There are very few vampire stories that manage to be this homely, funny, cozy, and just plain sweet all at once. Honey Parker’s V-LIFE has its dark moments, certainly, and they are not easily glossed over. After all, Sugar’s being hunted the entire time (by someone with a very dark past), and she herself is not immune to the urge to kill. Then there are the constant reminders and calls from the family she’s left behind, the family she loves but has to distance herself from without telling them why.
In considering the problems of vampires and their lives, very few authors have successfully addressed the question of “can I attend my niece’s bat mitzvah, and if not, how do I avoid it without the guilt trip of a lifetime?” It is a painful question, especially for someone who has spent her life in a loving and secure family, as Sugar has, and cannot explain to them why she can’t really be a part of it anymore. But Parker’s book also has large doses of found family, entertaining characters, a new take on vampiric life (along with its trials and tribulations), motor home communities, and (not least) a cute and very opinionated kitten. It makes the reasonable point that there are all sorts of vampires because there are all sorts of people, from bubbly Maddie to the suave and sophisticated Lance.
The plot takes a while to get going, and there is more time spent on research than on actual confrontation and battle, but that’s okay—because we’re busy meeting new people and exploring this new world Sugar has been initiated into via vampire bite. It’s enough to keep the reader interested and amused. However, the actual conflict with Alex in the story feels almost like an afterthought to the rest of it. Also, while the resolution is reasonably satisfying and believable, there are some loose ends that need tying up. Perhaps in a sequel? As a stand-alone book, this is clever, funny, and charming, but less satisfying than it might be. As the start of a series or trilogy, though, it’s a very promising beginning.
Honey Parker’s V-LIFE is a vampire tale that somehow manages to be cute, endearing, and even funny without glossing over too much of the pain, darkness, and loss involved. While it’s complete enough in its own right to stand alone, it reads more as a promising beginning to a series or trilogy.
~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader
