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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
Rounded up to 4.5 ⭐️
What can I say about Reluctant Immortals?
Taking place in 1967 Los Angeles, Reluctant Immortals follows Lucy Westerna and Bertha Antoinette Rochester as they combat a life of immortality thrust upon them by their tormentors. Both women were side characters in their own stories, but here they take center stage.
The book is an addictively readable, defiantly feminist take on characters in Gothic canon that have undeniably been done dirty. The two women and their friendship is the through line of the novel, and acts as a tether for the rest of the plot.
While the novel is not perfect, a few plot lines seemingly shoehorned in, some explanations not fully completed, and the setting not utilized to its fullest capabilities, the book was still a fantastic read. It was everything that I had hoped for and more.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
What can I say about Reluctant Immortals?
Taking place in 1967 Los Angeles, Reluctant Immortals follows Lucy Westerna and Bertha Antoinette Rochester as they combat a life of immortality thrust upon them by their tormentors. Both women were side characters in their own stories, but here they take center stage.
The book is an addictively readable, defiantly feminist take on characters in Gothic canon that have undeniably been done dirty. The two women and their friendship is the through line of the novel, and acts as a tether for the rest of the plot.
While the novel is not perfect, a few plot lines seemingly shoehorned in, some explanations not fully completed, and the setting not utilized to its fullest capabilities, the book was still a fantastic read. It was everything that I had hoped for and more.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Reluctant Immortals" by Gwendolyn Kiste is a serviceable take on two jilted women of fiction: Bertha, from Jane Eyre, and Lucy from Dracula. While it dips its toes into the horror genre, this book is more interesting in the interdynamics of abusive relationships: how does one move on when one is an immortal, as is your abuse perpetrator? I've heard this described as "Taylor Jenkins Reid tries horror" and honestly, that is the vibe - it's a pretty, psychedelic 1960s take on two literary antiheroes just trying to make it work. The characterizations of Lucy and Bertha were weak - that is this novel's biggest problem. They don't have distinct voices, and as a result, it's hard to really engage with their struggles. The concept was more intriguing than the output.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved that women and their stories are centered in this book. I think bringing vampires into a 1970s San Francisco is really interesting and Gwendolyn did a fantastic job with making the story come to life. The ending was bittersweet, but I guess it makes the mc more dynamic and complicated.
An interesting summer read. Do yourself a favor and earmark this for your fall stack.