The Vampire Within

by Laura Daleo

Brandon Cass is not your average teenager. He has a taste for blood—human blood. For sixteen years, he stumbled through life without a hitch until the enigmatic aroma of blood awakened something dark within him. Visions of a beautiful young woman with chocolate brown hair and ocean blue eyes haunt his mind, yet her identity is a puzzling mystery.
His hunger for blood strengthens, and the cravings become too powerful to control. No one is safe, not even his family. To safeguard all he once found dear, Brandon sets out on a quest for answers. In an unfamiliar city, he comes face-to-face with the beautiful young woman, confronts the dark force which controls him, and learns what he must endure to reclaim his soul.

Genres: Paranormal, Dark Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2023

About the author

I was born and raised in Sunny San Diego, California. A creative writing class in junior high sparked my desire to tell stores. I’ve been a hostess, bookkeeper, accountant, manager, and animal advocate, but writing anything paranormal has always been my passion. Throughout my professional career, I squeezed in writing whenever I could. I camped out late at night in front of my computer, with my four basset hounds, Stuart, Morgan, Rose, and Cooper, my toughest critics asleep at my feet. Now I’m living out my dream as an author.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when Brandon thought his teenage life was sooooo boring, it happened. Blood would send him into a frenzy of thirst. The smell was intoxicating, the taste amazing and his control would become non-existent as he became something wild and dark and dangerous. Is he losing his mind? What is happening to him? He needs answers, now. Has he become a creature of legend? Is he a vampire?

Brandon’s quest will take him to a dark and secret club where he will find the answers he craves as badly as he craves blood, but what he finds could be only the tip of the iceberg of horror and a newfound friend and ally may be the only one to save him from himself and the monsters that lurk in the shadows…

Laura Daleo isn’t just writing “another teen discovers hidden secrets” tale. She has blazed a completely new and edgy take on vampires, their world and what happens when a young man is caught up in their dark world. Does his family know more than they are letting on? Is he doomed to become a Denison of the dark? Maybe his “boring” world wasn’t’ so bad, after all…
I had fun with this one, Brandon seems so typical until he doesn’t. His little sister is a pain until she isn’t and the voices that have haunted his life are real…

A little fantasy, a little blood, some embarrassing moments and a baby who will grow to become a pawn in the twisted vampire world. Let your own reality fade away, step into Brandon’s skin and fall into the world he is now discovering where anything can happen and monsters are real. Ms. Daleo keeps her tale fresh with a quirky trio who become unlikely allies on a mission, when all is said and done, is it possible that vampires aren’t always evil? You decide!

I received a complimentary copy from Laura Daleo!

Series: Immortal Kiss - Book 3
Publisher: Story Bound Publishing, LLC; 1 edition (March 16, 2018)
Publication Date: March 16, 2018
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Print Length: 242 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really starts out with the action. Brandon Cass (love that name!) is sitting in class when he suddenly gets a whiff of blood. After following Sam, a long-time crush outside after class, he ends up kissing her only to bite her tongue so he can taste her blood. Now maybe this is normal in a lot of vampire books but Brandon doesn't know that he's a vampire and the change in him happened overnight. Brandon starts on a quest to figure out why he is suddenly craving blood, why it makes him act so abnormal, and how he can return to an average high-schooler again.

I found "The Vampire Within" to be a fun and exciting read. Although the book might easily be interpreted as a romance, it isn't. It's more a book about family and friendship. Brandon, his new tutor, Rick (because who can go to school when you want to drink everyone?) and his sister Lindsey work hard to figure out what is happening to Brandon and more importantly, how to make it stop. I loved the bond between Brandon and his sister Lindsey. Yea, they annoyed the hell out of each other at times, but they also had each other's backs through it all. I also really enjoyed Rick. Rick was disabled when he was a teen for stupid behavior but he has made peace with his condition and really wants to help Brandon move past the trauma he is currently experiencing.

This book has lots of action and there is a ancient vampire component which heavily influences the outcome of the book. If you are looking for an interesting vampire read, minus the romance, then this is definitely worth a consideration.

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vampire Within is the third book in the Immortal Kiss series by Laura Daleo. This series just keeps on amazing me page after page. I love this world of Immortal Kiss. I can’t get enough of it. The more I read the more I want to read until I have devoured the whole thing. It is epic…..

In The Vampire Within Brandon Cass is a normal teenager just like any other but then overnight things change for Brandon and his world is no longer the same. One day at school Brandon starts to smell blood and then he starts to crave it. It is unlike any craving he has ever had. The craving gets so intense that Brandon loses it right in front of the whole school or at least his classmates.

He can take it no longer as the smell of the blood of the girl who has a thing for him becomes his whole world. The next thing Brandon knows is that his friends are dragging him off the girl. He has bitten her. He is afraid. What is happening to him? He doesn't want to hurt anyone. What is he going to do?

Brandon wants/needs answers as to what is happening to him. He finds a clue and sets out to find the truth with the help of his sister and his tutor Rick. Their journey takes them to a dark place that neither of them may return from.

The Vampire Within is an epic amazing read. I love the new twists on vampires. The twists just keep on popping up and the more twists they are the more surprising they become. I was on the edge of my seat from page one waiting to see what was going to happen.

The Vampire Within is a very intense read that kept me chopping at the bit as I raced to the end not because I wanted it to end no just the opposite I didn’t want it to end but I just couldn’t stop reading. If I haven’t said it before I will say it now or possibly again I love this series very much. I can’t wait to dive into the next book Once We Were Witches to see where the story goes next.

I highly recommend The Vampire Within to all vampire fans! Trust me if you like vampires then you are going to fall in love with this series! Grab a copy of The Vampire Within today!

[Sara Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great new take on an old story: How did I become a vampire?

[Laura Daleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars

The Vampire Within: Immortal Kiss is a dark paranormal fantasy novel written by Laura Daleo. Brandon groaned at the everyday tedium of getting up tired and taking the bus to school. He dreaded the thought of spending his morning trying to stay awake during Mrs. Clark’s history class. He was half-asleep and already bored out of his mind as he sat down in his usual seat in class, but then suddenly an aroma grabbed his attention as Sam walked past his desk and sat behind him.

Sam was gorgeous and blonde, and everyone was crazy about her. She noticed him looking at her quizzically and smiled in response as he continued to try to understand the effect her odor was having on him. It was somewhat akin to being at the fine point of intoxication before you get sick. She misunderstood his confusion for flirtation and invited him to go with her after class. He did follow her out to the park as she asked, but things went from boring to cosmically awful after that. What kind of monster was he turning into?

Laura Daleo’s dark paranormal fantasy novel, The Vampire Within: Immortal Kiss, follows Brandon Cass as he tries to understand the sudden obsession he has with blood and to cope with the anger and viciousness of his former friends from school. Daleo’s plot is imaginative and compelling, and her characters, particularly Brandon, his little sister, his mom and tutor, Rick, are complex and grand fun to follow. This well-written and decidedly different vampire novel works on so many levels. The Vampire Within: Immortal Kiss is most highly recommended.

https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...

[Lauren Eason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very easy and fast-paced read. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I thought it was an overall enjoyable read with a very interesting premise.

Brandon is a 16-year-old kid who finds himself attracted to the scent of blood and attacks a student one day after school. Trying to find the cause of this mysterious illness, his family takes him to the local doctor and decides to homeschool him since his friends now identify him as a monster. With the help of his new tutor, Rick, and his little sister, Lindsey, they embark on a journey to discover why he has these new vampiric tendencies and how they can get rid of them.

It was nice reading a unique vampire story that didn't create a central romance to the plot. This story was more about trust, family, and friendship. Brandon was a likable character and the story comes from him as we see how it unfolds. There was a part in the story where we glimpsed the vampire soul residing in his body that was a little jarring - it was an abrupt transition that was a pleasant surprise. His sister Lindsey was also lively and genuinely cared for her brother. While they still had banter between the two, it was out of love and I thought it perfectly captured the essence of a brother and sister duo. Rick was also interesting, although we didn't get as much background on him. Confined to a wheelchair after a motorcycle accident, he simply wished to live again having only been in his 20s.

These characters created a solid bond with each other even faced with all their obstacles along their journey. Rick was central to their plans to discover the truth behind the mysterious occurrences with Brandon, something his parents weren't able to admit in the beginning.

The ending was satisfying for the story. Everyone seemed to be in a better place at the end than they were off in the beginning. The plot was wrapped up nicely and most loose ends were tied up. I liked the author's writing style which was more dialogue based. While there was some dialogue that I felt was unnecessary, most of it was quirky and fun! My only real complaint would be about the abundance of physical descriptions for characters that mainly included brow expressions and their eyes. I felt like I was reading the same description of characters multiple times, especially eye color. I know it can be an important aspect, especially in a vampire story. However, the repetition of this could be reduced to enhance the reading experience and flow of the story.

Overall, I had a fun time traveling along with the characters and discovering the truth behind Brandon's affliction.

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on vampires

There was a lot I liked about this book. Brandon, the main character, is a sensitive and innocent 16 year old who is terrified by his burgeoning blood lust. Unlike a lot of young adult vampire books, Brandon is disgusted by these changes he’s experiencing, and I loved that.
Brandon is very close to his parents and younger sister, and I liked how they all rallied around him. The depictions of vampirism as a disease were interesting and refreshing. I also liked the negative reactions Brandon suffered from his peers.
This is the third in a series, and I found that it was to my disadvantage when more vampires turned up. I’m sure if I’d read the other books I would have been excited by their appearance, but as there was little introduction to their characters, I struggled to maintain interest in their conversations. I didn’t understand why Brandon and his supporters reacted the way they did, and the horror atmosphere at the beginning of the book gave way to a more traditional vampire urban fantasy vibe, which disappointed me.
There were a few other issues that pulled me out of the book. 16 year old Brandon happily buying CDs totally broke my suspension of disbelief. Despite being published in 2016, this book was originally written in 2001. While the author has done a good job updating the rest of the book, the scene in the CD shop broke the flow of the book for me.
After being missing for six days, Brandon and his sister find six police detectives looking for them outside their house. While I liked that their actions had consequences, I was once again taken out of the story by the thought of six police detectives scouring the bushes around Brandon’s house six days after disappearing.
However, despite these things I enjoyed the interesting twists on vampire lore that I would like to have learned more about, and I found it very refreshing to meet a vampire who didn’t want to remain a teen in high school forever.

[H. Duby · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a market glutted with vampire novels, it takes a particularly unique take on the story to really grab my attention. To be perfectly honest, I’m not entirely sure if this one did or not. The take on how Brandon Cass, a sixteen year-old with a sudden craving for blood, became a vampire is definitely unique. However, some of the aspects of the book are a bit clichéd and derivative. As another reviewer pointed out, one of the beginning scenes where Brandon is practically intoxicated over the scent of Sam’s blood is extremely reminiscent of the Twilight novels. All of those criticisms aside, I still very much enjoyed the book, and enjoyment for me goes a long way to forgive a multitude of sins. And, between you and me, being derivative is a relatively minor sin. The novel was entertaining and well-written, though rushed in places and might benefit from a re-write to smooth out those rough spots. I would be interested in reading more novels set in this world; possible showing us what happens with Brandon’s tutor or how Brandon fares after the adventure. Despite some crude references and some minor violence, I would say that this novel is safe to recommend to mature readers 13+, particularly those fans of the aforementioned Twilight series.

Reviewed by HR Duby for Romance Authors that Rock

[Silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The vampire within


First an special thank you to Ms Daleo for letting me read and review another book, she was so patient because my crazy job let me no time for anything else, so took me quite a while to finish this book,

That said, it didn’t actually break the rhythm because the story grabs you with the chemistry of the two brothers who annoys the hell out of each other and in some points gave a good laugh !

I was hoping for a love story like on the Ms Daleo previous books, but this isn’t one, which I liked a lot ! Friendship and family and a good dose of action to keep the flow going !



Yes I'm agreed with the fact that in some point there’s a bunch of cliches but hey all vampire histories has some, also when I opened the book and start my reading I said out loud no way Laura you are not giving me the Twilight scene all over again ! Please let this book not be another teen twilight fan fiction !



Phew ! It wasn’t Laura Daleo take us to an edgy vampire ancient world, where monsters and evil are real a place where a teenager can realize that his past life wasn't so bad after all and where you have to decide if vampires might not be that you always thought…

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brandon Cass is your typical teenager until one day when the smell of blood drives him bonkers. Sam takes his weird look as flirting and starts making out with him until he bites her. It seems that Brandon is a vampire and knew nothing about it. Now he is trying to find someone to help him figure out what is going on and how he can get back to his former teenage life.

I really enjoyed this book in the series. You have a new lead who has no idea what is going on and has to go on an adventure to figure it out. Thankfully his little sister, Lindsey and tutor, Rick are there to help him along. Of course there is a little romance with Hypatia supposedly waiting centuries to be reunited with Brandon. No comment.

There are a couple things that did catch and drag the story down a little but they really were not that major for me, especially compared to the other two books. The Vamprie Within could easily be read as a standalone story. Now I am curious about other books by Laura Daleo.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[John Dolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Vampire Within’ is a coming-of-age novel with a difference: teenager Brandon Cass is a vampire who wants not just blood, but answers as to why he is as he is.
This is the third book in Laura Daleo’s ‘Immortal Kiss’ series, and I found myself wishing that I had read the first two books before plunging into this one – as I felt I had missed-out somewhat on Daleo’s earlier world-building. On that basis, I need to go back and dive into Book 1 (‘Immortal Kiss’) soon!
I have, however, read and enjoyed the author’s horror novel ‘The Doll’, and this work shares the same pacy style of narrative and the characters are again well-drawn.
No spoilers here but, in summary, if you enjoyed the ‘Twilight’ saga, you’ll love this.

[rorys books haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book so much .. it was an easy and fast-paced vampire read and i want more of this storyline and characters..
it didn’t contain the romance trope like the first two books in the series, instead laura concentrated more on friendship, family and trust and presented them in an amazing way 😍 .. brandon cass life was turned upside down when he discovered his lust for blood .. he had absolutely no idea what’s going on with him so he started his journey to solve his dilemma along with his sister lindsay and his teacher rick ..
i wish we got multiple povs in this book as i really wanted to know more about rick’s story ❤️
Although this is book 3 in the serie bit it can definitely be read as a standalone ..🖤

[Inishowen Cailín · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will appeal to young readers (12-16) who like vampire lore.
Although The Vampire Within was originally written in 2001 it felt as though I was reading a scene from Twilight when I started this book; where Bella enters the room and Edward gets a whiff of her. Similarly here Brandon reacts after getting a whiff of one of the girls in his class.

I thought it a very strange reaction for the girl, Sam, to be so forward sexually all of a sudden with Brandon just because he was looking at her. I felt that this was contrived simply to force an opportunity for him to draw blood right at the start of the story. Sam and Brandon's other friends completely drop out of the novel shortly afterwards.

I liked that the author managed to bring something new to the vampire genre. Being possessed by a vampire is a completely new idea for me as I would never have imagined that vampires have souls. I thought the scenes where Brandon couldn't control his blood lust were well suited to a horror novel. They had just the right amount of yuck factor without being too gruesome or over the top.
I loved the sibling bond and comradery between Rick, Brandon and Lindsey. I was intrigued with Lindsey and how she could see 'ghosts.' I'd quite like to read more about her.
There isn't a romance in this book. Despite waiting for centuries to be reunited with her vampire boyfriend, Hypatia moved on the next guy in the blink of an eye.
I felt that Brandon's parents, particularly the father, accepted Brandon's condition and his explanations for far too easily especially towards the end of the book where the father's acceptance was rather quick and convenient. I also thought it unlikely that a teen Brandon's age would be buying CDs in a music shop rather than streaming from Spotify or downloading music to his phone like every other young person on the planet.

I liked this book but I didn't love it. Some parts of the story dragged because the plot was dumbed down too much for me. Rick and Brandon actually had to Google why someone would want to drink blood and were shocked to find that their searching led them to vampires. I would have preferred a more complex plot with some twists.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reading copy.

[Sweetpea4me · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Laura's books. This one is no exception. Each story told is so unique and compelling.
The Vampire Within is Brandon Cass's story of how he came to have such a strong desire for blood and a connection with this mysterious brunette. The journey he took is so interesting as we encounter a psychic, vampire chatline, vampire club, etc. How it all unfolds will have you turning those pages till the end.
This is book 3 in Immortal Kiss series but can be read as a standalone. It's so challenging to find a vampire read that sets itself apart from all the others. Laura does an exceptional job doing just that. The way her vampires shift is so rare. Had a great time with this book!

[Toni Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does a 16 year old do when he starts having a weird craving for blood? Brandon Cass feels like he is going crazy. He can smell human blood and he wants it, he is scared and embarrassed by his actions. Brandon keeps seeing a beautiful woman in different females around him that he feels is important to what he is going through. When his mom tells him a story about something that happened on the day he was born it just adds more questions for him. With the help of his sister Lindsey and his tutor Rick he sets out on a journey that will change their lives forever.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unique spin on common vampire lore, and with at the heart of it a teenage boy who has all the typical qualities one might expect: he’s a little dull at first, living a rather boring life, he’s a tad bit dramatic, and he longs for a bit of excitement.

Read full review in the 2018 July Aug issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

5💋💋💋💋💋
This is book 3 in the Immortal Kiss series.
And my favorite so far... fantastic writing as always. Fascinating characters. You won't be to put the book down. This is a vampire series like no other.... romance, face paced action, and friendship.
When Brandon is called in front of the council to decide his fate...will the vampire that is fighting to be released be set free... or will fate intervene?
I'm looking forward to book 4... maybe more Rick?😏

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

he is a teenager, but not your normal teenager he is a vampire. he then starts to dream of a girl and his thirst gets worst. he needs to find her and find out why he is so close to her. why does he need her? will he find her? this might just be the start of something big

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nadea Croix · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has a well written storyline filled with action paced, steamy and exciting scenarios in this absolute page turner when it all concludes.

[Roger Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Book Review 📚
Book: The Vampire Within
Author: Laura Daleo
Genre: Paranormal, Dark Fantasy
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#bookloungereviewteam

Brandon Cass was your average, everyday teenage boy until one fateful day, his whole world changed. On that day, in history class at school, something within Brandon is awakened when the beautiful young girl, Sam walks into class and he realizes he can smell her and he has intense feelings he had never experienced before. Soon he realized that the scent that caused his intense reaction was blood he was smelling because Sam was on her period. The aroma was driving him crazy, to the point where he had to taste it while biting Sam’s tongue while kissing. This is the beginning of Brandon’s supernatural journey and his quest to free himself from the fiendish bonds of his vampire desires. Together with his younger sister Lins and his friend/tutor Rick, they embark on the dangerous crusade to free himself from the vampire spirit that inhabits his body and threatens to take over.
Laura Daleo generates a fascinating, supernatural vampire adventure that not only induces magical, scary, and paranormal passions but also stresses the value of love, friendship, and devotion. I thought the story was very well written and the character relationships were well developed. The plotline was exciting and kept this reader turning pages to see what was coming next with all the emotions, tension, romance, and horror that enhanced the reading experience. Although there was a dark element to the story, it also incorporated clever, fun, and emotional components that made the story exceptional. I definitely would recommend this book. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Copy