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sarahblessing's review against another edition
4.0
When I was in 5th grade I read Interview with the Vampire for the first time and immediately became obsessed with all things vampire. I went to my library and looked up the subject vampire and read each and every book our branch had. I read The Night Inside like a dozen times but never thought to get my own copy. I’ve spent like the last ten years looking for this book that I honestly was beginning to think I had made up, googling random variations of the plot. I happened to find it on Goodreads by mistake a month ago and immediately ordered a copy online.
So does it hold up? Honestly, my opinion is probably colored by nostalgia but this book is still fun as hell. If you like both sexy vampire thrillers and like goofy 90’s action movies wherein the government is searching for a couple on the run, pick up this book. It’s got some things that are weird or icky (not surprising given the time it was written, and thankfully not as awful as it could be) about sex workers and HIV, but overall it wasn’t cringey or disappointing like I was worried it would be.
The best part is that there’s a sequel I never knew about as a kid and I just ordered a copy of it, am beyond psyched to see what happens to the thousands year old vampire and his weird goth girlfriend!
So does it hold up? Honestly, my opinion is probably colored by nostalgia but this book is still fun as hell. If you like both sexy vampire thrillers and like goofy 90’s action movies wherein the government is searching for a couple on the run, pick up this book. It’s got some things that are weird or icky (not surprising given the time it was written, and thankfully not as awful as it could be) about sex workers and HIV, but overall it wasn’t cringey or disappointing like I was worried it would be.
The best part is that there’s a sequel I never knew about as a kid and I just ordered a copy of it, am beyond psyched to see what happens to the thousands year old vampire and his weird goth girlfriend!
errantdreams's review against another edition
4.0
This isn’t the most engrossing tale ever, and it has a fairly relaxed pace. But it’s still nicely written. The characters are what bring this alive, the slow drawing of hunger and guilt and rage. Rozokov is an interesting figure, capable of being seductive but hiding among the street people when he realizes he’s not sure how to fit in after being asleep for 90 years. I like that while Ardeth tried to remake herself as a vampire–and somewhat succeeded–there’s still a trace of her old self there. And her relationship to her sister Sara isn’t entirely straightforward or easy, no matter how much Sara wishes to find her sister.
Also, while Ardeth would rather not kill to feed, accidents do happen, particularly early on when she isn’t entirely in control. This leads to some additional problems for her. There’s a weird sort of incestuous vibe between her and Rozokov–they kiss like lovers, but he calls her daughter or child a couple of times. Also, there’s some dark sexual material in here, so be aware of that before you decide whether to read this. In the beginning those who hold the vampire captive are using him to make snuff films while they wait for instructions from their employers for what to do with him. Which… is just weird, and feels kind of unlikely and random, and thus a bit contrived.
This isn’t a fast-paced book, but whether that’s a negative or not depends on your mood or tastes. I found it a little slow, but it unfurls well.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2018/11/review-the-night-inside-nancy-baker/
Also, while Ardeth would rather not kill to feed, accidents do happen, particularly early on when she isn’t entirely in control. This leads to some additional problems for her. There’s a weird sort of incestuous vibe between her and Rozokov–they kiss like lovers, but he calls her daughter or child a couple of times. Also, there’s some dark sexual material in here, so be aware of that before you decide whether to read this. In the beginning those who hold the vampire captive are using him to make snuff films while they wait for instructions from their employers for what to do with him. Which… is just weird, and feels kind of unlikely and random, and thus a bit contrived.
This isn’t a fast-paced book, but whether that’s a negative or not depends on your mood or tastes. I found it a little slow, but it unfurls well.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2018/11/review-the-night-inside-nancy-baker/
annasirius's review against another edition
2.0
I suspect this felt fresher back when it first came out.
What bothered me was the lack of believable fleshing out of the two main characters. They lack depth. There are some details given, but they don't feel plausible. I don't buy into Rozokov's deep guilt over not having been able to protect his vampire companion in the past; I do not believe that anyone can switch personalities as quickly and absolutely as Ardeth did, and I don't understand why she should feel zero connection to her sister at all given their backstory.
I stopped reading on page 249.
What bothered me was the lack of believable fleshing out of the two main characters. They lack depth. There are some details given, but they don't feel plausible. I don't buy into Rozokov's deep guilt over not having been able to protect his vampire companion in the past; I do not believe that anyone can switch personalities as quickly and absolutely as Ardeth did, and I don't understand why she should feel zero connection to her sister at all given their backstory.
I stopped reading on page 249.
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