(Affliate Link)
Just about everyone knows a family like the Radleys. Many of us grew up
next door to one. They are a modern family, averagely content, averagely
dysfunctional, living in a staid and quiet suburban English town. Peter
is an overworked doctor whose wife, Helen, has become increasingly
remote and uncommunicative. Rowan, their teenage son, is being bullied
at school, and their anemic daughter, Clara, has recently become a
vegan. They are typical, that is, save for one devastating exception:
Peter and Helen are vampires and have—for seventeen years—been
abstaining by choice from a life of chasing blood in the hope that their
children could live normal lives. One night, Clara finds herself
driven to commit a shocking—and disturbingly satisfying—act of violence,
and her parents are forced to explain their history of shadows and
lies. A police investigation is launched that uncovers a richness of
vampire history heretofore unknown to the general public. And when the
malevolent and alluring Uncle Will, a practicing vampire, arrives to
throw the police off Clara’s trail, he winds up throwing the whole house
into temptation and turmoil and unleashing a host of dark secrets that
threaten the Radleys’ marriage.
The Radleys is a moving, thrilling, and radiant domestic novel that explores with daring the lengths a parent will go to protect a child, what it costs you to deny your identity, the undeniable appeal of sin, and the everlasting, iridescent bonds of family love. Read it and ask what we grow into when we grow up, and what we gain—and lose—when we deny our appetites.
The Radleys is a moving, thrilling, and radiant domestic novel that explores with daring the lengths a parent will go to protect a child, what it costs you to deny your identity, the undeniable appeal of sin, and the everlasting, iridescent bonds of family love. Read it and ask what we grow into when we grow up, and what we gain—and lose—when we deny our appetites.
- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: Free Press; Reprint edition (September 20, 2011)
- ISBN: 9781439194010
My Opinion:
I saw this book being reviewed on another blog and couldn't get over how groovy it sounded. The idea that vampires try to abstain and live like living people, it appealed to me greatly. The cooler part was the blogger sending it to me. (Thank you Julie, if you read this.)
I love this book!
It was everything I hoped for and then some. It had a couple more twists in it that really fit well in the story. I just thought it was very clever and entertaining writing mixed in with a great premise.
People who read paranormal will love this, and people who enjoy suspense will love it too. It does say age 14+ for reading, but I disagree due to the semi-graphic and violent nature and think 18+ is more appropriate.
4.5/5
Recommend? Yes.
DISCLAIMER: I received this copy from a friend. I was not compensated for my opinion or this post.
So glad to see your rating on this one. I was wondering if I should read it. Adding it to my list :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review. I jotted it down and will let you know what I think of it when I read it. I don't recall seeing this before now.
ReplyDelete