Review of It's Hard to Be a Vampire

[Seetha E]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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I have been interested in exploring horror plots for a while now. A friend had suggested vampire-themed books to me, but I wasn't ready to dive into a full-fledged horror novel. Recently, I came across a book that caught my interest for a few reasons. First, the book is a compilation of short stories. It provided me with enough variety to enjoy. Secondly, the short reading time was a plus.

Most importantly, after researching the author, I discovered that Viktoria Faust writes horror and science fiction and has been referred to as the "Queen of Horror Novels" in Croatia. She has authored nearly 30 books. Hence, I sensed that this book would not disappoint me.

It's Hard to Be a Vampire is a collection of nine short tales, a few of which are interlinked. According to the author, it is a selection of stories spanning twenty years of her writing.

The name of the first story is derived from the title of this book. I found it quite amusing, especially for this genre. In the following story, titled Gallery of Horrors, the descriptions of the young painter's paintings are cringe-worthy. My favorites are Behind the Door, The Invisible Ink, and That Bloody Useless Bloodless Body.

I admire the author's writing style. She can capture the reader's attention and evoke the appropriate emotions in just a few pages. The humor in the first story, the uncomfortable subject matter of the paintings in the second, the sense of dread that arises as you read and wonder what's behind the door, and more, all come to life as you read through.

The narrative around the missing writer is distinct and has the makings of a fully realized novel. I feel the same way regarding the horror author's discovery that his admirer is not human. I particularly loved how it concluded. Both of these have great potential.

I hadn't explored this genre before, and I am impressed. It gives a fair indication of what to anticipate from this genre. I also appreciate that it was not the usual in-your-face kind of plot. I'm inspired to read more works in this genre and by the author. This is not a book for folks who get terrified or offended easily.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book due to its unique structure, vivid imagination, and great editing. I couldn't find anything negative about the content, storyline, or writing style. Therefore, I rate it five out of five stars.

However, I recommend that young readers steer clear of this book due to the presence of explicit content and gory descriptions in some chapters. If you are a fan of horror stories and are looking for a quick and unique read, this book is a great choice. If you regularly read this genre, you should try this format and be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.

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It's Hard to Be a Vampire
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[Nwansimdi Mercy Someze]

The author's ability to capture the reader's attention and evoke emotions in just a few pages speaks to their skill as a writer.

[Shankar NA]

Your exploration of the stories and their impact on you is captivating. Your review of 'It's Hard to Be a Vampire' by Viktoria Faust is insightful and thorough. Thank you for this review.

[Seetha E]

Yes, this was my first in this genre. I see potential of full fledged books in a few of these short stories.
Thanks for taking the time to read and leave a comment.

[Anu Anand]

I really enjoyed this book too. Some of the stories took turns I didn’t expect, and that made it even more interesting. I loved how the author kept it engaging throughout. This book surprised me in the best way.