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afrancis0105's review
3.0
"He wanted to abide, he wanted that patient undead serenity, he wanted stoicism. and fortitude and instead all he had were complaints and tears."
My biggest complaint with this book is that it isn't long enough. It was a really interesting take on the modern vampire, and the way that cultures attempt to preserve their traditions in the face of modern forces.
Vampires are traditionally portrayed as forever unchanging and unaffected by the world around them. How does a trans vampire, who by definition needs to be able to change in order to be true to who he is, reconcile the vampires' traditional reluctance to change with his need to get his "vampire name" and ascend to his true self?
The things I loved about this, I really loved. But the ending came quickly and suddenly, and I'm left with many questions as to "what happens to_____?" "what happens with________?" "what happens after __________?"
If there's a sequel, I'll definitely check it out. If there isn't a sequel, I don't know how I'll feel about this book a few years down the road.
My biggest complaint with this book is that it isn't long enough. It was a really interesting take on the modern vampire, and the way that cultures attempt to preserve their traditions in the face of modern forces.
Vampires are traditionally portrayed as forever unchanging and unaffected by the world around them. How does a trans vampire, who by definition needs to be able to change in order to be true to who he is, reconcile the vampires' traditional reluctance to change with his need to get his "vampire name" and ascend to his true self?
The things I loved about this, I really loved. But the ending came quickly and suddenly, and I'm left with many questions as to "what happens to_____?" "what happens with________?" "what happens after __________?"
If there's a sequel, I'll definitely check it out. If there isn't a sequel, I don't know how I'll feel about this book a few years down the road.
exlibristheo's review
dark
mysterious
tense
2.5
Free copy of the book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I somewhat enjoyed the book and read it in one go. I loved following along Holly's story but in the end, I think 200 pages just weren't enough to explore the vampire's society to its full extent which leads to some themes being underdeveloped (the importance of honey and bees; the vampire slayers who randomly popped up; the story of Lila) and a, in my opinion, not so satisfying ending. My biggest irk with the story though is that Holly has to go by his deadname which is justified by vampires valuing patience but it honestly made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
I somewhat enjoyed the book and read it in one go. I loved following along Holly's story but in the end, I think 200 pages just weren't enough to explore the vampire's society to its full extent which leads to some themes being underdeveloped (the importance of honey and bees; the vampire slayers who randomly popped up; the story of Lila) and a, in my opinion, not so satisfying ending. My biggest irk with the story though is that Holly has to go by his deadname which is justified by vampires valuing patience but it honestly made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
Moderate: Gore, Toxic relationship, and Violence
chloemc99's review
4.0
Netgalley Review Copy
The Mellification by Nat Buchbinder
4/5
There is a vampire society, where they live together under a cemetery and have lots of vampire traditions, for example when you love someone one will be buried alive and you will have to try and find them as a sign of your love.
Their core value is patience, but out main character Holly, a transgender male vampire is growing more frustrated by the day by how patient he is expected to be. He is supposed to receive a 'vampire name' which everyone else got, but he has no idea when he will get it and it keeps getting delayed.
I wished this book was longer, this had such an interesting concept with the plot and I feel like if it had been longer then maybe some details could have been fleshed out more because being a 200 page book it did feel a little rushed and not everything was explained in full detail. For instance part of the story is told in flashbacks and I wasn't fully understanding how it connected to the present day but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. and there was this weird thing with bees and honey, which I found interesting but that wasn't fully explained either.
And the ending had be internally SCREAMING, like you really gonna end the book like that? I would definitely read the sequel if there ever will be one.
Such a fun read if you ever need a short vampire book about a transgender vampire.
The Mellification by Nat Buchbinder
4/5
There is a vampire society, where they live together under a cemetery and have lots of vampire traditions, for example when you love someone one will be buried alive and you will have to try and find them as a sign of your love.
Their core value is patience, but out main character Holly, a transgender male vampire is growing more frustrated by the day by how patient he is expected to be. He is supposed to receive a 'vampire name' which everyone else got, but he has no idea when he will get it and it keeps getting delayed.
I wished this book was longer, this had such an interesting concept with the plot and I feel like if it had been longer then maybe some details could have been fleshed out more because being a 200 page book it did feel a little rushed and not everything was explained in full detail. For instance part of the story is told in flashbacks and I wasn't fully understanding how it connected to the present day but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. and there was this weird thing with bees and honey, which I found interesting but that wasn't fully explained either.
And the ending had be internally SCREAMING, like you really gonna end the book like that? I would definitely read the sequel if there ever will be one.
Such a fun read if you ever need a short vampire book about a transgender vampire.
sydneybooks13's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
3.0
I really loved the representation in this book and how the different identities shown were normalized by the narrators. Learning about the vampire society created and their leader was fascinating, though I would have loved a deeper dive into the history of the society. I also really enjoyed Holly and his determination and his insight and the way his insecurities haunted him.
However, it didn't feel like the story fully developed. I wanted to know more about many of the sides characters-- such as Cain and Methuselah, neither of whom were ever fully sketched out. Our second narrator's story was also not as fleshed out as Holly's, which is really disappointing as she was a much older vampire, a lesbian, and could have had more of an impact on the vampire society. I never felt any closure on her story and still don't understand why her perspective was in first person while Holly's was in third person.
Overall, though, I enjoyed the story. Though bleak, the ending was a satisfying conclusion that fit the story perfectly.
Thanks to the publisher for the free review copy!
However, it didn't feel like the story fully developed. I wanted to know more about many of the sides characters-- such as Cain and Methuselah, neither of whom were ever fully sketched out. Our second narrator's story was also not as fleshed out as Holly's, which is really disappointing as she was a much older vampire, a lesbian, and could have had more of an impact on the vampire society. I never felt any closure on her story and still don't understand why her perspective was in first person while Holly's was in third person.
Overall, though, I enjoyed the story. Though bleak, the ending was a satisfying conclusion that fit the story perfectly.
Thanks to the publisher for the free review copy!
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
bookishjaybird's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Oof, this book. I enjoyed this one, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it didn't hit so close to home for me as a trans guy who's just beginning my transition. It was extremely emotional, and I felt so connected to Holly as a character. I thought the world building for the vampires was interesting, and I'd have loved for the book to expand on it a bit. Especially with the side story about The Hierophant's wife and her enemy, that was an interesting bit of the book and I would have loved to know more about it and have a story about her. I thought the cutting back and forth at the beginning with the cops / vampire hunters was a bit unnecessary but I understand what it brought to the story! Overall, I think the only thing I didn't enjoy was the ending, which is why I'm giving it a 4 star rating. Which, I don't think I would have minded the ending if I hadn't felt so connected to Holly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
invisiblemonster's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I have so many questions. Why do clothes not disappear when vampires turn to bats but they do when they turn to bees? How does honey (mellification?) turn someone into a vampire? What was the point in having one character’s perspective in first person and another’s in third-person? What the hell is going to happen to Holly? To Lila? What were the motivations of the vampire hunters? What does a blood popsicle taste like? I don’t care what the answers are; I just know I wanted more questions, I wanted more of this book. The story follows two vampires: one transgender and one lesbian. I really loved that the author didn’t use this as an allegory to make a socio-political point or to express a higher meaning about the importance of acceptance. The characters were just who they were and I think this type of inclusivity is really what members of the LGBT+ community want. Why does everything have to mean something? Maybe I’m wrong and please tell me if I am. I don’t know much about this author but damn they know how to write. The only critique I could provide them would be that this book would have benefited from chapter breaks and just one omniscient narrator instead of switching perspectives. But these are personal opinions and they did not take away from the fun experience. The book ends with an amazingly rewarding climax and sets itself up for a sequel. I really really hope there is a sequel. I also really really enjoyed this book and I want you all to read it.
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