OH GREAT, ANOTHER VAMPIRE BOOK
by Diane Hunter
Media chaos ensues when a woman uses her new alliance with God to advocate worldwide changes in this satirical novel.
Roman McClary, a 250-year-old vampire in Boston, leads a lonely existence. This changes when a dating app points him to Sara Fielding, a highly intelligent communications student who reminds Roman of his 18th-century love. As the two fall for each other, Roman asks for her hand in marriage and her neck for biting. But Sara is the first human he’s attempted to “sire,” or turn into a vampire, and the post-bite results are surprising. She becomes something well beyond a vampire—an “intermediate being” who regularly converses with God. Around the same time, there’s a global divide between humans and vampires, as the latter are immune to a virus that’s killing the former. Sara travels the world as God’s ambassador to promote peace. This works for a time, until, like other celebrities, she faces a backlash under social media’s intense scrutiny— she’s criticized for everything from referring to God with masculine pronouns to performing her reputed role as a “Social Justice Warrior.” But as Sara continues to evolve, no one can anticipate her next step. Hunter aptly satirizes America’s topical issues. The United States president, for example, vows to build a wall to stop illegal Mexican vampires from crossing the border. Much of the well-written satire packs a punch; some of the condemnation of Sara stem from the simple fact that she’s a smart woman with a strong voice. The author also keeps the story popping; it’s primarily told from Roman’s perspective, and Sara’s fanged husband, like readers, doesn’t always know what she’s up to. In addition, delightful nods to vampire pop culture are plentiful. Still, the novel isn’t quite as flippant as its title, particularly the latter half’s exploration of how power corrupts even someone with the best of intentions. The tale’s open ending will surely resonate with many readers.
A diverting and often hard-hitting commentary on America’s celebrity-obsessed culture.