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The Vampire Fred: Wicked Game
Being a vampire sucks, especially when you've got to deal with things like a dead-end job as an office drone, avoiding vigilante vampire slayers on the subway, and being price-gouged on blood from the slaughterhouse. Add in a crush on your annoyingly charismatic sire, and unraveling a little conspiracy to upset the balance of power among the vampires of the City, and it's all in a night's work though for fledgling vampire Fred Tompkins, as long as he doesn't miss out on any overtime.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2009
About the author
Vaughn R. Demont
19 books154 followersWriter, Scorpio, and self-professed waffle-addict, Vaughn R. Demont received his Bachelor of Arts from Oswego State University, and his Master of Fine Arts from Goddard College, where he studied Creative Writing and being poor. He has published several novelettes and novellas, including The Last Paladin series, House of Stone, the Broken Mirrors series, and the new Blackwarren Heists series.
Vaughn currently lives in Central New York, where he is working on his next novel.
Vaughn currently lives in Central New York, where he is working on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 10, 2020
Ha! Hunting through my external drive using "torquere" turned up a LOT of books that I didn't know I already had...
I really liked this one, and I love that the books I'm reading by this author are all set in this fictional 'verse. References to gods/demons/etc. in other books make a bit more sense as well. Well, not so much in figuring out how they fit the narrative but the casual name-dropping and mentions of past events (though not important to those later stories so much) weaves the connections at least.
I really liked this one, and I love that the books I'm reading by this author are all set in this fictional 'verse. References to gods/demons/etc. in other books make a bit more sense as well. Well, not so much in figuring out how they fit the narrative but the casual name-dropping and mentions of past events (though not important to those later stories so much) weaves the connections at least.
September 8, 2014
3.75
Ye gods, that was fun...& damn confusing at times! So not your typical vampire novel...even if the blood was shiny. I liked it. At least, I think I did!
Fred was a fun guy...er, vampire. I enjoyed this take on the Vampire tale. At times the narrative lost me a bit, but I soon picked it up again. I didn't realise I was such a vampire fan-girl until I started counting the ones I liked - you know Angel & Spike, the sparkly ones from Twilight, Mick St John (from moonlight), Blade, True Blood..I've probably forgotten a few. I don't think I've ever met one like Fred though.
This book was just plain fun, from the Scooby-Doo talk in the beginning to the who-is-who at the end. It's good, all good. If somewhat confusing.
Ye gods, that was fun...& damn confusing at times! So not your typical vampire novel...even if the blood was shiny. I liked it. At least, I think I did!
Fred was a fun guy...er, vampire. I enjoyed this take on the Vampire tale. At times the narrative lost me a bit, but I soon picked it up again. I didn't realise I was such a vampire fan-girl until I started counting the ones I liked - you know Angel & Spike, the sparkly ones from Twilight, Mick St John (from moonlight), Blade, True Blood..I've probably forgotten a few. I don't think I've ever met one like Fred though.
This book was just plain fun, from the Scooby-Doo talk in the beginning to the who-is-who at the end. It's good, all good. If somewhat confusing.
August 24, 2009
I do have to agree with a lot of the reviews that I've seen for this book that the plot gets kind of complex in the second half, but I still managed to read it in one sitting, which is always a solid grade for me, especially if I stay up to find out what happens.
The writing is, for the most part, pretty consistent as far as tone goes, the sex scenes are generally organic to the plot, and well-described from the viewpoint of a virgin (though at times his voice seems a little too experienced), and are thought out realistically (even for vampire sex).
The humor did keep me going, and Fred's POV was pretty solid, but some readers might be turned off by the fact that you'll only learn information about the plot at Fred's pace, which is one of the challenges of this story. I didn't really have a problem with it, but it's a matter of personal taste, I guess.
The chemistry between the two romantic leads was warm and believable, sweet at times, sometimes having the feel of a romantic-comedy. In a sense, it felt like the warm cuddly center of an urban fantasy mystery (the plot of which can be a *little* hit and miss, but more the former than latter), a part of the story that author would quickly return to after scenes of tension.
I have to agree with one review I read about this book that it suffers from "first book in a series syndrome". It's trying to set up a world, a relationship, and one-book story arc as well as the story arc for the series in about 50,000 words. This book probably couldn't done better with an extra 10-20,000 to let it stretch out and breathe a bit, since as it is right now it demands a bit more from the reader attention-wise.
This book isn't getting 5 stars because it didn't really blow my mind, but it was a good fun read that had me laughing at a lot of its lines, and if there is going to be a sequel, I'll more than likely pick it up. All in all a good read, I recommend it. :)
The writing is, for the most part, pretty consistent as far as tone goes, the sex scenes are generally organic to the plot, and well-described from the viewpoint of a virgin (though at times his voice seems a little too experienced), and are thought out realistically (even for vampire sex).
The humor did keep me going, and Fred's POV was pretty solid, but some readers might be turned off by the fact that you'll only learn information about the plot at Fred's pace, which is one of the challenges of this story. I didn't really have a problem with it, but it's a matter of personal taste, I guess.
The chemistry between the two romantic leads was warm and believable, sweet at times, sometimes having the feel of a romantic-comedy. In a sense, it felt like the warm cuddly center of an urban fantasy mystery (the plot of which can be a *little* hit and miss, but more the former than latter), a part of the story that author would quickly return to after scenes of tension.
I have to agree with one review I read about this book that it suffers from "first book in a series syndrome". It's trying to set up a world, a relationship, and one-book story arc as well as the story arc for the series in about 50,000 words. This book probably couldn't done better with an extra 10-20,000 to let it stretch out and breathe a bit, since as it is right now it demands a bit more from the reader attention-wise.
This book isn't getting 5 stars because it didn't really blow my mind, but it was a good fun read that had me laughing at a lot of its lines, and if there is going to be a sequel, I'll more than likely pick it up. All in all a good read, I recommend it. :)
August 30, 2014
September 2014 Author of the Month is Vaughn R. Demont over on Boy Meets Boy Reviews.
Review coming soon here:
Read
September 1, 2009In a metropolis where it's possible to live by night as you live by day (it's your choice), we find a quite disrupted Fred; 24 years old and still a virgin, Fred was struggling with the realization that he was gay when he was killed in a car accident. Only that he didn't die, the hit man was a vampire, Daniel, who turned him and took residence on his couch and bathtube. Daniel calls Fred his "fledge", and he pretends that he is teaching to Fred how to be a vampire. Trouble is that to Fred it seems that Daniel is only living on his shoulders: Fred comes back every morning (he works at night), with dinner, a cup of blood, he bitches a bit with Daniel, who is slumbering on the couch, and then both of them go to bed in separate room... they are the perfect old married couple! Blissful life as a couple but without sex... and Fred has not yet realized that sex could be a bonus of this new life.
During the first chapter the book has a definitely funny mood, and the roles seem clear: Fred plays the blushing virgin who will be deflowered by the dashing vampire Daniel. Maybe Daniel is not exactly the epitome of the perfect vampire, and drinking blood from a styrofoam cup is not so sexy. Anyway I was really enjoying this new intake on a classical vampire tale, when the author decided to give another twist in his story. It comes out that Daniel is not a simple vampire, he is a renegade; in the world there are two opposite vampire armies, the one for the Queen and the other for the Emperor; if you are turned by a vampire of a side, you have to be part of that side. Daniel instead, being a whore even before being turned, decided that he didn't like neither side and chose the renegade life. And being Daniel his fledging, now Fred is hunted down by both sides.
The quiet and almost "ordinary" vampire blissful life Daniel and Fred were having, is so turned upside down, and now they are running away from enemies who come out at every corners. At first Fred doesn't know what it is happening, since Daniel instead of telling the whole story, gives him only bit of info when it's strictly necessary. But during the run, the reader, and Fred himself, start to understand that Fred is not a normal vampire and that maybe he is stronger not only of Daniel, but also of the vampires who are hunting them. The roles are reversed and now it's Fred who is playing the hero in shining armor trying to save Daniel from the bad boys.
In the end, it seems that everything Daniel does, even turning Fred in a vampire, it's an accident, something he wasn't planning. He wasn't planning to become a vampire, he wasn't planning to kill Fred, he wasn't planning to turn him, he wasn't planning to fledge a powerful vampire... Daniel is the initiator of all events, but he is not doing it by choice. Fred, at first seems the victim of Daniel's clumsiness, and instead, in the end, he is probably the only one who is able to redirect Daniel's unwilling generating force in something useful. One without the other is no one, together they are an invincible force... even if they don't know how to use that force.
Even if the second part tends to be more adventurous and dark, overall the book maintains a funny mood. The sex scenes are enjoyable but not too detailed, as all in the story, even the sex is something not too serious.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0031ERD52/?...
During the first chapter the book has a definitely funny mood, and the roles seem clear: Fred plays the blushing virgin who will be deflowered by the dashing vampire Daniel. Maybe Daniel is not exactly the epitome of the perfect vampire, and drinking blood from a styrofoam cup is not so sexy. Anyway I was really enjoying this new intake on a classical vampire tale, when the author decided to give another twist in his story. It comes out that Daniel is not a simple vampire, he is a renegade; in the world there are two opposite vampire armies, the one for the Queen and the other for the Emperor; if you are turned by a vampire of a side, you have to be part of that side. Daniel instead, being a whore even before being turned, decided that he didn't like neither side and chose the renegade life. And being Daniel his fledging, now Fred is hunted down by both sides.
The quiet and almost "ordinary" vampire blissful life Daniel and Fred were having, is so turned upside down, and now they are running away from enemies who come out at every corners. At first Fred doesn't know what it is happening, since Daniel instead of telling the whole story, gives him only bit of info when it's strictly necessary. But during the run, the reader, and Fred himself, start to understand that Fred is not a normal vampire and that maybe he is stronger not only of Daniel, but also of the vampires who are hunting them. The roles are reversed and now it's Fred who is playing the hero in shining armor trying to save Daniel from the bad boys.
In the end, it seems that everything Daniel does, even turning Fred in a vampire, it's an accident, something he wasn't planning. He wasn't planning to become a vampire, he wasn't planning to kill Fred, he wasn't planning to turn him, he wasn't planning to fledge a powerful vampire... Daniel is the initiator of all events, but he is not doing it by choice. Fred, at first seems the victim of Daniel's clumsiness, and instead, in the end, he is probably the only one who is able to redirect Daniel's unwilling generating force in something useful. One without the other is no one, together they are an invincible force... even if they don't know how to use that force.
Even if the second part tends to be more adventurous and dark, overall the book maintains a funny mood. The sex scenes are enjoyable but not too detailed, as all in the story, even the sex is something not too serious.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0031ERD52/?...
August 29, 2014
This was a fun ride! It made me laugh, it made me think and I can't wait to chat with the fellow uni's about it!
Did Not Finish
February 22, 2018Dnf at 49%
I enjoyed the first half, Fred’s narration is fresh and quirky and I liked the interaction between him and Daniel. I don’t care much for the political/historical part of the plot, though, and I can see the second part is going to focus mostly on that.
I could’ve pushed forward anyway, if it wasn’t for what I consider the equivalent of the kiss of death for a romance happening out of the blue:
Time to cut my losses.
I enjoyed the first half, Fred’s narration is fresh and quirky and I liked the interaction between him and Daniel. I don’t care much for the political/historical part of the plot, though, and I can see the second part is going to focus mostly on that.
I could’ve pushed forward anyway, if it wasn’t for what I consider the equivalent of the kiss of death for a romance happening out of the blue:
Time to cut my losses.
January 14, 2010
The blurb on this caught my eye as it is well written and entertaining, promising a fun romp through the life of a newly minted vampire. Unfortunately the story itself doesn’t live up to the promise in the blurb, but it’s an interesting idea and concept on the theme of vampires. The writing is engaging and fun and the world building is decent, if incomplete. The characters and various vampires within the world are sometimes awkward and the end resolution is simple, yet arriving there is complicated and convoluted. It’s not a difficult story to follow just the style of writing and author's choices purposefully confuse and attempt to drag out the tension and suspense. For vampire fans, this might be a story that captures your attention.
The blurb does a good job of summarizing the story. Newly created vampire Fred is working the night shift at his office job to pay for his apartment and high blood bills. He’s trying to find a way to kick out the freeloader that created him, is drinking his expensively bought blood, and wearing his favorite clothes but he hates confrontation. Instead Fred suddenly finds himself embroiled in what appears to be a turf war between different sects of vampires, all hinging on a devastating secret getting to the wrong people. As the new biter in the group, Fred must work hard to catch up on politics, romance triangles, deaths, rebirths, and the ever-changing power struggles.
The story is told in first person from Fred’s point of view. For the first half of the story, he has a very engaging voice and often speaks to the reader. This narrative invites the reader to laugh along with his problems and relate to his humdrum life, even the comedy of his death by speeding sports car. Fred has a very relatable and entertaining voice, which creates a fun feel to the story, a common day theme to the idea of vampires. Fred also struggles with his sexuality. A virgin at death, apparently sex doesn’t work so well when reborn as a vampire and thus sexual lines are blurry. He finally realizes he’s gay, something his family already knew, and he focuses those newly awakened feelings on the closest target, his sire Daniel.
The relationship between Daniel and Fred is anemic and weak. There is later justification in the story for the depth of feeling, but this didn’t help the relationship and the romantic declaration was rushed and ill fitting. The later development between Fred and Daniel helps add depth and emotion while the earlier flirtation is light and easy. The romantic relationship, however, is a very small part of the story where the focus is on the vampire politics and figuring out who told the deadly secret to the enemy.
The actual world building is solid and well done in several areas. It’s clear the author has a well-defined vision of the rules and various vampire clans, yet often that information is not translated well in the story. Many details are left out and/or offered in a confusing manner. The reader is meant to take the journey with Fred, go along with his confusion and slow understanding. This means when Fred is confused, the reader is as well and the final resolution requires a few leaps in knowledge that aren’t offered beforehand. The story also has a storyline involving rebirths that eventually combines into the main storyline but adds to the complex nature of the story and offers very little. The actual strength of the story comes from the fun twist on the vampire theme and the engaging voice of somewhat clueless Fred. The strong core of the story and its likability fades somewhat when the story tries too hard to turn Fred into someone all powerful, all knowing and extremely important.
For the most part, the story is interesting and engrossing. It stumbles towards the end with an overly complicated mystery, adding in too many twists and leaps of knowledge to give a convoluted explanation to a simple answer. The ending also casts doubt on the relationships built and creates a situation where even the most simple acts, such as sex, are now very difficult. I’m personally not sure where a world such as this could go in the future because it would only get more complex and confusing, instead of the strong simplistic base but vampire lovers no doubt will want to go where the author leads. The story starts light and easy but soon becomes complex, so this isn’t an evenly paced entertaining story but the character of Fred is a fun narrator and should entice fans to pick up the book. If readers don’t get too caught up in the various twists and turns but can sit back and enjoy the ride, it’s a fun story.
The blurb does a good job of summarizing the story. Newly created vampire Fred is working the night shift at his office job to pay for his apartment and high blood bills. He’s trying to find a way to kick out the freeloader that created him, is drinking his expensively bought blood, and wearing his favorite clothes but he hates confrontation. Instead Fred suddenly finds himself embroiled in what appears to be a turf war between different sects of vampires, all hinging on a devastating secret getting to the wrong people. As the new biter in the group, Fred must work hard to catch up on politics, romance triangles, deaths, rebirths, and the ever-changing power struggles.
The story is told in first person from Fred’s point of view. For the first half of the story, he has a very engaging voice and often speaks to the reader. This narrative invites the reader to laugh along with his problems and relate to his humdrum life, even the comedy of his death by speeding sports car. Fred has a very relatable and entertaining voice, which creates a fun feel to the story, a common day theme to the idea of vampires. Fred also struggles with his sexuality. A virgin at death, apparently sex doesn’t work so well when reborn as a vampire and thus sexual lines are blurry. He finally realizes he’s gay, something his family already knew, and he focuses those newly awakened feelings on the closest target, his sire Daniel.
The relationship between Daniel and Fred is anemic and weak. There is later justification in the story for the depth of feeling, but this didn’t help the relationship and the romantic declaration was rushed and ill fitting. The later development between Fred and Daniel helps add depth and emotion while the earlier flirtation is light and easy. The romantic relationship, however, is a very small part of the story where the focus is on the vampire politics and figuring out who told the deadly secret to the enemy.
The actual world building is solid and well done in several areas. It’s clear the author has a well-defined vision of the rules and various vampire clans, yet often that information is not translated well in the story. Many details are left out and/or offered in a confusing manner. The reader is meant to take the journey with Fred, go along with his confusion and slow understanding. This means when Fred is confused, the reader is as well and the final resolution requires a few leaps in knowledge that aren’t offered beforehand. The story also has a storyline involving rebirths that eventually combines into the main storyline but adds to the complex nature of the story and offers very little. The actual strength of the story comes from the fun twist on the vampire theme and the engaging voice of somewhat clueless Fred. The strong core of the story and its likability fades somewhat when the story tries too hard to turn Fred into someone all powerful, all knowing and extremely important.
For the most part, the story is interesting and engrossing. It stumbles towards the end with an overly complicated mystery, adding in too many twists and leaps of knowledge to give a convoluted explanation to a simple answer. The ending also casts doubt on the relationships built and creates a situation where even the most simple acts, such as sex, are now very difficult. I’m personally not sure where a world such as this could go in the future because it would only get more complex and confusing, instead of the strong simplistic base but vampire lovers no doubt will want to go where the author leads. The story starts light and easy but soon becomes complex, so this isn’t an evenly paced entertaining story but the character of Fred is a fun narrator and should entice fans to pick up the book. If readers don’t get too caught up in the various twists and turns but can sit back and enjoy the ride, it’s a fun story.
October 15, 2016
I rather liked it. It wasn't unpredictable, as plots and such go, but it was still a solid read, well-paced and didn't draw things out excruciatingly like some might. There was a wry sort of humor to it and self-awareness that cut the edges of some of the hokey-er bits. Daniel bordered on irritating af a lot of the time, which...well, it worked with the narrative.
(...aaaand, here it is) BUT....
so the thing is, they set up this whole...like implications and seriousness on a cosmic level sort of thing, which kind of rendered the HEA more of an HFN, and I guess practically, all one can hope for is to take each day at a time, especially since it IS true that people will change, and maybe not together, and there's like ....but goddamn, I don't take comfort in that? Especially since this story IS set up in like a fantasy structure. *chants* give me (unrealistic but who cares) HEA closure
I mean I guess they do throw me a bone
(...aaaand, here it is) BUT....
so the thing is, they set up this whole...like implications and seriousness on a cosmic level sort of thing, which kind of rendered the HEA more of an HFN, and I guess practically, all one can hope for is to take each day at a time, especially since it IS true that people will change, and maybe not together, and there's like ....but goddamn, I don't take comfort in that? Especially since this story IS set up in like a fantasy structure. *chants* give me (unrealistic but who cares) HEA closure
I mean I guess they do throw me a bone
July 27, 2010
This is a difficult book to describe. Fred Tompkins was hot by speeding stolen car, but saved by the car's driver- Daniel Blake who is a vampire. Fred has a cubicle job that he hates and Daniel likes to sit on the couch and watch Scooby Doo reruns. The book is pretty tongue in cheek early on. Fred is narrating his story as it happens. He has a dry, self depreciating sense of humor and it's pretty entertaining. Then we start to get a lot of world building darkening the light mood with stories about reincarnation and past lives and the vampire hierarchy. What starts as a funny, sweet story about Fred becoming a vampire and maturing as a person, entering his first relationship, quickly turns to something very different. Both Fred & Daniel are so likable that you want to keep reading about them. We do eventually come back to the heart of the story so to speak, but it seems like an odd detour... unless it's setting up a sequel. If that is the case then I can chalk it up to first book syndrome. If it's meant to be a stand alone, there was just too much heavy stuff crammed into what seemed like a very funny vampire romance.
February 2, 2010
A charming narrator carries this story for as long as he gets to remain relatively innocent, but as soon as he starts to get mired in the vampire world - a unique construction, comparatively speaking - he becomes less so. Its use of 1st person is both a strength and a weakness - strength for the relatability of the narrator, and weakness because it restricts the reader from real answers in the same way the narrator searches for them. Good, but its failure to live up to the promise it offers in the first half keeps it from a higher grade.
August 10, 2013
This was a sweet story with a side of snark & humour ... a little bit cliché but not a bad read.
September 19, 2012
This book was confusing but good but still confusing!
July 19, 2016
Anyone who reads a lot of gay male stories will be aware of just how many vampire stories there are out there. I enjoy vampire stories just as much as the next person, but I will admit to feeling at times that the market is simply oversaturated with stories that use the same old, typical vampire lore with recycled storylines.
Every now and then, you inevitably stumble upon a book with a unique approach that is both fresh and a joy to read. For me, The Vampire Fred: Wicked Game fits into this category. My first indication that this wouldn’t be your typical gay male vampire story? Hi name is Fred. How many stories have you read where the vampires have exotic, sexually-charged names? This guy is simply…Fred. But that is the only simple thing about him.
The story starts out with a lengthy introduction to our new pal Fred, and how he came to be in his current situation. He’s been a vampire for barely a month, he is working a warm-body job in data entry at night to make enough money to purchase blood at the slaughterhouse, and he’s got a freeloader Daniel that he can’t seem to get rid of and is getting on his last nerve. The fact that Daniel is his sire and his only connection to and teacher about the world of vampires complicates things quite a bit. Fred recognizes that he needs Daniel, and is quite a bit conflicted over his feelings for Daniel but more than anything else he yearns for more information about the world he is now a part of. He’s most definitely going to get it, in a big way, but not quite in the way he might have expected.
I truly enjoyed the unique aspects that Demont adds to this story in regards to the vampires and their world. Some of them are simple, such as the vampires having silver blood, and others are much more complex, with different types of vampires and an established hierarchy of power and control as well as weaknesses to each strain. The aspect I found the most shocking, and actually the most intriguing, is that the vampires don’t get off from having sex and indeed penetration itself is something that feels kind of odd and normally doesn’t lead to any kind of sexual release. What really provides the pleasure is feeding from one another, and it plays an integral part of sex, to enhance the sensations that as a human would come simply from the act of sex itself. Vampire stories almost always pair feeding and sex together, but to have sex not be particularly pleasurable is unexpected. All of these lend a fresh and distinctive quality to the story that make the reading that much more enjoyable.
Most definitely my favorite aspect of this story, the one that really makes the story work for me, is Fred. The characterization and voice that Demont has provided for the main character is wonderful. It’s witty and sarcastic and being that the story is told from Fred’s point of view, it makes the reading fun and I found myself smiling quite a bit at this dry, slightly pessimistic and naïve character.
On the flip side, Daniel is more evasive and seeks pleasure in life while avoiding getting sucked into the vampire world. He made Fred a vampire without any consent, and as such is responsible for his fledgling, and although he knows that Fred desires more information he only lets little bits through. He is a good antithesis for Fred, and the two different characters work well together. It is necessary to suspend disbelief slightly that Fred in particular moves from annoyance to admiration and love quite so quickly, but it was an aspect that didn’t hinder my enjoyment too much.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book, yet unfortunately during the second half I have to admit to becoming lost quickly. Without giving away too much information, Fred begins to connect with his predecessors as in this world vampires are connected to the ones they are reincarnations of. Fred begins to have dreams that connect him to those that came before him, and this is where I honestly became seriously confused. The story jumps into these dreams quickly and there isn’t enough explanation for the reader to be able to clearly understand what is going on. Even after having finished the book, I still feel slightly lost and am unclear on what was really happening. I still enjoyed the story, and was able to keep a grasp, although slight at times, on the story, and upon reaching the end wanted more, however I do wish that there had been more explanation of what Fred was experiencing. I know in theory what was happening, but the details had my brain turning this way and that trying to make sense of it all, not the kind of reaction a book should elicit. I’m not sure if it would all be clearer upon a second reading, but I am glad that there was enough other stuff in the book so that my last reaction was not one of confusion. In the end, Fred himself was the one that saved this story for me as I just adored his reactions and internal voice and biting sarcasm. If Fred had been a weaker character, I am sure that I wouldn’t have been as forgiving with the confusion I experienced or have enjoyed the story as much as I did.
My only other minor complaint is that there are several errors that should have been caught during the editing/proofreading process but in the end they didn’t detract too much from my reading. I am saddened to say that I have simply gotten used to finding errors in ebooks, and although they often may be things that general readers don’t notice, I do notice them and it is something I have come to expect from certain publishers (but that’s a topic for another time).
There is no question that this is a great beginning to a series about the characters and their place in the world and I am anxious for the next tale about Fred and Daniel and what they will face.
Every now and then, you inevitably stumble upon a book with a unique approach that is both fresh and a joy to read. For me, The Vampire Fred: Wicked Game fits into this category. My first indication that this wouldn’t be your typical gay male vampire story? Hi name is Fred. How many stories have you read where the vampires have exotic, sexually-charged names? This guy is simply…Fred. But that is the only simple thing about him.
The story starts out with a lengthy introduction to our new pal Fred, and how he came to be in his current situation. He’s been a vampire for barely a month, he is working a warm-body job in data entry at night to make enough money to purchase blood at the slaughterhouse, and he’s got a freeloader Daniel that he can’t seem to get rid of and is getting on his last nerve. The fact that Daniel is his sire and his only connection to and teacher about the world of vampires complicates things quite a bit. Fred recognizes that he needs Daniel, and is quite a bit conflicted over his feelings for Daniel but more than anything else he yearns for more information about the world he is now a part of. He’s most definitely going to get it, in a big way, but not quite in the way he might have expected.
I truly enjoyed the unique aspects that Demont adds to this story in regards to the vampires and their world. Some of them are simple, such as the vampires having silver blood, and others are much more complex, with different types of vampires and an established hierarchy of power and control as well as weaknesses to each strain. The aspect I found the most shocking, and actually the most intriguing, is that the vampires don’t get off from having sex and indeed penetration itself is something that feels kind of odd and normally doesn’t lead to any kind of sexual release. What really provides the pleasure is feeding from one another, and it plays an integral part of sex, to enhance the sensations that as a human would come simply from the act of sex itself. Vampire stories almost always pair feeding and sex together, but to have sex not be particularly pleasurable is unexpected. All of these lend a fresh and distinctive quality to the story that make the reading that much more enjoyable.
Most definitely my favorite aspect of this story, the one that really makes the story work for me, is Fred. The characterization and voice that Demont has provided for the main character is wonderful. It’s witty and sarcastic and being that the story is told from Fred’s point of view, it makes the reading fun and I found myself smiling quite a bit at this dry, slightly pessimistic and naïve character.
On the flip side, Daniel is more evasive and seeks pleasure in life while avoiding getting sucked into the vampire world. He made Fred a vampire without any consent, and as such is responsible for his fledgling, and although he knows that Fred desires more information he only lets little bits through. He is a good antithesis for Fred, and the two different characters work well together. It is necessary to suspend disbelief slightly that Fred in particular moves from annoyance to admiration and love quite so quickly, but it was an aspect that didn’t hinder my enjoyment too much.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book, yet unfortunately during the second half I have to admit to becoming lost quickly. Without giving away too much information, Fred begins to connect with his predecessors as in this world vampires are connected to the ones they are reincarnations of. Fred begins to have dreams that connect him to those that came before him, and this is where I honestly became seriously confused. The story jumps into these dreams quickly and there isn’t enough explanation for the reader to be able to clearly understand what is going on. Even after having finished the book, I still feel slightly lost and am unclear on what was really happening. I still enjoyed the story, and was able to keep a grasp, although slight at times, on the story, and upon reaching the end wanted more, however I do wish that there had been more explanation of what Fred was experiencing. I know in theory what was happening, but the details had my brain turning this way and that trying to make sense of it all, not the kind of reaction a book should elicit. I’m not sure if it would all be clearer upon a second reading, but I am glad that there was enough other stuff in the book so that my last reaction was not one of confusion. In the end, Fred himself was the one that saved this story for me as I just adored his reactions and internal voice and biting sarcasm. If Fred had been a weaker character, I am sure that I wouldn’t have been as forgiving with the confusion I experienced or have enjoyed the story as much as I did.
My only other minor complaint is that there are several errors that should have been caught during the editing/proofreading process but in the end they didn’t detract too much from my reading. I am saddened to say that I have simply gotten used to finding errors in ebooks, and although they often may be things that general readers don’t notice, I do notice them and it is something I have come to expect from certain publishers (but that’s a topic for another time).
There is no question that this is a great beginning to a series about the characters and their place in the world and I am anxious for the next tale about Fred and Daniel and what they will face.
April 9, 2018
I'm giving it 3.6 stars because I generally liked and followed the story but the tone didn't quite blend the comedy and horror components in many areas. The premise of the story takes a little different detour from the usual, a nice change-
There were a few vague areas where the some of the scene details fluttered away and interrupted the story flow a little. Mentally filling in the blanks didn't require much effort since there was enough description provided. But some of the story does get a little cloudy because of it.
There were a few vague areas where the some of the scene details fluttered away and interrupted the story flow a little. Mentally filling in the blanks didn't require much effort since there was enough description provided. But some of the story does get a little cloudy because of it.
February 17, 2019
Parts of it were really good, parts of it were really confusing, and parts of it were not so good
I think the biggest thing that dropped from 4 to 3 was the above spoiler note and the confusing parts that were probably mainly confusing because they also felt rushed.
I think the biggest thing that dropped from 4 to 3 was the above spoiler note and the confusing parts that were probably mainly confusing because they also felt rushed.
November 22, 2017
2.5
I almost liked this but something was missing for me. Seemed too scattered.
I almost liked this but something was missing for me. Seemed too scattered.
July 20, 2023
3.5 stars
November 8, 2014
Another rating conflict. I spent the first part of this book bored or annoyed. Once I finally started to like Fred and Daniel I became lost and confused. Once Fred and I figured out what the dreams meant I became wholly involved, intrigued and interested in the outcome. So, you see my conflict? Do I rate it based on the entire plot? Do I rate it based on how hard I had to force myself not to give up?
Fred is an office drone doing data entry as well as being a newly, accidentally created vampire. Honestly, Fred is boring, dull, uninteresting and well... boring! He is 25, a virgin, majored in music in college but works at a large corporation transferring data from microfiche for storage, avoids his domineering mother and basically has no life. Until he is hit by a stolen, speeding car and instead of dying wakes up a vampire. Instead of thinking 'hey, cool I'm a vampire!' Fred pretends the whole thing never happens and continues to, uhm, live his life like usual. The only difference is he switches to working nights, buys blood from a slaughterhouse and has a freeloading vampire sleeping in his bathtub.
The Hell You Say? Yup! This is how lacking in imagination Fred is. He also avoids confrontation. So, Daniel, the vampire who made him after running him over with the speeding stolen car, moves in with Fred. For the first month Fred asks no questions about his new life or ah? death or Daniel. This is the part I really struggled with. I see other reviewers loving the beginning of the book because of its warmth and humor. I found no warmth and very little humor. Seriously, Fred is such a schlub he lets Daniel freeload off him without confronting him about being killed, made into a vampire and having to supply him with blood with no questions or answers in regards to being a vampire. Then there is Daniel, the freeloading vampire. He has been asleep for 80 years and the first thing he does is steal a fancy sports car then kills somebody, turns them into a vampire then camps on their couch watching Scooby Doo reruns on 'tivvy' instead of learning about the new and improved world he has woken up in.
Then, FINALLY!! FINALLY Sweet Jeebus Crispy Cakes something finally gets Fred to man up and confront Daniel, whom I suppose is supposed to be a rake, rascal, wastrel or debonair. To me is just a creep but does redeem himself sooo... anyway, Fred storms off and gets attacked on the train to work by another vampire making cryptic comments and Fred makes his escape. (See comment above about avoiding confrontation). Daniel is even more cryptic than the other vampire but finally the story starts moving along, other vampires start appearing, the nightmares start and things get really confusing. I do mean confusing. I mean there are pages or a chapter missing from this book confusing. There are scenes involving an interrogation where neither person is identified and no interrogation takes place. We are just given the scene and are in the head of the interrogator enough to know his plan. Daniel is still giving Fred very little information about vampires but we do learn about the Queen, Guards, Daggers and a war that has been going on for centuries.
This is where I must stop telling you the story and start talking about the writing. I really don't want to ruin the suspense. Yes, my dear reader, there is suspense. But, I can't tell you what this is because that spoil everything! I mean EVERYTHING!!
Vaughn R. Demont is a master at storytelling, or evil. Maybe an evil storyteller. Because you see he lulls you into complacency, leads along a path overgrown with brambles until you don't know if you are still on the correct path until you suddenly find yourself right where he wants you!
So, we are back to my rating conflict. Once Fred and I caught on and figured out what was going on I was so pleased with the story I almost forgot about my earlier boredom, annoyance and confusion. The author's idea of vampire physiology and lore is completely new and wonderful. The world building is vague but enough for this story and allows room for growth and the main characters are well fleshed in while the secondary characters are strong enough to support their places in the plot.
I just can't get past my problems with the beginning. Even after completing the book and enjoying the intricate plot the author weaved, understanding the character growth and changes that took place along the way I just never got to a place where I actually fell in love with Fred or Daniel.
I do plan on continuing with this author because I really enjoy his Broken Mirrors series and I will probably check out any further books involving Fred and Daniel because I really like the authors type of vampires and storytelling, not because I care what happens to Fred or Daniel. 3.5 stars.
Fred is an office drone doing data entry as well as being a newly, accidentally created vampire. Honestly, Fred is boring, dull, uninteresting and well... boring! He is 25, a virgin, majored in music in college but works at a large corporation transferring data from microfiche for storage, avoids his domineering mother and basically has no life. Until he is hit by a stolen, speeding car and instead of dying wakes up a vampire. Instead of thinking 'hey, cool I'm a vampire!' Fred pretends the whole thing never happens and continues to, uhm, live his life like usual. The only difference is he switches to working nights, buys blood from a slaughterhouse and has a freeloading vampire sleeping in his bathtub.
The Hell You Say? Yup! This is how lacking in imagination Fred is. He also avoids confrontation. So, Daniel, the vampire who made him after running him over with the speeding stolen car, moves in with Fred. For the first month Fred asks no questions about his new life or ah? death or Daniel. This is the part I really struggled with. I see other reviewers loving the beginning of the book because of its warmth and humor. I found no warmth and very little humor. Seriously, Fred is such a schlub he lets Daniel freeload off him without confronting him about being killed, made into a vampire and having to supply him with blood with no questions or answers in regards to being a vampire. Then there is Daniel, the freeloading vampire. He has been asleep for 80 years and the first thing he does is steal a fancy sports car then kills somebody, turns them into a vampire then camps on their couch watching Scooby Doo reruns on 'tivvy' instead of learning about the new and improved world he has woken up in.
Then, FINALLY!! FINALLY Sweet Jeebus Crispy Cakes something finally gets Fred to man up and confront Daniel, whom I suppose is supposed to be a rake, rascal, wastrel or debonair. To me is just a creep but does redeem himself sooo... anyway, Fred storms off and gets attacked on the train to work by another vampire making cryptic comments and Fred makes his escape. (See comment above about avoiding confrontation). Daniel is even more cryptic than the other vampire but finally the story starts moving along, other vampires start appearing, the nightmares start and things get really confusing. I do mean confusing. I mean there are pages or a chapter missing from this book confusing. There are scenes involving an interrogation where neither person is identified and no interrogation takes place. We are just given the scene and are in the head of the interrogator enough to know his plan. Daniel is still giving Fred very little information about vampires but we do learn about the Queen, Guards, Daggers and a war that has been going on for centuries.
This is where I must stop telling you the story and start talking about the writing. I really don't want to ruin the suspense. Yes, my dear reader, there is suspense. But, I can't tell you what this is because that spoil everything! I mean EVERYTHING!!
Vaughn R. Demont is a master at storytelling, or evil. Maybe an evil storyteller. Because you see he lulls you into complacency, leads along a path overgrown with brambles until you don't know if you are still on the correct path until you suddenly find yourself right where he wants you!
So, we are back to my rating conflict. Once Fred and I caught on and figured out what was going on I was so pleased with the story I almost forgot about my earlier boredom, annoyance and confusion. The author's idea of vampire physiology and lore is completely new and wonderful. The world building is vague but enough for this story and allows room for growth and the main characters are well fleshed in while the secondary characters are strong enough to support their places in the plot.
I just can't get past my problems with the beginning. Even after completing the book and enjoying the intricate plot the author weaved, understanding the character growth and changes that took place along the way I just never got to a place where I actually fell in love with Fred or Daniel.
I do plan on continuing with this author because I really enjoy his Broken Mirrors series and I will probably check out any further books involving Fred and Daniel because I really like the authors type of vampires and storytelling, not because I care what happens to Fred or Daniel. 3.5 stars.
May 13, 2012
I think this is one of Mr. Demont's earliest books. It's not quite as well-written as his later books, but it's still much better than your average m/m. It wasn't as tightly plotted, and things happened a little too fast to be anything but confusing, but there was enough info-dumping to explain everything by the end (not my favorite method of acquiring info). The characters were interesting enough, the sex was good, and the plot was pretty original for a vampire thing. Like all of Mr. Demont's books, it's set in the City, so if you enjoy that (I do!!) then that's another positive.
I'm bad at characterizing things, but when I think of what I like about Mr. Demont's stuff, it's the characters. Their behavior never feels horribly out of place, and when it does feel out of place, it's never because it feels like there's a girl hidden inside the man. Also, there's much less manufactured tension in his books than usual (as opposed to real tension brought about by a great plot that's well-paced). And he's created a great world and mythology in the City and it's non-human populace. His sex scenes are also wonderfully realistic (for fantasy), though still a little sanitized for my taste. Of course, he's gotta sell books to as wide an audience as possible, so I totally get it, and I can imagine what he's not describing.
This book is less well-edited than his other books, with more typos and grammatical errors proportionally (I noted ten). But none of them were heinous--mostly missing words, a can instead of can't, one loathe instead of loath. That sort of thing. It's short, but well worth the 99 cents I paid for it. I am such a big fan of Mr. Demont now...I'm on the very last book of his I haven't read yet. So sad! I only hope more people will find Mr. Demont's work.
I'm bad at characterizing things, but when I think of what I like about Mr. Demont's stuff, it's the characters. Their behavior never feels horribly out of place, and when it does feel out of place, it's never because it feels like there's a girl hidden inside the man. Also, there's much less manufactured tension in his books than usual (as opposed to real tension brought about by a great plot that's well-paced). And he's created a great world and mythology in the City and it's non-human populace. His sex scenes are also wonderfully realistic (for fantasy), though still a little sanitized for my taste. Of course, he's gotta sell books to as wide an audience as possible, so I totally get it, and I can imagine what he's not describing.
This book is less well-edited than his other books, with more typos and grammatical errors proportionally (I noted ten). But none of them were heinous--mostly missing words, a can instead of can't, one loathe instead of loath. That sort of thing. It's short, but well worth the 99 cents I paid for it. I am such a big fan of Mr. Demont now...I'm on the very last book of his I haven't read yet. So sad! I only hope more people will find Mr. Demont's work.
January 25, 2017
The Vampire Fred: Wicked Game
Help! I'm a vampire!
This is a wickedly charming novel, with lots of twists and turns and "Holy Cow!" moments. Fred and his maker, Daniel, are truly likable vampires. No mass slaughter here: no giving in to the truly dark instincts (though of course there is the normal healthy spice). While there certainly are tense moments, this is a humorous novel which gives quite a few snickers.
Fred is has led a naively sheltered life, but is none the less the likable and clean cut boy next door. Daniel, by contrast has led a rouges life, but was never truly a 'bad boy.' Both men are outsiders from the strangely familiar corporate culture of the vampire world.
There is never a dull moment in this short novel and it truly was an enjoyable, quick read. Throughout the story Fred slowly gains in confidence and total confusion give way to understanding and skill.
While not qualifying as erotica this book does have several sex scenes. This is though primarily a vampire story, with one or two original spins on the myth to make it interesting for the die-hard fan.
June 27, 2014
Worth every penny and every minute spent on it! It's not the first time when Mr Demont's book surprised me with the amount of genuine emotions it elicited when I mostly expected some silly fun, but I definitely didn't expect the complex plot and worldbuilding to emerge suddenly in the middle of the story. It might be jarring to some, but I loved it, and I would love to read about those characters again in the future (it was great to meet them again, even if only for a moment, in Tales of the City).
August 29, 2014
First half was so quirky and charming. And then it turned into an overly complex (almost unnecessarily so) tale of reincarnation, expectations, lust overruling love and love ending happy for now. I dislike this greatly to be honest. I feel like the author was going for all sorts of hidden subtext but I just wanted a charming, quirky, smart story and got a bit of an overworked flow of consciousness that seemed to get only more excessive. 1st 1/2 of the book was 4 stars, second have was 2.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2012
Trippy. The first part was great. Then the trippy stuff happened and I seriously got lost. There wasn't enough information for me to be able to follow what was happening. And the breaks between 'awakenings' was nonexistent. I literally had to reread parts over and over to get what was happening and where. And don't get me started on the 'where'. I was completely confused on where most of this story happened beyond Fred's apartment. Trippy.
May 12, 2015
Vaughn R. Demont delivered a sweet and fun read--with vampires, no less!
Mythology was clever and original. Some of the "dream world" scenes were a little confusing, but I eventually worked things out after a few re-reads. Also, the "I love you's" came out pretty fast, and Fred's personality changed quite a bit for such a short period of time. Still, I was definitely entertained, and I would recommend it for a fluffy, feel-good read.
May 16, 2011
I would have given this book a 4 if it were a little less confusing. Interesting concept and premise, funny in parts and different. Good book overall, just wish I hadn't gotten through 95% of it before I figured out wtf was going on.
October 14, 2012
3.5 stars, but I'll round it up to 4 stars because it doesn't stick to the cliches, because it has humour (mostly of the sarcastic variety :) ) and because I really liked the characters.
July 14, 2012
This was a funny, romantic, delightful read with a good plot to make me very happy. I just wanted to keep reading more about Fred and I'm feeling kind of empty handed now that it's over!
July 24, 2012
It had a one in a million plot, though sometimes confusing that is but all ends well. It is bound to have and should have a sequel-Please.
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