What do you think?
Rate this book
Vegan Vamp #1
Adventures of a Vegan Vamp
Undead and vegan? Not the afterlife this girl had planned.
Waking up thin is one thing. But waking up gaunt, hangry, and undead makes for a very bad day. Mallory's killer better hide, because she's just discovered blood, meat, and dairy don't agree with her, and a future with no cheese is grim indeed. She's out to find her killer... and maybe a vegan cheese that doesn't melt her nose hairs.
Waking up thin is one thing. But waking up gaunt, hangry, and undead makes for a very bad day. Mallory's killer better hide, because she's just discovered blood, meat, and dairy don't agree with her, and a future with no cheese is grim indeed. She's out to find her killer... and maybe a vegan cheese that doesn't melt her nose hairs.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2016
2010 people are currently reading
3208 people want to read
About the author
Cate Lawley
72 books407 followersUSA Today bestselling author Cate Lawley writes humorous, action-filled mysteries that frequently contain paranormal elements.
When Cate's not tapping away at her keyboard or in deep contemplation of her next fanciful writing project, she's sweeping up hairy dust bunnies and watching British mysteries.
Cate is from Austin, Texas (where many of her stories take place), but has recently migrated north to Boise, Idaho, where soup season (her favorite time of year) lasts more than two weeks.
She's worked as an attorney, a dog trainer, and in various other positions, but writer is the hands-down winner. She's thankful readers keep reading, so she can keep writing!
For bonus materials and updates, visit her website to join her mailing list: www.CateLawley.com.
When Cate's not tapping away at her keyboard or in deep contemplation of her next fanciful writing project, she's sweeping up hairy dust bunnies and watching British mysteries.
Cate is from Austin, Texas (where many of her stories take place), but has recently migrated north to Boise, Idaho, where soup season (her favorite time of year) lasts more than two weeks.
She's worked as an attorney, a dog trainer, and in various other positions, but writer is the hands-down winner. She's thankful readers keep reading, so she can keep writing!
For bonus materials and updates, visit her website to join her mailing list: www.CateLawley.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 564 reviews
November 23, 2018
I would likely give this one three stars if the word "vegan" in the title actually meant something. When I started this book, I initially thought it was as awful as the cover made it look, and I would not have continued reading had it not been a book for our reading group. Yet after a few chapters, and possibly despite myself, I started to enjoy it. It is light and fast-paced, and not to be taken seriously, which is to its credit.
Not to its credit is the way we are plopped right into the middle of the story of a woman who admittedly agrees she was never the most likable person, and one who didn't care much about other people. We are dropped so into the middle of this person's life that we are never told what kind of a job she has that has earned her so much money. We are never really shown anything about her until she becomes a vampire, and I think that takes away a lot of possibility in characterization and in allowing us to see Mallory grow as a person. We just have to take it in faith that what she says is true. And that problem is embematic of this book as a whole. We are told many things, shown few, and everyone is about as three-dimensional as a paper doll. Even as the book is meant to be lighthearted, the fact that Mallory is seeking out the man/vampire who changed her from human to vampire herself would be cause, one thinks, for some tension and suspense. Instead, the feeling I get while reading this is that the entire thing is a joke, and maybe the author didn't want to go to deeply into anything because it might take away from the humor. I will give it that there is humor here, and I particulaly like the talking sword, which I think is an original and enjoyable touch.
Finally, I feel really misled by the title. The fact that this vampire can't drink human blood doesn't make her vegan! The fact that Mallory drinks Ensure makes me think the author really has no clue about veganism. To my knowledge, Ensure is not vegan (I even went and checked their website, and while I can't see the ingredients for each kind of ensure, the general information regarding includes milk protein and whey protein, both of which come from animals). Perhaps the author used the word in order to make readers see this is a different kind of vampire and because she likes alliteration? Who knows. I am grateful this is a short book, because even though I actually did enjoy parts of it, and it feels like there are some good bones with potential under it all, the execution is not great and it felt like a waste of time. I do not recommend this one.
Not to its credit is the way we are plopped right into the middle of the story of a woman who admittedly agrees she was never the most likable person, and one who didn't care much about other people. We are dropped so into the middle of this person's life that we are never told what kind of a job she has that has earned her so much money. We are never really shown anything about her until she becomes a vampire, and I think that takes away a lot of possibility in characterization and in allowing us to see Mallory grow as a person. We just have to take it in faith that what she says is true. And that problem is embematic of this book as a whole. We are told many things, shown few, and everyone is about as three-dimensional as a paper doll. Even as the book is meant to be lighthearted, the fact that Mallory is seeking out the man/vampire who changed her from human to vampire herself would be cause, one thinks, for some tension and suspense. Instead, the feeling I get while reading this is that the entire thing is a joke, and maybe the author didn't want to go to deeply into anything because it might take away from the humor. I will give it that there is humor here, and I particulaly like the talking sword, which I think is an original and enjoyable touch.
Finally, I feel really misled by the title. The fact that this vampire can't drink human blood doesn't make her vegan! The fact that Mallory drinks Ensure makes me think the author really has no clue about veganism. To my knowledge, Ensure is not vegan (I even went and checked their website, and while I can't see the ingredients for each kind of ensure, the general information regarding includes milk protein and whey protein, both of which come from animals). Perhaps the author used the word in order to make readers see this is a different kind of vampire and because she likes alliteration? Who knows. I am grateful this is a short book, because even though I actually did enjoy parts of it, and it feels like there are some good bones with potential under it all, the execution is not great and it felt like a waste of time. I do not recommend this one.
Want to read
August 14, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/14/2019)! 🎁
February 12, 2018
I was browsing through the Amazon Prime reading again looking for something funny when I came across Adventures of a Vegan Vamp by Cate Lawley. The title alone made me chuckle, so I decided to give it a try. Mallory goes out with her coworkers on a Tuesday night for drinks and decides to walk home. Three days later, she wakes up in her own bed exhausted and feeling ill. It's Friday. She has no memory of getting home, has lost 25 pounds, and can no longer hold down solid food. She goes to the doctor to figure out what is wrong. The diagnosis: she's a vampire... that throws up at the sight of blood. When the local society tasked with handling unusual matters realizes that she's actually going to survive, Alex, one of their wizard enforcers, introduces her to a vampire named Wembley to answer her questions. Then when one of her neighbors is killed presumably because she could identify Mallory's attacker, the society hires her to help Alex find the killer.
This cozy mystery was amusing, light-hearted, and entertaining. The unique take on vampires isn't really fully explained but is still interesting. The mystery is well crafted and engaging, and the humor kept me chuckling through the book.
This cozy mystery was amusing, light-hearted, and entertaining. The unique take on vampires isn't really fully explained but is still interesting. The mystery is well crafted and engaging, and the humor kept me chuckling through the book.
September 26, 2016
This is a totally different look at the vampire world...there's mystery, humor, a hot guy and a new vamp that's not like any other.
I loved the characters...our heroine is feisty (which is a new look for her) and quirky and just very likable and believable. The hero is touchy, a little grumpy , dangerous and delicious.
The story was interesting and so refreshingly different from other vamp stories. It's a great start to a new series.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
I did receive an arc for a honest review.
I loved the characters...our heroine is feisty (which is a new look for her) and quirky and just very likable and believable. The hero is touchy, a little grumpy , dangerous and delicious.
The story was interesting and so refreshingly different from other vamp stories. It's a great start to a new series.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
I did receive an arc for a honest review.
December 29, 2018
This fits with the “better than I expected from Kindle Unlimited Books” category. I was happy to find a lighthearted read to enjoy this time of year. Continued this cozy series through all available books.
February 13, 2017
*Book source ~ Kindle Lending Library
Mallory Andrews woke up dead. Though she didn’t know that at the time. Now her life is changed forever and she intends to find the murderous rat who killed her and turned her into a vegan vampire. Because the reality of her new diet has her very cranky and besides, who wants to go through life without chocolate?
What an amusing paranormal story! Light-hearted and fun with a mystery to solve makes this a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Mallory is hilarious, but not in an annoying way. Side characters look promising and I am seriously loving Tangwystl. I think she may be my favorite character, though Wembley is pretty cool and Alex may end up being the hottie love interest. But not yet. I’m looking forward to continuing this series and seeing where it takes Mallory and her ragtag gang of new friends.
Mallory Andrews woke up dead. Though she didn’t know that at the time. Now her life is changed forever and she intends to find the murderous rat who killed her and turned her into a vegan vampire. Because the reality of her new diet has her very cranky and besides, who wants to go through life without chocolate?
What an amusing paranormal story! Light-hearted and fun with a mystery to solve makes this a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Mallory is hilarious, but not in an annoying way. Side characters look promising and I am seriously loving Tangwystl. I think she may be my favorite character, though Wembley is pretty cool and Alex may end up being the hottie love interest. But not yet. I’m looking forward to continuing this series and seeing where it takes Mallory and her ragtag gang of new friends.
September 8, 2019
just ok. I thought it sounded fun. I was hoping to like it enough to do the whole series, as it is free on kindle unlimited. But, nope. Can't read anymore of it. I like the premise. But it is just not all that interesting in regards to plot. Although it is fairly short, it just didn't hold my interest. I picked it up an put it down several times. I am sort of finisher type of reader; so I did skim it the last half to find out what happened.
September 22, 2016
Unwittingly turned into a vampire. No wonder Mallory is worried. Worry turns into peeved and the story is off and running with a mystery to solve. Mallory isn't one to let anyone walk over her, her attitude had me laughing out loud. A well written, outlandish tale that had me looking for the next part of her story. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2021
This was a cute paranormal mystery with a quickly paced plot, quirky characters and some humorous moments as Mallory begins her journey through a paranormal world that she never knew existed.
May 24, 2024
This book left me with mixed feelings. While it wasn't the best-written book I've ever read and had its flaws, it was fast-paced, easy to read, and quite entertaining.
I didn't like the main character. I found her to be self-important and irritating, especially with her repetitive use of the word "urg." If she used that one more time I might have lost the will to live! On the other hand, I really enjoyed the supporting characters, particularly Alex, and wished his character was more developed and we knew more about his backstory.
The book presented a clever premise, offering a unique take on the vampire genre, but I felt that the execution fell short. For example, the main character's claim of being a vegan didn't align with her choices to drink milk in her tea and try beef.
Another issue I had was the main character's knowledge of her attacker's gender despite having no memory of the incident. Additionally, while she seemed to possess certain powers, little was elaborated on this aspect of her character other than a brief mention by one of the other vampires. I wonder if this will be explored in future books in the series.
If you're seeking an intense vampire story or a laugh-out-loud read, this might not be the book for you. However, if you're in the mood for a quick and undemanding read, it might just hit the spot.
I didn't like the main character. I found her to be self-important and irritating, especially with her repetitive use of the word "urg." If she used that one more time I might have lost the will to live! On the other hand, I really enjoyed the supporting characters, particularly Alex, and wished his character was more developed and we knew more about his backstory.
The book presented a clever premise, offering a unique take on the vampire genre, but I felt that the execution fell short. For example, the main character's claim of being a vegan didn't align with her choices to drink milk in her tea and try beef.
Another issue I had was the main character's knowledge of her attacker's gender despite having no memory of the incident. Additionally, while she seemed to possess certain powers, little was elaborated on this aspect of her character other than a brief mention by one of the other vampires. I wonder if this will be explored in future books in the series.
If you're seeking an intense vampire story or a laugh-out-loud read, this might not be the book for you. However, if you're in the mood for a quick and undemanding read, it might just hit the spot.
Did not finish
March 29, 2020I DNF'd this one at 32%. I liked the concept of a vampire who doesn't drink blood, but something about this book just failed to grab my attention. The first part before she finds out what happened almost seemed to drag and even when she finds out what she is, it seems to take a while before anything happens. I liked the original set-up and the way she changed her life, but I just wasn't excited to keep reading. Maybe it's this weird reading mood I have. I might pick it up again later, but for now i am setting it aside.
December 29, 2020
This was not the story I wanted to read. Mallory is totally taken advantage of by all her work colleagues and what I wanted to see was her return to work and teach each of them a lesson - empowered vegan vampire if you will.
Instead I got this ridiculous nonsensical tale with a lead that quickly lost my interest, and all the politics and secret keeping was boring.
Instead I got this ridiculous nonsensical tale with a lead that quickly lost my interest, and all the politics and secret keeping was boring.
August 26, 2022
In the book, the main girl gets turned into a vampire. Except that she doesn't know it happened or what is going on. On top of that, she finds out she is blood intolerant (bad news for a vampire). Suddenly, her body is rebelling, she's desperately calling up the first doctor who will see her, and eating is a constant game of "Will my body like this or will I vomit?"
I've been there, done that. Just with food allergies, not vampirism, lol. I've felt what it is like to suddenly have every meal turn into a big risk. I've had all of my clothes suddenly not fit because I've lost so much weight. And I've impulsively purchased insane amounts of any foods that I discovered were safe. This book GOT it in a way that made me feel SO SEEN.
I've been there, done that. Just with food allergies, not vampirism, lol. I've felt what it is like to suddenly have every meal turn into a big risk. I've had all of my clothes suddenly not fit because I've lost so much weight. And I've impulsively purchased insane amounts of any foods that I discovered were safe. This book GOT it in a way that made me feel SO SEEN.
July 27, 2024
I normally detest anything to do with veganism, but thought it would be a funny and ironic Idea, so decided to give this a go.
It's doesn't really makes you laugh out loud but it's funny in a peculiar sort of way.
The mystery was really good, but I was more invested on how she would adapt and progress as a vamp that is disgusted by blood more than discovering the culprit.
Narration was really good.
It's doesn't really makes you laugh out loud but it's funny in a peculiar sort of way.
The mystery was really good, but I was more invested on how she would adapt and progress as a vamp that is disgusted by blood more than discovering the culprit.
Narration was really good.
February 6, 2019
So much fun! Mallory is turned into a vampire but she cannot drink blood. In desperation she starts trying different foods and drinks to determine what she can eat. I laughed out loud as Mallory tries to figure out her new life as a vampire. Original and entertaining, I will be reading more from this series.
June 28, 2021
Adventures of a Vegan Vamp sounded like the perfect read for something quick and easy, especially as I was in the mood for something light. It sounded like an entertaining read, one that would offer plenty of giggles, and I was hoping for an easy reading series that I’d be happy to devour.
Unfortunately, this one did not work for me. I disliked the main character and at no point did I feel anything for her. The story felt all over the place and kept pushing important things aside to introduce new elements that were clearly setup for later in the series. I did not laugh once, as the humour did not work for me. When everything did come together, it felt rushed. Add in the fact that part way through the story the editing seemed to stop, and this one was a big miss for me.
It’s clearly a popular series, but it’s not one I’ll be continuing.
Unfortunately, this one did not work for me. I disliked the main character and at no point did I feel anything for her. The story felt all over the place and kept pushing important things aside to introduce new elements that were clearly setup for later in the series. I did not laugh once, as the humour did not work for me. When everything did come together, it felt rushed. Add in the fact that part way through the story the editing seemed to stop, and this one was a big miss for me.
It’s clearly a popular series, but it’s not one I’ll be continuing.
April 1, 2020
I really like the little twist on typical cozy vampire mysteries. Also nice for a change is a heroine who doesn't wallow in angst over her feelings.
October 27, 2021
Mallory goes out for the night then wakes up and knows something is terribly wrong, she looks completely different, she is now stick thin, can't eat or even drink certain things.
The fact is she has been bitten by a vampire but with a twist, she can't drink blood!
But she is not the only one in town, women are being bitten and dying like crazy.
So Mallory with a new set of vampire friends and tutors on how to "survive" makes it a mission to catch the culprit.
A fun, cosy mystery with a supernatural difference.
Really enjoyed this.
The fact is she has been bitten by a vampire but with a twist, she can't drink blood!
But she is not the only one in town, women are being bitten and dying like crazy.
So Mallory with a new set of vampire friends and tutors on how to "survive" makes it a mission to catch the culprit.
A fun, cosy mystery with a supernatural difference.
Really enjoyed this.
June 28, 2019
3.5*
The cover and synopsis are what drew me to this when I found it on Amazon, not gonna lie. This wasn't exactly what I expected at all but I enjoyed this short, fun and light read anyway.
However, I'm not sure if I enjoyed it enough to grab book 2 and keep reading this story. I liked Mallory well enough and i feel I could be her in my discovery of being a vamp and being basically left to my own devices when it comes to learning stuff about my new self and this new world I'm in. Alex intrigues me and I wouldn't mind knowing more about him.
Meet mallory, a 39 year old girl who gets turned into a vampire after a night out with colleagues. Except, she wakes up a few days later, feeling different, but not really. A random doctor check up confirms her transformation and Mallory receives a card with 2 contact numbers in case of emergencies. Oh, she can't drink blood and her body rejects everything but veggies and fruits. water is fine and coffee is not recommanded at all, she learns, after chugging down a whole lot of it and hallucinating things. She embarks on a mission to learn more and to try to find and capture the freak that turned her and, in the process, she meets varied characters.
I don't want to spoil too much so I'm stopping there.
There are 5 books in this series and about 2 in betweens. usually, in series, the plot and more details come as you get deeper in the story but here, I feel it's not the case. Things are kept secret and then you get one more layer that is giving you more questions and then another thing on top and not more info an, suddenly, the book is done and... I don't know.
Oh yes, I almost forgot about this: there were a lot of little words missing in sentences. Not big words making you wonder what they were talking about but workds like "a", "the",... it was kinda annoying, to me anyway. Not sure if it,s just my copy of it but since it's Amazon, I'm thinking it's the same for everyone having that copy so...
I'll have to think it over, I think, about reading book 2.
The cover and synopsis are what drew me to this when I found it on Amazon, not gonna lie. This wasn't exactly what I expected at all but I enjoyed this short, fun and light read anyway.
However, I'm not sure if I enjoyed it enough to grab book 2 and keep reading this story. I liked Mallory well enough and i feel I could be her in my discovery of being a vamp and being basically left to my own devices when it comes to learning stuff about my new self and this new world I'm in. Alex intrigues me and I wouldn't mind knowing more about him.
Meet mallory, a 39 year old girl who gets turned into a vampire after a night out with colleagues. Except, she wakes up a few days later, feeling different, but not really. A random doctor check up confirms her transformation and Mallory receives a card with 2 contact numbers in case of emergencies. Oh, she can't drink blood and her body rejects everything but veggies and fruits. water is fine and coffee is not recommanded at all, she learns, after chugging down a whole lot of it and hallucinating things. She embarks on a mission to learn more and to try to find and capture the freak that turned her and, in the process, she meets varied characters.
I don't want to spoil too much so I'm stopping there.
There are 5 books in this series and about 2 in betweens. usually, in series, the plot and more details come as you get deeper in the story but here, I feel it's not the case. Things are kept secret and then you get one more layer that is giving you more questions and then another thing on top and not more info an, suddenly, the book is done and... I don't know.
Oh yes, I almost forgot about this: there were a lot of little words missing in sentences. Not big words making you wonder what they were talking about but workds like "a", "the",... it was kinda annoying, to me anyway. Not sure if it,s just my copy of it but since it's Amazon, I'm thinking it's the same for everyone having that copy so...
I'll have to think it over, I think, about reading book 2.
March 26, 2019
Excellent! You have a staid 39 year old professional who gets turned into a vampire. Mallory knows something is wrong with her but a trip to a doctor who is working gets her information she would probably rather not had. Mr. Clean, aka Anton, gives her a card with info to use in case of an emergency. Does dieing count as as an emergency, lol! She is starving to death but knows she can drink water. Alex responds to her phone call and the fun begins. Alex is a wizard/enforcer and a bit more. He has to drive because he has problem of control and being a passenger in a car. Alex gets Mallory in the system and takes her to meet Wembley. Interesting character and vampire. The mystery is in play as people are being killed and it looks like Mallory could be next. Mallory gets introduced to Cornelius Leman, CEO of the Society. Given a job with Alex to find the rat, Mallory's name for the vamp who turned her. She get her own living sword from Wembley. This book is well written, funny and very interesting! How many vegan vampires are there? I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! I read the preview for the next book and look forward to reading it as well. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2016
I truly enjoyed this book. So much so I had a hard time putting it down. I have two small kids (under 4) at home and still read it in 3 days so that says a lot for its addictiveness. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I must say I was skeptical of the concept and didn't expect to like it. I read a lot of fantasy and couldn't imagine how you could have a vegan vampire. Well Cate nailed it!! I couldn't imagine it but it was an extremely interesting concept and it kept me interested and reading into the night. The main characters had depth and were developed well and there was so many funny moments in the book that it would be very hard not to like it. It has seriousness of a serial killer but also has a lightness to it. I think everyone that enjoys paranormal books should give it a read.
May 14, 2022
This book was rly boring I don’t think this should even be considered as a mystery coz like wat, I did not like main character at all or the others for that matter.
July 1, 2021
2.25*
This really is a cracker of a novel. The vampire lore you find in here is definitely stuff you haven’t read before, and there are plenty of funny moments—some forced, some more genuine. The bits where it lost me were some explanations were very superficial, and by the end of the first book I’d have liked an idea of why the MC is so special in her transition. Second, somewhere past the first third of the novel, it’s like the proofreading stopped… and the mistakes were distracting enough to annoy and break the experience of reading. Third, the mystery. I’m not a binge reader of cozy mysteries but I’ve read a few, and although the mysteries are much less intense than your regular mystery novel, they are still…. Well, mysteries. And it didn’t really feel like this book had one; or, if it did, that it occupied that much space.
An easy read, but if you’re a hard core cozy mystery fan or want more meat (no pun intended) with your plots, it might leave you wanting more.
This really is a cracker of a novel. The vampire lore you find in here is definitely stuff you haven’t read before, and there are plenty of funny moments—some forced, some more genuine. The bits where it lost me were some explanations were very superficial, and by the end of the first book I’d have liked an idea of why the MC is so special in her transition. Second, somewhere past the first third of the novel, it’s like the proofreading stopped… and the mistakes were distracting enough to annoy and break the experience of reading. Third, the mystery. I’m not a binge reader of cozy mysteries but I’ve read a few, and although the mysteries are much less intense than your regular mystery novel, they are still…. Well, mysteries. And it didn’t really feel like this book had one; or, if it did, that it occupied that much space.
An easy read, but if you’re a hard core cozy mystery fan or want more meat (no pun intended) with your plots, it might leave you wanting more.
September 20, 2021
MC is turned into a vampire, but not the usual kind. She can't tolerate blood. She doesn't know who changed her or anything about how to live as a vampire.
I enjoyed the story. It's a quick and entertaining read. The ending is very abrupt but book two is free on Google Play so I'm moving on to find out what happens next.
I enjoyed the story. It's a quick and entertaining read. The ending is very abrupt but book two is free on Google Play so I'm moving on to find out what happens next.
September 22, 2025
I got this book for free at some point and put it aside. My previous vampire series was getting annoying so I decided to put it aside until I was in the mood. As a vegan, I was curious about the vegan spin on this vampire book so I switched to it. It was more entertaining than I expected. I like all the characters and the change in the main character's life. When I finished the first book I bought the next book of the series and started it immediately.
January 5, 2019
Free book with good reviews so I chanced it. First quarter almost gave up as I couldn't stand the main characters. Thankfully everything changed and I actually really enjoyed this book. Not as predictable or cheesy as I find cosy mysteries lately. Yet clean.
Will try the next one.
Will try the next one.
February 25, 2019
A fun book!
September 2, 2019
Fun cozy mystery about Mallory, who was turned into a vampire, but she can't drink blood! Not bad for a freebie!
October 25, 2020
Reading this book was fun. I love fun books.
February 11, 2021
I picked up this book because of the title, it drew me in. This book is great, and is worth a read. It's so silly, but serious when needing to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 564 reviews