January 2025 Book Club Pick
 

Thank you to my public library for a free copy of this book in exchange for literally nothing (except the expectation that the book would be returned in the same physical state it was checked out in).

You know the feeling when you start a new fantasy series, and you just know this story, these characters, this setting, is about to consume your entire life? Well I’ve been fighting off that feeling with a toothpick while reading this book because I CANNOT allow myself into a reading slump once I’ve finished the first three books in this series. All that to say: “Yeah, I enjoyed book one. What of it,” she said, feigning disinterest. 

I have mixed feelings about trials. Mostly because I’ve read so many of them. I like their predictability mixed with huge spikes of anxieties (yes, plural, I have many). I never know the outcomes but I can always anticipate that there will be another scheduled trial until the competition is over, or our character dies. Which is unlikely…seeing as they are what’s moving us through the story. I guess I passively enjoyed the trials as a plot device in this novel, and appreciated that they helped split the book into sections.

Each section began with a little peek into our FMC’s past. With each new flashback we watched her grow up surrounded by predators. We watched her learn how to navigate her harsh and deadly reality of being a human in a world full of vampires, which led, in some cases, to even more dire consequences. Despite being a total badass, our FMC only views herself as weak and as prey. It’s that mindset that has kept her alive and helped her hone her hunting skills, but one of my favorite moments in this novel was when the MMC reminded her of her strength. Her turning into a vampire would make her stronger physically, but her true strength came from how she had survived already just as herself. 

This first novel had a pretty small core cast of characters. We learn the most about our FMC and MMC and one or two additional characters who are in their orbit at different periods throughout the book. However due to the trials we got a broader view into the other key players of this world. There are multiple breeds of vampires, various stages of class or wealth, and humans who are lucky to simply be alive. We are also introduced to a cast of gods and goddesses for whom the trials take place.

Overall I enjoyed this story. There is a staggering amount of violence against our characters and committed by them. If you’re even slightly squeamish this book will not sit well with you. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m working on my own fantasy novel, or if it’s my autistic pattern recognition, but none of the big twists, turns, or reveals were shocking to me. I had already predicted who our FMC and MMC were around one hundred pages into the book and got to enjoy watching how the author pulled it off as the story progressed. I think it’s worth mentioning because I can’t be certain it’s for the reasons listed, or if others also found this predictable. Either way, I’m nervously anticipating what high jinx these characters will get into in the next book.