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jeaniegreenie 's review for:
Coal Gets in Your Veins
by Cat Rector
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adored this book. I have not read an ARC in quite some time, but saw this through BookSirens and it felt like it called to me, so I took a chance. I was not disappointed in the slightest. I was having such a good time reading this vampire novel, focusing uniquely on generational trauma, that I basically forgot there was a horror element to it. It felt like almost a slice of life, overcoming the odds, and healing with old and new loved ones kind of book. And typically I am not the biggest fan of slice of life type books, but I looooved this one. It was moody, emotional, queer, hopeful, and above all showcased a victim of abuse in such a painstaking, beautiful way. But when the other foot drops and you remember you are reading a horror book, boy does it drop. I literally screamed and continued to read with my jaw dropped until the end of the book.
Cat Rector's prose is beatiful, as are her characters. (Minus the bad folks, which I wish I could reach into the pages of this book and strangle. SCREW GREG UGH!) Laurel is lovely and complex, funny and relatable, and I love her so much and want to hold her and keep her safe from anything bad ever happening again. Spencer is so much like Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3, but if he actually held himself responsible for healing from his trauma rather than putting it on others and being manipulative. Meaning, he is the most supreme babygirl there is. But seriously, he is so freaking great and funny and queer and has a soft spot for cats. What's not to love? And the two of them together? Even better.
Penny Harbour being its own character as a setting is so unique and I enjoyed the path this took. Coal and a town being a vessel to portray generational trauma is perfect. I don't know much about coal mining towns, but Cat Rector makes you feel as if you lived in one your whole life. It was very visceral and imaginative.
I can't wait to continue the series to see where Spencer and Laurel's journey takes them (maybe she can explore her blossoming sexuality with Spencer by her side????? Please, yes, I'd kill for this), and I will be reading more Cat Rector from now on as a newfound instant-buy author.
Bonus: the most hilarious Twilight references
I absolutely adored this book. I have not read an ARC in quite some time, but saw this through BookSirens and it felt like it called to me, so I took a chance. I was not disappointed in the slightest. I was having such a good time reading this vampire novel, focusing uniquely on generational trauma, that I basically forgot there was a horror element to it. It felt like almost a slice of life, overcoming the odds, and healing with old and new loved ones kind of book. And typically I am not the biggest fan of slice of life type books, but I looooved this one. It was moody, emotional, queer, hopeful, and above all showcased a victim of abuse in such a painstaking, beautiful way. But when the other foot drops and you remember you are reading a horror book, boy does it drop. I literally screamed and continued to read with my jaw dropped until the end of the book.
Cat Rector's prose is beatiful, as are her characters. (Minus the bad folks, which I wish I could reach into the pages of this book and strangle. SCREW GREG UGH!) Laurel is lovely and complex, funny and relatable, and I love her so much and want to hold her and keep her safe from anything bad ever happening again. Spencer is so much like Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3, but if he actually held himself responsible for healing from his trauma rather than putting it on others and being manipulative. Meaning, he is the most supreme babygirl there is. But seriously, he is so freaking great and funny and queer and has a soft spot for cats. What's not to love? And the two of them together? Even better.
Penny Harbour being its own character as a setting is so unique and I enjoyed the path this took. Coal and a town being a vessel to portray generational trauma is perfect. I don't know much about coal mining towns, but Cat Rector makes you feel as if you lived in one your whole life. It was very visceral and imaginative.
I can't wait to continue the series to see where Spencer and Laurel's journey takes them (maybe she can explore her blossoming sexuality with Spencer by her side????? Please, yes, I'd kill for this), and I will be reading more Cat Rector from now on as a newfound instant-buy author.
Bonus: the most hilarious Twilight references