Summary:
Some people are born boring. Some live boring. Some even die boring. Fred managed to do all three, and when he woke up as a vampire, he did so as a boring one. Timid, socially awkward, and plagued by self-esteem issues, Fred has never been the adventurous sort.
One fateful night – different from the night he died, which was more inconvenient than fateful – Fred reconnects with an old friend at his high school reunion. This rekindled relationship sets off a chain of events thrusting him right into the chaos that is the parahuman world, a world with chipper zombies, truck driver wereponies, maniacal necromancers, ancient dragons, and now one undead accountant trying his best to “survive.” Because even after it’s over, life can still be a downright bloody mess.
Thoughts:
This book! It’s hilarious!
Despite the title–which I love, by the way, as it sets the mood right away for what you’re in for with this book–Fred does encounter some adventures in these pages. Mostly thanks to other people, he keeps getting involved in various dangerous scenarios involving other parahumans. This book is like…an urban fantasy except the hero is the exact opposite of every urban fantasy hero. He’s just a dude living his un-life running his accounting business and generally ‘living’ a very boring but mostly satisfying existence wearing fake glasses–he no longer needs them but is used to wearing them–and sweater vests.
Let’s talk about Fred for a moment. Fred is a delight. The way his character tells the story is funny and sometimes filled with asides, which I love. I think the best part is that he’s not necessarily trying to be funny, he just is because he’s such the antithesis of what you’d think of when you imagine a vampire. Sometimes he does make a joke but they’re usually of the ‘dad’ variety. Fred is such a fun narrator that I would have been happy reading a book of Fred just running his business and drinking wine and talking about his every day life–I’m sure it would have been filled with charm. But, I’m glad we got to see him having some excitement now and then too. Ultimately, I like Fred because he’s a good person trying to do the right thing and I love stories with main characters like this. Most of the time he’s just running his business and living his very low key existence but once in a while he’s faced with something that calls for a decision and he will always stick up for others and try to make the right call, even sometimes leaping into the fray without thinking or tamping down his natural instinct to run away–this is because it’s ingrained in him to be a good person. Fred, you’re the best. ❤
Throughout the book we’re introduced to some other characters as well and before you know it Fred’s world has expanded quite a bit. This does have kind of a ‘found family’ thing going on as we meet other characters and they become part of Fred’s ‘gang’. I don’t want to say too much about any of them because I don’t want to spoil things, but I will say that they’re each fun in their own way and good friends to have around.
One other thing I liked about this book is the structure of it. There are a bunch of little story arcs, almost like episodes. It’s a series of shorts strung together but they all work well as a single narrative when put together since the next ‘episode’ begins pretty much where the previous leaves off–it’s almost like watching a television series. This made for easy reading because you could read a single arc in a sitting pretty fast and have a beginning, middle, and ending to the narrative.
Overall, this book was filled with humor and heart and I loved every minute of reading it. Very much looking forward to reading more of Fred’s non-adventures. 5/5 stars.
Way Too Fantasy 
I meant to read Fred for bingo, but he got bumped off cause other books had unexpected vampires. I didn’t realize he was a good guy too, this book sounds like everything I love. Can we have an accountant square next year?
Hah, well…..the card is already made but it should work for one of the squares. 🙂
Definitely recommend this series, it’s a lot of fun.
Oh my! I was expecting your review, and now I know it! I have to read this book! It won’t be soon, sadly, because my TBR is trying to swallow me whole, and I am trying to read some sequels right now, but I am soooo looking forward to this one!
It’s so much fun! I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did!
Whoa! This one sounds really interesting and I’m glad that you liked it! I’m glad I got to know about this book because I’m definitely checking it out.
It’s a lot of fun! I had never heard of it until one of my friends read it.
This sounds like something I would really enjoy. I must go and look it up.
Thanks
Lynn 😀
It’s really fun, I had a blast with it.
This sounds like fun. Plus a vampire in sweater vests. That picture is going to stay in my head all day🤣
It’s super fun! Definitely recommend this one, plenty of laughs.
Now you have me intrigued! I should check this out!
It’s really fun!
This book sounds absolutely hilarious!! I’m glad you enjoyed💜
It’s really funny! Thanks!
This sounds like something I’d enjoy. On the TBR it goes! 😀
It’s really fun, I’m definitely going to read the next one.
Usually I enjoy reading about “nasty” vampires, but this Fred sounds like the kind of exception I would love to know more about. I’m still laughing at the sentence “boring vampire”… 😀
Thanks for sharing!
It is SUCH a fun book, I really had a good time reading it. There are definitely other nasty supernaturals they encounter. Fred is hilarious though.
Great review!! Though, I would be sold on this from the title and cover alone lol
Thanks! Me too, a friend told me about it and I was sold by the title lol. It was so much fun! Definitely worth checking out.
I’m glad you liked this one! Its on my TBR 😀 Have you read Second Hand Curses by Drew Hayes? Its one of my favorite audiobooks 😀
I haven’t! But after reading this I definitely need to check out more of their work.
Ok, you’ve sold me on this. I def gotta read it. Adding it to my TBR. I think I’d like it too.
Haha, awesome. Hope you enjoy it! I’m definitely going to read more of the series.