If you’re after a quick but horror-filled read with vampires, check out Until Summer Comes Around by Glenn Rolfe.
The plot:
Old Orchard Beach, Maine, summer, 1986. The pier, the tourists, the sunshine. It’s all perfect… for something in need of blood.
For fifteen-year-old Rocky, summer is when the beachside town he lives in comes to life. But this summer brings her.
When a mysterious girl named November walks into Rocky’s world, the young couple fall quickly in love, but not everyone approves. November’s brother is the keeper of the family’s horrifying secret, and big brother is always watching.
It’s quite cinematic in the way it’s written
Vampires aren’t my usual type of read, but I’ve had a few requests for more fantasy, and I was intrigued by the ‘big brother is watching’ stance. Despite not being my usual genre, I really enjoyed it, and now have a thirst for more.
I thought the character dynamic was great – there is one who is absolutely ruthless and just a total jerk, and another few characters who you’ll really like. I enjoyed a couple of the side characters too, even though they didn’t play a huge part.
It’s set in the 80s, and whilst there were a few nuggets around this near the beginning, it lost its spark – it would have been nice for the reader to be reminded throughout, especially to do with limitations. There is very little background history into the Riley family too, which I think would have made it a 4/5 star.
It’s what you could imagine a typical blood-thirsty vampire rampage would entail, but add in a forbidden romance and the back-drop of a popular summer location. Like Jaws but on land.
It’s a quick read, with lots of conversation, possibly leaning towards YA horror fans. It doesn’t really have any plot twists or anything like that, although definitely some shocking moments which are entirely unexpected – Rolfe has been pretty merciless.
The ending is intense and escalates very quickly – it’s quite cinematic in the way it’s written.
I’m definitely intrigued to read more by this author, especially because it was such a quick, but heart-racing read.
Added bonus: a few Star Wars’ references for my fellow lovers out there.
Until Summer Comes Around, Glenn Rolfe, RRP £9.95/£20 (paperback/hardback); Book Depository
Pages: 229
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
Genre: Fantasy/ Horror
