Name: my_bookalicious's review of The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Item: The Deathless Girls
Rating: 3
Author: my_bookalicious

Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Gothic, intoxicating, feminist, darkly provoking and deeply romantic - this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula, by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave in her much-anticipated YA debut. They say the thirst of blood is like a madness - they must sate it. Even with their own kin. On the eve of her divining, the day she'll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community. Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn't understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts. They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate...

The Deathless Girls

Perfect gift for Christmas with beautiful foiled cover. Gothic, intoxicating, feminist and romantic - this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula, by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave in her much-anticipated YA debut. They say the thirst of blood is like a madness - they must sate it. Even with their own kin. On the eve of her divining, the day she'll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community. Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn't understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts. They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate... "The Deathless Girls is exquisitely written, as we have come to expect from Millwood Hargrave, but it is also riveting, intoxicating, and utterly unputdownable." - Louise O'Neill

Rina

He looked, like the worst monsters often do, like a normal man.

my_bookalicious

Janice

This book is absolutely gorgeous, and I'm not just talking about the cover but also about the design/layout of the book itself. 

The story on the other hand was a little disappointing to be honest. It will still a good read but I just know that I will quickly forget about this book. The thing is that it took about 200 pages to get to the journey, then another 70 or so to take that journey, which didn't consist of much actually, and then the climax and conclusion occurred in like 30 pages. I felt like the end was way too rushed and could have entailed so much more. Also I felt like the end was a little too abrupt.

It was only on page 304 that I found out that this story was an imagining of Dracula's bride. But the thing is, strigoi were only introduced somewhere around page 200 and vampires weren't introduced until the last chapters. In fact, I was convinced that this world did not even hold magic or supernatural creatures so by introducing this theme so late it felt like a genre switch which seemed rather odd to me.

All in all I found the book to be rather unsatisfying.

This was nothing that I expected, not really how anyone pitched it to me at all till the last 10%. 

I did really love the story itself, the take on Dracula was refreshing tbf but I just think maybe the pacing was a little off? Like we spent 80% of the book somewhere else, 15% actually learning about the strigoi and the dragon then maybe 5% was what I expected. Idk it felt like I wanted just more from it, so much more! Thé Aftermath chapter should have been like 40% of the book, I wanted to know what happened after more than what happened during the story! It was more of a build up to an event, a little of the event and then over. 

Still 4* though because it was just really beautifully told and I had a lot of fun reading it today

grace richards

Megan Paterson

Savannah Winchell

Interesting concept with pretty prose, but the whole thing was very under developed and therefore not satisfying. Also the way the book is pitched is not exactly accurate.

Also the lesbians don’t end up together so fuck that

Emilia Blane

I totally loved it, but what the heck? The ending was really disappointing 

Ren Christina

GIVE ME ALL THE BRIDES OF DRACULA RETELLINGS PLEASE AND THANK YOU!!!!!


Ultimately this was really atmospheric, the prose was beautiful, and the characters were easy to root for. I do feel my read was slightly impacted by my expectations of more VAMPIRE ACTION, as they appear towards the end and only very briefly, and given I was reading right now for vampire inspiration it was a bit of a letdown. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this and it definitely lived up to its stunning cover!

Content Warnings: Death, Slavery, Racism, Violence, Off Page Instances of Sexual Assault.

Tanja Hoffmann

4.5
This was really good! Like a combination of Girls of Paper and Fire, The Bear and the Nightingale and of course Dracula. Well written, an enticing plot and a great romance.

Dani Edgin

The story held me from the very start, but man was that ending disappointing. All that build up for such a lackluster finish.

Judy McClure

Grace Emilia Machon

** spoiler alert **
           The hardcover of this book is completely stunning, I’m tempted to buy it even though I thought this book was a 3.5 but the lovely publishers sent me a proof in exchange for a honest review 

Here’s what I loved
Really well researched Eastern European traveller facts. Yesssss. I have never been so excited as when texting my friend stuff about how her history is my history. 

Love the complete normalisation of the LGBTQ characters, it wasn’t hugely plot central that she was queer, she just was

I really like the concept, even though it’s been done before I’m always here for vamps 

Here’s what I didn’t love

I WANTED MORE OF THEM EATING THE BAD BOYS

I wanted Kizzy to change Mina secretly so they could be gay for all time together and rule as 3 lady queens and banish Dracula (to England obvs) because he’s evil and then after they only eat rapists and murders. And because it’s European history there would be so much food. 

Why wasn’t there more of the bear? I need bear answers 

I just felt like this could have been a series books of epic feminist greatness that rewrote the back story of a story we all know. Like disjoint the patriarch not like oh we tried. 
But actually women are still giving up stuff they love. Men are still bullying them and tricking them and Lil had a huge character turn around and then was like “okay kizzy, I’ll just stick with you” no mate you should have been like yeah kizzy but then let’s eat his head....

It was good but I feel like it missed the mark

They say the thirst of blood is like a madness - they must sate it. Even with their own kin. On the eve of her divining, the day she'll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community. Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn't understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts. They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate...

Flynn Commins

3.5 stars

I had very high expectations for this book entirely due to the cover... which is a poor way to go into a book, I know. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting and I found a few minor issues with the pacing and some character connections, but overall it was solid. I will say that I enjoyed the fable-like quality at the very end, and the last five pages or so had the biggest impact by far.

Narah Quinn

This book had been on my radar for a little while but having only released last month and with it being the month/season for spooky and creepy reads, now was the time. 
I adore Dracula, but almost zero time is given to his brides, they are a fleeting mention so when I learned of a story of theirs, I was intrigued. 

It's important, I feel, to mention that we are about 2/3rd's of the way through before we come across anything close to a vampire, though there are mentions of the Dragon. So if you are looking for a vampire tale this is probably not for you. 

This is, however, their story, their history, and I love that time was spent showing us the journey and how they came to be vampires, how it was the events of one fateful night, and of family bonds and unknown strength that led them to the decision to become monsters in the eyes of the people around them. 

Lil developed wonderfully, though initially I worried that she wouldn't, and I really appreciated her recognising that inaction is just as bad as the terrible things others do. That standing back and allowing it to happen makes you just as guilty. And I wholeheartedly adored her developing relationship with Mira :)
Kizzy is who you feel you should place your bets on despite the fact that she is not our narrator. She is strong, defiant, and unafraid of the hard decisions, of doing what is right even if it means sacrificing herself, and ultimately, it leads her to the power that she wanted. 

If you are wanting a vampire tale, maybe give this a miss, I feel you will be disappointed, but if you want an origin story, a tale of bravery, and love, and determination, then definitely pick this up!

Gem Koeman

*Possible Spoilers*

I absolutely adored this book. From the atmosphere to the relationships, there was never a dull moment. 

The best part about the book was the timing, it didn't hit you full in the face with the supernatural aspects from the get go. Things just seemed to get a little more intense as time went  on. 

I loved the blossoming relationship between Lil and Mira - it didn't feel forced or shoe-horned in which was great. 

It would be great to hear more stories from the later years of Kizzy & Lil's lives!

Manon van Heumen

I just love Kiran and her lyrical writing.

Joanna Rosenwink 

This YA retelling of the story of the brides of Dracula is beautiful and haunting. Twins Lil and Kizzy are torn from their Traveller community and forced to work for an evil lord. Their love for each other and their resolve is tested when they are forced to make an impossible choice.

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The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

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