alexauthorshay's review
4.0
I think this may be the book with the most bookshelf tags out of my entire library...
So I'd like to start this review by saying I didn't even know this book existed until I went to Read & Write with Pride in the summer. Powell read an excerpt from this book and I wanted to buy it on the spot. I got one of the last copies AND they autographed it for me <3. Also, queer Canadian author, so this book is just all kinds of awesome.
Normally I'm not that into or tolerant of fluff, but I guess this book caught me at a good time. It's a bit like Firefly with the space cowboys, but instead of zombie-like Reavers, vampires exist. And one is the main character. Though he shares the spotlight with his "nemesis", a Ranger, basically a space sheriff. The female characters in this book are strong and no one really needs anyone to save them. You have to be able to survive on your own on this space station, and that's done very well. What shocked me was how much of a doofus the Ranger was, actually.
Don't get me wrong, though. I use the term affectionately, for once. Rory is just so optimistic and naive you can't help but love him. He's like Prince Charming except that instead of an asshole, he's a teddy bear. You're urging for him and Liberty to get together from the first page really.
Why I call this book fluff is because it was fun, but not that serious. It takes you on a romp through space where there are some surprises, though not too many, and not too shocking, but also a fair share of predictable events. I wouldn't say I was ever concerned for any of the characters' wellbeing, or even emotionally involved with any of the characters. But I enjoyed them all and the journey they went on. Plus there's a talking horse who can deal more damage than a vampire, so you know. There's a lot of stuff going on in this book. I think if it had been more serious, or longer, it would have been a totally different book. It works as a feel-good pick me up.
My one gripe would be the lack of connection to the characters. And maybe that's just me. I get so far into my character's heads in my own stories that a common complaint of mine when reading others' stories is I'm not deep enough in their minds to understand them. Which is not to say that thoughts or motivations are kept from the reader, because they aren't. But I definitely would have loved to see deeper ones, though that probably would have taken away some of the fluff.
So I'd like to start this review by saying I didn't even know this book existed until I went to Read & Write with Pride in the summer. Powell read an excerpt from this book and I wanted to buy it on the spot. I got one of the last copies AND they autographed it for me <3. Also, queer Canadian author, so this book is just all kinds of awesome.
Normally I'm not that into or tolerant of fluff, but I guess this book caught me at a good time. It's a bit like Firefly with the space cowboys, but instead of zombie-like Reavers, vampires exist. And one is the main character. Though he shares the spotlight with his "nemesis", a Ranger, basically a space sheriff. The female characters in this book are strong and no one really needs anyone to save them. You have to be able to survive on your own on this space station, and that's done very well. What shocked me was how much of a doofus the Ranger was, actually.
Don't get me wrong, though. I use the term affectionately, for once. Rory is just so optimistic and naive you can't help but love him. He's like Prince Charming except that instead of an asshole, he's a teddy bear. You're urging for him and Liberty to get together from the first page really.
Why I call this book fluff is because it was fun, but not that serious. It takes you on a romp through space where there are some surprises, though not too many, and not too shocking, but also a fair share of predictable events. I wouldn't say I was ever concerned for any of the characters' wellbeing, or even emotionally involved with any of the characters. But I enjoyed them all and the journey they went on. Plus there's a talking horse who can deal more damage than a vampire, so you know. There's a lot of stuff going on in this book. I think if it had been more serious, or longer, it would have been a totally different book. It works as a feel-good pick me up.
My one gripe would be the lack of connection to the characters. And maybe that's just me. I get so far into my character's heads in my own stories that a common complaint of mine when reading others' stories is I'm not deep enough in their minds to understand them. Which is not to say that thoughts or motivations are kept from the reader, because they aren't. But I definitely would have loved to see deeper ones, though that probably would have taken away some of the fluff.
mrella's review
2.0
Libs is an (almost) 500 year old vampire. His kind was hunted, murdered, tortured, experimented upon for as long as he can remember. Barely escaping with his life from a research facility, he now lives on an officially abandoned space station/mine colony.
However, Libs is not alone. Plenty of other people live here, too. Mostly outcasts, outlaws and just your average criminals and crime lords, anyone who wants nothing to do with the authorities and the law for whatever reasons.
Libs is in employ of a local crime lord, Jane, who rules the largest out of three settlements with an iron (and very bloody) fist.
Now, Lib is not a bad guy, it's just that he was blackmailed into the servitude by this tiny itsy bitsy puny human female. Jane knows his "secret" and so Libs bends backwards for her.
Newsflash, Libs!!! You are a vampire and a damn good sniper! You should have been able to take her out in the first paragraph and then in each and every damn paragraph (save a couple maybe) after that. I never use TSTL tag, never. But this? How did Libs survive for 500 years? How? Natural selection should have put him down centuries ago, yet he was allowed to linger to annoy the hell out of readers :/
The only two people I rooted for in this book were the badass bartenders.
Others? I can't care less if Janes offs them all and dies of her own stupidity (which she did anyway).
1.5 stars.
However, Libs is not alone. Plenty of other people live here, too. Mostly outcasts, outlaws and just your average criminals and crime lords, anyone who wants nothing to do with the authorities and the law for whatever reasons.
Libs is in employ of a local crime lord, Jane, who rules the largest out of three settlements with an iron (and very bloody) fist.
Now, Lib is not a bad guy, it's just that he was blackmailed into the servitude by this tiny itsy bitsy puny human female. Jane knows his "secret" and so Libs bends backwards for her.
Newsflash, Libs!!! You are a vampire and a damn good sniper! You should have been able to take her out in the first paragraph and then in each and every damn paragraph (save a couple maybe) after that. I never use TSTL tag, never. But this? How did Libs survive for 500 years? How? Natural selection should have put him down centuries ago, yet he was allowed to linger to annoy the hell out of readers :/
The only two people I rooted for in this book were the badass bartenders.
Others? I can't care less if Janes offs them all and dies of her own stupidity (which she did anyway).
1.5 stars.
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