The Eternal Kiss edited by Trisha Telep

2009, Running Press Kids
416 pages, Paperback
Received as part of IBBMP

Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

Cushions: 4
Daggers: 3
Paperclips: variable, sometimes 3-4
Smiles: 4
Tissues: 2
Nayuleska's recommended rating:♥♥♥♥


Book cover blurb:

Supernatural forces and desires come alive in these thirteen vampire tales. Like love, the adventures are never safe and hungers never die. And chances are taken. If you are seduced by the mystery of the heart, beating for a destiny unknown, you will helplessly follow the characters' in this collection - longing for one to call their own. 

Admittedly, love and vampires isn't why I accepted this IBBMP book. I rarely read anthologies. I prefer longer stories.

However, I now will happily embrace anthologies. They are an opportunity to get to know an author's style (well, several authors) before committing to one of their novels. Thanks to this book, I am now eyeing up several, new-to-me authors. It's fun reading stories by authors whose works I have already read (not necessarily involving vampires).

Karen Mahoney, who was the author providing me with the opportunity to read this book, has a cool character Moth,  (including a very cool business card sized picture of Moth which is lurking somewhere in another book as a bookmark). I'm not just saying that. She, like all the other authors in this anthology created characters (be they vampires, soon to be vampires, or mere mortals) that enticed me to read more. Some, like Ash, I really liked. Others I didn't like, but I did find their stories captivating.

Here's a quick summary of what you can find in the stories: (in the same order as they can be found in the book).

• Falling to Ash by Karen Mahoney: A vampire (Moth), a favour involving hunt-an-item, family discovering the truth, and blood. 
• Shelter Island by Melissa De La Cruz (I now own the first Blue Blood book, haven't read it yet): A normal girl, a haunted house, myths of vampires dissolved, something scarier than a person with fangs. Blood here also.
• Sword Point by Maria V Snyder (whose books, including Poison Study, I adore) Swords (which can mix with vampires), an embarrassing mother, protection from vampires (not so much blood in this one)
• The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black: a girl drunk to avoid drinking blood, a place secluding vampires (unusual), a person exchange. 
• Undead is Very Hot Right Now by Sarah Rees Brennan: Point of view from a male vampire (oddly most of the books I read have female protagonists in them - is there a gap in the market for protagonists to be male?), a music gig, insane (not literally, although they could be locked up for their overenthusiasm) fans, self-image (and how others see you). 
• Kat by Kelley Armstrong: A girl with as yet unmanifested powers (other than night vision) on the run from vampires, strong ties of friendship, more blood (not so strange considering this is a vampire anthology!)  
• The Thirteenth Step by Libba Bray: A girl working in place with a lot of secrets - secrets that will change her life when she finds them out, a fridge (this is part of the story!), addiction programme, night shifts, not so much blood. 
• All Hallows by Rachel Caine: Why vampires aren't fluffy bunnies, a vampire boyfriend, lots more vampires, not so much blood here either. 
• Wet Teeth by Cecil Castellucci: A more detailed account of biting people (I felt a bit queasy here), another male protagonist, a vampire stalker (person who stalks vampires, not a vampire who stalks people), a park, a reason not to make friends (only applicable to the undead). 
• Other Boys by Cassandra Clare: A girl who isn't allowed to go out and have fun (her view) - there is a good reason for this, a library with reference books on vampires (which are real), a boy, and blood. 
• Passing by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie: Vampire Hunter School (this so ought to be a series), a fateful hunt, a bat (not with fangs), Italian (with translation). 
• Ambition by Lili St. Crow: A strict private school, a fire alarm, difficult choices. 
• All Wounds by Dina James:  Stupid pencils (despite what people say, objects can have intelligence) a forgetful grandmother with a secret, werewolves. 

About my only complete is the standard one in anthologies: I want the stories to be longer! And the cover - this type of cover for vampire books is getting a bit dull. It's a good thing I don't judge books by their covers.