This is a really rather decent and intelligently written exploration of the Vampire myth. Engstrom tells a tale of a young teenage girl who slowly enters into a vicious murder spree as a result of metal illness, vampirism or quite possibly both. It is reminiscent of other stories such as Shirley Jackson’s the Haunting of Hill House and more recently Paul Tremblay’s Head full of Ghosts, in that it explores whether the supernatural phenomena are real or imagined by the protagonist.

It is written in the first person from the perspective Angelina a rather odd but likeable girl, who eventually identifies as a vampire as a result of a rape (or possibly attempted rape as Angelina is unclear on this neither are we).

At the end of each chapter, we get the first-person perspective from another character. I really enjoyed the flip at the end of each chapter, its a great plot device in that it rounds out the narrowness of a first-person narrative, and here it is used by Engstrom to further the plot and foreshadow the next scenes. It also provides a much-needed break from reading the psychopathic killer's thoughts and ramblings.


Most excitingly though is that at last, I have found another strong female horror/darker speculative fiction writer! I look forward to reading some of her back catalogue soon. Starting with her more famous When Darkness Loves Us that is also part of Valancourt’s Paperback from Hell Series.