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cjoiner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
sativadiva666's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
ariel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
sleepysharon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
This book made me feel such a range of emotions.
If you want 1800s sapphic vampires and some revenge— this is for you!!
If you want 1800s sapphic vampires and some revenge— this is for you!!
spacewhombus's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
After months of trying to get through this book and not making it past 30 percent despite genuinely trying, I am officially DNF-ing it to move on to other things in my to-read pile. While the book sounds interesting (Victorian lesbian vampires!) it just did nottt hold my interest.
My main issue was with the writing style, because Poppy's voice in this book is just so unlike what I would expect a Victorian era woman to sound like and so childlike, to the point of it becoming very distracting. Her infatuation with Roisin was baffling because it felt like it came out of nowhere and that they had zero chemistry. By 30 percent, they were also still alone in the house together and so nothing was really happening anyway.
Maybe it gets more interesting later, but I don't wanna wait that long and already did not like the romantic aspect. If you like the way the author writes Poppy, however, then I would say probably stick around, because that was the main thing that kept irking me.
After months of trying to get through this book and not making it past 30 percent despite genuinely trying, I am officially DNF-ing it to move on to other things in my to-read pile. While the book sounds interesting (Victorian lesbian vampires!) it just did nottt hold my interest.
My main issue was with the writing style, because Poppy's voice in this book is just so unlike what I would expect a Victorian era woman to sound like and so childlike, to the point of it becoming very distracting. Her infatuation with Roisin was baffling because it felt like it came out of nowhere and that they had zero chemistry. By 30 percent, they were also still alone in the house together and so nothing was really happening anyway.
Maybe it gets more interesting later, but I don't wanna wait that long and already did not like the romantic aspect. If you like the way the author writes Poppy, however, then I would say probably stick around, because that was the main thing that kept irking me.
dramab's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sopie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
juliriganti's review against another edition
4.0
actual rating 4.5
Thank you NetGalley and Samara Breger for the ARC! This review is my honest opinion on this book.
"It was easier than crossing that invisible boundary in the bed, easier than tossing her and Roisin's hearts into the sea and hoping they floated"
I knew I would love this book as soon as I read the first few pages. Poppy, the protagonist, is funny and confident and a bit annoying but in the best way. She's a sex worker in Victorian London when she's turned into a vampire and meets Roisin, an older vampire who takes her in and helps her not only through the painful experience of transformation but also how to become a vampire and have self-control. They become the annoying/annoyed pair that I love so much and as they fall in love they understand that not everything will be so easy and they will have to fight to protect what they have and those they love.
Even if it seems a bit obvious, this book has a lot of blood talk, so be careful if that's something that bothers you. Now
*Stefon voice* This book has everything: vampires, queer characters, found family, pirates, nobles, opera, and a very intense party.
I can't explain how beautifully written this book is without feeling dense and still managing to be really funny in some parts. The contrast between Poppy and Roisin is amazing in the way they talk and act, and they are a very interesting pair to read about. When we meet the Brood, a group of vampires that live together in a big mansion, everyone has a very distinct personality, which is something I tend to find doesn't always happen in books with somewhat big groups (5 vampires and a few human servants), and I loved all of them but especially Carmen, I love her so much.
As a Spanish speaker as soon as I read Carmen say "pobrecita" I was really excited, and I'm pleasantly surprised that I found only 1 mistake when she says "evidentamente" when it should be "evidentemente".
I hope you enjoy this book and its beautiful characters as much as I did and thank you again NetGalley and the author!
"If we die and we go somewhere after. If we find one another in that up or a beyond or anywhere else, I want to have a body that's changed for you being beside it."
Thank you NetGalley and Samara Breger for the ARC! This review is my honest opinion on this book.
"It was easier than crossing that invisible boundary in the bed, easier than tossing her and Roisin's hearts into the sea and hoping they floated"
I knew I would love this book as soon as I read the first few pages. Poppy, the protagonist, is funny and confident and a bit annoying but in the best way. She's a sex worker in Victorian London when she's turned into a vampire and meets Roisin, an older vampire who takes her in and helps her not only through the painful experience of transformation but also how to become a vampire and have self-control. They become the annoying/annoyed pair that I love so much and as they fall in love they understand that not everything will be so easy and they will have to fight to protect what they have and those they love.
Even if it seems a bit obvious, this book has a lot of blood talk, so be careful if that's something that bothers you. Now
*Stefon voice* This book has everything: vampires, queer characters, found family, pirates, nobles, opera, and a very intense party.
I can't explain how beautifully written this book is without feeling dense and still managing to be really funny in some parts. The contrast between Poppy and Roisin is amazing in the way they talk and act, and they are a very interesting pair to read about. When we meet the Brood, a group of vampires that live together in a big mansion, everyone has a very distinct personality, which is something I tend to find doesn't always happen in books with somewhat big groups (5 vampires and a few human servants), and I loved all of them but especially Carmen, I love her so much.
As a Spanish speaker as soon as I read Carmen say "pobrecita" I was really excited, and I'm pleasantly surprised that I found only 1 mistake when she says "evidentamente" when it should be "evidentemente".
I hope you enjoy this book and its beautiful characters as much as I did and thank you again NetGalley and the author!
"If we die and we go somewhere after. If we find one another in that up or a beyond or anywhere else, I want to have a body that's changed for you being beside it."
theduchess93's review
5.0
Thanks to Book Sirens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I have not stopped thinking about this book since I finished it. I was truly blown away by how honest, respectful, and earnest the portrayals of queer characters were; I loved every single one. The relationship between Poppy and Roisin was so genuine and really got to me as someone who was in a controlling, abusive relationship similar to Roisin's in the past. This has jumped up to my second favorite queer vampire novel of all time (after Carmilla, of course), which is saying a LOT considering how many books I read in that subgenre.
I have not stopped thinking about this book since I finished it. I was truly blown away by how honest, respectful, and earnest the portrayals of queer characters were; I loved every single one. The relationship between Poppy and Roisin was so genuine and really got to me as someone who was in a controlling, abusive relationship similar to Roisin's in the past. This has jumped up to my second favorite queer vampire novel of all time (after Carmilla, of course), which is saying a LOT considering how many books I read in that subgenre.
bowden's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0