A review by lauren_miller
Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

5.0

this book is about many things, but at its core, its focus is grief—the crushing emotion we feel as someone we love dies and passes on into the next unknown adventure. Victoria makes it so painfully accessible to the reader, and through her suffering the reader feels seen, comforted, known. the author handled this theme with such care, and, in my opinion, balanced contemporary with fantasy beautifully; this book gives new meaning to the term "magical realism."

after finishing, my strongest thought is that I desperately hope this book reaches teenagers going through the same thing. the obsession with immortality being pit against the futility of humanity and made to lose—there is so much hope and beauty to be seen here.

5 out of 5 stars, ★★★★★