A review by courtney_mm
Direwood by Catherine Yu

3.0

idk what exactly a 90s gothic vampire novel is like, but if I had to say, it would be exactly this. Like although I didn't exactly love the plot of this, for some reason I enjoyed the vibe of this book. Like it was a very clear, cut and dry vampire story, nothing crazy happened (or like, nothing at all really happened) but it wasss so creepy and atmospheric. Like the caterpillars, the butterflies, the vampires weridly and randomly being in this churuch. idk I feel like I missed something and it was supposed to be more symbolic or something than it was because it felttt deep and creepy but I can't say I particularly was excited by this. but I LOVED the beginning with the bloody rain and bugs and her sister missing, and the vampire calling her. like I really wish we lived in that more before going to visit the vampire. The middle dragged on and didn't seem to go anywhere, but I did quite enjoy perfect Fiona being the vampire that her sister had to kill.

~ thanks to Netgalley for the arc~