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Choose Your Own Nightmare #7
Biting for Blood
The reader must confront fears about the new neighbor down the street, a pale-faced man who wears black clothing, has deep red lips, and only comes out at night, who just might be a vampire out for blood. Original.
85 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Edward Packard
170 books126 followersEdward Packard attended and graduated from both Princeton University and Columbia Law School. He was one of the first authors to explore the idea of gamebooks, in which the reader is inserted as the main character and makes choices about the direction the story will go at designated places in the text.
The first such book that Edward Packard wrote in the Choose Your Own Adventure series was titled "Sugarcane Island", but it was not actually published as the first entry in the Choose Your Own Adventure Series. In 1979, the first book to be released in the series was "The Cave of Time", a fantasy time-travel story that remained in print for many years. Eventually, one hundred eighty-four Choose Your Own Adventure books would be published before production on new entries to the series ceased in 1998. Edward Packard was the author of many of these books, though a substantial number of other authors were included as well.
In 2005, Choose Your Own Adventure books once again began to be published, but none of Edward Packard's titles have yet been included among the newly-released books.
The first such book that Edward Packard wrote in the Choose Your Own Adventure series was titled "Sugarcane Island", but it was not actually published as the first entry in the Choose Your Own Adventure Series. In 1979, the first book to be released in the series was "The Cave of Time", a fantasy time-travel story that remained in print for many years. Eventually, one hundred eighty-four Choose Your Own Adventure books would be published before production on new entries to the series ceased in 1998. Edward Packard was the author of many of these books, though a substantial number of other authors were included as well.
In 2005, Choose Your Own Adventure books once again began to be published, but none of Edward Packard's titles have yet been included among the newly-released books.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 7, 2025
Second of three Edward Packard books in the Choose Your Own Nightmare series, Biting for Blood has a similar feel to the first, Night of the Werewolf: an iconic horror monster wreaking havoc in the local neighborhood. You and your best friends, twins Brian and Jenny Conrad, pensively discuss the recent crisis as our story opens. Missing people and gruesomely slain animals near where you live are causing rumors of a vampire. Police are in full denial mode, but can three kids can do something about the situation? Jenny says her mother is friends with Maria Murton, a Daily Times reporter; maybe Ms. Murton could tell you if the police are holding back information on the case. Alternatively, you could spy on Eliot Sanger, who recently moved in not far from your house. He has deathly pale skin and burning eyes; if he's the vampire, could you prove it? You could check out the library instead, to bone up on vampire lore. One thing's certain: you, Brian, and Jenny don't intend on leaving this mystery to the cops.
Going with Brian and Jenny to their house for an overnight stay ends up putting you in an uncomfortable position. Their parents will be out for the evening, leaving you three alone. A sudden violent pounding at the front door seems a sure sign the vampire has targeted you for its next kill, but should you arm yourselves with garlic and stand your ground, or flee into the woods? Lingering at the house results in a quick ending, but a romp through the woods at night will separate you from Brian and Jenny and perhaps place you in the vampire's path. If you discover his true identity, will you stay mum about it or alert your parents? Making that choice under threat of death is stressful, and your survival ultimately hinges on it.
Maybe you decided to stake out Eliot Sanger's home rather than stay the night with your friends. If you do, you meet Mr. Gravesend, an old man who knows more than he should about the undead. Is he related to the vampire, as he claims? Accepting an invitation into Mr. Gravesend's home is a setup for disaster, thrusting you into the vampire's lair. Refuse Mr. Gravesend, and you'll meet the vampire prowling outside at night when his powers are strongest. Nothing but luck can save the day if you get too close. You might have another run-in with Mr. Gravesend, who won't be as friendly if he thinks you're spying on him, but if you witness the vampire in action at the right moment, your tip to the police could end this ordeal in relatively mess-free fashion.
Are you the type who prefers research over adventure? A library trip yields some general information from Ms. Hallowell, who happens to specialize in vampire studies, but nothing she says helps much if you come face to face with the creature. You meet Maria Murton the newspaper reporter outside Eliot Sanger's house; like you, she's suspicious he is the culprit, and when someone or something yanks her into his house, you'll have to get involved. Don't hesitate long, or there will be no rescuing Ms. Murton, but Sanger's house is a real death trap. A guard dog is the least of your worries, but its presence makes it easier for the vampire to corner you. There's more than one way to stop the undead monster in his tracks and restore some form of peace to your hometown, but you're never more than a blunder away from becoming his latest blood orgy.
Compared to Edward Packard's Night of the Werewolf, Biting for Blood is lacking. The atmosphere really isn't suspenseful and the story options are humdrum, but the biggest strike against it is how readily everyone accepts a real vampire is behind the crime spree. There's almost no skepticism even among police and other adults, and that lack of realism hinders me from feeling invested in the narrative. Edward Packard is capable of being one of the best gamebook authors of all, but Biting for Blood is not an example of this, and I only rate it one and a half stars. It's not a bad choice for a quick, casual read near Halloween.
Going with Brian and Jenny to their house for an overnight stay ends up putting you in an uncomfortable position. Their parents will be out for the evening, leaving you three alone. A sudden violent pounding at the front door seems a sure sign the vampire has targeted you for its next kill, but should you arm yourselves with garlic and stand your ground, or flee into the woods? Lingering at the house results in a quick ending, but a romp through the woods at night will separate you from Brian and Jenny and perhaps place you in the vampire's path. If you discover his true identity, will you stay mum about it or alert your parents? Making that choice under threat of death is stressful, and your survival ultimately hinges on it.
Maybe you decided to stake out Eliot Sanger's home rather than stay the night with your friends. If you do, you meet Mr. Gravesend, an old man who knows more than he should about the undead. Is he related to the vampire, as he claims? Accepting an invitation into Mr. Gravesend's home is a setup for disaster, thrusting you into the vampire's lair. Refuse Mr. Gravesend, and you'll meet the vampire prowling outside at night when his powers are strongest. Nothing but luck can save the day if you get too close. You might have another run-in with Mr. Gravesend, who won't be as friendly if he thinks you're spying on him, but if you witness the vampire in action at the right moment, your tip to the police could end this ordeal in relatively mess-free fashion.
Are you the type who prefers research over adventure? A library trip yields some general information from Ms. Hallowell, who happens to specialize in vampire studies, but nothing she says helps much if you come face to face with the creature. You meet Maria Murton the newspaper reporter outside Eliot Sanger's house; like you, she's suspicious he is the culprit, and when someone or something yanks her into his house, you'll have to get involved. Don't hesitate long, or there will be no rescuing Ms. Murton, but Sanger's house is a real death trap. A guard dog is the least of your worries, but its presence makes it easier for the vampire to corner you. There's more than one way to stop the undead monster in his tracks and restore some form of peace to your hometown, but you're never more than a blunder away from becoming his latest blood orgy.
Compared to Edward Packard's Night of the Werewolf, Biting for Blood is lacking. The atmosphere really isn't suspenseful and the story options are humdrum, but the biggest strike against it is how readily everyone accepts a real vampire is behind the crime spree. There's almost no skepticism even among police and other adults, and that lack of realism hinders me from feeling invested in the narrative. Edward Packard is capable of being one of the best gamebook authors of all, but Biting for Blood is not an example of this, and I only rate it one and a half stars. It's not a bad choice for a quick, casual read near Halloween.
August 12, 2021
Sooo boooring. All the characters and situations are caricatures, and the author doesn’t even try to delve into the story. Apparently R.L. Stine is better at writing scary for juvenile readers- just enough creepy without getting too gory. This author keeps too neutral and doesn’t even try to be scary or original, and instead plays it too safe... to the point of mediocrity.
November 4, 2017
Extremely short... not great writing, but my kids liked it.
October 28, 2014
In this choose your own nightmare story, navigate your way through encounters with the neighborhood vampire, choose the correct path and escape with your life, choose incorrectly and you're vampire bait.
Options include being turned into a vampire, being attacked by a vampire bat and many more.
Options include being turned into a vampire, being attacked by a vampire bat and many more.
June 29, 2007
Wow. This book was really corny, even for a "Choose Your Own..." story.
May 14, 2011
THIS WAS THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!
April 24, 2012
This was scary and good. It had almost 20 different endings. The best one was the one in which the vampire told you the reader that he was a vampire and told you to keep it a secret!
July 9, 2013
the adventures that I went through when I was bored I just read these books over and over again you would never get to the end of the story.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews