Dave Higgins's Blog, page 31

A Single Bite

From obtaining a freely given invitation to the mere presence of a welcome mat, the requirements imposed in fiction on a vampire seeking entry vary wildly. However, the true limitation is potentially more onerous than any revisiting of traditional stories betrays: not merely a genuine invitation but an almost precipitously avid one by the right … Continue reading A Single Bite

North Western by Jordan Elizabeth

Elizabeth interweaves the ageless trauma of rebuilding life after loss with a powerful evocation of rural US life in the 1800’s, creating a mystery driven more by emotion than cold logic. This is the sixth volume of Elizabeth’s Echoes of New York series. However, while set in the same area, the narrative and characters are … Continue reading North Western by Jordan Elizabeth

Dreams from the Witch House: Female Voices of Lovecraftian Horror, ed. Lynne Jamneck

Jamneck applies a broad rather than narrow criteria to both female voice and Lovecraftian horror, resulting in a diverse range of stories. This anthology contains twenty short stories and novelettes that portray a female-perspective on an incomprehensible universe. “Shadows of the Evening” by Joyce Carol Oates. Escaping the tedium of life as her ageing aunt’s … Continue reading Dreams from the Witch House: Female Voices of Lovecraftian Horror, ed. Lynne Jamneck

Who Invited You?

Lucy Westenra delicately fading in her bedroom surrounded by lace and comfort is potentially the image that most strongly marks the shift from vampire-as-hungry-monster to vampire-as-gothic-romance. However, it also raises an interesting question: if Dracula needs to be invited, who let him into Lucy’s room? The answer might be that no one did because the … Continue reading Who Invited You?

Where Shadows Lie by Allegra Pescatore

Pescatore mixes character-driven political plot with sweeping prophecies and mighty sorceries, creating epic fantasy that has heroic protagonists without collapsing into a simplistic good-vs-evil binary. Disguised as foreign diplomats and secretly aided by the heir to the throne, Gabriel and his companions attempt to end the tyrannical rule of the King of Lirin. However, when … Continue reading Where Shadows Lie by Allegra Pescatore

Trekking into the Jungle

The side border in our back garden is bursting forth in glorious florality. This clump of Cretan Rock Tulip is doubly joyous to me because it was one of Jasper Cat’s favourite places to lurk when bravely exploring but it is also beautiful for itself; so you are commanded to be joyous!

First Bite: A Limited Edition Vampire Romance Collection, (ed.) Kay Elle Parker & A.M. Olenick

This anthology collects eight novellas and one short story, spanning styles, time periods, and genres, each of which features some form of vampire romance. “Quicksilver: A Hunter’s Mission”, April A. Luna: When Quicksilver finds herself urgently in need of blood, she is forced to hunt a human rather than rely on stored blood; unfortunately, Clive … Continue reading First Bite: A Limited Edition Vampire Romance Collection, (ed.) Kay Elle Parker & A.M. Olenick

Sometimes You Follow the Ox

Truth is a cold coal Grasped from the heart of the fire Dead trees come alive

Savant by Jim Alexander, Will Pickering, Finn Cram, & Jim Campbell

Alexander, Pickering, Cram, and Campbell reference the art and sensibilities of classic sci-fi comics without being constrained by them, creating a graphic novel that will appeal equally to fans of aesthetics and plot. Possessing the ability to experience the emotions of others, Lode has travelled the universe chronicling the lives of the dying. When the … Continue reading Savant by Jim Alexander, Will Pickering, Finn Cram, & Jim Campbell

A Bit Batty

With the opera cape flaring wide behind his besuited arms Count Dracula seems almost to taunt the world with the obviousness of his bat-nature. Viewed purely as cinematography, the image is powerful and pleasing but would Dracula be so obvious? It is easy to suggest it comes from an overweening arrogance or a dissonance from … Continue reading A Bit Batty