A review by danielagreads
Vampires of Portlandia by Jason Tanamor

3.0

While I enjoyed the cultural lore and background for this novel, I found it difficult to get through based on the slow pacing of the novel. In the beginning, the large cast of characters can be difficult to remember, especially as the point of view switches between them. As the novel goes on, you get a better familiarity and it's easier to get through. I don't know if it was a mix of a reading slump/ stress, but I found the narration style of the novel to be a bit long-winded and repetitive, following an omniscient third person, who would sometimes interject with their own opinion. I especially found it uncomfortable how often homeless people were cavalierly brought up as they "filled Portland."While this became vital to the plot, I felt it was poorly worded, to the point where the reader was supposed to feel desensitized. The characters were fully developed and interesting to read; I especially enjoyed the development of the different aswang groups within Portland. However, the relationships with some of the characters felt rushed, especially with the plot twist revealed at the very end. Overall it's an exciting dive into Filipino culture, but the technical parts of the writing need improvement.