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Creed #1
The Night Inside
Dependable grad student Ardeth Alexander finds herself trapped in a nightmare as the unwilling blood source for a captive vampire. When she discovers that her fellow prisoner is not the worst monster she faces, she realizes that the only way to survive is to make an irrevocable choice.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 1993
22 people are currently reading
1747 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Baker
12 books71 followersNancy Baker blames her life-long love of horror and fantasy fiction on the first horror story she can remember: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter. She dabbled in rock and roll (writing lyrics and singing in basement bands during her university years) before switching to writing fiction. She made her first professional sale in 1988, to Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone magazine and has subsequently published 4 novels. She is at work (slowly, very slowly) on her fifth and avoids writing by gardening, making jam, and listening to podcasts on everything from architecture to history to the meaning of Dolly Parton.
She is happily married and has no children or cats.
NOTE: I only write fantasy and horror so any erotica, self-help, or diet books that show up here are not mine.
She is happily married and has no children or cats.
NOTE: I only write fantasy and horror so any erotica, self-help, or diet books that show up here are not mine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
September 16, 2012
I absolutely loved this book, and of course while I’m reading it, I kept wondering why it wasn’t it more popular when it was written back in 1991. So I went to Amazon and checked out some other reviews and read comments.
I found this:
This book won't be staying in my house, and nor will I be reading anything else by Nancy Baker. I like vampire romances, but this certainly doesn't qualify.
I was like, okay, so people want fluffy romance vampire books. I’m not a big fan of defanged vampires, but to each his own.
Maybe some of the confusion comes from the two titles this book was published under, The Night Inside and The Vampire’s Kiss. The Night Inside is definitely the much more appropriate title, because that’s what the book is about, a descent into darkness. These vampires are dangerous and they are killers, and this book does not gloss over that. Baker makes turning into a vampire a ghoulish thing, and that’s one of the things I loved about this book.
The Night Inside is dark story about a college student who get’s captured, dumped into a cell next to a vampire to be used as food, and her whole life takes a spiral downward.
The characters are intriguing. Dimitri Rozokov is not a sexy vampire at first. In fact, he’s grotesque, a monster that kept reminding me of Klaus Kinski’s Nosferatu. He’s awkward, ravenous, and completely incapable of hiding his true alien nature because he’s being starved.
The heroine Ardeth is revolted, scared for her life, and doesn’t want him near her. Yet she’s been dumped into a cell right next to him and can’t get away. Realizing he’s a prisoner too, she slowly starts to sympathize with this creature and they begin to talk.
Ardeth begins to change. As Dimitri drinks her blood, she starts to take on more Vampire characteristics. Ardeth starts to think differently too, going through an interesting character arc. The vampire changes as well, touched by Ardeth’s sympathy.
I really liked Ardeth. She wasn’t a tough Buffy character or a helpless bimbo. She’s thinking all the time, trying to work out the puzzle of her new existence. She’s flawed and has some baggage, but she doesn’t dwell on it for pages at a time. Baker has a great knack for describing people and their motives in one sentence without going into a long diatribe of character reflection.
I love how Ardeth metamorphosizes from one being to another. And I love how Dimitri changes from a grotesque monster to someone desirable, without really changing that much at all. It’s mostly just Ardeth’s perception.
Now I’m sure this story might seem slow to some readers, but for me it was riveting. I was so curious to see what would happen in this strange relationship. Yes, the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I might have wished. The evil villain at the end had sort of an over-the-top back-story that was sort of shoved in there, but that didn’t take away from my initial enjoyment. I still think Dimitri and Ardeth are cool characters. I will definitely be reading book 2, Blood and Chrysanthemums.
I found this:
This book won't be staying in my house, and nor will I be reading anything else by Nancy Baker. I like vampire romances, but this certainly doesn't qualify.
I was like, okay, so people want fluffy romance vampire books. I’m not a big fan of defanged vampires, but to each his own.
Maybe some of the confusion comes from the two titles this book was published under, The Night Inside and The Vampire’s Kiss. The Night Inside is definitely the much more appropriate title, because that’s what the book is about, a descent into darkness. These vampires are dangerous and they are killers, and this book does not gloss over that. Baker makes turning into a vampire a ghoulish thing, and that’s one of the things I loved about this book.
The Night Inside is dark story about a college student who get’s captured, dumped into a cell next to a vampire to be used as food, and her whole life takes a spiral downward.
The characters are intriguing. Dimitri Rozokov is not a sexy vampire at first. In fact, he’s grotesque, a monster that kept reminding me of Klaus Kinski’s Nosferatu. He’s awkward, ravenous, and completely incapable of hiding his true alien nature because he’s being starved.
The heroine Ardeth is revolted, scared for her life, and doesn’t want him near her. Yet she’s been dumped into a cell right next to him and can’t get away. Realizing he’s a prisoner too, she slowly starts to sympathize with this creature and they begin to talk.
Ardeth begins to change. As Dimitri drinks her blood, she starts to take on more Vampire characteristics. Ardeth starts to think differently too, going through an interesting character arc. The vampire changes as well, touched by Ardeth’s sympathy.
I really liked Ardeth. She wasn’t a tough Buffy character or a helpless bimbo. She’s thinking all the time, trying to work out the puzzle of her new existence. She’s flawed and has some baggage, but she doesn’t dwell on it for pages at a time. Baker has a great knack for describing people and their motives in one sentence without going into a long diatribe of character reflection.
I love how Ardeth metamorphosizes from one being to another. And I love how Dimitri changes from a grotesque monster to someone desirable, without really changing that much at all. It’s mostly just Ardeth’s perception.
Now I’m sure this story might seem slow to some readers, but for me it was riveting. I was so curious to see what would happen in this strange relationship. Yes, the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I might have wished. The evil villain at the end had sort of an over-the-top back-story that was sort of shoved in there, but that didn’t take away from my initial enjoyment. I still think Dimitri and Ardeth are cool characters. I will definitely be reading book 2, Blood and Chrysanthemums.
February 22, 2023
It's the loneliness that keeps you
Coming back again and again
Oh the heaven you know is killing you
It becomes your only friend
But you make me feel
More alive than I'd ever been
You are my sanctuary
Baby let me tell you
You are my addiction
Addiction
You are my addiction
Lyrics from: Addiction performed by Eddie Kendrix & David Ruffin (Theme song of the movie 'The Addiction' 1995)
I read this book from the end of 2018 to the latter part of 2019. The Night Inside by Nancy Baker is a novel I found by chance in a bookstore and I bought it with low price. I'm pleasantly surprised to find this vampire romance from the early 1990s to be quite a dark and erotic read. Plus the bookcover is pretty and the vampires in the story actually kill people and drink blood yaaaahhhhhoooo!!!!
Outline of the story: The story begins when the heroine, a young woman living by herself in a large city, was randomly kidnapped and locked in a cell right next to another cell hosing a half-insane male vampire. Her kidnappers allowed the vampire to feed on her blood and soon it became obvious that there had been other victims before her and she would continue to be forced to feed the vampire before he eventually sucked her dry.
Now, her only chance laid on her convening the half insane vampire to help her.
"Nothing is forever."
To be honest, good and edgy vampire romances (either heterosexual or homosexual ones) are hard to find these days. I hadn't read any other books by Nancy Baker and I'm happy to find her writing to be dark, effective, unsettling and chilling. I like the explanation of what the kidnappers wanted with the vampire. The interaction between the captive young woman and the vampire is believable and well developed, the ending part is nice. There are plenty of violence scenes and blood-drinking scenes. I'm glad the author didn't paint the male vampire into some dreamboat, instead he was more like a monster at the beginning before he regained his consciousness.
I am curious about the sequel as well.
October 13, 2010
This is a haunting, well written book that no vampire fan should miss. Ardeth Alexander is an average graduate student living an average, structured, somewhat boring life. One morning while exercising she is abducted, blindfolded and finds herself thrown into a cell in a former sanitarium. As if this isn't enough of a shock she realizes the cell next to her is also occupied, and the inhabitant isn't human. Ardeth soon discovers she is there to *feed* the vampire until her usefulness runs out. Ardeth decides to keep her sanity and believes she can bring the vampire out of his world of madness (he is also a prisoner & is forced to do things against his will for some real sickos) by forcing him to speak to her and when he tries to ignore her she tells him all about herself. This begins the relationship between Ardeth and Dimitri and if I go on I'll give too much away.
Pick this one up! It's one of those books you just can't put down no matter what is going on around you. It also takes you on an emotional roller-coaster ride and you won't soon forget the heroine.
Pick this one up! It's one of those books you just can't put down no matter what is going on around you. It also takes you on an emotional roller-coaster ride and you won't soon forget the heroine.
December 22, 2018
This isn't like Anne Rice nor any of the typical PNR books that are being published these days. This book fits squarely into the horror and gothic genres. There is romance between the two main characters but it takes a backseat to the plot.
While reading I felt major nostalgia for the 90s. The story takes place during the early 90s in Toronto, and the author did an amazing job of making it feel authentic. Video tapes, landline telephones, heavy metal references (like Megadeth!), 90s fashion...I loved it. I see myself reading this book again just for the 90s nostalgia.
There's nothing particularly novel about the vampires, but the plot is unique, draws you in, and is infused with a sense of horror. The real terror occurs when Ardeth is kidnapped. From there it is about her survival. The suspense slows after the first half of the book, and the feeling of terror present in the beginning is just not there towards the end. I was invested enough to continue reading, and seeing the character's arc at the end made finishing the book worth the read.
While reading I felt major nostalgia for the 90s. The story takes place during the early 90s in Toronto, and the author did an amazing job of making it feel authentic. Video tapes, landline telephones, heavy metal references (like Megadeth!), 90s fashion...I loved it. I see myself reading this book again just for the 90s nostalgia.
There's nothing particularly novel about the vampires, but the plot is unique, draws you in, and is infused with a sense of horror. The real terror occurs when Ardeth is kidnapped. From there it is about her survival. The suspense slows after the first half of the book, and the feeling of terror present in the beginning is just not there towards the end. I was invested enough to continue reading, and seeing the character's arc at the end made finishing the book worth the read.
March 16, 2022
The first half or so is an all star read. Rozokov is such a balanced, classically horrific depiction of a vampire yet somehow still alluring and tragic and Ardeth is an intelligent and sympathetic heroine trapped in an abduction nightmare that slowly changes from parasitic to symbiotic.
Then the plot sort of falls into a sunk middle where there's not much more to do with the characters and the drawn out, repetitive sequences of Ardeth learning to hunt made me start to lose my starting enthusiasm for her arc. It all builds up to a final boss battle that really was no real strain at all since Ardeth and Rozokov are capable of super speed and neck snapping strength, and the true villain was kind of lame and poorly developed.
It would have worked so much better in my opinion if it was reworked into a short story and novella that ends with the escape and nothing more. It's not like the drawn out plotting or epilogue added much. It still ended with an ambiguous emotional tone between the leads.
Then the plot sort of falls into a sunk middle where there's not much more to do with the characters and the drawn out, repetitive sequences of Ardeth learning to hunt made me start to lose my starting enthusiasm for her arc. It all builds up to a final boss battle that really was no real strain at all since Ardeth and Rozokov are capable of super speed and neck snapping strength, and the true villain was kind of lame and poorly developed.
It would have worked so much better in my opinion if it was reworked into a short story and novella that ends with the escape and nothing more. It's not like the drawn out plotting or epilogue added much. It still ended with an ambiguous emotional tone between the leads.
October 23, 2007
Could very well be my favorite vampire book ever and that is saying a lot because I am a vampire connoisseur.
This book really should be more well known than it is.
(It's also been published as "Kiss of the Vampire"
From Publishers Weekly
"While taking an early-morning walk through the streets of contemporary Toronto, graduate student Ardeth Alexander is abducted by two men and taken to an isolated building, where she discovers to her horror that she has been brought to supply blood to an imprisoned vampire named Dimitri Rozokov. Baker's engrossing debut alternates the present-day story with the 1898 diary of obsessed businessman Ambrose Dale, who drove Rozokov into hiding and a 100-year sleep from which he awoke only to be captured by a sadist who keeps him in line with an ultrasound machine and makes pornographic snuff films of the hapless vampire feeding on prostitutes. Learning his story, Ardeth gradually loses her horror of Rozokov and begins to see their human jailers as the real monsters. Their only hope of salvation is to trace the links to Rozokov's Victorian nemesis and discover the person behind his 20th-century captivity. Modern subjects like AIDS and incest mingle with age-old vampire lore as the narrative moves toward a gruesome climax. In prose studded with passages of dark luster, Baker offers a truly original scenario."
This book really should be more well known than it is.
(It's also been published as "Kiss of the Vampire"
From Publishers Weekly
"While taking an early-morning walk through the streets of contemporary Toronto, graduate student Ardeth Alexander is abducted by two men and taken to an isolated building, where she discovers to her horror that she has been brought to supply blood to an imprisoned vampire named Dimitri Rozokov. Baker's engrossing debut alternates the present-day story with the 1898 diary of obsessed businessman Ambrose Dale, who drove Rozokov into hiding and a 100-year sleep from which he awoke only to be captured by a sadist who keeps him in line with an ultrasound machine and makes pornographic snuff films of the hapless vampire feeding on prostitutes. Learning his story, Ardeth gradually loses her horror of Rozokov and begins to see their human jailers as the real monsters. Their only hope of salvation is to trace the links to Rozokov's Victorian nemesis and discover the person behind his 20th-century captivity. Modern subjects like AIDS and incest mingle with age-old vampire lore as the narrative moves toward a gruesome climax. In prose studded with passages of dark luster, Baker offers a truly original scenario."
January 13, 2014
Hm...how shall I go about this review? Let me start by saying I am not a romance reader, and I'm not entirely sure how this book got on my shelf. That being said, the word "Vampire" kept taunting me; so I went ahead and looked at some of the reviews before putting this on bookmooch. They all said it was darker than what the title suggests, so *shrugs* why the heck not?
Am I happy I finally decided to read this? Well, I'm not unhappy.
It started pretty good. I am not totally against cliché; so the whole vampire waking up after a hundred year sleep was okay with me, especially because the writing was decent. The book had a little bit of a lull getting into the first chapter, but sped back up nicely once we got past introductions to our protagonist's life.
Then...came the middle of the book. I probably could have skimmed most of this without feeling too left out, and at times I kind of wanted to move onto something else. The end got better again, still not AMAZING, AWE INSPIRING literature, but good enough to finish.
Will I continue onto the next book? Probably not, but that's okay. This was still an alright read. So if you find this to have mysteriously appeared on YOUR bookshelf, it's okay, give it a gander. I promise you probably wont be nearly as disappointed as I was with The Silver Kiss.
Am I happy I finally decided to read this? Well, I'm not unhappy.
It started pretty good. I am not totally against cliché; so the whole vampire waking up after a hundred year sleep was okay with me, especially because the writing was decent. The book had a little bit of a lull getting into the first chapter, but sped back up nicely once we got past introductions to our protagonist's life.
Then...came the middle of the book. I probably could have skimmed most of this without feeling too left out, and at times I kind of wanted to move onto something else. The end got better again, still not AMAZING, AWE INSPIRING literature, but good enough to finish.
Will I continue onto the next book? Probably not, but that's okay. This was still an alright read. So if you find this to have mysteriously appeared on YOUR bookshelf, it's okay, give it a gander. I promise you probably wont be nearly as disappointed as I was with The Silver Kiss.
February 24, 2022
When I was in 5th grade I read Interview with the Vampire for the first time and immediately became obsessed with all things vampire. I went to my library and looked up the subject vampire and read each and every book our branch had. I read The Night Inside like a dozen times but never thought to get my own copy. I’ve spent like the last ten years looking for this book that I honestly was beginning to think I had made up, googling random variations of the plot. I happened to find it on Goodreads by mistake a month ago and immediately ordered a copy online.
So does it hold up? Honestly, my opinion is probably colored by nostalgia but this book is still fun as hell. If you like both sexy vampire thrillers and like goofy 90’s action movies wherein the government is searching for a couple on the run, pick up this book. It’s got some things that are weird or icky (not surprising given the time it was written, and thankfully not as awful as it could be) about sex workers and HIV, but overall it wasn’t cringey or disappointing like I was worried it would be.
The best part is that there’s a sequel I never knew about as a kid and I just ordered a copy of it, am beyond psyched to see what happens to the thousands year old vampire and his weird goth girlfriend!
So does it hold up? Honestly, my opinion is probably colored by nostalgia but this book is still fun as hell. If you like both sexy vampire thrillers and like goofy 90’s action movies wherein the government is searching for a couple on the run, pick up this book. It’s got some things that are weird or icky (not surprising given the time it was written, and thankfully not as awful as it could be) about sex workers and HIV, but overall it wasn’t cringey or disappointing like I was worried it would be.
The best part is that there’s a sequel I never knew about as a kid and I just ordered a copy of it, am beyond psyched to see what happens to the thousands year old vampire and his weird goth girlfriend!
December 6, 2011
Very good as a read alike to Sunshine by Robin McKinley. Woman gets captured by baddies and kept as prisoner to feed a vampire, deciding she must side with the vampire to defeat the baddies. Very similar beginnings, very similar feel to the books, but very different books. Ardeth goes through a journey of self discovery, it had a very similar feel to many YA books about discovering who you are against the backdrop of a sister with a stronger personality.
I would have liked more of the romance, but that's a personal preference, the story was strong without it.
Update: Now, six months after I have read it, I want to be stronger in my praise for this book, it is still very haunting, and now that I know there is a sequel...I am buying them both. It is certainly a rereadable book.
I think this would make a great movie, because, for once, I think a screenwriter would make it a better story by focusing on action and romance, and not as much identity crises and soul searching.
I would have liked more of the romance, but that's a personal preference, the story was strong without it.
Update: Now, six months after I have read it, I want to be stronger in my praise for this book, it is still very haunting, and now that I know there is a sequel...I am buying them both. It is certainly a rereadable book.
I think this would make a great movie, because, for once, I think a screenwriter would make it a better story by focusing on action and romance, and not as much identity crises and soul searching.
June 24, 2013
Finally- a vampire novel that isn't a cheesy alpha-male romance or a pulpy vampire hunter/vampire renegade tale. This was written in the early 90s and predates the flood of bad vampire romance trends.
Nancy Baker does not romanticize vampires and the life they lead. This book portrays the bloodlust and how it defines them. The story is pretty unique, and addresses both the ancient and the modern problems of blood as a life sustaining substance. The story bogged down a bit near the end, and I won't pursue the sequel, but this was an interesting read.
Nancy Baker does not romanticize vampires and the life they lead. This book portrays the bloodlust and how it defines them. The story is pretty unique, and addresses both the ancient and the modern problems of blood as a life sustaining substance. The story bogged down a bit near the end, and I won't pursue the sequel, but this was an interesting read.
August 16, 2014
Baker is one of the few authors I have seen that actually examines the change that being a vampire would cause in a person. This is a wonderful book. Ardeth is wonderfully drawn character, and Baker makes the transition real. Ardeth changes after she dies. No, she doesn't just get powers, but the death does something to her. Baker does examine this issue, and that look makes the book stand out.
March 28, 2022
It's been ages since I read this, but now that I've acquired part 2 in the series it was time to refresh my memory.
Ardeth lives a comfortable and well sorted life - she's a certified good girl in a good apartment going for a good education. Her younger sister's the wild one and Ardeth's fine with that. Having an analytical mind doesn't do her any favors though when one of her friends is murdered and Ardeth starts uncovering who's behind it.
Someone knows Ardeth's been digging in to where they don't want her to and suddenly... her life in in danger in ways she never thought possible.
It's still good. I have a few questions I didn't have during my first read, and having those questions popping up in my brain lowered my initial expereince, but all in all a solid 3⭐️.
Now on to part 2!
Ardeth lives a comfortable and well sorted life - she's a certified good girl in a good apartment going for a good education. Her younger sister's the wild one and Ardeth's fine with that. Having an analytical mind doesn't do her any favors though when one of her friends is murdered and Ardeth starts uncovering who's behind it.
Someone knows Ardeth's been digging in to where they don't want her to and suddenly... her life in in danger in ways she never thought possible.
It's still good. I have a few questions I didn't have during my first read, and having those questions popping up in my brain lowered my initial expereince, but all in all a solid 3⭐️.
Now on to part 2!
May 16, 2025
Really great in depth a plots, b plots, and c plots. Great character development. Good for fans of vampire diaries or Buffy
November 14, 2025
Re-reading books I loved as a teen: is it good, or is it just nostalgic for me? Who knows, but I had a good time reading this again.
April 9, 2021
I enjoyed the first part of this book. Ardeth is a graduate student that gets kidnapped because she's a "loose end" and is basically only alive so she can feed a vampire. The captivity and Ardeth slowly bonding with the creepy vampire as she starts to look paler and he looks more healthy was very readable stuff and I raced through it. The writing is superb. There is a hint of romance to this but it's very much about the situation than about feelings (at least how I read it), so I wouldn't call this a Romance novel in any way. I take what I can get though, so I did enjoy those bits, small as they were.
The second half of the book was a lot less compelling. Ardeth and her vampire become rather aimless, and her relationship with her sister was weirdly obligatory and contradictory.
What bothered me most in this book though, was all the bits that felt like they were unnecessarily disturbing. Maybe this is because this was horror and I'm meant to feel gross? I wasn't a fan though. I'll explain why in the spoiler section.
A LOT of content warnings all over the place for this book as well. Gore, death, imprisonment, torture, porn, incest, attempted rape. More details below.
Spoilers below:
Anyway, the "bad guys" were very disturbing. Involved in porn and snuff films for example, in which they force the vampire to take part. This felt unnecessary to the plot. One attempts to rape Ardeth because he's a necrophiliac and she looks like she's dead after some time in captivity. And then when we find out who is pulling the strings in the end, it's revealed she was an incest victim, also completely unnecessarily? All of it just felt put in there for shock value.
The second half of the book was a lot less compelling. Ardeth and her vampire become rather aimless, and her relationship with her sister was weirdly obligatory and contradictory.
What bothered me most in this book though, was all the bits that felt like they were unnecessarily disturbing. Maybe this is because this was horror and I'm meant to feel gross? I wasn't a fan though. I'll explain why in the spoiler section.
A LOT of content warnings all over the place for this book as well. Gore, death, imprisonment, torture, porn, incest, attempted rape. More details below.
Spoilers below:
Anyway, the "bad guys" were very disturbing. Involved in porn and snuff films for example, in which they force the vampire to take part. This felt unnecessary to the plot. One attempts to rape Ardeth because he's a necrophiliac and she looks like she's dead after some time in captivity. And then when we find out who is pulling the strings in the end, it's revealed she was an incest victim, also completely unnecessarily? All of it just felt put in there for shock value.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2009
Kiss of the vampire is one of my favourite vampire stories. It brings suspense like a good crime story and also has its romantic moments, but not overly so. And, of course, the vampires are not really the bad guys ;)
January 22, 2016
Was totally not expecting to like this but I so did! (The original title The Night Inside is far more appropriate title for this book. Kiss of the Vampire is quite misleading, especially for people looking for a vampire romance.)
June 18, 2007
My copy is called "The Night Inside", but it's the same book.
February 9, 2021
I have a vague memory of reading Nancy Baker’s novel The Night Inside years ago – perhaps closer to the time it was first published in 1993. I am not going to classify this as a re-read, though, because most of it was so unfamiliar it felt like I was reading it for the first time.
Ardeth Alexander is a grad student who is just about ready to graduate, leave academia behind and step into the real world. She’s the dependable one; her younger sister, Sara, is the wild one. She can’t shake this feeling that she’s being followed, though, and one morning on a run near Casa Loma, she’s grabbed by two thugs and whisked off to parts unknown, where she ends up in a basement cell.
The guy in the cell next to her is Dimitri Rozokov. He’s a vampire, and an old one. He’s lived as long as he has by being extremely careful. Even though Ardeth is sure there is no way he can exist because, after all, “Vampires do not exist, except as metaphors,” Ardeth’s captors prove that he’s deadly by showing Ardeth why he’s in a cell.
Turns out, they’re making movies. Roias, one of the men who nabbed her, gives her a private show and what she witnesses horrifies her.
The vampire was hungry and not particularly neat. When he was done, he dropped Suzy’s body over the table. Blood was smeared across her breasts and shoulders, painted across her face in a parody of cosmetics. Her blonde hair was dark with it, but not as dark as the gaping hole in her throat. When he let her fall, one limp arm knocked over the wedding cake and left its remains decorated with red icing.
It turns out, though, that Rozokov is a civilized being, and in their time chained in cells next to each other, the two captives talk. When it becomes clear that their days are numbered, they devise a plan to escape, but the plan comes at a cost.
I have long been fascinated with vampires. When I was a kid, I can remember going to old black and white movies starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee and being terrified. What was my mother thinking?! I’ve read Dracula and devoured ‘salem’s Lot. Then, right around the time my kids were born, I discovered Buffy the Vampire Slayer and that sent me down a rabbit hole.
I didn’t hate The Night Inside, but I didn’t love it, either. Part of the problem is that there was a lot going on. Rozokov’s back story and the people chasing him might have been enough to sustain a novel. There needed to be a meet cute, or a meet ick in this case, though. Ardeth and Rozokov’s time as captives only makes up a small portion of the story, though, and then the pair are separated. Oddly enough, the novel felt dated to me, which is weird considering Rozokov is 500 years old.
Ardeth Alexander is a grad student who is just about ready to graduate, leave academia behind and step into the real world. She’s the dependable one; her younger sister, Sara, is the wild one. She can’t shake this feeling that she’s being followed, though, and one morning on a run near Casa Loma, she’s grabbed by two thugs and whisked off to parts unknown, where she ends up in a basement cell.
The guy in the cell next to her is Dimitri Rozokov. He’s a vampire, and an old one. He’s lived as long as he has by being extremely careful. Even though Ardeth is sure there is no way he can exist because, after all, “Vampires do not exist, except as metaphors,” Ardeth’s captors prove that he’s deadly by showing Ardeth why he’s in a cell.
Turns out, they’re making movies. Roias, one of the men who nabbed her, gives her a private show and what she witnesses horrifies her.
The vampire was hungry and not particularly neat. When he was done, he dropped Suzy’s body over the table. Blood was smeared across her breasts and shoulders, painted across her face in a parody of cosmetics. Her blonde hair was dark with it, but not as dark as the gaping hole in her throat. When he let her fall, one limp arm knocked over the wedding cake and left its remains decorated with red icing.
It turns out, though, that Rozokov is a civilized being, and in their time chained in cells next to each other, the two captives talk. When it becomes clear that their days are numbered, they devise a plan to escape, but the plan comes at a cost.
I have long been fascinated with vampires. When I was a kid, I can remember going to old black and white movies starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee and being terrified. What was my mother thinking?! I’ve read Dracula and devoured ‘salem’s Lot. Then, right around the time my kids were born, I discovered Buffy the Vampire Slayer and that sent me down a rabbit hole.
I didn’t hate The Night Inside, but I didn’t love it, either. Part of the problem is that there was a lot going on. Rozokov’s back story and the people chasing him might have been enough to sustain a novel. There needed to be a meet cute, or a meet ick in this case, though. Ardeth and Rozokov’s time as captives only makes up a small portion of the story, though, and then the pair are separated. Oddly enough, the novel felt dated to me, which is weird considering Rozokov is 500 years old.
September 20, 2023
I originally read this as a young teen and liked it a lot so I gave it another shot now as a young adult (I shouldn't have read it as a kid tho. The beginning especially is very much so not appropriate for that age. But what can you do).
Let's get the general shit out of the way: The writing style was kinda painful (which may just be because I was reading the translation though) but that did mean it read a bit like trash tv which was quite entertaining.
I enjoyed the revenge aspect (we love a woman killing misogynistic, disgusting assholes). Rossokov was hot. I liked that Ardeth was a grown ass adult, we need more of that in vampire literature. The fact that she was a history major doing her phd was a fun detail. Did I mention Rossokov being hot?
The sisterly conflict was a nicely done detail. I also enjoyed the scientific conflict to it, although I wish both had been expanded a bit more.
The references to vampire classics (Dracula, Carmilla) were fun, although I did question why girly was stupid enough to do that considering she was supposed to stay hidden (also, they were a bit too on the nose imo – explaining the joke felt like the author desperately trying to point out how funny she's being).
I also liked that the book didn't shy away from violence (although Rossokov's conflict with violence got a bit annoying).
The whole snuff film thing was kind of stupid – bro really decided that this was the best way to make money off of him? Logistically idiotic, although fitting considering the men in question are violent misogynists who thought it was hot. Second, unnecessary amount of slut shaming, although again in character. A lot of it was very on the nose once again.
The break up was kind of stupid. Like come on, at least give me a better reason than that if you're going to do the obligatory break up. The kidnapping of the sister was also stupid and kind of random, it felt very forced.
Another thing – Rossokov calls Ardeth HIS CHILD but is fully willing to make out with her?? I know the whole thing is vampire and spawn but bro, no need to include that. It was a hilarious line tho – "My poor, dark child..." I was fucking hollering.
This last thing is very petty but I was annoyed at the implication that one dude thought black box dye is easy to get out of your hair. Don't risk it unless you're 100% sure, y'all.
All in all, this can be enjoyable if you don't take your reads too seriously but I don't think it's a must either. I had a lot of fun though.
Let's get the general shit out of the way: The writing style was kinda painful (which may just be because I was reading the translation though) but that did mean it read a bit like trash tv which was quite entertaining.
I enjoyed the revenge aspect (we love a woman killing misogynistic, disgusting assholes). Rossokov was hot. I liked that Ardeth was a grown ass adult, we need more of that in vampire literature. The fact that she was a history major doing her phd was a fun detail. Did I mention Rossokov being hot?
The sisterly conflict was a nicely done detail. I also enjoyed the scientific conflict to it, although I wish both had been expanded a bit more.
The references to vampire classics (Dracula, Carmilla) were fun, although I did question why girly was stupid enough to do that considering she was supposed to stay hidden (also, they were a bit too on the nose imo – explaining the joke felt like the author desperately trying to point out how funny she's being).
I also liked that the book didn't shy away from violence (although Rossokov's conflict with violence got a bit annoying).
The whole snuff film thing was kind of stupid – bro really decided that this was the best way to make money off of him? Logistically idiotic, although fitting considering the men in question are violent misogynists who thought it was hot. Second, unnecessary amount of slut shaming, although again in character. A lot of it was very on the nose once again.
The break up was kind of stupid. Like come on, at least give me a better reason than that if you're going to do the obligatory break up. The kidnapping of the sister was also stupid and kind of random, it felt very forced.
Another thing – Rossokov calls Ardeth HIS CHILD but is fully willing to make out with her?? I know the whole thing is vampire and spawn but bro, no need to include that. It was a hilarious line tho – "My poor, dark child..." I was fucking hollering.
This last thing is very petty but I was annoyed at the implication that one dude thought black box dye is easy to get out of your hair. Don't risk it unless you're 100% sure, y'all.
All in all, this can be enjoyable if you don't take your reads too seriously but I don't think it's a must either. I had a lot of fun though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2018
This isn’t the most engrossing tale ever, and it has a fairly relaxed pace. But it’s still nicely written. The characters are what bring this alive, the slow drawing of hunger and guilt and rage. Rozokov is an interesting figure, capable of being seductive but hiding among the street people when he realizes he’s not sure how to fit in after being asleep for 90 years. I like that while Ardeth tried to remake herself as a vampire–and somewhat succeeded–there’s still a trace of her old self there. And her relationship to her sister Sara isn’t entirely straightforward or easy, no matter how much Sara wishes to find her sister.
Also, while Ardeth would rather not kill to feed, accidents do happen, particularly early on when she isn’t entirely in control. This leads to some additional problems for her. There’s a weird sort of incestuous vibe between her and Rozokov–they kiss like lovers, but he calls her daughter or child a couple of times. Also, there’s some dark sexual material in here, so be aware of that before you decide whether to read this. In the beginning those who hold the vampire captive are using him to make snuff films while they wait for instructions from their employers for what to do with him. Which… is just weird, and feels kind of unlikely and random, and thus a bit contrived.
This isn’t a fast-paced book, but whether that’s a negative or not depends on your mood or tastes. I found it a little slow, but it unfurls well.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2018/11/r...
Also, while Ardeth would rather not kill to feed, accidents do happen, particularly early on when she isn’t entirely in control. This leads to some additional problems for her. There’s a weird sort of incestuous vibe between her and Rozokov–they kiss like lovers, but he calls her daughter or child a couple of times. Also, there’s some dark sexual material in here, so be aware of that before you decide whether to read this. In the beginning those who hold the vampire captive are using him to make snuff films while they wait for instructions from their employers for what to do with him. Which… is just weird, and feels kind of unlikely and random, and thus a bit contrived.
This isn’t a fast-paced book, but whether that’s a negative or not depends on your mood or tastes. I found it a little slow, but it unfurls well.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2018/11/r...
October 30, 2025
DNF @ 80%
The first half of ‘Kiss of the Vampire’ was everything I was looking for in terms of a gothic romance novel. I loved the interactions between Ardeth and Dimitri, given their bleak circumstances, and I felt like their bond grew naturally. I really began to root for the two, and the way Ardeth’s perception of him morphed the more they talked was one of my favorite parts about it. It felt erotic and gothic, but not overly so.
Dimitri was my favorite, for sure. He reminded me of the more classic, aristocratic vampires that I feel are so rare to find these days. Especially since at some points, he is genuinely an unstoppable monster, but that made the story stand out even more for me.
I tried my best to finish this book, after all, it started with flying colors, and I was mildly interested to see where they would go next. However, the pace became incredibly slow, the plot all over the place, and I found Ardeth's blunt change of personality a bit ridiculous. It came to a point where I was more interested in reading something else, and that was my sign to move on.
If you like vampire novels, especially from the 90s, I would still recommend giving it a try.
The first half of ‘Kiss of the Vampire’ was everything I was looking for in terms of a gothic romance novel. I loved the interactions between Ardeth and Dimitri, given their bleak circumstances, and I felt like their bond grew naturally. I really began to root for the two, and the way Ardeth’s perception of him morphed the more they talked was one of my favorite parts about it. It felt erotic and gothic, but not overly so.
Dimitri was my favorite, for sure. He reminded me of the more classic, aristocratic vampires that I feel are so rare to find these days. Especially since at some points, he is genuinely an unstoppable monster, but that made the story stand out even more for me.
I tried my best to finish this book, after all, it started with flying colors, and I was mildly interested to see where they would go next. However, the pace became incredibly slow, the plot all over the place, and I found Ardeth's blunt change of personality a bit ridiculous. It came to a point where I was more interested in reading something else, and that was my sign to move on.
If you like vampire novels, especially from the 90s, I would still recommend giving it a try.
August 27, 2025
2.5 rounded up to 3.
Setting:
This book takes place in effectively modern day Canada.
Characters:
Ardeth: Ardeth starts as a straightlaced upstanding young college student and, bit by bit, becomes something different.
Rozokov: Rozokov is a centuries old vampire. At the start of the novel Rozokov is a nearly feral monster before being pulled back from the edge by his cellmate.
Plot:
Young Ardeth has recently completed some research for a rich client and is trying to get back to her studies when she’s kidnapped and brought to a run down asylum where she’s placed into a cell right beside a strange man who she realizes is not, in fact, precisely a man
My Thoughts:
This is, in some ways, a dark twist on the coming of age story. More than anything else, this is a tale of Ardeth slowly turning from a prim and proper college student into a dangerous creature of the night. Do not go into this expecting a cute love story with a vampire. This is no Twilight. In contrast to Ardeth’s descent, Rozokov is pulled up by Ardeth from the animalistic beast he is initially.
It all starts quite well with a suitably grim opening of Ardeth being snatched up by some shadowy types and thrown into a cell next to a vampire for him to eat as necessary when the thugs aren’t using him for… other reasons.
Unfortunately, after the bit at the asylum segment ended my interest waned as the book meandered around for a while before finally reaching an ending that didn't recapture the strength of the opening.
Setting:
This book takes place in effectively modern day Canada.
Characters:
Ardeth: Ardeth starts as a straightlaced upstanding young college student and, bit by bit, becomes something different.
Rozokov: Rozokov is a centuries old vampire. At the start of the novel Rozokov is a nearly feral monster before being pulled back from the edge by his cellmate.
Plot:
Young Ardeth has recently completed some research for a rich client and is trying to get back to her studies when she’s kidnapped and brought to a run down asylum where she’s placed into a cell right beside a strange man who she realizes is not, in fact, precisely a man
My Thoughts:
This is, in some ways, a dark twist on the coming of age story. More than anything else, this is a tale of Ardeth slowly turning from a prim and proper college student into a dangerous creature of the night. Do not go into this expecting a cute love story with a vampire. This is no Twilight. In contrast to Ardeth’s descent, Rozokov is pulled up by Ardeth from the animalistic beast he is initially.
It all starts quite well with a suitably grim opening of Ardeth being snatched up by some shadowy types and thrown into a cell next to a vampire for him to eat as necessary when the thugs aren’t using him for… other reasons.
Unfortunately, after the bit at the asylum segment ended my interest waned as the book meandered around for a while before finally reaching an ending that didn't recapture the strength of the opening.
October 13, 2020
Parfois, le souvenir du livre est meilleur que le livre en lui-même.
Avez-vous lu un livre, il y a longtemps, dont vous avez chéri le souvenir ? Souvenir des émotions ressenties, de l'intrigue, d'une découverte, un peu de nostalgie aussi...
J'ai relu cette année ce roman acquis en 1997 lors de mon déménagement aux Etats-Unis. Je me souvenais que j'avais adoré la première moitié, où l'héroïne est prisonnière du vampire, pour la tension sexuelle, la sensualité, (le syndrome de Stockolm aussi sans doute), la façon dont la séquestration change de ton ; et que j'avais cessé le livre au moment de sa transformation en vampire parce que ça m'intéressait moins sur l'instant.
Puis que j'avais ensuite été bluffée par la seconde moitié du livre, où l'héroïne, désormais vampire, traque ses tortionnaires et se venge.
A la relecture, je ne retrouve aucune de ces émotions. Ai-je trop changé ? Ai-je perdu ma naïveté, mon émerveillement d'adolescente ? La séquestration d'Ardeth me semble survolée, ses sentiments pour le vampire arrivent trop vite, la bascule m'a parue sans finesse. Et la traque ensuite, sans grand intérêt.
Bref, un livre que la relecture égratigne. J'en garde quand même le souvenir de ces émotions de ma jeunesse... le baiser du vampire et l'émotion coupable qu'il m'a procurée.
Avez-vous lu un livre, il y a longtemps, dont vous avez chéri le souvenir ? Souvenir des émotions ressenties, de l'intrigue, d'une découverte, un peu de nostalgie aussi...
J'ai relu cette année ce roman acquis en 1997 lors de mon déménagement aux Etats-Unis. Je me souvenais que j'avais adoré la première moitié, où l'héroïne est prisonnière du vampire, pour la tension sexuelle, la sensualité, (le syndrome de Stockolm aussi sans doute), la façon dont la séquestration change de ton ; et que j'avais cessé le livre au moment de sa transformation en vampire parce que ça m'intéressait moins sur l'instant.
Puis que j'avais ensuite été bluffée par la seconde moitié du livre, où l'héroïne, désormais vampire, traque ses tortionnaires et se venge.
A la relecture, je ne retrouve aucune de ces émotions. Ai-je trop changé ? Ai-je perdu ma naïveté, mon émerveillement d'adolescente ? La séquestration d'Ardeth me semble survolée, ses sentiments pour le vampire arrivent trop vite, la bascule m'a parue sans finesse. Et la traque ensuite, sans grand intérêt.
Bref, un livre que la relecture égratigne. J'en garde quand même le souvenir de ces émotions de ma jeunesse... le baiser du vampire et l'émotion coupable qu'il m'a procurée.
August 28, 2023
I’ve had this book in my personal library for at least two decades but must have forgotten about it. Finally, I came across it again and decided to read it only to wish I had read it back then. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book with Ardeth and Rozokov’s time in captivity. However, once they’re free, trying to survive, and to stop their pursuers, the story started to fizzle out for me. I felt like the ending just wrapped up everything way to easily and quickly. Also, the introduction of Lisa so late in the book left me with a feeling of incompletion and wondering if she’s to be a key player in a follow up book. With all the interest in studying their blood and the huge impact of HIV and AIDS in the 1980s, it was a shame that it was just tossed in as a tiny blurb in this story.
Overall it’s really a rather straight forward and tame vampire novel with none of the gothic style romance to it except for a few evasive moments between Ardeth and Rozokov, and bits and pieces hinted between Rozokov and another vampire in his past.
Maybe it’s just me, expecting to much more from the book that’s now three decades old.
Overall it’s really a rather straight forward and tame vampire novel with none of the gothic style romance to it except for a few evasive moments between Ardeth and Rozokov, and bits and pieces hinted between Rozokov and another vampire in his past.
Maybe it’s just me, expecting to much more from the book that’s now three decades old.
January 22, 2026
This was a very messed up book. I found the events disturbing and yet, despite the vampire, feels very real.
I liked how this vampire horror novel did not tell an usual vampire horror story. After all, the first part, in particular did not focus on the vampire as an antagonist, no the roll of antagonist was a group of humans who make very pornographic snuff films and the main character and the vampire surviving the group.
Yet I found how they showed how it was done shocking and I also found the second half where the main character seemed to become a very antagonistic character. Which, I do understand why it was in there even though I did not like either.
Yet the end was good but I liked how it tied up most of the loose ends.
I liked how this vampire horror novel did not tell an usual vampire horror story. After all, the first part, in particular did not focus on the vampire as an antagonist, no the roll of antagonist was a group of humans who make very pornographic snuff films and the main character and the vampire surviving the group.
Yet I found how they showed how it was done shocking and I also found the second half where the main character seemed to become a very antagonistic character. Which, I do understand why it was in there even though I did not like either.
Yet the end was good but I liked how it tied up most of the loose ends.
May 30, 2022
5 stars
This is how vampire fiction should be! Brutal, thrilling, immersive, and darkly romantic. It's probably one of the best vampire stories I've read, right up there with Anne Rice novels. I don't know why The Night Inside isn't more well known, I can only think that it must have been released at the wrong time (pre Buffy days) or that it wasn't broody enough for the mid 90s...
(*˘︶˘*).。.:*♡
This is how vampire fiction should be! Brutal, thrilling, immersive, and darkly romantic. It's probably one of the best vampire stories I've read, right up there with Anne Rice novels. I don't know why The Night Inside isn't more well known, I can only think that it must have been released at the wrong time (pre Buffy days) or that it wasn't broody enough for the mid 90s...
(*˘︶˘*).。.:*♡
November 7, 2023
I came across The Night Inside thanks to someone who hated this book :) As always I was craving a book about sexy killer vampires a la Gary Oldman, and I have to say that this book delivered on that front. There were a few cringy parts and a few brilliant parts. The plot felt half-assed, but overall the book was good. I think that Baker wrote this to explore the nature of a vampire and the changes a human could undergo by becoming one, the plot was secondary. I also appreciated a realistic depiction of sibling rivalry. Hardly ever any books published today get this right.
May 3, 2024
There was a lot about this book that I loved and yet there were things that I hated. So, I'll just average it out and give it three stars.
I will say that this book was a journey, one that could have been shorter. The entire middle could have been edited out and it would have been a four star. It picked up at the end though, but not enough for me to reason the sequel.
Which is sad because I really loved this version of vampires. They weren't snuggly and I liked that.
I will say that this book was a journey, one that could have been shorter. The entire middle could have been edited out and it would have been a four star. It picked up at the end though, but not enough for me to reason the sequel.
Which is sad because I really loved this version of vampires. They weren't snuggly and I liked that.
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