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.

In This is Not a Vampire Story by Simon Doyle, he has woven a tale that is a beautiful and intense love story, as the character of Victor navigates his memories of the past and the events that haunt him decades into the future. It is true, this is not a Vampire story, it is a story of love, memories, friendship and the acceptance of both life and death. 

What creates such a compelling narrative is the weaving across time of Victor’s story as the story intersects between his present in a quiet nursing home to the past in a time where love between men was not only not accepted but was forbidden by the legal system. What makes this so beautiful is the acceptance in the modern era and the friendships surrounding both Victor and James. That narrative of love is told against the backdrop of vampirism, creating a unique story and a powerful bond between the characters. And it also shows how one event can change everything for two individuals and yet, still allow them to come together in love at the right time.

If you like love stories that feature a vampire, then This is Not a Vampire Story would be perfect for you. It resonates with the theme of love and acceptance, of accepting death and change and of forgiveness of the past. It is a beautiful and intense love story and one well worth reading. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 robes