This was okay. The stories were entertaining but kind of flat. Most of them didn't seem to have a point and didn't offer anything new to the vampire canon.

Hello Gemmies! I have a new book review to share with you today. Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Vampires Never Get Old is a fresh new anthology edited by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker that includes eleven original stories by some of today's most exciting YA authors. This is the Vampire Anthology I didn't know I needed! Every story is special in its own way, and there wasn't a bad one in the bunch. I found myself, laughing, crying, pumping my fists in solidarity, and covering my eyes. This was a diverse suck fest...but in a good way! We have racial diversity, plus Queer, Trans, LGBTQ, and Disabled representation. This collection is really something special.

As I read Vampires Never Get Old...which I devoured in a day, I was reminded how much I miss Vampires. But more than that, I discovered that I was starving for a different take on this beloved literary monster. Yes, I love vampires, but I didn't want to read yet another story where a charismatic old white vampire lusts after a young white woman. Vampires Never Get Old delivered more than I expected. I could see myself in these stories with Latinx vampires and fluffy girl slayers! Each tale was incredibly well written with detailed world building and relatable characters that had me invested in their plight. I was so sad whenever they ended. Really, any could be turned into a full length novel. But there is one in particular that I would love to see turned into a series and that is The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton. My God this story is beautiful! The characters, the costumes, the world, the intrigue...I need more immediately!! Also noteworthy and worth a full length novel is The Boys from Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse. This story was dark, intriguing, and creepy! This was probably the scariest tale out of all of them to me. I don't want to give any spoilers on any of the gems as one of the magical things about reading this anthology was being surprised as each story unfolded.

If you love the Vampire genre and want a different take on the blood sucking trope then this book is a must for you. Published by Macmillon Children's Publishing Group| Imprint, Vampires Never Get Old is set to release on September 22, 2020, and is available for pre-order from all major booksellers. I give Vampires Never Get Old 5 out of 5 gems. I enjoyed taking a bite out of this collection and hope to read more diverse anthologies like this in the future. Happy Reading!

Really enjoyable. Each story was unique and different. Just like with any other anthology, some were great and some were average. I would still recommend.

I thought this was a nice anthology but for me it fell a little short. I was expecting more from this collection based on the excellent selection of authors involved in this work. It was a good, quick read, but not my favorite.

Enjoyable, but I didn't feel there was anything outstanding about most of the stories. My favorites were by Mark Oshiro & Dhonielle Clayton (which just solidifies my interest in their novels).

I received this as an early review copy from NetGalley and Imprint. All opinions are my own.

*Thank you Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the eARC from Netgalley.

*Vampires Never Get Old anthology review:
Overall, I would give this anthology a 3 / 5 star rating. I expected a little more from this anthology. It was okay overall, but not a new favorite collection.

Here is each individual review:

Seven Nights for Dying by Tessa Gratton
1.5 / 5 stars

This one had some good messages, but it fell flat for me. I thought it was interesting how the author chose a vampire who looks to be in his late twenties or early thirties and he is turning / having a relationship with a teen. Often vampire stories glorify a relationship with someone who is centuries old with someone young and naive. I like how the author shows the age difference in appearance as well unlike how some authors choose to present vampires. The reader truly feels the experience versus innocence with this one despite the MC being given a choice over several nights. However, I did not care for the writing in this story. I feel like scenes are rushed even for a short story, and the writing jumps around a lot which makes it very hard to focus. I was bored with this one.

Mirrors, Windows & Selfies by Mark Oshiro
3.5 / 5 stars

I really enjoyed the blog format of this story. The idea of a vampire blogger is very creative. I appreciate how it is unknown if the story is real or if it is all a fictional story like most of the people leaving comments believe. I will say that this story had potential for a great twist and I’m sad that it did not take that opportunity.

The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton
3 / 5 stars

I wish the author would have further touched on the origin of her vampires in this story, because it was very interesting. This short story shows Black girl magic and strength. This story was pretty atmospheric and vivid with detail, but I would have liked more explanation at times. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt as well. It was okay, I enjoyed some elements, but it was still uneventful.

The Boys From Blood River by Rebecca Roanhorse

4 / 5 stars

This one was dark and intriguing. The idea of a song being used to summon a vampire boy group is very interesting. It was even a little spooky at times. I wish the story was a bit longer though. I wouldn’t mind reading more of this story and learning how the Blood River Boys formed. I like how this goes in a more sinister direction with the idea that some would consider sacrificing something close to them in order to obtain their own desire. This does a dark twist with the problem Lukas faces and it was interesting to read about his reaction to everything.

Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy
Dnfed

This was so bad that I couldn’t even get through it. Some of the wordings / inclusions seemed pretty off. I felt uncomfortable as I tried to read this. It also seems like this is making fun of people who live in the south... are all of her works like this? The only thing that I read that I liked was that the MC presented an image of positive body representation. I like the idea of cheerleaders who are not insanely skinny. Give us some plus size rep. Overall this was not for me.

The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Heilig
4 / 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. I love how the author takes the history of the bells that were placed over burial plots due to people being buried alive at times. I have always found this part of history to be both interesting and creepy. The MC was very interesting and I liked how the author used them in the situation they faced. The author clearly shows that vampirism is a parasite with her inclusion of vampires who display a hunger for their own desires. The inclusion of privilege is shown with the contrast of the two characters. This story also had a bit of creepy feel to it because of the setting and atmosphere. I probably would have rated this a bit higher if we just got a little more of the story. I feel like it could have been a bit longer, regardless of it being a short story.

In Kind by Kayla Whaley
3.5 / 5 stars

I liked the discussion that this story brings forth. This story includes the subject of “mercy killing.” We see a father admit to killing his own daughter, yet he is not condemned for the act due to her being handicapped and dependent on his care. It’s horrible to think that a parent could do this to their own child; it was especially awful to see their neighbors support the father and not see this as the horrendous crime it in. Yet this story shows multiple perspectives and raises the question in the community of if the father was the criminal or if his daughter is due to her inability to care for herself so therefore her father had to care for her. The daughter is saved by a vampire and changed, yet she is still unable to walk. I appreciate now vampirism is not a “cure all” in this story. I like how the author incorporates news clips and then shows the daughters perspective on the matter. I like the way the story ended as well. This story brings forth good discussion over this topic.

A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed
1.25 / 5 stars

Overall, this one was boring to me. It is set up as a guidebook for new vamps. Honestly, I just kind of read through this quickly to get through it. I like how it debunks some vampire stereotypes, but there wasn’t anything attention grabbing about this. I much prefer to read an actual story that includes vampirism, especially for a short story in an anthology. I wouldn’t mind something like this within a novel, but as a stand-alone thing it’s just disappointing. I do like how identity is not taken away with these vampires. (The color of skin does not pale.) The guide also mentions staying with your family and keeping your life how it was. I do really like this, because just because one is now a vampire, it doesn’t mean a new identity must be given to the individual.

Bestiary by Laura Ruby
1.5 / 5 stars

I get that this is trying to comment on the definition of “beasts” and all, but overall this was still boring to me. This was a little confusing at times at well. However, a futuristic world with a lack of water accessibility is interesting. Also I liked the idea of the MC being about to communicate with animals.

Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker
3 / 5 stars

I think how loneliness in relation to vampirism is explored in this short story. This story makes it more modern with the connection through social media. Social media makes it easy for people to connect, yet you still can still have uncertainty with those you connect with and do not know in real life. I like how filters are used which leads to commentary of the filtered lense we often depict to others.

First Kill by Victoria “V. E.” Schwab
4.5 / 5 stars

I loved the concept for this one. I think the way that Schwab actively shows the lifestyle of both girls really helped make the ending more impactful. I really like how this was structured. The ending was great!

I highly enjoyed this collection of stories by various authors and the commentary after each one. People in the book community have been a little cynical about vampires being overdone, but the collection holds true to its pun-y name. These stories are fresh, inclusive, and suck you in (no pun intended) so quickly, you’ll want more/be a little disappointed when the stories end.

Well-written stories that will appeal to teens of all ages. There is truly something for every teen in the pages of this book.

This is a solid short story collection of YA vampire stories. It should do well with teens who have an interest in general horror (not to mention an interest specifically in vampires). The editors did a great job of curating different stories and the authors are all strong, notable writers, so this book should do well amongst short story collections.

My only real criticism is that I found the editorials following each story to be distracting and too light-hearted in tone compared to the stories themselves. They disrupted the flow and tone of the collection as a whole. I think it would be better to have had one condensed editorial as an introduction, or as a summary, to the entire book. The stories truly did not need editorials - they stand quite well on their own, without explanations and certainly without the distractions of the explanations.

Thank you for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for review!

Ready to get back into vampires now that they're publishing's darling again? This is the perfect place to start. A really fun collection of short stories about vampires, from modern slayers torn over staking or making out with the vampire riding home from the game next to them on the bus to resurrection men discovering vampires in graves and other reimaginings of vampire lore. I particularly enjoyed The House of Black Sapphires by Dhonielle Clayton, Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy, The Boy and the Bell by Heidi Heilig, In Kind by Kayla Whaley, Vampires Never Say Die by Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker, and First Kill by V. E. Swab. A lot to like here in a great sampling of vampire tales from some of today's best YA authors.

Who doesn't love a good vampire story? And this is a star-studded group of writers, all of whom delivered in this one!

Let me start by saying that I LOVE the title of this anthology! It speaks an absolute truth, in my opinion. I’ve always loved a good vampire story, and this collection has only fed and strengthened that love.

Each of these stories is so well written and so unique. One of the things this anthology did that sets it apart from other vampire books is it offered readers not just new takes on vampire lore, but gave readers a wonderfully diverse cast of characters and authors. While a few of the stories were just okay, I loved most of these characters and wished their stories spanned hundreds of pages instead of just a few. I definitely think some of these stories could be developed into novels (and I really, really hope these authors consider expanding them, particularly Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Dhonielle Clayton, and V. E. Schwab) and I would happily buy each and every one of them.

Overall, this anthology is everything I never knew I was missing in vampire tales and now I want so many more of these stories! I will definitely be recommending this collection to everyone this September.

This was so much fun! I love the idea of an anthology based around one concept, (I hope it becomes a trend in books to come). The stories were all so different, it was interesting seeing each authors’ take on a vampire story. Some stories were dark and brooding and others were cheesy and light hearted. I found there was so much diversity, so many different groups were represented. I would have to say that in this collection my top three would be Victoria Schwab’s, Zoraida Cordova & Natalie C. Parker’s, and Laura Ruby’s. I can’t wait for the book to come out so I can pick up my own copy!

There's been a severe lack of vampire books out in the world recently. We went from the major hype and over saturation post-Twilight to just nothing. It seems as if the only vampire books that are being released are dollar store smut novels, so let me be the first to say that it's refreshing and needed for more vampires in the YA-verse. Vampire Never Get Old is a FANG-tastic (lol I like puns) reintroduction to the vampires we know and love, but with new takes and new stakes. Each of the well-known authors brings us a short story centering around one of several different vampire myths. They handle their topics well and with depth that isn't often seen in YA novels these days. I devoured this with a friend and we both couldn't stop raving about how many of them we'd love to see become full length novels. In just a few short pages, authors like VE Schwab and Laura Ruby create worlds and characters that are so dynamic, you can't help but want more of them.

There's a lot more I could say, but know that this anthology is needed and will hopefully serve as the introduction to more vampire books in the YA-verse. I've heard several different authors express they just might have vampire books on the way (looking at you Stephanie Garber), so enjoy this little taste of vampire delight and be ready for the wave that's coming.

It's been quite some time since vampires were in the YA spotlight-- this anthology brings them back with a vengeance. Not only is this a top-tier lineup of authors, they've all written deliciously enticing and enamoring stories that would be easy justified in becoming complete novels. Who wouldn't fall for the charming vampire cowboy with sacrifice up his sleeve? And the vampire girl with her romantic sights set on the star cheerleader that moonlights as a slayer? Uh, SOLD! I certainly sunk my teeth into these tales, and Vampires Never Get Old is surely the start of a throwback-genre being rekindled to new standards.

Im absolutely torn about this book. I took a few days to try and collect my thoughts, but Im honestly still undecided. About half of these stories I absolutely loved. I thought they were so well written and amazing and I got upset about the fact thats its a short story and not a whole 700 page book. But then the other half of the stories were either just okay, or I didn't like at all and just wanted to get through the pages.

What I really loved about the book was the representation the authors brought to their stories. Whether it be characters from different religions and/or of different color, all the way to falling across the LBGTQ+ community. The fact that there were vampires was just the cherry on top. So while not all the stories were for me, the ones that I did love really stuck with me.

I love a good vampire story so I went into this anthology already feeling good about it. And then it blew me away with its fantastic writing and effortless diversity. LGBTQ+, disabled, BIPOC characters, yes, please!

And the diversity of vampires - every story was quite different in the author's approach to vampires. So well-written and intriguing. I'd like to see several of the stories expanded into novels. I hope the authors plan to revisit these worlds/characters in the future.

Plus, the cover is spot on!

I'm already recommending this anthology to people.

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

*Thank you to the publisher for an E-ARC of Vampires Never Get Old in exchange for an honest review*

I was SO EXCITED to be able to read this amazing anthology! The author's stories are so immersive and wonderful that I sometimes forgot that each story was only a couple pages long. My favorite had to be Kayla's story, just because I love her writing and hello? DISABLED! VAMPIRE!

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to first state that I am a sucker (get it?) for a good vampire story. Funny, serious, bloody, scary, full novel or short story - you name it, I'll read it. Starting with Sunshine by Robin McKinley, I have always loved a good bloody vampire tale with fresh bite.

So you can believe me when I say that this anthology? Is absolute perfection in storytelling. The stories are all incredibly well written and structured, focusing on an element of classic vampire fiction, but they all offer a new take on the traditional tale. The world is no longer a place where only the white, cis, hetero, European men (and occasionally women) can be vampires. This anthology features queer vampires, Desi vampires, Hispanic/Latinx vampires who blog, black vampires in New Orleans, the vampires on social media, old vampires, young vampires, people questioning their desire to become vampires....truly something for everyone. And they're all so enthralling (often literally). Each story is followed by a central, essential question about the vampire mythos - would you want to live forever? Who is reflected in the vampire stories we read? How are vampires a symbol of privilege? Which means not only are we getting new and different takes on the vampire myth, but also the questions that we should be asking about who is being seen in our stories.

Do you want to know what to do if you wake up the morning after being bitten by a British vampire tourist? Samira Ahmed has advice in "A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire". Want to know about being a vampire in New Orleans and wanting to fall in love? Dhonielle Clayton paints a dark dreamscape in "The House of Black Sapphires". Want to see what happens when a vampire and a slayer find themselves strangely attracted to each other? You'll definitely enjoy the gay love story by V.E. Schwab "First Kill". 12/10 would recommend this anthology to anyone who loves vampires, loves great stories, and love a new take on an old myth.

Vampires Never Get Old is not so much an anthology as a bound collection of love letters to those of us who miss the Barnes and Noble paranormal romance section circa 2008. If Stephanie Meyer and Melissa de la Cruz were right up there on your shelf next to Bram Stoker and Anne Rice, this book might be right up your dark alley. If you, like me, spent the Great Vampire Renaissance that was the late aughts writing Lestat fan-fiction and wondering why vampirism only seemed to happen to white, straight, cis, skinny, able-bodied young women or tried to figure out the logistics of how the Volturi kept track of all vampire kind— yeah, you’re going to love this one.
This anthology is as diverse in its authors as in its subject matter. Each author seems to have taken on their own issue with the vampire mythos— from making the important first kill to taking selfies when you have no reflection to the trauma of having to finish high school as an immortal (or never getting to finish). A stand out in the collection is Rebecca Roanhorse’s spooky (seriously don’t read it before bed) “The Boys from Blood River” in which an ostracized gay Native American teen accidentally summons a gang of murderous vampires with a cursed song from a diner jukebox. This story explores the idea of the vampire as the permanent outcast in a way that deftly looks at the pain of marginalization and the temptation to simply check out of an unjust society— consequences be damned.
Heidi Heilig’s “The Boy and the Bell” takes a slightly more traditional approach in its familiar historical setting— Victorian England at the height of a tuberculosis outbreak, a time when people were buried with bells to alert the living that they had been buried alive. This story captured my attention with its eerie mood and exploration of the vampire as a symbol of hunger and privilege that is ultimately parasitic. Will, the valiant protagonist, must decide whether to fight this monster or aid it in exchange for keeping his trans identity a secret.
Other stories in this collection, like “Bestiary” and “A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire” are more interested in the future than the past. Laura Ruby’s “Bestiary” reminded me of Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy’s Once and Future duology in that it asks questions about the use of immortality in a world dying from the disease of capitalism where billionaires horde natural resources like water. Samira Ahmed’s “Guidebook” was certainly the most innovative and humorous of the collection, literally written in the form of a guidebook for a young vampire (probably turned by a gross colonizer on a blood-thirty vacation). Ahmed’s voice is hilarious and incredibly strong as she paints the picture of a young person’s future as a vampire, one in which they can still be set up on dates by concerned vampires aunties— “because being undead never stopped an auntie dead set on getting everyone married.”
It must be said that Kayla Whaley’s “In Kind” was the most poignant exploration of the vampire myth yet. In the iconic Interview with the Vampire Brad Pitt’s sulky Louis recalls his improved eyesight upon being turned, “The statues seemed to move but didn’t. The world had changed yet stayed the same.” In Twilight, Meyers’ Edward Cullen is saved from the Spanish flu with the bite. The vampiric transformation has become shorthand for the end of not just mortality, but almost all physical limitations. Whaley’s protagonist, Grace, is a wheelchair-bound young woman who is saved from a “mercy killing” by a sympathetic vampire. Her newfound power, however, does not make her magically walk again and she learns to control her power while taking revenge on her murderer. Whaley’s story is a powerful dialogue with the inherent ableism of the vampire fantasy, and for that story alone, this anthology is well worth the read.