🦇 Vampires

Van Helsing's Guide to Monsters and Dating

✍️ Ben Crew
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$19.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A guidebook blending monster hunting tips with dating advice from Jefferson Van Helsing.

Jefferson Van Helsing uses his family legacy to fight darkness in Portland while struggling with romantic connections. This illustrated work teaches identification and combat against various monsters, including vampires and ghosts. The plot involves a finance major who lists only coffee as an interest and a prophecy spanning a century. Crew writes about the protagonist's efforts to improve himself and better the world through these dual pursuits. The tone remains good-natured despite the gore of his not quite day job. Readers seeking serious academic texts on folklore may find this approach too lighthearted. Fans of urban fantasy with comedic elements will appreciate the specific focus on dating etiquette alongside monster slaying.

Key Themes
monster hunting dating etiquette family legacy
Literary Context

This work sits in the tradition of American urban fantasy, specifically drawing on the Van Helsing lineage associated with Dracula. It is set in Portland, Oregon, and published by Clash Books in 2025. The narrative blends gothic horror tropes with contemporary dating culture.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Charlaine Harris · Ilona Andrews · Jim Butcher
🦇
Vampires
🏛 Clash Books 📅 2025 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781960988836

📝 Description: Van Helsing's Guide to Monsters and Dating

Ben Crew presents a hybrid guidebook that merges monster hunting with romantic advice through the lens of Jefferson Van Helsing. As a descendant of the famous vampire hunter, Jeff operates in Portland, Oregon, blending his professional duties with personal dating struggles. The text functions as an illustrated companion for identifying and combating entities such as ghouls, ghosts, and vampires. The narrative follows Jeff as he attempts to balance his heritage with modern life. He encounters an eight hundred year old blood sucking fiend while simultaneously dealing with a finance major whose profile lists only coffee. The story tracks his accidental triggering of a century old prophecy alongside his search for true love and the value of bro time. Crew structures this debut work to teach readers how to face evil creatures while navigating the awkwardness of first dates. The book appeals to those who enjoy supernatural fiction with a humorous tone regarding social etiquette.

💎 Our verdict on Van Helsing's Guide to Monsters and Dating

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Ben Crew delivers a delightful hybrid guidebook that successfully merges monster hunting with romantic advice through the lens of Jefferson Van Helsing. The narrative effectively balances professional duties in Portland with personal dating struggles, creating a relatable protagonist. The illustrated format enhances the identification of entities like ghouls and vampires, adding visual interest to the combat tips. While serious academic readers may find the approach too lighthearted, fans of comedic urban fantasy will appreciate the specific focus on dating etiquette alongside slaying. The tone remains engaging despite gore, making it accessible and fun.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a lighthearted escape from grim horror will find this book appealing due to its good-natured tone and comedic approach to social etiquette. It is ideal for fans of urban fantasy who enjoy watching protagonists navigate the awkwardness of dating while balancing dangerous supernatural duties. Those interested in how modern life intersects with ancient family legacies will appreciate Jefferson Van Helsing's efforts to improve himself. The book offers a unique blend of monster hunting tips and romantic advice, catering to audiences who prefer humor over serious academic analysis of folklore. It serves as an entertaining companion for those who value bro time and self-improvement alongside supernatural action.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Ben Crew delivers a delightful hybrid guidebook that successfully merges monster hunting with romantic advice through the lens of Jefferson Van Helsing. The narrative effectively balances professional duties in Portland with personal dating struggles, creating a relatable protagonist. The illustrated format enhances the identification of entities like ghouls and vampires, adding visual interest to the combat tips. While serious academic readers may find the approach too lighthearted, fans of comedic urban fantasy will appreciate the specific focus on dating etiquette alongside slaying. The tone remains engaging despite gore, making it accessible and fun.

🏛 Books from this publisher Clash Books

Eminence Front
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Rebecca Rowland
Eminence Front
$18.95
81
Read →
8114
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Joshua Hull
8114
$19.95
81
Read →
Fetty on the Switches
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
David Simmons
Fetty on the Switches
$18.95
86
Read →
The Pink Agave Motel: & Other Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
V Castro
The Pink Agave Motel: & Other Stories
$18.95
86
Read →
Helena
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Claire L Smith
Helena
$15.95
81
Read →
The Parasite from Proto Space & Other Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Brett Petersen
The Parasite from Proto Space & Other Stories
$15.95
86
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Come Sing for the Harrowing ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Dan Coxon
Come Sing for the Harrowing
$19.95
86
Read →
Flowers from the Void ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Gianni Washington
Flowers from the Void
$19.95
86
Read →
Don't Push the Button ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
John Skipp
Don't Push the Button
$19.95
86
Read →
Beyond the Planet of the Vampires ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ulrich Baer
Beyond the Planet of the Vampires
$18.95
86
Read →
The Last Night to Kill Nazis ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
David Agranoff
The Last Night to Kill Nazis
$19.95
81
Read →
Agnes, We're Not Murderers! ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Jessica Alexander
Agnes, We're Not Murderers!
$22.95
81
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist