I fear I really dislike the author’s writing style. The story also moves SO slowly and for a short book (86 pages) it shouldn’t go this slow.

Would recommend for readers looking for horror with more humor than scares—in a good way! It doesn’t take itself too seriously and is full of messy queer characters!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! My thoughts on this are pretty mixed. I loved the cast of characters, the pov, the general vibes. Emotional vampires very much giving What We Do in the Shadows but on a cruise ship is a great premise and led to a lot of entertaining moments. My main complaint was the pacing, I think if the book was a bit longer and built up the character motivations more, the ending wouldn’t have felt so abrupt. The amnesia (?) bits felt a bit unnecessary as well - didn’t really add to the story as is. Overall though, this was a quick read and gave the camp I was looking for.

A random request only because I loved the title.

Also that cover. Truly stunning.

Thank you net galley for this opportunity.

I jumped straight into this book and no regrets.
A remarkable read. Hooked me from the start.

Thank you again

I was super excited to read a novel about queer vampires but unfortunately I didn't really enjoy this read. The premise was interesting but I didn't gel with the writing and the pacing seemed a little off.

Vampires at Sea is a quirky, campy horror novella with sharp prose, emotional vampires, and a delightfully chaotic cruise setting. Rebekah and Hugh—immortal lovers in an open relationship—set sail expecting pleasure, but end up unraveling when a mysterious, magnetic influencer enters the mix. The concept is bold, the humour sharp, and Rebekah’s voice hilarious, but the execution feels uneven. Pacing issues, underdeveloped plot threads, and an ending that doesn’t quite deliver make it more of a character study than a cohesive story. It’s weird, clever, and messy—in a way some readers will love and others won’t fully connect with.

I enjoyed the writing style. Things were described very well, I was able to picture quite a few scenes. The main character was a lot at times. Also, why are we fighting over a mediocre man? I liked the take on vampires and shapeshifters. I don't normally see emotion vampires. Plus a shapeshifter that takes on others abilities was a nice change of pace. The story just kinda ended.

I love that the plot of this book was basically just a married immortal couple goes on a queer cruise to have fun. There was banter, there was so much queer representation I lost count after a while, and I love that within the main couple there was a play on the grumpy sunshine trope without it being disingenuous to the characters. The only thing that stopped me from giving a full five stars even though I loved the book was that it was a little slow to start and I found myself wanting more pages at the end.

💥💥💥 Book Review. 💥💥💥

Vampires at Sea
By Lindsay Merbaum
⭐⭐ Stars

This book was just blah…
There were times that I was enjoying it but I feel that the ending was rushed. I just was not satisfied with the ending. There are also plot holes that don't get answered like her past lives that she doesn't remember. That is repeatedly brought up but goes nowhere. Also, there are questions about the war and what is going on, on the ship…. Just so many questions that don't get answered which is sad.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

A fun, dynamic take on vampires and otherworldly beings, set in a single confined setting. The author does a great job of delivering a quirky and modern tale ripe with sexy vamps and sirens.

Vampires at Seas caught my attention immediately with its premise. The idea of queer vampires at sea seemed promising and I went into this book hopeful and curious as to where the story would lead.

Unfortunately, despite the book;s concept, the story didn't quite resonate with me. I found it difficult to connect with the characters and struggled to stay engaged with the plot because of this. I enjoyed the writing style and found the book to be funny at times but, at times I found the narrative to be unclear at times.

I wished Hugh was more fleshed out as a character. For him to be a somewhat pivotal character to the story, I just didn't feel like we got the opportunity to learn who he was as the story progressed more.

With all that being said, I recognize that every one has their own taste and expectations for a book, and I can see how Vampires at Sea would appeal to others. Even though this book wasn't for me, I appreciate the author's take on vampire fiction.

A fun, dark, smutty and enchanting novella about two centuries-old lovers drawn to another powerful, magnetic being they meet on an all-inclusive queer cruise. I thoroughly enjoyed the main narrative, the ending was perfect, and the surrounding details about the world outside the ship and the protagonist's previous life were the intriguing and delightful cherries on top.

This was definitely fun in places and the premise was really solid, however for me personally this was not the book for me.

Left me wanting more depth and a bit of a thicker plot!

Lindsay Merbaum’s Vampires at Sea is a wild, witty ride that mixes dark humor, queer romance, and emotional vampire lore aboard a Black Sea cruise. Rebekah and Hugh, immortal partners from San Francisco, are looking for a little rest, maybe a shipboard orgy or two—until Hugh falls under the spell of a magnetic, possibly magical influencer named Heaven. From there, everything begins to unravel.

I really enjoyed the sharp writing and Rebekah’s biting commentary (she had me laughing out loud more than once). The book is short but packed with personality—think What We Do in the Shadows but with more relationship drama and existential dread. I loved the twist on vampires feeding on emotion rather than blood, and the variety of feeding styles added depth to the world.

That said, the story does drift at times. There are threads—Rebekah’s past, the war, even what’s happening with the ship itself—that don’t fully resolve. The ending came a bit fast and left me wishing for a little more closure. Still, it was a fun, smart, totally offbeat read, and I’d absolutely pick up a sequel.

Rating: 3/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a unique, quirky little novella! This story is not for everyone, but I can see it being the favorite of a niche audience. While the story itself isn't entirely compelling, the character-driven nature of 'Vampires at Sea' makes it all the more intriguing. What a delightful little tale for fantasy and horror fans!

Vampires At Sea had all the ingredients for something fun—two vampires, Rebekah and Hugh, decide to treat themselves to a sea cruise packed with deliciously queer humans. Enter Heaven, a non-binary influencer with a flair for disruption, and suddenly it's less about bloodlust and more about love triangles, jealousy, and endless drama on the high seas.

Unfortunately, this one just didn’t hit for me. The premise had potential, but the execution felt pretty flat. Most of the plot revolves around sex, insecurity, and interpersonal tension rather than diving into anything deeper—literally or figuratively. I was hoping for more lore, more violence, more bite. Instead, it read like a Gen Z soap opera with fangs, where the horror takes a back seat to steamy hookups.

The ending didn’t help either. So many threads were left dangling—the war, the ship's true purpose, any real payoff for the tension that built up. If you’re into horny vampires and reality-show-style drama, this might be your thing. But if you're craving gothic vibes, dark worldbuilding, or actual stakes (pun intended), you might leave this cruise feeling a little seasick.

This entire book is so languidly sexual. I honestly didn’t really understand the point. These rich old depressing polyamorous vampires go on a gay cruise where everyone is fucking 24/7. The wife gets jealous when the husband leaves her for a nonbinary shapeshifter that they both are fucking. This is the semblance of plot behind pages and pages of explicit sex. Unless you want to read that, don’t read this book.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to have read an advanced copy this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for this arc!
There’s a part mid way through the book where the narrator says that a boring orgy is a painful affair. That’s probably the most apt description of Vampires at Sea. Nothing happens!! The constant sex scenes are so boring!! Why is the cruise 2 weeks long!! Each chapter is 1 day of the cruise but literally nothing happens, even when we get to the central conflict. I’m a huge fan of novellas but the pacing here also struggled. For 150 pages, it drags hard.
3 stars! Maybe just not for me, but it’s an interesting concept for sure

Had to DNF this book about half way, the book started as if it was in the middle and unfortunately read like a fanfic

This, pardon my french, cunty little vampire novel is so brat-coded its as if Charli XCX wrote it herself. Rebekah and Hugh are energy vampires and eternal soulmates on vacation on an, and I quote "discount queer Black Sea cruise full of polyamorous influencers". They're here to fuck, feed, and, well- thats pretty much it. They're the hottest people on this (I'm assuming) Carnival Cruise and they know it. That is, until they meet Heaven. Heaven is a non-binary influencer and arguably the hottest person Rebekah and Hugh have ever seen. They are drawn to Heaven in a way that *could* be supernatural and as Hugh and Heaven begin to favor spending time together sans Rebekah, we see Rebekah go full scorpio as she stalks, plots revenge, hypnotizes, hunts and fucks her way to solving the mystery of Heaven and learning to find peace with being alone. #goodforher.

I don't know what to say about "Vampires at Sea" other than it was so fun and I devoured it in less than 12 hours. A perfect new read for spooky season- coming out on October 7th.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!