🦇 Vampires

Nefarious

✍️ Andrew R Burke
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$13.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A vampire bartender reunites with her ex-lover to stop a bloodthirsty threat from her past.

Erica Manning navigates grief and new beginnings after losing Ryan Maximoff. Her life shifts when a dead friend returns, requiring Ryan’s help. This reunion rekindles feelings between the former lovers. A second arrival, a dangerous vampire with a specific agenda, complicates matters further. Erica faces a critical decision regarding her relationship with Ryan while trying to save her loved ones from harm. The narrative focuses on the immediate consequences of past mistakes and the urgency of present threats.

Key Themes
vampire bartender lost love resurrection mystery
Literary Context

Published by iUniverse in 2003, this work sits within the contemporary urban fantasy genre. It draws on American vampire fiction traditions, focusing on personal relationships and immediate supernatural conflicts rather than historical periods or academic folklore studies.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Charlaine Harris · Laurell K. Hamilton · Kim Harrison
🦇
Vampires
🏛 iUniverse 📅 2003 📖 178 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780595302208

📝 Description: Nefarious

Andrew R Burke presents a supernatural narrative centered on Erica Manning, a vampire bartender who lost her partner Ryan Maximoff four years prior. The story follows Erica as she attempts to build a new existence with her daughter and a current boyfriend. This stability fractures when a deceased friend returns from the grave. That friend seeks Ryan’s assistance to understand the mystery of her resurrection. This event forces Erica and Ryan to reunite, stirring up old emotions that had been buried. The situation escalates when another figure from Erica’s past appears. This newcomer is a bloodthirsty vampire with a terrifying agenda. Erica must choose between reclaiming her life with Ryan or protecting those she loves from death. The plot relies on the tension between past devotion and present danger. Burke structures the tale around these intersecting relationships and the immediate threat posed by the returning antagonist. Readers who enjoy stories about vampires dealing with personal loss and sudden supernatural intrusions will find this work relevant. Those preferring historical gothic settings or non-fiction accounts of folklore may not connect with this modern urban fantasy approach.

💎 Our verdict on Nefarious

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Burke delivers a tight narrative focused on Erica Manning’s struggle to balance new beginnings with haunting pasts. The story effectively uses the return of a deceased friend and a dangerous antagonist to force emotional confrontations. The pacing relies heavily on the urgency of immediate threats rather than slow-burn mystery. While it lacks historical depth, it succeeds in portraying the visceral impact of supernatural intrusion on personal life. The vampire protagonist’s profession grounds the fantastical elements in reality. This approach suits readers seeking accessible horror with clear romantic stakes. It is best for those who prefer modern settings and character-driven plots over complex lore or non-fiction folklore.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy vampire narratives that prioritize emotional complexity over pure gore will find value here. The book offers a compelling look at the tension between moving on and holding onto past love. It appeals to those interested in how supernatural elements can mirror personal grief and unresolved relationships. The premise of a bartender protagonist adds a unique, grounded perspective to the urban fantasy landscape. Fans of stories where romantic history complicates immediate danger will appreciate the focus on rekindled feelings amidst threat. It provides a straightforward entry point into vampire lore that emphasizes character interaction over extensive world-building.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Burke delivers a tight narrative focused on Erica Manning’s struggle to balance new beginnings with haunting pasts. The story effectively uses the return of a deceased friend and a dangerous antagonist to force emotional confrontations. The pacing relies heavily on the urgency of immediate threats rather than slow-burn mystery. While it lacks historical depth, it succeeds in portraying the visceral impact of supernatural intrusion on personal life. The vampire protagonist’s profession grounds the fantastical elements in reality. This approach suits readers seeking accessible horror with clear romantic stakes. It is best for those who prefer modern settings and character-driven plots over complex lore or non-fiction folklore.

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