Reviews

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

jenni_elyse's review against another edition

3.0

I'm a sucker for vampires so this book appealed to me, but you don't even meet the vampire

Spoiler

(if you can even call him that)

until nearly a fourth of the way into the story. Fortunately, the ladies' book club was entertaining and I really liked them so I didn't mind. I thought the book had a lot going for it, besides the horror aspect. It was an interesting look at sexism, class, and race in the south during the 90s. I liked how most of the story played out.

Spoiler

Why were none of the husbands killed off?! They were the worst humans ever. I would even go as far to say they were as bad as the "vampire."

I wish the women were strong or cared enough to defy their husbands to help the black children instead of waiting until their own children were in danger. I'm disappointed in the ending. It felt anticlimactic.

Spoiler

I'm also disappointed the "vampire" didn't die and that whatever he implanted/impregnated Slick with just fizzled and never came to life.

Also, the attic is the worst scene I have ever read in my life! Way too many bugs! Talk about the heebie-jeebies!

apple0loving0shinigami's review against another edition

4.0

Crazy, disgusting, suffocating — just the kind of thriller I needed right now.

Before you start reading this book, check out the trigger warnings. Things get wild, in a bad, bad way.

chaoticallyreading's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

aparecium_library's review against another edition

5.0

Stunning we absolutely love to read it team.

loves a bad bitch woman putting a stupid ass immortal man in his damn placeeee

vibes were astounding and absolutely obsessed with the way grady hendrix writes so very excited to read everything by him now

khander84's review against another edition

4.0

grisly, amusing, vivid, engrossing

(consumed in audio format - narrated by the wonderful Bahni Turpin)

gagec94's review against another edition

4.0

This book took a loooonnnggggg time to catch my attention. I’m glad I stuck with it because it got REALLY good!!!

obscure76's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

wrxryna's review against another edition

4.0

I'm not sure how to review this one.
The vibes were immaculate. I didn't love any one particular character but thought they were GREAT representations of housewife-type women in the 80s/90s. Hated the stupid "rich" white men as much as I typically would.
Loved the comebacks.
Might reread some day for the creepy feelings, alone.

katyifky'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

izzibear's review against another edition

3.0

i really wanted to love this because the premise is so fun but my absolute least favorite horror trope is “husband thinks wife is insane for saying something is wrong” and that’s like 80% of this book. i liked the prose and didn’t realize it was the same author as my best friend’s exorcism which i have been really wanting to read but my reaction to this one is making me nervous about it now

it had some really great page-turning tense sequences but ultimately the final product as a whole didn’t win me over