First things first: Please do not find these reviewers and be an asshole to them. Please do not ever be an asshole on my behalf. I’m intentionally not linking to any of these reviews for that reason. Reviews are for readers, and reviews are the reader’s honest opinion (unless, of course, they’re an AI review that gets the entire plot wrong, not that I’ve ever seen any of those :delicate cough:).
Second things second: Spoilers, sweetie.
That said, I’ve been scratching my head over people leaving reviews like “THIS BOOK IS ONE LONG ANIMAL ABUSE TRIGGER ANIMALS ARE ABUSED IN ALMOST EVERY SCENE!!!!” Seriously, I could not figure out what the expletive people were talking about! So I suppose I owe my thanks to the reader who actually explained it to me (I don’t agree with her, but appreciate the explanation).
So:
- A beloved, well-cared-for elderly cat dies of a blood clot. I don’t consider an animal dying of a natural disease “animal cruelty.” This happens in my book partly because my own beloved, well-cared-for elderly cat died very suddenly of a blood clot during the pandemic. (I’m trying not to bristle at the idea that I abused her!)
This is not, in my opinion, “abuse,” but it is very graphic. This happens early and is intentional. I was making a point, namely:
Vampires: not inherently horrific
The natural processes of life and death: INHERENTLY FUCKING HORRIFIC OH MY GOD 1
Your mileage on this may, of course, vary. - A beloved, well-cared-for young cat gets saddle thrombus and is turned into a vampire to save his life. This happens in my book partly because my own beloved, well-cared-for cat got saddle thrombus and died at the age of four. I don’t consider a cat getting a natural illness “animal cruelty” or “abuse.” I further don’t consider turning a terminally ill cat into an immortal being with perfect health “animal cruelty” or “abuse.” In fact, I would do almost anything if my darling, beloved, friendly cat had simply become a vampire rather than died at the age of four. I would happily feed him blood and pureed chicken livers for every meal if only he would not be dead.
Ivan’s health issues are, indeed, horrific. His being a vampire is wish fulfillment. - Two cats fight. A dog and a cat fight. I do not consider this “animal cruelty” or “abuse.” No human forced them to do it.
- A landlady in the 19th century says that she has drowned a lot of unwanted kittens and states the intention of doing it again. She dies of vampire bite before she can ever harm another cat again. Sorry, not sorry. Fuck that bitch. THIS is “animal cruelty and abuse.”
- A villainous character injures a dog with a knife. In the villainous character’s defense (fuck that guy), the dog is menacing him, but also I still consider this to be “animal cruelty and abuse.”
Someone in my writer’s group: I don’t think that guy is particularly scary, I mean…
Me: He INJURED A DOG in the last chapter. Fuck that guy!
Fortunately, the dog is also a vampire and has preternatural healing so he’s immediately cured. (In my critique partner’s defense, the guy IS an enormous loser, which I think is the point they were trying to get across.)
So, I’m going to link this onto the main content warning page. Thank you for explaining it to me! Even if I don’t agree, your opinion is valid.
1 Sorry, Destiny. I do understand that as a vet you have to have a higher death acceptance than I do! I have nothing but respect for the people who are emotionally strong enough to help sick and suffering animals! I’m a wimp and you have my admiration.
