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I just got this book in the mail! Your review has made me so excited to read it 🙌

Sold! I cant wait to get my hands on this one. Awesome review!

I am so excited for others to read this and *hopefully* fangirl with me! I hope you both love it!

I'm super excited to read this now! It's always wonderful when a book has it all

I am glad you liked it. I am waiting for it to come in the mail, and I am so excited.

Great review

I'm gonna go ahead and read this book. Your reviews are no nonsense so this must be good!

I just ordered a copy earlier this week! Looking forward even more to when it is delivered.

It's a wonderful thing to discover a book that instantly becomes a surprising favorite. Glad this did the trick for you, Emily. Will keep this one in mind. Terrific review!!

Sounds fantastic.

Highly recommend his other books, We Sold Our Souls and My Best Friend’s Exorcism! Very campy, nostalgia-fueled reads that are perfect comfort food!

A rare 5 star review from you means a lot. Glad you enjoyed it so much.

I am about fifty percent through right now and loving it! Sookie Stackhouse originally popped in my head too!

Damnit! I knew I should've added this to my order!

this review made me even MORE excited for this to come in the mail next week!

I wanted to read this before your review but this just made me want to buy it immediately!!!

Great review! Sounds very interesting

I'm currently reading my way through the Sookie Stackhouse novels for the first time and enjoying them a lot, so this is going straight onto my to-read pile. Thanks for the review!

After reading this review and reading this was a new book to watch, I looked for it on my library digital website and was shocked to find the ebook available. So started reading it last night and really enjoying the first few chapters!

I find it really, really worrying that you would promote and rate a book so highly the exploits both women and POC. The violence against both is so clearly used for shock value, and especially the treatment of the Black women and children is more than just mildly offensive. Every single Black person in this book is either a waiter, a cleaner, a caregiver, or lynched and otherwise killed. Every single victim of the vampire is a Black kid. There is a really cheap white saviour narrative, black boys from the hood are being portrayed as criminals and predators, and every white women in the book is either gaslit, physically abused, or raped. All of that seriously undermines this book's pretentious attempt at feminism.

Kai wrote: "I find it really, really worrying that you would promote and rate a book so highly the exploits both women and POC. The violence against both is so clearly used for shock value, and especially the ..."

You are welcome to your interpretation, Kai. Though it is simply untrue that "Every single victim of the vampire is a Black kid", as (view spoiler)[Patricia, her daughter and Ann Savage were all his victims, too. (hide spoiler)]

I felt like the book actually called attention to the fact that vulnerable poc are so often the victims of violent crimes and the fact that these go largely ignored by white people. I found it interesting when Mrs Greene called out the other women on not caring enough to act when it was only black kids disappearing. Rather than a "white saviour narrative", it seemed to be a criticism of how white people dgaf when they're not directly impacted. And I am curious what "black boys from the hood" you were talking about? All the criminals and predators in this book are white men.

Sorry, but I feel like we read completely different books this time.

Emily May wrote: "Kai wrote: "I find it really, really worrying that you would promote and rate a book so highly the exploits both women and POC. The violence against both is so clearly used for shock value, and esp..."

Just fyi for anyone reading this, it includes spoilers.

It's not just my interpretation, that's flicking off my criticism and the points I make with a "books are subjective and everyone can think whatever they want" and completely ignores that points that I make.

You cannot ignore the fact that the only people that actually get killed - besides Ann - are those that are Black. That one token white person that got killed shouldn't distract from the fact that it's mainly poor, Black children and women that get the brunt force of the violence here. And it doesn't feel like the author is simply showing that the said community is more vulnerable, he goes further than that and exploits it to create horror and shock.

The harm that is done to the women is a completely different topic but fine, let's get into that too. You know, Hendrix could have used any type of violence. But he went for sexual violence. He went for rape, not once, but for every single one of those three characters. It displays typical privileged male thinking that the only way a group of women can defeat a vampire is naturally by having one of them strip down and have sex with him. It's so cheap and illogical but not surprising. Of course they all have be exposed and have their breasts and pubes commented on, because that's what men writing horror have been doing forever and they're still doing it now.

And just to clarify, I'm not saying the author did that knowingly. I don't believe he went in and thought hey, let's violate a few women and POC for my next horror novel. He thought he was writing a feminist piece of horror, he thought he was being historically accurate and calling out racist attitudes. But what he did was reinforce and perpetuate them instead, because he failed to acknowledge that his privilege would limit his perspective. Yes it was Mrs Greene who called out the white women, but it was the white women that thought they had to save the Black women and children from harm. I agree that he did better there than with some of the other harmful stuff he wrote, the lines aren't so clear, but it still remains a narrative where white women go into a poor Black neighbourhood, risking their own safety to save that community from harm. Mrs Greene was an attempt to be diverse, but failed to shed the tokenism.

And the "black boys from the hood" or, as Hendrix calls them, "super-predators", show up as the stereotypical predatory gang of Black men threatening white women when they step into their village (the first time Patricia and Kitty go to visit Mrs Greene). It made me physically uncomfortable that the author would reinforce yet another stereotype, this time of the potential black rapist that will physically intimidate the white women that left their all-white neighbourhood. He could've just portrayed them as worried, as seriously concerned about two white women that invaded their community. Instead he shows them as violent and evil threats.

I guess I'm just really angry that people continue to ignore such harmful representation. I'm sorry if I come off as condescending, I'm just extremely frustrated. I don't mean to attack you or start a feud. You're someone who has an incredibly large following on here and has a huge influence on what other people decide to pick up. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're a feminist, and someone who regularly reads books on racism and feminism. That's why I find it so grating that at times you support and promote books that completely undermine those values and do more harm than good.

Kai, I must have read your initial comment on my review about twenty times now, and I've read your own review three times. I do truly believe your comments are coming from a good place. But, as you say, you are a man, so I do wonder why you feel the need to correct and speak over myself and the other women who thought this book had fantastic, complex female characters. Your comment on my review comes across as really condescending and, I hate to say it, a bit mansplaining. Have you considered why you think your opinion is more important than mine?

You say you are so worried for me, and go on to explain where I got the representation of women wrong, and then conclude by explaining feminism to me. I think you are absolutely welcome to your interpretation of this book, but to suggest it is anything more than your own interpretation - the interpretation of a white man, I might add - makes you sorta part of the problem. I seriously hope you don't go explaining race to POC who enjoy this book.

Now I don't know if it's because you're from a country where women and poc don't get the brunt of the violence, but that seemed to me the whole point the author was making: men and white people DO turn a blind eye to the violence happening around them when it doesn't affect them. I don't know specifically what you mean by "exploits"... the child murders, one rape, and mentions of domestic abuse all happen off-page. The descriptions of women's bodies were matter-of-fact and not sexualized. I've read many books I'd consider gratuitous and this is not one of them.

I am still struggling to see how you can frame this as a "white saviour narrative". It's a hot topic right now, I know, and I've commented on its use in a number of my own reviews... but this read as exactly the opposite. The white people were being openly criticised for NOT acting. They only wanted to take on the vampire when THEY were threatened and are called out on it.

And you can choose to see one instance where a bunch of young black men stand up for their neighbourhood and its victims as super-predatory if you wish. I didn't. To me, the only ones who come out of this book looking super-predatory and violent and narrow-minded are the white men. (Is that why you didn't like it? Jk)

As I said, you are absolutely welcome to see this book however you wish. But maybe next time you should think before coming onto a woman's review to explain feminism and female characters to her. Maybe next time you start to write "white saviour narrative" you should pause and consider the irony of you elevating your white male opinion over others to be a voice of justice and reason against the crazy women who enjoyed the book. Just a thought.

Emily, you're always first one I trust with new stories! Definitely excited to pick this one up.

Emily May wrote: "Kai, I must have read your initial comment on my review about twenty times now, and I've read your own review three times. I do truly believe your comments are coming from a good place. But, as you..."

well I guess that's what makes this discussion extremely difficult. I engage with feminism a lot but at the end of the day I'm a bad feminist. I see the irony and the pitfalls of a man discussing feminism with a woman. There is no way I will ever be able to fully comprehend that or any other reality that isn't my own.

Nevertheless it remains that some (female) reviewers voiced their unease and unhappiness with the portrayal of the female characters. They called them one-dimensional, they called the female friendships unrealistic and I see their point.

That being said, I stand by my review and the points I made. I find it an incredibly harmful book, as you know, since you've read my review several times. I do find it rather insulting that of course, since I am a man, I must hate the portrayal of the predatory asshole husbands, but...they're actual predatory asshole husbands. I'd also never go so far to call you or anyone who enjoyed this book crazy. And that's that.

Laura wrote: "Its interesting to read a differing perspective because I thought the book was extremely problematic (for a lot of the reasons that Kai mentioned, specifically dealing with race). Also, I hate when..."

It is very interesting to hear a different perspective, Laura! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I can understand where you're coming from, though bear in mind that Korey is 17 and so not underage in South Carolina (or, as it happens, my own country, which is probably why I didn't see this as sexualizing a minor). The scene is certainly disturbing, though. I also understand why people are going to disagree on this, but honestly, after reading so many male writers describing perfectly toned, hairless, breast-bouncing women, it was such a relief for a male author to even remember that women have pubic hair! I found the descriptions refreshing, straightforward and really not gratuitous.

And remember that the author does describe a male character in a similar way:

They pulled off James Harris’s shoes and socks, then his pants, and let him lie naked on the bottom of the whirlpool. His nipples were pale, and his penis flopped upside down on his blond pubic thatch.

His descriptions of women and men seemed pretty equal to me. Though I 100% see why this book wouldn't be for everyone. I'm sorry it didn't work for you.

Love your review! I really needed this during my quarantine book slump. What a treasure!

Monica wrote: "Love your review! I really needed this during my quarantine book slump. What a treasure!"

Thank you, Monica! I'm glad you enjoyed it too :)

I misread this thinking it said "hoped grace was upright..." And I was like GRACE ISNT UPRIGHT! HOW COULD THIS BE AN OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION???? lol

I love your review and I love your comments about your review.

Bree wrote: "I love your review and I love your comments about your review."

Thank you, Bree :)

I’m going to order this book now because of your recommendation. Great review!

I really enjoyed both this review and your comments on it....id been torn on this book for awhile bc of Kai's review so thank you for being up front with your interpretations!

Leah wrote: "I really enjoyed both this review and your comments on it....id been torn on this book for awhile bc of Kai's review so thank you for being up front with your interpretations!"

Thank you, Leah. I really hope it works for you too, if you decide to read it :)

book_luv_r wrote: "I’m going to order this book now because of your recommendation. Great review!"

Thank you! :)

I agree with you! I loved this book. Such a great mix-up of serious, hilarious and some genuinely creepy moments. I can honestly say that I've never read anything quite like this one before.

Thanks for your review Emily. I wouldn’t normally go for a book with vampires, but your review persuaded me. It was enthralling!

I loved this one too! So happy our opinions align on this one.

You perfectly captured all my thoughts about this book and the feelings, and how refreshing it was to read something like this which hit on so many different topics and levels.

When the roach crawled in her ear and she crushed it I honestly felt queasy and I loved it!

I got an email about this book after I read My best friends exorcism & I quite enjoyed how it was written. I could relate to the characters. This review pushed me into purchasing it. I can’t wait when the book gets delivered to my house.

Yes! What a great book! So entertaining!

Great book! Great review!

You summed it up - especially the anger and anxiety!

Can someone tell me if this would be R or PG-13?

Georgia, I'd say it's an R rating, in my opinion. The sexual violence pushes the rating to me.

Great review, though, Emily! I see one popular reviewer complaining about racism and sexism, and I think Grady Hendrix portrayed the different characters the way he did on purpose. I believe the whole point of the book was a metaphor for how white suburban neighborhoods profited off poor black neighborhoods. It's a clever, but logical metaphor: A vampire lines white people's pockets with money while initially preying on poor black children, and the white people don't want to face the truth and help the black kids because of the money. That is, until the vampire starts preying on them, too...

I just finished this book and literally have no words on my feeling towards it. And yep that roach part was just 🤢😵 but damn this book was soo dangerously good

Juli wrote: "Georgia, I'd say it's an R rating, in my opinion. The sexual violence pushes the rating to me.

Great review, though, Emily! I see one popular reviewer complaining about racism and sexism, and I th..."

Exactly, Juli! I thought it was a very clever and well thought-out critique, too. And thank you :)

YES - I was so prepared for a light and fluffy read (although I should have known better), and it was so much deeper and more shocking then I imagined.

I loved every second of it too and was even brought to tears at the end. I’ll be thinking about this one for years to come.