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A review by phillyhufflepunk
American Vampire Vol. 1 by Stephen King, Scott Snyder
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I kept going back and forth on what to rate this book, 3 or 4 stars.
On the one hand, there are instances of period-standard racism; parts of it are set in the Old West and parts in 1920s Los Angeles. There's also a blink-and-you'll-miss-it dubious consent moment, where a young girl manipulates an older man into sleeping with her and it's just an odd addition that didn't seem necessary.
On the other hand, it's a great story that takes the reality of old hollywood (the struggle of young women like Elizabath Short "the Black Dahlia") and turns it into a female empowerment/revenge story with a happy ending. It effortlessly melds supernatural horror and westerns.
I eventually decided that I'd give it a 4 star.
On the one hand, there are instances of period-standard racism; parts of it are set in the Old West and parts in 1920s Los Angeles. There's also a blink-and-you'll-miss-it dubious consent moment, where a young girl manipulates an older man into sleeping with her and it's just an odd addition that didn't seem necessary.
On the other hand, it's a great story that takes the reality of old hollywood (the struggle of young women like Elizabath Short "the Black Dahlia") and turns it into a female empowerment/revenge story with a happy ending. It effortlessly melds supernatural horror and westerns.
I eventually decided that I'd give it a 4 star.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Gore, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism