Review: Finely written fiction that doesn't play it safe
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 6, 2012
I am glad to see Theda Black's writing getting some well-deserved attention. I've read three of her other books, starting with "Beneath the Neon Moon." And I'm a fan.All her books feature young men who really adore each other but have a hard time understanding each other and "getting together." In this case, the main character, Jared, and his best friend Jordan have a longstanding platonic friendship, which slowly turns into more. The quality of the writing, as more than one reviewer has said, is beautiful. The book also has a druggy, almost opaque feel, and seems to drift a bit. Since Jared spends most of the story with weakened energy due to being literally drained by an obsessed vampire, this feels right...There is an amazing scene at a fair which incorporates steamy m/m sex and some horror elements. This story crosses genres a bit, and I wasn't sure that it was going to end well.The author also seems empathetic toward the vampire character, even though he is clearly a monster.What do you do when you're desperately in love with someone, but in thrall to someone else? The Vampire's Boy explores this murky territory in depth.