A review by ronnieb
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Trigger Warning: Rape, Child Abuse/Assault, Suicide, Death of Children/Close Family Members, Drug Abuse

This was my first Grady Hendrix novel and I really thought this was a well constructed novel. I will say it starts fast and strong but slows down a bit in the end. I will say I did grow frustrated in the middle of the novel but I think that was the point and kept you in the same headspace as the main character. Overall I do not have much to say other than this is a well put together story that is dark and gruesome but not overly grotesque or exploitative.  

I did want to touch on the portrayal of different races and genders in this novel. I have heard this criticized in some reviews and I am tempted to agree with them. The exploration of these themes felt very surface and not really nuanced in any way. As a white man I don't know if Hendrix was the right person to tackle some of these topics and as a white, man reviewer I am not trying to speak for any group I do not belong to but I can not deny these were feelings I had during the novel and took away from some of my enjoyment. 

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