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yaboywillyshakes's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Rape
rorikae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.75
'A Long Time Dead' by Samara Breger is a slow, lush vampire story about two women falling in love and attempting to build a life together.
Poppy wakes up one night with her world changed. She has been ferreted away from her home in London and transformed into a vampire. Roisin, the vampire who saved Poppy, tends to her as she continues the agonizing process of learning how to control her urges for blood. As the two women spend more time together, Poppy begins to fall for Roisin. But Roisin's sire is out in the world, ready to toy with her again and putting the possibility of a peaceful life in jeopardy. They will have to leave their quiet life behind to find a chance at a longer life together.
Breger has created two incredibly fallible vampire characters that it is hard not to completely fall for. The story starts out quite slow, picking up pace toward the end, but the quiet moments felt just as profound as those with more action. I came to care deeply for Poppy and Roisin, especially as both explore their pasts and faults. At its heart, this is a story about learning to be cared for, making deep friendships, and fighting for a life where one can be happy. Breger's writing is dense and lush in a way that felt perfectly suited to a decadent vampire novel. I am excited to see what they write next because it's clear how much care and time they put into this story.
Poppy wakes up one night with her world changed. She has been ferreted away from her home in London and transformed into a vampire. Roisin, the vampire who saved Poppy, tends to her as she continues the agonizing process of learning how to control her urges for blood. As the two women spend more time together, Poppy begins to fall for Roisin. But Roisin's sire is out in the world, ready to toy with her again and putting the possibility of a peaceful life in jeopardy. They will have to leave their quiet life behind to find a chance at a longer life together.
Breger has created two incredibly fallible vampire characters that it is hard not to completely fall for. The story starts out quite slow, picking up pace toward the end, but the quiet moments felt just as profound as those with more action. I came to care deeply for Poppy and Roisin, especially as both explore their pasts and faults. At its heart, this is a story about learning to be cared for, making deep friendships, and fighting for a life where one can be happy. Breger's writing is dense and lush in a way that felt perfectly suited to a decadent vampire novel. I am excited to see what they write next because it's clear how much care and time they put into this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Animal death, Blood, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
stephtoriz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It was a bit hard for me to get through , the vampire story was definitely there , I liked the action parts and the parts when the lovers reunite but I thought the rest of the parts were a bit boring. Overall I did enjoy it though especially since I haven’t read a vampire book in over 10 years !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Animal death, Blood, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
probablytoolate's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, and Blood
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
fromthefoxhole's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Many thanks to Netgalley, Samara Berger, and Bywater Books for the ARC!
Upon waking one morning, Poppy finds herself in a strange place, thirsty for something she cannot name, and with a distinct chill to her skin. Here she meets Roisin, who explains that they are both vampires. When prompted, Poppy cannot remember the exact circumstances surrounding her being turned, aside from hazy memories of a tall, imposing woman named Cane. Roisin is unsurprised, as Cane is her sire - the same vampire that turned her some centuries ago.
Roisin is filled with rage and the desire to go after Cane, but places this on hold in order to help Poppy adjust to her new not-quite-life. As she teaches her, Poppy works to control both her bloodlust and her overwhelming attraction to Roisin.
As the years to by, will either of them manage to succeed in their plans?
--
I feel like my words will fall short of how much I loved this book. I grew up on Twilight and the Vampire Diaries, hiding under the covers with a book light to read Frankenstein and Dracula past my bedtime. A Long Time Dead honored all of this and more. It's a lush, sweeping, gothic love affair spanning decades, filled with dramatics, horror, and romance - all the things that define the genre. It felt like it could have been written for me.
Poppy, our FMC, is the definition of a 20 year old, brash, unrefined, and forceful with her convictions. This is slightly tempered by the hard life that she has led, but she is stubborn and gluttonous and, above all, she is clever enough to turn her circumstances in a way that suits her. This directly opposes Roisin, her counterpart, a guilt-riddled vampire who has lived centuries denying herself and her baser instincts (damn Catholics).
The two could not be more different, which makes their relationship all the more exasperating and rewarding in equal measure.
I will admit that sometimes Poppy's brattish behavior grated on me, but there is value in remembering that she is stuck at 20. Roisin similarly frustrates me with her need to atone for perceived sins, but I can empathize as well.
All in all, I had a wonderful time reading A Long Time Dead, and will likely read it again!
Upon waking one morning, Poppy finds herself in a strange place, thirsty for something she cannot name, and with a distinct chill to her skin. Here she meets Roisin, who explains that they are both vampires. When prompted, Poppy cannot remember the exact circumstances surrounding her being turned, aside from hazy memories of a tall, imposing woman named Cane. Roisin is unsurprised, as Cane is her sire - the same vampire that turned her some centuries ago.
Roisin is filled with rage and the desire to go after Cane, but places this on hold in order to help Poppy adjust to her new not-quite-life. As she teaches her, Poppy works to control both her bloodlust and her overwhelming attraction to Roisin.
As the years to by, will either of them manage to succeed in their plans?
--
I feel like my words will fall short of how much I loved this book. I grew up on Twilight and the Vampire Diaries, hiding under the covers with a book light to read Frankenstein and Dracula past my bedtime. A Long Time Dead honored all of this and more. It's a lush, sweeping, gothic love affair spanning decades, filled with dramatics, horror, and romance - all the things that define the genre. It felt like it could have been written for me.
Poppy, our FMC, is the definition of a 20 year old, brash, unrefined, and forceful with her convictions. This is slightly tempered by the hard life that she has led, but she is stubborn and gluttonous and, above all, she is clever enough to turn her circumstances in a way that suits her. This directly opposes Roisin, her counterpart, a guilt-riddled vampire who has lived centuries denying herself and her baser instincts (damn Catholics).
The two could not be more different, which makes their relationship all the more exasperating and rewarding in equal measure.
I will admit that sometimes Poppy's brattish behavior grated on me, but there is value in remembering that she is stuck at 20. Roisin similarly frustrates me with her need to atone for perceived sins, but I can empathize as well.
All in all, I had a wonderful time reading A Long Time Dead, and will likely read it again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Gaslighting, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault, War, and Classism
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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