From the book’s synopsis, readers already know Viktor’s
parents are vampires but Viktor himself is a mystery. The sight of blood makes
him dizzy although it doesn’t affect him while playing his favorite video game.
He’s often battling a zombie apocalypse with his best friend Damon and blood
and gore splatter everywhere. Damon is Viktor’s only friend until a new girl
named Alys moves in across the street. Young readers can identify with his
middle-school insecurities, especially with a bullying girl living right next
door.
Readers have a good idea of what will happen but the
author lets the events slowly unfold. This piques their anticipation as they
wonder when Viktor will realize the truth about his parents. Viktor’s mother
volunteers at a blood bank while his father designs coffins. The opening
chapters reveal that Alys and her parents are vampire hunters and they’ve moved
to Nowhere to kill one. Alys is nice to Viktor and becomes his friend but
readers will know she’s actually collecting information about his family. However,
Alys’s father isn’t happy that she displayed sympathy for their previous target
and it’s unclear what she’ll do this time. Readers will root for Viktor as he’s
just a nice guy trying to survive the early days of seventh grade. It feels
wrong for vampire hunters to take advantage of a kind, innocent boy but that
adds intrigue to the story. The plot has a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe going
on.
A couple supporting characters add to the story's uncertainty as readers try to figure out if they’re normal humans or friends of
vampires. Viktor’s mother insists he volunteer in the school library and she’s
helpful with locating vampire information. A substitute English teacher doesn’t
fit the description of a “normal” educator. Her appearance gives off a strong
goth vibe and she has a special interest in the supernatural. She scraps the
regular teacher’s lesson plans and has the students read the novel Dracula.
Viktor is startled by her reaction when he shows her his father’s original copy
of the novel. Readers will wonder about the backstories of these characters and
others.
What didn’t work as well:
The downside of the synopsis is that readers already know what’s
going to happen up until the climax. There aren’t as many opportunities for surprises
and twists which may not appeal to some readers. However, many truths are revealed
during the climax that will make readers want to read the sequel as soon as it’s
published.
The final verdict:
The book touches readers’ emotions as an innocent boy doesn’t realize
he’s at the center of a brewing storm. He just wants to have friends and
survive middle school and doesn’t know his family is in danger. The book will
appeal to lovers of vampires and goth and I recommend you give it a shot.
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