Michael Barnes
Everyone who has read and enjoyed V.E. Schwab works knows what to expect and this novel is no exception. One review described this as A "darker, edgier sister of Addie LaRue".
The focus begins in 16th-century Spain, with the rebellious red headed Maria who seeks and marries a wealthy viscount to seize control over her own life. She soon learns even a wealthy wife is just another cage, but a mysterious widow Sabine says only two groups of women in this society are free Widows and Nuns (and she says she is in to bad a relation with god for that role. María chooses transformation as escape.
The point of view then jumps to 2019, and the most modern college student Alice, with flashbacks of memories of growing up in Scotland with her mercurial older sister. Alice wakes up alone after a one-night Sapphic stand unable to tolerate sunlight, sporting two new fangs, and desperate to drink blood. Alice’s modern timeline brings these ancient horrors into our digital age, where smartphones capture evidence and social media creates its own form of surveillance. Yet the fundamental questions remain unchanged: what does it mean to hunger, to need, to survive at the expense of others? Alice chooses to fight back and it's her story I found the most engaging I do love a tale of female coming of rage.
The last point of view is introduced halfway through 19th century, Charlotte is sent from her home in the English countryside to live with an aunt in London when she’s found trying to kiss her best friend. She’s despondent at the idea of marrying a man, but another mysterious widow—who has a secret connection to Maria’s widow from centuries earlier—appears and teaches Charlotte that she can be free to love whomever she chooses. Charlotte chooses toxic love despite its destructive nature.
Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are queer women searching for love, recognition, and wholeness, growing fangs and defying mortality in a world that would deny them their very existence.
Of course it wouldn't be V.E. Schwab without beautiful lyric descriptions with the title of the book coming from a poem/song provided by a sire/sired pair of vampires she meets early in her transformation.
What sets this novel apart from other vampire fiction is Schwab’s refusal to romanticize the monstrous. María’s transformation from victim to predator is portrayed with unflinching honesty—there’s no moment of beautiful awakening, no gentle introduction to supernatural powers.
Everyone who has read and enjoyed V.E. Schwab works knows what to expect and this novel is no exception. One review described this as A "darker, edgier sister of Addie LaRue".
The focus begins in 16th-century Spain, with the rebellious red headed Maria who seeks and marries a wealthy viscount to seize control over her own life. She soon learns even a wealthy wife is just another cage, but a mysterious widow Sabine says only two groups of women in this society are free Widows and Nuns (and she says she is in to bad a relation with god for that role. María chooses transformation as escape.
The point of view then jumps to 2019, and the most modern college student Alice, with flashbacks of memories of growing up in Scotland with her mercurial older sister. Alice wakes up alone after a one-night Sapphic stand unable to tolerate sunlight, sporting two new fangs, and desperate to drink blood. Alice’s modern timeline brings these ancient horrors into our digital age, where smartphones capture evidence and social media creates its own form of surveillance. Yet the fundamental questions remain unchanged: what does it mean to hunger, to need, to survive at the expense of others? Alice chooses to fight back and it's her story I found the most engaging I do love a tale of female coming of rage.
The last point of view is introduced halfway through 19th century, Charlotte is sent from her home in the English countryside to live with an aunt in London when she’s found trying to kiss her best friend. She’s despondent at the idea of marrying a man, but another mysterious widow—who has a secret connection to Maria’s widow from centuries earlier—appears and teaches Charlotte that she can be free to love whomever she chooses. Charlotte chooses toxic love despite its destructive nature.
Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are queer women searching for love, recognition, and wholeness, growing fangs and defying mortality in a world that would deny them their very existence.
Of course it wouldn't be V.E. Schwab without beautiful lyric descriptions with the title of the book coming from a poem/song provided by a sire/sired pair of vampires she meets early in her transformation.
What sets this novel apart from other vampire fiction is Schwab’s refusal to romanticize the monstrous. María’s transformation from victim to predator is portrayed with unflinching honesty—there’s no moment of beautiful awakening, no gentle introduction to supernatural powers.
