Reviews

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez

bespokecompost's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

sydsnot71's review against another edition

2.0

This is one for our reading group so I'll save my thoughts until after I've spoken to them.

elsuth's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

magsisreading's review against another edition

4.0

this was wonderful. really love the way this book explores the passage of time, and the found family aspect was lovely to read

sunnie9999's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This book walked so Fledgling could run! This was one of the first Black Lesbian vampire books that has inspired so much of the vampire content we consume today and so I was excited to read! The book is VERY slow but the authors depictions of family and the various forms of love we can experience if we only open ourselves up to it was beautiful. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Slavery, and Violence

orinthebard's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

mauseology's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

alinedc's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

apollos_books's review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

moh's review against another edition

5.0

The Gilda Stories is an amazing novel, and I'm more than a little miffed that it's taken me so long to get to it. In case anyone else is as clueless as I was, despite being a vampire novel, it isn't very gory. Humans are the monsters. Gilda and the other vampires, while fully developed characters, are a lens to view anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism in the US from 1850 forward. Queerness and chosen family are taken for granted in these vampires' world. Ugh—I'm not able to do this justice, but it's great, and you should read it.

Adenrele Ojo's reading of the audiobook is wonderful.

CN: slavery, attempted rape, murder, attempted suicide (A lot more attention is paid to the consequences of these acts than the violent acts themselves, but they're on-page.)