Review of It's Hard to Be a Vampire

Gayatri Tripathi · Post by **Gayatri Tripathi** » 09 Jul 2025, 15:27

[Following is a volunteer review of "It's Hard to Be a Vampire" by Viktoria Faust.]

4 out of 5 stars

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It's Hard to Be a Vampire by Viktoria Faust is a collection of nine horror stories, each one different in tone and impact. Some pulled me in, while others did not quite land. Overall, it is an intriguing collection.

The first story, sharing the book's name, is the most humorous, though it is still dark. It tells the story of a woman who changes her body for an unusual goal. The sadistic tone fits nicely with the horror vibe of the book.

The second story, Gallery of Horrors, was the highlight for me. The story is about a painter who uses unorthodox methods to create art. The internal monologue, along with the dark undertones, makes the narrative a masterclass in horror. I would recommend the book for this story alone.

The third story, The Painting Strikes Back, continues the previous story but adds a layer of fantasy. It lost a bit of the gritty realism that made the first part so strong. However, it stands on its own as a decent read with a more tragic tone.

The fourth story, Do Vampires Dream of Slaughtered Sheep?, is one of the more traditional horror tales. It follows a vampire hunter and offers the familiar thrills one would expect. It is not groundbreaking, but still enjoyable.

The fifth story, Narcissus, was short and mysterious, maybe too much. I could not grasp what motivated the characters, but the tone worked strangely.

The sixth story, Quietly They Rise From The Fog, is where the collection shines again. It effectively uses the fear of the unknown, relying on vagueness to create unease, something that not all stories in the book are able to do.

The seventh and eighth stories, Behind the Door and The Invisible Ink, did not do much for me. They felt flat and lacked the punch the others had. I would not even consider them horror stories.

Thankfully, the final story, That Bloody Useless Bloodless Body!, ended things on a high note. It is written more clearly than the rest and feels like a classic horror tale about a writer and an unsettling fan.

Overall, I found this book to be a fun read. The only problem I had with the book was the quality of writing. The text is vague and does not give enough context for the events of the stories. Some stories are enhanced by not knowing the full context, but others are worse off because of a lack of explanation. I feel like Narcissus, Behind the Door, and The Invisible Ink would benefit from added context for the stories. Considering all the above points, I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dark horror stories and can look past issues with the writing.

******
It's Hard to Be a Vampire
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Aditya Mangleek · Post by **Aditya Mangleek** » 22 Jul 2025, 00:59

I just read your review and honestly, I felt the same way about Gallery of Horrors. It totally carried the collection for me too. The painter's descent into madness was so well done—it creeped me out in a good way. I agree that some of the stories like Behind the Door felt like filler, but I liked Quietly They Rise From The Fog a lot more than I expected. There’s something about that eerie, unexplainable tension that really stuck with me.

Aditya Mangleek · Post by **Aditya Mangleek** » 22 Jul 2025, 01:01

I respect your take, but I gotta say, I didn’t enjoy Gallery of Horrors as much as everyone else seems to. I found the character a bit one-dimensional and the twist didn’t hit for me. On the flip side, I thought The Painting Strikes Back was super underrated! I liked the fantasy element—it added something fresh to the collection. Shows how differently stories land for different readers, I guess.

Aditya Mangleek · Post by **Aditya Mangleek** » 22 Jul 2025, 01:02

You hit the nail on the head about the writing. There’s a real lack of clarity in some stories that made it hard to stay engaged. I felt like I had to re-read sections just to figure out what was going on. If the prose had been a bit tighter or more vivid, the creep factor would’ve landed harder. That said, I agree—it’s still worth checking out for horror fans

Gayatri Tripathi · Post by **Gayatri Tripathi** » 22 Jul 2025, 03:57

Aditya Mangleek wrote: ↑22 Jul 2025, 00:59 I just read your review and honestly, I felt the same way about Gallery of Horrors. It totally carried the collection for me too. The painter's descent into madness was so well done—it creeped me out in a good way. I agree that some of the stories like Behind the Door felt like filler, but I liked Quietly They Rise From The Fog a lot more than I expected. There’s something about that eerie, unexplainable tension that really stuck with me.

Absolutely—Gallery of Horrors was hands-down the standout for me too. The way the painter’s mind unraveled felt so unsettling but also oddly poetic, like watching a slow-motion nightmare you can’t wake up from. I totally get what you mean about that “creeped out in a good way” feeling—it lingered long after I finished reading.

I’m with you on *Behind the Door* feeling like filler. It didn’t quite hit the same atmospheric notes, and compared to the other stories, it lacked that lingering dread or twist. But yes—*Quietly They Rise From The Fog* surprised me too! At first, I wasn’t sure where it was going, but that quiet, ambiguous dread really got under my skin. It’s like nothing actually *happened*, but I still felt haunted by it afterward. There’s something powerful about that kind of restraint in horror.

Gayatri Tripathi · Post by **Gayatri Tripathi** » 22 Jul 2025, 04:08

Aditya Mangleek wrote: ↑22 Jul 2025, 01:01 I respect your take, but I gotta say, I didn’t enjoy Gallery of Horrors as much as everyone else seems to. I found the character a bit one-dimensional and the twist didn’t hit for me. On the flip side, I thought The Painting Strikes Back was super underrated! I liked the fantasy element—it added something fresh to the collection. Shows how differently stories land for different readers, I guess.

Totally fair—and I actually appreciate hearing a different perspective on Gallery of Horrors. It's interesting how the same story can feel immersive to some and flat to others. I can see how the painter might come off as one-dimensional if the descent didn't resonate emotionally. Maybe I was just in the right headspace for it at the time.

But yes—The Painting Strikes Back! I'm so glad you brought that one up. I feel like it didn’t get enough attention in most discussions. The fantasy angle really did shake things up, and I loved how it leaned into surrealism without losing that creeping sense of dread. It had this almost dreamlike energy that set it apart from the more traditional horror stories in the collection. You're absolutely right—every reader brings something different to the table, and that’s what makes talking about anthologies like this so fun.

Gayatri Tripathi · Post by **Gayatri Tripathi** » 22 Jul 2025, 04:09

Aditya Mangleek wrote: ↑22 Jul 2025, 01:02 You hit the nail on the head about the writing. There’s a real lack of clarity in some stories that made it hard to stay engaged. I felt like I had to re-read sections just to figure out what was going on. If the prose had been a bit tighter or more vivid, the creep factor would’ve landed harder. That said, I agree—it’s still worth checking out for horror fans

Exactly—I had the same struggle with a few of the stories. It’s like the ideas were there, but the execution sometimes got lost in murky descriptions or overly vague pacing. That kind of haziness can work in horror when done right, but here it occasionally felt more confusing than eerie. A sharper, more focused prose style would’ve made some of those moments really hit home.

Still, I agree with you—despite the unevenness, the collection has enough highlights and creepy concepts to make it worthwhile. For horror fans who enjoy exploring different tones and subgenres, there’s definitely something to appreciate, even if not every story sticks the landing.