Margie Fuston

Vampires, Hearts, & Other Dead Things

As her father lies gravely ill with pancreatic cancer, eighteen-year-old Victoria's last hope is to find a vampire in New Orleans, an impossible mission that rekindles a special friendship.

Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things

Okay so…if you want to cry really hard by the end of a book then pick this one. There’s so much grief and sadness and despair…but also so much hope and joy and love just…man this book made me feel a l o t. 

It was slow at the start but the premise is really good and it was written so beautifully I loved it. 

It took me a bit to get into the book as well but I think that’s because the MC has my name, Victoria, and my interests which weirded me out a lot! There are quotes on each chapter too from some of my favourite movies I never hear anyone talk about! Honestly the pop culture references were some of my favourite parts. Anyway 4*, this book made me really sad.

Steph L 

I enjoyed this! I loved the characters and the story.

Fleur Heikens

was super fun, cute and kinda sad at times. Would recommend if you’re looking for a heartwarming story about handling grief

Paola C

BRB, I'm still crying over this.

This hit a little bit harder than I thought. It's like my mind blocked out the fact that Victoria's dad had cancer lol. This caught my attention because it's about a young girl who decides to go vampire hunting, how cool is that? It was a very wholesome book and really enjoyable. 

I liked Victoria as a character, she seemed like an actual teenager, but not too immature. She has a good head on her shoulders, even if at times she does questionable things. She only wants to save her dad, and you have to admit that it takes courage to do what she does in this book. 

Do yourself a favor and read this book (and maybe pick up a box of tissues while you're at it).

Southern Today Gone Tomorrow

	This isn’t a happy book, there are happy moments, but this book starts out sad, and honestly still ends pretty sad. But, it is a novel with a lot of growth, and about believing in what you can’t see.

Plus, Victoria is a pretty smart cookie, and I’m really glad that we get to know Henry as well.

Fuston has written a novel with well-developed characters, and a compelling story about life and love, with a lot of vampires mixed in.

If you are looking for action-packed, though, perhaps look somewhere else. Honestly, I think this could be a good book for both vampire/fantasy realism fans, as well as people who are more of the literary novel-type readers. It is really well written, engaging, and a good story.

I, for one, highly recommend this novel.

Minnie Mazuera

In this heart-wrenching debut YA novel that’s The Coldest Girl in Coldtown meets They Both Die at the End, a teen girl takes a trip to New Orleans with her estranged best friend to find a vampire to save her dying father. Victoria and her dad have shared a love of the undead since the first vampire revealed his existence on live TV. Public fear soon drove the vampires back into hiding, yet Victoria and her father still dream about finding a vampire together. But when her dad is diagnosed with terminal cancer, it’s clear that’s not going to happen. Instead, Victoria vows to find a vampire herself—so that she can become one and then save her father. Armed with research, speculations, and desperation—and helped by her estranged best friend, Henry—Victoria travels to New Orleans in search of a miracle. There she meets Nicholas, a mysterious young man who might give her what she desires. But first, he needs Victoria to prove she loves life enough to live forever. She agrees to complete a series of challenges, from scarfing sugar-drenched beignets to singing with a jazz band, all to show she has what it takes to be immortal. But truly living while her father is dying feels like a betrayal. Victoria must figure out how to experience joy and grief at once, trusting all the while that Nicholas will hold up his end of the bargain…because the alternative is too impossible to imagine.

Vampires, Hearts, & Other Dead Things

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