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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Loved the graphic audio version of this one to get into the fall mood!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I flew through this in 3 days, man. I cannot remember the last time I was so engrossed in a physical read. The way it effortlessly bounced back and forth between “this is a normal book about boring, everyday people” to “WHAT DID I JUST READ?!” was crazy! Did I think some of the gross-out scenes were overdone? Yes. Was it still too good to put down? Also yes
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
I was totally unprepared for how much I would love this. This book has been sitting on my shelf for years at this point and I finally decided to pick it up. I devoured it. Perfect pacing. Clear inspiration from Stoker’s Dracula. Weaves in critique of American societal issues (racism/sexism) smartly and seamlessly. Body horror. wow.
dark
emotional
tense
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
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
mysterious
tense
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
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Turns out the real horror was the men they married along the way.
After sleeping on this book, I have THOUGHTS. In addition to the trigger warnings Storygraph allows, be prepared for rats, cockroaches, and sooooo much patriarchy and racism.
1. I should know better than to read horror books by men. So far, they have ALL thrown in SA as an incidental part of the 'horror.' For real guys. Vampires are ALREADY a metaphor for SA. You don't have to literally have the vampires SA people.
2. The husbands should have faced consequences. Sure,they went bankrupt, but so did the wives, so they made a huge sacrifice to save the world and the husbands are clueless and get to go, 'booohoo, poor me, all my money is gone, let me beat my wife again because i'm mad.' Bennett should've been punched by the vampire. Carter should've been hit by a car, freeing his wife and children from his presence with a fat life insurance policy. Ed should've been arrested.
3. All the horror books I've read by men acknowledge patriarchy and use it as part of the horror, but then leave the patriarchy absolutely intact at the end and I'm finding I hate that.
4. I wanted the female friendships to be... well, more like the female friendships I've encountered in my own life. Steadfast. Lifegiving. There are moments of that when caring for Miss Mary, but then it disappears.
After sleeping on this book, I have THOUGHTS. In addition to the trigger warnings Storygraph allows, be prepared for rats, cockroaches, and sooooo much patriarchy and racism.
1. I should know better than to read horror books by men. So far, they have ALL thrown in SA as an incidental part of the 'horror.' For real guys. Vampires are ALREADY a metaphor for SA. You don't have to literally have the vampires SA people.
2. The husbands should have faced consequences. Sure,
3. All the horror books I've read by men acknowledge patriarchy and use it as part of the horror, but then leave the patriarchy absolutely intact at the end and I'm finding I hate that.
4. I wanted the female friendships to be... well, more like the female friendships I've encountered in my own life. Steadfast. Lifegiving. There are moments of that when caring for Miss Mary, but then it disappears.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Classism
Moderate: Suicide attempt