Scan barcode
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
More...