How NOT to be a Vampire Slayer by Katy Birchall

When Maggie and her family moved to the town of Gorey, after her Great-Uncle Bram dies, her life takes a strange turn. Close to The Lodge lies Skeleton Woods, an area of Gorey steeped in history and folklore. No one goes into the woods because no one ever comes out if they do. What lurks in the trees and does it have anything to do with the strange glowing red eyes Maggie saw on her first night at the new house?

After venturing into the woods and stumbling upon the ancient castle hidden deep within the trees, Maggie discovers that something does indeed live in the forest…..vampires! Trapped in the castle with hundreds of blood thirsty vampires, Maggie finds help with an unlikely ally- Sharptooth Shadow, a vampire that will be the next Chosen One.

Can Sharptooth and Maggie change the way their two worlds view each other before it’s too late? With the Mayor of Gorey desperate to level Skeleton Woods and the vampire poised to break a long standing promise, it is up to Maggie, Sharptooth and friends to save the day.

I really enjoyed reading How Not to Be A Vampire Slayer. It had the creepy woods, the sinister villains (but not who you think will be) and all the nods to the classics like Dracula but with a modern twist.

The main theme running through the story is one of finding friendship in unlikely places, getting to know your supposed enemies and facing your fears. I think it has a strong influence on the reader as you can see the story from all angles and can see how the characters change their views as the story progresses.

I really hope that How Not to Be a Vampire Slayer will get a sequel as I would love to see what other supernatural entities lurk around Gorey.