Vampire Menstrual Syndrome: A Novel

by S.C. Hunter

In this feminist horror-comedy, one woman’s first day of her period goes spectacularly wrong when she’s sacrificed to a dark god by a cult of entitled teenagers and wakes up undead, hormonal, and fighting for her afterlife.

And you thought cramps were bad….

Vanessa’s life is perfectly ordinary. She goes to university, rooms with her lifelong best friend Wyatt, and decorates cakes at a local bakery.

But when her boss calls in a favor that sends Ness on a late-night cake delivery to the suburbs, her life takes a dark turn. She awakens six feet under with new powers, an intense craving for blood…and wicked cramps. Her paranormal-obsessed bestie Wyatt becomes her fierce protector, and together they must navigate this new supernatural world. With every passing hour, Ness’s vampiric symptoms worsen and her hunger for fresh blood grows.

Meanwhile, Ness’s maker is closing in to finish her off. Which is worse? Facing off against your murderer or being stuck on your period for eternity?

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Fiction, Vampires, Humor

Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 8, 2026

About the author

S.C. Hunter is a scientist and queer author from the country colonially known as Canada. With a BSc in antisocial science and a PhD in slightly more social sciences, S.C. cherishes strong coffee and interdisciplinary health research. Outside the lab, they are a glamour goblin who loves genre-bending, bold lipstick, and deep sleep. Follow them on TikTok and Instagram @SCHunterrr.

Reviews

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in the October 2026 issue of Library Journal

Three Words That Describe This Book: Horror comedy, strong world building, fight the power

Draft Review:

Ness is having a bad day. Their shift at the bakery is extended for a late night delivery and now their period has started. Oh but it will get worse as Hunter details throughout this proudly queer, thought-provoking and entertaining, horror-comedy. Ness’s delivery is to a teenage birthday party, where the “Dark Lord” is summoned and Ness is presented as his sacrifice. They wake up the next evening, buried but manage to get themself back home to their best friend Wyatt. Told through both Ness and Wyatt’s points of view, with tongue planted firmly and unapologetically in cheek, Hunter takes readers through a well built world, as Wyatt and Ness try to navigate Ness’s change into a vampire, uncover an ancient, supernatural empire, and team up with a group of witches to take it down. These powerful vampires have no idea who they have awakened when they turned Ness, making them forever on their period. Buckle up for the ride, filled with bad jokes, yes, but also unforgettable characters and a fight against the patriarchy.

Verdict: Get this chilling and hilarious series starter into the hands of those who miss Sookie Stackhouse ASAP. Readers of the more recent The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller and Chuck Tingle’s legions of fans will also rejoice upon meeting Ness and Wyatt, but watch out, as they will be hungry for more.

If you loved True Blood the TV show but thought, hey this needs more comedy (lots more-- so many puns) and more queer people-- this is the book for you. In fact, I may lead the review with this. Why bury the lede.

Starts off quickly-- Ness is a vampire within a few pages, but the book is more than a comedy about being made into a vampire, it becomes the beginning of what seems will become a larger urban fantasy in the vein of True Blood.

The fast is fast and the comedy IN YOUR FACE-- example, Ness is turned into a vampire because misgendered as a man (they are nonbinary but born a woman). When you are turned as a vampire your body stays in its exact state it was in when turned-- so Ness is immoral, living forever on their period. While this is hilarious and satirical, it is also worked into the story and the world building.

but there is plenty of work building here. It turns out there is an entire supernatural underworld. Ness and her lifelong bff Wyatt work together to infiltrate, expose, and destroy this secret supernatural empire. They have their first victory as the book ends. Clearly there are more to come.

POV swaps from Ness to Wyatt and back and forth.

This is fun, chilling, and urban fantasy but it is also proudly queer and feminist. Fighting sexism and power. A great band of vampires and witches and others working with the supernatural underworld lords and against them. Really impressive how Hunter can balance the puns and humor while still meticulously building up al loo the intricate world details and making readers care about the characters.

For fans of Chuck Tingle 100% also The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller. Very similar except that one is zombies. Definitely a good choice for the buddy comedy fighting the supernatural that is poking into the real world of Jason Pargin.

[Luna and Co · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

The title made me look twice; I had to read it...I was skeptical: it could be horrible, or it could be.... HILARIOUS. I laughed out loud quite often; my partner came to check on me, wondering what was going on. ? It's campy, it's funny, inclusive, LGBTQIA+, with a feeling of found family, feminist horror-comedy. It's not the right book if you're looking for something right after Anne Rice, but if you feel for a light, feel-good book!

Thank you, Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Janine · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I am always attracted to vampire stories - and since Halloween is almost upon us, I was happy to get this ARC (my thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books). This is an unapologetic queer feminist-horror comedy. Enter at your own risks (trigger warnings are given before you start) and be aware you may be assaulted with bad jokes.

Vanessa “Ness” Selvig is having a bad day at the bakery, her period has started, and she has a late night delivery for a teenager’s birthday party. Apparently the Dark Lord has been invited to the party and Ness becomes the party’s sacrifice. After being buried, Ness wakes up and manages to get home to her best friend, Wyatt. What’s crazy is that in being sacrificed Ness now has a perpetual period (nothing any woman would want) and has been turned into a vampire. Wyatt is a paranormal-obsessed fan and sets out to help Ness investigate her murder and the supernatural underworld of Ness’s maker.

The story alternates between the POVs of Ness and Wyatt. While both characters are queer, they are very much attached to each other as friends. There’s plenty of blood and gore for those who insist vampire books have these but this not a story about finding blood sources. It’s a book looking to destroy the evil world of the Dark Lord. So don’t be surprised by the ending. I thing this is a start of a series.

Readers who liked Snookie Stackhouse should enjoy this one. And those who enjoy a novel with graphic violence and body horror should check it out. I’m passing on book two.

[Dianne · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

If you liked the old Undead series by MaryJanice Davidson, you will notice a quite common theme at the start of this book, and you will also notice (if you read a lot of vampire-themed books) some of Lynsay Sands' vampire traits - think drinking bagged blood!

Vampire Menstrual Syndrome was first published October 9, 2023 and has been *ahem* revamped and updated.

There are many differences too, and that is what makes this book a bit more unique. It also makes this book more of a horror novel than anything else. This is a very non-linear novel and leaves a lot of unanswered questions for the audience to contemplate. It was a bit repetitive at times, and for me, the puns and jokes didn't quite make this a totally comfortable read.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster, the author, and ATTL-Edelweiss.

[Eliza]

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to listen to this book in an ARC version, Vampire Menstrual Syndrome: A Novel, I appreciate the effort and creativity that goes into writing a book.
While this story didn't resonate with me, I respect the time you have put into creating it, l am aware that every reader connects differently, and I'm sure that others will enjoy it.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Vampire Menstrual Syndrome” by S.C. Hunter is exactly what its title promises: chaotic, ridiculous, bloody, feminist, queer, and surprisingly heartfelt. If you've ever looked at a vampire novel and thought, "This needs more periods, more female rage, and more terrible supernatural life choices," then congratulations—this book was apparently written specifically for you.

The story wastes absolutely no time throwing you into the madness. Vanessa's worst week begins when a group of incredibly dumb teenagers accidentally sacrifice her during a cult ritual. Their goal? Summon a demon prince. What they actually accomplish? Creating a vampire. Unfortunately for Vanessa, she's the vampire.

And things somehow only get worse from there.

One of my favorite parts of the book is that it never lets you forget that Vanessa is dealing with two major problems simultaneously: she's being hunted by powerful supernatural forces, and she's stuck dealing with her period. It's honestly one of the most unique horror-comedy premises I've come across in a long time, and the book fully commits to the bit.

Vanessa is a fun protagonist because she's basically dragged kicking and screaming into every disaster. She didn't ask to become a vampire. She didn't ask to get murdered by suburban cultists. She certainly didn't ask to become the center of an ancient supernatural conspiracy. Yet somehow she keeps moving forward because she doesn't really have another option.

The real star of the book, though, might be Wyatt. Wyatt is Vanessa's best friend, roommate, vampire expert, emotional support system, and occasional voice of reason. His extensive vampire knowledge somehow turns out to be shockingly accurate despite being largely based on pop culture, and honestly, I stopped questioning it because their friendship was so entertaining. These two would absolutely risk their lives for each other, and that bond gives the story a lot of heart underneath all the blood and chaos.

What surprised me most was how much worldbuilding is packed into this book. What initially feels like a goofy vampire comedy quickly expands into a much larger urban fantasy world filled with secret supernatural societies, underworld politics, ancient and sexist rules, power struggles, and enough factions to keep you on your toes. Sometimes it feels like a lot to keep track of, but it's also part of the fun because there's always some new bizarre revelation around the corner.

The humor is definitely a huge part of the experience. The book is packed with puns, sarcastic commentary, absurd situations, and plenty of moments where it openly pokes fun at vampire tropes. Some may find the comedy a little too over-the-top, but personally I found myself laughing quite a bit. The entire book has a tongue-in-cheek energy that keeps it from ever taking itself too seriously.

That said, the story isn't all jokes. Beneath the silliness is some genuinely interesting social commentary. The vampire society itself is built on deeply sexist traditions, and as Vanessa learns more about why she exists when she supposedly shouldn't, the story starts exploring themes of power, gender, and systemic inequality. What begins as a goofy supernatural adventure slowly transforms into a story fueled by righteous female rage.

There are also some surprisingly creepy moments mixed in. While the overall tone leans comedic, there are flashes of body horror, unsettling imagery, and genuinely gross supernatural moments that reminded me this is still technically horror. The balance between humor and horror worked really well for me.

The pacing is incredibly fast. Sometimes almost too fast. It feels like everyone is constantly sprinting from one supernatural crisis to the next. If you're looking for a slow, atmospheric vampire story, this isn't it. This book grabs you by the collar and drags you through cults, vampires, warlocks, ghosts, conspiracies, magical plants, murder investigations, and underworld politics before you have time to catch your breath.

By the time the climax arrives, the story fully embraces its chaotic energy. Secrets are revealed, vampire lore gets turned upside down, and Vanessa evolves into something far more powerful than anyone expected. The finale delivers exactly the kind of cathartic payoff the story has been building toward: female rage, found family, friendship, and a heroine who is done letting other people control her fate.

The ending wraps up the main story in a satisfying way while still leaving the door wide open for future books. And honestly? I'd happily spend more time with these characters.

Overall, “Vampire Menstrual Syndrome” is one of the weirdest, funniest, and most entertaining books I've read in a while. It's queer, chaotic, unapologetically feminist, packed with supernatural nonsense, and powered by one of the best friendships I've seen in a fantasy-horror novel. If you enjoy horror-comedies, urban fantasy, vampire stories that aren't afraid to get weird, and books fueled by pure feminine fury, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

[Carla Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank, Goodreads Giveaway, Simon & Schuster and S.C. Hunter for this Advanced Reader Copy.

Loved it!!!! It's the exact smart-ass comedic read that I really love to find and read. This is a horror-comedy with right amounts if both included. Very well written and totally keeps you engaged and entertained to reading it.

Vanessa and Wyatt are very good friends that have been friends since they were children. They are now in college and are roommates as well. When Ness is delivering a bakery order at midnight, she is sacrificed to a vampire by some entitled human rich kids. The vampire has made a mistake because he thought she was a man. Women are not allowed to become vampires in the all male underworld. Ness was only partially changed and now needs to find her maker before she dies. And as an added bonus. You stay the same when you are changed, being on her period when changed means she will be for the rest of her life. Like things couldn't be bad enough. The story is told by both Ness and Wyatts POV. Towards the end of the book they take down one of the political under city members, and are planning till get as many as possible of the misogynistic males that they can. So it looks promising for the story to continue. Please tell me S.C. Hunter there's going to be more, right???

This is a very good read and you really d9nt want to miss it. 👏 👏 👏 Bravo

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's worse than being on your period? Being on your period *eternally*. When Ness is inadvertently turned into a vampire while riding the red tide, she sets off an entirely unprecedented chain of events. With the help of her paranormal-obsessed best friend Wyatt, Ness tries to acclimatize to her new reality, find out what underground world she's become part of, and adjust to her never ending cramps. This book is chaotic and comedic and crude and queer. What a fun ride.

One major note: The book starts with a bang and then sort of... slumps along for the next hundred pages. Once the momentum of the story got going, I was *hooked*. Aaannndddd I did seriously consider DNFing in that initial slow stretch. After reading and doing a bit of research, I learned that this book was first a self published work with 210k words (while this version has gone through the traditional editing/publishing process and is now 90k). Knowing that context, I understand a bit more why the beginning was slogged down, but really wish more would have been done in the process to streamline there.

Ultimately I enjoyed the middle and end enough that I'm willing to (sort of) look past the beginning 🙃 Really hope Hunter gets the greenlight for a series (I'm so curious to know what happens next)!

Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another version of the vampire mythology. In this one, vampirisim is "cis-male only" and that Ness appears somewhat androgynous creates a huge problem for her maker/murderer. How she survived (and continues to survive), what she learns about the undercity and its rules, and the relationships she develops with others is the majority of the book -- and that's not including her bff/roommate Wyatt, who suffers from serious deja vu. Oh, and when this all starts, she's just gotten her period -- given that those turned into vampires stay exactly as they were at the moment of death, does this mean she'll always have her period?

I loved the premise here, but the writing was often difficult to deal with. Far too many adjectives and adverbs when describing speech (she cracks, she croaks, she quavers, she grates out, etc.) and can editors please stop this trend. I suspect MFA programs are telling students not to overuse "said" but honestly it's annoying! The changing of names and products to avoid IP infractions (Anne Lice, for example) is fun, as are the puns.

This is supposedly the start to a series and I'm sure it has an audience, probably in the 20something range. I'm not sure it's quite for me.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.

[Sydney Gessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, first things first- as a community we need to agree that if you get turned into a vampire- your period ends. Forever. It has too, please let me know peace.

This book was so absolutely ridiculous and hilarious, I am obsessed. Just as I knew I would be.

Next time you’re having a bad day, just remember Ness got forced to deliver a cake at 12am and got sacrificed to a vampire by a bunch of teenagers. To top it all off, she started her undeath on her period, locking her in an eternal cycle. Take about true horror, Cthulu who?

At its core I think this book has one of the sweetest friendships, Wyatt- Ness’ bestie and roommate is there with her in this from the start. He’s not even phased but anything, a true ride or die and honestly it’s heartwarming. Which was a new juxtaposition to the body horror coming from Ness at every turn. The depictions, the descriptions- woof.

Vampire Menstrual Syndrome is gross and hilarious and a little angry, because of course women would get the short end of the stick even in VAMPIRISM. I was not anticipating this being a series, but I am sat for it, bring it on- I need more!

[Julia Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feminist horror - comedy that blends vampire lore, body horror, queer themes, and outrageous humor. Vanessa is a university student who spends her time working at a bakery and living with her bestie. One night, a cake delivery leads her into a trap, by a group of wannabe cult members. Ness ends up being murdered in sacrifice to a dark God, only a wake-up buried alive and undead. She now has a new set of vamp problems. Her transformation comes with an extra set of issues. She's still on her menstrual cycle, meaning she's trapped in a bizarre combo of vamp hunger, blood cravings, and PMS symptoms. Her bestie, Wyatt, becomes her ally, helping investigate who killed her and why. Together, Vanessa and Wyatt dig into the supernatural world, questioning strangers and seeking answers from a cult expert and uncovering that her murder was not a random act. Her maker is still hunting her and wants to finish what was started
This book is weird and fearless. A comedy/ horror book that you didn't know you needed until you've read it. The author takes a subject that is ignored, mocked, or treated as an embarrassment and throws it directly into the story in a chaotic hilarious and unapologetic way. The dynamic between Vanessa and Wyatt is one of the highlights. It brings so much heart. The humor in this book is ridiculous and absurd in the best way! I love unconventional horror, queer representation, feminist themes, and stories that aren't afraid to be a little weird. If this sounds like your vibe, I would recommend you pick this up. I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my opinion. Im rating this 3.5 stars, rounded down from 4.

[Levy · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Thank you so much Simon and Schuster for this ARC!

I think this book started off strong. The premise of the book caught my eye when I first saw it and I just knew I had to read it. The humour spoke to me and I found myself in tears over the puns. I also enjoyed the characters that were introduced. The dual
POV also made it a lot more enjoyable for me.

Now, I think after a while something changed. I was a bit disappointed in the ending and only because I expected more of a reunion. We spent the entire book waiting for this moment and it was brushed over so quickly. In fact, there were a lot of things I expected to be addressed, but surprisingly, none of them were. It made me feel like the book wasn’t complete. it just felt like a long paragraph of nothing happening.

I did enjoy myself while reading this book and it definitely unlocked a new fear for me (TMI but reading this on my period filled me with so much fear that life could always be worse- I could become a vampire on my period and spend the rest of my immortal existence BLEEDING. I rebuke).

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more! This book was fun and quirky right off the top! And what a question, what would happen if you are turned while on your period? I love how the characters just kind of flirted around not super aure what they were doing but everything leads to a bigger world than they imagined. And Wyatt? What the heck is he! I also loved the different gender representations with all the characters. There are so many avenues this book can take in this world rhe author has created and I will be watching for the next one!

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun and quick and easy to read paranormal story about becoming a vampire.

I really sped through this!

This was like a vampire coming of age story. And I really liked the inclusion of friendship and witches and the normal complications of life and becoming a vampire.

I think this is a rather unique take on a vampire story and think a lot of vampire fans would enjoy this.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Obscurareads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forget everything you know about vampires. An unconventional vampire tale filled with forbidden transformations, eternal menstrual cramps, and a supernatural world hiding dark secrets.

I will be posting my full review on Release day!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks Simon and Schuster and Netgallery for the chance to read and review this biting and bloody ride.
When I saw the title I knew I had to read it . Discussions on sexism etc.

Just know Anne rice is rolling in her grave over Anne lice though

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I liked this book and then I hated this book and I liked it again. In the end, I'm glad I finished it.

[Jake Goodnight · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Such a fun ride!