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Creature Feature #2
The Vengeful Vampire
A gripping second-chance retelling of the classic Nosferatu & Dracula tale!
Listen to them, the children of the night…
Mina Harker bites off more than she can chew the night that she and her fellow treasure hunters open up a tomb with more in it than just some dusty family relics. A monster is now loose, and has his sights set squarely on her.
The vampire is ancient, seemingly unstoppable, and claims to know Mina from another life. But as history begins to repeat itself, will he get another chance at love? Or is he forever doomed to be alone with nothing but the corpses he leaves in his wake for company?
Caught in the alluring web of the unknowable creature, Mina has to choose between her friends…and the man with the red eyes who seems to call out to her very soul.
Warning: The Vengeful Vampire has themes of murder and betrayal. But mostly just a lot of murder. This is “horror romance,” so some content may be upsetting to some readers.
Listen to them, the children of the night…
Mina Harker bites off more than she can chew the night that she and her fellow treasure hunters open up a tomb with more in it than just some dusty family relics. A monster is now loose, and has his sights set squarely on her.
The vampire is ancient, seemingly unstoppable, and claims to know Mina from another life. But as history begins to repeat itself, will he get another chance at love? Or is he forever doomed to be alone with nothing but the corpses he leaves in his wake for company?
Caught in the alluring web of the unknowable creature, Mina has to choose between her friends…and the man with the red eyes who seems to call out to her very soul.
Warning: The Vengeful Vampire has themes of murder and betrayal. But mostly just a lot of murder. This is “horror romance,” so some content may be upsetting to some readers.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2022
193 people are currently reading
811 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Ann Kingsley
66 books2,449 followersKathryn has always been a storyteller. Years of scriptwriting for performances on stage and for tourism in Boston led her to writing romantically dark, fantastical tales, which was an obsession of hers that began once seeing The Phantom of the Opera at a young age.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.
She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
January 1, 2023
3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
"You are mine. Now and forever. In this life and the next. I will never stop hunting you, no matter how far you may run."
I'll keep it short and sweet. I was really intrigued by the premise but kind of underwhelmed by the execution. I definitely look forward to more from this author but the romance felt lukewarm and the characters needed more build up.
This novel marks my last read of 2022 🫶🏼
"You are mine. Now and forever. In this life and the next. I will never stop hunting you, no matter how far you may run."
I'll keep it short and sweet. I was really intrigued by the premise but kind of underwhelmed by the execution. I definitely look forward to more from this author but the romance felt lukewarm and the characters needed more build up.
This novel marks my last read of 2022 🫶🏼
May 24, 2024
I'm sorry but where was the hotness we all expect from a vampire book? Why were there so many irrelevant men in this plot?
It didn't give what it needed to give
It didn't give what it needed to give
January 3, 2023
Hoo boy. Straightaway, not something I'd recommend if you're a fan of the classics that inspired this butchering of a retelling. There is little class or elegance here. If you don't think too much, or mind the romance of this story firmly camping under the horror umbrella (and by that I largely mean as concerning consent and healthy dynamics, plus tons of gore), you might have a good time here. I understand the author has a well-established fandom, but this series (this book and the one prior) was my intro to her and I think I'm good.
Where to start? I enjoyed The Forgotten Phantom, icky as it got at times when it leaned hard into unhealthy romantic dynamics, but the secret monster-hunting agency world seemed cool. This book dispelled all those notions, hitting very different squick buttons for me. I'm not a wild fan of the reincarnation trope to begin with, I find it meh and giving a sense of free will-stymying, much as the soulmate trope does for me. And then it got even worse.
Mina is introduced as some terrible antique thief, a punk-rock idiot with dumb lines and one brain cell. Her friend is murdered gruesomely, before her very eyes, by the vampire love interest, and comes back as a ghost to haunt her, and she's like "okay!" and cracks jokes about it. Like whaattt?
"He killed me! He fucking ate me!"
"I know!" She was glad she was at least in a closed room with him. She kept her voice down. Nobody needed to hear her having a one-sided fight with her dead friend. "Trust me, I know."
"And you're—you're—" He waved his translucent hands at her in disgust. "Are you fucking him, Mina?"
The romance was ick. Vincent the vampire reads her mind, kisses and fondles her, transports her via flight, and more, all without consent for a lot of the story. Jonathan has his own dubcon scene with the brides.
Renfield is...an IT whiz incel, a take I loathed.
Baltimore, an otherwise neat character I enjoyed in the first book of this series, calls Mina a "goth hooker" the entire book, which felt both misogynistic and insulting of sex workers.
Also, the vampire purrs. PURRS!
Where to start? I enjoyed The Forgotten Phantom, icky as it got at times when it leaned hard into unhealthy romantic dynamics, but the secret monster-hunting agency world seemed cool. This book dispelled all those notions, hitting very different squick buttons for me. I'm not a wild fan of the reincarnation trope to begin with, I find it meh and giving a sense of free will-stymying, much as the soulmate trope does for me. And then it got even worse.
Mina is introduced as some terrible antique thief, a punk-rock idiot with dumb lines and one brain cell. Her friend is murdered gruesomely, before her very eyes, by the vampire love interest, and comes back as a ghost to haunt her, and she's like "okay!" and cracks jokes about it. Like whaattt?
"He killed me! He fucking ate me!"
"I know!" She was glad she was at least in a closed room with him. She kept her voice down. Nobody needed to hear her having a one-sided fight with her dead friend. "Trust me, I know."
"And you're—you're—" He waved his translucent hands at her in disgust. "Are you fucking him, Mina?"
The romance was ick. Vincent the vampire reads her mind, kisses and fondles her, transports her via flight, and more, all without consent for a lot of the story. Jonathan has his own dubcon scene with the brides.
Renfield is...an IT whiz incel, a take I loathed.
Baltimore, an otherwise neat character I enjoyed in the first book of this series, calls Mina a "goth hooker" the entire book, which felt both misogynistic and insulting of sex workers.
Also, the vampire purrs. PURRS!
December 21, 2022
As always, KAK's books tends to make me question if the book is going to end in a HEA. But good news! It did! But not before emotional damage gets thrown in before our human-monster couple gets their happy ending. I honestly love how pathetic Vincent is for Mina. The things he would do for Mina—whew! 🥵 He really set the standard for monstrous book boyfriends. Hope we get more of Balt in the next book!
December 28, 2022
KAK put us through the ringer, I was shocked at multiple turns of events. There is always a happy ever after but she makes us work for it…and I love it. This book sucked me in just like Creature Feature 1, despite not having known the original tale these retellings are based on.
Award for best supporting character goes to Baltimore - I am so happy that he’s in this series, I love him so much.
Award for best supporting character goes to Baltimore - I am so happy that he’s in this series, I love him so much.
December 30, 2022
After the forgotten phantom being a bad and rushed version of the impossible Julian strande, welcome to the terrible and rushed version of the immortal soul. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
December 30, 2022
This wasn’t that great. I had high hopes for this one. I love a good vampire book especially since this was like the Dracula book. Anyway, I really didn’t like Mina. She tries so hard to be the cool girl. It just was annoying and cringey. Vincent was nice but I wanted to see more scenes with him. I didn’t really care for the friends and their stories. I wanted more couple scenes. The only person I really liked was Baltimore but that’s about it.
March 8, 2023
5 stars
I loved the vampire lore incorporated into this one. The unworthy angst was nonexistent, so that was a plus. I even loved Vincent, even if he was a brick with fangs.
I loved the vampire lore incorporated into this one. The unworthy angst was nonexistent, so that was a plus. I even loved Vincent, even if he was a brick with fangs.
January 18, 2023
I think this is where Kathryn Ann Kingsley and I part ways. I loved the first Julian Strande book, but everything else has been a disappointment. This one was the worst by far. Really flat and unlikeable characters, inappropiate attempts at humor, a silly plot - and all of it badly written. I’ll eat my hat if she spent more than a month or two on this.
March 8, 2023
This takes place in the 1990s! I wasn't expecting that, but it was an interesting way of doing it. I really enjoyed this one-- I liked Phantom more but that might be a me thing 😆 -- and while I only know the basics of the original story, it was really fun to see those aspects played with here.
Can't wait to see what comes next -- and obviously see what Mr. Baltimore will do 😉.
Can't wait to see what comes next -- and obviously see what Mr. Baltimore will do 😉.
August 31, 2024
This cover deserves a better book.
I don't feel like I can really call this a romance. And certainly not an erotica. It's an edgy wish fulfillment about a goth chick who's super cool and loves fishnets and raves and cursing but can wield a gun. She's just one of the guys. And then there's a vampire who says their souls are linked across time and space and they complete each other. Also he kills her friends.
The love interests don't have personalities or progress in their relationship. Just an inexplicable pull that isn't described except in the "for some reason" vague, hand-wavey sort of way (something I loathe).
And it's not hot and sexy, either. She spends most of the book being like "I shouldn't be into you because you decapitated one of my best friends in front of me and now his Texan ghost is haunting my ass and he seriously hates you, but omg you have abs and stuff."
I took a big breather around the 60% mark because I wasn't enjoying this, and then came back after reading some better books. To answer your question now: no, it didn't get better or more coherent. If anything it introduced new plotpoints that weren't fleshed out and overall detracted from the romance they're supposed to be having. And then her friends throw her out of their house so she ends up finally banging the vampire in a rushed sex scene in the cemetery. And then everyone dies! yay!
Who is this for? People who like a main character that frequently ends her thoughts with "Whatever."
-_-
I don't feel like I can really call this a romance. And certainly not an erotica. It's an edgy wish fulfillment about a goth chick who's super cool and loves fishnets and raves and cursing but can wield a gun. She's just one of the guys. And then there's a vampire who says their souls are linked across time and space and they complete each other. Also he kills her friends.
The love interests don't have personalities or progress in their relationship. Just an inexplicable pull that isn't described except in the "for some reason" vague, hand-wavey sort of way (something I loathe).
And it's not hot and sexy, either. She spends most of the book being like "I shouldn't be into you because you decapitated one of my best friends in front of me and now his Texan ghost is haunting my ass and he seriously hates you, but omg you have abs and stuff."
I took a big breather around the 60% mark because I wasn't enjoying this, and then came back after reading some better books. To answer your question now: no, it didn't get better or more coherent. If anything it introduced new plotpoints that weren't fleshed out and overall detracted from the romance they're supposed to be having. And then her friends throw her out of their house so she ends up finally banging the vampire in a rushed sex scene in the cemetery. And then everyone dies! yay!
Who is this for? People who like a main character that frequently ends her thoughts with "Whatever."
-_-
January 17, 2023
DNF at 19% after the FMC Mina had a graphic dream featuring the vampire.
I was getting more horror than romance vibes and wasn't really interested in seeing where the story was going. I probably should have read the blurb more thoroughly before borrowing the book. I was not a fan of the vampire that was introduced so far as a love interest.
While I have enjoyed other villain romance by the author, this was not one for me.
Romance:
I was getting more horror than romance vibes and wasn't really interested in seeing where the story was going. I probably should have read the blurb more thoroughly before borrowing the book. I was not a fan of the vampire that was introduced so far as a love interest.
While I have enjoyed other villain romance by the author, this was not one for me.
Romance:
February 8, 2023
I usually like standalones, but this was a bit too rushed. Also Mina and Lucy were basically just caricatures of a goth girl and a girly girl, but at least they're friends?
May 31, 2023
READ THIS if you like PATHETIC men
September 1, 2023
A really fun adventure!! I love all things Dracula and thought this retelling was great!! I loved Mina and Vincent! The writing is fast-paced and kept me pulled in! My main issue was that things felt a bit rushed between our two mcs, especially with the romance and the ending, and I also didn’t care for the other characters too much, but I enjoyed most of it! As I said, it was really fun, and funny too! 3.5 stars! Also I’m obsessed with the book cover! Chef kiss! I love this series and will definitely be anticipating the next one! 🧛🏻♀️🖤
February 22, 2023
I enjoyed this so much more than I initially expected to!
"Who—who are you?"
He laughed quietly. "Names are not for things such as I."
"Then…what are you?"
His lips turned up in a faint, sad smile as he whispered his answer. "Vampire."
The 90s paranormal romance vibes are real and I was so here for it - the reincarnation angst, the banter, the mysterious monster hunter institute... Also so many Moonlight vibes like *chef's kiss*
Vincent was so so SOFT. And yearning. And lonely. I just wanted to hug him and cry honestly 💕
The only real downside for me was the very tame, very hmm fade-to-blackish smut... Very disappointing.
Baltimore is definitely my favourite though, such and arse deserves his own book in my humble opinion 👀 (his and mina's friendly banter was pure gold).
"Who—who are you?"
He laughed quietly. "Names are not for things such as I."
"Then…what are you?"
His lips turned up in a faint, sad smile as he whispered his answer. "Vampire."
The 90s paranormal romance vibes are real and I was so here for it - the reincarnation angst, the banter, the mysterious monster hunter institute... Also so many Moonlight vibes like *chef's kiss*
Vincent was so so SOFT. And yearning. And lonely. I just wanted to hug him and cry honestly 💕
The only real downside for me was the very tame, very hmm fade-to-blackish smut... Very disappointing.
Baltimore is definitely my favourite though, such and arse deserves his own book in my humble opinion 👀 (his and mina's friendly banter was pure gold).
January 11, 2023
-arc provided by the author-
Although interesting I think this book fell a little bit flat. Honestly I think it just needed more content and character development. It could've been super interesting just to delve into more character development rather than rush relationships and such. I did like the characters, I just wish there were more to them. I also feel like the main character's friends especially weren't developed enough. overall this was okay but not the best
Although interesting I think this book fell a little bit flat. Honestly I think it just needed more content and character development. It could've been super interesting just to delve into more character development rather than rush relationships and such. I did like the characters, I just wish there were more to them. I also feel like the main character's friends especially weren't developed enough. overall this was okay but not the best
January 15, 2023
I’ve been counting down the days until this gem was released, and It was worth every second. I’m a fan of everything Kathryn Ann Kingsley has written; this is on the same level as Illusions of Grandeur. The Vengeful Vampire was amazing.
February 19, 2023
2.5
2.5 I wanted more relationship development/time spent together. They really only spent one evening together before the book was practically over.
2.5 I wanted more relationship development/time spent together. They really only spent one evening together before the book was practically over.
January 5, 2024
The first half of the book had me hooked on the story. As I reached towards the end the story fell a bit flat for me. Some events that happened felt sudden and rushed through. It was a nice quick read to start off the new year.
January 3, 2023
You're better off watching the 90's movie Dracula than reading this. It deserves to be staked and dragged into the sun never to be seen again.
April 23, 2024
C'était sympa mais sans plus. Je me suis beaucoup ennuyé les 120 premières pages. Pas d'attachement aux personnages à part Vincent. J'ai tout de même relevé quelques citations sympathiques.
January 9, 2023
I enjoyed the phantom of the opera book that came before this. Unfortunately this book is not great. It has so many characters, none of whom are at all enjoyable. Mina is pretty unlikable… she and Jonathan never even break up… it’s just “implied” based on the fact that Arthur freaks out. And they were both basically cheating at the end.
Im going to be honest: there is so much to not like. It’s so bad I don’t even really enjoy the simping vampire Vincent. And who doesn’t like that?
Mina is supposed to be a strong woman, but she’s really spineless and lacks confidence. She’s portrayed as someone who’s always wanted men’s interest, but never got it because her hot blonde best friend is always turning men’s eyes, problematic and sad.
There are too many characters. There are six people in this 250 page book. And some chapters focus outside the couple. There’s not enough building on Mina and Vincent to give a shit at what happens to them. Mina reads as femcel and Vincent is just around.
There’s also the whole I turned your best friend into a vampire for you and she sort of got off on it? I honestly thought there was going to be a second vampire in play but it was just Vincent being a fucking moron.
God I could go on.
Im going to be honest: there is so much to not like. It’s so bad I don’t even really enjoy the simping vampire Vincent. And who doesn’t like that?
Mina is supposed to be a strong woman, but she’s really spineless and lacks confidence. She’s portrayed as someone who’s always wanted men’s interest, but never got it because her hot blonde best friend is always turning men’s eyes, problematic and sad.
There are too many characters. There are six people in this 250 page book. And some chapters focus outside the couple. There’s not enough building on Mina and Vincent to give a shit at what happens to them. Mina reads as femcel and Vincent is just around.
There’s also the whole I turned your best friend into a vampire for you and she sort of got off on it? I honestly thought there was going to be a second vampire in play but it was just Vincent being a fucking moron.
God I could go on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2023
A retelling of Bram Stokers Dracula. I found the story to be ok. Not bad, not great. I like goths but didn't really connect with Mina at all. Didn't care for Lucy either, and i just felt a lot of cringe over their characters. I would have liked to get to know Vincent more but other than "being a brick with fangs" with a love for Mina, there really isn't anything more to him, and that's just sad. Baltimore was pretty cool but didn't serve much purpose. Honestly, I felt much of the book felt like a teen romance of 'will they, won't they', knowing it was a 'when they will'. I don't know that I really loved any part of it, but I stayed interested until the end.
May 15, 2023
The female protagonist was pretty unlikeable and her sexual objectification of her male friends did not help her endear herself to me
I also didnt appreciate her comment about another character not needing to pay for sx with female sex workers since he was hot.
I also didnt appreciate her comment about another character not needing to pay for sx with female sex workers since he was hot.
May 26, 2024
⤷ ꒰ 3.5 ☆ ꒱
May 12, 2023
**This Is The Dracula I Always WANTED!!**
The first thing to say is that The Vengeful Vampire is waaay better that the Dracula duology by the same author. I'm struggling to put into words how much I adored this book!
I have been a vampire fan since my childhood and I always wished Dracula would get Mina in the end. Now thanks to Kathryn Ann Kingsley I have my wish come true in the form of a great Dracula/Nosferatu retelling.
Second thing to say, I WASN'T disappointed in the least!
The plot starts strong; with mystery, horror, gore and painful death just in the first couple of chapters. Then, the strong is the connection between this reincarnation of Mina Murray and the vampire, who doesn't have a name at the start because he doesn't remember his birth name. Mina is the one that names him Vincent. After that, the dance of seduction starts and I was helplessly lost to Vincent's charms. Because even though he's a villain through and through, he has a decent soul and honor. I love villains with a code of honor and the desire to please their love interests.
The book isn't only violence and gore, but also drama and even comedy.
Another great point for this book was the recreation of key scenes in the movies that inspired it. Lucy being bitten in the garden while Mina witness it, Jonathan and the 3 brides, Lucy's eventual second death, and my favorite scene from the movie Dracula (1992): Mina drinking Dracula's blood in her bed. There are many other small details that reminded me of the movies, and others were completely new. However, I loved every one of them.
Then there's the sex scenes. Two of them, actually. Though Jonathan's shorter and somewhat brief than the one of Mina and Vincent. Despite the differences in length, both sex scenes were hot and passionate. Raising the blood pressure quite easily, lol. I'm NOT disappointed by Miss Kingsley's steam.
Lastly, I have to say that The Vengeful Vampire made me laugh and cry in various in instances, and royally pissed me off near the end--blame Arthur and his psychotic break. Because of eliciting all those emotions, I consider the novel one of my best reads of 2023 and award it my LAC (Laugh-Angry-Cry) badge.
The first thing to say is that The Vengeful Vampire is waaay better that the Dracula duology by the same author. I'm struggling to put into words how much I adored this book!
I have been a vampire fan since my childhood and I always wished Dracula would get Mina in the end. Now thanks to Kathryn Ann Kingsley I have my wish come true in the form of a great Dracula/Nosferatu retelling.
Second thing to say, I WASN'T disappointed in the least!
The plot starts strong; with mystery, horror, gore and painful death just in the first couple of chapters. Then, the strong is the connection between this reincarnation of Mina Murray and the vampire, who doesn't have a name at the start because he doesn't remember his birth name. Mina is the one that names him Vincent. After that, the dance of seduction starts and I was helplessly lost to Vincent's charms. Because even though he's a villain through and through, he has a decent soul and honor. I love villains with a code of honor and the desire to please their love interests.
The book isn't only violence and gore, but also drama and even comedy.
Another great point for this book was the recreation of key scenes in the movies that inspired it. Lucy being bitten in the garden while Mina witness it, Jonathan and the 3 brides, Lucy's eventual second death, and my favorite scene from the movie Dracula (1992): Mina drinking Dracula's blood in her bed. There are many other small details that reminded me of the movies, and others were completely new. However, I loved every one of them.
Then there's the sex scenes. Two of them, actually. Though Jonathan's shorter and somewhat brief than the one of Mina and Vincent. Despite the differences in length, both sex scenes were hot and passionate. Raising the blood pressure quite easily, lol. I'm NOT disappointed by Miss Kingsley's steam.
Lastly, I have to say that The Vengeful Vampire made me laugh and cry in various in instances, and royally pissed me off near the end--blame Arthur and his psychotic break. Because of eliciting all those emotions, I consider the novel one of my best reads of 2023 and award it my LAC (Laugh-Angry-Cry) badge.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2022
Started it. Finished it (in roughly 2.5 hours - ya girl reads fast). As soon as I have real money in my bank I'm getting the print version to sit next to my Bram Stoker Dracula book I've had and read repeatedly since I was 10.
First off, I had to get over the Ick factor of the female lead being called Mina, but that's my own fault for naming my youngest child after a character in my favourite book right?
Once that ship sailed, which didn't take long I must admit... This book had NO RIGHT to go so hard. I have laughed out loud (and received weird looks from my dog for doing so) I have cried, I have been consumed by the way Kathryn Ann Kingsley embodied the story of Dracula and crafted it into such a fantastic masterpiece of romance, turmoil, and sass.
Not only did I cry, I SOBBED. Like. THIS AUTHOR had NO RIGHT to go this hard with her 2nd creature feature story.
I enjoyed the first creature feature, but it didn't sit with me the same way this has, maybe because my imaginings of Eric have been different. However I highly recommend reading book 1 (The Forgotten Phantom) because there is a character/agency who is across both books and most likely a prominent feature in the series going forward... and yes. I want Daddy Balt to have a book so bad.
*The Creature Feature is a second chance reimagining of monster / paranormal stories*
Seriously, 10/10.
First off, I had to get over the Ick factor of the female lead being called Mina, but that's my own fault for naming my youngest child after a character in my favourite book right?
Once that ship sailed, which didn't take long I must admit... This book had NO RIGHT to go so hard. I have laughed out loud (and received weird looks from my dog for doing so) I have cried, I have been consumed by the way Kathryn Ann Kingsley embodied the story of Dracula and crafted it into such a fantastic masterpiece of romance, turmoil, and sass.
Not only did I cry, I SOBBED. Like. THIS AUTHOR had NO RIGHT to go this hard with her 2nd creature feature story.
I enjoyed the first creature feature, but it didn't sit with me the same way this has, maybe because my imaginings of Eric have been different. However I highly recommend reading book 1 (The Forgotten Phantom) because there is a character/agency who is across both books and most likely a prominent feature in the series going forward... and yes. I want Daddy Balt to have a book so bad.
*The Creature Feature is a second chance reimagining of monster / paranormal stories*
Seriously, 10/10.
February 25, 2023
3 STARS ✨
There’s a lot of mixed opinions on this one, so I’m just going to start off by saying that The Vengeful Vampire is kind of a short read with all of the tropes there to entice readers of dark fantasy (tropes which not everyone will be into) but could not be executed or developed properly in the short length of the book.
I personally found it enjoyable as someone who is currently in bed with covid and just wanted a short and easy read to tide me over when I’m unable to focus on my TBR. I’m also a Carmilla over Dracula and completely ignored it on my module list, so a lot of things that may have bothered fans of the classics didn’t phase me because I haven’t read it. However, even as someone who has very limited knowledge, I can imagine why people who have a love for it and come to read The Vengeful Vampire for its second chance status in the blurb may find themselves confused about what they’ve actually signed up for.
It was good — a simple read that takes a couple of hours, if it had further character development and slower pacing of the plot, it could have probably been a four star. I am slightly disappointed after how fantastic the Maze of Shadows series was, but I’m definitely not going to be ruling out Kingsley as an author.
There’s a lot of mixed opinions on this one, so I’m just going to start off by saying that The Vengeful Vampire is kind of a short read with all of the tropes there to entice readers of dark fantasy (tropes which not everyone will be into) but could not be executed or developed properly in the short length of the book.
I personally found it enjoyable as someone who is currently in bed with covid and just wanted a short and easy read to tide me over when I’m unable to focus on my TBR. I’m also a Carmilla over Dracula and completely ignored it on my module list, so a lot of things that may have bothered fans of the classics didn’t phase me because I haven’t read it. However, even as someone who has very limited knowledge, I can imagine why people who have a love for it and come to read The Vengeful Vampire for its second chance status in the blurb may find themselves confused about what they’ve actually signed up for.
It was good — a simple read that takes a couple of hours, if it had further character development and slower pacing of the plot, it could have probably been a four star. I am slightly disappointed after how fantastic the Maze of Shadows series was, but I’m definitely not going to be ruling out Kingsley as an author.
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