Character Clues
Character Analysis
Actions
When it comes to vamps, sometimes you just have to judge them according to how they act. This is especially true for characters that are blooded, a.k.a. have encountered human blood and responded to the temptation.
Bridget, for instance, used to be a nun before she was infected. Apparently, in the face of fresh human blood, she "was able to control herself owing to a very strong religious faith; she was accustomed to fighting what she called 'the devil's snares'" (8.61). From hearing about how Bridget reacted, we understand that she has beliefs that are important to her and that she's strong-willed. This is one nun not to be trifled with.
Family Life
Family is as family does. Nina and her mom support each other, even though it's tough on both of them. As Nina reflects: "And to give Mum her due, she's always stuck by me. She might treat me as if I'm still fifteen, and b**** about everything I wear, and give me haircuts that make me look like Judith Durham from the Seekers, but at least she's stuck by me" (5.36). And at least Nina recognizes it.
Contrast this with other characters, who either have no family to support them, or who are actively antagonistic with their family members—for instance, think of the relationship between the McKinnons. Inasmuch as Nina and her mom's openness to each other demonstrates an open-mindedness inside each of them, the harshness with which we see other family members interact clues us into callousness inside them, too.
Direct Characterization
Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade. Or in this case, a vamp a vamp. One example of this is when Nina talks about Sanford, saying "He might be a humorless, opinionated know-it-all, but there isn't a vampire in Australia who wouldn't have been worse off without him" (3.9). Does she like the guy? Nope. Is he pretty freaking useful, though? Absolutely.
On the flip side, Nina doesn't hesitate to pile on the praise when describing Dave, her crush: "Dave's so tolerant and mature. And sensible. And safety-conscious" (2.13). Yep, it's pretty obvious how highly she thinks of him based on how she characterizes him—nothing's sexier than safety-consciousness, after all.