Review by Frank Plowright

A Bite of Pepper introduces the idea of vampires living peacefully alongside humans. They retain their traditions, which aren’t all Bram Stoker’s Dracula would have you believe, and aren’t dependent on human blood, although it does play a part in their coming of age ceremonies. This is a willing process, though, as there’s hardly a shortage of humans keen to sacrifice much to be perpetually in their twenties.

Pepper is an unconventional vampire. She doesn’t like drinking her B+ blood substitute, isn’t keen on her impending step into full immortality, and she loves skateboarding. She’s drawn to fellow loner Ana, a human waitress working at a vampire gala, and they depart together. Ana’s a talented artist, and it doesn’t take long for Pepper’s business-minded brother Jeb to recognise an opportunity.

Balazs Lorinczi develops the cast well, as readers understand their personalities and can see both viewpoints when disagreements develop. Both main characters feel trapped, Ana in a life that’s going nowhere, and Pepper pressured by her mother constantly mentioning it’s time Pepper committed to her vampire heritage. The understanding is enhanced by stylish and emotionally strong cartooning. The focus is on the characters, but they’re well designed and expressive enough to counter background detail being minimal.

A Bite of Pepper is a very different coming of age story, despite sadness and pressure a generally cheerful book. Treating vampires as people rather than sinister threats is a nice touch, as is the way relationships remain ambiguous. If there’s a message it’s to cherish people for who they are rather than what you may want them to be. Very readable.