Blood of the Vampire Review:
"There was the innocence of Ignorance in them as yet, but the slumbering fire in their depths proved of what her nature would be capable, when it was given[Pg 59] the opportunity to shew itself. Hers was a passionate temperament, yearning to express itself—panting for the love which it had never known—and ready to burst forth like a tree into blossom, directly the sun of Desire and Reciprocity shone upon it. The elder woman, who had not been without her little experiences in her day, recognised the feeling at once, and thought that she would not give a fig for the virtue of any man who was subjected to its influence." -Blood of the vampire
So, in my research for information while writing my own vampire book. My research has mainly included in my endulging myself upon vampire themed literature. Most recently, the blood of the vampire by florence marryat.
The main charater of the book is Harriet Brandt who unknowingly is a psychic "vampire", draining the life force of those she loves. I had hear critic frequently compare this book to both Dracula (as it was published in the same year) and Carmilla. However, I personally found it more a nit-picking of Victorian London's anxieties against mixed raced individuals "polluting" their society.
I also want to point out thag historically during this time Tuberculosis was made into this beauty standard for women, so within the book when Harriet eats its made out to be this sickening indulgence. Compared to the proper English woman who is never seen eating. There's also a part in the book where a doctor tells her to practice self-help and self reliance in order to best her medical condition of being a psychic vampire, which mirrors the victorian diagnosis of hysteria in women at the time.
Overall the text itself took me a while to get through, even though it was a really short book, because of how boring I personally found it. The historical context was interesting and certian aspects of the book caught me off guard, but there are chapters upon chapters of boring.
I'd give it a soild 6/10. Didn't hate it but definately didn't love it.