What do you think?
Rate this book
Vampires of Coal Dust #1
Coal Gets In Your Veins
Penny Harbour was once a booming coal mining town, full of industry and possibility. But jobs like that come at a price. Accidents. Cave-ins. Explosions. The residents fed the ground with their blood, and coal dust settled inside them. Eventually, the world moved on from coal. The mines closed, the jobs left, and the grief stayed rooted in the people.
Laurel is trying to carve out a decent life in what remains of the town. Her family has lived in the Harbour for generations. She’s seen the best and worst it has to offer. But no matter what she wants for herself, her husband's boot is still on her neck. She’s survived him for two decades, and she's just about out of reasons to stay.
Just up the hill, Spencer is wading through his eternity mourning the deaths of his great loves. Penny Harbour is his own personal purgatory. He’s a queer vampire in a dying, conservative rural community, and everyone’s blood is full of grit and ashes. It’s the perfect place to slip into isolation and punish himself for all he’s lost.
But Penny Harbour has a life all its own. Children with a penchant for lighting fires. Unmarked graves when mines used to be. Traditions built to lift each other out of grief. Personal hells that live behind closed doors. And when the town sinks its teeth into someone, it would sooner rip their throat out than let them go.
Part romantic vampire horror, part rural Atlantic Canadian memorial pyre, Coal Gets In Your Veins is a novel about generational trauma and what it will do to keep its claws in you.
—
This book is part of a queer paranormal horror series with romantic themes and handles heavy, complicated topics such as generational trauma, spousal abuse, grief, and cheating. A full list of trigger warnings can be found on Cat’s website.
Laurel is trying to carve out a decent life in what remains of the town. Her family has lived in the Harbour for generations. She’s seen the best and worst it has to offer. But no matter what she wants for herself, her husband's boot is still on her neck. She’s survived him for two decades, and she's just about out of reasons to stay.
Just up the hill, Spencer is wading through his eternity mourning the deaths of his great loves. Penny Harbour is his own personal purgatory. He’s a queer vampire in a dying, conservative rural community, and everyone’s blood is full of grit and ashes. It’s the perfect place to slip into isolation and punish himself for all he’s lost.
But Penny Harbour has a life all its own. Children with a penchant for lighting fires. Unmarked graves when mines used to be. Traditions built to lift each other out of grief. Personal hells that live behind closed doors. And when the town sinks its teeth into someone, it would sooner rip their throat out than let them go.
Part romantic vampire horror, part rural Atlantic Canadian memorial pyre, Coal Gets In Your Veins is a novel about generational trauma and what it will do to keep its claws in you.
—
This book is part of a queer paranormal horror series with romantic themes and handles heavy, complicated topics such as generational trauma, spousal abuse, grief, and cheating. A full list of trigger warnings can be found on Cat’s website.
400 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2024
5 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Cat Rector
7 books241 followersAbout the Author
Cat Rector grew up in a small Nova Scotian town and could often be found simultaneously reading a book and fighting off muskrats while walking home from school. She devours stories in all their forms, loves messy, morally grey characters, and writes about the horrors that we inflict on each other. After spending nearly a decade living abroad, she returned to Canada to resume her war against the muskrats. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing video games, spending time with loved ones, or staring at her To Be Read pile like it's going to read itself.
Find her on social media or visit her website, CatRector.com
Cat Rector grew up in a small Nova Scotian town and could often be found simultaneously reading a book and fighting off muskrats while walking home from school. She devours stories in all their forms, loves messy, morally grey characters, and writes about the horrors that we inflict on each other. After spending nearly a decade living abroad, she returned to Canada to resume her war against the muskrats. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing video games, spending time with loved ones, or staring at her To Be Read pile like it's going to read itself.
Find her on social media or visit her website, CatRector.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 9, 2024
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm ready to walk into the woods on a dark night and find Spencer myself!
“Every vampire either has a bite kink or is a liar."
"You have too much power now, darling. I fear you’ll try to use it to undo me.”
"I'm your monster. Isn't that a delight?"
This dark slice of life with a touch of spice is a beautiful tragedy.
Cat always writes amazing books and this particular one hit home more than any other so far! Laurel and I share a lot of similar life experiences and I found it darkly cathartic to read about. Shadow work in a fictional novel. The writing is always heart breaking, but the light that shines through it all makes it well worth it. If you like Vampires you should definitely pick this up. The dark reality of the setting lends itself to the believability of Spencer.
“Sometimes style has to come before comfort, darling.”
"when a whole town develops a suspicious amount of anaemia, some people catch on.”
“Do you have the skin of a killer, Spencer?”
“Better a chance with you than a guarantee with him.”
“Only if you kiss me again. I have to make sure you don’t forget how.”
I'm ready to walk into the woods on a dark night and find Spencer myself!
“Every vampire either has a bite kink or is a liar."
"You have too much power now, darling. I fear you’ll try to use it to undo me.”
"I'm your monster. Isn't that a delight?"
This dark slice of life with a touch of spice is a beautiful tragedy.
Cat always writes amazing books and this particular one hit home more than any other so far! Laurel and I share a lot of similar life experiences and I found it darkly cathartic to read about. Shadow work in a fictional novel. The writing is always heart breaking, but the light that shines through it all makes it well worth it. If you like Vampires you should definitely pick this up. The dark reality of the setting lends itself to the believability of Spencer.
“Sometimes style has to come before comfort, darling.”
"when a whole town develops a suspicious amount of anaemia, some people catch on.”
“Do you have the skin of a killer, Spencer?”
“Better a chance with you than a guarantee with him.”
“Only if you kiss me again. I have to make sure you don’t forget how.”
August 6, 2024
(Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and this does not affect my opinion of the book.)
COAL GETS IN YOUR VEINS sure did get in my veins. I’m in awe of this book. It is so much more than the synopsis promises, and so much more than I expected. This is a visceral and deeply emotional exploration of the trauma shared by the main characters and their whole town, yet it is not without its defiant threads of joy and hope. What stuck with me most is how *human* all of the characters are—yeah, even the vampire. They’re all messy, they’re all just trying to survive, they’re all clinging to every scrap of happiness and hope they can find. Their resilience drives this story, and it’s just so well done.
I’ve been impressed with every single one of Cat Rector’s books that I’ve read so far, but this one is easily my favorite. I’m not exaggerating when I say she outdid herself with this book. I can’t recommend it enough, and I am thrilled that there’s more on the horizon for Laurel and Spencer. Especially after that ending, oh my god. But that’s all I’ll say.
Read this book. (Mind the content warnings—it does get heavy—but *please* read this book.)
COAL GETS IN YOUR VEINS sure did get in my veins. I’m in awe of this book. It is so much more than the synopsis promises, and so much more than I expected. This is a visceral and deeply emotional exploration of the trauma shared by the main characters and their whole town, yet it is not without its defiant threads of joy and hope. What stuck with me most is how *human* all of the characters are—yeah, even the vampire. They’re all messy, they’re all just trying to survive, they’re all clinging to every scrap of happiness and hope they can find. Their resilience drives this story, and it’s just so well done.
I’ve been impressed with every single one of Cat Rector’s books that I’ve read so far, but this one is easily my favorite. I’m not exaggerating when I say she outdid herself with this book. I can’t recommend it enough, and I am thrilled that there’s more on the horizon for Laurel and Spencer. Especially after that ending, oh my god. But that’s all I’ll say.
Read this book. (Mind the content warnings—it does get heavy—but *please* read this book.)
October 12, 2024
Rezension folgt ❤️🔥
September 15, 2024
This was a beautiful and deeply personal book that seems to reflect the author's experiences and interests. Approached from that perspective this book is beyond reproach. The emotions of heartache, loss, abuse, guilt and true friendship all come through in an authentic manner that made the book, at times, hard to put down because I simply enjoyed spending time with the characters.
"... Men get taught not to cry and to claw for every ounce of love from their parents. Then they spend the rest of their lives throwing fists to win girls that they just stand next to like hollow shells, because they've had the feelings beat out of them. Or am I wrong?"
"Get fucking loved, idiot."
"I froze. It felt immediately like so many of the moments with Greg. The calm before the outburst. The moment just before I'd discover how deeply everything was my fault, and how much I was about to suffer for it."
"... freezer-burnt coochie."
"... You cannot be afraid of a drive-through. You are a centuries-old creature of the night." Laurel was staring at me and trying to contain her laughter.
I put my hands up, frustrated. "Exactly! What am I supposed to have ordered at a drive-through? A short brunette with family trauma issues?"
Also shout out to the Potato Shifter and Only Lovers Left Alive mentions.
In summary, CGIYV is a beautiful and heartfelt story of a small town and its inhabitants. It breathed life into a place and people that many often never give the time of day. It was refreshing to be invited to visit, explore, love and dread a setting that is often overlooked in place of flashy big cities and big names. It was a visceral reminder of the complexity and strength of everyday 'ordinary' people.
The depth and care the author has put into this book cannot be overstated.
(Thank you to the author for the ARC I received for an honest review)
"... Men get taught not to cry and to claw for every ounce of love from their parents. Then they spend the rest of their lives throwing fists to win girls that they just stand next to like hollow shells, because they've had the feelings beat out of them. Or am I wrong?"
"Get fucking loved, idiot."
"I froze. It felt immediately like so many of the moments with Greg. The calm before the outburst. The moment just before I'd discover how deeply everything was my fault, and how much I was about to suffer for it."
"... freezer-burnt coochie."
"... You cannot be afraid of a drive-through. You are a centuries-old creature of the night." Laurel was staring at me and trying to contain her laughter.
I put my hands up, frustrated. "Exactly! What am I supposed to have ordered at a drive-through? A short brunette with family trauma issues?"
Also shout out to the Potato Shifter and Only Lovers Left Alive mentions.
In summary, CGIYV is a beautiful and heartfelt story of a small town and its inhabitants. It breathed life into a place and people that many often never give the time of day. It was refreshing to be invited to visit, explore, love and dread a setting that is often overlooked in place of flashy big cities and big names. It was a visceral reminder of the complexity and strength of everyday 'ordinary' people.
The depth and care the author has put into this book cannot be overstated.
(Thank you to the author for the ARC I received for an honest review)
July 21, 2024
Where do I even start with this book? There are so many things I want to say about it. The rawness of it all was personally very endearing to me, and I thought it was a spectacular read overall. You can tell that Cat has put her heart and soul into this by stripping back the layers of generational trauma and the experience of living in a little town that fixates solely on itself and the people in it, and not much else. I imagine it was a very cathartic experience for her to write this book, and the way she weaves fiction mixed with minor autobiographical elements is fantastic. I'm honestly just so glad that she wrote it and I imagine this book will resonate with a lot of people who experienced much of what she mentions in the preface.
For context: I was born in a small town and grew up in that small town. A town, that overall, made me feel extremely stuck and trapped in so many ways for much of my early adolencence. The place I grew up in was also complicated. Everyone knew everyone's business and sometimes this was for good, and at other times it was because nobody wanted to grow out of those ways of thinking that were toxic, and in my opinion, shouldn't have been accepted. There are four types of people in that town now: Those who stayed and never left, those who left and came back, those who moved there from elsewhere, and those who left and never returned. For some, this town was all they had ever known and that was enough for them. For others, traumatic events left a bitter taste in their mouth.
I was one of the people who moved. They say a place can change you, right? They say you can carry it in your bones. I did exactly that until the day I left.
As always, please check the trigger warnings - like with any gothic/horror/dark romance I always advise that you don't start reading until you've made sure that you're comfortable with all the triggers. Once you're ready to go ahead, I hope you enjoy! Happy reading!
----------------------------------------
Now, onto the review!
This story is told from three different points of view. Our first POV in Penny Harbour is through the eyes and Laurel, a person who has lived in this town her whole life. She's married to a guy named Greg (we hate Greg), who seemingly controls every aspect of her life whilst not giving a shit about her. Greg seems to see Laurel as a centre piece, something that looks pretty and does everything he asks. She is his made, plain and simple. Their abusive relationship is build on Greg essentially dehumanising her at every chance he gets. Despite this, Laurel has tried to build herself a life here. Her anchors in this dark storm are her two closest friends, Emma and MJ - her platonic soulmates. She also runs her own little fixer-upper business, actively trying to help all the locals for a fee or no fee at all. We learn that she is very close to breaking point, the family trauma that she has experienced, and how trapped she feels on a day to day basis.
The second character we are introduced to is Spencer, our lovely queer vampire. Overcome with grief that has been consuming his life, after losing everything - Spencer relocates to Penny Harbour. Consumed with his own personal turmoil he lives each day mostly on repeat. He feels tremendous guilt about the trajectory of his life, overwhelmed by the pain of his loss. That is, until he meets Laurel.
How things unfold between the both of them is moments filled with nervousness, healing, self awareness, and wariness. All for the right reasons. The whole way they join together changes each of their lives. Together they can acknowledge the trauma, sharing it and treating it the way you would an open wound. Allowing it to heal.
Then, there's the voices on Penny Harbour. The points of view of individuals experiences and the collective trauma they all share, the elements of suffering they've al been through. Showing the true hold Penny Harbour has on all the residents that reside there.
Have you ever seen generational trauma grow limbs? this book reaaaallly puts THAT into perspective.
What if trauma could be a living, breathing, real thing? One of the things I think Cat did amazingly in this book is really give us a deeper understanding about what trauma is capable of when your body and mind doesn't heal from it. How it exists inside with nowhere else to go other than to just keep growing with no boundaries.
The book also addresses the power that change can have. How even when it isn't easy it's worth doing because you deserve better for you. It highlights how you can heal from something deep inside yourself, when you let others in and allow yourself to be loved the way that you should be loved. How you can start to become the person you want to be, without the soot inside your lungs.
I hope that you will love this book as much as I did, and I can't wait to see when we'll get more.
For context: I was born in a small town and grew up in that small town. A town, that overall, made me feel extremely stuck and trapped in so many ways for much of my early adolencence. The place I grew up in was also complicated. Everyone knew everyone's business and sometimes this was for good, and at other times it was because nobody wanted to grow out of those ways of thinking that were toxic, and in my opinion, shouldn't have been accepted. There are four types of people in that town now: Those who stayed and never left, those who left and came back, those who moved there from elsewhere, and those who left and never returned. For some, this town was all they had ever known and that was enough for them. For others, traumatic events left a bitter taste in their mouth.
I was one of the people who moved. They say a place can change you, right? They say you can carry it in your bones. I did exactly that until the day I left.
As always, please check the trigger warnings - like with any gothic/horror/dark romance I always advise that you don't start reading until you've made sure that you're comfortable with all the triggers. Once you're ready to go ahead, I hope you enjoy! Happy reading!
----------------------------------------
Now, onto the review!
This story is told from three different points of view. Our first POV in Penny Harbour is through the eyes and Laurel, a person who has lived in this town her whole life. She's married to a guy named Greg (we hate Greg), who seemingly controls every aspect of her life whilst not giving a shit about her. Greg seems to see Laurel as a centre piece, something that looks pretty and does everything he asks. She is his made, plain and simple. Their abusive relationship is build on Greg essentially dehumanising her at every chance he gets. Despite this, Laurel has tried to build herself a life here. Her anchors in this dark storm are her two closest friends, Emma and MJ - her platonic soulmates. She also runs her own little fixer-upper business, actively trying to help all the locals for a fee or no fee at all. We learn that she is very close to breaking point, the family trauma that she has experienced, and how trapped she feels on a day to day basis.
The second character we are introduced to is Spencer, our lovely queer vampire. Overcome with grief that has been consuming his life, after losing everything - Spencer relocates to Penny Harbour. Consumed with his own personal turmoil he lives each day mostly on repeat. He feels tremendous guilt about the trajectory of his life, overwhelmed by the pain of his loss. That is, until he meets Laurel.
How things unfold between the both of them is moments filled with nervousness, healing, self awareness, and wariness. All for the right reasons. The whole way they join together changes each of their lives. Together they can acknowledge the trauma, sharing it and treating it the way you would an open wound. Allowing it to heal.
Then, there's the voices on Penny Harbour. The points of view of individuals experiences and the collective trauma they all share, the elements of suffering they've al been through. Showing the true hold Penny Harbour has on all the residents that reside there.
Have you ever seen generational trauma grow limbs? this book reaaaallly puts THAT into perspective.
What if trauma could be a living, breathing, real thing? One of the things I think Cat did amazingly in this book is really give us a deeper understanding about what trauma is capable of when your body and mind doesn't heal from it. How it exists inside with nowhere else to go other than to just keep growing with no boundaries.
The book also addresses the power that change can have. How even when it isn't easy it's worth doing because you deserve better for you. It highlights how you can heal from something deep inside yourself, when you let others in and allow yourself to be loved the way that you should be loved. How you can start to become the person you want to be, without the soot inside your lungs.
I hope that you will love this book as much as I did, and I can't wait to see when we'll get more.
July 25, 2025
Coal Gets in Your Veins is a contemporary urban fantasy with cosmic horror overtones, from one of my favourite indie authors, Cat Rector. This time, she is taking on the theme of generational trauma, as experienced by a small Canadian ex-coalmining community. The families of the town have kept their secrets and lies to themselves for decades, ignoring how their lives have been shaped by trauma that happened long ago.
Rector incorporates true stories of abuse, gender dysphoria, alcoholism and much more that she has collected from members of her own community. There are a lot of trigger warnings that readers should be aware of if they are not prepared to read about the gritty secrets hidden in a small town. Everyone knows each other and often turns a blind eye to reality. At first, I didn’t see how these stories tied in to the narrative arc of Laurel and Spencer, since their incorporation appeared a little disjointed. However, I appreciated their inclusion, but at the end of the novel, they were pulled in, and the whole concept made a lot more sense to me.
In Rector’s small town of Penny Harbour, in addition to generational trauma and the horrors people are driven to, there are also paranormal horrors hiding, including a vampire who is running from his own unbearable grief, and sentient coal dust which insidiously makes its way inside everyone living there via the water and the air. Penny Harbour is presented to the reader like a main character in its own right, with labelled sections in most chapters. Something is very rotten at the heart of Penny Harbour.
The other main characters are Spencer, the previously mentioned queer vampire and a woman named Laurel who is trapped in an abusive relationship. She eventually has a choice to make between her monstrous husband and the blood-drinking monster she falls in love with:
“But I needed to protect myself too. Which fucking blew, because it wasn’t the literal bloodthirsty man down the road I was afraid of. It was the one asleep in the bedroom.”
Spencer and Laurel’s love story is endearing and highly enjoyable for the irony of the situation. Spencer’s chapters are delivered in a light, conversational tone as he recounts his hunger pangs and the inconvenience of ruining one’s expensive clothing with blood stains. His obsession with his wardrobe, collecting cassette tapes and books distract from the fact that he is literally a murderous monster. He drives to another town in order to kill and drink from his victims in order to avoid accidentally killing anyone Laurel knows and loves.
Laurel’s inner monologue is more cautious, tenser than the other points of view. She is used to walking on eggshells to protect herself. Both of these characters develop through the novel due to their influence on each other. Rector’s character work is extremely powerful in this novel, as always.
Laurel’s lifelong friends, new Mum and psychology student Emma and bisexual Mary-Jo are wonderful side characters with so much depth and layers. They will do anything for Laurel and have been trying to get her to leave her monstrous husband for years. When they learn the guy they persuaded her to have an affair with is an actual monster, their reactions are priceless. However, they soon come to realise that there are way worse things around than someone who adores their friend and will do anything in his power to protect her. I enjoyed the frequent nods to popular culture peppered throughout the novel, including one of Laurel’s friends asking Spencer if he sparkled, on discovering his true nature.
The final standoff in the story is a total change of pace from a slow-burning romance in the first half of the book to a violent battle, and it had me on the edge of my seat. Coal Gets in Your Veins is a real page-turner that had me sucked in right from the beginning!
Rector incorporates true stories of abuse, gender dysphoria, alcoholism and much more that she has collected from members of her own community. There are a lot of trigger warnings that readers should be aware of if they are not prepared to read about the gritty secrets hidden in a small town. Everyone knows each other and often turns a blind eye to reality. At first, I didn’t see how these stories tied in to the narrative arc of Laurel and Spencer, since their incorporation appeared a little disjointed. However, I appreciated their inclusion, but at the end of the novel, they were pulled in, and the whole concept made a lot more sense to me.
In Rector’s small town of Penny Harbour, in addition to generational trauma and the horrors people are driven to, there are also paranormal horrors hiding, including a vampire who is running from his own unbearable grief, and sentient coal dust which insidiously makes its way inside everyone living there via the water and the air. Penny Harbour is presented to the reader like a main character in its own right, with labelled sections in most chapters. Something is very rotten at the heart of Penny Harbour.
The other main characters are Spencer, the previously mentioned queer vampire and a woman named Laurel who is trapped in an abusive relationship. She eventually has a choice to make between her monstrous husband and the blood-drinking monster she falls in love with:
“But I needed to protect myself too. Which fucking blew, because it wasn’t the literal bloodthirsty man down the road I was afraid of. It was the one asleep in the bedroom.”
Spencer and Laurel’s love story is endearing and highly enjoyable for the irony of the situation. Spencer’s chapters are delivered in a light, conversational tone as he recounts his hunger pangs and the inconvenience of ruining one’s expensive clothing with blood stains. His obsession with his wardrobe, collecting cassette tapes and books distract from the fact that he is literally a murderous monster. He drives to another town in order to kill and drink from his victims in order to avoid accidentally killing anyone Laurel knows and loves.
Laurel’s inner monologue is more cautious, tenser than the other points of view. She is used to walking on eggshells to protect herself. Both of these characters develop through the novel due to their influence on each other. Rector’s character work is extremely powerful in this novel, as always.
Laurel’s lifelong friends, new Mum and psychology student Emma and bisexual Mary-Jo are wonderful side characters with so much depth and layers. They will do anything for Laurel and have been trying to get her to leave her monstrous husband for years. When they learn the guy they persuaded her to have an affair with is an actual monster, their reactions are priceless. However, they soon come to realise that there are way worse things around than someone who adores their friend and will do anything in his power to protect her. I enjoyed the frequent nods to popular culture peppered throughout the novel, including one of Laurel’s friends asking Spencer if he sparkled, on discovering his true nature.
The final standoff in the story is a total change of pace from a slow-burning romance in the first half of the book to a violent battle, and it had me on the edge of my seat. Coal Gets in Your Veins is a real page-turner that had me sucked in right from the beginning!
October 11, 2024
This vampire man HAS to be inspired/influenced by Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3. I mean he says “Gods, you’re beautiful” at one point and throws “darling” around. 😂 But he isn’t an exact copy. Spencer is far more well-adjusted.
I enjoyed the romance, and the dialogue mostly worked for me. They generally felt like the adults they were supposed to be. There is one scene when Spencer is telling Laurel that he killed people to eat *yesterday*, and she’s far too easily like “do what you gotta do,” so that particular conversation was broken for me. Otherwise, it felt like reactions were what they should be.
The last bit takes a strange turn, but does make the earlier Penny Harbour chapters feel more like they fit. Before that, I felt like I understood why they were there (given the preface), but didn’t feel like they worked or belonged in the book. At the end I felt like, okay, these make more sense. I don’t know that I love the direction it went with the town, but it did make for a dramatic climax. And it seems like we’re set up for more books in this town in the future maybe? MJ’s quip that she’s more into werewolves feels like maybe a hint of things to come!
I just really appreciated that his was a romance I could be invested in and enjoy because so many straight romances, especially paranormal/romantasy ones, lean into gendered stuff and create alphahole MMCs. Cool if that’s your thing, but must it be the only thing on offer? Here we have two bi characters written by a bi woman which perhaps helped the romance get out of that limited box.
I enjoyed the romance, and the dialogue mostly worked for me. They generally felt like the adults they were supposed to be. There is one scene when Spencer is telling Laurel that he killed people to eat *yesterday*, and she’s far too easily like “do what you gotta do,” so that particular conversation was broken for me. Otherwise, it felt like reactions were what they should be.
The last bit takes a strange turn, but does make the earlier Penny Harbour chapters feel more like they fit. Before that, I felt like I understood why they were there (given the preface), but didn’t feel like they worked or belonged in the book. At the end I felt like, okay, these make more sense. I don’t know that I love the direction it went with the town, but it did make for a dramatic climax. And it seems like we’re set up for more books in this town in the future maybe? MJ’s quip that she’s more into werewolves feels like maybe a hint of things to come!
I just really appreciated that his was a romance I could be invested in and enjoy because so many straight romances, especially paranormal/romantasy ones, lean into gendered stuff and create alphahole MMCs. Cool if that’s your thing, but must it be the only thing on offer? Here we have two bi characters written by a bi woman which perhaps helped the romance get out of that limited box.
August 26, 2024
Thank you so much Cat for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ladies, Gents, and Gentlethems!
This book is about to become my ENTIRE personality.
The world building, first and foremost, is absolutely incredible. You get flashes of different timelines with the Penny Harbour POV - and this was my first time experiencing a book that had such a thing- and it's done so incredibly masterfully. I'm still sitting here in awe; after you've read so many books, it's hard to believe when you come along a means of storytelling that's new, unique, and exciting!
The characters I adore. I love some of them, I love to hate the others; everyone is just so incredibly human - even the resident vampire - and that's where a lot of the amazing storytelling comes from.
I don't want to go into too much more because I don't want to spoil anything, but this book just... scratched an itch that I've had since I used to read Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' vampire books when I was a teenager. They are nowhere near the same, but Coal Gets In Your Veins brings back that same feeling of Nostalgia, even though I've obviously never read this before.
What a ride.
Ladies, Gents, and Gentlethems!
This book is about to become my ENTIRE personality.
The world building, first and foremost, is absolutely incredible. You get flashes of different timelines with the Penny Harbour POV - and this was my first time experiencing a book that had such a thing- and it's done so incredibly masterfully. I'm still sitting here in awe; after you've read so many books, it's hard to believe when you come along a means of storytelling that's new, unique, and exciting!
The characters I adore. I love some of them, I love to hate the others; everyone is just so incredibly human - even the resident vampire - and that's where a lot of the amazing storytelling comes from.
I don't want to go into too much more because I don't want to spoil anything, but this book just... scratched an itch that I've had since I used to read Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' vampire books when I was a teenager. They are nowhere near the same, but Coal Gets In Your Veins brings back that same feeling of Nostalgia, even though I've obviously never read this before.
What a ride.
October 1, 2024
"A boy learned a lot about death in a place like the Umberlee."
I've read 4 of this author's books now, and it feels like every time, I end up saying, "Ooh, this is my favorite Cat Rector novel." Guess what? THIS is now my favorite Cat Rector novel.
We have two protagonists here, Laurel and Spencer. I appreciated the depth and nuance to each of them, particularly because it would have been so easy to have them fall into specific overdone tropes and patterns given their character archetypes and the themes explored in their story. Laurel is a woman in an unhealthy relationship, but that's almost secondary to the vibrancy of her character and the strength and independence she still possesses. It's that depth of characterization that helps the reader make sense of her decision to stay with her abuser while also rooting for her to find true happiness. Spencer is a brooding vampire with a tragic past, but he's also very human as someone who has great compassion, a sense of humor, and an appreciation for life's little joys (mixtapes, a good book, etc).
Books that are so focused on characters and relationships tend to be very hit or miss for me. I either love them or simply don't care about them depending on how well I'm able to connect with the characters. With this, the pages seemed to fly by because of how invested I was in each of these characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of getting to know them. Laurel's friends were also some of my favorite additions to the cast and brought their own unique flavor to the story.
Speaking of characters, there's one other important character we should talk about. It's actually the setting--the small coal mining town of Penny Harbor where the story takes place. However, the town has so much depth and life to it that it very much feels like a character in its own right. Through the eyes of some of the other residents of Penny Harbor, including past histories that impact the story's present, we discover how the weight of poverty, generational trauma, and small-town culture has impacted the residents. It's not all bleak, though. There is some true strength and resilience to this place and the people who call it home. I loved the nuances that were explored here, and as someone who spent their teenage years and early adulthood in a small town, there was a certain familiarity to it all that was captured very well by the author.
I loved this story and I so appreciate the obvious care and attention to detail that was put into it. It's a beautiful story full of pain, tragedy, and heartbreak, but shining brighter than all of that is a tale of two people finding love and hope in each other.
I've read 4 of this author's books now, and it feels like every time, I end up saying, "Ooh, this is my favorite Cat Rector novel." Guess what? THIS is now my favorite Cat Rector novel.
We have two protagonists here, Laurel and Spencer. I appreciated the depth and nuance to each of them, particularly because it would have been so easy to have them fall into specific overdone tropes and patterns given their character archetypes and the themes explored in their story. Laurel is a woman in an unhealthy relationship, but that's almost secondary to the vibrancy of her character and the strength and independence she still possesses. It's that depth of characterization that helps the reader make sense of her decision to stay with her abuser while also rooting for her to find true happiness. Spencer is a brooding vampire with a tragic past, but he's also very human as someone who has great compassion, a sense of humor, and an appreciation for life's little joys (mixtapes, a good book, etc).
Books that are so focused on characters and relationships tend to be very hit or miss for me. I either love them or simply don't care about them depending on how well I'm able to connect with the characters. With this, the pages seemed to fly by because of how invested I was in each of these characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of getting to know them. Laurel's friends were also some of my favorite additions to the cast and brought their own unique flavor to the story.
Speaking of characters, there's one other important character we should talk about. It's actually the setting--the small coal mining town of Penny Harbor where the story takes place. However, the town has so much depth and life to it that it very much feels like a character in its own right. Through the eyes of some of the other residents of Penny Harbor, including past histories that impact the story's present, we discover how the weight of poverty, generational trauma, and small-town culture has impacted the residents. It's not all bleak, though. There is some true strength and resilience to this place and the people who call it home. I loved the nuances that were explored here, and as someone who spent their teenage years and early adulthood in a small town, there was a certain familiarity to it all that was captured very well by the author.
I loved this story and I so appreciate the obvious care and attention to detail that was put into it. It's a beautiful story full of pain, tragedy, and heartbreak, but shining brighter than all of that is a tale of two people finding love and hope in each other.
September 3, 2024
I will start by saying that I was provided an ARC of this book in return for my honest review. I was also one of the BETA readers for this book. Please look up and read all TW and CW for this book before you pick it up. It is not a soft or sweet tale and if you go in expecting it to be you will be in for a shock.
Coal Gets In Your Veins is another fantastic edition to Cat Rector's resume. To say that I have loved everything this author has written so far would be an understatement. I got sucked in right from the beginning with Goddess of Nothing At All and have been here for the ride ever since.
Cat Rector knows how to draw you in, keep you reading, and make you want more all while ripping out your heart and trampling on it. Cat never pulls her punches and it's one of the things that I love about reading her works. She makes you feel. She makes you care about the characters and root for them. She isn't afraid to touch on very real, very serious, and very emotional topics that I believe need to see the light of day because keeping quiet doesn't do anything but perpetuate more darkness.
Coal Gets In Your Veins is a book about a small town and its people. About love and hate. Abuse and escape. It's about the demons that can grow when they are allowed to fester unchecked in the hearts, minds, and souls of people. Coal is also a book about vampires and something more. About running from your past only to realize that it was going to catch up to you no matter what. Cat Rector used the real stories of people from a town such as the one we see in Coal and that added element of reality was both painful and beautiful.
Coal is set in a small ex-mining town in Canada where everyone knows everyone and gossip runs rampant. Where people pretend like they don't know all the dark things happening behind closed doors. Where minding your business means that the horrors don't exist. But what do you do when those horrors refuse to be kept quiet any longer? What do you do when you've finally had enough?
Come fall in love with Laurel. Root for Spencer. Cheer on MJ. Cry with the townspeople. And most importantly FUCK GREG! If you like any of the following: stories about real people, about pain and healing, a good ol' vampire romance with some extra darkness, badass women, Spike and Astarion vibes, finding your voice and taking back your power, or the occasional Twilight reference then Coal might be for you.
I can't wait to see what is in store for Laurel and Spencer as their story continues in future books.
Coal has lots bisexual representation, a sprinkle of polyamory representation, and trans representation.
TW: death, violence, misogyny, homophobia, depression, sexual content, on page sexual abuse, off page implied sexual abuse of a minor, domestic violence, alcohol/smoking/drug use, death of a wild animal, biting and blood drinking, poverty, and fire
Coal Gets In Your Veins is another fantastic edition to Cat Rector's resume. To say that I have loved everything this author has written so far would be an understatement. I got sucked in right from the beginning with Goddess of Nothing At All and have been here for the ride ever since.
Cat Rector knows how to draw you in, keep you reading, and make you want more all while ripping out your heart and trampling on it. Cat never pulls her punches and it's one of the things that I love about reading her works. She makes you feel. She makes you care about the characters and root for them. She isn't afraid to touch on very real, very serious, and very emotional topics that I believe need to see the light of day because keeping quiet doesn't do anything but perpetuate more darkness.
Coal Gets In Your Veins is a book about a small town and its people. About love and hate. Abuse and escape. It's about the demons that can grow when they are allowed to fester unchecked in the hearts, minds, and souls of people. Coal is also a book about vampires and something more. About running from your past only to realize that it was going to catch up to you no matter what. Cat Rector used the real stories of people from a town such as the one we see in Coal and that added element of reality was both painful and beautiful.
Coal is set in a small ex-mining town in Canada where everyone knows everyone and gossip runs rampant. Where people pretend like they don't know all the dark things happening behind closed doors. Where minding your business means that the horrors don't exist. But what do you do when those horrors refuse to be kept quiet any longer? What do you do when you've finally had enough?
Come fall in love with Laurel. Root for Spencer. Cheer on MJ. Cry with the townspeople. And most importantly FUCK GREG! If you like any of the following: stories about real people, about pain and healing, a good ol' vampire romance with some extra darkness, badass women, Spike and Astarion vibes, finding your voice and taking back your power, or the occasional Twilight reference then Coal might be for you.
I can't wait to see what is in store for Laurel and Spencer as their story continues in future books.
Coal has lots bisexual representation, a sprinkle of polyamory representation, and trans representation.
TW: death, violence, misogyny, homophobia, depression, sexual content, on page sexual abuse, off page implied sexual abuse of a minor, domestic violence, alcohol/smoking/drug use, death of a wild animal, biting and blood drinking, poverty, and fire
Read
September 24, 2024I always say Cat's books are masterpieces! And well, this book here is again one of those!
It's unique, intense - and I think, important to read books like this every once in a while to remain grounded.. to understand that not every person had or have all the privileges we do, all the freedom we do! And why it's important to always be kind to people we don't know and not judge someone for their choices and decisions without knowing what they are going or have gone through!
This story had three POVs, of - Laurel, Spencer and the village! Which is brilliant - it helped understand the mindset of villagers overall and how it impacts all of them including our protagonists!
I'm glad Laurel had Emma and Mary Jo and that same bond was extended to Spencer because oh! he needed it too.. so much!!
The only thing I couldn't wrap my head around was when the title started to make sense, like, literally! I'm not sure how I feel about 'it' being an entity itself!
The Penny Harbour section from chapter 20 chilled me to my bones! The twist twisted so hard I couldn't breathe for a solid minute! And no, I'm not exaggerating! You just have to read the book to understand what I felt in that moment!
Anyway, I'm just so glad I could read this book already, and I really need the next book soon! Can't wait for y'all to read it too!❤️ Definitely recommended!
📑TROPES
- Vampire × Human
- Queers In Rural/conservative Area
- FMC Stuck In Abusive Marriage
- MMC Grieving His Partners
- Poly Rep
- Bi Rep
- Secrets Hidden In The Dark
- Paranormal Horror Romance
It's unique, intense - and I think, important to read books like this every once in a while to remain grounded.. to understand that not every person had or have all the privileges we do, all the freedom we do! And why it's important to always be kind to people we don't know and not judge someone for their choices and decisions without knowing what they are going or have gone through!
This story had three POVs, of - Laurel, Spencer and the village! Which is brilliant - it helped understand the mindset of villagers overall and how it impacts all of them including our protagonists!
I'm glad Laurel had Emma and Mary Jo and that same bond was extended to Spencer because oh! he needed it too.. so much!!
The only thing I couldn't wrap my head around was when the title started to make sense, like, literally! I'm not sure how I feel about 'it' being an entity itself!
The Penny Harbour section from chapter 20 chilled me to my bones! The twist twisted so hard I couldn't breathe for a solid minute! And no, I'm not exaggerating! You just have to read the book to understand what I felt in that moment!
Anyway, I'm just so glad I could read this book already, and I really need the next book soon! Can't wait for y'all to read it too!❤️ Definitely recommended!
📑TROPES
- Vampire × Human
- Queers In Rural/conservative Area
- FMC Stuck In Abusive Marriage
- MMC Grieving His Partners
- Poly Rep
- Bi Rep
- Secrets Hidden In The Dark
- Paranormal Horror Romance
April 28, 2025
This novel is a dark diamond. An absolutely incredible romantic vampire horror, set in the Nova Scotian mining town of Penny Harbour. This book has been on my list for absolutely ages, and now that I've finally read it I'm kicking myself for taking so long to get around to it. The writing is so evocative – the town is described so that it feels like a living, breathing place. You can feel the weight of generations of coal mining tragedies behind the narrative, rumbling you ever onwards to the awful revelations to come. What a wonderfully ominous atmosphere Rector has created here, and how beautifully she brings this rich, dark, layered story together. Romance is the thing that usually hooks me in a book, and the romance in this one is wonderfully paced and perfectly judged, yet somehow it still feels like less than half of the real punch behind this novel, because the rest is so overwhelmingly vivid and bleak. Truly haunting storytelling.
September 30, 2024
ARC Review (No spoilers)
I had the opportunity to read this as an ARC. It took me a while to finish it cause I didn't want it to end 😭 I loved how it was formatted and it was so easy to follow each POV. It was mature and immature at times (teehee) I'm glad to follow an FMC's story in my age range! Not enough adult fiction out there that isn't just smut from start to finish.
I absolutely love the characters and how they were fleshed out. I got annoyed at some of the choices the MCs made but they were so in character and all I could do was shake my fist in the air cause the besties are traumatised and were making bad choices. Yelling at my kindle screen fr (also much love to Laurel & Spencer it's rough out there 🙏)
I do love the queer rep in the book and also love the fact Ms. Author is an Astarion fan (me too darling 😉). I can't get enough of the vampire twinks so I'm looking forward to reading more about Spencer & Laurel's adventures and future shenanigans.
I had the opportunity to read this as an ARC. It took me a while to finish it cause I didn't want it to end 😭 I loved how it was formatted and it was so easy to follow each POV. It was mature and immature at times (teehee) I'm glad to follow an FMC's story in my age range! Not enough adult fiction out there that isn't just smut from start to finish.
I absolutely love the characters and how they were fleshed out. I got annoyed at some of the choices the MCs made but they were so in character and all I could do was shake my fist in the air cause the besties are traumatised and were making bad choices. Yelling at my kindle screen fr (also much love to Laurel & Spencer it's rough out there 🙏)
I do love the queer rep in the book and also love the fact Ms. Author is an Astarion fan (me too darling 😉). I can't get enough of the vampire twinks so I'm looking forward to reading more about Spencer & Laurel's adventures and future shenanigans.
September 26, 2024
This book was comfortably uncomfortable, and I am SO happy I read it.
Absolutely gorgeous. The characters, the visuals, the world building, & the cover! Finishing it breaks my heart a little bit, I already feel like I miss Spencer & MJ.
I gotta say, I've never connected with characters in a book as much as I did here. Emotions were brought up witnessing Laurels story. Stress, fear, and so much more. I sometimes had to pause & ground myself. All of the characters have very unique stories. I believe a lot of people will relate to them in some way, and possibly benefit from it. I swear I'm gonna find a way to bring up this book in every conversation.
I received an ARC of this book via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Absolutely gorgeous. The characters, the visuals, the world building, & the cover! Finishing it breaks my heart a little bit, I already feel like I miss Spencer & MJ.
I gotta say, I've never connected with characters in a book as much as I did here. Emotions were brought up witnessing Laurels story. Stress, fear, and so much more. I sometimes had to pause & ground myself. All of the characters have very unique stories. I believe a lot of people will relate to them in some way, and possibly benefit from it. I swear I'm gonna find a way to bring up this book in every conversation.
I received an ARC of this book via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2024
Devastating honest. Painfully human. And entirely unexpected. I couldn't get enough of Laurel and Spencer.
December 18, 2025
5 stars
I need more time to figure out how to review this book because it is so unusual and mindblowing !
_____________________________________________________________
It's been a few days, and I am still just as at loss for words as I was the moment I read it. I don't have the words to explain how this book made me feel. It is unlike anything I've ever read. It is raw, it is hurt, it is sadness, it is healing, it is strength,... it is incredible!
Be sure to check trigger warnings before reading this book! There are many, and the way they are presented can hit you hard.
This book is set in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business and will gossip about it, but at the same time will close their eyes to big, traumatic happenings. I don't know what it is about this setting and the way that it's been written, but I have never felt so trapped while reading. I felt like I was one of the residents of the town that can't get away. Such a weird, uncomfortable yet understanding feeling. I don't know, it made me feel so weird, and I don't know how to explain it, haha. Also the town had its own POV!, and I have never seen anything like that before, but it added to the eeriness, and the emotional toll that this book took.
The way that this book showed generational trauma and how it affects people is genius to say the least. The start was so slow and emotional that the chaos that came after shocked me so much that I didn't know what to do with myself. That is not a plot twist, it was so unexpected that it is a completely new plot point. The first half of the book is very character driven, while the second part is plot driven. It feels a bit like reading two different books that are somehow connected.
There is no way to describe Cat Rector's writing style. It is incredible, and I will read everything she ever writes. Be prepared though, she WILL make you cry. Also, she made me be accepting of stuff that I never would have thought I would accept...mind-blowing.
The characters that I love, I loved with all my heart, and those that I hate, I hated with every fiber of my being! The characters in this are so complex and well thought out that I really do feel like I know them.
Laurel is such an incredibly strong character. She went through hell to the point of not feeling like she deserves anything good, and she was still doing everything she could for others, and not giving up. Her growth, her breaking point, her fight, her rediscovery of herself, her feelings and wants, wow, just wow. She might be the most complex character I've ever read about, and I wonder how she will deal with the consequences of everything.
Spencer is our lovely, daring, incredible queer vampire. His grief and the feeling of guilt were so well shown, and it hurt so much to read about it. And when he finally realized that he is allowed to keep on living, I let out a tear.
Their love story had such a natural development, from friends who help each other heal to lovers that know that they deserve each other and can give each other what they need. It was beautiful to read about. They deserve the world!
I love Emma and MJ with my whole heart. Their friendship with Laurel is perfect. This is the best portrayal of friendship I have seen in a while. They also deserve the world!!!
And to end it with - I HATE GREG WITH PASSION!!!
CONCLUSION
This was such a hard review to write, and I didn't do this book justice with it.
I hope you read it, just be ready to be emotionally drained in the best possible way.
I can't wait for more!
___________________________________
Coal Gets In Your Veins
Learning To Bleed
I need more time to figure out how to review this book because it is so unusual and mindblowing !
_____________________________________________________________
It's been a few days, and I am still just as at loss for words as I was the moment I read it. I don't have the words to explain how this book made me feel. It is unlike anything I've ever read. It is raw, it is hurt, it is sadness, it is healing, it is strength,... it is incredible!
Be sure to check trigger warnings before reading this book! There are many, and the way they are presented can hit you hard.
This book is set in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business and will gossip about it, but at the same time will close their eyes to big, traumatic happenings. I don't know what it is about this setting and the way that it's been written, but I have never felt so trapped while reading. I felt like I was one of the residents of the town that can't get away. Such a weird, uncomfortable yet understanding feeling. I don't know, it made me feel so weird, and I don't know how to explain it, haha. Also the town had its own POV!, and I have never seen anything like that before, but it added to the eeriness, and the emotional toll that this book took.
The way that this book showed generational trauma and how it affects people is genius to say the least. The start was so slow and emotional that the chaos that came after shocked me so much that I didn't know what to do with myself. That is not a plot twist, it was so unexpected that it is a completely new plot point. The first half of the book is very character driven, while the second part is plot driven. It feels a bit like reading two different books that are somehow connected.
There is no way to describe Cat Rector's writing style. It is incredible, and I will read everything she ever writes. Be prepared though, she WILL make you cry. Also, she made me be accepting of stuff that I never would have thought I would accept...mind-blowing.
The characters that I love, I loved with all my heart, and those that I hate, I hated with every fiber of my being! The characters in this are so complex and well thought out that I really do feel like I know them.
Laurel is such an incredibly strong character. She went through hell to the point of not feeling like she deserves anything good, and she was still doing everything she could for others, and not giving up. Her growth, her breaking point, her fight, her rediscovery of herself, her feelings and wants, wow, just wow. She might be the most complex character I've ever read about, and I wonder how she will deal with the consequences of everything.
Spencer is our lovely, daring, incredible queer vampire. His grief and the feeling of guilt were so well shown, and it hurt so much to read about it. And when he finally realized that he is allowed to keep on living, I let out a tear.
Their love story had such a natural development, from friends who help each other heal to lovers that know that they deserve each other and can give each other what they need. It was beautiful to read about. They deserve the world!
I love Emma and MJ with my whole heart. Their friendship with Laurel is perfect. This is the best portrayal of friendship I have seen in a while. They also deserve the world!!!
And to end it with - I HATE GREG WITH PASSION!!!
CONCLUSION
This was such a hard review to write, and I didn't do this book justice with it.
I hope you read it, just be ready to be emotionally drained in the best possible way.
I can't wait for more!
___________________________________
Coal Gets In Your Veins
Learning To Bleed
December 1, 2025
What's better than a vampire story? A vampire story where it isn't about romance but the characters themselves, generational trauma, and what it means to be a monster.
Don't get me wrong, there is chemistry when it comes to the will-they-won't-they relationship, but that's the framework from which the real heart of the story hangs. It's about damaged people; damaged by their own experiences, damaged by social history. This dark paranormal story explores heavy themes, including queerness in rural conservative communities, abuse hidden in plain sight, life choices made by those over the age of 30 (and not just because they're 2 centuries old; the human cast is made of proper adults), and pain passed down through generations of unchecked toxic coping mechanisms ingrained into a small, backwater community scarred by their mining history.
It's dark, it's introspective, and by Jove it's sweary. I can't recommend it enough.
-----------------
Original Review 2023:
The adult, queer, anti-Twilight vampire love story you never knew you needed. Atmospheric, eerie, and cute as. Not exactly a stand alone novel, but doesn't have a big cliffhanger so much as a TBC. And after that paranormal twist working its way in... Well worth a contemporary, sweary read.
Don't get me wrong, there is chemistry when it comes to the will-they-won't-they relationship, but that's the framework from which the real heart of the story hangs. It's about damaged people; damaged by their own experiences, damaged by social history. This dark paranormal story explores heavy themes, including queerness in rural conservative communities, abuse hidden in plain sight, life choices made by those over the age of 30 (and not just because they're 2 centuries old; the human cast is made of proper adults), and pain passed down through generations of unchecked toxic coping mechanisms ingrained into a small, backwater community scarred by their mining history.
It's dark, it's introspective, and by Jove it's sweary. I can't recommend it enough.
-----------------
Original Review 2023:
The adult, queer, anti-Twilight vampire love story you never knew you needed. Atmospheric, eerie, and cute as. Not exactly a stand alone novel, but doesn't have a big cliffhanger so much as a TBC. And after that paranormal twist working its way in... Well worth a contemporary, sweary read.
August 10, 2024
Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Vampires aren't necessarily my thing, anymore. I'm just not moved by the concept, you know? So, when it became known that Cat Rector's next book is going to feature a vampire romance (oh my!), I was at the same time apprehensive and cautiously curious. But if there's an author that can make me read about vampires, it's Cat Rector.
I didn't have to be disappointed. I mean, obviously.
Coal Gets In Your Veins approaches a really dark topic, generational trauma, from a unique angle that is at the same time entertaining and harrowing. It's immediately obvious that the setting and the theme are insanely personal to the author, and she unfolds the layers of pain, confusion, and darkness of it slowly and carefully through relatable, flawed, complex characters. Laurel, the small town fixer-upper, is one of our POV characters: she's lived in the former coal mining town, Penny Harbour, her whole life and is stuck in an abusive marriage (fuck Greg!), only dreaming about a different life in those few small moments when she lets down her guard. Her struggles are very real, very much everyday matter...it's viscerally painful to read about her life, her coping mechanisms, the trap she is in. The other POV character is Spencer, our vampire, living in the town isolated and grieving -- the "less human" of the pair, and perhaps with less relatable struggles, however, his personality makes up for this beautifully, and when the two meet and start getting closer, they highlight and contrast each other, unfurl each other's wounds and protected insides in a gentle, painful manner. Their love story is insanely cute and I couldn't not root for them from the first moment! Of course, the usual pressure points of a vampire story are all here, like the drinking blood, the not going out during the day, the immortality, and they do get their role, but the main tension comes from the character's personal wounds and is done very well throughout the story. I also loved Laurel's friends, Mary Jo and Emma, they were much needed shades of color in the sometimes truly heavy tapestry of the main story.
And this might be a slight spoiler, but there's a third POV character in the book, too. It was a surprise to me first, but proved to be a really effective tool to illustrate the all-permeating darkness in this little town. Through the Penny Harbour chapters, we get to know many people's lives and traumas and get a full picture of the invasive, insidious corruption that sits on a place where the community experienced horrible tragedies due to neglect, greed, and poverty. I'm not unfamiliar with many of these aspects, coming from a small, poor village myself. How people can be absolutely hideous but also necessary for your survival; how any difference from the agreed-upon "norm" is a death sentence; how the shared history permeates everyone and everything happening; how people's own story perpetuates more and more horrors; how it never, ever lets you go. All of that is amazingly expressed through the book -- it was really visceral and painful sometimes. And like in Rector's previous book, This Too Shall Burn, I was sorry about how things turned out to be, but there was triumph there, too.
Coal Gets In Your Veins is an emotional, dark-toned, but sometimes surprisingly cozy (yes!) exploration of broken people in a broken town, that still shows the strength and hope we can place in ourselves and in each other, in the love that we build with those that stay with us through all horrors. And hey, it's queer, and there's a vampire love story! If that's your jam, and you don't mind some darkness (read the CWs!), you're going to love it.
Vampires aren't necessarily my thing, anymore. I'm just not moved by the concept, you know? So, when it became known that Cat Rector's next book is going to feature a vampire romance (oh my!), I was at the same time apprehensive and cautiously curious. But if there's an author that can make me read about vampires, it's Cat Rector.
I didn't have to be disappointed. I mean, obviously.
Coal Gets In Your Veins approaches a really dark topic, generational trauma, from a unique angle that is at the same time entertaining and harrowing. It's immediately obvious that the setting and the theme are insanely personal to the author, and she unfolds the layers of pain, confusion, and darkness of it slowly and carefully through relatable, flawed, complex characters. Laurel, the small town fixer-upper, is one of our POV characters: she's lived in the former coal mining town, Penny Harbour, her whole life and is stuck in an abusive marriage (fuck Greg!), only dreaming about a different life in those few small moments when she lets down her guard. Her struggles are very real, very much everyday matter...it's viscerally painful to read about her life, her coping mechanisms, the trap she is in. The other POV character is Spencer, our vampire, living in the town isolated and grieving -- the "less human" of the pair, and perhaps with less relatable struggles, however, his personality makes up for this beautifully, and when the two meet and start getting closer, they highlight and contrast each other, unfurl each other's wounds and protected insides in a gentle, painful manner. Their love story is insanely cute and I couldn't not root for them from the first moment! Of course, the usual pressure points of a vampire story are all here, like the drinking blood, the not going out during the day, the immortality, and they do get their role, but the main tension comes from the character's personal wounds and is done very well throughout the story. I also loved Laurel's friends, Mary Jo and Emma, they were much needed shades of color in the sometimes truly heavy tapestry of the main story.
And this might be a slight spoiler, but there's a third POV character in the book, too. It was a surprise to me first, but proved to be a really effective tool to illustrate the all-permeating darkness in this little town. Through the Penny Harbour chapters, we get to know many people's lives and traumas and get a full picture of the invasive, insidious corruption that sits on a place where the community experienced horrible tragedies due to neglect, greed, and poverty. I'm not unfamiliar with many of these aspects, coming from a small, poor village myself. How people can be absolutely hideous but also necessary for your survival; how any difference from the agreed-upon "norm" is a death sentence; how the shared history permeates everyone and everything happening; how people's own story perpetuates more and more horrors; how it never, ever lets you go. All of that is amazingly expressed through the book -- it was really visceral and painful sometimes. And like in Rector's previous book, This Too Shall Burn, I was sorry about how things turned out to be, but there was triumph there, too.
Coal Gets In Your Veins is an emotional, dark-toned, but sometimes surprisingly cozy (yes!) exploration of broken people in a broken town, that still shows the strength and hope we can place in ourselves and in each other, in the love that we build with those that stay with us through all horrors. And hey, it's queer, and there's a vampire love story! If that's your jam, and you don't mind some darkness (read the CWs!), you're going to love it.
October 1, 2024
Coal Gets in Your Veins is an Adult Paranormal Romance, but it's going to be a book 1 of a series.
I received an eARC for an honest review.
Book Cover: 5* - Ok, are we surprised by the covers from this author? No. As always, CGiYV is just as gorgeous, dark, and mysterious as the previous books from this author's catalogue. I freaking love to see characters on covers, because then I can figure out how they look for fan art lol.
Summary/Tagline: 5* - Just reread it again because I've both beta this story and read an ARC, so I was already going to get it, but just in case: This story is dual PoV with characters battling their own darkness and monsters within, one of them just also happens to be a vampire. No this isn't spoiler, it's right there in the synopsis. Also, make sure to check out the CW for this book before you read to at least prepare for what you're about to read.
Characters: 5* - Like I said in the synopsis section, CGiYV is a dual PoV story with a mysterious 3rd PoV, but I won't say who in case that one is spoiler. We follow Laurel, a woman who feels trapped in a loveless marriage, stuck with a husband who doesn't really love and appreciate her or anything she does. We also follow Spencer, a vampire who's secretly come to a small little town in Canada to just wilt away after loosing people dear to him centuries ago. Spencer is Spike from Buffy and Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3 coded, but he's also so much more than that. He's unapologetically queer, sentimental, and wanting to live, but isn't sure how, until Laurel walks into his life one night.
World Building: 5* - Ok, I think this section is going to be a quick one. The world we're in is our own but if paranormal creatures and deities secretly walk among us. Anything about the hidden side, or creatures of the night stuff, will come from Spencer, but the info is short and quick. It's a side that Spencer was originally going to leave, until something in this town convinces him to go back to it. You'll know what I mean when you read to the end of the book.
Story: 5* - Ok, story stuff. Like I said in characters, both Laurel and Spencer are in a dark place respectively. One is in an abusive relationship while the other was in a deep depression after loosing the loves of his life years ago. Both stuck in their own darkness, neither of them sure what to do until they meet for the first time one night, giving them a sort of reason to not only keep going, but try something one has never tried while the other is trying something new after a very long time. It's a story about healing and trying to fight against the darkness within, and maybe, literal. Like I said, I don't want to accidentally spoil you, so just expect the paranormal is more than just vampires in this small little town.
Over All: 5* - CGiYV is more than just a slow burn romance between a human and a vampire. There's healing in this story, trial and tribulations, patience and frustrations, real monsters and darkness within. I cried alongside Laurel when it came to a husband that didn't care and rooted for Spencer when the memories of his past lovers didn't pull him down a pit he struggled to climb out of. Cat Rector once again gave me a story that both punched in the heart and wrapped it in a warm hug. Wherever this series is going, I can't wait to see it.
I received an eARC for an honest review.
Book Cover: 5* - Ok, are we surprised by the covers from this author? No. As always, CGiYV is just as gorgeous, dark, and mysterious as the previous books from this author's catalogue. I freaking love to see characters on covers, because then I can figure out how they look for fan art lol.
Summary/Tagline: 5* - Just reread it again because I've both beta this story and read an ARC, so I was already going to get it, but just in case: This story is dual PoV with characters battling their own darkness and monsters within, one of them just also happens to be a vampire. No this isn't spoiler, it's right there in the synopsis. Also, make sure to check out the CW for this book before you read to at least prepare for what you're about to read.
Characters: 5* - Like I said in the synopsis section, CGiYV is a dual PoV story with a mysterious 3rd PoV, but I won't say who in case that one is spoiler. We follow Laurel, a woman who feels trapped in a loveless marriage, stuck with a husband who doesn't really love and appreciate her or anything she does. We also follow Spencer, a vampire who's secretly come to a small little town in Canada to just wilt away after loosing people dear to him centuries ago. Spencer is Spike from Buffy and Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3 coded, but he's also so much more than that. He's unapologetically queer, sentimental, and wanting to live, but isn't sure how, until Laurel walks into his life one night.
World Building: 5* - Ok, I think this section is going to be a quick one. The world we're in is our own but if paranormal creatures and deities secretly walk among us. Anything about the hidden side, or creatures of the night stuff, will come from Spencer, but the info is short and quick. It's a side that Spencer was originally going to leave, until something in this town convinces him to go back to it. You'll know what I mean when you read to the end of the book.
Story: 5* - Ok, story stuff. Like I said in characters, both Laurel and Spencer are in a dark place respectively. One is in an abusive relationship while the other was in a deep depression after loosing the loves of his life years ago. Both stuck in their own darkness, neither of them sure what to do until they meet for the first time one night, giving them a sort of reason to not only keep going, but try something one has never tried while the other is trying something new after a very long time. It's a story about healing and trying to fight against the darkness within, and maybe, literal. Like I said, I don't want to accidentally spoil you, so just expect the paranormal is more than just vampires in this small little town.
Over All: 5* - CGiYV is more than just a slow burn romance between a human and a vampire. There's healing in this story, trial and tribulations, patience and frustrations, real monsters and darkness within. I cried alongside Laurel when it came to a husband that didn't care and rooted for Spencer when the memories of his past lovers didn't pull him down a pit he struggled to climb out of. Cat Rector once again gave me a story that both punched in the heart and wrapped it in a warm hug. Wherever this series is going, I can't wait to see it.
October 13, 2025
A Gorgeous, Gritty Story of Healing
Cat Rector's Coal Gets in Your Veins is not just a book—it’s an emotional landscape. Told through three distinct perspectives, this novel masterfully explores the heavy weight of trauma, the quiet power of platonic and romantic love, and the terrifying grip a place can have on the people who call it home.
The core of the story is built on three pillars, each one essential to the book’s powerful narrative:
Laurel Harbour: We meet Laurel through eyes that have witnessed too much. Trapped in an abusive and dehumanizing marriage to Greg (a character you will instantly loathe), Laurel is fighting desperately to maintain her identity. Her husband sees her as little more than a "centre piece," but Laurel is a survivor. Her lifelines are her platonic soulmates, Emma and MJ, and her small fixer-upper business where she helps the locals. Rector brilliantly conveys the feeling of being at a breaking point, where a lifetime of family and personal trauma is finally threatening to consume her.
Spencer: Grieving, guilt-ridden, and heartbroken, Spencer is a lovely queer vampire who relocates to Penny Harbour hoping to escape his own devastating losses. His days are a monotonous echo of his pain until he crosses paths with Laurel. Their connection is a tender slow burn, filled with nervousness, wariness, and profound self-awareness. As their relationship unfolds, it becomes a catalyst for transformation, allowing both of them to share their traumas and finally begin treating their old wounds, letting them heal properly.
The Town Itself: The final point of view gives voice to the collective soul of Penny Harbour. Through the experiences of various residents, Rector illustrates the crushing power of shared suffering and generational trauma. The town itself feels like a character, its hold on the residents being the ultimate, suffocating villain.
One of the most remarkable things Cat Rector achieves is making trauma a living, breathing entity. Have you ever wondered what generational trauma would look like if it grew limbs? This book puts it into stunning, often painful, perspective. Rector gives us a deep understanding of what happens when the body and mind refuse to heal—how that pain exists inside, with nowhere to go, steadily growing without boundaries.
Ultimately, Coal Gets in Your Veins is a powerful testament to the necessity of change. It’s a rallying cry highlighting that even when healing is agonizingly difficult, it is always worth it, because you deserve better. This story champions the courage it takes to let others in, to allow yourself to be loved the way you should be, and to shed the "soot" that has been stifling your life.
This is a book that stays with you, reminding you of the strength that lies in vulnerability. Highly, highly recommended.
Cat Rector's Coal Gets in Your Veins is not just a book—it’s an emotional landscape. Told through three distinct perspectives, this novel masterfully explores the heavy weight of trauma, the quiet power of platonic and romantic love, and the terrifying grip a place can have on the people who call it home.
The core of the story is built on three pillars, each one essential to the book’s powerful narrative:
Laurel Harbour: We meet Laurel through eyes that have witnessed too much. Trapped in an abusive and dehumanizing marriage to Greg (a character you will instantly loathe), Laurel is fighting desperately to maintain her identity. Her husband sees her as little more than a "centre piece," but Laurel is a survivor. Her lifelines are her platonic soulmates, Emma and MJ, and her small fixer-upper business where she helps the locals. Rector brilliantly conveys the feeling of being at a breaking point, where a lifetime of family and personal trauma is finally threatening to consume her.
Spencer: Grieving, guilt-ridden, and heartbroken, Spencer is a lovely queer vampire who relocates to Penny Harbour hoping to escape his own devastating losses. His days are a monotonous echo of his pain until he crosses paths with Laurel. Their connection is a tender slow burn, filled with nervousness, wariness, and profound self-awareness. As their relationship unfolds, it becomes a catalyst for transformation, allowing both of them to share their traumas and finally begin treating their old wounds, letting them heal properly.
The Town Itself: The final point of view gives voice to the collective soul of Penny Harbour. Through the experiences of various residents, Rector illustrates the crushing power of shared suffering and generational trauma. The town itself feels like a character, its hold on the residents being the ultimate, suffocating villain.
One of the most remarkable things Cat Rector achieves is making trauma a living, breathing entity. Have you ever wondered what generational trauma would look like if it grew limbs? This book puts it into stunning, often painful, perspective. Rector gives us a deep understanding of what happens when the body and mind refuse to heal—how that pain exists inside, with nowhere to go, steadily growing without boundaries.
Ultimately, Coal Gets in Your Veins is a powerful testament to the necessity of change. It’s a rallying cry highlighting that even when healing is agonizingly difficult, it is always worth it, because you deserve better. This story champions the courage it takes to let others in, to allow yourself to be loved the way you should be, and to shed the "soot" that has been stifling your life.
This is a book that stays with you, reminding you of the strength that lies in vulnerability. Highly, highly recommended.
October 2, 2024
A Haunting Reflection of Coal Country
* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
Coal Gets in Your Veins is a poignant exploration of life in a Canadian ex-coal mining town, a place where the industry's grip extends beyond the mines and into the very fabric of the community. This haunting tale, dripping with angst and harsh realities, resonated deeply with me as someone whose family hails from a similar community.
The author's raw and authentic portrayal of the characters was incredibly compelling. The author's ability to capture the nuances of small-town life, the relationships among the residents, and the underlying tensions is truly masterful. Each individual felt so real, their struggles and desires mirroring the experiences of countless others who have grown up in such environments. The intertwining of supernatural elements, such as a (queer) vampire, added a unique and intriguing layer to the narrative, while also serving as a metaphor for the dark forces that can consume individuals and communities (imo). Laurel and Spencer together make an entertaining switch point of view. The town itself also having its own POV was both new for me and a stunning addition to the feel and imagery of the story.
Cat did an excellent job of expressing her understanding of generational trauma passed down through families. The book is dripping with the essence of it. Families who worked in the mines endured physical and emotional hardships associated with coal mining. This exploration of the past's impact on the present is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking as someone who has familial ties to this way of life.
The book also delves into the complexities of abusive relationships and the yearning for a better life. The author's portrayal of these themes is both sensitive and unflinching, offering a stark glimpse into the challenges faced by many individuals. As someone who works in family intervention, I found Cat’s exploration of these themes very accurate.
If you grew up in a small Canadian town, or if you're simply interested in stories that explore the depths of human experience, Coal Gets in Your Veins is a must-read. This haunting and unforgettable novel offers a powerful reflection of the lives of those who have been shaped by the unforgiving nature of coal mining and the enduring legacy of trauma.
* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily*
Coal Gets in Your Veins is a poignant exploration of life in a Canadian ex-coal mining town, a place where the industry's grip extends beyond the mines and into the very fabric of the community. This haunting tale, dripping with angst and harsh realities, resonated deeply with me as someone whose family hails from a similar community.
The author's raw and authentic portrayal of the characters was incredibly compelling. The author's ability to capture the nuances of small-town life, the relationships among the residents, and the underlying tensions is truly masterful. Each individual felt so real, their struggles and desires mirroring the experiences of countless others who have grown up in such environments. The intertwining of supernatural elements, such as a (queer) vampire, added a unique and intriguing layer to the narrative, while also serving as a metaphor for the dark forces that can consume individuals and communities (imo). Laurel and Spencer together make an entertaining switch point of view. The town itself also having its own POV was both new for me and a stunning addition to the feel and imagery of the story.
Cat did an excellent job of expressing her understanding of generational trauma passed down through families. The book is dripping with the essence of it. Families who worked in the mines endured physical and emotional hardships associated with coal mining. This exploration of the past's impact on the present is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking as someone who has familial ties to this way of life.
The book also delves into the complexities of abusive relationships and the yearning for a better life. The author's portrayal of these themes is both sensitive and unflinching, offering a stark glimpse into the challenges faced by many individuals. As someone who works in family intervention, I found Cat’s exploration of these themes very accurate.
If you grew up in a small Canadian town, or if you're simply interested in stories that explore the depths of human experience, Coal Gets in Your Veins is a must-read. This haunting and unforgettable novel offers a powerful reflection of the lives of those who have been shaped by the unforgiving nature of coal mining and the enduring legacy of trauma.
November 4, 2024
Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adored this book. I have not read an ARC in quite some time, but saw this through BookSirens and it felt like it called to me, so I took a chance. I was not disappointed in the slightest. I was having such a good time reading this vampire novel, focusing uniquely on generational trauma, that I basically forgot there was a horror element to it. It felt like almost a slice of life, overcoming the odds, and healing with old and new loved ones kind of book. And typically I am not the biggest fan of slice of life type books, but I looooved this one. It was moody, emotional, queer, hopeful, and above all showcased a victim of abuse in such a painstaking, beautiful way. But when the other foot drops and you remember you are reading a horror book, boy does it drop. I literally screamed and continued to read with my jaw dropped until the end of the book.
Cat Rector's prose is beatiful, as are her characters. (Minus the bad folks, which I wish I could reach into the pages of this book and strangle. SCREW GREG UGH!) Laurel is lovely and complex, funny and relatable, and I love her so much and want to hold her and keep her safe from anything bad ever happening again. Spencer is so much like Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3, but if he actually held himself responsible for healing from his trauma rather than putting it on others and being manipulative. Meaning, he is the most supreme babygirl there is. But seriously, he is so freaking great and funny and queer and has a soft spot for cats. What's not to love? And the two of them together? Even better.
Penny Harbour being its own character as a setting is so unique and I enjoyed the path this took. Coal and a town being a vessel to portray generational trauma is perfect. I don't know much about coal mining towns, but Cat Rector makes you feel as if you lived in one your whole life. It was very visceral and imaginative.
I can't wait to continue the series to see where Spencer and Laurel's journey takes them (maybe she can explore her blossoming sexuality with Spencer by her side????? Please, yes, I'd kill for this), and I will be reading more Cat Rector from now on as a newfound instant-buy author.
Bonus: the most hilarious Twilight references
I absolutely adored this book. I have not read an ARC in quite some time, but saw this through BookSirens and it felt like it called to me, so I took a chance. I was not disappointed in the slightest. I was having such a good time reading this vampire novel, focusing uniquely on generational trauma, that I basically forgot there was a horror element to it. It felt like almost a slice of life, overcoming the odds, and healing with old and new loved ones kind of book. And typically I am not the biggest fan of slice of life type books, but I looooved this one. It was moody, emotional, queer, hopeful, and above all showcased a victim of abuse in such a painstaking, beautiful way. But when the other foot drops and you remember you are reading a horror book, boy does it drop. I literally screamed and continued to read with my jaw dropped until the end of the book.
Cat Rector's prose is beatiful, as are her characters. (Minus the bad folks, which I wish I could reach into the pages of this book and strangle. SCREW GREG UGH!) Laurel is lovely and complex, funny and relatable, and I love her so much and want to hold her and keep her safe from anything bad ever happening again. Spencer is so much like Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3, but if he actually held himself responsible for healing from his trauma rather than putting it on others and being manipulative. Meaning, he is the most supreme babygirl there is. But seriously, he is so freaking great and funny and queer and has a soft spot for cats. What's not to love? And the two of them together? Even better.
Penny Harbour being its own character as a setting is so unique and I enjoyed the path this took. Coal and a town being a vessel to portray generational trauma is perfect. I don't know much about coal mining towns, but Cat Rector makes you feel as if you lived in one your whole life. It was very visceral and imaginative.
I can't wait to continue the series to see where Spencer and Laurel's journey takes them (maybe she can explore her blossoming sexuality with Spencer by her side????? Please, yes, I'd kill for this), and I will be reading more Cat Rector from now on as a newfound instant-buy author.
Bonus: the most hilarious Twilight references
September 30, 2024
3.5 rounded up
Many thanks to the author for an ARC in exchange for a review.
There were so many things I liked about this book, but unfortunately I didn't completely enjoy the story as a whole.
The friendship between Laurel, Mary-Jo and Emma was definitely one of the highlights of the book. It was just wonderful to see them stick together and support each other, not just in the action-packed scenes, but also in the everyday life. Many romance-focused stories seem to forget about friends and I was so glad this one didn't. It made Laurel more nuanced, gave her character more depth. MJ and Emma were also great characters on their own. Both had their specific problems and made the town of Penny Harbor seem closer to me as a reader.
That is also something that shows in the additional Penny Harbor parts of each chapters. I feel like it definitely added depth to the story, introduced more and more generational trauma, that would be otherwise limited by the dual POV. It brought enough foreshadowing for the final twist in the plot to make more sense.
The twist. I kinda liked it. It was ambiguous enough to be creepy, and the foreshadowing wasn't too obvious to spoil it.
I felt more connected to Laurel than Spencer, even though they both had qualities that I like to see in characters. Their romance was very sweet and it was impossible not to root for them as they both discovered their feelings. Spencer's backstory and heartbreak paired well with Laurel's personal problems, and I really liked their whole meet cute.
But, I didn't completely click with the author's writing style and that made my reading experience worse. The story didn't really flow for me and the final part of the story felt a bit anticlimatic. Fine would be the word I would use to describe the overall vibe I got from the book.
TW:
Many thanks to the author for an ARC in exchange for a review.
There were so many things I liked about this book, but unfortunately I didn't completely enjoy the story as a whole.
The friendship between Laurel, Mary-Jo and Emma was definitely one of the highlights of the book. It was just wonderful to see them stick together and support each other, not just in the action-packed scenes, but also in the everyday life. Many romance-focused stories seem to forget about friends and I was so glad this one didn't. It made Laurel more nuanced, gave her character more depth. MJ and Emma were also great characters on their own. Both had their specific problems and made the town of Penny Harbor seem closer to me as a reader.
That is also something that shows in the additional Penny Harbor parts of each chapters. I feel like it definitely added depth to the story, introduced more and more generational trauma, that would be otherwise limited by the dual POV. It brought enough foreshadowing for the final twist in the plot to make more sense.
The twist. I kinda liked it. It was ambiguous enough to be creepy, and the foreshadowing wasn't too obvious to spoil it.
I felt more connected to Laurel than Spencer, even though they both had qualities that I like to see in characters. Their romance was very sweet and it was impossible not to root for them as they both discovered their feelings. Spencer's backstory and heartbreak paired well with Laurel's personal problems, and I really liked their whole meet cute.
But, I didn't completely click with the author's writing style and that made my reading experience worse. The story didn't really flow for me and the final part of the story felt a bit anticlimatic. Fine would be the word I would use to describe the overall vibe I got from the book.
TW:
July 4, 2024
There's so many things I could say about this book.
This as close as true a retelling you can get in fiction about the places in which I grew up.
This a book of hope, of blood, of damnation and finding joy despite the horrors of our lives.
A journey of being doomed by the narrative, doomed by the traumas of our parents, doomed by the curse of the places of our birth. Rector's mastery of dark fantasy strikes again.
This book asks so many questions that I resonated with; questions about how how much are we formed by the places we grew up in, about how much hopelessness there is in feeling 'stuck' in those places, and the characterization of a place filled with so much pain.
The story of Coal is from three points of view, starting with Laurel, one of the people from this cursed place who feels all of those things mentioned previously. The trauma of her family's past and present, feeling trapped in an abusive relationship, and how she is so very close to her breaking point.
Next there is Spencer, a vampire who's lost everything, and came to the most unthinkable place he could find to wallow in his grief. In this place he's erected a tomb of personal suffering, matching his pain with his loss, reflecting the guilt he feels.
The collision course these two are set upon will change everything for both of them, despite trauma's hold on both their souls.
And then, there's the vignettes spoken in the point of view of Penny Harbour, one of which I've had the pleasure of writing. They are reflections of the trauma seeping into the area, the collectivized core of suffering of the town, each a telling of fear and horror and the hold Penny Harbour has on it's citizens.
I hope you like this book, and that it brings you some form of catharsis. That it makes you think about your own community, family, and wonder about how much it costs to change your circumstances. Because at the end of the day, just because change is hard, doesn't mean it's not worth striving for, even if there is coal in your veins.
This as close as true a retelling you can get in fiction about the places in which I grew up.
This a book of hope, of blood, of damnation and finding joy despite the horrors of our lives.
A journey of being doomed by the narrative, doomed by the traumas of our parents, doomed by the curse of the places of our birth. Rector's mastery of dark fantasy strikes again.
This book asks so many questions that I resonated with; questions about how how much are we formed by the places we grew up in, about how much hopelessness there is in feeling 'stuck' in those places, and the characterization of a place filled with so much pain.
The story of Coal is from three points of view, starting with Laurel, one of the people from this cursed place who feels all of those things mentioned previously. The trauma of her family's past and present, feeling trapped in an abusive relationship, and how she is so very close to her breaking point.
Next there is Spencer, a vampire who's lost everything, and came to the most unthinkable place he could find to wallow in his grief. In this place he's erected a tomb of personal suffering, matching his pain with his loss, reflecting the guilt he feels.
The collision course these two are set upon will change everything for both of them, despite trauma's hold on both their souls.
And then, there's the vignettes spoken in the point of view of Penny Harbour, one of which I've had the pleasure of writing. They are reflections of the trauma seeping into the area, the collectivized core of suffering of the town, each a telling of fear and horror and the hold Penny Harbour has on it's citizens.
I hope you like this book, and that it brings you some form of catharsis. That it makes you think about your own community, family, and wonder about how much it costs to change your circumstances. Because at the end of the day, just because change is hard, doesn't mean it's not worth striving for, even if there is coal in your veins.
October 13, 2024
Laurel is doing her best in a failing coal mining village, biding her time within her abusive marriage. Right up the hill from her home is the grieving vampire Spencer, unable to drink the poisoned blood of the villagers. Change is hard, but Spencer is ready to end his isolation.
We have a list of trigger warnings in the beginning, all inspired by things that happened to the author or people she knew while growing up in an impoverished coal mining town wishing she could leave. In her preface, she tells us "There are horrors in this book, and most of them are true. ... you can’t build a town on 300 years of traumatic events without it haunting the generations to come."
With this in mind, we have Laurel's POV, Spencer's, and Penny Harbour's, which are various snippets of life in the small town. They're poor with few options, starting out with anger and misery, and then falling into terrible times. Laurel and Spencer develop a close friendship over time, even after Laurel finds out that Spencer is a vampire and unable to drink the blood because it tastes terrible. Both feel like they're living out of penance and keep themselves in tense situations because they don't feel like they're ready for change. Despite themselves, they grow closer over time and fall in love, but the town doesn't want to let go of Laurel and the hold it has.
Small towns often involve a lot of "everybody knows everybody else's business," which involves both the good and the bad. They band together in times of trouble, but can also look the other way. The darkness of it is personified in this book, a living thing made of the coal beneath the ground and worked into the generations of people that had lived there. I loved Laurel and her friends, and seeing them with Spencer. We have an interesting finale, and I'll leave it up to the reader to decide if it's good or bad. I enjoyed it and found that it fit the story well. It's about balance and a thread of darkness within the hope for a better future.
We have a list of trigger warnings in the beginning, all inspired by things that happened to the author or people she knew while growing up in an impoverished coal mining town wishing she could leave. In her preface, she tells us "There are horrors in this book, and most of them are true. ... you can’t build a town on 300 years of traumatic events without it haunting the generations to come."
With this in mind, we have Laurel's POV, Spencer's, and Penny Harbour's, which are various snippets of life in the small town. They're poor with few options, starting out with anger and misery, and then falling into terrible times. Laurel and Spencer develop a close friendship over time, even after Laurel finds out that Spencer is a vampire and unable to drink the blood because it tastes terrible. Both feel like they're living out of penance and keep themselves in tense situations because they don't feel like they're ready for change. Despite themselves, they grow closer over time and fall in love, but the town doesn't want to let go of Laurel and the hold it has.
Small towns often involve a lot of "everybody knows everybody else's business," which involves both the good and the bad. They band together in times of trouble, but can also look the other way. The darkness of it is personified in this book, a living thing made of the coal beneath the ground and worked into the generations of people that had lived there. I loved Laurel and her friends, and seeing them with Spencer. We have an interesting finale, and I'll leave it up to the reader to decide if it's good or bad. I enjoyed it and found that it fit the story well. It's about balance and a thread of darkness within the hope for a better future.
October 1, 2024
I absolutely fell in love with this book early on and was left craving it in between times I could set aside to read it. This book deals with a lot of heavy topics (I highly recommend checking TW and CW before reading) and did a fantastic job of delivering them without removing any of their severity. As someone who grew up in a smaller town (not quite as small as this, but not too far off), so many of the topics and scenes resonated with me in ways that I haven’t seen in most books. This book perfectly delivered every scene and situation to leave me uncomfortable, but not so much that it sabotaged the story or ruined the scene itself.
The plot itself had me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. This was so well-written, and such a captivating story, it was almost impossible to put down. The horror and romance elements were perfectly balanced and I never questioned if it was going to deliver well on either of them. Laurel and Spencer both have my whole heart after this story. Their chemistry and the development of their relationship were so smooth and natural-feeling, I was rooting for them from the very first time they met.
If you’re a fan of paranormal romance and/or horror stories, I highly recommend this book! If you’re new to the horror genre too, this is a great book to pick up and get more of a taste of the genre with. I received a free ARC of this, and I’m choosing to leave an honest review.
The plot itself had me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. This was so well-written, and such a captivating story, it was almost impossible to put down. The horror and romance elements were perfectly balanced and I never questioned if it was going to deliver well on either of them. Laurel and Spencer both have my whole heart after this story. Their chemistry and the development of their relationship were so smooth and natural-feeling, I was rooting for them from the very first time they met.
If you’re a fan of paranormal romance and/or horror stories, I highly recommend this book! If you’re new to the horror genre too, this is a great book to pick up and get more of a taste of the genre with. I received a free ARC of this, and I’m choosing to leave an honest review.
October 17, 2024
In an old coal mining village Laurel is doing her best to survive. But work is hard to come by and her husband has slowly been breaking her spirit over the last twenty years. She is running out of reasons to stay in their small Atlantic town. Just up the hill is Spencer, a vampire who is mourning the loves of his life. What better place to hide out than a town full of people who taste weird. A chance encounter with Spencer changes everything for Laurel. But Penny Harbour is a town where change is hard and generational pain has seeped into the soil and the people and refuses to let go.
Having grown up in small town Saskatchewan it was easy for me to connect with Laurel. I understood her frustration and longing. Cat Rector does a really good job at making her characters draw you in to feel what they do. And I felt so much with Laurel and her bffs Mary Jo and Emma. Also, I loved the banter between Laurel and Spencer. I cackled when she asked him if He had the skin of a killer. The twilight jabs were great. Their romance was so sweet as well and I felt so glad that it gave her the strength to leave her dick of a husband. The end said there was more to come for Laurel and Spencer so cannot wait for that. And I hope it shows more of the other creatures in the world.
Rating 4 stars
*I received a review copy from the author for my voluntary and honest review
Having grown up in small town Saskatchewan it was easy for me to connect with Laurel. I understood her frustration and longing. Cat Rector does a really good job at making her characters draw you in to feel what they do. And I felt so much with Laurel and her bffs Mary Jo and Emma. Also, I loved the banter between Laurel and Spencer. I cackled when she asked him if He had the skin of a killer. The twilight jabs were great. Their romance was so sweet as well and I felt so glad that it gave her the strength to leave her dick of a husband. The end said there was more to come for Laurel and Spencer so cannot wait for that. And I hope it shows more of the other creatures in the world.
Rating 4 stars
*I received a review copy from the author for my voluntary and honest review
November 29, 2024
When you see the cover, It is easy to think: oh, a small town, a lady and a vampire biiiig whoop!
Then I will tell you, “Aaah non, non, non, ma petit Chérie, this book is so much more.”😉
This story takes place in a little town called Penny Harbour. A town with ghosts of mining accidents past and where coal still lingers everywhere, even in the blood of the descendants, the townsfolk.
For me, it has been about the depth of our characters, mainly our main characters, Laurel and Spencer.
There are a couple of things addressed here, and that might be a trigger for some, Laurel is subject to psychological abuse by her husband, Greg. He is not hitting her; however, he is not really good to her either. This is something that hit me relatively hard thinking back.
The good news is that we also toss Spencer to the mix, and the friendly banter between the two is very smile-worthy. Well, you can perhaps tell where this is going. 😉
Of course, Spencer has challenges of his own, I mean, does it not sound lovely to be a vampire in a place where the humans taste like sh**e? 😂
He is really a softie. He even has a cat, a live one, that starts to look like a snack. That is when we realize the guy is really hungry.
‘He had given me the most intimate part of him that he could: his pain.’
Between the two of them, they start to notice the small things about each other, which I adore,
Then I will tell you, “Aaah non, non, non, ma petit Chérie, this book is so much more.”😉
This story takes place in a little town called Penny Harbour. A town with ghosts of mining accidents past and where coal still lingers everywhere, even in the blood of the descendants, the townsfolk.
For me, it has been about the depth of our characters, mainly our main characters, Laurel and Spencer.
There are a couple of things addressed here, and that might be a trigger for some, Laurel is subject to psychological abuse by her husband, Greg. He is not hitting her; however, he is not really good to her either. This is something that hit me relatively hard thinking back.
The good news is that we also toss Spencer to the mix, and the friendly banter between the two is very smile-worthy. Well, you can perhaps tell where this is going. 😉
Of course, Spencer has challenges of his own, I mean, does it not sound lovely to be a vampire in a place where the humans taste like sh**e? 😂
He is really a softie. He even has a cat, a live one, that starts to look like a snack. That is when we realize the guy is really hungry.
‘He had given me the most intimate part of him that he could: his pain.’
Between the two of them, they start to notice the small things about each other, which I adore,
June 1, 2024
Edit: Read the first three chapters here: https://www.catrector.com/coalgetsiny...
This book is as close to an autobiography as I'll ever write.
It's fiction. Of course it is. It's about a woman who grew up in an impoverished ex-coal mining village who meets a queer vampire who is grieving the lost loves of his life, and how they might just be able to find a way out of the dark. But it's more than that.
It's an ode to... everything. To all the vampires I loved as a teen and an adult (sup Spike, Simon, and Astarion), who I wished would take me somewhere else. To the person I was, and the person I want to be. To family and friends and to the deeply complicated place I grew up, that I love so deeply and caused me so much grief.
Primarily, this book is about two hurt people finding each other and reaching for something better through the veil of her abusive marriage and his grief. It's soft and funny and dark, and built on the backdrop of a paranormal horror story with romance.
Cathartic. That's always my goal.
The book comes to you in three Points of View. Laurel, Spencer, and the village of Penny Harbour. Penny Harbour is not a PoV for the faint of heart. Much like most of the worldbuilding of the book, each story from that PoV is based on a kernel of truth. Each vignette represents someone who lives in the fictional village and their life. The people and the details are made up, but some part of every scene is true. The truth might belong to me, or it might belong to one of the real people who asked me to memorialize their story in the pages of this book. The stories involve heavy topics, because when your home is built on 300 years of death and trauma, how could they not?
Trigger warnings for those PoVs will be available on the website and in a glossary at the back of the book, but include topics like SA, abuse, alcoholism, death, and poverty. It's not for everyone.
Ironically, this dark book is also the one that brought me back to falling in love, and so how could I not be in love with it in return?
I hope you like it, but more than anything, I hope it makes you feel something. Life is hard. Change is harder. But change is possible. If a traumatized woman from an ex-coal mining town and a sassy queer vampire who lost everything can change, can't we all?
This book is as close to an autobiography as I'll ever write.
It's fiction. Of course it is. It's about a woman who grew up in an impoverished ex-coal mining village who meets a queer vampire who is grieving the lost loves of his life, and how they might just be able to find a way out of the dark. But it's more than that.
It's an ode to... everything. To all the vampires I loved as a teen and an adult (sup Spike, Simon, and Astarion), who I wished would take me somewhere else. To the person I was, and the person I want to be. To family and friends and to the deeply complicated place I grew up, that I love so deeply and caused me so much grief.
Primarily, this book is about two hurt people finding each other and reaching for something better through the veil of her abusive marriage and his grief. It's soft and funny and dark, and built on the backdrop of a paranormal horror story with romance.
Cathartic. That's always my goal.
The book comes to you in three Points of View. Laurel, Spencer, and the village of Penny Harbour. Penny Harbour is not a PoV for the faint of heart. Much like most of the worldbuilding of the book, each story from that PoV is based on a kernel of truth. Each vignette represents someone who lives in the fictional village and their life. The people and the details are made up, but some part of every scene is true. The truth might belong to me, or it might belong to one of the real people who asked me to memorialize their story in the pages of this book. The stories involve heavy topics, because when your home is built on 300 years of death and trauma, how could they not?
Trigger warnings for those PoVs will be available on the website and in a glossary at the back of the book, but include topics like SA, abuse, alcoholism, death, and poverty. It's not for everyone.
Ironically, this dark book is also the one that brought me back to falling in love, and so how could I not be in love with it in return?
I hope you like it, but more than anything, I hope it makes you feel something. Life is hard. Change is harder. But change is possible. If a traumatized woman from an ex-coal mining town and a sassy queer vampire who lost everything can change, can't we all?
November 23, 2024
What a wild ride. This book was 80% slow burn vampire romance set in a rural Canadian town, and 20% bonkers plot twist that I did NOT see coming, and yet was fully foreshadowed. I loved this. There’s a constant sense of low-grade dread lingering on every page, and the little scenes from the town’s POV were sometimes sad and sometimes grim and sometimes so affectionate. I didn’t realize it was going to be a series but I am very excited to know that there’s going to be more, because there’s some BIG UNRESOLVED STUFF. Still, the ending was satisfying.
I loved the way this was written. I wouldn’t have expected to liked this story this much based on the synopsis, but I tryst Cat Rector, and wow. This was next level. Every time I had a qualm or a question or a moral misgiving, it was satisfactorily addressed. Please read content notes and be prepared for sympathetic but morally gray characters. I’m not sure I can say more about the plot without giving spoilers, but this was quite a journey.
One last thing: this book deals with a community’s generational trauma in a way that, IMO, dredges up dark secrets without villainizing the community, or rural poverty, as a whole. There’s love here, along with the darkness. 10/10, will preorder sequels when available.
I loved the way this was written. I wouldn’t have expected to liked this story this much based on the synopsis, but I tryst Cat Rector, and wow. This was next level. Every time I had a qualm or a question or a moral misgiving, it was satisfactorily addressed. Please read content notes and be prepared for sympathetic but morally gray characters. I’m not sure I can say more about the plot without giving spoilers, but this was quite a journey.
One last thing: this book deals with a community’s generational trauma in a way that, IMO, dredges up dark secrets without villainizing the community, or rural poverty, as a whole. There’s love here, along with the darkness. 10/10, will preorder sequels when available.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews