ABOUT
Hello there.
I’m Melaina Blanc, artist starving in jungles, urban and otherwise.
Meet me in Manhattan, down by the abandoned hospital.
There’s a vampire fight about to go down.
Someone’s going to die.
✶✞
When righteous daydreamer Jared Stern chances upon the vampire Keen’s murderous meal, he’s thrust into a battle against a creature that keeps his secrets close. Stakes are raised as he takes up vampire hunting, and Jared quickly finds himself in up to his neck with their game of cat and mouse spiraling across the city.
But there’s more to this charismatic monster than meets the eye, and Keen, not easily deterred, takes an interest of his own in his would-be slayer. As he starts to reveal a human face, driving a stake through skin and bone proves harder than it looks in the movies.
Can Jared stop a killer without becoming one himself? Is there any way to get through to a monster, or are some divides not meant to be bridged?
Climb to the heights of New York City’s skyscrapers and plunge to the sewers’ dankest depths in a lively horror story with a deadpan penchant for puns.
This is Star–Cross, Book I: Keen’s Turn.
Podcast FAQ
What is this?
It’s a spirited reading of a vampire novel. Keen’s Turn can be listened to from the comfort of your own web browser, no signup required, on Spotify or most wherever podcasts are found.
Click on one of the buttons or links on the homepage to be taken to a lovely platform with lots of play buttons, and find the one next to “Welcome to Keen’s Turn” to get started. It’s not too hard, I promise.
If you’d prefer reading, you can find transcripts free on Wattpad.
Is this for me?
This story identifies as urban-fantasy action-horror with light and dark humor, violence, profanity, and adult themes. It does not identify as mystery, historical fiction, comedy, tragedy, romance, swashbuckler, or space opera, though it may contain trace amounts of these substances.
If you like some combination of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Fright Night (original or remake), Penny Dreadful, Supernatural, Good Omens, Airplane!, Constantine, Sherlock, True Blood, or vampire fiction in general, you may like this show. But really, there’s nothing quite like Keen’s Turn, which is why I’m having to write it.
And if you’re jumping on this carnival ride, fair warning—you’d best have the stomach for some offal puns.
Is this for kids?
No? How kids are we talking? See above. But I hear the kids are watching American Horror Story these days, so what do I know.
