VM Gautier

My thanks goes to the author for the ARC via NetGalley.

Unconventional doesn't even begin to cover it.

As somebody already pointed out, the author makes a great effort to avoid the word "vampire", referring instead to "our kind" (which does end up just the tiniest bit overused), but there is little doubt as to the creatures the novel is dealing with.

The prologue sets the mood wonderfully and does a good job drawing the reader into the plot - the rest of the book really delivers everything the prologue promises, and that's really satisfactory.

As far as the representation of the vampires is concerned, even with my limited experience, it strikes me as unique and wholesome. They're portrayed as magnetic, sexually charged beings whose presence is bound to be noticed in a room; an exciting exploration of the image of the sophisticated vampire.
At times indeed, I couldn't help but notice how the myriad ways in which humans seem to be falling behind are highlighted - pathetic creatures with their inferior strength and immensely short, puny lives. It did bother me a bit at times, since we humans are vain and like to have our value affirmed, and no matter how graceful a species is, the fact that they may choose you for the next meal that sustains them would make anyone have second thoughts. However, there are efforts made at restoring balance. After all, the point of view is that of the divos, especially of Alphonsine, who faces life decisions and moral choices of staggering impact. She is a character of complexity far, far greater than you would find in the clichéd story of a lovestruck non-human torn between species. Furthermore, it's stressed multiple times that her kind admire and support the humans' artistic potential, from which they, too, profit - Alphonsine is an avid opera-goer, and that theme is finely woven into the story.

Now to the abundant titillating, graphic sex scenes that are difficult not to address in any honest review - the only thing I did mind about them was the fact that I would have enjoyed the book more had they made way for some action scenes and detective work. The character of Cara seemed severely underused, I fully expected her to act as Alphonsine's human counterpart and intellectual rival, using her potential to detect the truth about who this mysterious woman she feels drawn to is. Instead, she's manipulated into staying in the background time after time, and plays the part of the sincere human friend and supporter who, granted, succeeds in showing Alphonsine a relaxed, innocent, warm side of life that love can't give her (being, as it is, constantly juxtaposed with anguish and fear of the future). The denouement of the love story itself is refreshing and bold, defying all expectation.

What I found especially captivating is how the story goes full circle in a stunningly symmetrical fashion - a device both aesthetically pleasing and used well to point out the changes that occur, especially in relation to the main character. Furthermore, the fact that the story draws on real people and events, all quite skillfully inserted into the narrative, only adds to the overall quality and appeal.

I would genuinely like for this story to be big among fans of the genre (although it'd be criminal to confine to just one genre), because it's quirky and unusual, and, the aforementioned qualms aside, seriously enjoyable. I would be extremely interested in any subsequent material - also, imagine it made into a film!… (lisätietoja)

3.5-ish, leaning higher. I think this is the second-ever vampire book I've ever read, after Interview with the Vampire (read many, many years ago). I picked it up because a couple of people mentioned it in a discussion. It reminded me of why I generally don't read books about vampries: too darn many sex scenes.

That said, all of the sex scenes were plot-relevant, or at least integral to character development. The plot was intriguing, especially the contrast between mortal and divos/vampire modes of being, and the problems the vampires had with the modern age.

Would recommend, but would also recommend that the author do one more pass to clean up some messy punctuation, which I noticed most early in the book.… (lisätietoja)