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FULL REVIEW: Viktor is just starting seventh grade in his small town, Nowhere, and he’s a little worried about being left behind when his best and only friend, Damon, starts hanging out with other kids from school. But Viktor’s in luck when a new girl, Alys, moves in across the street, and what begins as a crush on her soon turns into a friendship. That pleasant development, however, is marred by some really weird things happening at home: Viktor’s dad comes home with blood on his mouth and clothes, and Viktor later sees him having a secret meeting in a cemetery. Victor suspects his dad might be a vampire, but he’s unsure if reading Dracula for a class assignment or his continuous playing of vampire video games might be clouding his judgment. He makes it his mission to figure out what his dad’s up to, and unfortunately, it turns out his father isn’t the only person with secrets. From scheming with friends new and old, finding trustworthy adults, and working through friendship hiccups, Viktor learns that quality over quantity applies to relationships and that cultivating and maintaining connections involves all parties putting in effort. Classic horror elements abound, and the stakes feel high even with a fairly idyllic setting and most of the spookiness saved until the end. While the story tends toward being overly descriptive, and the lessons are a tad didactic, burgeoning horror fans and those looking for a scare with just a little bite will find this the perfect read for the Halloween season.