Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk

49 reviews

dfrancis's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I was excited by the concept of this book. And I did enjoy it. But it left me wanting more, and not in a good way. I feel like there needed to be more of a build up to the ending and a bit more mingling of the two POVs. It’s a translated book, and I feel like at moments it felt a little stilted and I can’t tell if that’s the author’s writing or the translation. Overall, enjoyed but expected/hoped for more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Gore, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

deckanddaughter's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This was a startling take on the vampire tale. It’s interesting because the first third of the book is familiar- the story of a turned creature existing for centuries trying to reconcile their feral side with the human world. Then we change to Alma’s perspective. Our human narrator. And it shifts in a profound way. 
This is still a study on death, grief, connection, and of course, thirst (for various things). But the way Yuszczuk comes at it is refreshingly modern and relatable in a way that more traditional vampire literature isn’t (at least for me). 

My main critique (and why it’s a 3.5 for me) is the pacing of the middle third. I understand we have to establish a lot with Alma’s situation but it drags in a jarring way after the first third. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Medical trauma

Minor: Abandonment

Explicit discussion and description of

medically assisted suicide due to a terminal illness

bookishvicky's review against another edition

4.5

“We’re all standing at death’s door; someone has to be next in line”

THIRST was a beautiful novel about death and wanting, about mourning and identity versus an ever changing world. This unique take on the vampire genre was refreshing and wonderfully melancholic, yet animalistic to its core. Even as a vampire, she remains flawed, scared, lonely, emotions we see reflected in Alma, a human mother watching her own mother slowly fade from life. 

I adored this book; while I did think the plot slowed down toward the end, the overall story was more than enough to keep me interested. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a new take on vampires! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

bellavictoria's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Murder

keightychandelier's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.75

feels like an excellent first draft - a lot is left unexplained and unexplored, which both adds to the mystery of the book and rushes what could be a much more beautiful, complex, and compelling story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Terminal illness, Blood, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual content

kathleencoughlin's review

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Confinement, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

caseythereader's review

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

amandall's review against another edition

Graphic, violate death

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder

tifftastic87's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

In Buenos Aires two women are united through odd circumstances. An unnamed vampire arrives on the shores of Buenos Aires and watches as the world around her changes, after the Paraguayan War in 1870 a plague hits and the vampire's connection to the city begins to change. In the modern day, Alma is struggling with her mother's terminal illness, her own medical troubles, and motherhood accidentally awakens the vampire from her long slumber changing Alma's life forever. 

This was very poetically written, eerie, and tense at times. Very low on plot, high on vibes. Both women's lives were tragic in different ways and overall was just a sad book. There was a lot of grief and anger here. I really liked the conversation around religion from the vampire's story, honestly, my favorite part. Both women lost in different ways, their whole family. I really appreciated the view on rage and anger and how emotions are processed within the constructs of the time. However, the ending was so meh. I just wanted a bit more explanation. Based on the setup it didn't feel like a valid ending for Alma and I am disappointment by it. Overall, it was a bit boring and didn't live up to some of the expectations given by the listings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, and Murder

veridae's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Blood

Moderate: Chronic illness, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail