Jane Bites Back

Jane Bites Back

Michael Thomas Ford

Ballantine Books 2009. 299 pages.

Showcasing (or cashing in on) the classics turned horror theme, this is the first in a series of three novels (so far). We find Jane Austen turned vampire against her will, living in upstate New York 200-plus years later.

Sharing her confused life: a plucky assistant, a contractor/sweetheart and Lord Bryon. After being rejected by publishers, she finally gets a contract on her latest book, and has to defend her literary style from critics crying copycat foul.

This book is charming, and a quick read. I’ve never read a “vamp” novel, and I suspect this is a mild version of the genre. I read all three of the novels in sequence, it’s great when you can do that, this is my favorite of the series.