Scan barcode
reila's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Intrigued by the contemporary take on vampires, stayed for the exploration of generational trauma.
It takes a bit to get to know Louise because there's a lot to unpack. There were a lot of hurdles that struck me, mirroring personal experiences that amped my emotional investment. Running from your problems, and then suddenly embodying that stagnated state? RIP. I do love the metaphysical side of vampires, and, yeah I've considered how inconvenient it would be in the present day. Mike Chen's take is believable, it's scary. The finale, I thought, was unexpected but satisfying. Really got me rooting for Louise, and Ian too.
(Still waiting to be turned so I can binge read or watch anime in a basement--joking, of course...unless...)
It takes a bit to get to know Louise because there's a lot to unpack. There were a lot of hurdles that struck me, mirroring personal experiences that amped my emotional investment. Running from your problems, and then suddenly embodying that stagnated state? RIP. I do love the metaphysical side of vampires, and, yeah I've considered how inconvenient it would be in the present day. Mike Chen's take is believable, it's scary. The finale, I thought, was unexpected but satisfying. Really got me rooting for Louise, and Ian too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Classism, Cursing, Murder, Terminal illness, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, and Alcoholism
paulasnotsosecretdiary's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Vampire Weekend explores family and community dynamics within the scope of the fantastic. Louise is a vampire loner: no friends and no family interactions. But she's also punk; music is everything to her. When her estranged brother and great-nephew show up unexpectedly, setting into motion a series of events, memories, and choices Louise would rather avoid, she has to decide to start letting people and her community into her life. These choices are more terrifying to her than playing live in front of a crowd. Throughout the book, falsehoods about vampires are explained, and Louise and her vampire community have to ask if mundane life - a life that revolves around getting enough food - is enough. She bonds with her nephew, Ian, and their shared love of music as Ian uncovers Louise's secrets. One way the story falls short is that the fraught relationship between Louise and her brother, who is Ian's grandfather, is not resolved. This thread simply hangs at the end, which may have been intentional, as divisive relationships between siblings sometimes linger in the air without being addressed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Death, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Racism, and Death of parent
More...