Title: Bound by Blood
Author: Aaron Michaels
Length: 6,900 words
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: m/m Paranormal romance
Rating: B-
Blurb:
Mitch, a centuries-old vampire, gets more than he bargains for when he feeds off Patrick, a convenience store clerk who sells himself to vampires for the rush. Mitch may feed from a place far more intimate than a man’s neck, but he’s never felt a bond to any man. Not until Patrick.
Vampires can’t feel love, or so rumor has it. If that’s the case, why does Mitch find himself compelled to be with this one man?
Review:
This was an interesting paranormal story. It’s set in a world where vampires are known to people and are mostly tolerated. Mitch is a vampire who is looking for a willing donor. He finds one in shop clerk, Patrick and after a mutually satisfying feed, Mitch leaves feeling slightly unsettled about his unexpected feelings for Patrick.
The story begins in a nicely atmospheric fashion with Mitchell setting out to try and new and willing donor in Patrick. You get a good sense of the ennui and weariness that surrounds Mitch as an old vampire, and also the measures he’s taken to protect himself from getting too close to those he feeds on. I liked that the human’s came across as just as selfish as the vamps in their desire for the rush that comes with a vamp feed. When the two come together, I was pleased at what could have been a bit of a cliche was given a slight twist. Yes, there’s a bond which springs up between them but it’s all so surprising, even a bit intimidating for Mitch, that there’s no instant follow through.
I liked the setting with its twist on the vampire myth. It’s not easy to keep things fresh in this genre but the author managed to put a decent spin on things here and gave enough away that the setting was part of the story and not just wishy-washy background.
The story is only short, and maybe that’s where most of my niggles come from. There needed to be more time to develop the bond between Mitch and Patrick before I would be truly happy with the end. Having said that, this is still worth reading, especially if you’re a fan of vamp stories.
