Suckage

Review
Suckage is a smart, snappy, tale set in present-day Chicago. Nate Sharp, suffering from a recent heartbreak, has a chance encounter with centuries-old vampire Iris Augenblick and becomes sucked in (sorry!) to her world.
He's enthralled at first and happy to play the loyal minion, using his considerable charms to lure prey for his mistress. Eventually, though, he tires of being Iris' boy toy and feels remorse for the atrocities he's helped commit. He decides it's time to reclaim his humanity. But how do you break free from the undead?
This story had me riveted from the very beginning, and I could not put it down. It's fast-paced and filled with engaging characters you won't forget anytime soon. I really enjoyed the modern spin on classic vampire lore.
Of course, it wouldn't be a vampire story without some bloodshed, but gore is not the point. There is plenty of humor and humanity mixed in with the monsters, and at its heart is a tortured romance. It's definitely not just for horror fans!
~Jill, Goodreads review
I have been following Mr. Neal's writing for the last few years and with each new story he just keeps getting better!
Suckage is great read. It is told from the standpoint of a minion of a vampire. A "Renfield-type" for example. But this is no Renfield.
This is a modern telling and one that I just could not put down. As I was reading it, I kept thinking that this would make a great film.
Each of the characters has a fully fleshed out backstory that I would be interested in reading more of.
I see this as a possible stepping stone into a whole collection of Suckage stories.
If you are looking for something really fun to read, a little scary and something really well written and realized, then get yourself a copy of Suckage. I can't wait to see what comes next from Mr. Neal.
This is my favorite Neal story yet!
~Scott, Goodreads review
Vampires suck. Nobody knows this better than Nathan Sharp, the latest minion of Iris Augenblick, a Venetian vampiress who has been roaming the world in a centuries-old game of cat-and-mouse with her ancient Russian maker, Alexei, before finally settling in Chicago.
Crossing fateful paths with Iris one night, Nate thought he’d found paradise, only to eventually see the bloody reality behind the nightlife of his undead mistress, and the cold brutality of vampire politics. The only thing worse than being a vampire’s victim is being their minion. And if you think serving one is hard, try leaving one behind and living to tell the tale.
Part minion’s memoir, part fractured love story, part critique of vampirism itself, “Suckage” escorts you through the moonlit streets of Chicago and into the very darkest corners of the human spirit with audacious wit, horror, and humor.
From the Author
I wrote this one as a reaction to the "sparkly" vampires of the time, to try to get back to the core monstrosity of vampirism, and also to explore the emotional pain and peril of being captive to a vampiric personality. It's like a vampire slayer's origin story, a minion's memoir, and a parable of emotional abuse (and dealing with a narcissist). It's an intimate story, and I feel it adds to the rich history of vampire fiction.