Like the last book I reviewed, Nyland’s The Dashwood Haunting, Dark Bites is another ebook I found on Smashwords, the website where self-published authors can sell their work.  Again I was pleasantly surprised by the calibre of writing.  The four stories in Dark Bites can be read as stand alone tales but there are crossovers with some characters turning up in more than one story.

1. Windy City of the Dead is the first, highly enjoyable adventure.  There was plenty of action following a zombie outbreak in Chicago.   The chain-smoking Crow finds herself having to get armed and battle ready pronto if she wants to make it out of her apartment and the city alive.  Luckily she just happens to find a Samurai sword in her neighbour’s apartment (I thought that part was pretty funny).
2. Like Cats and Dogs:  I’m not hugely into werewolves or werenanimals so I found myself just skimming through this story.
3. The Red Planet:  I appreciated this new take on vampire fiction.   Set in the 24th century, Jenny is a vampire, the last of her kind.  Forced to flee from the pollution on earth and the savage persecution of vampires, she is on her way to the colony in Mars.   The story dips back three centuries earlier to when Jenny became a vampire.  This movement from the past to the present keeps the story compelling.   Introducing the sci-fi element of space travel was also a nice touch.                                                                                                  4.  848.  This tale really disturbed me.   It isn’t supernatural but rather shows how horrific people can be.   I don’t want to give the plot away but have to admit that I found the brutal ending disturbing.

Overall I really enjoyed reading these tales and thought that the female characters were strong, independent and well written.  The endings for the most part leave you hanging so I would love to read a follow up.

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Check it out on Amazon HERE