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micahhortonhallett's review against another edition
4.0
A Highly original, elegantly and eloquently written piece of Australian horror. Jamieson's fascinating take on the vampire mythos is also a compelling insight into performative masculinity and the roll of violence in masculine hierarchies.
_b_a_l_'s review against another edition
4.0
A post-apocalyptic cult of sun-worshipping vampires from Australia. Hell yes!
And I can't get that ending out of my head...
"I once said there’s a poetry in us; in the eternity that is us. But I was wrong. Poetry is brevity, the sweet and sour ending of things. When time stretches entire before you, it’s stripped of urgency, and there is no poetry. Every crime, every mistake and hatred, is not released but clung to. Enough time passes, and all we are is our sins."
And I can't get that ending out of my head...
"I once said there’s a poetry in us; in the eternity that is us. But I was wrong. Poetry is brevity, the sweet and sour ending of things. When time stretches entire before you, it’s stripped of urgency, and there is no poetry. Every crime, every mistake and hatred, is not released but clung to. Enough time passes, and all we are is our sins."
your_fave_maeve's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
I almost didn't finish it, powered through, and frankly it wasn't worth it.
I think this book can mostly be summarized by lacking any coherent plot or world building. It consists of a lot of chapters that look like they're promising the start of the meat of the book, followed by the potential conflict being quashed or turned away from. Any time it seems like something is about to happen, the book tells us it isn't our concern and we're instead left with 300 pages of a kid doing chores and receiving corporal punishment.
There are a tons of cool places this could go- the world is fresh, there's live political conflict, and the Masters seem like fascist overlords who literally suck the blood from the humans they lord over. We're constantly told there's politicking, there's an entire world of monsters other than the vampires being hinted at, and yet none of it is shown to us. Or if it is, it's only for as little time as possible. It was pretty disappointing.
I think this book can mostly be summarized by lacking any coherent plot or world building. It consists of a lot of chapters that look like they're promising the start of the meat of the book, followed by the potential conflict being quashed or turned away from. Any time it seems like something is about to happen, the book tells us it isn't our concern and we're instead left with 300 pages of a kid doing chores and receiving corporal punishment.
There are a tons of cool places this could go- the world is fresh, there's live political conflict, and the Masters seem like fascist overlords who literally suck the blood from the humans they lord over. We're constantly told there's politicking, there's an entire world of monsters other than the vampires being hinted at, and yet none of it is shown to us. Or if it is, it's only for as little time as possible. It was pretty disappointing.
wdianasheppard's review against another edition
4.0
"Day Boy" is one of those genre-defiers that fits uneasily in any given category. Is it adult? Is it YA? Is it horror? Is it post-apocalyptic? Is it coming of age? The answer is: yes. All of these things.
The balancing between genres fits uneasily in this one; "Day Boy" is good at many of them, truly great at none. Still, what it brings to the table is truly unique: the relationship between vampires and humans is as complex as the relationship between Mark and his Master, Dain. This is less an action-oriented horror/fantasy and more speculative fiction; the writing is elegant, the plot slow. I'd recommend this one for anyone who wants a unique vampire tale focused on masculinity and coming of age.
The balancing between genres fits uneasily in this one; "Day Boy" is good at many of them, truly great at none. Still, what it brings to the table is truly unique: the relationship between vampires and humans is as complex as the relationship between Mark and his Master, Dain. This is less an action-oriented horror/fantasy and more speculative fiction; the writing is elegant, the plot slow. I'd recommend this one for anyone who wants a unique vampire tale focused on masculinity and coming of age.
wdianasheppard's review against another edition
4.0
"Day Boy" is one of those genre-defiers that fits uneasily in any given category. Is it adult? Is it YA? Is it horror? Is it post-apocalyptic? Is it coming of age? The answer is: yes. All of these things.
The balancing between genres fits uneasily in this one; "Day Boy" is good at many of them, truly great at none. Still, what it brings to the table is truly unique: the relationship between vampires and humans is as complex as the relationship between Mark and his Master, Dain. This is less an action-oriented horror/fantasy and more speculative fiction; the writing is elegant, the plot slow. I'd recommend this one for anyone who wants a unique vampire tale focused on masculinity and coming of age.
The balancing between genres fits uneasily in this one; "Day Boy" is good at many of them, truly great at none. Still, what it brings to the table is truly unique: the relationship between vampires and humans is as complex as the relationship between Mark and his Master, Dain. This is less an action-oriented horror/fantasy and more speculative fiction; the writing is elegant, the plot slow. I'd recommend this one for anyone who wants a unique vampire tale focused on masculinity and coming of age.
cristina_margarita's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
jedbird's review against another edition
dark
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this unique take on vampire mythology. At some point in the future, following an apocalypse, unspecified, there is a race of Masters, vampires who oversee, tend, and feed from their human flocks. Mark is errand-doing Day Boy to Master Dain, who raised him from childhood. Mark is about to age out of the Day Boy role, but it's unknown what he will do next--he's an unlikely candidate for Mastery, but there are other vampire-supportive roles he might do. There are five Masters in town, many more in the city a train trip away. There is squabbling between Masters, squabbling among the Day Boys. One of the first things that happens is Mark getting his ass kicked.
Not only is this a fresh vampire story, it's a unique coming-of-age story as well. The prose is both blunt and dreamy, to good effect.
Not only is this a fresh vampire story, it's a unique coming-of-age story as well. The prose is both blunt and dreamy, to good effect.
juniperbranches's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was another weird one. In a world that’s recovered from a technological collapse and returned to a more pastoral life, the pinnacle members of society are Masters, and they are vampires. Mark is a Day Boy, a young man raised by one of the Masters to be his body servant. As Mark grows closer to adulthood however his days as an errand boy to his Master are quickly drawing to a close.
Idk. I liked the concepts here but I wish there was more depth drawn into the characters and the world building in general. Very slow start.
Idk. I liked the concepts here but I wish there was more depth drawn into the characters and the world building in general. Very slow start.
ilasandra's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0