3 out of 4 stars
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It’s Hard to Be a Vampire is a collection of short stories from Viktoria Faust. The nine tales included in the volume are an intriguing mix of spooky science fiction and horror. With stories that are sometimes funny and always supernatural, the author tackles a diverse number of themes that keep the collection from being monotonous or dreary. From heartache to blood-lust, there’s a little something for everyone in this book. However, that something is probably a little unsettling.
The collection is a short one; the entire volume is a little under a hundred pages, making it a quick read. I consumed the entire book in a single afternoon. I don’t say this as a bad thing, either. Sometimes a reader might be craving a small dose of dread instead of a longer novel. These stories are perfect for that. While most of the stories were decidedly spooky, they were never outright terrifying. Conversely, most of the shorts are introspective and focus on a character's internal conflict. While there may be an outside threat or horrifying situation, Faust’s creations are more likely motivated by their own fears and desires rather than the external danger. This sets It’s Hard to Be a Vampire apart from the standard horror collection. This collection isn’t really about sexy vampires (despite the misleading cover) or gratuitous gore. Faust’s brand of horror is far more insidious and filled with creeping dread.
As with any collection of short stories, It’s Hard to Be a Vampire had some that stood out above the others. My favorite story, “Behind the Door”, was one of the science fiction offerings in the book. The concept was clever and, while not necessarily original, played out in a satisfying manner with a nice twist to the end. Others, like “Narcissus”, were too introspective to provide the suspense necessary for me to connect to it. Some of that may be due to the shorter length of the stories. Though given the book’s variety, I think any horror fiction fan would find something appealing in this collection.
Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. While I found all the stories entertaining, many were simply too short. Several felt like snippets of something larger and even more intriguing instead of a fully realized story on their own. I would find myself invested in one of the stories just to have it end too suddenly for a satisfying conclusion. There was also a lot of repetition from the author. Many times the same word or phrase repeated in a single paragraph, making it difficult to maintain tension as a reader. Much of this likely has to do with the translation process, as English is not Faust’s first language.
Even with this, I found It’s Hard to Be a Vampire a fun collection, well worth the time to read. While there are plenty of adult themes (from sexual elements, cannibalism, and murder) in the book, there were few overtly explicit moments. The stories may appeal to young adult readers with an interest in exploring horror. In many ways, the writing was reminiscent of the early work of Poppy Z. Brite – evocative and vibrant – while sometimes excessively flowery. I think this book will appeal to readers who enjoy less graphic horror. Personally, I look forward to seeing what world Viktoria Faust invites us to visit next.
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It's Hard to Be a Vampire
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