Bleak Remedy

Long horror novels are always a risky proposition for me as I feel they often struggle to justify their length, taking a relatively simple premise or setup and dragging it out in ways that I tend to find excessive. I do, however, enjoy sinking my teeth into such tales when the time and effort put into experiencing them pays off in a meaningful or satisfying way.

"A Bleak Remedy" hit the spot for me with its unique combination of thoroughly fleshed-out elements. More than just a simple or traditional vampire tale, it explores the concept of such creatures being studied in a scientific setting, ostensibly for the purposes of medical research, and many of the facets that would be involved in such an endeavor.

There are a lot of characters, a lot of interweaving plot lines, and a lot of tantalizing questions that are asked and answered to varying degrees throughout the book's duration, which go a long way toward keeping things compelling and engaging, and staving off the fatigue that its length might have otherwise elicited. That said, there were a few things I didn't love, or even outright disliked, about the read but they were more a matter of conflicts with my personal tastes and preferences than with any objective deficiencies in the story or its execution. At the end of the day, even when things occasionally happened that I wasn't particularly fond of, they always felt at the very least interesting, well-earned, or contextually relevant.

It is worth noting that, despite its length and a reasonably satisfying conclusion, "A Bleak Remedy" does leave a lot of loose ends and unresolved plot threads that are apparently addressed in its equally-substantial sequel, "A Multitude of Menaces," so those looking for a "one and done" sort of experience with a strong sense of closure may want to look elsewhere. Personally, I feel the book could stand on its own for readers who enjoy open-ended conclusions but I think this is a case where a heads-up might be helpful in terms of setting expectations. Along those lines, it probably goes without saying but, as a tale primarily focused on vampires of various sorts, there is a lot of blood and gore, so those not into, or at least okay with, that sort of thing need not apply.

Bottom line: If you're looking for a dense, thorough, and unique speculative-fiction novel that confidently carries its extensive intricacies and narrative ambitions, "A Bleak Remedy" is one I'd highly recommend.