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VampGirl's Previous Featured Books: Page Seven 2001
 Sips of Blood : Mary Ann Mitchell
"The Marquis de Sade. The very name conjures images of decadence, torture, and dark desires. But even the worst rumors of his evil deeds are mere shades of the truth, for the world doesn't know what the Marquis became - they don't suspect he is one of the undead. And that he lives among us still. His tastes remain the same, only more pronounced. And his desire for blood has become a hunger."
'Sips of Blood' is most definately an Adult novel. I would not even recommend it to Teens. Mitchell's explicit descriptions of domination, torture and vampirism are graphic in the extreme and bound to repulse many readers of more usual vamp-fiction. However, the characterization of Sade, his family and the other dysfunctional humans contained within this novel are excellently developed with a high degree of realism, and the underlying plot of the novel develops slowly enough to make it believable, drawing the reader into this S&M fantasy of flesh, blood and vicious vampirism.
Personally, I enjoyed reading 'Sips of Blood'. I found it to be considerably different from the usual slushy vamp-romance fiction that crowds the shelves of bookstores everywhere and therefore it is simply for this reason that I am recommending this novel for Adults only today.
 The World on Blood : Jonathan Nasaw
'The World on Blood' is not your usual supernatural tale of immortal vampirism. The plot of this novel focuses on 12 vampires who form a self-help group, 'Vampires Anonymous', in San Francisco. What makes this novel different from all the others is that these vampires are humans with a mortal life-span and almost no supernatural abilities yet are able to get stoned on blood, especially baby blood (which apparently has a higher libidinous content than that of an adult), and are thus addicted. The 'baby blood' element of this addiction is what fuels the main plot of the novel; with the founders of the group, horror novelist Nick Santos and millionaire vampire and dissenter James Whistler, becoming bitter rivals over the results of a sexual encounter. As Whistler begins to undermine the group, and consequently causes it to fall apart amidst a frenzy of orgies and vampirism, Nick must again drink blood to gain supernatural strength and fight to overcome not only his addiction, but also Whistler himself.
Nasaw's novel is full of vivid description. From extensive character development to details of sexual exploration and erotic, blood-induced drug highs, 'The World on Blood' gives the reader a completely fresh, new perspective of the concept of vampirism which differs from the more traditional 'Anne Rice' style vamp through its unusual, hedonistic and somewhat humourous premise. If you've read all of Anne Rice's 'Chronicles' and other such authors in its similar vein (hehe) you'll most certainly enjoy the refreshing change that this book has to offer.
 Vampire: The Masquerade : White Wolf Publishing
I started playing 'Vampire: The Masquerade' when it first came out in the UK around 1991/'92. My character, a 7th generation Malkavian actress, was largely based on myself with a huge amount of exaggeration, invention, fanciful notions and wild imagination thrown in. And it is the freedom to create such a character that makes this game so great. It isn't tied down nearly as much to rules, dice throws and the like as its 'Dungeons and Dragons' style predecessors. You can be whoever you want to be, take the stories wherever you want to and have a fangtastic *groan* time doing it too. How do you get started? Well, you'll need this book...
Unlike my copy (paperback, published in 1991), this new edition of 'Vampire: The Masquerade' is fully revised and updated with all 13 vampire clans (all the new ones since I began playing), all major disciplines (again) and a whole ton of new information about the Kindred and the World of Darkness in general. This essential volume contains pretty much everything required by either a player or a storyteller to construct a game including details regarding the the beginning of the end of the Camarilla (!!) and any major changes to the clans which are likely to affect roleplay.
If you are new to 'Vampire: The Masquerade' or, like me, you now have to catch up on all the new information necessary to play this great game you absolutely MUST purchase this book.
 Ravenloft: Vampire of the Mists : Christie Golden
"Be careful what you wish for- the dark powers of Ravenloft might hear you."
'Vampire of the Mists' is the first novel in TSR's 'Ravenloft' series. It is also the first novel ever written by Christie Golden. The writing is richly descriptive, humourous in places, sensitive in others and full of gothic horror blended effortlessly with the genre of dark fantasy.
The pivotal character of 'Vampire of the Mists' is Jander Sunstar, a Gold Elf from Evermeet in the Forgotten Realms. This character is also a five-hundred year old vampire. In the beginning of the novel Jander has been caring for a madwoman named 'Anna' for thirty years. When she refuses to become a vampire like him and subsequently dies of a fever Jander vows to avenge the curse that she has been under and is transported into the realm of Ravenloft; an evil netherworld populated by werebeasts, zombies, vampires and other nightmarish creatures.
In Barovia he discovers a newly risen vampire, and the realm's most powerful inhabitant, Count Strahd von Zarovich and begins to tutor him in how to survive with vampirism. But it is here that Jander also discovers that his own quest to avenge Anna's death is inextricably linked to Ravenloft's own dark heritage and to the evil Count himself...
This novel is a chilling tale and left me wanting to read further into the Ravenloft series. If you enjoy reading Fantasy novels full of elves, dwarves and other such creatures, but are looking for a darker twist on this theme, then 'Ravenloft' is most certainly the series for you. Unfortunately, 'Vampire of the Mists' is currently out-of-print, but there are many other books available so read those...and if you find a copy of this one then do buy it. You won't regret it.
VampGirl's Previous Featured Books: 2002| Page One | The Beast Within
: Ed. Stewart Wieck
Tall, Dark and Gruesome
: Christopher Lee
The Mammoth Book of Dracula : Ed. Stephen Jones
Pandora : Anne Rice |
| Page Two | The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vampires
: Jay Stevenson, Ph.D.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Pop Quiz
: Cynthia Boris
The Queen of the Damned : Anne Rice |
| Page Three | The Vampyre : And Other Tales of the Macabre
: Ed. Robert Morrison & Chris Baldick
The Mammoth Book of Vampire Stories by Women : Ed. Stephen Jones
The Vampire Encyclopedia : Matthew Bunson |
| Page Four | Lost Souls
: Poppy Z. Brite
The Keep : F. Paul Wilson
Mina's Journal : Kimberley Zagoren |
VampGirl's Previous Featured Books: 2001| Page One | Dracula the Undead : Freda Warrington
Salem's Lot : Stephen King | | Page Two | The Vampyre: A secret history of Lord Byron : Tom Holland
Sunglasses After Dark : Nancy A. Collins
Love in Vein : Ed by Poppy Z. Brite | | Page Three | In Search of Dracula : Raymond T. McNally & Prof. Radu Florescu
Dracula : Bram Stoker
Lord of the Vampires : Jeanne Kalogrides
The Secret Life of Laszlo, Count Dracula : Roderick Anscombe | | Page Four | Sins of the Blood : Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Rulers of Darkness : Steven Spruill
Guilty Pleasures : Laurell K. Hamilton |
| Page Five | The Illustrated Vampire Movie Guide : Stephen Jones
This Dark Paradise : Wendy Haley
Interview with the Vampire : Anne Rice |
| Page Six | The Vampire Book : J. Gordon Melton
Bad Dreams : Kim Newman
Vampire World I: Blood Brothers : Brian Lumley |
| Page Seven | Sips of Blood : Mary Ann Mitchell
The World on Blood : Jonathan Nasaw
Vampire : The Masquerade : White Wolf Publishing
Ravenloft: Vampire of the Mists : Christie Golden |
| Page Eight | Batman : Bloodstorm : Doug Moench & Kelley Jones
Batman vs Dracula : Red Rain : Doug Moench & Kelley Jones
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| Page Nine | The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories : Ed. Alan Ryan
Piercing The Darkness : Katherine Ramsland
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| Page Ten | Vampire$ : John Steakley
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Obsidian Fate : Diana G.Gallagher
The Deluxe Transitive Vampire : Karen Elizabeth Gordon
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