Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste

11 reviews

amandadelbrocco's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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

3.5

This was just a fun story that intertwined the stories of Dracula and Jane Eyre. I really liked the 60s setting and all the nods to the original books

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Blood and Confinement

thegayestghost's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Death, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Abandonment, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Ferociously feminist and utterly unputdownable — I literally ATE THIS UP! 

Exploring the brutal (and emotionally manipulative) nature of toxic relationships, Kiste’s beautifully complex reimagining of the lives of two misunderstood (and often overlooked) characters from Jane Eyre and Dracula was phenomenal —and really had me looking at Rochester and Dracula in a newer (harsher and far more judgemental) light. 

Bertha “Bee” Mason (Rochester’s attic bound first wife often dubbed “the madwoman in the attic”) and Lucy Westenra (the first of Dracula’s English victims and best friend to the much more well known Mina Harker) are always a bit of an afterthought when it comes to retellings and adaptations. So I was really intrigued to see a book told from their perspectives, and I can tell you now it definitely didn’t disappoint! 

Set in 1960 California, we delve into the friendship of two morally grey (and emotionally complex) women and the lives they have ultimately made for themselves—after escaping the abusive men made famous by Bram Stoker and Charlotte Brontë. 

I loved the descriptive setting and modern gothic tone with its sunny, California backdrop and Hippie aesthetics, along with the cloying and pervading spread of decay that perfectly capture an unsettling feeling of dread that doesn’t really let up until that phenomenally explosive ending. 

It did give off American Horror Story vibes, especially in the Manson-esque, cult-like adoration we see for Rochester and Dracula. But it was Lucy and Bee’s reaction to their abuser’s newest victims that I enjoyed the most. Seeing them spurred into action, regaining their own agency and taking back power from the men ruined their lives was soo satisfying.

If you love feminist stories of revenge and overcoming adversity, misogyny or oppression then I highly recommend checking out this fast paced, thoroughly addictive horror. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Confinement, Blood, and Sexual violence

Minor: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, and Racism

florecita_lectora's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense slow-paced

• 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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, and Misogyny

Moderate: Stalking, Confinement, Sexual violence, and Body horror

linddykal's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

vixenreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A mixed bag of a novel, with great suspense and worth-building while suffering from trying to rely on the original texts in order to fill in characterizations and relationship dynamics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Misogyny, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cursing, Stalking, Confinement, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Infidelity

Minor: Animal cruelty, Medical content, and Sexual content

Beware of violence against women, mentions of mold and decay, vicious wild wolves, and deterioration of property.

claire_elizabeast's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Confinement and Racism

angreadseverything's review

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I liked it, but

wish it went into more detail about Lucy and Bee's past. Especially since Lucy keeps saying how the books and movies don't accurately portray how their life was. The beginning was also a little slow, but it definitely picked up towards the end. I liked how Kiste drew parallels to the victims in horror and how they (especially women) are often a footnote in the main story of the killer/antagonist. The ending where Lucy, Bee, and Mina set all of Dracula and Rochester's victims free in the afterlife was really interesting as well. I would definitely want to see a sequel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Violence, and Confinement

caidyn's review against another edition

funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was a fun read! Very imaginative with bringing side characters from famous books into the spotlight.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Gaslighting

grimdark_dad's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Gaslighting, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Fire/Fire injury