Today, Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste is released into the world. Now, followers of this blog know that I have LOVED every book Kiste has written. The Rust Maidens was my top pick as the head juror for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel the year it was in contention, and I was so happy to read her name off and present her with the award in person at StokerCon in Grand Rapids that year. Boneset & Feathers was also one of my top reads of 2020.
But both of those were with small presses. Reluctant Immortals is her first Big 5 release and it is with Joe Monti at Saga [imprint of S&S], the man who edits Stephen Graham Jones.
Reluctant Immortals is not a readalike to Jones' work, but the hallmark of Monti's superior editing skills can be seen in this book, specifically in how the plot unfolds at a compelling pace, but without sacrificing details; details that make the book more enjoyable, richer, and somehow, every single one of them matters in the end, which is so satisfying.
I reviewed this book in the June 2022 issue of Library Journal and I loved it. You can see my full review with bonus info below or here, but before we get to that I have news!
As part of Kiste's virtual book tour, she asked me to moderate the virtual event at Old Town Books in VA. This event is on Tue, Aug 30, 2022, 7:00 PM EDT and it 100% free to sign up at this link.
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| Click here to register |
If you are attending for yourself, please consider buying a book from them as a thank you.
But let's chat about library copies for a moment. See my details review below, but this is one of those rare gifts that we get as library workers helping leaguer readers at the library, a surefire sure bet option. This is a book about characters from beloved books that is EXCELLENT and gives the source material an entirely new perspective. Anyone who likes Dracula, Jane Eyre, or just books about books-- and as you all know this defines a majority of those who use our services-- will love this book. You need more than 1 copy for sure. This will be read year round and can be added to your sure bet lists immediately.
I also think it is a great choice for all book discussion groups. Just the discussion of how she used the exiting tests and characters to enhance her story is discussable, but then the layer of how she is using this story to tell the story of forgotten women everywhere and anywhere is great discussion fodder as well. In fact all of her books are about giving women the agency the world denies them.
Sign up to join us. We'd love to see you there. And also, check out my draft Library Journal review of Reluctant Immortals plus extra content here and below:
Review in the June 2022 issue of Library Journal
4.5 stars.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Unapologetically feminist, excellent world building, character driven.
Draft review:
1969, sunset, the Hollywood sign, a beautiful young woman, Lucy, is fighting to bury an urn containing Dracula’s ashes, her roommate, Bee by her side*. These women live in the shadows and yet, are known to all, cursed victims of the evil men whom history has rehabilitated into romantic heroes. Nearly a century later, Lucy recounts how their nights are spent: controlling Dracula, keeping the rot at bay**, resisting Rochester’s pull, battling PTSD, and going to the drive-in. Their routine while stressful was working, until Jane Eyre shows up, begging Bee for help, sending all on a road trip to Haight Ashbury as Lucy and Bee fight to save other women from their own terrible fate. This is a fast paced and fun adventure that both honors the beloved source material and manages to insert something unique into the conversation. An ode to forgotten women everywhere, a tale where every detail satisfyingly matters as readers rush to the emotional conclusion.
Verdict: Kiste’s Big 5 debut brings her award-winning, femist fueled Horror to more readers. Those eager for new Dracula or Jane Eyre framed stories will eagerly request this, but do not pigeon-hole the appeal here as fans of titles like Due’s Immortals series or DeMeester’s Such a Pretty Smile will also be pleased.
Notes:
Every details matters here-- in a good way. Kiste builds a world for the reader that is very convincing and original and she does it methodically without sacrificing the extremely compelling pacing. The end has details that were included and referred to throughout, details that define the rules of the world she has created, details that end up being very important and make the ending better.
I make a point to call out the world building here because it was not an easy task. Not only is the entire book framed around Dracula and Jane Eyre-- well known Gothic novels-- but also all other fan fiction or adaptations ever written about these works and their characters. That is a lot to deal with, and yet, Kiste manages to honor all of that and create something new and unique. Impressive.
But the overall theme here-- this is an ode to forgotten women everywhere-- those living on the fringes and those who have been he victims of the violence of men. It is a tale as old as time-- men who take what they want and the women who have to pay the price, except in Kiste's novels-- the women fight back.
What is remarkable here, and with every Kiste tale, she can tell a deadly serious story about violence to women that is also a lot of fun. It is terrifying-- both the monsters and the real life horrors, but it is also a fun read. You root out loud of Lucy and Bee. Even though, Lucy herself, is a monster too.
Narration is all Lucy which I liked. It centered a tale that could have bounced around too much. I liked the addition of details about Lucy and Mina's friendship [Dracula] and Bertha and Jane's relationship [Jane Eyre] but I LOVED the cross over--how all of the main players from Dracula and Jane Eyre interacted with each other in 1969 and how they all have unique relationships and connections to each other in this time frame.
Speaking of, setting the entire story in both Hollywood and SF during the summer of love was brilliant. A lot of the unbelievable supernatural occurrences made more sense in both of those settings.
Readalikes: I have many. Any Dracula or Jane Eyre framed titles work. But I thought a lot about Tananarive Due's Immortals series mixed with The Merry Spinster by Lavery as well. I also always suggest Andy Davidson to fans of Kiste. They both write original, character centered Horror that pays homage to the genre's traditions while creating something wholly new and immersive.
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