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A review by vagaybond
Undeath and Taxes by Drew Hayes
3.0
There's so much about this that I love. I was braced for the collection of self contained short stories and this time there really was some small overarching plot. There's something relaxing about knowing the plot is not going to be so complicated that it's hard to explain to my partner what I've been reading today. It's a studious vampire accountant who loves his buddies! Who are also a lil unconventional!
I've recently joined a Monster Of The Week role playing group and this is a similar vibe.
Some things I do dislike (which have extreme weight to them)
(spoilers ahead, not censored because they warrant warning)
1. the thing between Sally and Gideon. I get that there's... More To It but... I find what it is extremely repellant and unnecessary. It's essentially grooming only Gideon is in child form too. If Sally were a whole adult in the start, who wasn't growing up beside him that would be one thing. I feel like if a 22-year-old were into some ancient dragon that would be one thing. It's different and unsettling to have Sally grow up beside someone who is always more powerful and has more authority than her. Maybe if Sally were a reincarnation or something even? Or temporarily a young person, who used to be an adult who already made the decisions for this.
I just feel like there's so many ways this could have been written (Sally being, Gideon being her ~betrothed~) that weren't unbelievably off-putting to survivors and the author really just... Had no regard.
Especially that gross title that essentially meant Sally is supposed to be!?!? And like... YOU COULD HAVE EVEN AVOIDED DOING THAT. Even with the same plot point thing! Like you could have .
You didn't need to do it like this Drew Hayes!!
2. Copaganda with the agency. ACAB.
Yeah, it does follow that there'd be some way for supernatural beings to have something like an agency but like... In the form of something like a government or council where people sort through shit. Like a town hall that helps people sort out conflict and find housing or whatever social support. Something that serves, not something like a paramilitary group that in actually canon words benefits from fear.
Each of those things brings it down a full star. If it were not for either of those, this would be five stars. I cannot morally reconcile giving it that many stars.
I've recently joined a Monster Of The Week role playing group and this is a similar vibe.
Some things I do dislike (which have extreme weight to them)
(spoilers ahead, not censored because they warrant warning)
1. the thing between Sally and Gideon. I get that there's... More To It but... I find what it is extremely repellant and unnecessary. It's essentially grooming only Gideon is in child form too. If Sally were a whole adult in the start, who wasn't growing up beside him that would be one thing. I feel like if a 22-year-old were into some ancient dragon that would be one thing. It's different and unsettling to have Sally grow up beside someone who is always more powerful and has more authority than her. Maybe if Sally were a reincarnation or something even? Or temporarily a young person, who used to be an adult who already made the decisions for this.
I just feel like there's so many ways this could have been written (Sally being
Spoiler
some big prophecy beingEspecially that gross title that essentially meant Sally is supposed to be
Spoiler
pregnant with full-blooded dragons eventually??? WHAT THE FUCKSpoiler
made dragons like amphibians who scatter eggs and others fertilize them without actually fuckingYou didn't need to do it like this Drew Hayes!!
2. Copaganda with the agency. ACAB.
Yeah, it does follow that there'd be some way for supernatural beings to have something like an agency but like... In the form of something like a government or council where people sort through shit. Like a town hall that helps people sort out conflict and find housing or whatever social support. Something that serves, not something like a paramilitary group that in actually canon words benefits from fear.
Each of those things brings it down a full star. If it were not for either of those, this would be five stars. I cannot morally reconcile giving it that many stars.