The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
bread_mountain's review against another edition
I can see how, if you read this at 16 and were a certain kind of kid, you could base your whole personality on this book. I think if I had read this at 16 I'd have truly HATED it. But the older I get the more I enjoy reading books that were written without any concern for anyone in my particular demographics.
And don't worry about teenage me. I discovered Illuminatus! my sophomore year of high school, so I was all set for transgressive, mind-altering works of fiction that invite you to get way too into them.
And don't worry about teenage me. I discovered Illuminatus! my sophomore year of high school, so I was all set for transgressive, mind-altering works of fiction that invite you to get way too into them.
laurenjpegler's review against another edition
1.0
What the hell was this book?
I was asked to read this for my Vamps & Villains module at university. I really wish I hadn't. This was just so weird. And disgusting. And uncomfortable. I can't wait to have my class discussion on it over and done with so I never have to think about this book again.
It's a bit of a hard one to summarise, but I'll try. Basically, vampire has sex with human. Human dies whilst giving birth to vampire baby. Baby is left on a strangers doorstep. Baby is called Nothing. Baby believes he is different from other humans, so leaves his small town to find himself. He meets some vampires on the way (aka his dad). Engages in lots of sexual acts with his dad. Finds out it's his dad - continues to have sex with him. Vampire dad decides to impregnate another woman - she dies. The human guy who was in love with said woman goes on a murdering spree to avenge her death. The End.
No real plot. No character development. No anything. Instead we get 260 pages of paedophilia, incest, detailed rape scenes, drug abuse, and basically anything else that's twisted, all shoved into one. This was just awful. Honestly, I don't see what people enjoy about this book? This narrative? This writing style? This anything? All the bad things that happened were dismissed because it was how they lived, etc. So wrong. So uncomfortable to read. Erm... just don't read this one.
I was asked to read this for my Vamps & Villains module at university. I really wish I hadn't. This was just so weird. And disgusting. And uncomfortable. I can't wait to have my class discussion on it over and done with so I never have to think about this book again.
It's a bit of a hard one to summarise, but I'll try. Basically, vampire has sex with human. Human dies whilst giving birth to vampire baby. Baby is left on a strangers doorstep. Baby is called Nothing. Baby believes he is different from other humans, so leaves his small town to find himself. He meets some vampires on the way (aka his dad). Engages in lots of sexual acts with his dad. Finds out it's his dad - continues to have sex with him. Vampire dad decides to impregnate another woman - she dies. The human guy who was in love with said woman goes on a murdering spree to avenge her death. The End.
No real plot. No character development. No anything. Instead we get 260 pages of paedophilia, incest, detailed rape scenes, drug abuse, and basically anything else that's twisted, all shoved into one. This was just awful. Honestly, I don't see what people enjoy about this book? This narrative? This writing style? This anything? All the bad things that happened were dismissed because it was how they lived, etc. So wrong. So uncomfortable to read. Erm... just don't read this one.
lap1n's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, and Gore
gb24741's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Incest and Sexual violence
magpie_666's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
This book was one of my favourites when I was younger so it was interesting to re-read it.
The writing was as great as I remembered it, but the plot wasn't great. It seemed like Brite wasn't able to write a long dialogue or was unsure how to finish a scene so just inserted a sex scene. Which is fine, but it gets a bit boring after a few times.
I'm glad I read it again though. It has renewed my interest in reading the Brite books that I haven't read yet.
This book was one of my favourites when I was younger so it was interesting to re-read it.
The writing was as great as I remembered it, but the plot wasn't great. It seemed like Brite wasn't able to write a long dialogue or was unsure how to finish a scene so just inserted a sex scene. Which is fine, but it gets a bit boring after a few times.
I'm glad I read it again though. It has renewed my interest in reading the Brite books that I haven't read yet.
mrouanet_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, and Self harm
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, and Cannibalism
tripleheaven's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
If I had read this book when it was first published I'd have probably loved it. I still really, really liked it but, by now, vampires, even these fabulous non-shinny, non-romanticized vampires, have me a bit tired *laughs* The only reason I gave this a chance was for its author, and do it so paid out wonderfully.
Because yes, this is a great horror story, filled with gothic imagery and characters who are twisted and loving and doomed from the beginning. Violent, sensual and hopeless this is a fantastic read, wonderfully narrated by Christ Patton.
Because yes, this is a great horror story, filled with gothic imagery and characters who are twisted and loving and doomed from the beginning. Violent, sensual and hopeless this is a fantastic read, wonderfully narrated by Christ Patton.