Title: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance
Author: Trisha Telep
First published July 28, 2008
514 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780762434985 (ISBN10: 0762434988)
Rating: 3.57
Overview
Get ready to sink your teeth into The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance, featuring 30 short stories from the biggest names in paranormal romance. Sherri Erwin, Caitlin R.
Kiernan, Jenna Black, Raven Hart, Delilah Devlin, Keri Arthur, and many other talented authors have crafted tales of hot blood and inhuman passions that will leave you thirsty for more. These vampires are not your mother’s vampires, with stories ranging from a professor who infects a student with the “vampire” virus to a solitary vampire who must steal memories to keep his lonely human companion safe.
With stories that include romance, fantasy, and horror, this book is a must-read for any vampire lover.
About the Author
Trisha Telep used to be responsible for selecting romance and fantasy books for Murder One, a popular London bookstore that specialized in crime, mystery, and romance genres. After leaving that position, she became a co-owner of an online bookstore called www.murderone.co.uk.
Additionally, Trisha is an editor who focuses on creating collections of supernatural and romantic stories for Mammoth. Though Trisha is originally from Vancouver, Canada, she currently lives in London.
Editoral Review
The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance edited by Trisha Telep is an anthology of short stories that explores the theme of love between vampires and humans, published on July 28, 2008. Telep is an experienced editor, having worked on multiple anthologies within the fantasy and romance genres.
This book showcases her talent for curating an exquisite collection of stories that offer a variety of perspectives on a single subject. The vampire romance genre has become increasingly popular in recent years, from Twilight to Vampire Diaries.
These books often incorporate themes of forbidden love and dangerous attraction. The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance features stories from a diverse range of authors, each with their own unique take on the genre.
The anthology opens with “A Rose by Any Other Name” by Angela Knight, which tells the story of a vampire who falls in love with a botanist. Each subsequent story explores different aspects of this forbidden love, including sequels, prequels, and alternate universes.
These stories are captivating and beautifully written, with talented authors using pacing, suspense, and mystery to keep readers engaged. One of the strengths of this anthology is the variety of storytelling techniques employed by the authors.
Some of the stories, such as “Dreams Unleashed” by Karen Whiddon, take the form of a mystery, while others like “The Taste of Blood and Roses” by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro focus on atmospheric world-building. The diversity of storytelling ensures that readers will never be bored while reading this collection.
Another strength of the book is the exploration of themes beyond romance. In “Pinecones and Powerlines” by Karen Mahoney, the relationship between the vampire and human is one of mentorship, highlighting themes of trust, loyalty, and friendship.
Similarly, “Sundown, Inc.” by Shannon Curtis uses the story of a vampire-owned business to comment on capitalism and the corporate world. The main weakness of this anthology is the occasional use of clichd tropes, such as the “damsel in distress” or the “dark and brooding” vampire.
While these tropes are present in many vampire romance novels, they can lead to predictability and lack of creativity. However, the majority of the stories within this collection avoid these tropes and opt for originality instead.
Overall, The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance edited by Trisha Telep is an excellent collection of stories that will appeal to fans of the vampire romance genre. The diverse range of storytelling techniques and themes make it stand out from other anthologies.
While there are some occasionally clichd tropes, they do not detract from the overall quality of the book. I would highly recommend this anthology to anyone seeking an entertaining, thought-provoking read.
Rating: 4/5. The book earns high marks for its variety, creativity, and engaging stories.
It loses a point for the occasional use of tropes that can be predictable or clichd.
