Eleven riveting tales of the creature many of us have swooned about – the vampire. Vampires Never Get Old [edited] by Zoraida Cordova& Natalie C. Parker is an anthology of vampires stories full of modern and magical twists, vampires of all shapes, sizes and identities and just overall a fresh bite of vampire stories. Many folks like myself grew up with vampires created by Anne rice, L.J. Smith and the mother daughter duo, P.C. & Kristin Cast. Personally, this anthology was definitely a fresh start to the revival of the vampire we are seeing in Young Adult fiction. To be clear, I am here for all of it!

Was this anthology perfect? No, and that’s what I enjoyed most about it. There are so many cliffhangers, questions need to be answered and a yearning to read both the books I grew up with and the books that are yet to be published. Did this anthology continuously pique my interest? Of course! Each story has a different vampire and if you came here to get your average pale, dark and handsome – well sorry to delightfully disappoint you because these vampires are flourishing with so much awesomeness. While I enjoyed each story, there were three that I want to put some shine on.

The three stories that made me want a full novel of were Mirrors, Windows, Selfies by Mark Oshiro, First Killby V.E. Schwab, and Vampires Never Die by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker.

Mirrors, Windows, Selfies by Mark Oshiro was such a good read! I need more of this. It had a great modern twist to the superstitions of mirrors and vampires. As a Latina, I grew up hearing so many superstitions about mirrors, so this was a story I was automatically intrigued by. For the main character the importance of the mirror becomes pivotal is discovering who and what they truly are. It opens doors to the main character realizing everything they have been hidden from. Mark Oshiro knows how to write a story in a different form; in the case of this story in the form of a blog and still manages to get me screaming that the story has ended.

First Kill by V.E Schwab is actually the second piece of writing I have read from the author. Let’s just say, I might be a fan of her writing. Straight form the title, I know this was going to be a good one. Whenever you hear first kill in vampires stories, it’s either the vampires first kill or a vampire hunter’s first vampire kill. The story is told in two points of view, each view a main character in the story. Juliette and Calliope are girls pining for each other and trying to be just normal teens. Juliette is also a born and bred vampire, while Calliope comes form a family of fierce Vampire hunters. Sounds interesting, right? Juliette and calliope throughout the story have to figure out whether they want to pursue the crush or honor their family. With a cliffhanger that could have you flinging the book across the room [I promise no book was harmed], V.E. Schwab sucks you into this unique vampire story and leave you wanting to know what happens next for Juliette and Calliope.

Vampires Never Die by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker is a vampire story with a modern feel to it. Brittany, a vampire, crates an Instagram account to escape her reality and be a whatever she wants to be. Along this social media journey she befriends Tony and they become a little closer. But this little budding friendship/relationship is just the tip of the story iceberg. Brittany is a vampire who turns other women in Vampires. Now, before you go – oh no! Brittany turns women who have been told by men and society that they are not worthy. Turning them into vampires gives them a power that make them fierce forces of nature. Overall, Zoraida and Natalie were able to create a short story with the right amount of social media escapism, pizazz and a nostalgic feeling to go and read that vampire novel where the female characters are fierce, powerful and making sure the world is at peace.

Want a book full of stories that take a fresh look into the vampire, vivid & magical backdrops and characters that have complicated lives because they are vampires? Then pick this anthology up today!

𝓢𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓓𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰 - Tessa Grathon - 🖤🖤🖤

"It's worth the sun?" I asked softly.
"You learn to make your own."

A young woman is faced with a choice--live out the rest of her days as a human, or join the creatures of the Night. The story revolves around choices, both those taken away from us by the inevitability of a natural death and the vampires who represent the end of the MC's humanity. I enjoyed the sex-positive message in the story. I also liked the mythology created surrounding the "turning" of a human into a vamp. Seven nights for the vampires to plead their case and convince this young woman to come to their side. It is very briefly referred to the vampires as demons but not fully embraced so we don't really know if they are demons. That would be something I'd be asking my would be sire. My main drawback was that we get all the benefits of vampirism but no real drawbacks. As I said the "demon" aspect was briefly referenced to; the MC seems more preoccupied with not being able to see the sun and being stuck with her current emotional state forever. Which, fair point as being depressed for eternity just doesn't seem worth it. I also really enjoyed the POV that the best vampires are those raised as girls, as you have to be resilient, pissed, and highly adaptable in order to survive vampirism. Raised as a girl being key, as there is a trans character who plays into this way of thinking.

It is a dark first entry into the world of Vampires Never Get Old, but very fitting as we are by reading this story being welcomed into the Vampire world once more.

𝓜𝓲𝓻𝓻𝓸𝓻𝓼, 𝓦𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓼, & 𝓢𝓮𝓵𝓯𝓲𝓮𝓼 - Mark Oshiro -🖤🖤

A young Latin teenage boy trying to rebel agaisnt his parents' strict upbringing. A story about a lonely boy who is overprotected--with a hint of vampire. He starts a blog to share his experience - and eventually comes to learn he may not be as alone as he thought. It is a story about outgrowing your home life and finding your people out in the world. It was okay if not overly exciting. LGBTQIA+ rep. Latinx.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓗𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓱𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓼 - Dhonielle Clayton - 🖤🖤🖤🖤 1/2

"Bea's heart lifted. the hum of mischief lingering right beneath the brown of her skin, and her incisors elongated, ready to bit, ready for mischief."

The first story were I legit felt like I was finally reading from a vampires POV. The way that Bea and her family celebrated their vampiric darkness kind of reminded me of The Adam's family cheeky dark humor. Overall I found this one to be the richest story--the setting is marvelous. Dhonielle Clayton created a whole world in just a few pages and it is a world I want to revisit in its entirety! The folklore is on point and original. My main concern (and this is a concern that affects a lot of the stories in this book) is that the story didn't feel complete. It felt like I was readinf the first few chapters of a much longer story, and it ends kind of on a cliffhanger of sorts. What happens next? Who knows, I wish I knew.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓸𝔂𝓼 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓡𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓻 - Rebecca Roanhorse - 🖤🖤🖤🖤

As I walked by the River, the moon my companion, I spied a young fellow, an amicable lad...
He'd the face of an Angel but the heart of a Demon, and that night he did take the lone life that I had."

An atmospheric tale of a local urban legend come to life. The story is spooky from beginning to end. The MC is about a teenager who is bullied because of the fact that he is both gay and native. On top of being bullied he has to deal with the fact that his mom is terminally ill, depending on him entirely for paying the bills of the house. You can safely say he has a chip on his shoulder. Because of this he finds it hard to let people in--unless they are gorgeous, dark, and dangerous vampires of course. This story was a moon, and really felt like an urban legend come to life. It was also one of the few stories that felt like it was completed and left you satisfied by the last sentence. I think fans of Ghost Wood Song will like this story.

𝓢𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓸𝓻 𝓨𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓢𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓼 - Julie Murphy - 🖤🖤🖤🖤

I was really excited to read this story! I love Julie Murphy's writing, and it is one of two stories which has a vampire slayer! Jolene is a plus size high school cheerleading captain, who happens to also be a vampire slayer. It is the family business (so no chosen one scenario, though I could see her being one of the "chosen" post season 7 of Buffy) and they are damn good at it. I loved the rom-com feel of the story. Jolene captivated my attention instantly, and then Alma enters the picture... Let's just say sparks fly. Is anyone up for this Enemies to lovers story?! *raises hand*

My ONE issue again is that the story felt like a teaser. It wasn't a complete narrative; it really felt like the beginning of something awesome.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓸𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓮𝓵𝓵 - Heidi Heilig - 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

The Boy and the Bell convinced me of one thing--I need to look up Heidi Heilig and buy her books ASAP (The Girl from Everywhere and For a Muse of Fire)

It is one of the few stories that felt like a complete story. Satisfying from beginning to end. Will is a medicine student by day, grave robber by night. On on of his nightly rounds Will hears the sound of a bell, a sound that conjures both demons from his past and entitled bloodsucking fiends. In Will's time they had an issue with burying people who sometimes actually end up being alive, so they came up with gadgets so that if someone is alive they can alert other people. Quite nifty if you are a vampire who doesn't want to crawl out of their grave n their own. Will upon hearing this bell goes to help the poor soul out of the grave, only to find out this person is not only a vampire, but also kind of an ass who will blackmail him into servitude b/c If Will doesn't help the vamp, the vamp might just reveal to the world that Will is a trans man. The story has excitement, macabre information, great pace, a sympathetic MC, trans rep, and boujee vampires who just don't know how to say "thanks" to the help.

𝓘𝓷 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓭 - Kayla Whaley - 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

"My death was a gentle affair"

Another winner! A tell of revenge. I found this story to be so dark because I can honestly see this happening in our world. A father trying to kill his disabled daughter because he can't deal with it anymore.

"He told the police his daughter's suffering "had become unbearable" and that she "deserved ti finally have some peace"

F*ing ass is referring to his own life. It is a sad story, and I love that the MC gets to be fiercely herself. It is also a story that felt complete and left the reader satisfied.

"But he was wrong on two counts. One, he didn't kill me.
And two, my life was always worth living"

𝓐 𝓖𝓾𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓵𝔂 𝓢𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲 𝓥𝓪𝓶𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓮 - Samira Ahmed - 🖤🖤

I don't have much to say about this one quite honestly. I found it to be quite repetitive. Funny commentary on imperialism, but yeah repetitive.

𝓑𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓪𝓻𝔂 - Laura Ruby - 🖤

The least impressive of all the stories. It is a bit post apocalyptic, a little bit vampire, and a lot about the relationship between vampire and animals at the zoo. It tries to do a lot, while not succeeding at any of them. I was bored while reading it. Also maybe I'm dense but I did not get the bat connection, it was kind of weak and not well portrayed? The ending left a lot to be desired.

𝓥𝓪𝓶𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓼 𝓝𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓢𝓪𝔂 𝓓𝓲𝓮 - Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C Parker - 🖤🖤🖤

While I enjoyed the story, I thought this one was supposed to be the best of them all because the authors are the ones that came up with the idea for the anthology, and well, it was good but not extraordinary. A vampire and a human connect through instagram, and the rest if history. Theo (the human) reminds Brittany (the vampire) what it means to connect on a human level (through the internet). Theo, wanting to do something nice for her best friend throws a party for Brittany and SOMEHOW manages to find email addresses for all of Brittany's friends. Vampire friends... This is a tale of "be careful who you meet on the internet", with some vampire gimmicks. Theo and Brittany are referred to as BFF/sisters (even though there is a real sapphic vibe to the story). It has raised some flags in that people are questioning if this story can fall under the "grooming" flag, which is totally valid, but this is also not a romantic story. It is definitely a discussion to be had though.

𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓚𝓲𝓵𝓵 - Victoria "V. E." Schwab - 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Well, I am still occasionally thinking about this story days after I finished it. A story that is told from two POVs--both of which are infatuated with each other and are mortal enemies. A story of unconventional "firsts". I actually liked how the ending was kind of left open ended--the reader gets to pick which ending best suits them. All the characters introduced are fleshed out, both MCs have families that care about them making it extra hard to decide which team you support. It is a really good story, and I would love to read a complete book.

Overall Vampires Never Get Old suffers from some of its stories not really feeling like short stories but introductions into a bigger narrative. It has a lot of gems though, which really just sparked the excitement within me to read newer, bolder, more inclusive vampire stories in the future. In the end, Vampires really do never get old.

--Old Update (but still relevant)--

DID YOU GUYS KNOW that Zoraida and Natalie are hosting a highly entertaining podcast (which you can find in Spotify) talking to some of the authors in the book about different vampire topics??? It brings a whole other level of excitement/hype for the book! I have been having tons of fun listening to it on a weekly basis and always look forward to the next episode 🖤

Anyways, go listen to it to get hyped up for the book release!!

I'm still making my way through some of the stories in this anthology, but I have loved everything I've read so far. I've always been a SUCKER for vampire stories (get it? hahahaha), and I'm so glad to see them having a little return to the spotlight in this collection. VAMPIRES NEVER GET OLD is a wonderful, eclectic mix of stories from some truly fantastic authors. I'm eager to add a shiny, finished copy of this book to my shelves -- and make my way through the rest of the stories during the upcoming spooky season.

Thank you to Hear Our Voices Book Tours, Netgalley, and the publisher for sending me a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Here’s a fun fact about me: I haven’t read a ton of anthologies. Which mean, when it came down to writing this review, I was unsure how to tackle it at first. Do I review the book as a whole? Do I fully review each story? I figured I would just do short reviews for each story, else we would be here for ages. Let's go!

Seven Nights for Dying by Tessa Gratton

The first story in the anthology follows a young woman as she tries to decide whether or not she wants to become a vampire. Instead of turning all at once, though, the process in this story takes seven days and she can back out at any time. I thought this put an interesting twist on the creation myth! The strength of this story is in it’s characters. Tessa Gratton took the limited time we had with our main character and managed to give her depth that some full length novels can’t achieve.

Mirrors, Windows & Selfies by Mark Oshiro

This was one of my favorite stories! The protagonist, Cisco, is a young vampire who is being hidden away from the world by his parents. They say he is the only one of his kind, a vampire born not made, and that they hide him for his protection. But Cisco wants the freedom to see more and, most importantly, to see himself. I loved the format of this story (it’s written as blog posts, complete with comments) and how much the author can make you ache for Cisco’s situation. This is a coming-of-age story with a dark twist and I really enjoyed it!

The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton

I thought this story about a bevy of beautiful, Black vampires was quite fun. The Turners have just had to move (again) and have ended up in the city of New Orleans. They are all ready to get to their new home, but Bea, our protagonist is also yearning for something more. She wants to find her eternal love. I loved the way this story weaves together. Dhonielle Clayton certainly has a way with words! And the splash of romance that we get had me wanting more.

The Boys of Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse

Another one of my favorites! This story by Rebecca Roanhorse was probably one of the most frightening in the entire anthology and I was living. For. It. The dark tale follows Lukas, a young Native man who is working to make ends meet in a dead-end town. He’s bullied for being gay, his mom is very sick, and he wants nothing more than to just feel safe. Enter the Blood River Boys, a group of mysterious men with an air of danger and promises on their lips. This story got real spooky, real quick and I loved it! The atmosphere was woven so well that I wouldn’t recommend reading this at night if you scare easily 💀

Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy

I do love a good vampire slayer story and this one was a treat! It gives off major Buffy vibes, with our main character being a high school cheerleader who happens to hunt vampires on the side. We also get fat representation in this story as our slayer is described as such. I thought the way Jolene talked about her size and how it had no bearing on her skills as both a cheerleader and a slayer was awesome! And there’s the added wrinkle of her meeting a vampire that she might possibly want to kiss more than she wants to stake. This is one of the stories where I wanted it to keep going!

The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Heilig

CW/TW: Intentional misgendering

This story was deliciously creepy and I loved it! It also stars a transgender graverobber who stumbles on something rather supernatural while on the job. I loved the mixture of science and superstition in this story. The dark, spooky atmosphere of this story made it fun to read at night, too! This short tale really grips you and makes you forget that you live in the 21st century for a small space of time. The writing snagged me quickly and did not let go!

In Kind by Kayla Whaley

CW/TW: Caregiver abuse

We start this story off with a murder and it just gets more intense from there. I thought this story about a disabled girl who was turned after her father attempts a “mercy killing” (biggest eye roll ever) was horrifying on several different layers. The writing is excellent and I definitely felt the anger that is motivating our protagonist. And this story had one of the most satisfying endings out of all the ones in this anthology!

A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed

I loved the concept and the formatting of this story! The premise is that you, the reader, are a newly sired desi vampire and a new app has appeared on your phone to guide you through this unfamiliar territory. I love the tongue-in-cheek humor and all the cultural references. There’s also a really interesting discussion on colonialism which I loved. I always enjoy when social issues are interwoven into fantasy/horror. This was fun while taking a hard look at the effects of colonialism that are still seen today.

Bestiary by Laura Ruby

Oh man, was this story topical. There’s a bird flu that has swept the country. Water has become scarce and corporations are jacking up the prices. Most people are struggling while the 1% are living it up. And, in the middle of it all, we have Jude, a girl who was turned against her will and can now talk to animals. Among other things. Jude was such an intriguing character and I loved how complex she is. I enjoyed the animal communication aspect, as well. I thought it added an interesting wrinkle. I would have loved to get more of this story, but it was definitely a solid entry in this anthology.

Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker

And we’ve arrived at, perhaps, my favorite story in the entire anthology! Definitely top two. In this, we follow the story of Theolinda and Brittany, two friends that have a deep relationship on Instagram but have never met in real life. Mostly because Brittany happens to be the Vampire Premier of NYC and Theo has no idea. But Theo wants to finally meet the person she’s grown close to on social media and decides to do it big… she throws a surprise party for Brittany and invites all her friends! Friends who all happen to be vampires. This story was a ride, y’all. The story is told from both Theo and Brittany’s perspectives and is intense! I loved the characters, I loved the creepy atmosphere, and I loved the fierce friendship between these two women.

First Kill by Victoria “V.E.” Schwab

This is the other contender for the top spot! I absolutely loved this story of a vampire and a slayer both planning for their first kill, but perhaps finding their first love. This story is told from both Juliette, our vamp, and Calliope, our slayer’s, perspective. It’s so intriguing watching the same day play out through their very different eyes. Also, Calliope’s family gave me major Supernatural vibes and I loved it! Definitely a fun, scary, and intense story. Can we get a whole book about these two? Please??

Final thoughts: Overall, I found myself really enjoying this anthology. Has it resparked my interest in creatures of the blood-sucking kind? I would say ‘yes’ but with a caveat. Give me all the diverse vampire stories! I loved the representation in this anthology and I think it gives a fresh spin on an old tale. As with any short story collection, there were some stories I enjoyed more than others, but they all struck me in some fashion. If you’re looking for vampire stories that will delight and frighten you in unique ways, I think you’ll enjoy Vampires Never Get Old!

Rating: 5/5 non-sparkly vampires

Format: E-book. I’d like to thank the authors and FierceReads for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What it's like: This was like everything we want and deserve from YA contemporary horror right now. It’s diverse, it’s sassy, it’s dark as hell.

To sum up: This is a collection of short stories featuring vampires and sometimes slayers! The authors and stories are varied in their background and scope, but all offered unique takes on the vampire myth.

What I enjoyed: This collection was an absolute blast to read! I LOVED all the different takes on the myth, the different questions raised, the varied themes and emotions played out. This collection absolutely reminded me why I love young adult books AND why I love horror/vampire fiction. I think I forgot how much I love it, in between reading the disaster that is Breaking Dawn and now haha, but the ideas these authors bring to the table and what they have to say about teens and vampires are fascinating and fresh.

What was meh: I have very little bad to say about this collection! There were a few stories that were a bit slower, a bit less of a gut punch, but they all did interesting things that I wanted to take note of. I finished each story and truly felt inspired as a writer.

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this collection! Even if the last thing related to vampires you read or watched was Twilight. Do yourself a favor and give vampires another chance! If this collection doesn’t win you over (back to the dark side heh heh) then nothing will!

3.5/5 stars

*I received an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Macmillan Publishing Group for giving me a chance to read it! While I had intended to publish a review before the book was released, life unfortunately got in the way.

There is only one vampire book that I was really excited about this year, and it isn’t Midnight Sun! Released earlier this week, Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite, edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, is a compilation of short stories about vampires that are diverse in race, body type, and sexual orientation. Authors include: Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova, Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, and Kayla Whaley.

Vampires Never Get Old was a concept I loved and was really looking forward to reading many of the stories, however after getting the chance to read them, was a little let down as many of them were not for me. I didn’t feel like many of the stories clicked with me or caught my attention. That said, there were a few that I would have loved to read more of, or that I felt would be so much better as a full-length book. Some of the others felt a little too choppy or cut short in odd spots, though I do understand that as a short story, there are a lot of limitations like page count. I think that it is just me needing to adapt to various styles of writing however, as I am someone who prefers a more solid ending and a longer book.

One thing I did adore was the fact that even the vampires themselves were more diverse. It definitely made the stories feel more realistic and welcoming! Vampires Never Get Old was released on September 22, 2020. I definitely do think it’s worth checking out to explore different interpretations of vampirism as well as different styles of writing! You can pre-order it from Indigo, Amazon, or from your local independent bookstore!

Vampires Never Get Old is a collection of authors, some you will know, some maybe not, who wrote short novella's on what they think about vampires. The anthology is edited by authors Zoraida Córdova, and Natalie C. Parker. This collection of authors decided to think outside the box by featuring vampires of color, queer and gender queer vampires, fat vampires, disabled vampires. Most of the stories read like they were sections of longer stories, with no resolution or proper endings. Some didn't even name who the protagonist of their story was. Case in point:

Tessa Grafton writes "Seven Nights for Dying." Her main character is not named. She is a teenager approximately 17 years of age who is approached by a vampires who give her the option of following their 7 day regime, or walking away.

Rating: D

Mirrors, Windows & Selfies by Mark Oshiro is a short story about Cisco. Cisco is not supposed to exist according to his parents. Because he he feels alone and isolated, he starts up a blog where we get to see him talk about his feelings, his struggles, and his want of finally being able to see himself for the first time,, because that is another thing his parents’ protectiveness has kept from him.

Rating: C-

The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton was one of the stories I wish was full length. The story follows the Turner family, most notably Bea, as they travel back to New Orleans. A setting I am absolutely in love with. Bea finds herself enamored with Shadow Baron's son. I honestly wanted more. There is more to the story than just Bea and her 5 sisters and their mother.

Rating: B+

The Boys From Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse is another creepy horror story. Lukas is the outsider. His mother is dying, he's been bullied by the towns bigots, his only real friend is a co-worker. Then the Blood River Boys show up. Silas, the boy with the face of an angel and the heart of a demon, gives Lukas a chance. Become one of them, or walk away.

Rating: C

Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy: Sweatwater, Texas is where the story takes place. The protagonist is a vampire slayer named Jolene Crandall who is both on the heavy side, and a cheerleader. She encounters a vampire named Alma who just wants to understand what it means to be human for a short time.

Rating: B-

The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Heilig; Our MC is a girl named Will who lives as a boy trying to learn all they can while trying to go to school to become a doctor. But, one night when they is grave digging for corpses to learn from, they hear a bell ringing.

Rating: D

In Kind by Kayla Whaley: This story has a few news articles that help tell the story. 17 year old Grace Williams is “mercy killed” by her father because he could no longer take care of her. She was born with degenerative neuromuscular disorder which means she needed to get around with a wheelchair. In this story, there is no miracle cure. If you are turned into a vampire, then you remain as you were before you were turned.

Rating: B-

A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed: This novella is unapologetically racist towards white people, especially White English. Basically, this is told through an anonymous system set up in place for Indian vampires who are recently turned into vampires, and this one was turned against their will by a British tourist.

Rating: D

Bestiary by Laura Ruby: Jude is the main character of this book. She apparently was turned against her will and is angry and isolated with only the animals she works with as a support mechanism. I'm skidding when anyone says bestiality and this was as close as I could get from not cringing thinking about Jude and the animals.

Rating: D

Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker: This story is about vampire Instagram drivers who are hiding that they are vampires. One vampire, Brittany Nicolette Fontaine, Premier of NYC, started talking to a 15-year-old human girl, Theolinda Cecilia Romero de Reyes, who she really likes. Theo decides to throw a big party at a NYC club for Brittany, and ends up with more than she can chew. Not a fan.

Rating: D

First Kill by Victoria “V. E.” Schwab: This really isn't a bad story either. There are really two characters: Juliette Fairmont is a vampire who goes to high school. Calliope Burns comes from a family of slayers. Callie is the object of Jules desire but she has no idea that her secret as a vampire has already been exposed. A chance meeting at a party, ends with a bite and a stab, and the chase is on. Definitely played with the enemies to lovers trope.I want more!!!

Rating: B+

So, as you can see, I ended up rating this 3 Gizmos overall. Anthologies are mostly a problem for me because the tempt me and then leave me dissatisfied. Schwab didn't disappoint, but I definitely would read a full length novel with her characters.

3.5 Stars

This has become one of my favorite anthologies. I'm a sucker (ha) for a good vampire story, but I haven't read anything inventive or out of the ordinary in years. This anthology featured so many different concepts and characters revolving around vampire lore, and I'm SO glad it lived up to my expectations. I loved that several of these stories discuss the fictional appeal of vampirism to teen girls, the physical power it gives them in a world where they often feel very powerless. Also, it's super gay. Thoughts on each story are below.

Seven Nights for Dying by Tessa Gratton - 5 Stars
Damn, what a way to start things off. This ended up being my favorite story in this book. The main character is offered the opportunity of a lifetime and has seven nights to decide if she wants to live forever. Tessa Gratton did an amazing job with characterization - this main character has so much depth and introspection in just a few pages than some books manage or hundreds. The bisexual/mga rep is excellent. The discussions of strong emotions like grief, anger, and compassion are beautiful.
"I said, “Is grief like anger? Will I take it with me?”
Esmael said, “Come here, and I’ll show you, instead, how it’s all just love.”"


Mirrors, Windows & Selfies by Mark Oshiro - 5 Stars
This story is formatted like a blog post, and it worked very well for this story. The main character is a child of vampires, told from a young age that he shouldn't exist and has to be hidden away for his own safety. He writes this anonymous blog as a diary and slowly uncovers secrets his parents are keeping from him, all while desperately trying to see himself - literally, he has never seen a reflection or image of himself. The parallels between vampirism and queerness are pretty obvious, but excellently done. The main character experiences attraction to another boy in the story, but it is not romance focused.

The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton - 3 stars
The lore and worldbuilding of this story are really the standouts. The main character, along with her mother and sisters, have been brought to New Orleans to make their home for the foreseeable future, brought by the firebird of the Turner family. This short story is packed with an inventive world where supernatural beings gather together and Black people are NOT vampires, but Eternals, beings who were turned by slave owners but whose ancestors sent firebirds for protection and guidance. I was not very invested in the plot, and there were too many characters to get a clear picture of everyone in such a short time.

The Boys From Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse - 4 stars
This was definitely the creepiest of the anthology. The main character is lonely, the child of a dying mother and an outcast among peers in his small bigoted town for being Native and gay. A mysterious song summons a group of boys who offer to become his family and take him away, all in exchange for "sharing a meal" (we all know what that means). There's an interesting twist on the 'vampires must be invited in' trope that I loved.

Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy - 2 stars
This is an attempt at a sapphic vampire/ slayer romance that just didn't work for me. The chemistry between the characters wasn't there for me. I did appreciate the fat vampire slayer that's also cheerleading captain and very bossy, but that didn't do enough for me to enjoy it overall.

The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Heilig - 3 stars
This story follows a medical student moonlighting as a grave digger who stumbles upon a ringing bell in a graveyard - someone was buried alive. He digs him up only to be confronted by an ungrateful rich asshole who tries to blackmail him. The main character is a trans man, and there is intentional misgendering in this one so be aware.

In Kind by Kayla Whaley - 3 stars
This is a great confrontation of the typical able bodied, physical "perfection" that is standard in a lot of vampire stories. The main character is a victim of a so-called mercy killing, is saved by a friend, and decides whether to exact revenge. There is quite a bit of ableist language so be aware of that going in.

A Guidebook For The Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed - 4 stars
This was SUCH a fun concept and super well executed. As the title says, this story reads as a guidebook for baby vampires. It is laugh out loud funny with pop culture references and super dry disdain for obnoxious British tourists. There are great references to technology and how it would adapted for modern use by secret groups of people.

Bestiary by Laura Ruby - 2 stars
This was an intereseting concept that lacked in execution. The near future world was underdeveloped and the plot and main character's inner thoughts were confusing and disjointed.

Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Cordova & Natalie C. Parker - 4 stars
I loved the world building and set up for the relationship in this story. There are two perspective, both women who met on Instagram, one human, one vampire. The story is much more plot driven that character driven, but it was unpredictable and the characters had super engaging personalities. This is a story of friendship and I really enjoyed that theme.

First Kill by V.E. Schwab - 5 stars
I'm a die hard Schwab fan so please take this review with a grain of salt. I loved it. In this world, vampires are born, and our first main character is a teen vampire. Our second main character is a teen slayer. This story has an awesome twist, so I don't want to say anything more! I just love the way Schwab reveals new information a little at a time but the reader never feels left in the dark.

This collection is a fun exploration of vampire tropes through a variety of different genres and author styles. I picked it up as a fan of Dhonielle Clayton (The Belles) and her story did not disappoint. I'm not usually that into short stories and anthologies, but this is perfect for Halloween season, or any time you want a little vampire bite, plus it will introduce you to some authors you need to read. I received a copy of the e-book through the publisher via NetGalley.

Vampires Never Get Old is a collection of eleven short stories celebrating many diverse characters from a ton of amazing authors! When I was sent the eARC of this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect since I never pick up many short story collections. In the end, i realized I’m not a huge fan of them, I’m someone who craves every detail of the story and a complete ending, and these short stories left me feeling unsatisfied.

BUT, what I did absolutely love and enjoy was the representation of all different kinds of people who are under represented in literature. Vampires Never Get Old also touches on a lot of tough topics in a lighter way (so make sure to look up trigger warnings!) Vampires tend to be over romanticized in YA fantasies which can usually be creepy since they’re hundreds of years old, but these short stories did it right. There was romance of course, but not in the creepy Cullen way (although I’m sending no shade toward Edward’s way lol).

My top favorite stories were The Boys from Blood River and Senior Year Sucks! I just overall enjoyed the spooky small town settings and the endings of each the most!

Overall I thought this was a much needed book with a fun twist involving vampires but if you were hoping this was the next “ Twilight “ then I’m here to tell you, it isn’t. If you’re looking for present day topics being introduced in a paranormal/spooky setting, then this is definitely for you.

This was such an underwhelming read. As an avid reader of paranormal fantasy and a lover of several of these authors, I am incredibly disappointed. Some of the stories were engaging and interesting, but the majority dragged and made the short story seem like an eternity. The diversity was wonderful and I loved getting to see BIPOC and marginalized groups recognized. Some of them I really wish were full length novels because we need that in the paranormal fantasy genre. Each reimagining of the vampire tale was different and inventive, but not every story was engaging.

The best thing about Vampires Never Get Old is that it is exactly what it promises you: a fresh take. Traditionally Vampire stories are young, white, beautiful, able bodied and queer-coded, but never outright.

In this anthology, which has OUTSTANDING authors, there are characters who are sapphic, trans, gay, disabled, Black, Indigenous, POC, fat, etc.

While the stories were good I always wanted more.

This anthology is proof that just because tropes have been done multiple times it doesnt mean they're dead. No trope will be overdone until queer people, POC, disabled people, etc have the chance to tell their stories. Because they will have something to add that hasn't been done before. It's a new beginning for what the paranormal genre could be.

Vampires Never Get Old is a collection of eleven short stories, each having a different take on vampirism. Each of these stories are so unique and different from one another that it makes the book as a whole easy to fly through. All of the stories are filled with diverse characters which I love just in general, but especially because I’m so used to all white cis characters in vampire stories and these are the diverse stories we need. I really enjoyed my time reading each of these stories, but I must admit that reading this book made me realise that I absolutely prefer full-length books over short stories. I continuously found myself wanting more from each of these stories. Below I have included my rating for each of the stories which comes out to an overall rating of 3.8 stars for the overall book. I highly recommend picking up this book! It’s filled with wonderful new vampire stories (which we all want whether you admit it or not) by so many amazing authors. With each story being unique, you will absolutely be able to find a few that feel like they were made just for you!

1) 7 Nights for Dying by: Tessa Gratton= 3 stars
2) Mirrors, Windows, and Selfies by: Mark Oshiro = 5 stars
3) The House of Blake Sapphires by: Dhonielle Clayton= 2 stars
4) The Boys from Blood River by:Rebecca Roanhorse =3 stars
5) Senior Year Sucks by: Julie Murphy = 4 stars
6) The Boy and the Bell by: Heidi Heilig = 4 stars
7) In kind by! Kayla Whaley = 3 stars
8) A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by: Samira Ahmed = 5 stars
9) Bestiary by: Laura Ruby = 4 stars
10) Vampires Never Say Die by: Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker = 4 stars
11) First Kill by: Victoria Schwab = 5 stars

A great addition to any YA library collection, especially as vampires are certainly experiencing a resurgence in popularity.

It's been long overdue for a collection of diverse vampires. They've become rooted in our cultures, stories, memories, and nightmares. In some they're charming slightly arrogant immortal beings. In others they're the terrifying darkness in the dead of night. From a purely conceptual idea, I loved the backbone of Vampires Never Get Old. A collection of stories of vampires that reflect the diversity of our world. It's a collection that asks questions not only of vampires, but of our fascination with them as well.

The author line up for this anthology is fabulous, full of some of my favorites out there. However I found myself wanting just a bit more out of the stories. I'm not sure if it's the length, but as soon as I found myself sinking into the story, I found I needed a bit more. It was one of those situations where I loved the concepts discussed, but just needed a bit more space for the ideas to manifest into something more. Something larger. I will say that Samira Ahmed's story is probably my favorite not only for the tone, contemporary feeling, and examination of vampires and colonialism.

I’ve never read an anthology before. Was never interested in them. Never understood them. But when Hear Our Voices asked who would be interested in a vampire-themed anthology, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to try.

Vampires Never Get Old is a collection of eleven short stories featuring vampires. But, more importantly, it’s an anthology on a mission. Each story in Vampires Never Get Old aims to change the way we see vampires by focusing on more diverse characters than what we’ve seen in the past. Whether the story focuses on race, sexuality, or a disability, each story helps bring the idea of vampires to every audience.

These stories have also, personally, made me much more interested in other cultures and their idea of vampires. In the past, I owned a book detailing vampires around the world and their general traits, and I found myself wishing I still owned that book by the time I got to the final page. My biggest hope for the release of this book is that it helps bring more attention to vampires around the world, and we begin to see more published books featuring vampires that aren’t white and straight.

The short stories in this anthology were all so very good and left me wanting more. At the end of every single one, I wished it wasn’t the end, and I really wanted to see the story expanded to a full-length novel. While I understand leaving them as open-ended as they are in order to let readers take on the stories themselves and picture what they would want next to help garner more interest, I couldn’t help wishing for more canon after the story was over.

I’m really excited to watch this anthology publish and for readers to get their hands on this. Each story was something I found I loved so much, and I do truly hope that we see more diverse vampire stories in the future!

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC!

The diversity in this anthology is incredible! And it's filled with many authors I love. However, this anthology didn't work for me. I found myself struggling to finish many of the stories. There were a few standouts, but in general it was quite middle of the road for me.

3.5 I understand that I am a picky reader. That being said, I think a lot of people will love this. I just didn’t. I didn’t seem to pick up the emotions the writers were trying to dish out. That might just be a me thing. The writing is good. The different styles make it interesting, but I just didn’t love it. I would suggest this for older high school and early college students. I think adults who enjoy YA would enjoy it as well.

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

I love that vampires are coming back! Vampires Never Get Old is a YA anthology that takes a fresh look at vampire mythology, with an eye to issues of race, gender, sexuality, gender identity, and abledness. As with most anthologies I definitely enjoyed some stories more than others, but overall I had a good time with the collection. I liked that the editors have brief sections at the end of each story where they are in conversation with the themes and ideas it is unpacking, be it the role and identity of a vampire slayer, what it means for a vampire to have or not have a reflection, or the problematic nature of magical cures for characters with a disability. This is a thoughtfully curated collection that engages meaningfully with how vampire stories can be a problem and why we still love them.

Some of my personal favorite tales were The Boys From Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse (morally gray characters and difficult decisions!), Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy (campy sapphic vampire/slayer romance), and In Kind by Kayla Whaley (disabled girl "mercy killed" by her father, but becomes a vampire). I think there's a lot to like here. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

In terms of content warnings, it should come as no surprise that this has plenty as it deals with vampires, blood, power dynamics, and different forms of violence. One other thing to be aware of is in The Boy With the Bell by Heidi Heilig, the main character is a trans boy and there are mentions of menstruation, which I know can be triggering for some trans readers.

I’m not going to lie, I always have a hard time reviewing/rating anthologies. Mostly because I can’t sit here and rate every individual story, but it doesn’t seem fair to bring down the rating if there’s one story I didn’t like, etc. etc.

BUT I did enjoy the book overall! Because its an anthology all the stories just seemed to end without notoce. Like nooooo I want more! Give me more! There were some that were well thought out so when it did end you didn’t feel like you needed more information. Others were so good that despite the information being there I still wanted more!

What’s more is that it’s supposed to take place current day! So it was a really interesting take to see it played out and more relatable than they have been in the past. I also appreciate that they didn’t over romanticize. Let me rephrase that. Yes, some stories contain romance, but I meant romanticize the idea of a vampire. Not all of them can be be an Edward Cullen.

Pretty sure there was only one story that I wasn’t a huge fan of, but the rest were amazing.