Need

Gregory (mystery author Greg Herren) expands his novella “Blood on the Moon,” assembling the elements for a techno-fueled, sex-drenched, urban vampire tale that falls disappointingly short of its potential. Newly made vampire Cord Logan, abandoned by his maker and driven by lust and hunger, embarks on a run of erotic misadventures through New Orleans and Miami, setting in motion a showdown between the council of vampires and a scheming coven of witches who use vampire blood to enhance their powers. The story never evolves beyond a series of wordy conversations leading to lengthy bouts of bog-standard gay sex that never even tries to capture the mysterious allure of vampirism. Avoidable errors and clunky expository physical descriptions further mar the narrative, and Cord is a whiny, judgmental, shallow playboy whose emotional outpourings are irritating rather than affecting. (Nov.)