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A review by growintogardens
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
Tw: sexual assault/rape, including assaults of minors
I am so disappointed!! I really wish I had read reviews before starting this book. I just saw the synopsis on the library app and went for it because it sounded like a fun premise. After a bit, I thought this would end up being a bit darker than the cover led me to believe, but not as dark as it ended up being. It was also really gory at times, and really, really gross in multiple ways (especially with rats/bugs, like really graphic with that part). Someone else mentioned it felt like it was set earlier than it stated, and I agree it felt a lot older than the 1990s.
I had so many issues with this book. The male characters in this are absolute GARBAGE, the female friendships felt off to me, the fate of the characters that are raped/assaulted is a cliche, terrible mess, and the way the few black characters are treated is not good. I also didn't like any character, not a single one in the whole thing. It read like a bad 1980s movie tbh. I kept reading hoping that it would somehow redeem itself, because I did want to know how the evil was defeated, but I cannot recommend it at all.
I am so disappointed!! I really wish I had read reviews before starting this book. I just saw the synopsis on the library app and went for it because it sounded like a fun premise. After a bit, I thought this would end up being a bit darker than the cover led me to believe, but not as dark as it ended up being. It was also really gory at times, and really, really gross in multiple ways (especially with rats/bugs, like really graphic with that part). Someone else mentioned it felt like it was set earlier than it stated, and I agree it felt a lot older than the 1990s.
I had so many issues with this book. The male characters in this are absolute GARBAGE, the female friendships felt off to me, the fate of the characters that are raped/assaulted is a cliche, terrible mess, and the way the few black characters are treated is not good. I also didn't like any character, not a single one in the whole thing. It read like a bad 1980s movie tbh. I kept reading hoping that it would somehow redeem itself, because I did want to know how the evil was defeated, but I cannot recommend it at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Animal death, Domestic abuse, and Suicide