Book Review: Blood on a Yellow Rose by @alinacapellabooks
This is a vampire comedy drama! Dr. Pamela Burnett is a palliative care doctor, but this wasn’t always her life. Years ago, she was Pammie Burnett, a lead singer and rockstar until this was all ripped from her. Now, she’s a vampire, forced to give up her dreams of making music to pay the bills…at least until a new patient comes to the hospital and reignites Pamela’s love for life. Maybe it’s not too late for her. Maybe for once, dreams of music and being enough for someone won’t just be a fantasy.
This was an adorable story. I immediately was pulled in. We start at the hospital with Pamela and see both how heartbreaking palliative care is for the people there, but also how it can give them their final moments of control. In the first chapter, my heart was already aching in the best way. I instantly saw that this wasn’t going to be a book that held its punches. I love that it isn’t. Yes, this is about vampires becoming rockstars, so there is an inherent amount of silliness, but it’s surprisingly grounded. The leads, Pamela and Zinnia, aren’t just met with instant success. It’s tough for them and we as readers get to see the struggle. This isn’t a book about instant stardom and everlasting success. What’s more, it also isn’t a story that glorifies fame. Right in the book blurb, you see it mention addiction and that is a major part of the story. It shows how fame can put people in situations to develop addictions, then keep them from the resources they need to recover. At times, it can be extremely raw, but this is something I respect a lot from it.
Honestly, one of my favorite elements of the book was the way that it handled addiction. For the characters though, I adored Pamela and Zinnia so much. This was the first book I had ever read that had aroace love in it and it was extremely sweet. These are two women who have been pushed aside because they couldn’t “just date” or be attracted to somebody, but they validate each other in every way. The love and respect in their relationship is the type that I think everyone should hope for. They feel so balanced too. At first, I was worrying that Zinnia was just going to be the puppy dog of sorts in the relationship, since Pamela is the one who used to be famous, but that’s not what we get here. They both care about and support the other. It’s so nice to see that.
Admittedly, there were a couple of phrases in the narration that were over-used in my opinion. Aside from that, I thought that this was a really strong novel. The focus is certainly on Pamela and Zinnia, but it makes sense that it would be. It’s their story and just like when they’re on the stage, they know how to steal the show.
I definitely recommend this! Especially if you’re looking for something different or would like a reminder that love doesn’t have to look the way some people expect it to, this is the story for you.
