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Vampire Innocent #7
Ordinary Problems of a College Vampire
Sarah Wright faces many challenges typical to any college tons of work, second-guessing her major, and trying to find time between classes to drink blood.She’s adjusted to her new vampiric self. It’s fun being immortal, despite a mostly nocturnal schedule cutting into her time for friends and family. Though, little about her reality is routine. Her little sister needs magical training so she doesn’t accidentally summon the pom-pom of destruction. Compared to that, a minor demon living in her brother’s room isn’t such a big deal… and her dad still insists on watching Eighties’ movies.Oh, did I mention her sire is a bit on the dodgy side?A major drawback to undeath is the tendency for problems to follow bloodlines. When Dalton steps in it—again—a gang of vampires from California think Sarah shares responsibility. She doesn’t want to be involved, but there’s one giant aren’t bound to honor the elder’s decree that protects her family.
268 pages, Paperback
Published June 17, 2019
45 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Matthew S. Cox
187 books265 followersBorn in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 24, 2024
With a title that is both descriptive and ironic, this novel blends the issues of attending college (and attending college as a vampire) with the decidedly not ordinary issues of being blamed for one’s maker’s actions and sharing a house with two ill-disciplined sources of magic.
This novel is the seventh in the Vampire Innocent series. Probable spoilers for previous volumes ahead.
Sarah Wright has not only adjusted to vampirism but also managed to—almost—overcome the difficulties of living with her parents and attending college while being a nocturnal predator. Unfortunately Dalton, her sire, has little interest in settling down or staying honest. Which isn’t an issue until a vampire gang he’s offended decide Sarah might have been involved, and even is she wasn’t is the best route to locating him. And, because they’re from out of town, they don’t care about the decree against involving Sarah’s family in vampire politics.
As with the previous volume, the plot is woven from a mix of supernatural and mundane threads: the struggle of any college student with essays, tedious lecturers, and self-doubt over whether one has picked the right course; the extra issues caused by even daylight tolerant vampires not being able travel safely if the sun is out; the ethics of feeding and using powers for gain; the non-vampire weirdness that has crept into family life; and a bunch of gun-toting vampire thugs set on kidnap.
While Sarah’s experiences in previous books have—plausibly—reduced the challenges of both home and college life, Cox skilfully shifts the focus to the nuances, thus maintaining tension. This allows a slower reveal of why exactly Sarah is being stalked by a vampire gang and what they’re abilities are without losing engagement or pace.
Where the book’s power might suffer is in the opening: rather than beginning with a present challenge, Cox has Sarah taking a long bath while mulling on her time since becoming a vampire. Although this does provide a reprise (or introduction) for readers without a good knowledge of previous volumes in the series, problems that have been overcome or are not being faced currently have less power to stir the blood and thus readers might find the initial scene feels a little slow.
In contrast to the haunted dolls, mystical realms, and other fantastical threats from previous books, this novel draws strongly on the visceral solidity of modern life: the gang hunting Dalton, and by extension Sarah, are vampires, but they are vampires who have integrated the power and society of the Twenty-First Century rather than dropping out or remaining archaic and mystical beings; thus, while they might be more intelligible to Sarah, their facility with modern technology and weapons removes any advantage her modernity might otherwise give in facing vampires.
However, this book is not solely focused on thoroughly modern vampirism. The powers awakened in Sophia when she was used as a vessel for a mage-spy continue to grow, causing further random effects; thus Sarah, as the family’s “expert” on weirdness, must both attempt to deal with magical accidents that she doesn’t understand and seek out training for her little sister without being sure what risks—mystical or mundane—that might involve.
As with Cox’s other books, he employs a mix of suitable humour. While this is entertaining for itself, the almost farcical trivialities of finding “personal” time while living with parents and young siblings and other new adult niggles both highlight how different vampire life is and show that—for all her new powers—Sarah is still at the mercy of circumstance.
Sarah remains a sympathetic and engaging protagonist. While she continues to feel guilt over the danger and difficulties that afflict her family because of her decision to remain with them rather than disappear into the night, Cox doesn’t allow this to stray into the territory of angst or decision-paralysis; thus it adds both a sense that she is still young enough to feel human love and misplaced responsibility, and an additional goad to keep her working on problems. She has, realistically, become less shy of using her powers at all after months of needing to feed and deal with the mystical; however, while this does give her more tools to solve challenges, it also exposes her to moral complexities that a blanket rule about never doing something avoid.
The majority of the returning cast are similarly both recognisably themselves and plausibly affected by prior events. This sense of even the most strong-willed or traditional of humans having been changed makes the lack of change in elder vampires all the more obvious.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a perspective on a vampire living among humans that is amusing without being farcical.
I received a free copy from the author with no obligation to review.
This novel is the seventh in the Vampire Innocent series. Probable spoilers for previous volumes ahead.
Sarah Wright has not only adjusted to vampirism but also managed to—almost—overcome the difficulties of living with her parents and attending college while being a nocturnal predator. Unfortunately Dalton, her sire, has little interest in settling down or staying honest. Which isn’t an issue until a vampire gang he’s offended decide Sarah might have been involved, and even is she wasn’t is the best route to locating him. And, because they’re from out of town, they don’t care about the decree against involving Sarah’s family in vampire politics.
As with the previous volume, the plot is woven from a mix of supernatural and mundane threads: the struggle of any college student with essays, tedious lecturers, and self-doubt over whether one has picked the right course; the extra issues caused by even daylight tolerant vampires not being able travel safely if the sun is out; the ethics of feeding and using powers for gain; the non-vampire weirdness that has crept into family life; and a bunch of gun-toting vampire thugs set on kidnap.
While Sarah’s experiences in previous books have—plausibly—reduced the challenges of both home and college life, Cox skilfully shifts the focus to the nuances, thus maintaining tension. This allows a slower reveal of why exactly Sarah is being stalked by a vampire gang and what they’re abilities are without losing engagement or pace.
Where the book’s power might suffer is in the opening: rather than beginning with a present challenge, Cox has Sarah taking a long bath while mulling on her time since becoming a vampire. Although this does provide a reprise (or introduction) for readers without a good knowledge of previous volumes in the series, problems that have been overcome or are not being faced currently have less power to stir the blood and thus readers might find the initial scene feels a little slow.
In contrast to the haunted dolls, mystical realms, and other fantastical threats from previous books, this novel draws strongly on the visceral solidity of modern life: the gang hunting Dalton, and by extension Sarah, are vampires, but they are vampires who have integrated the power and society of the Twenty-First Century rather than dropping out or remaining archaic and mystical beings; thus, while they might be more intelligible to Sarah, their facility with modern technology and weapons removes any advantage her modernity might otherwise give in facing vampires.
However, this book is not solely focused on thoroughly modern vampirism. The powers awakened in Sophia when she was used as a vessel for a mage-spy continue to grow, causing further random effects; thus Sarah, as the family’s “expert” on weirdness, must both attempt to deal with magical accidents that she doesn’t understand and seek out training for her little sister without being sure what risks—mystical or mundane—that might involve.
As with Cox’s other books, he employs a mix of suitable humour. While this is entertaining for itself, the almost farcical trivialities of finding “personal” time while living with parents and young siblings and other new adult niggles both highlight how different vampire life is and show that—for all her new powers—Sarah is still at the mercy of circumstance.
Sarah remains a sympathetic and engaging protagonist. While she continues to feel guilt over the danger and difficulties that afflict her family because of her decision to remain with them rather than disappear into the night, Cox doesn’t allow this to stray into the territory of angst or decision-paralysis; thus it adds both a sense that she is still young enough to feel human love and misplaced responsibility, and an additional goad to keep her working on problems. She has, realistically, become less shy of using her powers at all after months of needing to feed and deal with the mystical; however, while this does give her more tools to solve challenges, it also exposes her to moral complexities that a blanket rule about never doing something avoid.
The majority of the returning cast are similarly both recognisably themselves and plausibly affected by prior events. This sense of even the most strong-willed or traditional of humans having been changed makes the lack of change in elder vampires all the more obvious.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a perspective on a vampire living among humans that is amusing without being farcical.
I received a free copy from the author with no obligation to review.
February 19, 2020
Creative
A series that is continues to be creative and entertaining, with a very different take on vampires and the supernatural
A series that is continues to be creative and entertaining, with a very different take on vampires and the supernatural
January 30, 2020
Sarah has a lot going on in her un-life. She's a vampire and lives with her family. Things keep disappearing in her home. A demon is living in her brother's room and she has a sister who has magical abilities.
To top that off her creator, Dalton, shows up with problems of his own, problems that could put her entire family in danger. There's a girl that is bi and ends up dumped by her lesbian friend (who apparently thinks you're either all one way or all the other way.)
It's another really good novel from the author who has a very interesting writing style. I have enjoyed every single book in this series.
To top that off her creator, Dalton, shows up with problems of his own, problems that could put her entire family in danger. There's a girl that is bi and ends up dumped by her lesbian friend (who apparently thinks you're either all one way or all the other way.)
It's another really good novel from the author who has a very interesting writing style. I have enjoyed every single book in this series.
August 17, 2019
Problems Thy Name Is Sire
•••NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, closedminded, or faint of heart!•••
This series must be read in order. The first book is "A Nighttime Of Forever". The second book is "A Beginner's Guide To Fangs". The third book is "The Artist Of Ruin". The fourth book is "The Last Family Road Trip". The fifth book is "The Phantom Oracle". The sixth book is "How Not To Summon Demons". This is the seventh book. I can't wait to read more!
Sarah is still on a quest to be a normal 18 year old girl but she has some quirks that cause her to be anything but normal. Full sun will straight up fry her to ashes... But dim overcast days she can be out and about no real problem(unless you count the hunger from eating through her blood supply). So if she is up spending time with the little and the rents she will have to eat someone that night or risk being a danger to herself and those she loves. Going to college is not as easy as she thought it would be. The weather does not always cooperate and she has had to have her Catherine her to school once or twice. Maybe she isn't cut out for college after all. Who are the weird Hispanic gang bangers following and watching her? What could they possibly want from her? Can she deal with them in her own or will she need help?
•••NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, closedminded, or faint of heart!•••
This series must be read in order. The first book is "A Nighttime Of Forever". The second book is "A Beginner's Guide To Fangs". The third book is "The Artist Of Ruin". The fourth book is "The Last Family Road Trip". The fifth book is "The Phantom Oracle". The sixth book is "How Not To Summon Demons". This is the seventh book. I can't wait to read more!
Sarah is still on a quest to be a normal 18 year old girl but she has some quirks that cause her to be anything but normal. Full sun will straight up fry her to ashes... But dim overcast days she can be out and about no real problem(unless you count the hunger from eating through her blood supply). So if she is up spending time with the little and the rents she will have to eat someone that night or risk being a danger to herself and those she loves. Going to college is not as easy as she thought it would be. The weather does not always cooperate and she has had to have her Catherine her to school once or twice. Maybe she isn't cut out for college after all. Who are the weird Hispanic gang bangers following and watching her? What could they possibly want from her? Can she deal with them in her own or will she need help?
April 13, 2020
Wow!
Another Wonderful adventure which seems a be a bit beyond the scope of an 18 yr olds abilities. But Sarah isn't just your average 18 yr old. Although she has been a vampire for only 5 months now, she seems to take to fighting prety darn well, especially when it comes to defending her family members. And she is learning more every day. Way more than what she could learn at college.
Another Wonderful adventure which seems a be a bit beyond the scope of an 18 yr olds abilities. But Sarah isn't just your average 18 yr old. Although she has been a vampire for only 5 months now, she seems to take to fighting prety darn well, especially when it comes to defending her family members. And she is learning more every day. Way more than what she could learn at college.
June 24, 2019
Another fun addition
I have enjoyed all the boiled in this series. And this one continues the fun. There is not a chapter that doesn’t have a good chuckle from the gaming references or puns.
I have enjoyed all the boiled in this series. And this one continues the fun. There is not a chapter that doesn’t have a good chuckle from the gaming references or puns.
June 30, 2019
Great fun!
And the crowd goes wild! Really enjoyed the first seven books, looking forward to more of the same, peace! I'm now going to start my next power read! I think I'll dip in the pool of some of Mr Fox's stand alone books!
And the crowd goes wild! Really enjoyed the first seven books, looking forward to more of the same, peace! I'm now going to start my next power read! I think I'll dip in the pool of some of Mr Fox's stand alone books!
August 20, 2019
So very much fun to read!
I will say continuing soon is my least favorite part. I have enjoyed the story so. Never great at waiting for the next part. Alas, that can't be helped. Author's have schedules they much deal with also. Eagerly waiting on the next.
I will say continuing soon is my least favorite part. I have enjoyed the story so. Never great at waiting for the next part. Alas, that can't be helped. Author's have schedules they much deal with also. Eagerly waiting on the next.
April 1, 2022
Anarchy Abounds
I absolutely love this series. Sarah is a amazingly consistent character whose do goodness gets her into more trouble than I'd have thought possible and now it seems that her family is assisting in the mischief. Can't wait for the next book!
I absolutely love this series. Sarah is a amazingly consistent character whose do goodness gets her into more trouble than I'd have thought possible and now it seems that her family is assisting in the mischief. Can't wait for the next book!
September 25, 2020
Enjoyed the story, and the continued development of Sarah's friendship with Glim, Dalton, and Blix, while she figures out how to manage a challenging college schedule (for a vamp).
August 2, 2024
Its been a little over 5 months since Sarah became a vampire and things are starting to become normal for her . She is doing well in school and family life well is a little chaotic . Her sister needs a magical tutor to help her out so she doesn't bring her monsters from her dreams alive . Her brother Sam has an imp living in his bedroom and they are the best of friends . Just a normal day in the life of Sarah . Oh yeah there is a gang of vampires after her because of something her sire did . She doesn't want to be involved but bang she is thrust in the middle of it when her sire doesn't pick up the phone.
For five months Sarah has been having a normal life for a vampire. She is going to school and everything . Its actually kind of boring and nice at the same time. She is getting into a pattern with her siblings and the parents. She is becoming stronger with each bad thing that happens to her . She is taking what comes and fights hard to get it right again if it goes sideways . We really see her fight in this book . She becomes a true kick butt heroine when it comes to saving her brother and his friends. She attacks things head on and will do almost anything to keep her family safe. She is really growing as a character and becoming more and more rounded with each book . Also this family is one of the funniest families to read,
This installment will have you wondering what one girl can do to make a gang of vampires mad at her . The author has a way of maintaining the suspense of the story while adding some of the most hilarious scenes out there . The family dynamic is so right on for a fictional family . You can almost imagine them as your family. Another great summer read for your teens or yourself for the beach or pool side.
For five months Sarah has been having a normal life for a vampire. She is going to school and everything . Its actually kind of boring and nice at the same time. She is getting into a pattern with her siblings and the parents. She is becoming stronger with each bad thing that happens to her . She is taking what comes and fights hard to get it right again if it goes sideways . We really see her fight in this book . She becomes a true kick butt heroine when it comes to saving her brother and his friends. She attacks things head on and will do almost anything to keep her family safe. She is really growing as a character and becoming more and more rounded with each book . Also this family is one of the funniest families to read,
This installment will have you wondering what one girl can do to make a gang of vampires mad at her . The author has a way of maintaining the suspense of the story while adding some of the most hilarious scenes out there . The family dynamic is so right on for a fictional family . You can almost imagine them as your family. Another great summer read for your teens or yourself for the beach or pool side.
August 12, 2024
I love to see how much Sara's character has grown in the 5 months she has been a vampire. She is getting the hang of this college thing and on how to live nights and maybe cloudy days, lol. This is a series that I want to see on my physical bookshelves
August 10, 2024
Absolutely love Sarah and all the shenanigans she gets into as a baby vampire. This is a great series, one you should be reading!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews