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The Curse of the Vampire
Los Angeles actress Melanie Ross is in Transylvania to shoot a film. It is the ancient home of her Romanian ancestors and their tortured spirits stalk her every move.
On a tour through Vladimir Castle, an ancient evil is unleashed, and a hideous bloodlust invades Melanie’s innocent body. By day she continues her life as an actress on a foreign location shoot, but at dusk she undergoes horrifying transformations. She begins to kill in the shadows, shredding her victims’ bodies, sucking out their souls…and in her wake she leaves their gory remains.
It is the curse of the vampire, and her savage hunger will not be denied.
On a tour through Vladimir Castle, an ancient evil is unleashed, and a hideous bloodlust invades Melanie’s innocent body. By day she continues her life as an actress on a foreign location shoot, but at dusk she undergoes horrifying transformations. She begins to kill in the shadows, shredding her victims’ bodies, sucking out their souls…and in her wake she leaves their gory remains.
It is the curse of the vampire, and her savage hunger will not be denied.
310 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 15, 2017
I feel I have to say this right off: THERE ARE NO VAMPIRES IN THIS NOVEL. As far as I can remember, there's barely a passing reference. So why this title? I have no idea, although I suspect the heavy hand of marketing was involved.
So what is it about? An American film actress on location in Communist Romania in 1982 finds herself inexplicably drawn to one of the local film crew. Their hot monkey sex leaves her guilt-stricken and prone to seizures and blackouts, during which people die. Since her family was originally from Romania, she begins digging into her genealogy to find answers.
This is a horror novel written in that very specific late 70s-early 80s style (John Saul, et al.). Usually written by men, usually with a female protagonist depicted as overly aware of her breasts, these are notable for telling fairly simple stories in far more detail than contemporary writers would use. As a result, the pace is pretty glacial, and the characters often behave in ways that actual human beings never do, ironic since their inner monologues take up so much space.
Karl Alexander also wrote TIME AFTER TIME, the basis for a charming film. I know I read his original novel after I saw the movie, but I can recall nothing about it. His name on the cover was the only reason I even picked this one up, and I kept reading mainly to see if there were actual vampires involved.
Nope.
So what is it about? An American film actress on location in Communist Romania in 1982 finds herself inexplicably drawn to one of the local film crew. Their hot monkey sex leaves her guilt-stricken and prone to seizures and blackouts, during which people die. Since her family was originally from Romania, she begins digging into her genealogy to find answers.
This is a horror novel written in that very specific late 70s-early 80s style (John Saul, et al.). Usually written by men, usually with a female protagonist depicted as overly aware of her breasts, these are notable for telling fairly simple stories in far more detail than contemporary writers would use. As a result, the pace is pretty glacial, and the characters often behave in ways that actual human beings never do, ironic since their inner monologues take up so much space.
Karl Alexander also wrote TIME AFTER TIME, the basis for a charming film. I know I read his original novel after I saw the movie, but I can recall nothing about it. His name on the cover was the only reason I even picked this one up, and I kept reading mainly to see if there were actual vampires involved.
Nope.
July 30, 2025
I am a bit confused as there was no vampire - even though it is called “The Curse of the Vampire”. Average story but a fairly easy read.
July 28, 2023
2 1/2 ⭐
Not your typical vampire story, but then again, wehen we think "vampire" we think of the "Hollywood vampire."
The book sort of dragged along, for me anyway, for quite a while, but picked up in the third act. If you're looking for something a little different and an unconventional vampire story, you might check this one.
Not your typical vampire story, but then again, wehen we think "vampire" we think of the "Hollywood vampire."
The book sort of dragged along, for me anyway, for quite a while, but picked up in the third act. If you're looking for something a little different and an unconventional vampire story, you might check this one.
March 19, 2015
Do not look for a traditional vampire tale here.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews