Publishers Weekly
04/24/2023
Vampires are given a brutal yet refreshing update in this addictive outing from Kerin (The Phantom Forest) that’s equal parts horror thriller and bildungsroman. The narration jumps between past and present: in 2010, fifth grader Mia’s mother, Izzy, catches a vampiric condition from her emotionally manipulative boyfriend, Devon. Forced into a caregiving role, Mia learns the ins and outs of her mother’s condition and that keeping it quiet means keeping others at arm’s length. In the present, 20-something Mia dreams of escaping their codependent dynamic and beginning a relationship with a beautiful barista named Jade—until Devon reappears and threatens to destroy the fragile life Mia’s spent more than a decade building. Kerin’s prose is razor-sharp, and the fraught mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the novel is devastatingly rendered. It’s a fast-paced story with rich, complex characters, making the cliffhanger ending especially frustrating—but only because readers will be desperate to see how all the blood comes out in the wash. Vampire fans looking for a fresh take on the monsters should snap this up. (June.)
From the Publisher
Complex and fully realized, Kerin’s vampire apocalypse has a palpable beating heart. You'll want to physically shield the world-weary heroine, Mia, from the horrors within.”
—Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six
“Night’s Edge is heart-wrenching and magnificent. Kerin’s take on the world of vampires overflows with raw sincerity.”
—Chuck Tingle, bestselling author of Camp Damascus
“Fascinating. A powerful, thoughtful, and all-too-real take on vampires that will ring true for abuse survivors and have everyone else jumping at shadows.”
—Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author of The Violence
“This vampire story from Kerin will sink its teeth into readers’ hearts.”
—Library Journal (STARRED review)
“Night’s Edge delivers all the vampiric thrills you could wish for. This book will captivate you, break your heart, and sing to you like an impossibly personal tribute.”
—Nat Cassidy, author of Mary: An Awakening of Terror
"Night's Edge is a 'vampire next door' story that feels achingly human, set in a world both strangely alien and frighteningly familiar. So realistic you’ll swear it happened to someone you know.”
—Scott Thomas, author of Kill Creek
“A harrowing, electric, and wholly original take on vampires and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. Night’s Edge is a gruesome and surprisingly heartfelt page-turner.”
—Alexis Henderson, author of House of Hunger
“A heartbreaking story…. It grabbed me from the first page and held me tight until the end, leaving me breathless and fighting tears.”
—Damien Angelica Walters, author of The Dead Girls Club and Cry Your Way Home
“Kerin's engrossing and haunting Night’s Edge is a masterful new take on vampire mythology...Kerin’s skill cannot be overemphasized.”
—BookPage, STARRED review
“Kerin’s complex and nuanced novel is immersive, bleak, and twisted. An emotional gauntlet which I really enjoyed.”
—Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters
“Vampires are given a brutal yet refreshing update in this addictive outing...Kerin’s prose is razor-sharp, and the fraught mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the novel is devastatingly rendered.”
—Publishers Weekly
"Incredible world building. A fresh and utterly engaging take on what it means to love a vampire, when the predator in question is your mother. Brilliant. I really loved it!"
—S.A. Barnes, author of Dead Silence
“Night’s Edge is about vampires, yes. But it’s also about the kind of love we have for our mothers that pulls us apart, that makes us who we are, and the way in which we have to find our own path eventually, no matter how difficult—and potentially beautiful—that path might be. This one’s a killer.”
—Erika T. Wurth, author of White Horse
“A morally gray and timely story that is bursting with Sookie Stackhouse vibes but will also appeal to fans of Catriona Ward and Zoje Stage.”
—Booklist
"Kerin does not permit the obvious horror tropes to eclipse the themes of the novel she's writing. It's a terrific work."
—Nightmare Magazine
“Nuanced, dark, fun. Kerin’s novel is a thrilling exploration of the enmeshed mother-daughter relationship and what happens when we outgrow our family.”
—Leslye Headland, co-creator of Russian Doll
"Perfect for readers looking for that emotional element in apocalyptic fiction. Characters you can easily invest in. Subtle moments of romance. Elements of a vampire cult. And a female protagonist you can root for.”
—Sadie Hartmann, author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered
“I read Night's Edge in two days and I’m jealous of anyone picking it up for the first time. Beware your heart; this book will make it race, make it stop, and ultimately break it to pieces.”
—Jac Schaeffer, creator of WandaVision
Library Journal
★ 05/01/2023
For years, it's been just Mia and her mother Izzy, whose disease means avoiding both sunlight and regular food. Adult Mia still lives with her mother and even lets Izzy feed from her. Mia still loves her mother, but she starts to want more out of life. Mia also knows what her mother could do if she were angry or hungry. Like many modern takes on vampires, Kerin's novel depicts vampirism as a medical disease, and the dynamic between Izzy and Mia powers the book's tension and tenderness. The novel cleverly jumps back and forth between Izzy first becoming infected while Mia is a child and the modern day, where an adult Mia must keep her mother's condition hidden from those who'd lock her away. Izzy's moments of love for her daughter are beautifully juxtaposed with behavior that terrifies Mia, particularly as both mother and daughter start keeping secrets from one another. Devising an emotional trap forged with equal parts love and fear, Kerin finely plays with readers' expectations. VERDICT This vampire story from Kerin (The Phantom Forest) will sink its teeth into readers' hearts.—James Gardner
