Title: The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire

Publisher: Running Press 2009

Genre: YA vampire short stories

Pages: 416

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Vampire; A to Z Titles: E

How I Got It: borrowed from library

This anthology is full of high-quality fiction that mixes some well-established authors of vampire stories with some new ones. The selections have diverse story lines, some strong on the horror component but including lighter fare with some comedy and romance, and an array of writing styles. Vampires are portrayed in a variety of ways along with their history and lore, making this an entertaining read. Particularly noteworthy are Sarah Rees Brennan's "Undead Is Very Hot Right Now," Karen Mahoney's "Falling to Ash," Holly Black's "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown," and Libba Bray's "The Thirteenth Step." These fang-tastic tales are a must for libraries with a strong vampire fan base.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

I loved this anthology! Such a mix of stories. All about vampires, but not all vampires are the same. My favorite stories:

"Sword Point" by Maria Snyder -- A girl training to fence stumbles upon a seedy underground. Classic horro vampires and new style vampire hunters. A great classic style story.
"The Thirteenth Step" by Libba Bray -- A mystery involving vampires and a half-way house. Had be guessing til the end. I loved te mystery of it!
"Wet Teeth" by Cecil Castellucci -- A loner vampire tries to make a friend. You know this won't end well, right? Still a great little story.
"All Wounds" by Dina James -- Defnitely did not see this one coming. I was so focused on the classic horror side of vampires, that I forgot about other supernatural beings. This really sets up a series. Wonder if there is one? Found my next assignment after the readathon.

For vampire fans, a must read. And don't be put off by the young adult classification. These stories may star teens, but they are well thought out journeys.