Lucy Westenra is alive, or at least what passes for life after being turned into a vampire by Dracula himself. In a multiple POV Dracula meets InterviLucy Westenra is alive, or at least what passes for life after being turned into a vampire by Dracula himself. In a multiple POV Dracula meets Interview with the Vampire narrative, we are slowly reintroduced to Lucy as we knew her from Bram Stoker's classic work and catch up with her until modern day. Our eyes to much of this world is Iris, a woman trying to escape her family who stumbles across Lucy's journals while looking for things of value in the London home she inherited from her mother.
I'm a sucker for a good epistolary novel. It makes me feel like I'm living in a character's head. Lucy's journals were a great addition to her modern day narrative, making her feel that much more real. Admittedly, I did have to check now and again to see which version of Lucy I was currently reading about.
If you're looking for a fast paced read, this is not that. It is slow, perhaps to its detriment very early on, but once you settle in, it's a beautiful and haunting study of a young woman who has only ever wanted to love and be loved. I think if you're a fan of Striker's seminal work and, like me, wanted more for Mina's friend than she was given, you're going to love getting to know Lucy.
Thank you to @tbrbeyondtours and @authorkierstenwhite for providing me a copy. My review is my own ...more
[image] Allison Webber, music journalist, has scored an interview with one of the infamously reclusive Siel family. Sandra, the oldest is releasing a n[image] Allison Webber, music journalist, has scored an interview with one of the infamously reclusive Siel family. Sandra, the oldest is releasing a new solo album. The Siels are still mourning the loss of one of their own in a tragic accident and are coping in various degrees of healthy strategy. Enter Michael, the younger, drunken brother, who is not only grieving the loss of his twin brother but also his career. He, too, was in the accident and lost an arm, making playing guitar nigh impossible. During the interview, he hurts himself, leaving Allison without her Sandra interview. As Michael and Allison get closer, the abusive patriarch Leonard, drops the news that he intends to profit from the family's grief by writing a memoir. Sickened by the idea, Michael offers Allison an interview with him, something that he hasn't done since before his injury. Fools, as it's said, fall in love.
Both Allison and Michael are flawed characters that I fell in love with 50 pages in. They have wonderful, flirty chemistry from the jump. The character growth from both is stunningly done without feeling like insta-love. Michael's struggles to figure out how to do the things that were lost to him on that night are in no way small and Allison is instrumental. Allison, who is the daughter of a singer who died of an OD, needs to learn to forgive herself and to stop being such a people pleasure which - surprise - is where Michael fits in.
The only reason this was not a perfect rating is the supporting characters. Compared to the labor of love that is the book's couple, they felt a little flat for me. It didn't affect my enjoyment of the narrative, but I just wanted a little more from them. The disability representation felt natural and, for lack of a better word, real.
If you like forced proximity, one bed, bad boy with a heart of gold, and friends to lovers, I can wholeheartedly recommend this book.
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Special thanks to the publisher and Hidden Gems for sending me a copy of this book....more
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