A Taste of Midnight (The Erotic Vampire Series Vol 4)

I thoroughly enjoyed each and every story in this anthology, which is unusual for me as I typically find one or two stories in a collection difficult to finish out of boredom or just plain dislike. These 11 tales are written from all different points of view and settings, one as fascinating and intriguing as the next. My two favorites, even though I've never considered myself into bestiality, have to be Tripping by Margaret L. Carter and Dream-Eater by Gary Bowen, which I had read previously in Gary Bowen's Winter of the Soul. Both are male/male-beast, but both are so sensuous and almost tender tales that I found myself re-reading them a couple of times. Tripping awakened memories of H. P. Lovecraft's The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, read long years ago in high school. Another story in the anthology I really liked was The Only by Steve Eller, which brought to mind the beautiful love story of the 1985 movie Ladyhawke. As I composed this review, I had the book on my lap and kept flipping through it for particular reference, and actually changed my rating from 4 stars to 5 stars because it struck me again how unique and interesting each story is and that in all likelihood I will read the entire book again and again, a criteria I personally have for giving a book 5 stars. If you're looking for a thought-provoking, libido-stimulating read, then this is definitely it!

This latest volume in the Vampire Erotica series is full of great sensual vampire stories with various couplings (male-female, female-female, male-male, human-beast, and even a transgendered character). Every story is at least intriguing and mentally stimulating, if not actually hot and steamy. The outstanding stories for me are by Raven Kaldera (which includes the transgendered person), Margaret L. Carter (one of the most erotic stories I've read in ages; male-male, human-beast), and Mary Anne Mohanraj. This anthology also includes stories by Gary Bowen, Renée M. Charles, Elizabeth Thorne, Pagan O'Leary, and a host of others. If you like erotica with a bite, then this tome is for you.

This is one of the better books I've read recently. Highly recommended.