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smartie_chan's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3 / 5 Stars
CW: Murder, Blood, Mentions Of Past Sex-work, Sexual Content, Implied Torture, Mentions Of Death Of A Parent, Mentions Of Vomit/ing
If I had to describe this book in two words it would be: slow burn. Like, really, really slow burn.
On the one hand it's nice to see that we're not rushing things. You have to walk first before you can attempt to run. And when you get newly transformed into a vampire you struggle. That's a given. Just like you don't develop feelings for someone over night.
And yet, with that being said, on the other hand, we spend a long time not really doing anything. We talk, we talk some more and wouldn't you look at that , 43% of the book has passed.
I'm not a toddler. I don't have an attention span of 3 seconds. I can invest my trust and patience in build up - in theory. But I can also understand how not everyone could or would feel the same.
Especially given the fact that the way things ended made me question if my patience was really rewarded. We build up this showdown, those last 30% are all amazing, high stakes, can't wait to turn the page and then it ends the way it does and I'm here like: "Did we just defeat the bad guy by using the power of friendship?? It feels like we did."
It also isn't helping that I'm not the biggest fan of our main ship in the first place. I just didn't feel like you guys had that deep of a connection to justify the intense reactions you've been having. Mutial pining is one thing. What you had going on was ...something else.
The side characters were nice - some more than others - but felt drowned by Poppy's obsession over Roisin. At least Poppy was making up for things. She's such an amazing character, with all of her hopes and weaknesses, her confidence & charme. Also: She's fat and loving herself and I - a fat girl - am loving her for it.
There is a lot to love. Parts of this book were amazing, but it would have needed cutting. Like, let's say, 100 pages of orgies, sex and filler less. Maybe more. But 100 pages would have been a start.
I'm conflicted about this book. It's not the worst, but it's also not on my top 10 vampire books list either.
Oh, and if you wanna know what kind of rep this book has? A lot:
- multible POC (black, brown, asian)
- trans rep (mtf)
- plus-size MC
- muslim SC
Honorable Mention: Dracula
Final thoughts
If you enjoy REALLY slow slow burn & sapphic vampires you might have a good time. If you don't , well, you may wanna skip this one
3 / 5 Stars
CW: Murder, Blood, Mentions Of Past Sex-work, Sexual Content, Implied Torture, Mentions Of Death Of A Parent, Mentions Of Vomit/ing
If I had to describe this book in two words it would be: slow burn. Like, really, really slow burn.
On the one hand it's nice to see that we're not rushing things. You have to walk first before you can attempt to run. And when you get newly transformed into a vampire you struggle. That's a given. Just like you don't develop feelings for someone over night.
And yet, with that being said, on the other hand, we spend a long time not really doing anything. We talk, we talk some more and wouldn't you look at that , 43% of the book has passed.
I'm not a toddler. I don't have an attention span of 3 seconds. I can invest my trust and patience in build up - in theory. But I can also understand how not everyone could or would feel the same.
Especially given the fact that the way things ended made me question if my patience was really rewarded. We build up this showdown, those last 30% are all amazing, high stakes, can't wait to turn the page and then it ends the way it does and I'm here like: "Did we just defeat the bad guy by using the power of friendship?? It feels like we did."
It also isn't helping that I'm not the biggest fan of our main ship in the first place. I just didn't feel like you guys had that deep of a connection to justify the intense reactions you've been having. Mutial pining is one thing. What you had going on was ...something else.
The side characters were nice - some more than others - but felt drowned by Poppy's obsession over Roisin. At least Poppy was making up for things. She's such an amazing character, with all of her hopes and weaknesses, her confidence & charme. Also: She's fat and loving herself and I - a fat girl - am loving her for it.
There is a lot to love. Parts of this book were amazing, but it would have needed cutting. Like, let's say, 100 pages of orgies, sex and filler less. Maybe more. But 100 pages would have been a start.
I'm conflicted about this book. It's not the worst, but it's also not on my top 10 vampire books list either.
Oh, and if you wanna know what kind of rep this book has? A lot:
- multible POC (black, brown, asian)
- trans rep (mtf)
- plus-size MC
- muslim SC
Honorable Mention: Dracula
Final thoughts
If you enjoy REALLY slow slow burn & sapphic vampires you might have a good time. If you don't , well, you may wanna skip this one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
nobeliumreads's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
4.5
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
When Poppy Cavendish wakes up to find herself a vampire, her only companion is the mysterious Roisin for the first year of her immortal life. But when Roisin sets off on a mission to resolve her past, Poppy is sent off to live with the Brood, a queer little found family of vampires that endeavour to introduce her to the finer parts of vampirism. Still, over decades of operas and orgies and new experiences, Poppy yearns for the elusive Roisin.
--
I went into this book with high expectations of found family and thank goodness it delivered--it has been a while since I’ve adored a found family as much as the Brood, or even since I’ve enjoyed a book so much!
We follow along Poppy as she navigates her new immortal life all whilst pining for Roisin, and considering the book spans over decades, you can imagine the pining and the angsting.
But despite Poppy and Roisin’s aching slow burn that had me putting my kindle down several times to squeal into my hands, I have to admit that I loved Poppy’s relationships with the Brood and other friends the most. Her banter with Valentin, her love for her past human friends, her relationship with Carmen, were all so beautiful. Not to say that Poppy and Roisin weren’t good either, though! In my opinion, they were really perfect for one another but a good found family will always steal the show.
I will say that I wished the first part of the book had more of a balance between Poppy navigating her vampirism AND her and Roisin becoming closer, because it felt like we blew through the ‘getting to know each other’ process, as well as wished the final confrontation of the book had a bit more to it. However, the rest of the book was enjoyable and it really does pick up once Poppy meets the Brood (my only other problem would have to be that I wanted more of them! Particularly Zahrah and Karol, and Massimo and Valentin).
Overall, however, I do think I personally enjoyed the book a lot so that contributes to my high rating of it, despite my aforementioned ‘problems’ (really, when it comes down to it I just wanted more of the book in general). A good read with angsty pining lesbians, queer found family, general steamy vampire-ness, and an endearing main character!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Gore, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, and Sexual assault
wldflwrs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A Long Time Dead is a vampire romance novel set in Victorian England, and it certainly has its moments of intrigue and excitement. The story follows Poppy, a newly-turned vampire who is learning to navigate her way through her new life, with the help of Roisin, a mysterious woman who has lived for centuries. The world-building is well-done, and the characters are fleshed out enough to make them interesting and believable. The crew is great and I love their stories just as much as I love Poppy and Roisin's.
However, I found the explicit scenes to be a bit too much, which is just a personal preference, and some of the plot points felt a bit forced, especially that of Cane and Brood. Additionally, I think we should have had more time with Poppy and Roisin together-- not apart.
This story may not be for everyone; if you enjoy this genre, you will find it to be an entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this novel!
However, I found the explicit scenes to be a bit too much, which is just a personal preference, and some of the plot points felt a bit forced, especially that of Cane and Brood. Additionally, I think we should have had more time with Poppy and Roisin together-- not apart.
This story may not be for everyone; if you enjoy this genre, you will find it to be an entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this novel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
lydiareads247's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"You've ruined everything. Do you know that? You ruined me. How am I meant to hunt her after this? How am I meant to wander when every part of everything I am wants to rest with you? "
real rating: 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This was a little hard to get through. It wasn't necessarily bad, the plot and story overall were captivating. Some of the characters had depth and were very lovely and loveable. But the writing was dull at times and the plot moved slowly...
I loved some of the characters and I adored the found family trope. I liked how Poppy came to befriend everyone in the Brood in her own way and how her closest relationships played out. I loved the slow-burn with Roisin. I love how it starts out and lingers for that while before they truly get together. I think their relationship was well executed, for the most part. It had moments I thought were unnecessary or stretched out. It felt like there was a "on hold" on the story that didn't add anything to the plot or characters and wasn't, for me, particularly interesting.
There was a part of the plot that felt entirely useless and just there to fill some pages. It also felt unsatisfying how it all ended. Cane's played out to be so powerful and cunning and then when ti gets down to it, it all seems so easy... it feels like the ending was rushed while the middle of the book was stretched.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book. It had mostly queer characters and love stories, which I loved. It also had a lot of iconic vampire myths, gore and twists, which were fun and enjoyable.
real rating: 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This was a little hard to get through. It wasn't necessarily bad, the plot and story overall were captivating. Some of the characters had depth and were very lovely and loveable. But the writing was dull at times and the plot moved slowly...
I loved some of the characters and I adored the found family trope. I liked how Poppy came to befriend everyone in the Brood in her own way and how her closest relationships played out. I loved the slow-burn with Roisin. I love how it starts out and lingers for that while before they truly get together. I think their relationship was well executed, for the most part. It had moments I thought were unnecessary or stretched out. It felt like there was a "on hold" on the story that didn't add anything to the plot or characters and wasn't, for me, particularly interesting.
There was a part of the plot that felt entirely useless and just there to fill some pages. It also felt unsatisfying how it all ended. Cane's played out to be so powerful and cunning and then when ti gets down to it, it all seems so easy... it feels like the ending was rushed while the middle of the book was stretched.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book. It had mostly queer characters and love stories, which I loved. It also had a lot of iconic vampire myths, gore and twists, which were fun and enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Vomit, and Murder
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