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Gifts of Blood
PITY THE POOR VAMPIRES...
This is the story, seen through the eyes of two brothers, of a tribe on the Russian steppes, the Varkela - known also as the Children of the Night, known also as vampires. Nothing like their hideous cousins who made Transylvania famous, the Varkela have always earned the blood they needed to survive by trading traditional healing skills. But in part because they refuse to resort to force, the tribe grows ever smaller, and as they decline in numbers the Varkela become even more darkly mysterious to outsiders - and the new tribes jostling their way into vacated Varkelan holdings are more inclined to persecution than trade. Unless something changes, soon the Varkelans will be extinct.
Contents:
Spareen among the Tartars (1979)
Fleas (1980)
The Healer's Touch (1982)
Spareen among the Cossacks (1981)
Leechcraft (1982)
Small Changes (1983)
Spareen and Old Turk (1983)
The Neisserian Invasion (1990)
Spidersong (1980)
This is the story, seen through the eyes of two brothers, of a tribe on the Russian steppes, the Varkela - known also as the Children of the Night, known also as vampires. Nothing like their hideous cousins who made Transylvania famous, the Varkela have always earned the blood they needed to survive by trading traditional healing skills. But in part because they refuse to resort to force, the tribe grows ever smaller, and as they decline in numbers the Varkela become even more darkly mysterious to outsiders - and the new tribes jostling their way into vacated Varkelan holdings are more inclined to persecution than trade. Unless something changes, soon the Varkelans will be extinct.
Contents:
Spareen among the Tartars (1979)
Fleas (1980)
The Healer's Touch (1982)
Spareen among the Cossacks (1981)
Leechcraft (1982)
Small Changes (1983)
Spareen and Old Turk (1983)
The Neisserian Invasion (1990)
Spidersong (1980)
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1990
144 people want to read
About the author
Susan C. Petrey
7 books3 followersAmerican fantasy writer, trained as a microbiologist. The first of her nine published stories, "Spareen Among the Tartars" (Fantasy & Science Fiction, September 1979), inaugurated a seven-story series featuring the Varkela, a vampiric race of healers who use herbal remedies and folk medicine as well as their supernormal skills to heal humans and animals. The Varkela - whose name translates as "Children of the Night" - originated in the mountains of northern Mongolia and, in 400 C.E., joined the legions of Attila's Mongol horde, and migrated west. Most of the Varkela stories are set on the Russian steppes in the first half of the Nineteenth Century, where itinerant Varkela offer their services to Russian Cossacks and nomadic Tartar tribes. Although the Varkela possess "blood teeth," or hollow-tipped fangs that emerge when they extract their "blood debt" for their services, they differ significantly from traditional vampires. They are neither dead nor predatory, and they are vulnerable to injury. Their bite is not contagious, the amount of blood they need to survive is relatively modest, and they only take from the strong and healthy - usually a relative of patients whom they have successfully healed. Nevertheless, they are met with superstition by some of those whom they serve, and human encounters with their race in the past are believed to have inspired vampire legends.
The Varkela stories are memorable for their elaboration of an entire vampire-type culture with its own historical and mystical foundations distinct from those of humanity or traditional vampire lore. They were published at the same time as Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's earliest chronicles of benevolent vampire healer Count St. Germain and share many qualities with those stories. All but the first three stories were found among Petrey's papers at her death and lightly revised by Steve Perry. They were collected with two non-Varkela stories in Gifts of Blood (OSFCI, 1990).
(from a bio by Stefan Dziemianowicz)
The Varkela stories are memorable for their elaboration of an entire vampire-type culture with its own historical and mystical foundations distinct from those of humanity or traditional vampire lore. They were published at the same time as Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's earliest chronicles of benevolent vampire healer Count St. Germain and share many qualities with those stories. All but the first three stories were found among Petrey's papers at her death and lightly revised by Steve Perry. They were collected with two non-Varkela stories in Gifts of Blood (OSFCI, 1990).
(from a bio by Stefan Dziemianowicz)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 10, 2018
[Aside: Were half-stars an option, I'd have rated this three-and-a-half stars]
Gifts of Blood is a compilation of stories by the late author, Susan Petrey. Originally scattered across numerous periodicals, her friends decided to aggregate all her known works into one book, with the proceeds of the sale going to a scholarship focused on sending young writers to a writing conference that Petrey herself wanted to attend but couldn’t afford.
I knew none of this when I picked up the book. All I saw was that delightful cover with the dream-like stag, and back-copy discussing a little-known sort of vampire—the Varkela—that exchanged healing for a little bit of blood.
Seven of the nine short stories revolve around the brothers Spareen and Vaylance, young Varkela men trying to find their place. Set in the Russian steppes in what I think is the mid-to-late 1800s, the brothers must navigate a rapidly changing world where old-world superstitions are dying.
These stories are full of interesting—yet bizarre—ideas and mythology.
For example, at one point, someone’s soul-creature climbs out their nose and scampers away. My first reaction was a wrinkled brow. It was so random and so … weird. The more I thought about it, though, the the more I realized that mythology is weird; most of the point of it is to explain the unexplainable. The superstitions and beliefs of the Varkela feel right at home on the Russian steppes of a bygone era.
Aside from truly understanding her world, Petrey has a deft use of language. At one point, Spareen looks up to the Milky Way and it’s described as corn meal sprinkled across a loaf of dark bread. It made me want to kiss the book for how beautiful it grounds me in Spareen’s head while painting a lovely picture.
What these stories boast in world-building, feel, mythology and ideas, though, I think they lack in plot. The underlying tension in most of these stories is that someone is hungry. Being honest Varkela—not filthy vampires—our protagonists don’t steal blood. This leaves on one means of sating their hunger: healing sometime and earning their fee. Sometimes that means a straightforward task, like setting a broken bone. Sometimes it means trying to cure a complicated new disease. Sometimes the story wanders away from this opening premise, but the underlying similarity is still there, and there still lies, to me, the primary tension of the piece.
I also felt like the characters were perhaps a little loose, but in time I began to wonder if I just didn’t know them well enough. For example, in one story Spareen gambles away his horse—a creature he cares deeply for and raised from … foalhood, I guess? He takes his bad luck with aplomb; I was clawing at the bus seat in horror. But, well, his horse is pretty ill-tempered to folks other than Spareen, and Spareen doesn’t shy away from a fight. In the end, he walks away with his horse, and seems none-too-surprised by this turn of events, which made me wonder if gambling away his horse was a bit of a shtick on his part.
Another thing I struggled with, and perhaps this is my fault for reading the book cover to cover in a short period of time, is that every short story introduces Spareen, Vaylance, and the plight of the Varkela.
It makes sense to do this in short stories, published independently of each other. Even knowing this, though, I found reading the same introduction grating—especially because they all varied slightly, often introducing one new concept in a paragraph of familiar ideas.
As I kept reading, though, this slight irritation was replaced by a thought: these short stories all felt like they revolved around a novel, a true novel, that addressed the plight of Sparren, Vaylance, and the Varkela. There’s so much going on—from a mysterious disease that kills most young Varkela women, to a Varkela-turned-Christian—that I found myself looking between the stories for missing pieces or means of tying everything together.
Outside of the stories of the Varkela are two unusual little pieces which are the most complete—from a traditional viewpoint—of all the stories. There are arcs and conclusions and the emotional closure you expect at the end of a piece of fiction.
The Neisserian Invasion, though ending a bit abruptly, tells a story outlining the affect of STIs on an alien invasion. It’s strange and funny and a little gross and also has a fantastic tone.
Spidersong tells the story of a mythical type of spider called a ‘lyre spider’ that forms an unusual bond with a human musician over their shared love of music. It’s sweet and, strangely, also a bit gross. But in a sweet way. It’s, uh, hard to explain.
The stories of Gifts of Blood are never perfect (though I think that Spidersong gets close), but I’m reminded (again) that stories needn’t be perfect to be worth telling. I understand why Susan Petrey’s friends wanted to put out this compilation to celebrate her work. And like them, I’m saddened by the loss of what could have been.
[I read old fantasy novels written by women authors in search of forgotten gems. See more at forfemfan.com]
Gifts of Blood is a compilation of stories by the late author, Susan Petrey. Originally scattered across numerous periodicals, her friends decided to aggregate all her known works into one book, with the proceeds of the sale going to a scholarship focused on sending young writers to a writing conference that Petrey herself wanted to attend but couldn’t afford.
I knew none of this when I picked up the book. All I saw was that delightful cover with the dream-like stag, and back-copy discussing a little-known sort of vampire—the Varkela—that exchanged healing for a little bit of blood.
Seven of the nine short stories revolve around the brothers Spareen and Vaylance, young Varkela men trying to find their place. Set in the Russian steppes in what I think is the mid-to-late 1800s, the brothers must navigate a rapidly changing world where old-world superstitions are dying.
These stories are full of interesting—yet bizarre—ideas and mythology.
For example, at one point, someone’s soul-creature climbs out their nose and scampers away. My first reaction was a wrinkled brow. It was so random and so … weird. The more I thought about it, though, the the more I realized that mythology is weird; most of the point of it is to explain the unexplainable. The superstitions and beliefs of the Varkela feel right at home on the Russian steppes of a bygone era.
Aside from truly understanding her world, Petrey has a deft use of language. At one point, Spareen looks up to the Milky Way and it’s described as corn meal sprinkled across a loaf of dark bread. It made me want to kiss the book for how beautiful it grounds me in Spareen’s head while painting a lovely picture.
What these stories boast in world-building, feel, mythology and ideas, though, I think they lack in plot. The underlying tension in most of these stories is that someone is hungry. Being honest Varkela—not filthy vampires—our protagonists don’t steal blood. This leaves on one means of sating their hunger: healing sometime and earning their fee. Sometimes that means a straightforward task, like setting a broken bone. Sometimes it means trying to cure a complicated new disease. Sometimes the story wanders away from this opening premise, but the underlying similarity is still there, and there still lies, to me, the primary tension of the piece.
I also felt like the characters were perhaps a little loose, but in time I began to wonder if I just didn’t know them well enough. For example, in one story Spareen gambles away his horse—a creature he cares deeply for and raised from … foalhood, I guess? He takes his bad luck with aplomb; I was clawing at the bus seat in horror. But, well, his horse is pretty ill-tempered to folks other than Spareen, and Spareen doesn’t shy away from a fight. In the end, he walks away with his horse, and seems none-too-surprised by this turn of events, which made me wonder if gambling away his horse was a bit of a shtick on his part.
Another thing I struggled with, and perhaps this is my fault for reading the book cover to cover in a short period of time, is that every short story introduces Spareen, Vaylance, and the plight of the Varkela.
It makes sense to do this in short stories, published independently of each other. Even knowing this, though, I found reading the same introduction grating—especially because they all varied slightly, often introducing one new concept in a paragraph of familiar ideas.
As I kept reading, though, this slight irritation was replaced by a thought: these short stories all felt like they revolved around a novel, a true novel, that addressed the plight of Sparren, Vaylance, and the Varkela. There’s so much going on—from a mysterious disease that kills most young Varkela women, to a Varkela-turned-Christian—that I found myself looking between the stories for missing pieces or means of tying everything together.
Outside of the stories of the Varkela are two unusual little pieces which are the most complete—from a traditional viewpoint—of all the stories. There are arcs and conclusions and the emotional closure you expect at the end of a piece of fiction.
The Neisserian Invasion, though ending a bit abruptly, tells a story outlining the affect of STIs on an alien invasion. It’s strange and funny and a little gross and also has a fantastic tone.
Spidersong tells the story of a mythical type of spider called a ‘lyre spider’ that forms an unusual bond with a human musician over their shared love of music. It’s sweet and, strangely, also a bit gross. But in a sweet way. It’s, uh, hard to explain.
The stories of Gifts of Blood are never perfect (though I think that Spidersong gets close), but I’m reminded (again) that stories needn’t be perfect to be worth telling. I understand why Susan Petrey’s friends wanted to put out this compilation to celebrate her work. And like them, I’m saddened by the loss of what could have been.
[I read old fantasy novels written by women authors in search of forgotten gems. See more at forfemfan.com]
June 3, 2012
Seven stories from the Varkela series. My favorite has always been Leechcraft. Two other stories included, one of which is about a spider that lives in a lute
I love this book so much that I bought it. Actually, it was the only way I could find it. I had read most of the stories when they were published in magazines, but I love them so much I just had to OWN them. Did I mention how much I love these stories? I re-read this book about once a year.
October 2, 2024
I recieved a copy of this book at random, as a surprise gift with some other used books that I ordered online. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this small anthology of short stories! I don't often write full reviews but this little-known book deserves one!
This collection of stories (originally published individually in SF periodicals) was put together about 10 years after the early death of the autor, Susan Petrey. Petrey was a medical technologist, musician, and likely a horsewoman - these details all come through in her interesting writing. I would especially recommend these to any fantasy-lovers who also have an interest in the medical field and pathology.
Most of the stories show a refreshing take on the classic vampire myth- the Varkela are a peaceful tribe on the Russian steppes that use their healing abilities to earn blood willingly given. I especially found the setting interesting, and enjoyed following the two brothers through their adventures, especially Vaylance.
The writing was generally charming and descriptive, though some parts were dated and/or lacked nuance. And of course as others have mentioned there is a lack of overarching plot and some repetitiveness, but of course that must be expected in such an anthology prepared posthumously for an author who died too young. I imagine Petrey would have gone on to write a full-length novel about Spareen and Vaylance, or atleast filled out their stories in an anthology of her own- I would have loved to read it!
This collection of stories (originally published individually in SF periodicals) was put together about 10 years after the early death of the autor, Susan Petrey. Petrey was a medical technologist, musician, and likely a horsewoman - these details all come through in her interesting writing. I would especially recommend these to any fantasy-lovers who also have an interest in the medical field and pathology.
Most of the stories show a refreshing take on the classic vampire myth- the Varkela are a peaceful tribe on the Russian steppes that use their healing abilities to earn blood willingly given. I especially found the setting interesting, and enjoyed following the two brothers through their adventures, especially Vaylance.
The writing was generally charming and descriptive, though some parts were dated and/or lacked nuance. And of course as others have mentioned there is a lack of overarching plot and some repetitiveness, but of course that must be expected in such an anthology prepared posthumously for an author who died too young. I imagine Petrey would have gone on to write a full-length novel about Spareen and Vaylance, or atleast filled out their stories in an anthology of her own- I would have loved to read it!
November 8, 2025
This is written pretty dense, as was normal for the time of publication, so it wasn't something I was accustomed to or particularly enjoyed, but that didn't affect my score much in the end.
The problem I have is that nothing really tied together. The last two stories seemed so far removed from the premise listed in the synopsis, I was honestly wondering if I had bought a misprint. The style of writing was also different. I don't understand the addition of these two and I feel like it weakened my interest in the book as a whole.
Prior to the last two stories, it felt like their was no end. Everything was super open ended, and it felt like Petrey had given up partway through and just published it as is. There was so much more potential in this reimaging of vampires, but we got basically the barest taste and then nothing. I'm almost disappointed I wasted my time reading this.
The only reason that the book did not get a 1 star review is because of her take on vampires. That's it. Had it been a plain ol' vampire story -- or collection of vampire stories -- absolutely nothing about this book would be remarkable.
I enjoyed her imagination. I did not enjoy her final product.
The problem I have is that nothing really tied together. The last two stories seemed so far removed from the premise listed in the synopsis, I was honestly wondering if I had bought a misprint. The style of writing was also different. I don't understand the addition of these two and I feel like it weakened my interest in the book as a whole.
Prior to the last two stories, it felt like their was no end. Everything was super open ended, and it felt like Petrey had given up partway through and just published it as is. There was so much more potential in this reimaging of vampires, but we got basically the barest taste and then nothing. I'm almost disappointed I wasted my time reading this.
The only reason that the book did not get a 1 star review is because of her take on vampires. That's it. Had it been a plain ol' vampire story -- or collection of vampire stories -- absolutely nothing about this book would be remarkable.
I enjoyed her imagination. I did not enjoy her final product.
December 27, 2025
4.5 actually. Just not quite 5.
April 12, 2013
This was another take on the vampire legend, but not completely new to me. Years ago I watched a story on television set in a remote village in Russia. There the humans and vampires lived together. The vampires protected the villagers from the wolves in the dark cold winters, and I guess (it was some years ago since I saw this) the humans protected the vampires while they slept. A Soviet officer came to the village and at first thought the vampires were bad, but came to believe otherwise. In fact, at the end we saw him return to Moscow(?) and when his teeth showed that he had become one.
The major defect with these stories was that there was no logic for these vampires' existence. They are a variation of human, but a flawed version. They need blood from others as it seems they can't make their own, but what benefit have they got in compensation? None as far as I could see. No extended life, no extra speed, no strength, no extra anything I could see. There are medical conditions where people need blood transfusions to survive. This was not that much different. The Varkela as a group are dying out and the Varkela characters in this story don't want this to happen. This attitude is believable, despite their handicaps. I have heard of deaf people upset when their deaf child is helped by medical intervention to hear. They see that their child is being forcibly taken from their (deaf) culture to another. Some want their child to be deaf like them. They don't consider it a defect, despite the hardships it presents in life. Rather like how the Varkela in this story felt.
The major defect with these stories was that there was no logic for these vampires' existence. They are a variation of human, but a flawed version. They need blood from others as it seems they can't make their own, but what benefit have they got in compensation? None as far as I could see. No extended life, no extra speed, no strength, no extra anything I could see. There are medical conditions where people need blood transfusions to survive. This was not that much different. The Varkela as a group are dying out and the Varkela characters in this story don't want this to happen. This attitude is believable, despite their handicaps. I have heard of deaf people upset when their deaf child is helped by medical intervention to hear. They see that their child is being forcibly taken from their (deaf) culture to another. Some want their child to be deaf like them. They don't consider it a defect, despite the hardships it presents in life. Rather like how the Varkela in this story felt.
September 5, 2015
I will admit I picked this book up because of the cover. I love older looking books with crazy things going on the front. Turns out this is an exceptional book of multiple stories set in the Steppes back in the mid 1800's and follows the lives of two brothers who are not-vampires, but similar enough. I loved the idea behind their race of people and how they've developed over the years and the trails set before them. The individual stories really let you get to know them and I wish there were full books filled with their lives and adventures. They are rich in history of their world and great attention to detail of all the medical events. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and glad to have it added it to my collection.
January 28, 2017
I became interested in Susan Petrey's writing after reading "Leechcraft" in "Tomorrow Sucks". Wanting to read more, I found this anthology of her work. I enjoyed the other stories about the Varkela but feel the best one is still "Leechcraft". The last 2 stories left the "children of the night" behind and dove into how to make aliens rethink invading Earth (thanks to a venereal disease) and a spider that makes music. Recommended for anyone wanting a different take on vampires.
March 16, 2015
A collection of short stories. The subtitle is "Vampires on the Steppes." In this alternate world, the Varkela are non-human healers who accept blood as payment for their assistance. Well-written, thoughtful stories.
Also included is a novella about, I kid you not, extra-terrestrial venereal disease. Eeewww!
Also included is a novella about, I kid you not, extra-terrestrial venereal disease. Eeewww!
November 2, 2011
I read this before the vampire tsunami, and even then it was refreshing. It's built on a different vampire mythology. There are obvious similarities, but enough differences in what being a vampire means that it didn't feel tired. The stories were solid.
January 14, 2015
I loved these stories as they came out singly in SF magazines and was completely thrilled to find this collection. This is to date my most favoritist(yes that's a technical term) vampire stories ever. Don't believe me get the book and find out for yourself.
December 31, 2011
One of the most original, intriguing takes on Vampires that I have ever read. I read this book more than 15 yrs ago and have re-read the stories many, many times since. Highly recommended!
September 21, 2018
Several short stories with Russian vampire and medical overtones. Spidersong at the end was a sweet story of a spider and those she lived with.
April 17, 2017
Short stories. Most of them focus on two brothers who are members of the race stories of vampires may have come from. Nicely written.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews