Book Review: Bites / Author: Ninfa Hayes / Publisher: Bitten Fruit Books / Release Date: Out Now

Bites is an odd little collection; two short stories, no more, no less. The first story, Last of the Blood, is a tale of love, loss and despair, which also happens to feature vampires. Firmly pitched at the more mature end of the young adult fiction market, Last of the Blood is a sad little tale that will enchant those looking for a little bit of melancholy in their romantic fantasy. Fans of horror will be disappointed, but those who enjoy a regular diet of Anne Rice and Julie Kagwa will find a lot to love here.

Demonica tells the tale of a young girl who is whisked away into a world of darkness, and rather than becoming overcome with angst, embraces every moment of it. It’s set in an interesting and exotic world, and is a fresh angle on a theme that has been overdone. It’s also a nice counterpoint to the previous tale, and is surprisingly absorbing and exciting in equal measure. Again, fans of supernatural fantasy will find this a lot of fun. It contains enough twists and turns to keep even the most cynical of readers going until the very satisfying end.

Overall, Hayes has a strong talent and a real feel for building mythologies in a short space of time. One of the secrets to telling a good short story is to build a believable world with engaging characters, and the author gets this pitch perfect for both tales. Bites is an interesting showcase for the writers talent, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next.