I Want to Bite by Isaya Takamori
Title: I Want to Bite
Author: Isaya Takamori
Illustrator: Chigusa Kawai
English Publisher: DokiDoki
Original Publisher: Shinshokan Co., LTD
ISBN: 978-1-56970-168-3
Translator: Eugene Woodbury
Available At: Akadot Retail
Summary from back of book
Isaac is a full-time college student and part-time nocturnal hunter...of vampires.
A contractor for the Helsing Group, Isaac's passion for his work is fueled by the tragedy in his past - as vampires had killed his family eight years ago.
Now the Helsing Group wants Isaac to go after the deadliest vampire sire of them all - Jado. But there's a catch. A comely and very male vampire, Tristan, who has the hots for Isaac, has volunteered his services to help Isaac take down Jado. What secret is Tristan hiding? And can Isaac withstand the onslaught of Tristan's desire for his body...and blood?
Come enter Isaya Takamori's world of sexy vampires and even sexier vampire hunters! Illustrated by Chigusa Kawai.
My Thoughts
Hm, well, to be honest, I wasn't sure what to think when I first came across this book. I was browsing Akadot Retail as I usually did on Monday and found it listed under the "New Items" category. Before that, I had never even heard of this title. Even so, curiosity got the better of me and I added it to my cart. Within a week, it was in my hands.
I like this novel for the fact that the dialogue read more smoothly and realistic than the other novels I've read thus far. Or, I suppose it could be that because this novel was set in Europe somewhere (wherever it is that the Helsing Group originates from) that they actually included swear words in the dialogue. I was kinda shocked, but happy nonetheless. It's also probably one of the best edited books in terms of grammatical errors (I don't recall any significant errors anyway).
The story focuses on Isaac, basically, the sole (semi-loyal) vampire hunter of the Helsing Group. He's a full-time college student and part-time vampire hunter, although with the way the book went, you'd think it's the other way around. Then again, it is a novel about vampires and vampire hunters rather than college students.
Anyway, Isaac carries quite a strong dislike for vampires, seeing as his entire family was murdered by one while he was at camp with the rest of his class. He's rather quick tempered, foul mouthed and distrustful of all things not fully human.
Then there's Tristan, your near opposite of a typical vampire. On his first night of having met Isaac, he forces a blowjob on the poor vampire hunter. He also dislikes sucking blood, so he gets his energy via (mostly oral) sex instead. He's mostly cheerful and carefree, but mysterious as well. And for reasons unknown to Isaac, he goes above the distraught vampire hunter's head, to the leaders of the Helsing Group, to make sure he remains by Isaac's side. His mission? To get Isaac to kill his sire, Jado.
As their feelings for one another deepen with each passing day, Isaac begins to question his growing need for vengeance against the vampire who killed his family, to which Tristan had taken the claim, and his mission to kill Jado, which result in Tristan's death as well. Before Isaac has the time to fully decide what to do though, Tristan gets kidnapped by a fellow underling of Jado's and it's up to Isaac to find and save him before Jado fully reawakens.
After having finished reading this novel, I was left kind of amused but disappointed at the same time. I liked the portrayal of Tristan. He wasn't really your typical vampire, but he definitely let his sexy allure work to his advantage. I also loved that he loved to get on Isaac's nerves and did things to specifically irritate him. Isaac was slightly harder for me to really come to like but he wasn't a bad character either.
My biggest peeve about this novel was the ending. I was rather disappointed with their battle against Jado and how Isaac kept Tristan alive even after having killed his sire. Isaac only has a few years worth of experience under his belt as a vampire hunter and has never really experienced a battle against a direct descendant (aside from his various bouts against Tristan when he was angry) but somehow or another, after a slight struggle, he managed to kill a sire. I consider it somewhat effortless, but he did end up with quite a bit of damage. I suppose I was also looking for more of a struggle, seeing as Jado was supposed to be one of the deadliest vampire sires with the largest family (that is, before Tristan went and started killing them off).
Well, it was a happy ending, so most of you would probably love it, but seeing as I love my angst, I was definitely hoping for one of the two characters to be dead by the end. When that didn't happen, I just kinda went, "Aw man!" But, through and through, it was a pretty good read.
Story Snippet
Chapter One: The Fearless Vampire Killer; Pages 36-37
When Isaac stepped outside, the sky visible between the spires of the skyscrapers was growing dark. The streetlights were coming on, along with the headlamps of the cars along the motorways. He had to get something to eat first. He stopped by an affordable place he frequented and ordered the Salisbury steak with garlic sauce.
He grabbed the evening edition off the rack. As was his habit, he checked the police blotter first. He sensed somebody taking the seat opposite. When he looked up, across the table from him was the vampire from the night before.
Isaac jumped to his feet, smacking his knee against the bottom of the table. He let out a yelp.
"You okay?"
The kid wasn't laughing. He really looked concerned. Isaac automatically reached for his gun, only to remember he wasn't packing heat. The Helsing Group didn't let hunters carry off duty.
Instead, he grabbed for his ultraviolet penlight and flicked it on. The kid waved his hand back and forth in front of his face, as if batting away an annoying fly. "Pointing that thing in your eye isn't healthy for humans either."
"Doesn't it bother you?"
"Fortunately, no."
The kid grinned. He seemed in a more sober mood than the night before. Though he was wearing the same black gothic outfit. More than a real vampire, he came across as one of those wannabe vampire freaks. The silver-gray hair didn't look that out of place either.
Wait, what the hell am I thinking shit like this for? Issac swore to himself. He didn't have time to think up an answer.
The all-too-laidback waitress appeared, snapped her gum and said, "Ready to order?"
"I'll have coffee," the kid said courteously.
The waitress started a bit, and blinked several times. Lowering her voice, she said, "Frankly, the coffee in this place is about as good as drinking out of a urinal."
"Ah. Well, in that case, a ginger ale."
The waitress smiled and returned to the galley.
"She never siad that to me."
"What?"
"That the coffee here's no better than piss."
Illustration Samples
