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Parasite Life
Life in small town America is hard for Jane. On top of the usual teenage troubles with peers and homework and boredom, Jane lives alone in a strange old house with her invalid mother. Her mother has been near catatonic for years, afflicted by some strange wasting disease. It’s only Jane who keeps her alive, day in and day out. Day in and day out. Day in and Day out.
But then one day everything changes. A new girl shows up in school. Her name is Sabrina and she sees something in Jane that she doesn’t even see in herself.
Their friendship will push Jane to unearth the mysteries of her mother’s past and the dark history of her missing father. Forced to face a monstrous lineage, Jane will have to make decisions about just who and what she wants to be.
But then one day everything changes. A new girl shows up in school. Her name is Sabrina and she sees something in Jane that she doesn’t even see in herself.
Their friendship will push Jane to unearth the mysteries of her mother’s past and the dark history of her missing father. Forced to face a monstrous lineage, Jane will have to make decisions about just who and what she wants to be.
339 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2017
About the author
Victoria Dalpe
33 books94 followersVictoria Dalpe is a writer and artist. She has published sixty short stories and the collection Les Femmes Grotesques. She is also the author of gothic horror novel Parasite Life and the dark fantasy series Selene Shade: Resurrectionist for Hire with CLASH Books. Book two Selene Shade: Loving the Dead will be out in August 2026. Her short story "The Cleaner" was selected for Night Shade Books' The Best Horror of the Year: Volume Seventeen edited by Ellen Datlow. Her next short story collection I'll Break You'll Break will be out in 2027 with Lethe Press. She lives in Rhode Island with her family. Follow her on instagram @victorialdalpe
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January 7, 2019I was really excited to read Parasite Life when the author kindly reached out and offered me a review copy! The plot sounded incredibly promising and I love the idea of seeing more queer rep in YA horror, so it was a no-brainer to accept the opportunity. Unfortunately, once I started reading it, it was quickly evident that the writing style and my reading tastes sadly just don't mesh. I know myself well enough to know pretty early on when a narrative voice isn't going to work for me, and in those cases, I'll often choose to DNF the book without a star rating (because, well, it's me, not you, book!) rather than risking giving the story an unfairly low rating later on, so I'm going to put this one down and say that, if it interests you, you should definitely give it a try regardless of my experience!
Thank you to Victoria Dalpe for sending me this review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Thank you to Victoria Dalpe for sending me this review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
April 26, 2018
**I received a free PDF copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are mine and 100% honest**
4.5 stars
I want to preface this with horror is NOT my genre whatsoever, by any means. I requested this title, however, due to the fact that it just sounded interesting to me, nothing more, nothing less. I am glad that I enjoyed this, it was a pleasant surprise.
I liked Jane, but I hated her at the same time?? Yes, she was a well-developed and well thought out character, but she literally called her self a seducer and forced herself onto another girl and raped her. That's not usually what you find in a likable character, but she was so likable to read about, so I have no idea whether to say I like her or not.
The secondary characters were blah though. They didn't suck, but they weren't as compelling as Jane was, and definitely less interesting to read about, that's for sure.
I love Dalpe's writing throughout this. I usually do not like when a book has straightforward writing, however, when you combine it with the pace of the plot, they do wonders together and works seamlessly. She also does an amazing job of delving deeper into the character, world, and concept itself without just scraping the surface and writing something mediorce, at best.
Pleasantly surprised I sure was with Parasite Life, and I am glad that I decided to request it regardless of my hesitance towards requesting it at first.
4.5 stars
I want to preface this with horror is NOT my genre whatsoever, by any means. I requested this title, however, due to the fact that it just sounded interesting to me, nothing more, nothing less. I am glad that I enjoyed this, it was a pleasant surprise.
I liked Jane, but I hated her at the same time?? Yes, she was a well-developed and well thought out character, but she literally called her self a seducer and forced herself onto another girl and raped her. That's not usually what you find in a likable character, but she was so likable to read about, so I have no idea whether to say I like her or not.
The secondary characters were blah though. They didn't suck, but they weren't as compelling as Jane was, and definitely less interesting to read about, that's for sure.
I love Dalpe's writing throughout this. I usually do not like when a book has straightforward writing, however, when you combine it with the pace of the plot, they do wonders together and works seamlessly. She also does an amazing job of delving deeper into the character, world, and concept itself without just scraping the surface and writing something mediorce, at best.
Pleasantly surprised I sure was with Parasite Life, and I am glad that I decided to request it regardless of my hesitance towards requesting it at first.
August 5, 2018
3.5 Stars
A well written horror story with lesbian representation. Despite the age of the protagonist, I would consider this an adult or all ages novel.
A well written horror story with lesbian representation. Despite the age of the protagonist, I would consider this an adult or all ages novel.
December 4, 2017
I got to read an advanced copy of Parasite Life. It's a dark and unpredictable twist on the YA vampire genre. Victoria Dalpe kept me interested and wondering what would happen next. If you're ready for something darker and deeper, check it out!
January 29, 2018
https://misclisa.blogspot.ca/2018/01/...
Interview with author about parasite life
Interview with author about parasite life
November 15, 2017
Victoria Dalpe asked me to read this for a blurb, which I was happy to do, though I approached the project with some trepidation, having never read any of her work before. I needn't have worried. I'll let the blurb I ultimately delivered serve as my review, as well:
"How do you breathe new life into the YA vampire novel? If you're Victoria Dalpe, you do it by wrapping a refreshingly humanistic interior and an incredibly compelling narrative voice in the Gothic, primal, atavistic horror that made the children of the night sing to us in the first place."
"How do you breathe new life into the YA vampire novel? If you're Victoria Dalpe, you do it by wrapping a refreshingly humanistic interior and an incredibly compelling narrative voice in the Gothic, primal, atavistic horror that made the children of the night sing to us in the first place."
November 28, 2017
I received an advanced readers copy of this book in its almost completed form.
This book was great. I was surprised by how dark it became and I'm glad folks are writing dark tales for teens. In Parasite Life the kids gloves are off. Victoria takes the idea of what vampires have become in modern pop culture and shatteringly reminds us what they really are...parasitic monsters. The moment I considered the turning point into the dark had such a shocking aftermath I put the book down for the rest of the day to process.
What was most effective about Parasite Life was the vampirism being used as a psychological expression of the themes of the book not as setting or flavor. Family, loneliness, shame, agency, guilt; all these issues were strengthened by Jane's struggle to figure out what she is and where she came from.
It was great to have what feels like a fresh take on the vampire in a modern gothic setting. It was brutal and honest but didn't leave me fatigued and with no hope at the end. I'm looking forward to Dalpe's next novel.
This book was great. I was surprised by how dark it became and I'm glad folks are writing dark tales for teens. In Parasite Life the kids gloves are off. Victoria takes the idea of what vampires have become in modern pop culture and shatteringly reminds us what they really are...parasitic monsters. The moment I considered the turning point into the dark had such a shocking aftermath I put the book down for the rest of the day to process.
What was most effective about Parasite Life was the vampirism being used as a psychological expression of the themes of the book not as setting or flavor. Family, loneliness, shame, agency, guilt; all these issues were strengthened by Jane's struggle to figure out what she is and where she came from.
It was great to have what feels like a fresh take on the vampire in a modern gothic setting. It was brutal and honest but didn't leave me fatigued and with no hope at the end. I'm looking forward to Dalpe's next novel.
February 24, 2020
Surprisingly dark and daring for YA. At first, I felt the things the main character, Jane, was going through were metaphoric of the changes any teenager goes through, but Dalpe doesn’t make things so neat, and you better hope none of the things happening later in the book are relatable to your adolescence. The writing style was enjoyable, keeping a straightforward style that would be easy for a teenager to read but not writing down to them (as I’ve come across in some YA). I found myself caring for the characters of Jane, Sabrina, and even Jane’s mother, as we come to know her in the diary flashbacks. The vampire mythology in this book felt close enough to the old myths to be recognizable but fresh and unique. A refreshing and disturbing read for teens and any horror fans.
February 18, 2018
A refreshing take on a couple of genres. Relatively simple story, but haunting and enjoyable.
October 8, 2018
This review first appeared on scifiandscary.com, I received a copy of this book for review consideration
There was a great deal that I liked about ‘Parasite Life’ but the quality of the writing never quite keeps up with the freshness of the ideas. It’s a different take on the teen vampire novel, that has more in common with George A Romero’s excellent movie ‘Martin’ than it does with the likes of ‘Twilight’. Aside from their taste for blood, the vampires here are indistinguishable from humans. The challenges they face are emotional, social and practical. There are no villagers marching to the gates with flaming torches, just moral unease and problems of finding a fresh supply of blood.
To even use the V-word is slightly spoilery, but it’s pretty obvious right from the start why teen protagonist Jane feels so different from here peers, and why her catatonic mother is covered in tiny wounds. Jane’s path through the novel is one of self-discovery, as she gradually uncovers the secrets of her origins and her mother’s mysterious illness. She shares narrator duties with her mother, whose diaries flesh out the back story. The secrets those diaries reveal are wonderfully macabre, and evidence that author Dalpe has an entertainingly twisted imagination. This is a very personal kind of horror. The horror of the fluid contents of our slowly decaying bodies and of the power our instincts have over our rational minds. There are scenes and images here which linger long after the page has been turned.
‘Parasite Life’ is marketed as a YA book. I’ve long struggled to understand exactly what gets a book that classification, other than a teenage protagonist. The book has that, but the horror is full bloodied, and I’d certainly not recommended it for very young readers. In line with other YA books I’ve read, Dalpe explores coming of age themes like teenage alienation and the relationship between parents and children. Indeed, Jane and her mother represent a horrific and desperately bleak vision of motherhood. The handling of the teenage elements is particularly sensitive, and Jane’s problems make her an appealing and sympathetic character. She is easy to relate to if you’re someone who has ever felt that they don’t quite fit in. Her growing friendship with new girl Sabrina is also well done. It’s convincing and a reminder of how intoxicating new relationships can be.
The richness of the ideas and themes makes it all the more disappointing that the story is weak. The problem is that it’s all self-discovery with no real plot to back it up. Loner Jane befriends the new girl at school, things get weird between them, Jane finds out the secrets of her past. That’s basically it. The resulting lack of tension and drama meant I found myself reading the book because I wanted to see what Dalpe did with the concept, rather than because I was gripped by the story. What’s more, things feel a bit padded given the lack of incident. I can’t help feeling that there’s a great short story or novella in here, but at nearly 300 pages the book is too long. The writing can be pretty turgid too, it’s not bad, it just never crackles.
For all that, I think the book is worth reading. It’s original and often thought provoking, even if it lacks a compelling plot to pull the reader through it.
There was a great deal that I liked about ‘Parasite Life’ but the quality of the writing never quite keeps up with the freshness of the ideas. It’s a different take on the teen vampire novel, that has more in common with George A Romero’s excellent movie ‘Martin’ than it does with the likes of ‘Twilight’. Aside from their taste for blood, the vampires here are indistinguishable from humans. The challenges they face are emotional, social and practical. There are no villagers marching to the gates with flaming torches, just moral unease and problems of finding a fresh supply of blood.
To even use the V-word is slightly spoilery, but it’s pretty obvious right from the start why teen protagonist Jane feels so different from here peers, and why her catatonic mother is covered in tiny wounds. Jane’s path through the novel is one of self-discovery, as she gradually uncovers the secrets of her origins and her mother’s mysterious illness. She shares narrator duties with her mother, whose diaries flesh out the back story. The secrets those diaries reveal are wonderfully macabre, and evidence that author Dalpe has an entertainingly twisted imagination. This is a very personal kind of horror. The horror of the fluid contents of our slowly decaying bodies and of the power our instincts have over our rational minds. There are scenes and images here which linger long after the page has been turned.
‘Parasite Life’ is marketed as a YA book. I’ve long struggled to understand exactly what gets a book that classification, other than a teenage protagonist. The book has that, but the horror is full bloodied, and I’d certainly not recommended it for very young readers. In line with other YA books I’ve read, Dalpe explores coming of age themes like teenage alienation and the relationship between parents and children. Indeed, Jane and her mother represent a horrific and desperately bleak vision of motherhood. The handling of the teenage elements is particularly sensitive, and Jane’s problems make her an appealing and sympathetic character. She is easy to relate to if you’re someone who has ever felt that they don’t quite fit in. Her growing friendship with new girl Sabrina is also well done. It’s convincing and a reminder of how intoxicating new relationships can be.
The richness of the ideas and themes makes it all the more disappointing that the story is weak. The problem is that it’s all self-discovery with no real plot to back it up. Loner Jane befriends the new girl at school, things get weird between them, Jane finds out the secrets of her past. That’s basically it. The resulting lack of tension and drama meant I found myself reading the book because I wanted to see what Dalpe did with the concept, rather than because I was gripped by the story. What’s more, things feel a bit padded given the lack of incident. I can’t help feeling that there’s a great short story or novella in here, but at nearly 300 pages the book is too long. The writing can be pretty turgid too, it’s not bad, it just never crackles.
For all that, I think the book is worth reading. It’s original and often thought provoking, even if it lacks a compelling plot to pull the reader through it.
December 1, 2018
Read this review and more on my blog.The Book Return Blog
*I received this book for free from the Author (via YA Books Central) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
*I received this book for free from the Author (via YA Books Central) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jane is stuck in a creepy old house with her invalid mother. She has no idea why her mother is wasting away. Jane is about to find out the truth about her mother and in the process herself.
When I began reading 'Parasite Life', I genuinely had no idea that it is a vampire novel. I had never read a vampire novel before so 'Parasite Life' is something new for me.
The vampire elements of the story are second to the intriguing storyline of Jane uncovering her mother's mysterious past. I think that Jane finding out about her mothers past through a hidden diary is an interesting way to fill in gaps in the story.
Despite Jane's troubling behavior, I found myself really loving Jane (one of the things I loved about Jane is how good she took good care of her cat) and really hating her mother and the awful way she treated Jane.
I thought the LGBT twist on the vampire story is well done and I loved Sabrina and her relationship with Jane. I'm not going to lie, some of the blood-letting scenes did gross me out a little.
One of the most interesting aspects of the novel is how most people were repelled by Jane and the other vampires. In turn a small number of people in society who were actually drawn to the vamps and can easily be seduced by them. This raises so many questions about how much of the vampire's victim actions are of their own accord and how much is being dictated by the vampires.
'Parasite Life' is a big surprise for me. I would never have thought I would enjoy a vampire book but I loved the story. I'm probably won't read any other vamp books but I would definitely recommend this one.This review was originally posted on The Book return...
March 30, 2018
All reviews in one place: Night Mode Reading
Giving author the benefit of the doubt here.
Jane lives her life in a creepy old house, with her dying mother. She’s asocial, but not by choice. her nature, invisible to the eye, is pulling at the primal instincts in people, making their skin crawl. Even her own mother, with as little expression as she has left, seems to show no will to communicate with her daughter. So, with no friends, hated and shunned, Jane tries to survive until she can finally leave. Somewhere. Anywhere. Up until a new girl, a gorgeous gothy Sabrina shows up, and turns her whole world around. Starting with this new sensation of having a friend, and escalating to love. And passion, during which Jane unceremoniously got drunk with Sabrina, forced herself on her, after a very clear no, and gnawed at her neck to sate the beast inside. For Jane is a vampire, and her mother is dying due to this dark nature of hers.
Sabrina, either to her own kind heart, stupidity, or compulsion of a vampire, forgives Jane, and they set off on a quest to find Jane’s father, the very one who passed this gene upon her. Jane hopes he’d know of a cure, or at least some substitute she could use instead of constantly abusing Sabrina. Or, maybe he could teach her how to be better. And oh boy, does Hugh McGarrett has lessons for her. Not the least one is how easy it is to manipulate those who aren’t afraid of their kind. People like Sabrina.
Jane is a horrible little monster. First bells rang in my head when she called herself a “seducer” after she forced herself on this girl. Rapist is the word, Jane. Second, she thinks she’s giving something by, what? Caring for a stray cat, and dying mother, who is dying because of this “care” she’s providing? Or was it caring to drag a girl on a wild chase of some man who never wanted to have anything to do with her, because hey, that friend has a license, can take her mum’s car, and oh, Jane can feed on her all the way there, all the while smooching up, and playing with the “I love you, I need you” cards. And then the very, very final straw was when this girl, while laying down the body of the person who saved her, claimed she has saved herself. Yes, you locked yourself in, good job on saving your sorry ass. So, as you can see, I’m feeling extremely negative towards this book. But I will give it a 4 out of 5 anyway (3 might be more fitting, due to lack of substance in secondary characters, like Sabrina). Here’s why: I hope that author is not insane, but rather – brilliant. Jane is a very classic vampire. A disgusting creature, deluded into believing any demented reason they come up with on why their existence is good. I do believe that if Stoker’s Dracula would’ve been written from his perspective, we would’ve heard how kind and generous he is too. So with that hope, that’s the rate I’ll give this book. Don’t read it if you don’t like the image of the modern vampire tarnished.
Giving author the benefit of the doubt here.
Jane lives her life in a creepy old house, with her dying mother. She’s asocial, but not by choice. her nature, invisible to the eye, is pulling at the primal instincts in people, making their skin crawl. Even her own mother, with as little expression as she has left, seems to show no will to communicate with her daughter. So, with no friends, hated and shunned, Jane tries to survive until she can finally leave. Somewhere. Anywhere. Up until a new girl, a gorgeous gothy Sabrina shows up, and turns her whole world around. Starting with this new sensation of having a friend, and escalating to love. And passion, during which Jane unceremoniously got drunk with Sabrina, forced herself on her, after a very clear no, and gnawed at her neck to sate the beast inside. For Jane is a vampire, and her mother is dying due to this dark nature of hers.
Sabrina, either to her own kind heart, stupidity, or compulsion of a vampire, forgives Jane, and they set off on a quest to find Jane’s father, the very one who passed this gene upon her. Jane hopes he’d know of a cure, or at least some substitute she could use instead of constantly abusing Sabrina. Or, maybe he could teach her how to be better. And oh boy, does Hugh McGarrett has lessons for her. Not the least one is how easy it is to manipulate those who aren’t afraid of their kind. People like Sabrina.
Jane is a horrible little monster. First bells rang in my head when she called herself a “seducer” after she forced herself on this girl. Rapist is the word, Jane. Second, she thinks she’s giving something by, what? Caring for a stray cat, and dying mother, who is dying because of this “care” she’s providing? Or was it caring to drag a girl on a wild chase of some man who never wanted to have anything to do with her, because hey, that friend has a license, can take her mum’s car, and oh, Jane can feed on her all the way there, all the while smooching up, and playing with the “I love you, I need you” cards. And then the very, very final straw was when this girl, while laying down the body of the person who saved her, claimed she has saved herself. Yes, you locked yourself in, good job on saving your sorry ass. So, as you can see, I’m feeling extremely negative towards this book. But I will give it a 4 out of 5 anyway (3 might be more fitting, due to lack of substance in secondary characters, like Sabrina). Here’s why: I hope that author is not insane, but rather – brilliant. Jane is a very classic vampire. A disgusting creature, deluded into believing any demented reason they come up with on why their existence is good. I do believe that if Stoker’s Dracula would’ve been written from his perspective, we would’ve heard how kind and generous he is too. So with that hope, that’s the rate I’ll give this book. Don’t read it if you don’t like the image of the modern vampire tarnished.
April 10, 2018
-I received this book from Reader's Favorite. Below is my honest review.
Parasite Life, by Vitoria Dalpe, is a dark, gothic novel about the destruction love can bring.
The book is separated into four parts. The first part, Ars Moriendi, introduces a girl named Jane, who has to care for her sickly mother. She meets a girl named Sabrina, and while she begins to slowly build up a shadow of happiness, she discovers that she is something not wholly human. In Imago, both Jane and Sabrina must find her father in order to determine how she could coexist with normal society. In Momento Mori, Jane realizes just how deep a mother’s love can really be, as well as what it means to finally let go. Finally, in the Epilogue, Jane finally understands who she is, and accepts herself, despite the death that will come with it.
More often than not, I was perplexed by Jane’s mother. She was ruined by Hugh, was considered little more than a plaything to him, and yet, through it all she still decided to have his child. She knew Jane was a half-vampire, and although killing the child would be a kinder fate, in the end, she still chose to care for her. The things she did for Jane was confounding, as if saying she was indifferent to her daughter was just empty words. Sabrina, on the other hand, was a bit purer than that, almost naive. She was childlike in a sense, in that when she discovered what Jane was, she wasn’t harsher with Jane. She kept Jane human. She prevented her from drifting off into what was essentially damning her. Finally, there’s Jane herself, who, at first, appeared to be an endearing wallflower. But the more I found out about her, the more I realized that this story could very well be her fall from grace. I enjoyed reading about her struggle to retain her humanity, as well as her shifting paradigm of the world around her.
This story presented a clear divide between two different sides in the world. One side, the vampiric side, which represented power, corruption, and death. On the other side was humanity, which symbolized love, kindness, and life. When the two sides conflict with each other, there’s aways a horrific amount of blood, lust, and death involved. It’s why Sabrina and Jane’s relationship is a bit of an oddity. Because despite everything, they still somehow manage to come together to make it work out of true, genuine love. However, even that was susceptible, considering when Jane told Sabrina to leave, she did. It was brief, and in the midst of forever, a tiny fraction of a second, but even so, their relationship was beautiful nonetheless.
I loved this story. I loved the dark themes, the conflicted characters, as well as the intoxicating relationships that stem from two creatures. From a mother’s love, to the manipulation of lust and affection, Dalpe wields that darkness like a brush, as she dyes the otherwise tragic beauty of romance into black. I would rate this book a 4.8 out of 5.0 stars, and would recommend it to fantasy and paranormal romance lovers in general.
Parasite Life, by Vitoria Dalpe, is a dark, gothic novel about the destruction love can bring.
The book is separated into four parts. The first part, Ars Moriendi, introduces a girl named Jane, who has to care for her sickly mother. She meets a girl named Sabrina, and while she begins to slowly build up a shadow of happiness, she discovers that she is something not wholly human. In Imago, both Jane and Sabrina must find her father in order to determine how she could coexist with normal society. In Momento Mori, Jane realizes just how deep a mother’s love can really be, as well as what it means to finally let go. Finally, in the Epilogue, Jane finally understands who she is, and accepts herself, despite the death that will come with it.
More often than not, I was perplexed by Jane’s mother. She was ruined by Hugh, was considered little more than a plaything to him, and yet, through it all she still decided to have his child. She knew Jane was a half-vampire, and although killing the child would be a kinder fate, in the end, she still chose to care for her. The things she did for Jane was confounding, as if saying she was indifferent to her daughter was just empty words. Sabrina, on the other hand, was a bit purer than that, almost naive. She was childlike in a sense, in that when she discovered what Jane was, she wasn’t harsher with Jane. She kept Jane human. She prevented her from drifting off into what was essentially damning her. Finally, there’s Jane herself, who, at first, appeared to be an endearing wallflower. But the more I found out about her, the more I realized that this story could very well be her fall from grace. I enjoyed reading about her struggle to retain her humanity, as well as her shifting paradigm of the world around her.
This story presented a clear divide between two different sides in the world. One side, the vampiric side, which represented power, corruption, and death. On the other side was humanity, which symbolized love, kindness, and life. When the two sides conflict with each other, there’s aways a horrific amount of blood, lust, and death involved. It’s why Sabrina and Jane’s relationship is a bit of an oddity. Because despite everything, they still somehow manage to come together to make it work out of true, genuine love. However, even that was susceptible, considering when Jane told Sabrina to leave, she did. It was brief, and in the midst of forever, a tiny fraction of a second, but even so, their relationship was beautiful nonetheless.
I loved this story. I loved the dark themes, the conflicted characters, as well as the intoxicating relationships that stem from two creatures. From a mother’s love, to the manipulation of lust and affection, Dalpe wields that darkness like a brush, as she dyes the otherwise tragic beauty of romance into black. I would rate this book a 4.8 out of 5.0 stars, and would recommend it to fantasy and paranormal romance lovers in general.
December 31, 2017
From my blog :
Full disclosure: horror is not my genre. In fact, I haven’t read much in that line since my high school days of Frankenstein, Dracula, and Edgar Allan Poe. When it comes to movies, I don’t usually sit through anything gorier than Scream and its sequels. Anyone who knows me would laugh in my face if I claimed that I didn’t get pretty squeamish at several times while reading Parasite Life, and I can’t say how it stacks up within the genre with regard to the “ick” factor. I can say, however, that as a story of self-discovery, of family, and of independence, this book presents some very real and well-developed issues that ring true with all readers, whether they are horror junkies or not.
As a fan of young adult fiction, I value works that transport the reader to a different place while showing them something important about the real world, too. Ms. Dalpe has done this by drawing a dark, mysterious, and gruesome tale about monsters that makes us question the monster inside each of us. She provides a heroine who may also be the villain, a teenager approaching adulthood who realizes she never had a childhood, and an innocent, lonely girl who must learn more quickly than most the joys and pitfalls of human relationships.
Dalpe’s writing is straightforward and honest, yet couched in the classic darkness of Poe and Shelley. Her use of setting provides a realistic, recognizable background to the story while her prose uncovers the sinister and the unknown in our ordinary world. The structure of the narrative, which interrupts the first person point of view with a Frankenstein-esque epistolary second act, is effective in revealing the dark secrets of Jane’s past at a tantalizing yet curiosity-inducing pace. However, the journal section lasts longer than I expected, and there was a point where I had to stop myself from flipping forward to see how much was left before it switched back to Jane’s perspective. By the end of the journal, though, I was devouring the words, eager and horrified to learn what happened next.
My favorite thing about Parasite Life is that, even though on the surface it is about the solitary life of a monster, it deeply explores the convoluted nature of human relationships. It points out the selfish aspects of love that can be hard to face, and it prompts the reader to examine their own motives when interacting with others. Family, dating, love, sex, and so many other kinds of relationships are complicated and confusing, and this novel takes them seriously and encourages readers to do so, too.
Favorite Line: “I hadn’t been very good at being a person, but maybe I was good at being a monster.”
Rating: 4/5
Full disclosure: horror is not my genre. In fact, I haven’t read much in that line since my high school days of Frankenstein, Dracula, and Edgar Allan Poe. When it comes to movies, I don’t usually sit through anything gorier than Scream and its sequels. Anyone who knows me would laugh in my face if I claimed that I didn’t get pretty squeamish at several times while reading Parasite Life, and I can’t say how it stacks up within the genre with regard to the “ick” factor. I can say, however, that as a story of self-discovery, of family, and of independence, this book presents some very real and well-developed issues that ring true with all readers, whether they are horror junkies or not.
As a fan of young adult fiction, I value works that transport the reader to a different place while showing them something important about the real world, too. Ms. Dalpe has done this by drawing a dark, mysterious, and gruesome tale about monsters that makes us question the monster inside each of us. She provides a heroine who may also be the villain, a teenager approaching adulthood who realizes she never had a childhood, and an innocent, lonely girl who must learn more quickly than most the joys and pitfalls of human relationships.
Dalpe’s writing is straightforward and honest, yet couched in the classic darkness of Poe and Shelley. Her use of setting provides a realistic, recognizable background to the story while her prose uncovers the sinister and the unknown in our ordinary world. The structure of the narrative, which interrupts the first person point of view with a Frankenstein-esque epistolary second act, is effective in revealing the dark secrets of Jane’s past at a tantalizing yet curiosity-inducing pace. However, the journal section lasts longer than I expected, and there was a point where I had to stop myself from flipping forward to see how much was left before it switched back to Jane’s perspective. By the end of the journal, though, I was devouring the words, eager and horrified to learn what happened next.
My favorite thing about Parasite Life is that, even though on the surface it is about the solitary life of a monster, it deeply explores the convoluted nature of human relationships. It points out the selfish aspects of love that can be hard to face, and it prompts the reader to examine their own motives when interacting with others. Family, dating, love, sex, and so many other kinds of relationships are complicated and confusing, and this novel takes them seriously and encourages readers to do so, too.
Favorite Line: “I hadn’t been very good at being a person, but maybe I was good at being a monster.”
Rating: 4/5
April 4, 2018
There are many branches of the horror genre that have drastically needed resuscitation for years now, and Parasite Life is the CPR that vampires have been waiting for. While effortlessly capturing the dreary, isolated life of an outsider teenager in rural New England, author Victoria Dalpe crafts a brooding and sepulchral character study of an adolescent woman being spread thin by a multitude of burdens, including caring for her mute and sick mother, their dilapidated home, navigating high school life, and trying to find an identity by reaching into a past that she is struggling to remember. Aside from being thrown into the deep end of adulthood, pieces of a morbid puzzle start to worm themselves into her life, and just when you think things couldn’t get more complicated, the story takes a sharp and unexpected turn.
Parasite Life is a slow burn, with each chapter meticulously unwrapping another character or clue as to what is lurking in the past, present and future. The pacing of the book is steady and maintains an eerie aura and intense atmosphere. It was an easy read due to Dalpe’s talented story-telling; her ability to build and maintain mystery leaves you eagerly waiting for answers.
I truly believe this will be an innovative and crucial contribution to the vampire genre. Though this is classified as a young adult novel, the content is often mature and dark; even as an adult, I saw myself in the main character as my memory was thrust back into the struggles and awkwardness of high school, and how difficult it can be to find yourself. This is cerebral and modern gothic horror at its finest, and I am looking forward to future works from Dalpe. Highly recommended!
Parasite Life is a slow burn, with each chapter meticulously unwrapping another character or clue as to what is lurking in the past, present and future. The pacing of the book is steady and maintains an eerie aura and intense atmosphere. It was an easy read due to Dalpe’s talented story-telling; her ability to build and maintain mystery leaves you eagerly waiting for answers.
I truly believe this will be an innovative and crucial contribution to the vampire genre. Though this is classified as a young adult novel, the content is often mature and dark; even as an adult, I saw myself in the main character as my memory was thrust back into the struggles and awkwardness of high school, and how difficult it can be to find yourself. This is cerebral and modern gothic horror at its finest, and I am looking forward to future works from Dalpe. Highly recommended!
November 13, 2019
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I have given Parasite Life by Victoria Dalpe four out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trigger Warnings: sexual content (not consented) and self harm
I gave this book a high marking as I really enjoyed what I read. I liked Victoria's writing style and her take on the vampirism genre. There was a more realistic sense and tone to how a real vampire would be viewed and act. They are, in basic terms, parasitic monsters which have been sexualised and romanticised, although this novel includes those aspects it also shows the realism behind the everyday struggles that a vampire has with the outside world.
I found Jane's character fascinating. At times I really liked her but then at others I really disliked her, mainly for the troubling actions that she instigated throughout the book. For the most part, I tried to put myself into her shoes and realise that she's never experienced this before, it's all new and scary to her which helped to try and connect with the main character more. Sabrina was a really nice touch to Jane's life and I really enjoyed reading about their relationship and how they became friends with one another. This is probably one of my first books where its included an LGBTQ+ female female relationship-esque trope! *gasp* I honestly don't know how I haven't read one sooner, but I really enjoyed it. I loved their connection and attraction for one another, despite the heavy reasons behind Sabrina's infatuation with Jane.
I really enjoyed the comedic touch in this book especially little moments between Jane and Sabrina. One in particular tickled me when they're comparing themselves to Edward and Bella from the Twilight Saga.
Overall it was an interesting, brutal and honest YA Horror/Fantasy book which I really enjoyed and would recommend to anyone who enjoys the same genres to pick this one up.
March 8, 2019
LGBTQ+ representation in speculative fiction, with several noteworthy exceptions, tends to be sparse and underpromoted. Even then, when it comes to queer characters, they tend to be written with several harmful tropes. The Sissy Male Villain. Bury Your Gays. The Predatory Lesbian. The Promiscuous Bisexual. The Inhuman Asexual.
In the horror genre, these tropes can be even more disastrous when coupled with monstrosity. See, in horror films and novels, content creators often entwine monstrosity with queerness. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and its Universal film adaptations by James Whale are seen as famous examples of homoerotic subtext and the desire for “strange” reproduction outside the confines of heterosexual and heterosexist marriage. Like much of our media, horror films and stories are also very hyper-focused on the vilifying of homosexual and homoromantic men.
But horror had always one notable character archetype involving queerness that involved women: the Lesbian Vampire.
Read the rest of the review here.
In the horror genre, these tropes can be even more disastrous when coupled with monstrosity. See, in horror films and novels, content creators often entwine monstrosity with queerness. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and its Universal film adaptations by James Whale are seen as famous examples of homoerotic subtext and the desire for “strange” reproduction outside the confines of heterosexual and heterosexist marriage. Like much of our media, horror films and stories are also very hyper-focused on the vilifying of homosexual and homoromantic men.
But horror had always one notable character archetype involving queerness that involved women: the Lesbian Vampire.
Read the rest of the review here.
May 13, 2019
I was pleasantly surprised by this literary vampire novel. Horror, and paranormal, and vampires in general are not my thing but there was just something about the narrator, Jane's, voice that was compelling from the first page. Jane herself is one of those characters that I'm not sure if I like, her instincts, nature, and her head constantly do battle during the book. Sometimes I'm cheering her on, sometimes I feel like I'm watching in horror and screaming at her to stop.
Do be warned that there is some more... gritty, elements of this YA novel, including some fairly explicit sexual/relationship exploitation (but not gratuitous, it definitely fits in with the world that was set up). So if you like twisty tales where the morality of the main characters can be a bit grey (through no fault of their own) then definitely give this book a read.
Do be warned that there is some more... gritty, elements of this YA novel, including some fairly explicit sexual/relationship exploitation (but not gratuitous, it definitely fits in with the world that was set up). So if you like twisty tales where the morality of the main characters can be a bit grey (through no fault of their own) then definitely give this book a read.
June 17, 2019
An absolute delight for any horror lover, Dalpe pens both a perfect homage and a clever subversion of the familiar yet enjoyable tropes explored in centuries of Vampire novels.
First person narratives have never been my favorite, and I admit I felt wary as I turned the first few pages. Before the second chapter had passed, however, the discomfort of reading an unfamiliar and unloved perspective fell away as both the author and myself grew into our comfort zones. By the time Dalpe had finished describing autumn in New England, a description so apt I felt like I was breathing the air myself, I was hooked.
With each chapter and sentence, my excitement for the author’s prose and storytelling prowess grew. Parasite Life has a masterful arc and it’s clear this first time novelist has a real gift. I eagerly await Victoria Dalpe’s next novel.
First person narratives have never been my favorite, and I admit I felt wary as I turned the first few pages. Before the second chapter had passed, however, the discomfort of reading an unfamiliar and unloved perspective fell away as both the author and myself grew into our comfort zones. By the time Dalpe had finished describing autumn in New England, a description so apt I felt like I was breathing the air myself, I was hooked.
With each chapter and sentence, my excitement for the author’s prose and storytelling prowess grew. Parasite Life has a masterful arc and it’s clear this first time novelist has a real gift. I eagerly await Victoria Dalpe’s next novel.
December 24, 2017
THIS! Parasite Life is a strange and disturbing tale. Dalpe paints portraits of incredibly dynamic people AND monsters that make you question, what's right and wrong...and if those things even matter when it comes down to nature. Lovers of the creepy supernatural will relish peering into the mind(s) of Hollywood's most famous beast- while also having to navigate real life horrors like abusive relationships, child neglect, coming of age and finding yourself- even if that means you're not the hero.
August 26, 2023
I loved the bond between Jane and Sabrina, not just because of vampirism. I could not put it down, eager to see what happened next. It moved at a steady pace, not too slow and not too fast, but just enough with its unexpected twists and turns. I felt it symbolized a life not wanted by many, not just vampires, and that decisions may always come with consequences. I really enjoyed it!
July 18, 2018
Don’t just think, “oh, another vampire story!”, it is but it’s a good vampire story!! Reader is pulled into Jane’s life, you feel her horror when she discovers what and who she is, her guilt and her struggle to survive! I really enjoyed this!
January 27, 2018
Probably more like a 2.5. There were some interesting ideas at play, but none of them really bore out.
December 16, 2020
I first heard of Victoria Dalpe in the excellent
MANTID 3
anthology of contemporary Weird fiction by female authors. So naturally I was expecting something similar to fellow contributors Farah Rose Smith, Gwendolyn Kiste, and Nadia Bulkin, all of whom I enjoyed. I was not aware this was YA, and I think that's where my problem lies. Parasite Life deals with the heavy-duty topics of rape (sexual and otherwise), abuse, murder (including some serial killer-tier basement torture), suicide, ), and the sacrificial martyrdom of motherhood. Due to the age of its intended audience, however, it simply does not feel deep and probing enough to do these matters justice if you're used to adult fiction.
There is some interesting discussion on the alternate values system of monsters who literally leech off humans, but . See, this is what I mean: we have to have the "politically correct" ending, not the one that actually makes sense.
I had this same problem with Tender Morsels as well: dark, graphic content arguably not appropriate for YA but given adolescent treatment that felt inadequate for the themes and concepts involved.
There is some interesting discussion on the alternate values system of monsters who literally leech off humans, but . See, this is what I mean: we have to have the "politically correct" ending, not the one that actually makes sense.
I had this same problem with Tender Morsels as well: dark, graphic content arguably not appropriate for YA but given adolescent treatment that felt inadequate for the themes and concepts involved.
February 6, 2020
I got this as part of a Story Bundle and finally got around to picking it up without really knowing what it was. I thought that this was an effective meditation on predation and codependency. I found myself wondering about whether or not Dalpe really intended it for young audiences -- I found it pretty dark, intense, and full of some pretty complex emotional and moral situations that I'm not sure I would have fully grasped as a teenager. I found an interview where she said that she wrote it in response to the romanticization of really unhealthy relationships that she was finding in other YA vampire novels. Overall, I really liked it.
February 14, 2019
Although my YA reading history isn’t very robust, I have to say that Parasite Life was a pleasant surprise.
The ideas represented in this book between Jane, her mother, father, and Sabrina demonstrate the difficulties of navigating relationships during your teen years. Dalpe also interprets the feelings of being an outsider, feeling so isolated when Jane truly wants a connection with someone to help her navigate what she doesn’t understand, hitting home to how many people feel during one of the most emotionally vulnerable times in their lives. Being a book written for young adults, it carries many ideas and truths that adults can relate to. This book allows readers of all ages to journey into the dark depths of coming to terms with what they perceived to be true and ultimately the reality of becoming comfortable within ones own skin. Through time Jane was forced to look at her true self and understand that her actions have consequences to those closest to her, and anyone she meets outside of those who truly know what she is. With this understanding comes the hard truth, she must learn to balance this knowledge to mitigate the damage she could cause while still respecting what we all are; human.
The ideas represented in this book between Jane, her mother, father, and Sabrina demonstrate the difficulties of navigating relationships during your teen years. Dalpe also interprets the feelings of being an outsider, feeling so isolated when Jane truly wants a connection with someone to help her navigate what she doesn’t understand, hitting home to how many people feel during one of the most emotionally vulnerable times in their lives. Being a book written for young adults, it carries many ideas and truths that adults can relate to. This book allows readers of all ages to journey into the dark depths of coming to terms with what they perceived to be true and ultimately the reality of becoming comfortable within ones own skin. Through time Jane was forced to look at her true self and understand that her actions have consequences to those closest to her, and anyone she meets outside of those who truly know what she is. With this understanding comes the hard truth, she must learn to balance this knowledge to mitigate the damage she could cause while still respecting what we all are; human.
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