This Is Not A Vampire Story

This was a surprisingly beautiful read. Arguably a little slow, but it built to something quite special. I’m not sure if the word “vampire” is actually mentioned in the story… if it was, I can’t remember it. In this case, one could substitute being turned into a vampire with anything unexpected that comes between two people who love each other and is out of their control. This is not so much a vampire story, as a story about regrets, and time, and grief… and finding peace with what is and what was. As someone who reads a LOT of work in this genre, in my opinion Simon Doyle has come into his own with this book. He has been a solid writer with his other books – quite readable and engaging. But with this book he has leveled up.

As most of the characters are Irish, it would have been nice to have a reader who had an Irish accent for the audiobook. The reader does a great job, and the French and Vietnamese characters get appropriate accents, but no Irish accents. I think it would have given another level of charm if they had gone there… but… it is what it is. I enjoyed the audiobook nonetheless.

You can read more about Simon Doyle here:
https://simondoylebooks.com/about-simon-doyle/

I posted my appreciation for the book on a Facebook group dedicated to gay men who enjoy gay books, and was surprised by a nice note from Simon Doyle. 🙂

* * * * *

Seventeen-year-old Victor Callahan holds a secret as ancient as the shadows.

Employed as a night porter in a quiet Irish nursing home, the teenager watches over a group of men he once knew a long time ago. Victor has orchestrated their reunion for a final farewell, a goodbye to those whose lives have shaped him through the years.

But can he keep his secret from Lakeshore Manor’s oldest resident, James O’Carroll?

As he cares for these remnants of his past, memories of a bygone era haunt him – of wild adventures on the rugged Irish coast, of forbidden love hidden beneath the threat of eternal night, and of a shipwreck that changes everything…

Gloria Pinto, the night nurse, doesn’t like him. But maybe she has her own secrets.

THIS IS NOT A VAMPIRE STORY weaves a tale of timeless bonds, the cost of immortality, and the lengths we go to for love.

But is love more important than life? Victor is about to find out.

The Purple Fantastic Steam Rating gives this a soft 2 out of 5. Sex exists. There is intimacy on the page, but it is handled so discreetly the reader can’t be quite sure what they are doing. Not steamy at all in terms of graphic content. You can read more about the Steam Ratings on the About Page.

or Kindle:

book-author

Simon Doyle
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Description

Seventeen-year-old Victor Callahan holds a secret as ancient as the shadows.

Employed as a night porter in a quiet Irish nursing home, the teenager watches over a group of men he once knew a long time ago. Victor has orchestrated their reunion for a final farewell, a goodbye to those whose lives have shaped him through the years.

But can he keep his secret from Lakeshore Manor’s oldest resident, James O’Carroll?

As he cares for these remnants of his past, memories of a bygone era haunt him – of wild adventures on the rugged Irish coast, of forbidden love hidden beneath the threat of eternal night, and of a shipwreck that changes everything…

Gloria Pinto, the night nurse, doesn’t like him. But maybe she has her own secrets.

THIS IS NOT A VAMPIRE STORY weaves a tale of timeless bonds, the cost of immortality, and the lengths we go to for love.

But is love more important than life? Victor is about to find out.

Additional information

book-author

Simon Doyle
Format

Audiobook, Hardcover, Kindle Books, Paperback
Language

English
Publisher

SD Press
Pages

298
Year Published

2025

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