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burtini 's review for:
Silver Under Nightfall
by Rin Chupeco
2.5 stars
Silver Under Nightfall follows Remy, a Reaper (vampire hunter) and a vampire couple, Zidan and Xiaodan, as they work together to investigate a new vampire breed set to unsettle the vampire courts. As the story progresses, Remy realises a lot of what he thought about vampires is wrong and he starts to fall in love with the enemy he has been raised to kill.
My main issue with this story is that Remy is unlikeable - he’s the character we follow and yet he’s the one hardest to root for. From the start we have him puffing his chest out and having a pissing contest with Zidan because he fancies his fiancé. He keeps goading and sizing up to Zidan and sulking when he sees him with HIS FIANCÉ because he has decided, from their first interaction, that he wants Xiaodan and she wants him. Zidan has actually done nothing wrong to Remy and yet he instantly dislikes him, whatever he says, whether he appears, we get some petty comment in the narrative from Remy, it’s tiresome and childish. Later it turns into sexual tension and more but it highlights the maturity imbalance (and age) between the 2 and why them being lovers is uncomfortable.
While we see that Remy is not accepted by his peers and superiors, that he was pushed into a sexual relationship with an older woman when he was 15 (which is wrong but only mentioned once that it’s wrong) and mostly off page he has done some nice things like save Elke, on the page I just found it difficult to see or understand why the book is such a Remy fan-book, why characters on the page are rushing to compliment him, defend him, elevate him, when on the page he is either shut off and difficult to ‘get’ or acting childish and entitled, stubborn, hotheaded and judgemental about vampires (while an outcast based on prejudice and having no issue with Xiaodan because he’s horny for her). In the partnership of Remy, Zidan and Xiaodan he is undeniably the weakest link, he’s not remotely as strong (without them), gifted or intelligent, when Zidan calls him a liability he’s affronted but literally how is he not and it’s ridiculous when he’s considered an equal later on. In comparison to the other 2, in age, experience and ability, he is effectively a child, so it’s an odd group, especially when romance and sex is involved. I just don’t understand what he offers to the arrangement or his purpose in the thruple or plot, or the attraction to him all while he’s actively protected and treated throughout the book as this shining star? Effectively you’re told Remy is this amazing, honourable, irresistible man but not really shown he is to decide for yourself. Why either members of this power couple desire him when they have each other, who are sexy and kind and clever and tolerable, it’s weird. They basically just feel sorry for him and he stomps his feet and says he doesn’t need looking after and doesn’t want to be left behind and he needs love but doesn’t deserve it and they can’t resist coddling him (or “tupping” him…)
The other 2 characters, Zidan and Xiaodan are pretty cliche, standard fantasy characters but nonetheless more interesting, likeable and sexy. Malekh is a 900 year old vampire with a tortured backstory and a brooding disposition. He supports Xiaodon, he clearly admires and respects her and has faith in her strength because he steps back and doesn’t challenge her voice, space or needs. He’s a man secure in who he is and who he loves. Likewise Xiaodan is a strong character, she’s a badass vampire who can create her own sunlight, she has 2 men wanting her and yet she’s not defined by or answering to either. Xiaodan does feel like a bit of a waste of a character in that we know so little about her, she’s more of a prop for the polyamorous theme, but as an idea I liked her.
The poly romance itself, I had issues with it. I hate a love triangle so an uncomplicated diversion of it is preferable. But as mentioned above, I just didn’t understand it. First there is the clear power imbalance, Malekh is 900, Remy is what, 25? Remy is also clearly written as a character with a lot of insecurities when it comes to love, sex and relationships, expecting to use sex to trade for information and not ever feeling loved - cue two literal predators wanting him. Likewise the way Remy behaves is often very immature, he’s petulant, he sulks, he goads and provokes to cause a reaction, while Malekh very clearly acts like a mature man, Remy often acts like a boy. Remy also wants Xiaodan, however to have her he must also have Malekh, who enjoys teasing him about having him, which clearly makes him uncomfortable. In fact several sexual encounters happen when he’s in a vulnerable state, physically or emotionally.
As a relationship it just doesn’t feel healthy at all. Remy is a contradictory character, he’s both put on a pedestal as a heroic saviour, come the end he’s holding his own against experienced vampires and the best, bravest human being in the whole world, and also very much framed as a victim, never knew he is mother (he was literally cut out of her dead body), social outcast, Dad abuses him, used for sexual favours, doesn’t think anyone would want or love him and reacts emotionally constantly. The dynamic is very childlike.
On top of that, there’s also the fact that Remy lusts the couple, but that’s all you get, you know how badly he wants to have sex with Xiaodan and how he’s curious about Zidan. Meanwhile the couple themself freely speak of love, have a history of commitment and tenderness with each other. I don’t get that Remy loves Xiaodan, he clings to her love, but in return he has lust and desperation and clings to her and thinks it’s love. For Zidan he has just lust, if that, and the desperation for Xiaodan meaning he must be open minded to Zidan to keep her, but it feels forced, when Zidan is actually a total babe. Meanwhile it just annoys me how he comes into a pre-established relationship and judges how Zidan treats his fiancée, starts off immediately trying to seduce Xiaodan while knowing she’s betrothed (and before knowing the arrangement), he literally knows nothing about them and is not involved in their past or intimacy but feels he can pass comment. I know I’m meant to feel sorry for him but I aggressively disliked him.
Personally this just read like an older, experienced couple using a 3rd person, younger and needy, like a toy, a pet. And what was most troubling was how it’s Remy’s vulnerability and need to be loved which was like glue that kept it going.
Zidan and Xiaodan as a couple i liked, they were the only dynamic in the thruple that worked, i actually hated how little you got of them without Remy included, he’s a third wheel, a brat and unnecessary when they’re sexy without him, literally the only sexy sex scene was just the 2 of them when she’s feeding off of him sat on his lap. Take Remy out of this book (or kill him) and this book would’ve been far, far better, he added nothing but issues and angst.
Now the writing. The women are invariably written as being beautiful, before anything else, or in exchange for anything else, we know Giselle takes Remy’s breath away, Elke is beautiful, Xiaodan with her legs out and the top of her breasts showing, Queen Ophelia is immediately described as “handsome not beautiful”…, Queen Yingyue “heartbreakingly beautiful” … immediately the author has a habit of going for a woman’s attractiveness when she’s introduced.
Also, in terms of the writing, I read Kristoff so the I’m not a prude when it comes to swearing, but it just seems forced, “c*ntsack”, “c*ntrabbit” etc, and some very cringe lines that feel like they don’t belong. This is a 500 page book but it doesn’t need to be, Remy’s insecurities are repeated more than they need to be as well as someone telling him how much he deserves to be loved and how special he is, the sex scenes aren’t sexy and are overdone, the twists are obvious, the weapon on the cover, ‘Breaker’, is hugely impractical and I couldn’t ever picture it being used and, likewise, I couldn’t get a picture of Remy in my head other than knowing he had dark skin.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Silver Under Nightfall follows Remy, a Reaper (vampire hunter) and a vampire couple, Zidan and Xiaodan, as they work together to investigate a new vampire breed set to unsettle the vampire courts. As the story progresses, Remy realises a lot of what he thought about vampires is wrong and he starts to fall in love with the enemy he has been raised to kill.
My main issue with this story is that Remy is unlikeable - he’s the character we follow and yet he’s the one hardest to root for. From the start we have him puffing his chest out and having a pissing contest with Zidan because he fancies his fiancé. He keeps goading and sizing up to Zidan and sulking when he sees him with HIS FIANCÉ because he has decided, from their first interaction, that he wants Xiaodan and she wants him. Zidan has actually done nothing wrong to Remy and yet he instantly dislikes him, whatever he says, whether he appears, we get some petty comment in the narrative from Remy, it’s tiresome and childish. Later it turns into sexual tension and more but it highlights the maturity imbalance (and age) between the 2 and why them being lovers is uncomfortable.
While we see that Remy is not accepted by his peers and superiors, that he was pushed into a sexual relationship with an older woman when he was 15 (which is wrong but only mentioned once that it’s wrong) and mostly off page he has done some nice things like save Elke, on the page I just found it difficult to see or understand why the book is such a Remy fan-book, why characters on the page are rushing to compliment him, defend him, elevate him, when on the page he is either shut off and difficult to ‘get’ or acting childish and entitled, stubborn, hotheaded and judgemental about vampires (while an outcast based on prejudice and having no issue with Xiaodan because he’s horny for her). In the partnership of Remy, Zidan and Xiaodan he is undeniably the weakest link, he’s not remotely as strong (without them), gifted or intelligent, when Zidan calls him a liability he’s affronted but literally how is he not and it’s ridiculous when he’s considered an equal later on. In comparison to the other 2, in age, experience and ability, he is effectively a child, so it’s an odd group, especially when romance and sex is involved. I just don’t understand what he offers to the arrangement or his purpose in the thruple or plot, or the attraction to him all while he’s actively protected and treated throughout the book as this shining star? Effectively you’re told Remy is this amazing, honourable, irresistible man but not really shown he is to decide for yourself. Why either members of this power couple desire him when they have each other, who are sexy and kind and clever and tolerable, it’s weird. They basically just feel sorry for him and he stomps his feet and says he doesn’t need looking after and doesn’t want to be left behind and he needs love but doesn’t deserve it and they can’t resist coddling him (or “tupping” him…)
The other 2 characters, Zidan and Xiaodan are pretty cliche, standard fantasy characters but nonetheless more interesting, likeable and sexy. Malekh is a 900 year old vampire with a tortured backstory and a brooding disposition. He supports Xiaodon, he clearly admires and respects her and has faith in her strength because he steps back and doesn’t challenge her voice, space or needs. He’s a man secure in who he is and who he loves. Likewise Xiaodan is a strong character, she’s a badass vampire who can create her own sunlight, she has 2 men wanting her and yet she’s not defined by or answering to either. Xiaodan does feel like a bit of a waste of a character in that we know so little about her, she’s more of a prop for the polyamorous theme, but as an idea I liked her.
The poly romance itself, I had issues with it. I hate a love triangle so an uncomplicated diversion of it is preferable. But as mentioned above, I just didn’t understand it. First there is the clear power imbalance, Malekh is 900, Remy is what, 25? Remy is also clearly written as a character with a lot of insecurities when it comes to love, sex and relationships, expecting to use sex to trade for information and not ever feeling loved - cue two literal predators wanting him. Likewise the way Remy behaves is often very immature, he’s petulant, he sulks, he goads and provokes to cause a reaction, while Malekh very clearly acts like a mature man, Remy often acts like a boy. Remy also wants Xiaodan, however to have her he must also have Malekh, who enjoys teasing him about having him, which clearly makes him uncomfortable. In fact several sexual encounters happen when he’s in a vulnerable state, physically or emotionally.
As a relationship it just doesn’t feel healthy at all. Remy is a contradictory character, he’s both put on a pedestal as a heroic saviour, come the end he’s holding his own against experienced vampires and the best, bravest human being in the whole world, and also very much framed as a victim, never knew he is mother (he was literally cut out of her dead body), social outcast, Dad abuses him, used for sexual favours, doesn’t think anyone would want or love him and reacts emotionally constantly. The dynamic is very childlike.
On top of that, there’s also the fact that Remy lusts the couple, but that’s all you get, you know how badly he wants to have sex with Xiaodan and how he’s curious about Zidan. Meanwhile the couple themself freely speak of love, have a history of commitment and tenderness with each other. I don’t get that Remy loves Xiaodan, he clings to her love, but in return he has lust and desperation and clings to her and thinks it’s love. For Zidan he has just lust, if that, and the desperation for Xiaodan meaning he must be open minded to Zidan to keep her, but it feels forced, when Zidan is actually a total babe. Meanwhile it just annoys me how he comes into a pre-established relationship and judges how Zidan treats his fiancée, starts off immediately trying to seduce Xiaodan while knowing she’s betrothed (and before knowing the arrangement), he literally knows nothing about them and is not involved in their past or intimacy but feels he can pass comment. I know I’m meant to feel sorry for him but I aggressively disliked him.
Personally this just read like an older, experienced couple using a 3rd person, younger and needy, like a toy, a pet. And what was most troubling was how it’s Remy’s vulnerability and need to be loved which was like glue that kept it going.
Zidan and Xiaodan as a couple i liked, they were the only dynamic in the thruple that worked, i actually hated how little you got of them without Remy included, he’s a third wheel, a brat and unnecessary when they’re sexy without him, literally the only sexy sex scene was just the 2 of them when she’s feeding off of him sat on his lap. Take Remy out of this book (or kill him) and this book would’ve been far, far better, he added nothing but issues and angst.
Now the writing. The women are invariably written as being beautiful, before anything else, or in exchange for anything else, we know Giselle takes Remy’s breath away, Elke is beautiful, Xiaodan with her legs out and the top of her breasts showing, Queen Ophelia is immediately described as “handsome not beautiful”…, Queen Yingyue “heartbreakingly beautiful” … immediately the author has a habit of going for a woman’s attractiveness when she’s introduced.
Also, in terms of the writing, I read Kristoff so the I’m not a prude when it comes to swearing, but it just seems forced, “c*ntsack”, “c*ntrabbit” etc, and some very cringe lines that feel like they don’t belong. This is a 500 page book but it doesn’t need to be, Remy’s insecurities are repeated more than they need to be as well as someone telling him how much he deserves to be loved and how special he is, the sex scenes aren’t sexy and are overdone, the twists are obvious, the weapon on the cover, ‘Breaker’, is hugely impractical and I couldn’t ever picture it being used and, likewise, I couldn’t get a picture of Remy in my head other than knowing he had dark skin.
Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.