Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston

Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things

by Margie Fuston

An ALA Morris Award Finalist​!

In this “equal parts heartbreaking and joyful” (School Library Journal) 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.

Reviewed by alindstadtcorbeax on

5 of 5 stars

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Star Rating: —> 5 Stars

This was just... absolutely incredible. I loved it so, so much! This is definitely a book I will read time and time again. Though it was very, VERY hard for me because the MC is losing her father from cancer & well, so did I. So I was just a BLUBBERING MESS throughout so much of this... but it also made me smile, laugh, and feel all the good things. The MC isn't exactly LIKABLE at FIRST... but idk she is a little morally grey which I liked, & I could empathize with her, so I guess I understood the way she was acting, even though she was incredibly selfish. But as the novel goes on she becomes more likable & I loved being a part of her journey of growth. Especially because her & her father share a love for vampires, and so he doesn't want her to miss the trip to New Orleans they planned together to search for proof of their existence just because he is too sick. Her family sends her off with her estranged best friend, Henry (which omg their relationship is something else lol but they are so cute!), and not only does she search until she finds a possible vampire, who she is constantly evaluating to see if he actually is or not lol... she is on a MISSION to have one turn her so she can then save her father by turning HIM before he dies. This guy sends her on a quest in New Orleans to complete different tasks to decide whether she is a good vamp candidate... and ahhhh This BOOKKKK ! SO GOOD! If anyone has ever had a very close loved one pass, I feel like you will connect with this book on a deeper level the way that I did, but its also actually a really ADORABLE, FUN, and yes, also sad, YA contemporary dream of a book!


100% recommend!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 28 September, 2021: Finished reading
  • 28 September, 2021: Reviewed