Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
California, 1967, and Lucy Westenra is just trying to live out eternity one day at a time alongside her fellow immortal, Bertha (Bee) Rotchester. For a while, all they have to contend with is vampire Lucy’s hunger and their frustrations with their unrealistic fictional counterparts, until an unexpected visitor turns up and causes disaster.
Utilising characters from much-loved existing books is a risky strategy, but Gwendolyn Kiste carries it off with warmth and aplomb. This was a quick, action packed, fun read that kept me turning pages in a hurry. I enjoyed Kiste’s version of Dracula and the inspired summer-of-love setting. I was never 100% convinced by the presence of the Jane Eyre characters who, not being supernatural, didn’t seem to quite fit into the story and whose immortality was not satisfactorily explained. But this was offset by the brilliance of the other characters and particularly the treatment of Renfield. Overall, well worth the read.
Utilising characters from much-loved existing books is a risky strategy, but Gwendolyn Kiste carries it off with warmth and aplomb. This was a quick, action packed, fun read that kept me turning pages in a hurry. I enjoyed Kiste’s version of Dracula and the inspired summer-of-love setting. I was never 100% convinced by the presence of the Jane Eyre characters who, not being supernatural, didn’t seem to quite fit into the story and whose immortality was not satisfactorily explained. But this was offset by the brilliance of the other characters and particularly the treatment of Renfield. Overall, well worth the read.
dark
emotional
reflective
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-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
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting premise and a strong start, but an ultimately forgettable story.
I had doubts about the premise, but was initially prepared to actively suspend disbelief for a paranormal Rochester. The magic/paranormal in this book was written very well. Certain scenes were very evocative. But on the whole, nothing really happened. The characters were weak and two-dimensional (which is saying something, given some are based on existing characters), the plot was circuitous and unengaging, and aside from a little gore, the horror was negligible. I would have liked more fear, more rage, more action than the odd gray space the novel hovered in.
I had doubts about the premise, but was initially prepared to actively suspend disbelief for a paranormal Rochester. The magic/paranormal in this book was written very well. Certain scenes were very evocative. But on the whole, nothing really happened. The characters were weak and two-dimensional (which is saying something, given some are based on existing characters), the plot was circuitous and unengaging, and aside from a little gore, the horror was negligible. I would have liked more fear, more rage, more action than the odd gray space the novel hovered in.
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
Fresh and inventive. Kiste's love for these classic characters shines through as she grants them new depth and purpose.
Rule number one of a feminist retelling: if you find yourself denying / casting off traits of the female characters you're trying to redeem, you've already failed the project.
Was in a reading slump for most of August, but this book pulled me out of it! I love what Kiste has done here; we read these famous stories of villainous and brooding men, but we so rarely stop to consider what becomes of the women they leave, the women they discard, the women they forget.
Reluctant Immortals felt feminist in a real, tangible way. Both Lucy and Bee are far from perfect, but watching them develop over the course of the book, and also come back to their strong, willful selves was really wonderful. I think Kiste also really excelled at showing what lifetimes of trauma and abuse will do to a person, and how that trauma can manifest in sneaky and horrifying ways.
In general, I think this was a really fresh take on a monster story, and I can’t wait to check out more of this author’s works.
Reluctant Immortals felt feminist in a real, tangible way. Both Lucy and Bee are far from perfect, but watching them develop over the course of the book, and also come back to their strong, willful selves was really wonderful. I think Kiste also really excelled at showing what lifetimes of trauma and abuse will do to a person, and how that trauma can manifest in sneaky and horrifying ways.
In general, I think this was a really fresh take on a monster story, and I can’t wait to check out more of this author’s works.
I really wanted to like this, but there was something missing in the writing, it was so monotone which made the characters like that too.