I was so excited to get more CJ Tudor! The Burning Girls will always be one of my all time favorite books, so I'm always excited to dive back into new stories by her. Right off the bat, this gave me the same creepy vibes as Burning Girls, and I was intrigued about the vampyr storyline. I did find parts of it genuinely creepy and enjoyed the story overall, but I felt like there were too many characters to keep track of, and by the end I felt like there were a lot of questions left unanswered. The ending does lean towards possibly having a sequel, so I'm hoping that some of those get wrapped up in that! Overall this was a really fun and creepy story that I really enjoyed!

This was a really good version of a vampire thriller. This book was about the relationship between vampyr’s and humans. There are laws protecting vampyr’s from discrimination and being hunted. A group of humans filled with hate drove out the Colony once but they came back. They just wanted a place to settle and live out their lives. The group of humans were not happy the vampyr’s were back so someone committed murder to set in motion a way to rid their town of vampyr’s. A vampyr specialist detective was sent to find out who was committing murder before a war started. The action in this book was cinematic. I could easily picture all the scenes in this book. Even the twist was a shock. I would have never guessed any of the suspects. 5⭐️.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC!

I’ve read a few of C.J Tudor’s books and The Drift was one of my favorite reads of 2023. Sadly I didn't enjoy The Gathering as much as her other books.

I don’t think this book should be labeled as horror, because it felt more like a thriller with vampires. All and all? I enjoyed it but I just wanted it to be more creepy or gory.

I must say, I was pleasantly taken aback! In this book, Vampyrs aren't the stuff of myth; they're a norm among society. But don't mistake this for your typical Twilight or Vampire Diaries fare! When the lifeless body of a 15-year-old boy is discovered, suspicion blankets the colonies. Though they're meant to coexist peacefully with humans, something has clearly breached the boundaries set in place. Barbara, a specialist in Vampyr killings, is summoned to the quaint town of Deathart in Alaska to unravel the mystery and determine if drastic measures, like colony destruction, are necessary.

This book delves into so much more than meets the eye, and any review would merely skim the surface. While it may not be spine-chilling, it's certainly a thrilling journey. One character that stood out to me was the Vampyr Athelinda. It's a truly gripping tale, masterfully crafted by CJ Tudor, and what's more, it's a refreshing take on adult Vampyr storytelling.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel. This was a good police procedural with a likable lead, but I kind of wanted more vampire in my vampire story. I just didn't get the horror elements as much. All the richness of vampire lore really wasn't there. The vampires could have been motorcycle gang members. I kept thinking of the Sharks from West Side Story. The pervasiveness of contemporary American politics in the story was also overplayed. Vampires aren't really like other American groups that are discriminated against . . . because they drink blood. It's a tough analogy. The writing was a little repetitive and the author left a lot of clues that allowed the reader to figure the twists out ahead of time.

This is a fantastic novel with a propulsive plot and a magnificent cast of characters. This book is nuanced in a way not many modern novels are. It made me want to read it every moment of every day and not want it to end. I cannot wait to read a sequel since it seems we might get one. I would very much like to revisit this world of amazing plot and diverse, layered characters.

Picture an alternate world where vampires are not only integrated into society, but protected as a racial minority. However, just because they are protected doesn’t mean that everyone has accepted them. In The Gathering, a young man has been killed in a manner implicating the local vampire colony. But are they truly at fault or is the killing a hoax to allow the entire colony to be culled with governmental permission?

Detective Barbara Atkinson from the government’s Forensic Vampyr Anthropology Department is assigned to look into the case. Her goal is to both find the killer and decide if a cull needs to be ordered. The boy’s family, the local reverend, and the townspeople as a group have already taken sides. But is killing the colony really going to avenge the young man’s death? Or is there another hidden motive in play?

The Gathering is, at its heart, a traditional police procedural just set in an alternate universe. It blends aspects of Twilight, True Blood and Alex Cross together in a coherent and intriguing new world. Fans of any of those series will find something to enjoy in this book. Hopefully, this is the start of a new series because I loved this innovative mystery. 5 stars!

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Title: The Gathering by CJ Tudor
Publication Date- 04/09/24
Publisher- Ballantine Books by Penguin Random House
Overall Rating- 2 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

When I write reviews where I gave a book a low star I try to tailor them in a way to help others know if maybe the book could be for them rather than just crapping on the book.

The synopsis of this book is exactly what you will get which is a plus. The reason I gave this a low star rating, and I’m curious if others will feel this way, I noticed several lines of fatphobia. At first I thought maybe those lines were being used to show how crappy someone is but over time I noticed that wasn’t the case. To give the author the benefit of the doubt, maybe I missed something but it felt like it happened too frequently for it to just be coincidence or for another purpose. I was going to give the book 3 stars but because of that I just felt that I personally couldn’t rate it higher than 2.

Other things that didn’t work for me, that may work for you coming up now. Most of the story is not revolving horror or thriller. It's basically about these people living in this town where vampires are basically cult-like enemies. The majority of the narrative is spent talking about the different relationship dynamics between the people in this town and their distaste for the vampire community and if it’s deserved or not. It felt like we did that over and over again and by the end of the book I just really wanted something else. I was hoping there would be more horror elements and more thriller-like pulls but it was just the relationship dynamics over and over again.

I think this could work for people who maybe go in with different expectations than I did. If you go in knowing it’s more the story of a town and how they are dealing with conflict then I think this could be a 4 star for you (outside of the fatphobia depending how you see that).

I’m not sure what else to say, I hope this helped you in some way and maybe shifted your expectations to better enjoy the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early read. If you're a fan of CJ Tudors other books or just a horror fan, you have to read this. She is the current queen of horror!

When a young boy is found with his throat ripped out and no blood in his body, the small town in Alaska knows who to blame, The Colony, a group of vampires that live nearby. Detective Barbara Atkins is charged with determining who did kill the boy, was it a vampire, or a human who just wants to blame the Colony and get away with murder?

The Gathering
4/5 Stars
Kindle
RELEASE DATE: APRIL 9

I love C.J. Tudor’s novels and was so thrilled to receive the ARC for The Gathering, her latest book! The vibes and setting of this book are top tier. A murder mystery set in small-town Alaska that starts after the murder of a teenage boy. Now, here is the twist, in this book humans and vampires exist together (well semi-together). This is not your typical vampire novel though so if you don't usually read books with supernatural creatures PLEASE do not let that turn you off this book.

Barbara is the primary narrator, as a vampire anthropologist, she heads to Alaska to investigate the murder. The humans in the town are dying for revenge on the vampires and tensions continue to rise. While this book features vampires and humans, it is really about a divide between different types of people (commentary of racism, classism, and political division). This is a dark read but it all fits so well to the story and the suspense is top notch.

Barbara is a great character. She is so normal - out of shape, open-minded, intelligent, and overweight (a nice break when every FMC is written as stunning). The other characters needed some more development but overall I really loved this book. IF YOU ENJOY SUSPENSE, THRILLERS, MYSTERIES - READ THIS (even if vampires aren’t your thing)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of this book.

This was a really great vampyr thriller. I loved the storyline although there were some things I didn’t care for. The ending felt a little rushed but was still very good.

Loved, loved, loved this book!! Who can resist a good mystery mixed with a side of vampires? Definitely not me!!
For me, the personalization of the vampires really added to the story. Seeing them through a different lens and understanding their persecution.
Definitely will purchase a copy to have as my own!

I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own!

A detective investigating a grisly murder in a remote Alaskan town finds herself in the midst of a war between a vampyr colony and a human town calling for a cull. When a teenage boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body the town of Deadhart finds the murder oddly similar to one from twenty-five years ago that found a vampyr responsible. Detective Atkins walks a fine line with needing find the suspect responsible while keeping both the colony and the town at bay. Secrets, superstitions, and ghastly crimes lurk in every chapter. CJ Tudor gets better with every book and this one blew me away. Each page drips with chilling suspense.
The Gathering ~ C.J. Tudor - release date April 9th
get your hands on this book, you won't want to put it down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a great murder mystery with major 30 Days of Night vibes!
I adored the main detective; a lesbian with a degree in vampyre anthropology! And I liked the fact the story read like an alternate history of the US with vampires just existing ...in their own Colonies alongside humans.

If you like murder mysteries, strong female detectives and scary vampires this book is for you. The only reason it wasn't a full five star read for me was because there were too many characters to keep track of and the end was a bit of a cliffhanger.

This was an interesting murder mystery with a paranormal flair.
*
Detective Barbara Atkins is called to investigate a murder in a small, isolated town in Alaska, and it looks like a vampire might have been responsible. If so, the townspeople have the right to cull the vampires. However, if the vampires fight back, it could turn into a "Gathering", or a war to wipe out either humans or vampires. 
*
This was good -- it was fast, some interesting twists, and not particularly gory for a horror.
*
My reasons for pause: I did think there were too many characters, it took a long time to keep them straight, and it had a few too many horror tropes that I don't love (storm comes in to trap them, bad guy doesn't stay dead)
*
But I still enjoyed reading it, and if you like vampires (the murder-y kind, not the sexy kind) then you'll probably enjoy this!

I was looking forward to reading this book. Mainly because I had read the previous one and really liked it.
I wasn’t a fan of this book. I thought it was just too long and moved too slow. It is an interesting take on vampires tho.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy.

Psychological thriller? Vampires? Small town with cultish vibes? Major cliff hanger? Lesbian detective?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

I loved this book. While not my first C.J. Tudor book, I do think this will become one of my favorites very quickly. I really hope there is a book 2. I loved the inner glimpse on how prejudices form and how easy it is to other. Now, granted, I get humans being afraid of vampires, but it also shows just how truly awful humanity can be. And I mean, aren't vampires just those with really long lives?

There are mentions of child SA, general SA, gore, homophobia, and child abuse so read at your own risk.

This house has always been a vampire house and I’m so happy it’s coming back. The Gathering by @cjtudorauthor was heart-stoppingly tense. The creation of this world was done with intricate detail and depth. I could easily see this become a series because I know I would love to read more about Barbara Atkins and Athelinda. Some of the themes are very prevalent to our world today and Tudor showed how ugly some humans can be. This was an escapist read but so much more than that. I will be thinking about this town for a while.

4.5 rounded down

Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of Tudor's newest. I am firm believer that Tudor gets better and better with each book. Each time, I read a book by her, I swear it is my favorite.

Set in Alaska, where it is common in the world for vampyr colonies live not far from human colonies. When a teen human is killed, people are livid and are demanding for a full colony cull. Barbara is a Detective and Vampyr Anthropologist.

Barbara is being pressured from the community to order the cull, but she refuses to not investigate fully. This leads us into a deep dive of a small community, which of course has its secrets. The plot was intriguing, though slow at times, but overall this is a solid novel. Tudor tells a story with enough pieces that need to be connected, but not so many you feel lost.

HIghly recommend.