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A review by story_sanctuary
Direwood by Catherine Yu
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. There are things I really liked and things that weren't for me.
First, I loved the author's lore about vampires. It felt fresh (even though some elements were familiar) and different, especially with the caterpillars and bloodsucking butterflies. I liked that was never totally sure what to make of Padraic. He's like the Phantom of the Opera-- somehow tragic and very dangerous, yet maybe there's some good in him? Maybe? He kept me hoping but also terrified me.
I'm a fan of sister books, so the relationship between Aja and Fiona drew me to this book. I liked that their relationship was so complex, and that Fiona kept secrets Aja couldn't have imagined. Aja was a harder character for me to identify with. She was angry and suspicious, and lots of times she had reason to be. Sometimes she was quick to forgive things that seemed like they should have been a bigger deal. Other times she held on to things that didn't seem fair. Ultimately, her love for her sister was a thing that I could totally identify with, and that helped pull me into her story.
If you're looking for a fresh but also classic vampire story, check this one out.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.
First, I loved the author's lore about vampires. It felt fresh (even though some elements were familiar) and different, especially with the caterpillars and bloodsucking butterflies. I liked that was never totally sure what to make of Padraic. He's like the Phantom of the Opera-- somehow tragic and very dangerous, yet maybe there's some good in him? Maybe? He kept me hoping but also terrified me.
I'm a fan of sister books, so the relationship between Aja and Fiona drew me to this book. I liked that their relationship was so complex, and that Fiona kept secrets Aja couldn't have imagined. Aja was a harder character for me to identify with. She was angry and suspicious, and lots of times she had reason to be. Sometimes she was quick to forgive things that seemed like they should have been a bigger deal. Other times she held on to things that didn't seem fair. Ultimately, her love for her sister was a thing that I could totally identify with, and that helped pull me into her story.
If you're looking for a fresh but also classic vampire story, check this one out.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.