Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste (2022): A Review
Author: Gwendolyn Kiste
Publication Year: 2022
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Vampire, Gothic, Retelling
Source: Audiobook @storytel.tr
Opening Sentence: It’s almost sundown in Los Angeles, and Dracula’s ashes won’t shut up.
I have mixed feelings about this book, primarily due to my personal preferences when it comes to style and genre. You might wonder why I picked it up, especially since horror, fantasy, and modern vampire stories aren’t typically my favorites. However, this book offers a fresh retelling of two classic tales from the perspectives of unvoiced or silences female characters—Lucy and Bertha—from Bram Stoker's “Dracula” and Charlotte Brontë's “Jane Eyre.” It's hard to resist reading something that gives a voice to often overlooked women in literature!
My ambivalence comes from a couple of reasons. First, I personally shy away from fantasy and horror, and I prefer to watch them on the screen, of course those that are not horror and full of gory stuff. Second, I tend to prefer stories that show rather than tell. I appreciate narratives that let the themes unfold naturally instead of having the characters deliver lectures about how women have been silenced in literature and history. I prefer to read non-fiction rather than fiction for direct lecturing. I felt that Lucy was quoting “The Madwoman in the Attic” by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar.
That said, if you enjoy horror, vampires, fantasy, light romance, or any blend of these elements, you might find a lot to love in this book! It has a good premise, and I encourage you to give it a try—my preferences shouldn't deter you from exploring it!
Comments
Post a Comment