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11corvus11's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read any of Doc Brite's books again in adulthood except this one. And in adulthood, it definitely wasn't the same. I was more annoyed by the characters and didn't relate much, like adults tend to be with youth. But, in my teen years, this book was everything. Probably too adult, probably too messed up, but made me feel so met by the dark world he created. So, it being that important to me then means a lot now. And regardless of what he's writing about, Brite's writing style is always a pleasure to experience.
I think Doc Brite's later novels about the chef's like Prime are what are better for adults. Though I was pretty young when I read that, too.
I think Doc Brite's later novels about the chef's like Prime are what are better for adults. Though I was pretty young when I read that, too.
nadiastanley's review against another edition
4.0
Bisexual vampire incest? A magical abortion gone wrong? All in all, an interesting way to start the year.
tbutton's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
essie85's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Lolita but with a boy and vampires, without the social critique of Lolita. It had promise, and seemed to want to say something about youth culture, but then failed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Child abuse, Death, and Drug use
misselaineous's review against another edition
I didn't find any of the characters to be engaging at all.
boyeatsgod's review against another edition
4.0
The writing style was amazing, but it got repetitive adjective wise and Nothing's story was entrancing until the second half of the book. It got a little silly after that, but this remains a favorite book I must say. Ghost was a great character that I loved from the git, as well as Nothing.
rosemarys_gayby's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m glad I read Exquisite Corpse first because I’m not sure I would have stuck this out. I didn’t really get it then when folks complain about Brite’s purple prose but boy oh boy do I get it now. Even so, the writer’s first novel is highly readable and perverse, though the miles away from the vivid scatological violence and degradation of Exquisite Corpse, and not nearly as sexy. The last act is a real slog (boooo Ann who cares about you) but this definitely would have turned my crank in high school.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
rattlecakes's review against another edition
5.0
I think I read this book 5 times in high school and loved it every time (not sure it would have the same pull these days). wonderful, trashy vampire story with plenty of sex, drugs and violence.
naridon's review against another edition
2.0
Probably should have read this at ~15, I might have sorta liked it then. As it is, there was a bit too much "o sensuous black silk, as erotic as the touch of someone else's skin" for me to actually get into it. Clichés all around, mainly (one of the main characters is called Nothing).
Also not impressed by the fact that of the two female characters who are at all relevant to the plot (as opposed to the eight-ish male main characters), one dies giving birth to her vampire-monster-son and the other gets raped by her boyfriend and then dies, due to a failed abortion of her vampire-monster-baby which would have killed her if the abortion hadn't done that already.
And I feel like it has been mentioned at least 20 times that some character is listening to Bauhaus
Also not impressed by the fact that of the two female characters who are at all relevant to the plot (as opposed to the eight-ish male main characters), one dies giving birth to her vampire-monster-son and the other gets raped by her boyfriend and then dies, due to a failed abortion of her vampire-monster-baby which would have killed her if the abortion hadn't done that already.
And I feel like it has been mentioned at least 20 times that some character is listening to Bauhaus
hknb43c's review against another edition
1.0
Another one that I didn't bother to finish reading. I feel almost bad posting a review about it having not read the whole thing. So, the beginning was overly flowery, and none of the characters are likeable. Maybe that's a weakness of mine, feeling like I need to like the characters in order to enjoy the story.