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rowanhill's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Features:
- Supernatural horror
- Morally gray characters and situation
- Interesting approach to vampires
Is it really a crime if there are no victims? This supernatural horror centers around the morally gray organ business of Riley, Ray, and Jazz and the FBI detective trying to uncover the secret behind their operation. I am generally not a big fan of vampire books, but this one really hooked me with its unique approach and how each of the characters perceive the fascinating moral questions at the heart of this story. It is a shorter read that manages to pack a lot in and there is a wonderful balance between horror, humor, and drama. This book throws you right in and can be a little disorienting at first, but it is well worth letting the story unfold. My only complaint is that the writing occasionally feels disjointed or unclear at times, but this did not really detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. If you are looking for an engaging supernatural horror that includes a little bit of brain food, this is the book for you!
50 Shades of Morally Gray
Pun aside, this book manages to accomplish something that many books try and fail to do: present and develop intriguing moral questions/dilemmas in a way that feels natural. The story centers around Riley, Ray, and Jazz’s side hustle of secretly donating and selling organs they collect from vampires in order to save human lives. Being immortal, the vampires don’t die from this process and can be tapped again for harvesting once their organs regrow. For Riley, Ray, and Jazz, it’s a win for all involved. However, there are a lot of moral questions that grow from both their operation, and their true motives behind it.
Though I would not call this a strong character novel, how their varying motives and attitudes caused them to act still made them intriguing to follow. More importantly, everything was allowed to sit in a morally gray area without feeling like they were forced to be there. Overall, I was left not really knowing what to think, but in a way that still felt satisfying and elevated beyond most supernatural horror books.
Wait…What?
We have all had those moments where our brains don’t quite register what we have just read and we have to go back before continuing to charge ahead. However, after a certain number of times going “wait…what?” I have to admit that in this case, the writing isn’t always clear. There is nothing specific I can point to as the reason, but there were many times where an odd detail would stand out or I would suddenly feel like I had missed something and would have to go back to try puzzling it together. It could just be that I wasn’t completely vibing with the writing style despite being engaged in the story. However, it made it a little difficult for me to become hooked at the start and is the main reason I am rating this a four instead of a perfect 5.
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Confinement, Body horror, Torture, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction and Medical content
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