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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Yes
Turning someone into a vampire without their consent is unforgivable. Turning a ten-year-old child? Horrific. When a wight finds a newly created vampire child, she knows exactly who to bring her to: Dr Greta Helsing and Sir Francis Varney and their friends Ruthven and Grisaille. But they need help finding the awful vamp who turned Lucy, and they call on one of the most powerful vampires of all, Count Dracula. And maybe, just maybe, Lucy can find a family.
Bitter Waters is a delightful bridge novella, taking us from what felt like a conclusion in Grave Importance to setting up a new portion of the series. The short novella arc had all the right plot points to keep the story moving without having to dwell on a much larger mystery. Vlad Dracula and his countess were perfect, and I love the tentative relationships everyone is able to forge with them. Lucy asking to bring them breakfast in bed? An absolute delight.
Bitter Waters is a delightful bridge novella, taking us from what felt like a conclusion in Grave Importance to setting up a new portion of the series. The short novella arc had all the right plot points to keep the story moving without having to dwell on a much larger mystery. Vlad Dracula and his countess were perfect, and I love the tentative relationships everyone is able to forge with them. Lucy asking to bring them breakfast in bed? An absolute delight.
hopeful
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A witty and charming story that is a fresh take on Dracula featuring Greta Helsing, a doctor to the undead who has to figure out who has turned an 11 year old Lucy into a vampire! This was a really cute read and i thought it was such an interesting take. It's got some of the classic characters but with a whole new perspective and the overall story itself was short and sweet. It's a fun time to read and I would absolutely recommend it!
*Thanks Netgalley and Orbit Books | Orbit for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
*Thanks Netgalley and Orbit Books | Orbit for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love that Ms. Shaw got to play with the more famous of vampires here and also get to retell Lucy's story in the form of a young girl who is traumatized and turned against her will, and yes, Dracula is still Vlad the Impaler, but also a really fantastic parent (who will still absolutely impale you if you hurt his.) Ruthven also gets to deal with something that is beyond his ken and makes him feel powerless, and Greta gets to be James Herriott with a local old wight grandpa while also trying to caretake for a child. Just a delightful romp that simultaneously doesn't hesitate to get down in the dirt.
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A nice, cozy bridge to the last full novel.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love that Shaw writes all these men with insecurity and then Greta and the other women with (almost) none lol
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Just wonderful, this far my favorite of the series
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a novella in the Greta Helsing series about a doctor who treats supernatural beings (a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing of Dracula fame). This rather cozy installment starts off with a child who's found after an attack, but things swiftly take a turn for the better when the unloved child finds herself among caring strangers who want what’s best for her. Plus there are barrow wights. I very much enjoyed the original trilogy and am looking forward to a new installment in May.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse