Actual rating: 3.5 stars 
 My initial thought upon opening my eARC was "holy shit, this book is huge." And it is. A whopping 544 pages of short stories about some of the strangest vampires I've ever read - and by strange I only mean in only a positive way. These aren't the vampires that exist to steal your heart for the sake of romance and hot sex. They actually want to devour you. Ironically, the cover features a most definitely seductive man covered in blood, but that's okay. 
 Of course, I love romanticized vampires. An unbelievably handsome and young looking, but actually an old man has fallen in love with me and wants to whisk me away to his fantastical, lustrous life? Tempting offer. (Throw in some original vintage books and bedtime stories based off of personal recounts & you've got yourself a deal.) But every now and again, I need to return to the classics. 
 The majority of these short stories are rooted in ancient tales about the non-traditional vampire we're not so familiar with. Ever hear about vampires that turn into fireflies, not bats? Or an old wives' tale about what happened long ago? Those are the true vampires. I can say, though, that after reading this collection I do prefer human shaped vamps compared to other variants. 
 Short stories aren't for everyone. I, personally, have always been a fan especially during reading slumps and for school essays. They're filled with only the good stuff and over in just a few pages. So if one story ends up being a bit lacking, it's okay because it'll be over in less time than it takes to suck a body dry. There are a few that just didn't cut it for me - either I was left hanging, wanting more, or it was an idea that wasn't executed well. Most weren't even actually scary, but then again, I have a very high standard for what is scary. Most horror-related entertainment in general doesn't reach my scare zone, so I'm not surprised. That's not to say the stories weren't enjoyable; only two rotten apples of the bunch did not have me at the edge of my seat. Overall, this collection is worth the read...especially if the size of the volume scares you (like it did me). 
 My absolute favorites is probably On the Dark Side of Sunlight Basin, followed by Paper Cuts. 
 While I'm not terrified of vampires, I am certainly questioning what I've always imagined them as. The collection also put me in the right spooky mood for October. If you're looking for something to start off the Halloween fear right, consider picking up Seize the Night which hits shelves October 6th, 2015. Choose to blow through the anthology in one sitting like any other novel or slowly savor the writings with one short story a night for twenty nights in a row. Remember to keep a light on. 
 I received Seize the Night from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.