July 22, 2024
The addictive latest from Harrison (Black Sheep) is by turns gory, rage-inducing, eerie, melancholy, and hopeful. For Sloane Parker’s 36th birthday, she heads out for a long weekend of celebration at a swanky resort in the Finger Lakes with her best friend, Naomi, hoping for a distraction from her husband’s infidelity and her anxiety about aging. But when risk-taker Naomi drags risk-averse Sloane to a house party with strangers they met in a bar, the night takes a sharp turn. The party turns out to be a vampiric orgy and to survive the night Sloane and Naomi must agree to transform into vampires themselves. It’s an unusual perspective from which to approach the vampire novel: that of a woman unhappy about aging being instead forced to live forever. There are some familiar elements—including the introduction of a brooding, moody male vampire love interest who regards Sloane as a captivating enigma; the question of animal blood as a more humane alternative to killing people; and the excruciating pain of transformation—but there’s also enough that feels fresh to render this a distinctive treatise on the transformational power of friendship, as Sloane and Naomi embark on this literally never-ending journey together. The result is a smart, scary, and occasionally sexy page-turner.
December 1, 2024
Sloane Parker is disappointed in her life, career, and marriage and isn't looking forward to her 36th birthday. When her cheating husband surprises her with a weekend getaway for her and her best friend Naomi, she's suspicious of his motives but excited to see Naomi. Hoping Sloane will forget her troubles, Naomi steers Sloane away from wine tastings and relaxation, instead taking her to a house party like no other. After a wild night with strangers, the friends learn that some bonds are eternal. Brittany Pressley narrates Harrison's (Such Sharp Teeth) feminist horror with panache. She channels the snark and hilarity of the two women's friendship, enhancing the humor even as she describes scenes filled with stomach-churning blood and gore. While there are plenty of monsters to keep horror fans entertained, this layered story also leaves room for the characters to take stock of their lives and explore the complexities of their relationships. VERDICT Harrison's many fans will devour her genre-blending latest, a smart, sexy horror with a lot of heart. Pair with Rachel Koller Croft's We Love the Nightlife.--Elyssa Everling
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