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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
hopeful
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
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity
fast-paced
I am going to be in the minority here but this book I just did not click.
My biggest issue was that there was loose justification as to why a vampire would go to AA. As well it was unclear to me how drinking human blood for sustenance is equivalent to a person recovering from addiction. I think there are ways the connection could have worked, but since the explanation was lacking it really did come across as an immature understanding of addiction recovery.
In addition, the reason I read paranormal fics is for different interpretations of the lore but I like that lore to come out in an interesting way. Reading this novel I was hit with lore after the fact and with no additional explanation. Why did Robin have a pulse? How do vampire babies work? How are their councils, and clans, structured?
It was a short read and the romance was pretty standard lesfic with low angst. I could see readers who prefer paranormal content on the lighter side (or who do not have specific expectations like me) getting more enjoyment out of this novel than I did. One thing to note is that the relationship does deepen when there is a significant power imbalance (sponsor and AA participant).
My biggest issue was that there was loose justification as to why a vampire would go to AA. As well it was unclear to me how drinking human blood for sustenance is equivalent to a person recovering from addiction. I think there are ways the connection could have worked, but since the explanation was lacking it really did come across as an immature understanding of addiction recovery.
In addition, the reason I read paranormal fics is for different interpretations of the lore but I like that lore to come out in an interesting way. Reading this novel I was hit with lore after the fact and with no additional explanation. Why did Robin have a pulse? How do vampire babies work? How are their councils, and clans, structured?
It was a short read and the romance was pretty standard lesfic with low angst. I could see readers who prefer paranormal content on the lighter side (or who do not have specific expectations like me) getting more enjoyment out of this novel than I did. One thing to note is that the relationship does deepen when there is a significant power imbalance (sponsor and AA participant).
If I had to pick a word to describe this book it would be 'hollow.' The story is there, the characters are there, I just felt that it never really went anywhere.
Robin is a Girah (Vampire) who doesn't want to suck on humans anymore. Fair enough, but y'know: been there, done that. And to help her control her urges she goes to AA meetings, where she meets, befriends and falls in love with Alana, who happens to be a former Djinn (Genie.) The premise reads as interesting but the story just isn't. Perhaps the authors were too interested in making a cute rom-com to really invest in their characters/ the mythology behind them. You read the book and you're interested in Robin's Clan-life, and in Alana's Great Plain, but you never learn any more. It's a real miss when you think of what they could have done: the two women learning about the cultures of the other, making a home together, mixing their two lifestyles. It's what I was expecting, but the story hesitates.
On top of all that I don't think the authors handled the whole 'addict' story well. Robin isn't addicted to blood, she literally needs it to survive. That's like saying I'm addicted to food. I can't just up and decide not to eat anything anymore because I feel bad. I thought the story would've explored this more, too. Have Alana be more understanding/accepting of Robin's nature. Helping her to feed without killing. Maybe even offering up her own blood as a supplement. But none of that came to pass; instead Alana barely reacts to Robin's bloody past. (And we don't even get to hear it, either. In fact all of the cool mystic stuff is kept pretty under wraps even to us readers. Almost like the authors couldn't be bothered to do the research.)
This book could have been an exploration of love, acceptance, and learning. Instead we get a pretty standard f/f contemporary romance with a vampire or two thrown in. All in all I would have rather read about The Djinn and the Vampire, not about Alana and Robin. 2/5
Robin is a Girah (Vampire) who doesn't want to suck on humans anymore. Fair enough, but y'know: been there, done that. And to help her control her urges she goes to AA meetings, where she meets, befriends and falls in love with Alana, who happens to be a former Djinn (Genie.) The premise reads as interesting but the story just isn't. Perhaps the authors were too interested in making a cute rom-com to really invest in their characters/ the mythology behind them. You read the book and you're interested in Robin's Clan-life, and in Alana's Great Plain, but you never learn any more. It's a real miss when you think of what they could have done: the two women learning about the cultures of the other, making a home together, mixing their two lifestyles. It's what I was expecting, but the story hesitates.
On top of all that I don't think the authors handled the whole 'addict' story well. Robin isn't addicted to blood, she literally needs it to survive. That's like saying I'm addicted to food. I can't just up and decide not to eat anything anymore because I feel bad. I thought the story would've explored this more, too. Have Alana be more understanding/accepting of Robin's nature. Helping her to feed without killing. Maybe even offering up her own blood as a supplement. But none of that came to pass; instead Alana barely reacts to Robin's bloody past. (And we don't even get to hear it, either. In fact all of the cool mystic stuff is kept pretty under wraps even to us readers. Almost like the authors couldn't be bothered to do the research.)
This book could have been an exploration of love, acceptance, and learning. Instead we get a pretty standard f/f contemporary romance with a vampire or two thrown in. All in all I would have rather read about The Djinn and the Vampire, not about Alana and Robin. 2/5
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Audiobook returned to the library and was not invested enough to take it back out. I may come back to another format.
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes