Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

235 reviews

competitive_reading_is_a_sport's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It had me shouting at the characters, which means I cared about their survival. A tribute to the strength of the overlooked woman. Can a group of Southern housewives take on a vampire, in spite of the obstacles posed by their husbands? Why do you even have to ask?!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

dynila's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Child abuse, and Child death

Minor: Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness

andreanneveillette's review against another edition

1.5

Killing the dog in the last pages was uncalled for and didn’t do anything for the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Violence, Rape, Gaslighting, Gore, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Child abuse, and Body horror

wheelyautistic's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

I actually really enjoyed this book. The amount of times I had to put the book down because of how tense it showed just how good the writing is. 

I'm afraid I have to disagree with most of the negative reviews regarding the 3-year skip, where the main character is complacent. Many reviewers viewed it us difficult and unrealistic or annoying however they fail to realise that this book whilst it does have a vampire and the supernatural elements is far more about a serial killer and a murderer then a high energy vampire slashing book.  It feels realistic that no one would believe her or that she would become complacent and subdued because in reality any outburst could land her straight into an institute given the timing. The race aspects were necessary to indicate and portray a very real and common thing seen in real-life killers: that those deemed as less than are usually the ones killed and often their murders are overlooked. I think this book perfectly paralleled the real lids true crime books the characters read with a hind of supernatural influence to increase the severity and difficulty of the situation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Stalking, Gore, Body horror, Toxic friendship, Torture, Sexism, Mental illness, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Animal death, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, Death, Child death, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Cannibalism

Minor: Racism

josalinreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Very well written and well-balanced between the horror elements (i.e. graphic on page scenes) and the general plot and scenes between the characters. I am not usually a fan of horror but this was recommended for my book club, and I found it hard to stop listening. 

There’s commentary in the novel regarding sexism, classism, and racism, all of which is handled with different levels of nuance and care, but overall I think Hendrix does a good job. Lots of disturbing scenes, so I recommend looking at the content warnings if you are prone to triggers. 

The final vampire scene was pretty lackluster compared to earlier scenes in the book and the vampires powers are not very consistent. I also would have preferred more comeuppance for some of the antagonists of the novel. More bloodshed would have made for a better vampire novel, in my opinion. 

Overall, true 4/5 for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Gore, Sexual assault, Murder, Gaslighting, and Rape

Moderate: Classism, Child death, Suicide, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, and Racism

Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, Dementia, and Forced institutionalization

brysonsmommie84's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

1.0

I was so excited to read this. I’ve built it up for a year and I finally got to it. That was a mistake… Maybe I will update this later and make it more coherent, but for now I have wasted enough hours of my life finishing this book. Yes, finishing, all of it. Why? Because I stupidly thought it has to get better. 
I just feel sick. This book makes me so angry…

Husbands telling wives:
“The girls have something to say” 
“shake hands like a fucking adult” 
being forced to apologize… these are your wives… educated wives… the children are also treated like this. Carter is the worst character of all time! Worse than the “vampire”. 

Patricia is concerned about child molestation and you are all fucking protecting the stranger, because he has money and penis. Fuck these characters. Fuck this book. Fuck this author. They better all be under a fucking spell. 

BTW child molestation big trigger! Lots of child rape… by an old dirty “vampire”. Too detailed. Children dying/suicides. Kids killing dogs, because they have been “left under a spell”. More Rape, burning people alive… At least the racism and “classism” were finally called out, I guess… 

I will never give this author another try. The other authors that take flak for the misogyny and patriarchy in their books is bullshit in comparison and this author is being praised for this book. Fuck that shit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Classism, Child death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Blood, Suicide, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Racism, Pedophilia, Murder, Mental illness, Death of parent, Animal death, and Animal cruelty

thingwithfeathers's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense 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? Yes

4.75

I loved this book, Grady Hendric always writes female characters so skillfully but I found this to be his best work by far. The characters are complex and full of their own issues and biases and it paints such a realistic view of womanhood and girlhood. The scene where Patricia looks at her daughter then her ill mother in law and thinks oh god will that be me will my kids be fighting over who has to watch me was just such a gutwreching moment of recognition. The book covers class, sexism, racism, grooming, and you can't help but feel so deeply for the characters. Really a great read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Classism, Death, Sexual violence, Suicide, Body horror, Death of parent, Blood, Racism, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Gore, Pedophilia, Murder, and Suicide attempt

mohaa's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Body horror, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Animal cruelty, Violence, Animal death, Child death, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, and Sexual assault

carbinara's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

How did our girl Miss Mary raise a bitch like Carter? I enjoyed this book as a whole, but there were quite a few slower paced moments which made sense, but dragged on a little bit. Specifically, with everyone taking so long to believe Patricia. That being said, some of the gory scenes made up for it; there was some fantastic horror locked away in here.

I’ll say two of my favourite scenes were the rats killing Miss Mary (RIP queen fly high) and Patricia hiding in the attic and the cockroach crawling in her ear. Made me physically cringe (and reminded me of that one lady on I’m a Celebrity who got a cockroach up her nose). That being said, I think the women of this storys suffering was broadcast in a very explicit way, compared to the main villains death. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not signing up to be taken apart, but the book writes it in a way that seems more palatable than the other two instances. That being said, I loved the detail of Patricia saying she still felt like she could hear his body moving in his grave. P.S I didn’t only read for the gore lol!

I also wish they had more clarity on the vampire lore of this book, as we have our one villainous vampire and seemingly thats the only insight we get, with very little confirmed on what his vampiric nature allows him to do. I say this specifically as the ‘feeding’ scenes are so different to what we imagine for a classic vampire novel, and I wish it was expanded on more, although it makes sense as it’s from the perspective of Patricia, who has no way to know.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Sexual assault, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexism, Death, Terminal illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Physical abuse

xtrasmallsnail's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

1.0

Utterly revolting. Had to struggle to finish this book. Maybe I should not have since the last 50% of the book is absolutely crazy. Never had I read a book and putout a review with this many trigger warnings.

It's terrible to use rape in such a casual way to propel the plot. The inappropriate relationship the vampire has with the children were never commented on beside the fact the children killed themselves. It leaves a bad taste in myouth for a book that's supposed to power those who society looks down upon.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Blood, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Stalking, Body horror, Classism, and Sexual assault