Bless Your Heart
Written by: Lindy Ryan
Minotaur Books
2024
An excellent new take on vampires, Bless Your Heart is a quirky and heartwarming novel that follows a family of female vampire hunters.
I absolutely loved this book and believe it’s the perfect read for Mother’s Day.
The story spans four generations of women who operate a funeral parlor, using it as a front to monitor and eliminate vampires.
Storytelling and Characterization
The storytelling in Bless Your Heart is impressive, but what truly stands out are the characters. Ducey Evans is the matriarch and owner of the funeral parlor in their small town. Her daughter, Lenore, and granddaughter, Grace, assist her in the family business. Luna, Grace’s daughter, is still in high school and represents the youngest generation of Evans women.
Each of these characters has distinct personalities that propel the story forward. They balance one another out, and despite their differences, they present a united front. The author, Ryan, expertly ensures that the story flows smoothly. As we switch between characters, we uncover pieces of their family history that tie everything together while also creating an intriguing mystery.
Moreover, the novel offers a deeper look into the character dynamics, making readers invested in their family relationships.
The Story’s Intricacies
The story itself is fantastic. The alternating perspectives maintain a quick pace and enhance the rising tension. What I found particularly remarkable was how Ryan incorporated various vampire mythologies. While she establishes the Strigoi, she also introduces zombies into the equation. When a person is first turned into a vampire, they resemble a mindless zombie. Additionally, the concept of energy vampires adds a fascinating supernatural twist. I loved the different types of vampires and the unique interpretations Ryan applied, which give the novel a fresh and distinctive feel.
Final Thoughts
Bless Your Heart is heartfelt and retains its horror elements. Given the strong sense of familial solidarity portrayed in the story, I maintain that this would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift.
Family of Badass Vampire Hunters | Bless Your Heart Review
An excellent new take on vampires, Bless Your Heart is a quirky and heartwarming novel that follows a family of female vampire hunters.
Cynthia Ayala
Cynthia Ayala-Bujnicki majored in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. Editor-in-chief of Cyn's Workshop, she loves to read and write while tending to her pepper plants. She currently lives in South Florida with her husband, two kids Dante and Selene and two furbabies Mr. J the Kitten who Thinks He's Batman (yes, that is his full name) and Nyx.
