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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Grady Hendrix is by far become one of my favorite authors to date. This book was disturbing, gruesome, weirdly, erotic, and very addicting. I loved the character development, pacing and themes of sisterhood in this book will definitely reread later and
I look forward to seeing what they do with the live action series in the future.
I look forward to seeing what they do with the live action series in the future.
gross
was expecting something actually fun and good (a la True Blood) because of the title and cover, but got a weird, rapey, racist book instead
read it so fast mostly because i was hoping it would be over quicker
was expecting something actually fun and good (a la True Blood) because of the title and cover, but got a weird, rapey, racist book instead
read it so fast mostly because i was hoping it would be over quicker
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Vampire, when he really turned out to be just a man ☕️
Its a nice change of pace to see a genuinely evil and terrifying vampire.
As a horror novel, its a decent job. Though, its more disgusting than terrifying but if I know anything about Hendrix’s recent novel that I read first, he has a knack for body horror.
I really what he tried to do with this novel: pitting Dracula against his mom. He likes to subvert from regular horror, as is clear in Witchcraft for Wayward Girls.
This book was also a breeze to get through. I finished it in record speed.
Crazy villain, crazy freakin villain. Unredeemable, like the villain in Blood Meridian.
Time to be mean.
The body horror aspect here felt heavyhanded, it was done better in WfWG.
Second half was genuinely grating. Grace’s character is so unfathomably unlikable until the last couple chapters when she had some mental reformation. I kept trying to understand why she was the way she was, knowing what I know now I still couldn’t rationalize her thought process.
All the other ladies feel a bit like caricatures. A religious zealot (she mellows down a bit but still), a manhater, a prim and proper lady, character with esoteric knowledge of the villains evil doings, whatever the hell Kitty was and the only rational one in any horror media.
In hindsight, MC also feels so far removed from the story even though shes so important to it. I forgot about her until started writing the review lol.
Men.
Bottomline
Its really easy to read through. The story’s a bit of a mess but its not the worst thing I’ve read. Not as sexy as Dracula.
Its a nice change of pace to see a genuinely evil and terrifying vampire.
As a horror novel, its a decent job. Though, its more disgusting than terrifying but if I know anything about Hendrix’s recent novel that I read first, he has a knack for body horror.
I really what he tried to do with this novel: pitting Dracula against his mom. He likes to subvert from regular horror, as is clear in Witchcraft for Wayward Girls.
This book was also a breeze to get through. I finished it in record speed.
Crazy villain, crazy freakin villain. Unredeemable, like the villain in Blood Meridian.
Time to be mean.
The body horror aspect here felt heavyhanded, it was done better in WfWG.
Second half was genuinely grating. Grace’s character is so unfathomably unlikable until the last couple chapters when she had some mental reformation. I kept trying to understand why she was the way she was, knowing what I know now I still couldn’t rationalize her thought process.
All the other ladies feel a bit like caricatures. A religious zealot (she mellows down a bit but still), a manhater, a prim and proper lady, character with esoteric knowledge of the villains evil doings, whatever the hell Kitty was and the only rational one in any horror media.
In hindsight, MC also feels so far removed from the story even though shes so important to it. I forgot about her until started writing the review lol.
Men.
Bottomline
Its really easy to read through. The story’s a bit of a mess but its not the worst thing I’ve read. Not as sexy as Dracula.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Racism, Suicide
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Felt slow. Most characters are unlikable except the main character. The husband was so annoying
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Things I liked
1. The title - such an interesting title and a cool premise, the cover is amazing
2. The first 200 or so pages of the story
3. The side character Mrs Greene carried HARD (literally and figuratively; she’s a black women so ofc she did, she honestly should have been a main character )
4. The author did shed a light on a lot of interesting topics sexism, racism, the role of women in a traditional household, classism assault etc.
My main critiques
1. Around 50% of the of the story it felt like it devolved from what it originally was supposed to be.
2. Honestly felt like the author was juggling too many topics he wasn’t equipped to handle in what’s is supposed to be a fun story about southern women slaying vampires
3. The other members of the book club literally didn’t do shit until the end because Patricia (and Mrs Greene) mostly worked solo
4. This book was gross and disgusting at some points which would be fine (see my reading history I love gore and horror!!) but it felt unnecessary and too sexual especially when the author is out here describing the body (breasts and pubes) of underaged characters?? Well not surprised bc it was written by a man and during those scenes I could definitely tell it was a man who wrote this.
5. I liked the ending but honestly felt we could have reached this part sooner and wished the other book club members played more of an active role in the story. I mean it’s called the southern book club guide to slaying vampires!! Title felt misleading towards the middle and end
6. Finally the role of black characters in this story - while historically it’s accurate (white characters not caring about the plight of black children UNTIL it affects their neighborhood and their kids are at risk) still felt like the author treated the black characters especially Mrs Greene as side characters or plot points. There’s a way you can depict the characters with historically accuracy without making them devolve into the stereotypes I.e. mammy role etc and treat them as people in their own right.
All of these reasons is why I can’t give this book anything more than 3 stars
Overall this book should have been shorter but was a fun read until 50% through.
1. The title - such an interesting title and a cool premise, the cover is amazing
2. The first 200 or so pages of the story
3. The side character Mrs Greene carried HARD (literally and figuratively; she’s a black women so ofc she did, she honestly should have been a main character )
4. The author did shed a light on a lot of interesting topics sexism, racism, the role of women in a traditional household, classism assault etc.
My main critiques
1. Around 50% of the of the story it felt like it devolved from what it originally was supposed to be.
2. Honestly felt like the author was juggling too many topics he wasn’t equipped to handle in what’s is supposed to be a fun story about southern women slaying vampires
3. The other members of the book club literally didn’t do shit until the end because Patricia (and Mrs Greene) mostly worked solo
4. This book was gross and disgusting at some points which would be fine (see my reading history I love gore and horror!!) but it felt unnecessary and too sexual especially when the author is out here describing the body (breasts and pubes) of underaged characters?? Well not surprised bc it was written by a man and during those scenes I could definitely tell it was a man who wrote this.
5. I liked the ending but honestly felt we could have reached this part sooner and wished the other book club members played more of an active role in the story. I mean it’s called the southern book club guide to slaying vampires!! Title felt misleading towards the middle and end
6. Finally the role of black characters in this story - while historically it’s accurate (white characters not caring about the plight of black children UNTIL it affects their neighborhood and their kids are at risk) still felt like the author treated the black characters especially Mrs Greene as side characters or plot points. There’s a way you can depict the characters with historically accuracy without making them devolve into the stereotypes I.e. mammy role etc and treat them as people in their own right.
All of these reasons is why I can’t give this book anything more than 3 stars
Overall this book should have been shorter but was a fun read until 50% through.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes