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rocky41_7's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
It will entertain you if you have nothing else going on. Prose is mediocre, hamfisted where it tries to be poetic, and overexplains things to the reader. The plot moves so fast you rarely have time to take in where the characters are at before they're off to the next thing, and the characters themselves are very flat. Rose and Ida are basically interchangeable and I kept getting them mixed up because they really have no personality outside "the nice one" and "the bitchy one." Elton is comically awful with no redeeming or "human" side to him whatsoever, as are most of the protagonist's victims.
The novel feels very grounded in its publication year, down to a jarring and somewhat incorrect use of the term "gaslighting" by a teenager from 1987. I also cringed at the scene where the three main characters all explain their sexualities to each other. It felt very much like the author desperately grabbing for more representation points by saying "Look! Rose is bi too! Ida is asexual!" even though these things literally never matter within the story except for this one awkward scene.
There are some enjoyable things about it. I still like the idea of the plot even if it was poorly executed. The relationships formed within it and the focus on letting go of your past mistakes and forgiving yourself so you can move forward are nice. I did enjoy the subplot about Holly learning to let go of her anger at her neglectful mother, and the one where she confronts Mr. Stockard--who in her day, was an enthusiastic young high school teacher, but has become a burned out middle-aged man by the present time who's given up on his students.
The novel poses some interesting ideas about being perpetually trapped in adolescence and what it means when everyone else around them can move on, for better or worse, but these girls are frozen in the moment where they became vampires, but it doesn't dig deeply enough into that to get really engaging.
Additionally, the novel pays lip service to the morality of its main characters all murdering several people a week to sustain themselves, but otherwise does not really address it in any meaningful way. Neither does it consider how, with seven vampires in town committing a minimum of fourteen murders a week in a relatively small town, no one ever gets suspicious, particularly when their victims are not especially low-profile. This creates such a massive logistical hole for me it's confusing why Hartl didn't just remove the element where each victim necessarily dies. It feels like the only reason this was done was to leave room for Holly's stunted moral code of "always allowing them the chance to run" (they never take it).
In the same way, the novel can't commit to either embracing the horror of what these girls are or finding a way for them to work around it. Holly targets people she views as "acceptable" victims--which are in every instance, a man who hits on her. In this way, it feels like Hartl is trying to justify Holly murdering these people, which doesn't really ring true. Personally I've never had so many people hit on me, let alone get that pushy when I refuse, so it seems unrealistic as a hunting tactic for me. The rest of the vampires are unrepentant killers, and Holly doesn't seem to have any moral qualms with Rose chloroforming people in her room to play with them, or Stacey keeping half a dozen teens locked up in her basement for feeding on. These things are so jarringly grotesque that the way the novel brushes them off--while keeping Holly insistent about her "one rule"--feels incredibly inconsistent, like Hartl was afraid of truly committing to how awful these characters are.
Holly's romance with Parker is sweet, and touching in the way of two deeply lonely people coming together and finding someone who values them, but it also comes off less powerful than it should because both characters are so flat. It's hard to care about their relationship when Parker's only personality trait is "insecure." The push and pull of Holly trying to convince Parker that Elton is dangerous without coming off like a jealous, bitter ex is also an interesting dynamic.
The book never explainshow Parker does what she does at the end, which makes it feel very deus ex-machina to me: it happened because the author needed to happen, not because it was actually possible within the structure the author had created for this world.
(As a side note, to the handful of reviews unhappy about the age gap, I would gently posit that if age gaps really bother you, perhaps vampire romance stories are not for you.)
Ultimately, if you want a book which does not require any thinking or you just want something to keep you busy for a few hours this will suffice.
The novel feels very grounded in its publication year, down to a jarring and somewhat incorrect use of the term "gaslighting" by a teenager from 1987. I also cringed at the scene where the three main characters all explain their sexualities to each other. It felt very much like the author desperately grabbing for more representation points by saying "Look! Rose is bi too! Ida is asexual!" even though these things literally never matter within the story except for this one awkward scene.
There are some enjoyable things about it. I still like the idea of the plot even if it was poorly executed. The relationships formed within it and the focus on letting go of your past mistakes and forgiving yourself so you can move forward are nice. I did enjoy the subplot about Holly learning to let go of her anger at her neglectful mother, and the one where she confronts Mr. Stockard--who in her day, was an enthusiastic young high school teacher, but has become a burned out middle-aged man by the present time who's given up on his students.
The novel poses some interesting ideas about being perpetually trapped in adolescence and what it means when everyone else around them can move on, for better or worse, but these girls are frozen in the moment where they became vampires, but it doesn't dig deeply enough into that to get really engaging.
Additionally, the novel pays lip service to the morality of its main characters all murdering several people a week to sustain themselves, but otherwise does not really address it in any meaningful way. Neither does it consider how, with seven vampires in town committing a minimum of fourteen murders a week in a relatively small town, no one ever gets suspicious, particularly when their victims are not especially low-profile. This creates such a massive logistical hole for me it's confusing why Hartl didn't just remove the element where each victim necessarily dies. It feels like the only reason this was done was to leave room for Holly's stunted moral code of "always allowing them the chance to run" (they never take it).
In the same way, the novel can't commit to either embracing the horror of what these girls are or finding a way for them to work around it. Holly targets people she views as "acceptable" victims--which are in every instance, a man who hits on her. In this way, it feels like Hartl is trying to justify Holly murdering these people, which doesn't really ring true. Personally I've never had so many people hit on me, let alone get that pushy when I refuse, so it seems unrealistic as a hunting tactic for me. The rest of the vampires are unrepentant killers, and Holly doesn't seem to have any moral qualms with Rose chloroforming people in her room to play with them, or Stacey keeping half a dozen teens locked up in her basement for feeding on. These things are so jarringly grotesque that the way the novel brushes them off--while keeping Holly insistent about her "one rule"--feels incredibly inconsistent, like Hartl was afraid of truly committing to how awful these characters are.
Holly's romance with Parker is sweet, and touching in the way of two deeply lonely people coming together and finding someone who values them, but it also comes off less powerful than it should because both characters are so flat. It's hard to care about their relationship when Parker's only personality trait is "insecure." The push and pull of Holly trying to convince Parker that Elton is dangerous without coming off like a jealous, bitter ex is also an interesting dynamic.
The book never explains
(As a side note, to the handful of reviews unhappy about the age gap, I would gently posit that if age gaps really bother you, perhaps vampire romance stories are not for you.)
Ultimately, if you want a book which does not require any thinking or you just want something to keep you busy for a few hours this will suffice.
trapwomanistcyborgwitch's review against another edition
4.0
Cute vampire revenge story about friendship, healing broken relationships/heart and forgiveness. Pose was pretty plain but I loved the premise and plot of the story. Beautiful instances of writing is sprinkled throughout the book. Cool Sapphic connection/crush. TR: body gore, murder, blood, family issues
krobus's review against another edition
5.0
i want more! i loved seeing this take on vampirism, with a cute plot and surprise love story to boot. loved how real and unapologetic they were in killing mortals. i thought the lore was sprinkled in very organically and it didn't feel forced into the story like some other books i've read - looking at U fourth wing...
being 16 for all of eternity sounds like a true hell.
any vamps reading this NOW, tho, i am fully ready to become immortal. hmu.
being 16 for all of eternity sounds like a true hell.
any vamps reading this NOW, tho, i am fully ready to become immortal. hmu.
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
Premise for this book sounds really entertaining, so that's why I pick it up. But it was way to slow (plot) while romance was to fast.
alexandryareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content
calypsogoldfein's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
gabsoulutely's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
3.75
This book got me out of my reading slump but also is the kind of book I could read in three days because it's an easy read, with similar tropes to fanfics that I would read overnight, I'm glad it ended the way it did. I really enjoyed Rose's character, but everyone else fell pretty flat to me. Great read for when you're trying to turn off your brain and not think too hard. Thank God Parker was 18 because if she was anything younger, I'd be even more uncomfortable with this story.
Also, special note: Elton is so narcissistic and triggering, so be warned because the power dynamics in this book is mostly in his favor for not other reason than the fact that he's surface level pretty with the mind of a manipulative sociopath.
Also, special note: Elton is so narcissistic and triggering, so be warned because the power dynamics in this book is mostly in his favor for not other reason than the fact that he's surface level pretty with the mind of a manipulative sociopath.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
justagurlbooks's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 actually
it was mid. i think i had to high of hopes for this book and then just got let down.
i think the relationship was very weirdly paced, the characters were kinda boring, the main villain is horrible and you only see him like 3 times before the big finale. i also don’t like how it’s very dated. like in 10 years you’ll read this and be like wow this was really a product of it’s time. but overall it wasn’t that bad. it was kinda cute and a fast read, but i probably wouldn’t recommend it
it was mid. i think i had to high of hopes for this book and then just got let down.
i think the relationship was very weirdly paced, the characters were kinda boring, the main villain is horrible and you only see him like 3 times before the big finale. i also don’t like how it’s very dated. like in 10 years you’ll read this and be like wow this was really a product of it’s time. but overall it wasn’t that bad. it was kinda cute and a fast read, but i probably wouldn’t recommend it
kristenhwrites's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
jillybeanxo's review against another edition
4.0
Lesb-honest, I’m just here for a campy vampy good time and it delivered