Title: Vamps
Author: Nancy A. Collins
First published July 22, 2008
235 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780061349171 (ISBN10: 0061349178)
Rating: 3.57
Overview
Get ready for a steamy ride as four women unravel the secrets of their desires with the beast that drives them wild in this paranormal romance anthology, featuring an original Carpathian novella from the New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.
In “Dark Hunger,” a beautiful activist liberates a Carpathian from a secret laboratory, only to unleash his voracious appetite on herself in the dark jungle. Meanwhile, a science professor ventures into the steamy bayou to find a new species of animal but finds herself tempted by a legendary creature straight out of her most sensual nightmare.
Things get heated up in a sleepy Vermont town when a new owner takes over the local inn, and he is centuries old and has traveled far and wide to find his queen, and now nothing will stop him from claiming her. Lastly, when a lady cop pulls over a speeder, she finds an immortal lover who is determined to seduce her into accepting her own passionate destiny.
It’s a war between desire and resistance, and all’s fair in love and lust.
About the Author
Nancy A. Collins is a renowned horror fiction writer from the United States, born on September 10, 1959.
She is best known for her vampire novel series featuring the character Sonja Blue. Collins is a versatile writer; she has also written comic books, including the Swamp Thing series, Jason Vs. Leatherface, Predator: Hell Come A Walkin, and her own one-shot Dhampire: Stillborn.
Collins was born in McGehee, Arkansas, and lived in New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1980s. She then moved to New York City and Atlanta, Georgia before settling in Wilmington, North Carolina in the late 2000s.
Since 1989, Collins has written twenty novels, many of which feature Pretenders – monsters from myth and legend who pass as humans to better hunt their prey. She has also written a number of highly acclaimed Southern Gothic short stories and novellas, most of which are set in Seven Devils, Arkansas – a highly fictionalized version of her hometown.
Recently, Collins has focused on the Golgotham urban fantasy series, published by Penguin. Golgotham is a supernatural ghetto in New York City where creatures from myth and folklore – including witches, shapeshifters, leprechauns, and centaurs – live and work in an uneasy alliance with mankind.
Editoral Review
Vamps by Nancy A. Collins is a captivating novel that blends horror and urban fantasy genres with a feminist twist.
First published on July 22, 2008, it tells the story of the Vamps, a group of female vampires who are lead by the seductive and powerful Ultra Violet, as they navigate their way through the seedy underbelly of New York City. Collins, a prolific author with over thirty years of experience in the genre, is known for her dark and edgy writing style that explores themes of feminism, sexuality, and power dynamics.
In Vamps, she takes the classic vampire mythos and turns it on its head, offering a fresh perspective on the genre that is both empowering and entertaining. The novel follows the misadventures of the Vamps, as they attempt to fend off a group of rogue male vampires who are threatening their existence.
Along the way, they encounter a diverse cast of characters, including a human detective, a shape-shifting werewolf, and a group of feminist activists who are fighting against the patriarchy. Despite its supernatural elements, Vamps is grounded in reality, offering a sharp commentary on contemporary society and its struggles with gender, sexuality, and politics.
Collins skillfully weaves these themes into the narrative, creating a rich and complex world that feels both familiar and otherworldly. One of the strengths of Vamps is its strong female characters, who are portrayed as fierce and independent, in contrast to the more traditional depictions of women in vampire literature.
Ultra Violet, in particular, is a compelling and nuanced character who defies expectations, using her powers and wit to navigate a world that is hostile to women. However, the novel is not without its flaws.
The pacing can be uneven at times, with some scenes dragging on while others feel rushed. Additionally, there are moments when the world-building feels underdeveloped, leaving the reader with more questions than answers.
Despite these shortcomings, Vamps is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of the genre and anyone interested in exploring issues of gender and power. It is a testament to Collins’ skill as a writer that she is able to create a world that is simultaneously dark and hopeful, offering a glimpse of a better future while acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead.
In conclusion, I highly recommend Vamps to anyone looking for an engaging and original take on vampire literature. It is a well-crafted and entertaining novel that will leave you thinking long after the final page has been turned.
My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars, based on its strong characters, engaging plot, and sharp commentary on contemporary issues.
