I love when a genre I think I know surprises me. Temple Drake does just that in NVK. She gave me a world that’s so much more entrancing, dark and fascinating than that of a typical vampire story. Here, the vampires are trapped between the folds of the living world, hoping that no one will ask where they came from. It’s intriguing, dangerous and oh so wonderful, and it makes you think of this world as a place where only vampires exist, weaving in and out of human lives as though they were smoke and not real at all. I fell hard for this story and want more of this gritty, dark world ... Supernatural tales that shock are ones that I want to read again and again, which is why I’m happy to see that Drake will be exploring more of NVK’s world. I want more of the people and more of this world. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this new series.
An atmospheric and evocative tale buoyed by a sensual affair, Drake’s debut is a compelling read that might leave some readers, like Zhang, craving more details about Naemi and her supernatural existence.
The book proceeds apace between the two narrators; tension mounts along with Zhang’s suspicions, but although something momentous always seems about to happen, it really doesn’t. An unexpected ending—though Naemi leaves, of course—sets the stage for a follow-up, forthcoming ... A pleasurable if weird stroll through familiar grounds, vampire lite.
Switching between Naemi's and Zhang’s points of view, the novel builds tension through their mutual secret-keeping. Whether it’s NVK’s past as a fisherman’s wife in Finnmark or as a young woman drinking in a 1970s London pub, the portions about her former lives and the ways she navigates immortality are the most interesting in the book ... One of the novel’s biggest problems is that it’s the first in a series and is written as such. It has a hard time standing on its own: It meanders too much, gets lost in minutiae, and reveals too little. That said, the ending subverts expectations and provides a perfect springboard for NVK’s next adventure ... A gothic supernatural tale that needs more thrills.
The listless day-by-day narrative of Drake’s debut purports to give a glimpse into immortality but unironically feels like it drags on forever ... The final revelation is disappointing, and the bland, straightforward writing undermines the narrative’s insistence that Naemi is mysterious and unknowable. Gothic and paranormal fans will appreciate some elements of this cryptic story, but overall it’s a letdown.
