The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire

I purchased this book “previously owned” – it’s in excellent condition (the cover is totally unblemished, the stores are not marked up in anyway, nor are they “dog-eared”. The contents include: “Falling to Ash by Karen Mahoney; Shelter Island by Melissa de la Cruz; Sword Point by Maria V. Snyder; The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black; Undead Is Very Hot Right Now by Sarah Rees Brennan; KAT by Kelley Armstrong; The Thirteenth Step by Libba Bray; All Hallows by Rachel Caine; Wet Teeth by Cecil Castellucci; Other Boys by Cassandra Clare; Passing by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie; Ambition by Lili St. Crow; and All Wounds by Dina James.

Published in 2009, and edited by Trisha Telep, the book is is 408 pages long. I enjoy reading Paranormal Romances when they are not exceedingly violent or terrifying. These are love stories with a touch of the paranormal, and they are creatively written. Well worth the price to collect and read.

Interestingly, I recently discovered Rachel Caine’s short story, “The Eternal Kiss”, which is only 23 pages in length, but not part of this anthology.

There are a number of different stories in this book, of varying quality. There are some other reviews that give a specific look at the stories, so I am going to look at the stories as a part of a series (or not)

“Falling to Ash” by Karen Mahoney
This is a story about Moth, one that ties in with the longer story in the “Falling to Ash” novel and the short story “The Spirit Jar” in Kiss Me Deadly. Many of the complaints with the short story are addressed in the longer novel, which is out and available. I have not read the longer book, but I would expect that this is the prequel story. Overall, an enjoyable read – 3 stars.

“Shelter Island” by Melissa de la Cruz
This is a different sort of vampire story, partially a ghost story. This would probably tie into the other books by this author (she has several series, including ones about vampires, werewolves, and witches), but I did not see one that was specifically the same characters. An interesting book – 3 stars.

“Sword Point” by Maria V. Snyder
I have liked other stories by this author, and enjoyed this one. However, this book does not take place in any of her normal alternate worlds. Instead Ava seems like a normal girl, from our world, who just happens to discover some interesting things about her school. Good character development – 5 stars.

“The Coldest Girl in Coldtown” by Holly Black
This story about Matilda should not be confused with the full length book (also by Holly Black) that is set in the same world (the full length novel is about a girl named Tana). I really enjoyed this story, especially the fact that it does not portray a perfect world, but a world where everyone is struggling to find their way. 5 stars.

“Undead is Very Hot Right Now” by Sarah Rees Brennan
There are many interesting books by this author, but this appears to be the only story about Christian, the want-to-be rock star and his bandmates. The characters are slightly underdeveloped (not unusual for a short story),but overall an interesting read – 4 stars.

“Kat” by Kelley Armstrong
As you may have read elsewhere, this is associated with the ‘Otherworld’ and ‘The Darkest Powers’ (young adult books set in the Otherworld universe) series. A great fun story, that continues in the Kisses from Hell story “Hunting Kat”. 5 stars.

“The Thirteenth Step” by Libba Bray
This is a short story about difficult choices, and the consequences of the path you choose. A good story, with a few twists on the whole vampire clan/gang, but it doesn’t appear to be directly related her other stories. 4 stars.

“All Hallows” by Rachel Caine
This is another Morganville vampire books, although told from the perspective of Eve (rather than Claire). Rachel Caine writes well, but I just have trouble with the fact that her stories come across to me as one long soap opera. 3 stars (5 if you love the Morganville stories)

“Wet Teeth” by Cecil Castellucci
The story about Miles is interesting but sad, and she does not appear to have written any more about Miles or Penny. The author has written some other stories (both short and novels), most of which are primarily rooted in “our” world. As a side note, Cecil Castellucci also is an indie rocker and you can purchase some of her music online. I give this story 4 stars.

“Other Boys” by Cassandra Clare
This is an interesting story, set in a different world from the shadowhunter stories the author is known for. The writing seemed very young adult, but I enjoyed the story so much I am going to give it 5 stars.

“Passing” by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
I loved this story, the way it twists and turns such that you really aren’t sure how it is going to end. I wish there was more to it, but as of right now the authors have not written a second story in the series. However, they have both written a number of other stories – “Kiss of Night” (by Debbie Viguie) seems to be the closest to the world they created together. 5 stars.

“Ambition” by Lili St. Crow
I didn’t get completely invested in this story, though the premise was interesting. The writing was just a little too choppy for me to really enjoy. Overall, this was the story I liked the least in the book. 2 stars.

“All Wounds” by Dina James
This seems to be early chapters for the “All Wounds” novel, which is the first book in the Stranger Things series. Overall, very interesting premise, but the story is slightly incomplete (as it is the first part of a novel). So I am going to give the short story 4 stars (the novel is 5)

Overall, the stories were a light enjoyable read. I liked some enough to order other books by the authors, and thought that other people might be interested in information I gathered.

For the record, I really don’t like the back cover blurb. It wouldn’t interest me at all if I wasn’t already a fan of most of the authors herein. Stories are reviewed individually as well as an overall comment at the end.

“Falling to Ash” by Karen Mahoney
Moth is a (fairly) new vampire returning home for her mother’s memorial service. Unfortunately her sire, Theo needs her to do a job for him that involves reclaiming the ashes of a dead vampire master from a deadly vampire killer. I really liked Moth and her ways of handling the various situations thrown at her. I want to know more about her, read more about her adventures. The only part I wasn’t too happy about was the end, after her run-in with Vamp Slayer Jr, when it handles her family. It was rushed and we’re not really given a lot of depth to understand why it was as sorrowful as I feel the author was going for.

“Shelter Island” by Melissa de la Cruz
A young girl meets a former resident of her house and the danger that has kept him from leaving. This was short, sweet and entertaining. Hannah is a level-headed girl, not prone to hysterics (thankfully) and the vampire boy she meets and befriends has angst issues, but they’re understandable and not annoying. The story flowed easily and didn’t seem like it was in a rush. The end came when the end came, but it was a satisfying ending.

“Sword Point” by Maria V. Snyder
Ava dreams of training under the Italian fencing master Bossemi at his illustrious school. She does not, however, dream of vampires ending that ambition before it even begins. This is only my second taste of MVS’s writing outside of the Poison Study/Storm Glass world and I found this one to be as engrossing as her others. Ava is a likable character and Jarett is a fairly likable guy (dressed all in black, which is a sure marker for hero designation I sometimes think when reading her stories). You get a real sense of Ava from the story and fair sense of Jarett as well–who they are, their motivations and ambitions. The vampires (vampiros) were gruesome, creepy and totally deserving of their ending.

“The Coldest Girl in Coldtown” by Holly Black
Matilda used to be a normal girl, until she was bitten and made Cold. Now as she fights to keep her humanity by saying perpetually drunk, the friends she left behind may need her help. This was a different look at vampires and vampirism. I liked that you could, in theory, not turn into a vampire if you could hold out from drinking human blood for 88 days. The idea of Coldtown, where the vampires lived and where humans could go and party by bartering their blood for life, was also an interesting concept. While I was rooting for a different outcome to the story, I found the ending to be…poetic. It fit perfectly.

“Undead is Very Hot Right Now” by Sarah Rees Brennan
All Christian wanted to be a rock star–he got his wish, but is being the vampire gimmick of a boy band really what he wanted? Alternatively I think this should have been titled ‘I’m not a brooding vampire looking for his soul kthaxbai’ This is a snarky, amusing and slightly wistful tale of a guy who just happens to be a vampire that’s being exploited by a grasping manager. I felt so bad for Christian, its not that no one understood him, it was more that they thought they understood him better then he understood himself. There are a bunch of really witty one-liners in here and I think that the pamphlet that Christian has memorized needs to be updated since it didn’t help him handle an idiot lead singer with idol aspirations, nerdy asthmatic bandmate so very scared of him or a stoner drummer who just does not get anything, ever.

“Kat” by Kelley Armstrong
Kat and her ‘Aunt’ Marguerite have been on the run from the vampires hunters for two years, but are they after Marguerite the vampire or Kat the unknown supernatural? This loosely ties in with Armstrong’s ‘Otherworld’ books and her young adult series ‘The Darkest Powers’ (also set in the Otherworld universe). For me this was a win because it fits nicely within The Darkest Powers books (which features the Edison Group’s genetic testing on supernatural teens extensively) which I adore to pieces. I don’t think I would have guessed Kat’s supernatural truth though it does explain quite a bit.

“The Thirteenth Step” by Libba Bray
Lauren takes on an assistant’s job at The Angelus House, a Drug Rehab center that has amazing results. But what exactly are those amazing results and how are they achieved? Okay Buffy fans, when you see Angelus it should say something to you right away (whether the author intended it that way or not). Anyhow, meta-analyzing aside, I wasn’t sure what to think of this story at first. The vampires here aren’t perfect, but they do help people so that’s the important thing right? Lauren’s choice isn’t easy, but from a pragmatic standpoint I think it was the right one.

“All Hallows” by Rachel Caine
One Year after the horrific Dead Girl’s Dance Morganville hosts another Halloween dance–but will this one turn out any better for The Glass House crew? The most interesting thing about this story was that it was told from Eve’s POV, whereas the books are told from Claire’s, and Eve has a distinctly different view of the world. More assured and confident in herself, Eve notices little things and remarks about other things that would otherwise not be mentioned in the series proper. The ‘prophecy’ that Miranda (the town’s resident psycho-seer) says at the end, I’m not sure of the implications, but I’m definitely interested and hope to see how it plays out in the book series soon.

“Wet Teeth” by Cecil Castellucci
Miles has been a vampire for sixty years, but hasn’t felt human for a single. When meets Penny he thinks that maybe things can change, and they do, just not how he expected. Sad, sad story. I had hope, because Miles isn’t a bad sort, but sometimes happily ever after doesn’t exist. I would have liked to know if this Penny was related to the Penny he knew, when he was a human. I fancied she was that Penny’s grand daughter and that’s why he felt so comfortable with her, but we’re not told one way or another.

“Other Boys” by Cassandra Clare
Jennifer wasn’t allowed to go out with boys, but when the new kid Colin–a self proclaimed vampire–draws her interest she suddenly finds the determination to be someone different. This was an all right story, though I probably wasn’t as surprised as I should have been since a similar plot point is important to one of my favorite young adult vampire trilogies. I was however pleased with Jennifer reaction at the end.

“Passing” by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
As a young vampire hunter’s graduation begins, she reflects on vampires, comrades and the coming battle that could mean her death. This story surprised me in that much of what the narrator was saying, later turns out to be misleading and there are surprises that come at you rapid fire at the end. I’ve also always been a sucker for those romances that have one of the leads ‘against my better judgment…’ sort of feelings. I kind of want more of this and would have adored this beyond measure if I had read it as a novel instead of a short story. I’ll cross my fingers and hope!

“Ambition” by Lili St. Crow
Told in first person narrative–the charity case at a rich all-girls’ Catholic school, a nasty trick by her oldest friend starts her on a path towards a darker tomorrow. The story was a little confusing, because sometimes it would be in in past tense and sometimes it would be in present tense. I related with the narrator strongly and the ending is sort of a ‘Lady or a Tiger?’ situation leaving it up to the reader to decide if Johnny came back or not and what her reaction was. There was less of a ‘vampire’ presence in this story then any of the others and the narrator never clarifies if he is or isn’t. “I don’t know what Johnny is. There’s not a word for it.” (page 371, US trade paperback), but contextually that’s what he seems to be.

“All Wounds” by Dina James
A young girl gets a late night visitor from a classmate in need and learns that some interesting things about herself and her the grandmother she’s been taking care of. According to the author blurb this story is the start of a new young adult series the author is working on. GOOD. I really want to see what sort of hijinks Becky gets into as a healer-in-training and what sort of snarky banter her and Sydney engage in. That being said, the story made me tear up because I would give (and do) anything to have had more time with my grandmother when she was cognizant of her surroundings.

I don’t think you can rightfully call these romance, or at least not most of them in the Harlequin sense. Certainly some of the stories deal with that sort of romance, but all of them look at vampirism from a romantic standpoint–the mystery, the darkness and power. The allure of the unknown right? Each author took a different view of what it means to receive a vampire’s ‘kiss’ and depicted the consequences thereof.

I honestly enjoyed all of the stories, revisiting some of my favorite series (Morganville and Darkest Powers), reading new fiction from some of my favorite authors (Snyder, Bray, Black and Brennan) and being introduced to new authors (Mahoney, and James) made this anthology a great buy and a recommended read for the post-Twilight crowd.

Definitely purchased this for Melissa de la Cruz, Kelley Armstrong, Cassandra Clare, Rachel Caine, and Nancy Holder (she rang my Buffy bells), but the most memorable short story was Moth’s story, “Falling to Ash” by Karen Mahoney. I remember years after reading it (from my local library) and bought it more recently as a prelude because I just learned her series had launched in the US. If only they could get their act together and offer the revised edition of Moth’s story for us American readers. If you can find this book at a good price, I’d definitely recommend reading it.

If i were to produce an anthology of short stories, i would ensure that atleast the first story fit the bill. The authors do not seem to understand the idea of a ‘short story’. I am half way through and am actualy not going to bother finishing, none of the stories are that entertaining. The majority of them introduce a character with far too much back story, that they then never explain. The first story doesn’t even have an ending it just fizzles out. If you’re looking for a better one get ‘Love Bites’ much more interesting.

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