A twisty thriller with superb worldbuilding and biting social commentary.
A young woman reluctantly takes a job working for a powerful vampire in Linde’s supernatural novel.
In a world where vampires rule and humans are barely able to make ends meet, Reyna Carpenter is desperate to find a job to ease the burden on her overworked brothers. She decides to apply at Visage, a vampire-run company specializing in “body employment services.” The company assigns humans (called “blood escorts”) to vampires with matching blood types, as “vampires who drank blood that matched the blood type they had when they were human functioned at higher cognitive levels.” Reyna is promptly assigned to Visage’s senior vice president, Beckham Anderson. Fighting their instant attraction to each other, Beckham quickly introduces her to the elite world of wealthy vampires. As he continually refuses to drink from her and rogue vampire attacks increase in frequency, Reyna senses there is something very wrong in Beckham’s world…and with Visage itself. As she delves into the dark underbelly of vampirism, Reyna discovers that there is something different about her that may threaten the fragile, decade-long peace between humans and vampires. In a somewhat saturated market of vampire fiction, the author manages to artfully dodge expectations while still occasionally indulging in the tropes of the genre. In particular, the economic disparity between humans and vampires is thoughtfully explored and adds relevance to an otherwise frothy thriller. When Reyna questions the vampire daughter of a local politician, for example, her frustrations sound eerily familiar: “Have you actually seen the streets?…Seen the people starving and dirty and poor? Seen the streets littered with filth and felt the utter despair?” The plot twists are genuinely surprising, and the story concludes with a deliciously foreboding cliffhanger. With realistic dialogue and a snappy pace, Linde has crafted a smart supernatural romance that isn’t afraid to tackle themes like abuse, greed, and social injustice.
A twisty thriller with superb worldbuilding and biting social commentary.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A breezy, zany, immortal love story.
A vampire with amnesia embarks on a road trip with a witch struggling to control her powers.
Grizelda Watson used to be known for her wild pranks, but, at more than 400 years old, the witch is reinventing herself. Going by just Zelda now, she teaches yoga on the California coast and tries not to use her magic. Vampire Peter Elliott awoke with no idea who he is other than what his ID says, a bag full of cash, a journal, and an urge to visit California. When the pair meet, instant attraction sizzles. Ominous letters arrive for Peter beckoning him to Indiana to complete a job (doing what, he has no clue), and it just so happens to coincide with Zelda’s idea to get out of town for a bit; lately, if she doesn’t use her elemental magic every day, it goes awry, so she decides some experimentation—away from her house and business—is in order. They decide to make pit stops along their trip to the Midwest at the wonderfully random places mentioned in Peter’s journal in hopes of jogging his memory. Silliness abounds on the pair’s journey as they discover truths about themselves and deepen their connection with each other. Zelda’s first-person narration is often hilarious and gives the story loads of charm. Peter’s characterization is less developed both due to his amnesia and because readers only get his perspective in small snippets (mostly flashbacks), but he’s still lovable, particularly in the deliciously spicy scenes that magnify his appeal. Emotions throughout aren’t particularly deep and some plot points are more enjoyable when just taken at face value rather than questioned, but readers who are looking for an easy, funny romance with a paranormal bent will be pleased.
A breezy, zany, immortal love story.Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9780593819913
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
A frighteningly good debut.
Mysterious guests overstay their welcome in this fresh take on the haunted house trope.
Eve Palmer makes the biggest mistake of her life when there’s a knock on the door from a man who says he grew up in her house. Against her better instincts she invites him and his family inside, but a 15-minute look around turns into a world of trouble when she can’t get them to leave. First the Faust family’s young daughter disappears in the basement; then a storm hits and the roads are blocked, giving them no choice but to spend the night. Soon rooms appear altered, strange odors waft through the house, and a toy chimp from Eve’s childhood seems to be sending her a warning: "Once they’re in, they never leave." Kliewer’s original and extremely scary story gathers elements inspired by authors like Shirley Jackson and classic horror films including Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He’s created a can’t-look-away imaginary world in which people and places aren’t what they appear. Readers will be as shaken as Eve, who fears she’s suffering from delusions when an apparition warns her that the Fausts—and even her partner, Charlie—aren’t who they say they are. Inserted between the book’s chapters are "documents" that lay out evidence collected by conspiracy theorists who believe what’s happening to Eve has nothing to do with delusions. This alternate storyline, written in the style of Reddit—Kliewer’s novel grew out of a novella he posted there—feels jarring at times, as we’re reluctantly pulled away from Eve’s gripping tale. The conspiracy theorists’ creepy posts aren’t quite as hypnotic, but they solidify the plot’s premise and neatly tie up Eve’s predicament. Fans of the surging horror genre will think twice about opening the door when somebody knocks.
A frighteningly good debut.Pub Date: June 18, 2024
ISBN: 9781982198787
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Emily Bestler/Atria
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2024
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