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dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
fast-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
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Murder
I was pulled into this book pretty quickly. I identified quite a bit with Sloane, and loved the way Harrison leaned into the stereotypical, campy vampire tropes. It was fun! But as I got further in, that feeling waned.
To me, vampire stories usually feel big, sweeping, and epic, but this one stayed oddly small and limited. The romance in the book felt unearned and flat. And then JUST as the book started getting interesting… it ended! I truly felt like I’d just read half a book. I think there should have been a little less setup, and little more investment in the aftermath.
Overall, it left me feeling like I’d read the setup for something that never actually arrived 😔.
To me, vampire stories usually feel big, sweeping, and epic, but this one stayed oddly small and limited. The romance in the book felt unearned and flat. And then JUST as the book started getting interesting… it ended! I truly felt like I’d just read half a book. I think there should have been a little less setup, and little more investment in the aftermath.
Overall, it left me feeling like I’d read the setup for something that never actually arrived 😔.
Sloane is dreading her birthday and does not want the reminder that she is getting older. Her boyfriend decides to surprise her with a weekend getaway in wine country. He then promptly tells her it’s not with him it’s with her long time best friend Naomi. Naomi is a jet setter known for stirring up trouble but Sloane anticipates a cozy weekend sipping wine and forgetting about her troubles; including her cheating boyfriend. When Naomi arrives to their hotel Sloane is instantly brought back to the comfort of their friendship. Naomi who is not known for comfortable low key nights pushes Sloane’s boundaries and convinces her to go to a party full of strangers. Although, Sloane hesitates she gets blinded by Naomi’s persistence and glamour and they both have a night that changes their lives forever.
- The one thing about Rachel is she knows how to write monster stories and she does not let up with this vampire novel! 🩸 She also depicts aging and the nuances of female friendship very well in the horror genre. This book is definitely one you should sick your teeth into if you like books about vampires, a little bit of spice, and female friendships.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i think the characters are super interesting and had great potential. i adore the vibes of the book and it was very vivid. i was severely disappointed with the ending. i think a tragic ending where sloane has to decide to stay with her deceased friend (whether she dies alongside her or stays with her until shes discovered by the police) or sloane running away and living alone with the guilt of naomis death and what could've been if she stayed with the vampires would've been more impactful and emotional. naomi dying is heartbreaking and memorable, but apparently sloane's blood was enough to completely bring her back to life AND their vampire gang happened to find them in the random mall they blindly drove to? there should be punishment for the characters that are built up throughout the course of the story, but its just an empty happy ending. sloane is completely changed and we experience her shocking new perspective for like 3 pages. sloane develops no relationship with any of the interesting characters except for her freak of a boyfriend (?) his character completely changes at the end of the book and it makes you forget why sloane ever liked him in the first place. its almost ridiculous how there is such a fun cast of characters that we never get to truly learn about or grow any connection towards because no one except Henry tries to form any kind of relationship with her. why do any of them care if sloane is safe or not? why do they put up with her if they have no interest in her?
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
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:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No