I approached this book with a sense of curiosity, unsure of what I might uncover within its pages. To my delight, I was greeted by a fascinating collection of stories that transported me through time and space. These narratives are framed as letters and journal entries penned by vampire hunters across different eras, each contributing their unique voice to this eerie tapestry. While reading it as an ebook offered an engaging and spine-tingling experience, I can only imagine how much more immersive it would be as a physical hardcopy, filled with tantalizing extras like old photographs, handwritten notes, or vintage maps. For now, the ebook will have to satisfy my craving, but I eagerly await the day it might be available in print.

The stories are nothing short of unsettling, sending chills racing down your spine and making you hyper-aware of every creak and whisper in the shadows. This collection is not for the easily startled, particularly younger readers who may find the narratives too intense or frightful. The authors included hail from a rich array of backgrounds, each bringing their own flair and creativity to the tales. Engrossed in the entries, I frequently found myself unable to tear my eyes away from the text! I know I’ll be revisiting this collection during autumn, that season when the chill in the air perfectly complements the haunting tales within.

This striking anthology is a showcase of vampire lore, narrated through a series of poignant personal writings such as diary entries, letters, and other intimate documents. The format imbues the stories with a haunting authenticity, allowing each piece to feel like a vital fragment of a long-lost history, begging to be rediscovered.

Every entry was captivating, with many written exceptionally well, weaving intricate narratives that linger in your mind. What truly stood out to me was the portrayal of vampires as unsettling and tragic figures rather than mere romanticized beings. The stories are steeped in a classic horror tone, grounding the collection in an unsettling realism that enhances the overall atmosphere.

This is undoubtedly one of the finest compilations of vampire short stories I’ve ever encountered. Ever since first falling in love with "Dracula," I’ve been entranced by the epistolary format, and this book embodies that narrative style with remarkable skill. Each entry feels like an intimate glimpse into a forgotten world, adding layers of depth and authenticity that enrich the reader's experience.

In these tales, vampires are depicted as they should be—mysterious, bloodthirsty entities weighed down by their sorrowful pasts. I particularly appreciate when vampire stories reflect their role as powerful symbols of fear in our culture, and this collection captures that essence beautifully. These are not merely romantic monsters; they embody the darker facets of human anxiety, grief, and guilt. Each account invites readers to confront their own fears while exploring the shadows that linger just beyond the light.

Vampire Hunters: An Incomplete Record of Personal Accounts from Speculation Publications has a variety of horror authors’ contributions. All of these stories are varied with homages to famous vampires and historical accounts. I especially liked the contributions from Gwendolyn Kiste and TT Madden. This is a unique anthology as it reads as records and letters. This title was not on my radar through social media, but was glad to come across this unique take on vampire stories.
Thank you to Speculation Publications and NetGalley for the digital ARC for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of “Dracula” and other vampire books, so this was an exciting find for me. I’m usually very picky about short story collections, but I ended up loving this one.
The anthology features 23 stories, each by a different author, arranged in chronological order from 1194 BC to 2025 AD. It felt like reading an alternate history of vampire hunters, and I thought that concept was brilliant. The nerd in me absolutely loved that! I also enjoyed that each story ends with an illustration, it adds a great visual touch.

My favorite short stories in no particular order:
• "Saint Orianne" by LCW Allingham
• “All The Devils At Once” by Gwendolyn Kiste
• “Double Shadows And Breaths Not Taken” by Juno Crew
• “Sweet Sister” by A.R.C Mitra
• “Sick” by A.C. Wise

I received a digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

VAMPIRE HUNTERS: AN INCOMPLETE RECORD OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTS edited by LCW Allingham & River Eno

Pub date: July 22nd, 2025
Publisher: Speculation Publications
Rating: 4 / 5


"Vampires are real, my girl. They come in many different forms, but all of them feed on men."

In the latest horror anthology from indie publisher Speculation Publications, 23 authors have penned stories detailing the macabre and gory forays of vampire hunters. From retellings of literary and historical events to wholly original takes on vampiric lore, each tale depicts the bloodthirsty demons in a unique light. Reader, prepare yourself; these pages are not for the faint of heart.

VAMPIRE HUNTERS felt like reading a fantastical field guide book from childhood, but leveled up to be darker, grittier, and entirely more fun for adults. The stories are divided into sections in chronological order, illustrating a long history of vampire hunting (mostly in Europe and America). Majority of the pieces are structured as journal entries or letters, though a few have a more unique transcript or catalog structure. The vampire hunters vary in age, gender, and cultural contexts. The differences add subtle but interesting layers to the storytelling. Each short story also ends with an illustration, photograph, or other original artwork. While a horror anthology, nothing felt gratuitous in terms of violence or gore. Readers who love historical fiction, dark fantasy, and of course, vampire stories need to check out this collection!

Highlights of the collection include:
"Saint Orianne" by LCW Allingham
"No Mirrors" by Mina Humiston
"All The Devils At Once" by Gwendolyn Kiste
"Sick" by A.C. Wise
"Bad Blood" by TT Madden
"Party Time At 413 Dallyn Road" by William J. Donahue


(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

I really liked the setup of the book. Decades of vampire hunters and the ones that they hunt through journal entries and transcripts. Every chapter being written by a different author makes for an interesting read. The variety in writing styles and story settings are so much fun.
My favorites among them(in no particular order) are:
Saint Orianne
A Drink of Death
The White Hunger
Sweet Sister
Sick

Finally, a found footage/document-styled anthology about vampires (and those that hunt them).
There is SO much variety here in the style and setting of stories. Everything from a WW1-era vampire story ("Attrition") to a noir-like tale with a psychic vampire ("Sweet Sister") to a 60s set story tinged with some snarky humor ("Cape Canaveral"). Not every story was a winner, but a few really stood out for me:

"Sick" by A.C. Wise
This is probably the only story in this collection to warrant that trigger warning at the beginning of the anthology. It's very graphic, very surreal; a story where a vampire hunter is just as bad as the vampires themselves. A very strong 90s vibe to it, like something Poppy Z Brite would write.

"Bad Blood" by TT Madden
Once again, featuring morally ambiguous vampire hunters, AND some truly nightmarish descriptions of vampires. Makes full use of various found footage tropes (diary entries, audio recording, video footage, etc), and would actually make for an amazing audiobook adaptation. Plus, always good to have a teen vampire hunter involved.

"Party Time At 413 Dallyn Road" by William J. Donahue
Features a former soldier as an assassin for hire, one who finds himself with a very strange new job.
The description of the vampire in that basement was so good, and has a good downer type ending.

I really enjoyed this! Like Stoker’s Dracula, this collection of short stories is written in a series of letter, journals, diaries, and personal accounts instead of storybook form. Each short story is woven into history or well-known legends, i.e. right up there with Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. It spans through many centuries as well as locales – from ancient Greece to 19th century United States. As a lover of Anne Rice and all things vampire lore, this one fits the bill. Perfect for the vampire lover.

What a deliciously eerie, blood-soaked treasure trove this is.

Vampire Hunters: An Incomplete Record of Personal Accounts reads like the ultimate forbidden archive, dusty, dog-eared pages pulled from attics, asylum basements, and the cracked leather journals of those who dared face the darkness. The anthology is structured as a collection of “found documents”, letters, interviews, diary entries, even autopsy notes and this approach works brilliantly. It doesn’t just tell you stories; it immerses you in them, as though you’re uncovering the fragments of forgotten truths.

Every entry feels like a whispered secret. The tone varies, from haunting elegies to pulse pounding action, but each account is steeped in a raw, personal urgency. Standouts include Gwendolyn Kiste’s unsettling entry about a hunter plagued by doubt, and A.C. Wise’s beautiful, aching story that blends myth and grief. But what really makes this anthology shine is its commitment to the premise: it never breaks character. The editorial notes and sketches, the sense of a larger world lurking just off the page it all adds to the illusion.

And let’s be honest: who hasn’t fantasized about tracking vampires through time? These aren’t your brooding, velvet wearing immortals. They are monsters. Predators. And the people who fight them? They are broken, brave, sometimes questionable, always fascinating.

I Highly Recommend.

3.5 rounded up.
I really enjoyed this book. The best way to categorize it is as a short story collection and I liked a majority of them which feels rare?
The range of people across time and the world made it fun.

This is a strong collection of vampire stories told through journal entries, letters, and other personal documents. The format gives it a haunting, realistic edge that makes each story feel like a piece of forgotten history.

Most of the entries were engaging and well written, with a few that really stood out. I liked that the vampires were portrayed as eerie and tragic rather than romantic. The tone leans more toward classic horror, which made the collection feel grounded and genuinely creepy.

I’d love to see this in print. It's the kind of book that would be perfect for fall reading.

I received a digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Vampire Hunters: A Complete Record of Personal Account”


This is one of the best collections of vampire short stories I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Ever since I fell in love with Dracula, I’ve been drawn to the epistolary format—and this book brilliantly embraces that same narrative style. Each entry feels like a lost document, journal, or testimony, which adds depth and authenticity to the overall atmosphere.

The vampires in these stories are exactly what they should be—dark, bloodthirsty, and burdened by a tragic past. I especially appreciate when vampire tales align with the anthropological view of the vampire as a cultural symbol of fear, and this collection captures that idea perfectly. These are not romanticized monsters, but manifestations of collective anxiety, grief, and guilt.

I’m genuinely excited to see this book in physical form—it has the potential to be visually striking, especially given its format. I’ll definitely be getting a copy for my personal library once it’s out.

Highly recommended for fans of classic horror, epistolary storytelling, and anyone who prefers their vampires terrifying...

I received a digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A must read for lovers of all things Vampires!

I wasn't sure what to expect upon starting this read and I was pleasantly surprised by the stories included and the manor in which it was put together. You will be reading what are a collection of letters and journal entries from vampires hunters, over the course of history. As an ebook this was an enjoyable and creepy read, if made available as a physical hardcopy It can only be better with so many opportunities to include tangible items. The ebook will have to do for now

The stories will make your skin crawl and make you turn around at the slightest bit of noise. It's not for the faint of heart, and certainly not for the littles in out lives as this can be quite a scary read for some. The authors included in this collection come from all walks of life and are all equally talented in their tales. It was a joy too read through these and I couldn't put it down! This will certainly be a book I return too during the autumn time.

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley and I am leaving my honest review.