The assorted nature of anthologies habitually make them a hit-or-miss affair; newfangled as its approach is, Vampires Never Get Old doesn't avoid this hitch, but it does hold out some absorbing narratives and memorable novelties in its ambition to modernize these historic monsters.

The short stories I found to be my favourites are:
★ A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampires - Samira Ahmed (the standout - the anti-colonialist, stereotype-deriding snark was side-splitting, the delivery droll enough to raise the dead)
★ Senior Year Sucks - Julie Murphy (soft-hearted sapphic cheerleader slayer serves)
★ First Kill - V.E. Schwab (needless to say I'm super stoked for the TV show to hit screens soon-ish!)

Meritable mention also to:
⚝ Vampires Never Say Die - Zoraida Cordova + Natalie C. Parker

Overall, Vampires Never Get Old is a diverse and distinctive omnibus - daring in its direction and original in its decision to humanize the undead and demonize the humans - that can be diverting to dip into occasionally or devour in one go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for kindly passing on this arc! 💫

Although I like my vampire stories with a little bit more BITE, Vampires Never Get Old is a fantastic collection of vampires from all walks of life, throwing up intriguing questions to both well-known and obscure vampiric myths using surprising settings - a trans grave robber, a baby desi vamp, gay drifter vamps - all of these and more add a subtle humanity to the monster and forces us to ask - what makes us so different anyway?.