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adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m glad I finally read the book, I’ve had it in my to-read pile and it’s done. I’ll have more to write eventually but this will do for now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Vampires and steamboats is a weird combo but George RR Martin went all in. It’s as if he read Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice and Life on the Mississippi and tried to combine them.
This is a pretty solid vampire novel, although Martin lacks the genius of his later writing and leans into some of his worse instincts (exploitation as a form of exposition, an excess of detail). The pacing is a bit off - too slow in the beginning and too fast at the end.
I think the time and place are interesting. Martin connects vampirism with American slavery in a way that’s really interesting, although I think giving the black characters a bit more agency and screen-time would have helped. And the 19th century is an age of scientific discovery and transition - the steamboat, foremost, but also a scientific concoctionthat saves the vampires from having to drink blood.
Where this novel succeeds more than anything is in its lore. Joshua’s history lessons are by far the most interesting passages and George tweaks the vampire mythos in ways I’ve never seen.
This is a pretty solid vampire novel, although Martin lacks the genius of his later writing and leans into some of his worse instincts (exploitation as a form of exposition, an excess of detail). The pacing is a bit off - too slow in the beginning and too fast at the end.
I think the time and place are interesting. Martin connects vampirism with American slavery in a way that’s really interesting, although I think giving the black characters a bit more agency and screen-time would have helped. And the 19th century is an age of scientific discovery and transition - the steamboat, foremost, but also a scientific concoction
Where this novel succeeds more than anything is in its lore. Joshua’s history lessons are by far the most interesting passages and George tweaks the vampire mythos in ways I’ve never seen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cannibalism
This takes place in the pre-Civil War American south so there is some truly awful treatment of slaves by villain characters and some ambivalence by protagonists.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism, Slavery, Violence
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Slavery, Murder
holy fuckin racism....
can't listen to these "good" characters say the n-word over and over and OVER again
can't listen to these "good" characters say the n-word over and over and OVER again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Racial slurs, Murder
Minor: Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-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
8.5/10
One of the better books I have read this year, and in many ways a foil to the immediate last one I read, Wind and Truth. This book is superbly written while the other is clunky, has vivid atmosphere and memorable character voices while the other feels casual and juvenile with homogenously written POVs. Yet on the other hand this book has a much shoddier plot, especially in the latter half, with a very arbitrary climax and no falling action save for a very short, albeit beautiful, epilogue. But still, this was an enjoyable and eerily immersive read, perfect for a foggy winter, and I must say the first half of this book is superb, perfect, even, and is perhaps the best section of any book I have read by Martin.
One of the better books I have read this year, and in many ways a foil to the immediate last one I read, Wind and Truth. This book is superbly written while the other is clunky, has vivid atmosphere and memorable character voices while the other feels casual and juvenile with homogenously written POVs. Yet on the other hand this book has a much shoddier plot, especially in the latter half, with a very arbitrary climax and no falling action save for a very short, albeit beautiful, epilogue. But still, this was an enjoyable and eerily immersive read, perfect for a foggy winter, and I must say the first half of this book is superb, perfect, even, and is perhaps the best section of any book I have read by Martin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
slow-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:
No
I was disappointed in this read. I understand it’s an earlier work of George’s than Game of Thrones but had thought surely such a mind would have had an interesting take on vampires. Also, it got to be a bit much constantly reading from his self insert steamboat captains perspective; I did not find him a compelling enough character to be the primary perspective character
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery
Moderate: Gore