🦇 Vampires

This is Not a Vampire Story: Large Print

✍️ Simon Doyle
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$16.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A teen night porter hides his immortality while caring for old friends in Ireland.

Victor Callahan manages a nursing home where he watches over men from his distant past. He arranges their final meeting to say goodbye, all while concealing his true nature from James O'Carroll and Gloria Pinto. The plot relies on flashbacks to the Irish coast and a pivotal shipwreck that defined his existence. Doyle uses this framework to question the value of love against the burden of living forever. The story does not offer easy answers but rather presents a quiet, haunting look at enduring connections.

Key Themes
immortality forbidden love final farewell
Literary Context

Set in Ireland, the book engages with gothic and supernatural fiction traditions. It focuses on the specific cultural backdrop of the rugged Irish coast and the social dynamics of a nursing home. The narrative draws on themes of eternal night and historical memory within this localized setting.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Anne Rice · Shirley Jackson · Daphne du Maurier · Poppy Z. Brite
🦇
Vampires
🏛 SD Press 📅 2025 📖 432 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781916383821

📝 Description: This is Not a Vampire Story: Large Print

Simon Doyle presents a narrative centered on Victor Callahan, a seventeen-year-old night porter at Lakeshore Manor. He cares for elderly men he knew in his youth, orchestrating their final reunion while hiding his own ancient secret. The story unfolds through Victor’s memories of the rugged Irish coast, forbidden love, and a life-altering shipwreck. Gloria Pinto, the night nurse, views him with suspicion, though she may harbor her own hidden truths. James O'Carroll, the facility's oldest resident, poses a significant risk to Victor’s concealed identity. This work examines the weight of immortality and the sacrifices made for affection. It draws on gothic traditions and supernatural fiction to explore how past bonds persist into the present. The large print edition ensures accessibility for readers who prefer clearer text. Doyle structures the tale around these intimate interactions, contrasting the quiet nursing home environment with the wild adventures of Victor’s memory. The narrative avoids typical vampire tropes despite its subject matter, focusing instead on emotional resonance and historical echoes. Readers seeking conventional horror may find the tone too reflective, while those who appreciate character-driven supernatural drama will likely connect with the exploration of eternal life and loss.

💎 Our verdict on This is Not a Vampire Story: Large Print

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Simon Doyle crafts a compelling narrative that subverts vampire expectations by focusing on reflection rather than fear. The structure effectively contrasts the quiet nursing home setting with vivid memories of the Irish coast, creating a rich atmospheric tension. Victor’s concealed identity and the suspicious yet potentially sympathetic Gloria Pinto add layers of intrigue without resorting to cliché. The large print edition enhances accessibility for this thoughtful exploration of love and loss. While conventional horror fans may find it too gentle, those drawn to gothic emotional resonance will appreciate its haunting quality. Doyle successfully uses the supernatural framework to examine human connection, making it a standout title for readers who value depth over shock in their dark fiction.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate character-driven supernatural drama will find this narrative deeply rewarding. It is ideal for those seeking a quiet, haunting exploration of enduring connections rather than standard horror thrills. The book offers a reflective look at the burden of immortality and the sacrifices made for affection. Those interested in gothic traditions and the persistence of past bonds into the present will connect with its intimate interactions. It serves as a poignant study of eternal life and loss, avoiding typical tropes to focus on emotional depth. Fans of psychological horror and dark fantasy will appreciate the nuanced portrayal of hidden identities and the weight of ancient secrets against a backdrop of rugged Irish history.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Simon Doyle crafts a compelling narrative that subverts vampire expectations by focusing on reflection rather than fear. The structure effectively contrasts the quiet nursing home setting with vivid memories of the Irish coast, creating a rich atmospheric tension. Victor’s concealed identity and the suspicious yet potentially sympathetic Gloria Pinto add layers of intrigue without resorting to cliché. The large print edition enhances accessibility for this thoughtful exploration of love and loss. While conventional horror fans may find it too gentle, those drawn to gothic emotional resonance will appreciate its haunting quality. Doyle successfully uses the supernatural framework to examine human connection, making it a standout title for readers who value depth over shock in their dark fiction.

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