Liz Kerin

Trigger Warnings:
- Child abuse & neglect
- Domestic Violence
- Gun violence
- Pandemic
- Blood/gore
- Addiction
- Emesis

Night's Edge follows a woman, Mia, as she navigates life after her mom becomes infected with the Sara disease. It alternates between her as a 10-year-old in the immediate aftermath of her mom contracting this disease and her life now, once they've established a routine, and Mia starts feeling stuck in her caretaking role.

What really drew me into this book was the opening line, "I'm hungry and it's two in the morning. The fridge is empty. And Mom is dead on the couch." I had so many questions, I knew I had to read it. Unfortunately, after the initial opening, it seemed to slow down and became a bit of a slog to get through.

Nonetheless, it was still a good book. The depiction of Mia being groomed as a child, not even realizing she is in an abusive environment, along with her slow realization as an adult that she no longer wants to live that way but not knowing how to escape, was really well done. Mia loves her mom and only has her to rely on, which makes it that much harder for her to accept her current situation as she doesn't want to upset her mother and is scared at the idea of no longer having the stability or routine in her life and the introduction of potential danger that comes with leaving.

I am quite interested to read the second book, as how Kerin addresses Mia's escape from the abusive situation could greatly sway my opinions on this one as well. This book heavily focuses on the build-up to leaving an abusive situation, but doesn't address how that affects Mia afterwards, which is an incredibly important part of her story and why I think the second book will be so crucial to the story.… (altro)

Mia's mum is a sara (someone who got the virus which brings vampyre-like symptoms such as: not going into sunlight, sleeping all day, and only being able to eat human blood. Mia, 23, has been bloodletting for her mother since she was 10. Mia is now finally ready to move out on her own. She is torn between her actual wants and the guilt of leaving her mother alone. Mia meets Jade and they become close. Jade helps her plan to escape and gives her strength so it is not only a vampire story but a coming-of-age tale.

I really enjoyed this. When I discovered there was a romance element I almost put it down. I'm so glad I didn't, the romance is low key and none of those cringy misunderstandings or banterings. I even thought it was cute yet mature. The vampyre story is quite original but still has the tropes that are vampyre canon. This is also a mother/daughter story where the mother physically needs the daughter and the daughter gives it with love, but is now feeling guilt and anger about it as her life is being stunted. The book is well-written and has an atmosphere that gives all the feels. Mia is a likeable, vulnerable character in contrast to her strong, aggressive mother. I thought this relationship was very real even if it is based within the lives of the vampyre. So much fun. A quick read and recommended.… (altro)

The world has been invaded by a virus that turns people into vampires. Those that have been turned are living secretly in order to avoid being captured by the police and sent to "treatment" centers. Mia had the unfortunate luck to watch her mother get turned by a nasty vamp when she was 10. From that point onward, she has been taking care of her mother, hiding in their house and drawing her own blood into a cup nightly to feed her. The story moves back and forth from the past to the present where Mia is now 23 and craving a life of her own but still feels obligated to her mother. The creep that turned her mother returns and a lot of things start to change for Mia -- not only in how she looks at her mother, but also in how she looks at herself and if she can have a life of her own. The book is a slow build flipping back and forth in time to establish the history of Mia and her mother and by the time the real action occurs it's the end of the book. I am SO thankful that there is a second book coming out because this one is really just the beginning! I love the character of Mia and can't wait to see what happens next.… (altro)