Sunday, November 3, 2024

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

Vampires with a bite of midlife crisis

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With So Thirsty, Rachel Harrison cements her status as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary horror. This adrenaline-fueled vampire tale goes for the jugular and doesn't let go. It's provocative, darkly funny, and sexy as hell.

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A Vampire Story with Bite

There’s something viscerally satisfying about watching a tightly-wound character finally snap and embrace their most feral instincts. In Rachel Harrison’s juicy new novel So Thirsty, we get to witness buttoned-up suburban housewife Sloane Parker’s transformation from docile doormat to bloodthirsty badass—and it’s an absolute thrill ride.

Harrison, whose previous novels like Cackle and Such Sharp Teeth established her as a master of feminist horror with a wickedly dark sense of humor, really sinks her teeth into the vampire genre here. But this isn’t your typical sparkly teen romance or Anne Rice-style gothic melodrama. So Thirsty uses vampirism as a vehicle to explore female rage, sexual liberation, and the intoxicating freedom that comes from shedding societal expectations.

From Suburban Malaise to Supernatural Mayhem

When we first meet our protagonist Sloane, she’s drowning in suburban ennui, stuck in a stale marriage to a serial cheater and dreading her impending 36th birthday. Her wild child best friend Naomi swoops in to whisk her away for a girls’ weekend at a bougie lake resort, determined to help Sloane rediscover her zest for life.

But their wine-soaked getaway takes an unexpected turn when they end up at a lakeside mansion for a decidedly adult party with a group of mysterious and alluring strangers. Before Sloane can process what’s happening, she and Naomi find themselves turned into vampires and embarking on a blood-soaked road trip across the Eastern seaboard.

A Crimson-Stained Coming of Age

What follows is essentially a vampiric coming-of-age story, as Sloane grapples with her new supernatural abilities and insatiable thirst for blood. Harrison does a masterful job depicting Sloane’s internal struggle between her lingering human morality and her growing vampiric impulses. We feel Sloane’s horror and disgust at her first kill, but also her intoxicating rush of power and freedom.

There’s a raw, primal energy to the prose as Sloane’s carefully constructed façade crumbles and she allows herself to fully embrace her newfound strength and sexuality. Her journey from meek pushover to fierce, unapologetic predator is incredibly cathartic to witness.

Blood Sisters Forever

At its core, this is a story about female friendship and finding the courage to live authentically. Sloane and Naomi’s ride-or-die bond forms the beating heart of the novel. Their relationship feels incredibly lived-in and real, from their playful banter to their genuine care for each other. Even as vampires on a violent rampage, their loyalty and love for one another never wavers.

Harrison perfectly captures that ride-or-die energy of an intense female friendship—the inside jokes, the unconditional support, the way you’d follow each other into hell itself. Naomi pushes Sloane out of her comfort zone in ways both thrilling and terrifying. Their dynamic evolves in fascinating ways as they navigate their new vampiric existence together.

A Feast for the Senses

Harrison’s vivid, visceral prose brings the story’s more gruesome elements to life in stomach-churning detail. The numerous feeding scenes are gloriously gory, with an almost erotic charge to them. You can practically taste the metallic tang of blood on your tongue.

But it’s not all violence and viscera. There are moments of dark humor that had me cackling out loud, like when the newly-turned Sloane attempts to eat normal food again and describes the taste as “like drinking hydrogen peroxide.” Harrison has a gift for finding the absurdly funny moments amid the carnage.

A Smorgasbord of Vampire Tropes

Fans of vampire lore will find plenty to sink their teeth into here. Harrison plays with familiar tropes in fun and subversive ways. There are shades of Interview with the Vampire in the found family of ancient bloodsuckers that adopt Sloane and Naomi. A showdown with a cannibalistic elderly vampire in an abandoned Renaissance Faire evokes the campy horror of The Lost Boys.

But Harrison puts her own fresh spin on vampire mythology. I particularly enjoyed her take on vampire blood having no flavor to other vampires—a clever way to prevent them from feeding on each other. The mechanics of vampirism are doled out organically through the story rather than dumped on the reader all at once.

Embracing the Darkness Within

Letting Go of Human Hang-Ups

One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is watching Sloane shed her human insecurities and inhibitions. As a vampire, she no longer has to worry about aging or body image issues. She discovers a voracious sexual appetite and confidence she never knew she possessed.

There’s an intoxicating sense of freedom as Sloane stops caring what others think and allows herself to fully indulge her desires. Harrison taps into that universal fantasy of reinventing yourself and leaving your old life behind. Who hasn’t daydreamed about burning it all down and starting over as someone new?

The Seductive Pull of Darkness

The novel doesn’t shy away from the moral implications of Sloane’s transformation. We see her wrestling with guilt over killing innocents to satiate her thirst. But there’s also an addictive quality to embracing her darkest impulses. Harrison captures that internal tug-of-war between conscience and id.

By the end, Sloane reaches a place of acceptance about her new nature. She finds a way to feed her bloodlust while still maintaining a moral code of sorts. It’s a nuanced take on the vampire archetype that avoids easy answers.

Sharp Social Commentary with Bite

While So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison works perfectly well as a fun, sexy vampire romp, there are also deeper themes at play. Harrison uses the vampire premise to explore female anger and society’s discomfort with women who refuse to be “nice.”

Patriarchy: It Sucks

Sloane’s journey from doormat to apex predator can be read as an allegory for women reclaiming their power in a patriarchal society. Her transformation allows her to access the rage and aggression she’s been conditioned to repress. There’s a vicarious thrill in watching Sloane and Naomi turn the tables on sleazy men who underestimate them.

The novel also touches on themes of aging and beauty standards, as Sloane grapples with her fear of getting older before vampire immortality renders those concerns moot. Harrison skewers societal expectations that women should be eternally youthful and pleasing.

Queer Subtext and Found Family

While not explicitly stated, there are definite queer undertones to Sloane and Naomi’s intensely close bond. Their relationship goes beyond platonic friendship into something deeper and more intimate. The coven of vampires they fall in with has a distinctly queer found family vibe as well.

Harrison leaves things open to interpretation, but there’s a sapphic energy simmering beneath the surface. It adds another layer of richness to the central relationship.

A Bloody Good Time

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison is the literary equivalent of an uber-violent girl power anthem cranked up to 11. It’s messy, it’s sexy, it’s cathartic as hell. Harrison has crafted a story that taps into our most primal urges while still maintaining emotional depth.

The pacing is relentless, whisking the reader along on a blood-soaked joyride. You’ll find yourself tearing through chapters, desperate to see what kind of trouble Sloane and Naomi get into next. But amidst the mayhem are quieter character moments that pack a real emotional punch.

Not for the Faint of Heart

Fair warning: this book is not for the squeamish. The violence is graphic and visceral. If you get queasy at the sight of blood, you may want to sit this one out. But for those who can stomach it, the gore is part of the transgressive fun.

Harrison doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to the brutal reality of vampirism. This isn’t a sanitized, neutered version of vampire lore. These bloodsuckers are vicious predators, and the feeding scenes don’t skimp on the gory details.

The Verdict: Bloody Brilliant

With So Thirsty, Rachel Harrison cements her status as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary horror. This adrenaline-fueled vampire tale goes for the jugular and doesn’t let go. It’s provocative, darkly funny, and sexy as hell.

If you like your horror with a heaping dose of feminist rage and pitch-black humor, sink your teeth into this one ASAP. Just maybe don’t read it right before bedtime—unless you want some deliciously dark dreams.

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Standout Quotes:

“Right now, I’d give anything to be younger, for no other reason than to escape this feeling. Rewind to a time before this was possible, before I’d lived enough to discover a ghost in a stranger’s face.”

“Living is complicated and messy. To live is to fuck up and make mistakes.”

“There are so many ways to be stuck, aren’t there?”

So pour yourself a Bloody Mary, turn off the lights, and prepare to be thoroughly entertained by this wickedly fun vampire romp. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself craving a little neck nibble afterwards. So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison will leave you positively parched for more.

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With So Thirsty, Rachel Harrison cements her status as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary horror. This adrenaline-fueled vampire tale goes for the jugular and doesn't let go. It's provocative, darkly funny, and sexy as hell.So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison