I’ve been a little obsessed with vampires for as long as I can remember. I was first introduced to them by my horror movie-loving cousin when I was a kid. I used to devour books and movies about vampires (Lost Boys and Interview with the Vampire are a couple of my favorites), and I tend to appreciate new takes on vampirism – unless they’re sparkly and brooding (no shade to you Twilight lovers – it just wasn’t for me). When I read the synopsis of Liz Kerlin’s “Night’s Edge,” I immediately added it to my pile and never got to it. Here we are, roughly a year later, with the second book about to be released, and I finally made room for it. I’m happy to say that I found this to be a refreshing take on the vampire genre that felt very real. From the first page, I was drawn into this new world that felt eerily familiar to the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

The book begins with 10-year-old Mia watching her mother, Isabel, take her last breath. They’re both at home, and Devon – Isabel’s boyfriend – is there. Mia is afraid she’ll have to live with Devon now (and she doesn’t particularly care for him), but Devon tells her he can bring her mom back – and he does – but she’s different.

Flash-forward roughly 13 years, and Mia and Izzy are now living in Arizona. Izzy owns a bar, which allows her to sleep all day, and Mia works at a bookstore. They have a routine – and it works for them. Mia is home by a specific time to draw blood and feed her mother, and then Izzy goes off to work. However, Izzy seems a little off recently and is being secretive about something. Mia suspects that Devon may have found them. Izzy was always unable to resist Devon, and Mia knew Devon returning would be bad news – but she could never imagine how bad things might get.

The book alternates between 2010 and the present. We learn how a virus known as Saratov’s Syndrome spread across the world, turning people into “Saras.” As the story progresses, we learn more about the disease, how/why Mia and Izzy moved from Utah to Arizona, the struggles they’ve faced, and why their relationship is so strained. The book is less than 300 pages, but it’s packed with a lot of good stuff. It moves quickly, and I loved watching everything unravel.

The book’s pacing is perfect, with suspenseful twists and turns that kept me rapidly turning pages. Kerin’s writing is sharp and paints a vivid picture of a familiarity where a disease spread like wildfire across a world that wasn’t prepared for it. It felt real because we just lived through something similar. The idea of vampires living among us, hiding in plain sight, is eerily similar to the beginning of the COVID pandemic when we didn’t know much about the virus and who may or may not be infected.

In the novel, Kerin explores themes of family, identity, and the struggle for independence. Mia’s journey of self-discovery is both heart-wrenching and empowering as she grapples with the legacy of her mother’s bloodlust and the need to forge her own path in life. The tension between Mia and Izzy is palpable, and as the story unfolds, it grows even more strained. Talk about an unhealthy mother/daughter relationship!

The introduction of Jade – a potential love interest for Mia – adds an intriguing dynamic to the story, providing a look at a potential future for Mia that she’s never allowed herself to hope for until now. Their romance is beautifully rendered, with Kerin deftly capturing the intensity of their connection and the obstacles they face as they try to navigate their way through a world that is not always what it seems.

Overall, this is a captivating read that will appeal to horror and thriller fans alike. I’m not one for heavy gore, and this one didn’t have much of that, so it was easily palatable for me. I really liked the creative take on the well-worn vampire genre, and I can’t wait to read the next book. My only complaint was that this one ended very abruptly – and had I not known that another book was on the way when I finished it, I likely would have been very disappointed. Luckily, I won’t have to wait long to check out the next installment. If you like your stories fast-paced and tension-filled, you should definitely check this one out.