Frank is tasked to take Rufus's story as he recalls fading memories about his life before he claimed Rufus's name. The story delves into Frank's character long before Rufus talks about his past. The book soon switches to Rufus's point of view through Frank's writing, introducing readers to the 1800s and the consequences of being a vampire in a human world.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ( )

Frank is tasked to take Rufus's story as he recalls fading memories about his life before he claimed Rufus's name. The story delves into Frank's character long before Rufus talks about his past. The book soon switches to Rufus's point of view through Frank's writing, introducing readers to the 1800s and the consequences of being a vampire in a human world.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ( )

British novelist Eli Wilde is also known by his pseudonym Zangu Poet, and is renowned for his gripping psychological horror tales. His bibliography includes titles like the Strangers in Paradise series, and now he introduces us to a fresh series - Rufus Hobster with My Unbeating Heart.
From the very first lines of this novel, Wilde laid a captivating groundwork with his portrayal of the undead. Such a vivid introduction set the stage for an interesting vampire novel. Wilde's unique storytelling ability creates an atmosphere that engulfs readers, making them part of his eerie yet enthralling world. With his works, I think he is steadily growing to the literary heights occupied by legends like Edgar Allen Poe, Anne Rice, HP Lovecraft, and Stephen King. Eli Wilde is undoubtedly a rising star in the horror genre. An absolute must-read for fans of these type of books. I’ll be looking out for all future releases. ( )

‘A human should never fall in love with a vampire’ - A fascinating novel!

UK author Eli Wilde, aka Zangu Poet, writes contemporary psychological horror fiction. His books to date include the series Strangers in Paradise (CRUEL, FOUR DAYS, NEOPHYTE), THE SWEET SCENT OF LIVER, TWO LUMPS OF SUGAR FOR MR ANXIETY, LA PETITE MORT, ORCHARD OF SKELETONS and now he opens a new series - Rufus Hobster with MY UNBEATING HEART.

Wilde magnetizes attention for this novel about the undead in the opening paragraph: ‘I’m not sure why Rufus chose me, or how he knew I was a writer. When we first met, I was not a writer, I saw him when I was drinking with my wife, Angie, in Voodoo Café in my hometown, Darlington. For all I know, he had been watching me for hours, days, or even weeks. Maybe that was the first time he ever saw me. He was alone’ standing at the other end of the bar with his head cocked to one side, staring directly at me. As soon as I saw him, there was nothing else of interest in the crowded bar, only Rufus…As quickly as he became known to me, he was gone…All that remained of him was his empty shot glass. A red line trailed down the inside of the glass. It looked like blood…’ With that near visual scene the concept (and intro) to a bristling vampire story begins, condensed by Wilde: ‘Like a shade, I walked in silence unseen by anyone. Until I needed to feed. Rufus Hobster is not my real name. It did not become my name until I saw it chiseled in a gravestone one moonlit night and claimed it as my own. It was not until I found a name I realised I had once been a man. From that night onwards, I endeavoured to become more human. London in the 1800’s taught me what it meant to be mortal. Made me understand why a human should never fall in love with a vampire.’

Eli Wilde writes with an inimitable penchant for establishing a mood that pulls the reader into his very strange, but fascinating, stories, here mastering that fine line between paranormal and normal (whatever 'normal' is!). He is joining the ranks of Edgar Allen Poe, Anne Rice, HP Lovecraft, Stephen King, et al. This is an author to watch closely. Very highly recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book ( )

First, can we talk about that amazing cover? If I saw this in the store, I’d grab the book just based on that. I really enjoyed reading this, a vampire with no clear memory of who he was before or how he came to be a vampire, trying to uncover the mystery of his past while sharing what he does remember. Rufus and Frank make quite the duo - Frank an unhappy (hu)man, and Rufus the vampire who wants to remember and become more human. Wilde does an amazing job of bringing the historical setting to life, and making the characters feel very real. I easily got lost in the pages of this book, and it’s easy to say I’m hooked, and I want to know more about Rufus’s (after?) life! ( )