How much do I love that an erotic, gothic, Victorian horror novel about vampires existed even almost 150 years ago? So much. So very much.
The AudibleHow much do I love that an erotic, gothic, Victorian horror novel about vampires existed even almost 150 years ago? So much. So very much.
The Audible production (narrated by Phoebe Fox, Rose Leslie, David Tennant, David Horovitch, James Wilby, Susan Wooldridge, Hannah Genesius) of this almost 150 year old masterpiece is absolutely incredible! It’s so atmospheric and engaging that it just drew me right in. I have to confess, I expected that I wasn’t going to enjoy this classic story, which is known for having influenced Stoker’s Dracula, but I was totally captivated by both the story and this special Audible original production.
This story definitely withstands the tests of time, so it’s totally fair to call it a classic. It is short, but don’t just read it in print. If you have the opportunity to experience this production, it is absolutely worth it. As a bonus, it is one of the free original picks for Audible members for October 2019, so if you are a member, make this one of your picks this month. If you aren’t a member, then what are you waiting for? Go forth and get an Audible membership, and this audiobook, so that you can begin to understand how addictive and life-enriching audiobooks really are.
I’m giving 4 stars for the story on its own, but the Audible original production deserves 5 stars. Honestly, it probably deserves 7 stars, but that isn't allowed. ...more
Well, this is fun. It’s a zombie story from the zombie perspective, but it’s more captivating than other story options with this concept, such as The Well, this is fun. It’s a zombie story from the zombie perspective, but it’s more captivating than other story options with this concept, such as The Girl With All The Gifts. It has a lot more range and personality, which held my interest better.
Just be forewarned, for the hard-core zombie and/or horror fans that this book is not exactly that. It is more of an existential romance from a skewed zombie perspective, with brief moments of horror.
I have to confess that I'm a bigger fan of the deadly zombies than the entitled white rich folk of this story. One thing this book does do is make a lI have to confess that I'm a bigger fan of the deadly zombies than the entitled white rich folk of this story. One thing this book does do is make a lot of good points about social issues and social inequity but without ever pulling you away from the actual story. It's both a reminder of what progress has been made in regards to racial issues in America, as well as a slap in the face to remind us that we are nowhere near where we should be, considering it's 2019.
Also, Jane is one of the most badass YA characters I have ever met, and she manages to remain confident and badass at all times, despite the endless racial slurs and overall degradation that comes with her position (effectively an enslaved zombie slayer for the privileged elite).
This is a dystopia that occurs in the midst of the Civil War, when the zombies rise up, but it's more of a Historical Horror Dystopian blend, with both faux history (on the zombies rise up side) and real history (on the serious racial inequity and oppression side).
I'm sure there are other great options, but I've only listed books that I've read and that I think would add something interesting to group discussions.
This concept (due to revenge for past crimes, all the kids of this society disappear, at random, for 3 minutes and 4 seconds, before they reach adulthThis concept (due to revenge for past crimes, all the kids of this society disappear, at random, for 3 minutes and 4 seconds, before they reach adulthood. It’s called The Call, and only 1 out of 10 comes back from a strange other world alive. The ones that do survive are often freakishly altered. Adults and schools try to prepare children to survive The Call, but the odds are in nobody’s favor) is so freaking amazing, but the story itself was a challenge for me. I had a very hard time keeping the kids straight in the beginning, and despite how exciting the concept is, the storytelling definitely lagged. A lot.
I mean, things happened, but I never got that feeling where I just had to keep reading and couldn’t put the book down. In fact, I spaced out and stopped and restarted this book so many times that I almost gave up and DNF’d it. As a result, I think some things that might be good about this story fell away and had a lesser impact on me. I hate to say it, but I think there is such a thing as too much tension, especially when there is no real payout. That can become very tiring and made me want to step back from the book, rather than compelling me forward.
STAR BREAKDOWN:
5 stars for concept, overall brutality, and a wickedly dark sort of creativity
2 stars for confusing, and often overwhelming, world building (Something’s just off with the world building overall. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it may be something as simple as the presentation. The world concept is fascinating to me, but I endlessly struggled to really understand the world and what was going on with it.)
3 stars for actual story structure, pacing, and forward motion (There’s definitely tension, but it’s almost like there’s too much all the time, without enough variety in levels of tension and/or emotion, so as a result, that tension becomes very common for this world, which raises the norm and takes away from the overall impact of the story.)
2.5 stars for characterization (They just need to be more distinct and 3D, and some more character development overall would probably help with that. Their motivations are frequently unclear or almost nonsensical, and in the beginning, it took me forever to keep everyone straight. In terms of voice and personality, they all seem a bit too similar for me, which makes it hard to keep them separate in my mind.)
Average score: 3 stars
Without such an amazing concept, it would probably be more of a 2 star book for me, in terms of writing and story structure. However, the concept and world have so much potential that I can’t help being interested in that.
I would definitely pick up another novel by this author, even though this one didn’t quite click for me.
This is a strange, creepy, and disturbing collection of short stories by a group of excellent YA authors (Stefan Bachmann, Leigh Bardugo, Kendare BlakThis is a strange, creepy, and disturbing collection of short stories by a group of excellent YA authors (Stefan Bachmann, Leigh Bardugo, Kendare Blake, A. G. Howard, Jay Kristoff, Marie Lu, Jonathan Maberry, Danielle Paige, Carrie Ryan, Megan Shepherd, Nova Ren Suma, McCormick Templeman, April Genevieve Tucholke, Cat Winters).
There’s something here that will interest or traumatize almost anyone who likes a good horror story. Some of these stories, I really loved. Others, kept me up at night, and some were merely likable or bizarre. However, the collection as a whole is enjoyable and a worthwhile read.
All of the selections were inspired by other works, which are listed after each short story. As I read, I started to guess what the inspirations for each short story were. I was wrong more often than I was right, but it was still fun to try to match these short stories up with possible inspirations. ...more
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