The Deathless Girls

By: Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Narrated by: Aysha Kala

Gothic, intoxicating, feminist, darkly provoking and deeply romantic - this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula, by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave in her much-anticipated YA debut.

They say the thirst of blood is like a madness - they must sate it. Even with their own kin.

On the eve of her divining, the day she'll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community.

Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn't understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts.

They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate...

(P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2019 Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Critic reviews

A sinister and chilling tale, but one that also touches on companionship and love

A different take on the vampire women

Thos is a story of the wen who end up being Dracula's wives but overall I was not impressed by the vampire part of the story which was severely lacking.

What would you do for your twin?

I like the concept, but I'm likely a bit too old for this book.

Following two seventeen year old girls through abduction, slavery and sexual violence is difficult when you're their age but gaining the perspective of an adult and being painfully aware, that they are children makes it personally much worse.

That is a ME problem, of course. You may find it poignant, especially as it's combined with the race aspekt, and lightly touches on the difficulties of the main character's orientation.

The best part of the story lasted two chapters

This book is 90% backstory and 10% becoming a vampire. The last chapter or two are the only parts about actually becoming a vampire and then centuries of being deathless are summed up in the last paragraphs, That was the book I wanted to read.

Loved performance. Story lacking.

Enjoyed performance. Found story lacking. Not much happened. Liked hearing about girls’ Gypsy lifestyle, etc.

I kinda need a hug after listening to this.

It was beautiful, well written, and all together heartbreaking. I might have been too gay and too hormonal to pick this up without a hug nearby.