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mdobel's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mfrisk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The concept of this book in theory sounded amazing - a queer horror book set on a tour with a succubi band and with a merch girl who is a lesbian succubi.
I think where it fell flat were 1. The plot very quickly became repetitive. 2. There was very little character development and therefore the relationship between Ronnie and Helene didn’t feel earned. Ronnie’s connection to the band members also wasn’t built up enough to feel very believable.
I think this book could have done well to provide a bit more backstory and buildup explaining the succubi lore itself, gave us time to get to know Ronnie and the band more, and then maybe a dual perspective of Helene prior to meeting them. These changes could have helped tie the pieces together a bit more. Overall this book just felt depressing and the characters only at the end gained any self-awareness at all so because it took so long it fell flat.
I think where it fell flat were 1. The plot very quickly became repetitive. 2. There was very little character development and therefore the relationship between Ronnie and Helene didn’t feel earned. Ronnie’s connection to the band members also wasn’t built up enough to feel very believable.
I think this book could have done well to provide a bit more backstory and buildup explaining the succubi lore itself, gave us time to get to know Ronnie and the band more, and then maybe a dual perspective of Helene prior to meeting them. These changes could have helped tie the pieces together a bit more. Overall this book just felt depressing and the characters only at the end gained any self-awareness at all so because it took so long it fell flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gore, Murder, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
theliteraryhooker's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sapphic rock and roll succubus horror, what's not to like?? This book covers a lot of emotional ground and builds impressive depth to its relationships despite its short length. I really enjoyed reading about Ronnie and her boys, and I'm a sucker for any story with musicians at its centre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Lesbophobia
Minor: Vomit
ssummersknight's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
egumeny's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've read in a long while. Engaging from page one and difficult to put down.
ngallegos87's review against another edition
Are you a fan of rock n' roll and lesbian succubi? Then this novella is for you!
libraryraven's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review
4.0
A rock band. A merch girl. Starving Succubi.
One sitting. An enraptured reader.
Ronnie and her band of misfits. Life on the road can be lonely. She’s spent a life lonely, and she refuses to sleep alone anymore. When she meets the enigmatic band, she realises that they are everything she’s been searching for. They tour the pacific Midwest and their youthfulness and zest for life reminds Ronnie of a life gone by. She wants to tap into that once again, live carefree and they make her hungry for it. The only problem is that Ronnie is a Succubi, she’s hungry to feed and she wants these men around for the long term. How easy it would be to turn them…
McCarthy has created characters that are well developed and with enough layers that you just know that it’s going to keep you going through the winter. It’s exceedingly hard to develop characters worth caring about in a novella sized story but McCarthy has excelled where others fail. Oh, and that cover. Well, don’t ask me why but I got the Mystery INC feelings. I was totally here for it!
Ronnie was an enigma to me. When you think of Vampires or Succubi, what immediately springs to mind? Dark and devious creatures of the night? Blood sucking beings that don’t care about picking off victim after victim. Bram Stoker’s Dracula? This was different. Ronnie taught the boys self-control, not only because if they went too far and left corpses in their wake some hotshot detective might put two and two together and get four. They feed to sustain, and Ronnie has taught them to take the victim’s negative memories from them. She sees it as a kindness whilst sustaining their unnatural lives.
When Ronnie spots the mysterious Helene at one of the band’s shows, she knows right there and then that she’s different. Her aura shines throughout, and she knows she needs to make some kind of contact with her. Her eyes…it’s all in the eyes. Little does she know that the connection she feels is something akin to home. They know each other on a deeper level, there is probably no-one that knows the other better.
Unfortunately, when you create something so unnatural, an abomination, such is what the boys from the band have become, it is an uncontrollable variable. Ronnie doesn’t know how they will turn out and so far in the six years that they’ve been together as this new dynamic, things have been good. However, one member develops this really nasty wound at his navel that only gets worse. Is this a sign of things to come or is it simply a feeding session that went wrong?
bookbabe0614's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
inkychaotics's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sex, drugs, and Rock'n'Roll are a classic combo that meet a succubus twist in SLEEP ALONE. I loved this book. So much is packed into the novella, and I enjoyed watching each layer unfold as the plot developed. The main character, Ronnie, is interesting and flawed (which I love -- I don't want characters who never make mistakes); her restlessness jumps off the page and invites the reader to come along on a heartbreaking journey. McCarthy excels at creating such strong emotions and connections through her utterly gorgeous prose. Seductive and sad, SLEEP ALONE croons out a melody that readers can't resist.
J.A.W. McCarthy is an incredibly exciting voice in horror. I loved her short story collection (SOMETIMES WE'RE CRUEL and her novelette IMAGO EXPULSIO featured in Split Scream. I eagerly await her next works!
J.A.W. McCarthy is an incredibly exciting voice in horror. I loved her short story collection (SOMETIMES WE'RE CRUEL and her novelette IMAGO EXPULSIO featured in Split Scream. I eagerly await her next works!