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iamsammie27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Medical trauma, Violence, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
Minor: Death and Death of parent
ecn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Also, the pacing felt so choppy and like I was missing something and this became especially apparent whenever new characters were introduced.
Lastly, the ending was the most anticlimactic thing I’ve ever read? I kept seeing how little was left of the story and thought SURELY things must start getting crazy soon? But they never did and the story didn’t end on… any note. It just kind of ended.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Sexual harassment, Grief, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, and Gun violence
takarakei's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall there was not enough character depth or development, and by the ending I rather feel like nothing had changed? meaning the story was kind of pointless?
I've read a few books by this author and none of them quite hit the mark.
2.5/5🌶️
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Medical trauma, Drug use, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexual content
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The rapport between Domingo and Atl is excellently-written, driven by Domingo's adoration of Atl, and Atl's need for Domingo's help but distaste for feeling weak. Atl is using up every one of her mother's contacts along the way, relying on wisps of goodwill and loyalty from humans and vampires who assumed their obligations died long before Atl's mother did. This results in a tangle of one-off and repeating characters as Atl and Domingo navigate this loose network of contacts, just trying to get out of the city alive.
The worldbuilding is immersive, built through stories, buildings, and how the characters move through this alternate version of Mexico City where not only are vampires real but there are several kinds of them. Some (like Atl) are Tlahuihpochtli descended from Aztec blood drinker temple priestesses, but human colonization and the encroachment of other vampires, like Necros and Revenants, have made things more complicated for recent generations. Several decades ago humans found out vampires are real, and many places promptly tried to legislate them out of existence. Mexico City is one such "vampire free" zone, a situation which causes problems for Atl.
The plot is a web of pursuers and pursued, beginning in earnest when one of Atl's pursuers gets sloppy and the police find a dead human. It's a dance of obsession, violence, and death, as Atl tries to use Domingo without him spooking, while Domingo finds himself falling in love with her and not minding being used.
I loved every minute, and am extremely happy with the ending. Don't miss this one.
Graphic: Cursing, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death, Misogyny, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Vomit, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, Cannibalism, Bullying, Police brutality, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Ableism, Xenophobia, Sexism, Alcohol, Torture, Murder, and Child death
Minor: Excrement, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, and Sexual harassment
marareading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a brutal and bloody story. It is so well written. I really enjoyed it. Noir is not usually something I reach for, but I can never resist a vampire story. Definitely recommend if you like crime stories or vampires.
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Torture, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Mass/school shootings, Police brutality, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, War, Drug abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
baytamax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Medical trauma, Cannibalism, Gun violence, Gore, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Slavery, and Torture
macknificent's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, and Suicide
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Animal cruelty, and Drug use
ruthlessreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Violence, War, Torture, Grief, and Body horror
Minor: Sexual content
aardwyrm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Vomit, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexism, Police brutality, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, Death of parent, Death, Blood, and Animal cruelty
cantfindmybookmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore and Medical trauma