Book Review of Blood Slaves: A Historic Vampire Horror Novel by Markus Redmond
What would you do to gain your freedom? Would you be willing
to run away? Would you decide to become a monster to overpower people who abuse
and oppress you?
Genres: Historical Horror, Fantasy, Horror, Historical Fiction, Vampire, Dark, Historical Fantasy.
Representation:
Black male main character, Black female main character, Black side characters, white characters.
Trigger Warnings:
Murder, sexual assaults, attempted murder, violence, blood, gore, mauling, treatment of enslaved people, torture, emotional, psychological, and physical abuse, child abuse, cultural abuse, racism, including racist slurs, hate speech, and systemic racism.
A Book Review of Blood Slaves
Introduction:
Willie
is an enslaved man living on Big Jim Barrows’ plantation in South Carolina. He
wants to gain his freedom from his enslavers. He also wants to save other
enslaved people. Revenge is also on Willie’s mind since the enslavers killed
his friend. He tries to comply with the cruel overseer, but Willie has had
enough of his abuse. The overseer hates Willie because he attempts to escape.
Willie tries to follow the overseer's rules because he wants to protect Gertie.
Will loves Gertie, but he must keep it a secret or Barrow will sell her to
another plantation. Gertie is an enslaved woman who works in the fields. She is
often obedient to the enslavers. But since Willie ran, the overseers and Big
Jim Barrow abused Gertie. But Willie has a plan to stop them from hurting her.
After
Monroe beat Willie for running off, he encountered a monster. This creature’s
name is Rafazi. Rafazi is the lone survivor of the Ramanga. The Ramanga tribe drank
infected human blood and died. Westerners kidnapped Rafazi and sold him into
slavery. Barrow enslaved him. Rafazi desires Willie’s blood because it is weak.
Willie provided it. Will was both afraid and curious when he saw Rafazi transform
into a monster. He wondered what he could do if he had the power to transform
like Rafazi. He could have the strength and speed to fight oppressors and gain
freedom.
Analysis
Revenge is a major theme in the book. The enslaved characters were tired of the white characters abusing them. Still, many of the enslaved people were scared of rebelling. They also believed that turning themselves into a horrible creature that kills people was evil. Vampires are dead and go against their beliefs. Some enslaved people were terrified that the white characters would kill them. One person is Gertie.
Gertie is a kind woman who has a deep faith in doing good. She tries to obey her employers. This is because she believes compliance will save her and Willie. Gertie is also afraid that turning into a creature that feeds on others is immoral. She often repeats this theme throughout. She is not the only person who shares this sentiment. Others do not want to go along with her plan. But Willie does not see it that way. The back-and-forth of each main character reveals the internal conflict they face. They consider the advantages and disadvantages of vampirism.
But also think about their masters (The Barrows), slave captors, and overseers who treat them. They are often brutal to enslaved people. Those who oppress them consider themselves righteous. But white people would call the enslaved people savages. The enslaved people find it insane that their oppressors see them as evil, yet they are abusing them. Some conclude that becoming a vampire to fight evil is immoral due to this contradictory behavior. Redmond communicates this feeling with elaborate accounts of the violence.
Thoughts
Redmond used graphic detail to portray the white characters’ violent behavior. It is tough to read some accounts. It could upset those who have survived sexual assault or violence. The detail of each scene is vivid, and not just the assault scenes. The loving scenes between Willie and Gertie are memorable. Especially when Willie gets a chance to have a moment to themselves. The author used that moment to show why Willie had no choice but to fight for herself and the others.
Conclusion
This book is well-written, and the imagery is memorable. I enjoyed reading this book because of the themes. The theme will allow for discussions. The ending is satisfying. That is why I give the book four stars. It is a book readers will talk about for a while.
