Review of Blood Drunk by Ben Shepherd

Vampires and magic are the supernatural forces at play, working hard to manipulate young Freddie’s life. It’s already been upended, the rug pulled out from beneath him, but that’s barely the start.

Freddie is initiated into a world where the stakes are bigger than he could ever have imagined, and bigger than he can likely handle. With rules he can’t yet understand and people playing him like a chess piece, Freddie finds himself slipping further and further away from himself and his family. And things go from bad to worse when he has to start looking out for himself.

This book is dark and gritty, filled to the brim with the tangible grime of London and the shady goings on in back alleys and abandoned buildings. I lived through the years with Freddie, feeling for him and willing him to do better. A masterclass in dislikeable characters and manipulation.

Published on 24.09.2026 by Tor

Reviewed by Rebecca