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Vampire Innocent #9
An Introduction to Paranormal Diplomacy
Freeing a centuries-old murderer from a ghost jar usually ends badly.Sarah has finally adjusted to unlife, at last comfortable with herself. Her college classes are going well even if she isn’t fully committed to her current major. Her one frustration is her boyfriend always being too busy to spend time with her, but college is temporary. Love is forever.Or so they say—her definition of ‘forever’ is a little different now.Worry about her love life pales next to the constant paranormal weirdness invading her personal space. Nothing major really, only her brother trafficking with demons and one little sister interrupting the time continuum over kittens. The moment Sophia’s extreme niceness resulted in a killer from the 1700s escaping a spirit trap, Sarah had a feeling it would bite her in the ass.The teeth have finally arrived.Furious at centuries of captivity, the wraith causes mayhem in London. If Sarah ignores it, innocent people are going to die… but dragging her kid sister across the ocean has bad idea written all over it.
358 pages, Paperback
Published January 27, 2020
40 people are currently reading
13 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 20, 2020
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Reader's Favorite
An Introduction to Paranormal Diplomacy is a novel with plenty of laughs and fantasy hijinks, and it was penned by author Matthew Cox. Forming the ninth book in the Vampire Innocent series, this volume sees the central protagonist Sarah Wright trying her best to settle back into college life with the knowledge that she is a vampire and therefore undead. Her three younger siblings all have paranormal problems of their own to deal with in light of her transformation, but in this novel, it’s Sarah’s own shortcomings that come back to bite her as a new enemy causes havoc a long way overseas. A winter in London awaits, one which is sure to cause yet more wild antics for Sarah and her family.
As a newbie to this series, I found myself settling into the humorous approach of author Matthew Cox right from the off. The plot riffs off of other vampire and paranormal shows by subverting or exposing tropes of the past, and its dialogue really blows up this effect to give each new experience of Sarah’s a light and amusing atmosphere. There are many creepy-cute moments for fans of that genre, particularly with Sarah’s youngest sister Sophia, and the plot events create highly engaging chapters and a structure that always leaves you wanting more and wondering what will happen next. Overall, An Introduction to Paranormal Diplomacy covers wit, silliness, charm, drama and all the paranormal delights one would expect from a vampire romp, making it a highly recommended read for fans of this fun and tongue in cheek approach to the genre.
An Introduction to Paranormal Diplomacy is a novel with plenty of laughs and fantasy hijinks, and it was penned by author Matthew Cox. Forming the ninth book in the Vampire Innocent series, this volume sees the central protagonist Sarah Wright trying her best to settle back into college life with the knowledge that she is a vampire and therefore undead. Her three younger siblings all have paranormal problems of their own to deal with in light of her transformation, but in this novel, it’s Sarah’s own shortcomings that come back to bite her as a new enemy causes havoc a long way overseas. A winter in London awaits, one which is sure to cause yet more wild antics for Sarah and her family.
As a newbie to this series, I found myself settling into the humorous approach of author Matthew Cox right from the off. The plot riffs off of other vampire and paranormal shows by subverting or exposing tropes of the past, and its dialogue really blows up this effect to give each new experience of Sarah’s a light and amusing atmosphere. There are many creepy-cute moments for fans of that genre, particularly with Sarah’s youngest sister Sophia, and the plot events create highly engaging chapters and a structure that always leaves you wanting more and wondering what will happen next. Overall, An Introduction to Paranormal Diplomacy covers wit, silliness, charm, drama and all the paranormal delights one would expect from a vampire romp, making it a highly recommended read for fans of this fun and tongue in cheek approach to the genre.
February 18, 2020
Magical Mishaps?
•••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". The seventh book is "Ordinary Problems Of A College Vampire". The eighth book is "A Vampire's Guide To Surviving Holidays". This is the ninth book. I can't wait to read more!
Sarah has had a hard time settling into her Unlife. Every time things seem to be going good another supernatural mishap comes along...And she is about she for another. Things have been going too well. School is good. Her friends and Hunter are good. Her family is good. So what is about to hit the fan now? Why can't she just have a normal life? Why are supernatural things always making a mess of her life? It's only been a few months that she has been a Vampire and her it feels like way longer... Is it really ridiculous to expect a normal paranormal existence?
•••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". The seventh book is "Ordinary Problems Of A College Vampire". The eighth book is "A Vampire's Guide To Surviving Holidays". This is the ninth book. I can't wait to read more!
Sarah has had a hard time settling into her Unlife. Every time things seem to be going good another supernatural mishap comes along...And she is about she for another. Things have been going too well. School is good. Her friends and Hunter are good. Her family is good. So what is about to hit the fan now? Why can't she just have a normal life? Why are supernatural things always making a mess of her life? It's only been a few months that she has been a Vampire and her it feels like way longer... Is it really ridiculous to expect a normal paranormal existence?
January 14, 2020
Diplomatic negotiations can be so delicate.
Especially when dealing with unplanned circumstances. Thankfully only paranormal individuals required negotiations in this case. Mundane officials are not very good at agreeing to anything for anyone.
Especially when dealing with unplanned circumstances. Thankfully only paranormal individuals required negotiations in this case. Mundane officials are not very good at agreeing to anything for anyone.
February 22, 2020
Engaging
Currently the 9th and last book in the series, it is as engaging now as the first book. Adventure and creativity run through the storyline. Not your everyday vampire trope.
Currently the 9th and last book in the series, it is as engaging now as the first book. Adventure and creativity run through the storyline. Not your everyday vampire trope.
January 28, 2020
Fantastic vampire series!
Fakt enjoying this whole series. Light, fun, and still a great story in each one! 😁. I recommend this to anyone looking for a good vampire story!
Fakt enjoying this whole series. Light, fun, and still a great story in each one! 😁. I recommend this to anyone looking for a good vampire story!
January 24, 2020
Love love this series
The introduction of many NEW characters is just awesome. I CAN NOT wait for the next book.
Another awesome story, thank you!!!!
The introduction of many NEW characters is just awesome. I CAN NOT wait for the next book.
Another awesome story, thank you!!!!
January 18, 2020
Always funny
I have enjoyed the MC in this series immensely. The humor of the rents and the littles is always a good laugh because the remind me of my family. The frantic pace of this edition made for a solid non-stop read.
I have enjoyed the MC in this series immensely. The humor of the rents and the littles is always a good laugh because the remind me of my family. The frantic pace of this edition made for a solid non-stop read.
November 18, 2024
Cox adds a nuanced portrayal of the United Kingdom to his fresh take on new vampirism, allowing both power and obstacle to organically increase.
This novel is the ninth volume of Cox’s Vampire Innocent series. Totes spoilers and other youthful expressions.
After months of vampirism, Sarah has become both comfortable with unlife and resigned to even the kindest of deeds turning out to be more trouble that it was worth. So, when her younger sister Sophia freed a trapped spirit, Sarah knew it would result in paranormal mayhem eventually. Unfortunately, the chaos starts just before Christmas. Worse, it starts in London and Sophia is allegedly the best person to stop it. Letting it rampage will result in people dying, but Sarah’s family are in enough danger in a city where she is tolerated; how could Sarah protect her nine-year-old sister in a country where she is a stranger?
Cox opens with Sarah struggling with the tedium of essays, having a schedule that conflicts with her friends, and not being sure whether she has chosen the wrong subject to study. These mundane issues both immediately establish the reader’s empathy and counter any fantasies that superpowers would be the path to an easy life, building a firm foundation of realism that prevents any absurdity in later events from seeming ridiculous.
As one might expect from the title—or from experience of other supernatural novels and games that feature locations in both the United States of American and Europe—the paranormal structures of Cox’s United Kingdom have an air of formality and history absent from Sarah’s prior experiences. Cox avoids the near parody that afflicts some representations, skilfully balancing the unnerving nature of the ancient with touches of modernity.
Cox’s mundane United Kingdom is similarly a realistic representation of a modern nation with a long history. However, as can be an issue with any transcription, some of his representations of accents lack the nuances that native speakers unconsciously expect, so some readers might find themselves wondering whether characters are supposed to be Londoners, Northerners, or Scots.
Unlike previous volumes, where Sarah’s main issues were balancing mundane life with vampiric and working out how to solve the main problem, the plot of this novel is shaped by her lack of ties: without existing relationships, she is forced to negotiate permission to solve problems rather than negotiate for time to do things other than solve them.
As with previous books, this one is spiced with humour with Cox both leavening the horror and emphasising characters’ need to relieve stress.
Sarah remains a sympathetic protagonist, better able to wield her powers now she has experience but still strongly limited by the disadvantages of both vampirism and appearing young. Although the increased danger to one of her younger sisters does provoke more agonising on whether she made the correct decision to return to her family after becoming a vampire, she continues to act while doing so, preventing her worries from feeling like wallowing in angst.
The supporting cast, new and returning, continue to be complex and nuanced with a differentiation of Britishnesses that is likely to please British readers tired of “Mary Poppins” characters or the collapse of four complex nations into a fantasy London.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers who liked the previous volumes in the series.
I received a free copy from the author with no request for a review.
This novel is the ninth volume of Cox’s Vampire Innocent series. Totes spoilers and other youthful expressions.
After months of vampirism, Sarah has become both comfortable with unlife and resigned to even the kindest of deeds turning out to be more trouble that it was worth. So, when her younger sister Sophia freed a trapped spirit, Sarah knew it would result in paranormal mayhem eventually. Unfortunately, the chaos starts just before Christmas. Worse, it starts in London and Sophia is allegedly the best person to stop it. Letting it rampage will result in people dying, but Sarah’s family are in enough danger in a city where she is tolerated; how could Sarah protect her nine-year-old sister in a country where she is a stranger?
Cox opens with Sarah struggling with the tedium of essays, having a schedule that conflicts with her friends, and not being sure whether she has chosen the wrong subject to study. These mundane issues both immediately establish the reader’s empathy and counter any fantasies that superpowers would be the path to an easy life, building a firm foundation of realism that prevents any absurdity in later events from seeming ridiculous.
As one might expect from the title—or from experience of other supernatural novels and games that feature locations in both the United States of American and Europe—the paranormal structures of Cox’s United Kingdom have an air of formality and history absent from Sarah’s prior experiences. Cox avoids the near parody that afflicts some representations, skilfully balancing the unnerving nature of the ancient with touches of modernity.
Cox’s mundane United Kingdom is similarly a realistic representation of a modern nation with a long history. However, as can be an issue with any transcription, some of his representations of accents lack the nuances that native speakers unconsciously expect, so some readers might find themselves wondering whether characters are supposed to be Londoners, Northerners, or Scots.
Unlike previous volumes, where Sarah’s main issues were balancing mundane life with vampiric and working out how to solve the main problem, the plot of this novel is shaped by her lack of ties: without existing relationships, she is forced to negotiate permission to solve problems rather than negotiate for time to do things other than solve them.
As with previous books, this one is spiced with humour with Cox both leavening the horror and emphasising characters’ need to relieve stress.
Sarah remains a sympathetic protagonist, better able to wield her powers now she has experience but still strongly limited by the disadvantages of both vampirism and appearing young. Although the increased danger to one of her younger sisters does provoke more agonising on whether she made the correct decision to return to her family after becoming a vampire, she continues to act while doing so, preventing her worries from feeling like wallowing in angst.
The supporting cast, new and returning, continue to be complex and nuanced with a differentiation of Britishnesses that is likely to please British readers tired of “Mary Poppins” characters or the collapse of four complex nations into a fantasy London.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers who liked the previous volumes in the series.
I received a free copy from the author with no request for a review.
April 24, 2020
Fantastic!
This book makes all the difference! So much happens almost all at once. The suspense from being kidnapped and being in London, takes the cake. Stuff happening so fast and often I had to put the book down for a while, till my head stopped spinning. Thanks to you Mr Cox for having another installment for us to read. You have definitely made a fan out of me with this series.
This book makes all the difference! So much happens almost all at once. The suspense from being kidnapped and being in London, takes the cake. Stuff happening so fast and often I had to put the book down for a while, till my head stopped spinning. Thanks to you Mr Cox for having another installment for us to read. You have definitely made a fan out of me with this series.
August 8, 2024
I forgot about the clever asides
Also, the snark is awesome. Dad jokes and puns. Leprechauns and dryads. And im glad the MC stopped worrying about being with her mortal boyfriend, at least in this book. Love it!
Also, the snark is awesome. Dad jokes and puns. Leprechauns and dryads. And im glad the MC stopped worrying about being with her mortal boyfriend, at least in this book. Love it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews