Sex, Lies and Vampires – Katie MacAlister
Hachette Hodder, 2009
342 pages
RRP: AU$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-340-95199-6

Reviewed by Liz Grzyb

Sex, Lies and Vampires isn’t my first experience with Katie MacAlister’s work, and I’m sure it won’t be my last. MacAlister writes very comic, steamy romances (and steampunk, and young adult novels, and, and…) and this one is no different. It’s one in her Dark Ones series of loosely-connected paranormal romances populated with vamps, summoners, poltergeists and mummies, just to name a few.

Nell Harris, academic and non-practising Charmer, is thrust into this new underworld when she accepts a job to study a medieval piece of armour in the Czech Republic. The plot thickens when Nell meets Adrian the Betrayer, a Dark One with a bit of a chip on his attractive, well-muscled shoulder. The chemistry is instantaneous, but the problem is, Adrian is supposed to be the evil sidekick of demon lord Asmodeus and kidnapped his own nephew. Hilarity ensues as Nell unravels the mystery she’s been plonked in the middle of, while fighting (sometimes) her growing attraction to Adrian.

Most of the humour in MacAlister’s novels come from the antics of the heroine as she adjusts to her “stranger in a strange land” scenario. Nell is refreshingly human: not without flaws yet interesting enough to want to follow her through the rest of the story.

Sex, Lies and Vampire is a great read for those who enjoy light, humorous paranormal romance. Look out for the other titles in MacAlister’s Dark Ones series, or branch out and grab any of her novels – you’ll definitely have a giggle!