Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Gothic poetry, Dracula lore with modern twists, spooky illustrations, folklore-meets-pop-culture vibes, poetic explorations of desire and danger.

Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review

[Bruce Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is it about vampires that is so fascinating? Maybe it’s the notion that they once were human, now are something different—and more. Perhaps it’s that they are undead, having solved life’s greatest mystery. Or maybe it’s that they wear fancy clothes and speak with cool Eastern European accents!

In any case, vampires have cast a hypnotic gaze on readers at least since Bram Stoker penned Dracula in 1897. Award-winning poet LindaAnn LoSchiavo explores this thrilling subject in her latest collection, VAMPIRE VERSES.

While LoSchiavo writes on a wide range of subjects, she frequently returns to horror—much to the delight of her readers. This chapbook contains more than 20 pieces on the subject of vampires.

LoSchiavo shows off her range as a poet, writing in a variety of styles and in voices that range from traditional to modern. Some of the poems are spooky, some are downright funny. My personal favorite probably is “Dating the Undead,” in which a screen-obsessed young woman forms an online relationship with Count Dracula himself!

“He asks: Do you believe in fate? In an ‘ideal lost in night-mists”?
I text back “kewl”

And did I mention the amazing illustrations in this book? Well, they are wonderful, and add a great deal to the collection.

If you like vampires (and who doesn’t?), give VAMPIRE VERSES a read… preferably during the light of day, with your crucifix handy.

[Munmun Rudra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Vampire Verses” by LindaAnn LoSchiavo
“Vampire Verses” is a thrilling, erudite, and deliciously dark addition to contemporary horror poetry. LindaAnn LoSchiavo not only reanimates the vampire archetypes of bloodlust and terror but also infuses her poems with psychological nuance, feminist reclamation, and sly humour. Linda's poems glide effortlessly between gothic storytelling, folklore, and modern imagination. The book brings fresh life to vampire legends. Poems such as “The Tale of the Vintner’s Daughter,” “Revenge of the Dearg Due,” and “When Carmilla Returns, Styria Is Different” capture the eerie beauty of myth and the seduction of danger. I love the variety of techniques and styles that LoSchiavo has experimented wth. She includes Fibonacci poems, golden shovels, prose poems, and strict forms, proving herself a poet equally fluent in the uncanny and the lyrical. “Vampire Verses” is perfect for lovers of gothic literature, feminist retellings, and anyone fascinated by the immortal allure of the vampire.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Vampire Verses feels like eavesdropping on a late-night dialogue between folklore and the twenty-first century. The poems negotiate that meeting point with wit, elegance, and flashes of eeriness. They acknowledge the irresistible pull of the supernatural without exaggeration, grounding each piece in relatable human sensations: curiosity, fear, attraction, uncertainty. This is a collection for readers who enjoy poetry that invites reflection but still entertains. The imagery is vivid, the pacing nimble, and the ideas quietly persistent.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire Verses-What an intriguing read!
I read Vampire Verses in the Kindle version, which I purchased first. I then purchased the print version as I wanted to have a hard copy for the illustrations, plus the gorgeous cover is best seen “live.”

I brought to this collection a pre-conceived point of view about vampires. LoSchiavo presented the topic in different scenarios than I had expected. She married vampire history with more recent times. When this happens, it brings the reader to different, more plausible thoughts. As it should be, really.

What drew me into LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s work was the level of detail coupled with a perfect delivery. A big bonus was the illustration work. These in-depth artistic portrayals of the stories are perfect. It took me longer to read this collection because of the details. They weren’t lengthy, but deserved a concentrated read. I needed to savor each bite and let it circulate through my brain. BONUS points for a haiku surprise.

Now, I wonder what’s next along similar veins. How can LoSchiavo top this?

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

The gothic horror atmosphere found in these poems and the blend of humor, heart, and dread was so perfect for this collection of poetry. The haunting imagery found in these poems perfectly captures the bloody and visceral nature of vampirism and the supernatural draw that so many people have towards the genre and this particular supernatural creature.

The heart of these poems is so much more than the vampire angle however. It is a beautiful fusion of history, mythology, and pop culture with a poetic delivery. The poem “When We Rented ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’” as readers got a first person perspective on how vampires would respond to a slasher flick of that caliber, was so fun and engaging, and the section highlighting the impact Bram Stoker had on the genre was also so thrilling. The shifting points of view each poem had, and the way the poems delved into power dynamics in relationships, people’s fascination with death and danger, and what happens when a person’s needs overpower them, become powerful themes that bring these poems to life eloquently.

The Verdict

Memorable, thought-provoking, and enthralling, author LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s “Vampire Verses” is a must-read gothic horror collection of poems. The humorous illustrations and tidbits of knowledge and quotes regarding history and mythology found throughout the collection helped elevate the pop culture references and balance of tones found in this very atmospheric collection, readers will return to time and time again.

[jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampire Verses is a delicious blend of vampire lore, historical gothic, and modern day absurdity; a collection you can’t help but sink your teeth into!

There is something enduringly captivating about the figure of the Vampire: a creature who combines elegance and sophistication with danger and ferocity, haunting literature and cultural imagination across centuries.

LoSchiavo brings all of these elements together in this wonderfully bloody collection of poetry. Some poems lean heavily into dark, gothic horror, sending chills down your spine. Others pivot unexpectedly toward irony and humour, playfully exploring what it means to be a Vampire in a contemporary world. This contrast keeps the collection dynamic and prevents it from settling into predictability.

While many of the poems adopt a lighter or more playful tone, none feel shallow. They stand out for their craft (I was especially excited to find a Villanelle - a form you don’t come across very often), as well as their intertextual richness. LoSchiavo engages in a lively dialogue with classic vampire texts and legends such as Dracula and Carmilla, while still bringing something new to the table.

As someone who already loves vampire stories, I sometimes worry the topic can become repetitive. However, Vampire Verses reminded me just how endlessly fascinating the Vampire remains, and how many fresh angels there are still left to explore.

Thanks to NetGalley and Twisted Dreams Press for my ARC!

[Maria Parubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first ever read on NetGalley and I am very glad that it was!!

I loved the contrast between the Victorian era v modern day, enjoying some of the humor blending the two. Also, I really enjoy work with interwoven themes of sexuality and grief.

I felt like some poems could represent the grief that comes from dating from men in general and how the dating world feels almost like the underworld; being marked as prey by the men & them often sucking the life out of us if not biting us to give us immortality. The entering and reentering the of the dating scene again has its own grief too; trying to blur it all out to feel something when your half dead (broken hearted). "he taught me how to he a ghost part time"

The dating the undead text chain was funny use of previously mentioned humor between an old entity like Dracula and a modern women. How we can find nice, unique, sweet artists, slightly weird men cool & enticing, but they can also be bad like other men. We are obsessed with anything antique atm, so women today might be in aw if they actually encountered someone like him.

Count D is bored too with the endless life in his death. Now he lives his life turning others to fill that void of boredom & loneliness. The appetite can never be satiated how he was taught or forced to live (i.e. patriarchy & red pilling for current day).

Excited to check out more of the authors work! This book inspired me to write some of my own poetry too!

[Tiffany Seward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry | Gothic | Fun

Thank you to LindaAnn LoSchiavo for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Vampire Verses: Poems introduces readers to a playful and gothic world of vampiric imagination. Rather than focusing solely on traditional horror, this collection emphasizes interpretation, humor, and the unique ways poetry can engage its audience.

The poems invite discussion and reflection, and I found myself sharing one particular piece, Blood Lust, with family and friends. Each of us interpreted it differently:

"Blood Lust
His Quest
He hunts her,
Both of them victims,
His mouth poised – an open question."

This ambiguity sparks conversation and adds layers of meaning beyond the page. Some can view it as yes, they're both victims, but others might argue that only the vampire's prey is the victim.

The accompanying illustrations complement the poetry, adding visual flair without overpowering the words. I was also pleasantly surprised to notice moments that nod to classic literature, opening a poem with a gothic vampire scene reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice made me giggle, creating an unexpected connection between genres.

Vampire Verses: Poems is a fun, engaging collection that balances gothic tone with humor and invites readers to reflect and discuss. Its combination of clever poetry, Gothic lineart, and literary nods makes it unique.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the poems and accompanying illustrations in this spooky poetry collection. The first part is a collection of long and short poems, dedicated to various vampires, ranging from historical to modern settings. "An Ideal Lost in Night-Mists" (really three connected poems), was probably my favorite. We get to see things unfold backwards from the aftermath, to the start, of Dracula chatting with a college student over a dating app. It's such a twist on old classics, and not one I've seen in all the retellings I've read. The second part is poetry inspired by Bram Stoker. "Dracula Plans His Hallowe’en Soiree" is probably my favorite poem from that section, I loved the imagery of Dracula preparing for a huge Halloween party. Overall, whether short or long, these poems evoked powerful imagery, and had a lovely gothic, spooky vibe.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a unique little book of poetry that definitely subverted my expectations. Based off the cover art and blurb, I think I expected more serious, gothic-inspired poetry. However silly some of the pieces may be, I think the poems within, especially arranged together, do have a bit of the bittersweet undertone that inevitably accompanies immortality. I enjoyed part two of the book, which serves as an ode to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I think my favorite poem out of this selection was “Dracula Considers Writing a Memoir.” It’s a quiet trip down memory lane for an immortal who has nearly forgotten that he himself is a walking pillar of history.
My sincere thanks to LindaAnn LoSchiavo / Twisted Dreams Press for providing this ebook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Peter Mladinic · Rating 5 out of 5]

What attracts readers to vampires may be things that attract viewers to Bela Lugosi’s Dracula: the pale face, black cape, slicked-back hair, the intensity in his eyes. His exoticism, his mystery. Readers, frightened, do not turn away, but let themselves be taken in. The realm of the undead is cold and cozy. The vampire’s startling presence, the allure of the unknown, the pleasure of unique sensuality—LindaAnn LoSchiavo captures, and more, in poems sometimes humorous, sometimes unsettling, and always exacting, on the mark. LoSchiavo’s treatment of fixation, conflict, and a thirst for immortality individualize her Dracula; he’s an original.

[Jordan Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire Verses, Is an entertaining look at Vampires through the lens of Poetry. It takes a look at Vampires through both a historic view and a present view. One of my favorites “An Ideal Lost in Night-Mists” features Count Dracula on a dating site. The illustrations are beautifully done and really add to the poems they’re for. “Unquiet House” features 2 vampires house hunting. It is a beautiful collection strung together of vampire and Dracula through the years. I highly recommend.

I did receive this book as an ARC.

[Readergirl (Izzy) {semi-hiatus} · Rating 1 out of 5]

🦇Drink in the vampiric darkness...🦇

🧛🧛
This was a very short dark filled vampire-y book. Which i extremely unfortunately did not enjoy. There wasn't really a fixed outline of the plot as it bounced back and forth between timelines and even writing styles. Especially the writing style. It changed so frequently that it drove me kind of ABSOLUTELY NUTS.

Some parts were trying a bit too hard to be funny when they weren't while others actually were (count Dracula on the dating site? Hilarious fs).

So overall i would say a short read about vampires, interestingly written in poetry format, but definitely not for me.

1.2-stick-to-one-writing-style-please/5
🧛🧛

🎬𝓒𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓼
Rolling out credits to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the eARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.. Thank you!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was such a fun collection of poetry! I absolutely recommend reading it if you’re into vampire lore- and in a dark room, only dimly lit by candlelight for all the atmospheric, gothic vibes. The illustrations were fun- I adored how they went along with the poems! & the tributes to Bram Stoker was a nice section, I also enjoyed! Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the art work. But the poems didn't hit for me.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I thought the poetry would be Gothic and the illustrations moody, but instead the poetry is trying to be humorous and the illustrations are cartoonish. Not what i was expecting or looking for.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of poems and drawings about vampires? Sign me up! I like it when books have a theme, and this one delivers. There are various poems with illustrations in between them. The first one starts out with a twist on a quote from a Jane Austen novel. My absolute favorite was "When We Rented 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'." Imagine what it would be like if a bunch of vampires rented that movie. Would they love it or hate it? This poem made me laugh. The last in the collection is a story about dating vampires in the modern world of texting and cell phones and is told in reverse order. A nice collection written from different points of view but all relating to vampires.