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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
inspiring
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
I don’t think I was enjoying myself at all
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautiful story about friendship, love and defying toxic men. I've long admired Kiste's writing, especially her ability to craft such deep characters and the way she builds her worlds. Plucking two side characters from old gothic tales and planting them in 1960s California, giving them agency and personalities, and imbuing them with heart and warmth is a wonderful achievement. And it makes for an entertaining story while also delivering the message about the horror of toxic men. It is truly a wonderful read. Everyone should be reading Kiste's work.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you liked Season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you'll love this book.
adventurous
emotional
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
Reluctant Immortals presents such a unique take on a Jane Eyre retelling by blending it with Dracula (another favorite tale of mine) and focusing on the poorly used women in the stories - Lucy Westenra and Bertha Mason. Dracula and Mr. Rochester serve as the main villains in the story, and honestly the idea of Rochester as a main villain was initially not my favorite choice, but I can understand how it fits into the story - especially for Bertha.
The story takes on a decadently Gothic atmosphere that comes from the anguish of Lucy and Bertha dealing with the trauma of their former lives, and the death and decay that unavoidably follows Lucy due to being a vampire. The reason for Bertha’s immortality is entirely new and quite horrific, and was definitely an interesting twist! I loved the way the story built on all of their distress and misery because it created so many evocative moments in the tale, and made the reader very sympathetic to their plights. Which is serious, once Dracula and Rochester make their appearances.
There is a nod to the heroine of Jane Eyre as Jane herself plays a part in the story. I was less impressed with this take on her, as she becomes a shell of herself and we see nothing of her independent streak that is in the novel. To be honest, the whole ending of the novel Jane Eyre does not come into play here at all - but the author explains it somewhat as just a version of the truth. The concepts are played out well though, as I find it fun to think that Bertha has seen some of the film adaptations of Jane Eyre and absolutely can’t bear how everyone is depicted.
It’s difficult to talk too much about the plot of this story, because it’s something you need to experience as you read it - I enjoyed how unique the story felt as a retelling or sequel to two famous novels. The author takes these characters and puts her own sophisticated spin on them!
Review copy kindly provided by the publisher
The story takes on a decadently Gothic atmosphere that comes from the anguish of Lucy and Bertha dealing with the trauma of their former lives, and the death and decay that unavoidably follows Lucy due to being a vampire. The reason for Bertha’s immortality is entirely new and quite horrific, and was definitely an interesting twist! I loved the way the story built on all of their distress and misery because it created so many evocative moments in the tale, and made the reader very sympathetic to their plights. Which is serious, once Dracula and Rochester make their appearances.
There is a nod to the heroine of Jane Eyre as Jane herself plays a part in the story. I was less impressed with this take on her, as she becomes a shell of herself and we see nothing of her independent streak that is in the novel. To be honest, the whole ending of the novel Jane Eyre does not come into play here at all - but the author explains it somewhat as just a version of the truth. The concepts are played out well though, as I find it fun to think that Bertha has seen some of the film adaptations of Jane Eyre and absolutely can’t bear how everyone is depicted.
It’s difficult to talk too much about the plot of this story, because it’s something you need to experience as you read it - I enjoyed how unique the story felt as a retelling or sequel to two famous novels. The author takes these characters and puts her own sophisticated spin on them!
Review copy kindly provided by the publisher
This book was a ridiculous indulgence. I enjoyed reading it so much, but I have to be honest about its limitations.
The idea is wonderful, as is the motivation behind it. Feminist retellings of classic stories is indeed a rich seam to be mined. The mash up of characters worked well as it was two women who don't have much of a say in the original stories so you don't really get to know them.
The writing was clunky though. The prose and dialogue was a bit bland. And, although Kiste was making some excellent points, they were made in a bit of a heavy handed way and repeated too much.
The idea is wonderful, as is the motivation behind it. Feminist retellings of classic stories is indeed a rich seam to be mined. The mash up of characters worked well as it was two women who don't have much of a say in the original stories so you don't really get to know them.
The writing was clunky though. The prose and dialogue was a bit bland. And, although Kiste was making some excellent points, they were made in a bit of a heavy handed way and repeated too much.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced