Borrowed Flesh

I bought this and then read the online reviews, which weren't very kind...and I almost didn't read it. Then I grabbed it to read on a train from Dover to New York and found that it was a satisfying, straightforward horror with very nice language and believable charactes. I'll read more of her stuff, 'cause I see some real talent here.

The recipe for retaining a youthful appearance includes a steaming bath of virgin blood, bone, hair, and flesh with a dash of herbs, spices, and an animal sacrifice. The cost is nominal, your soul. The premise of Borrowed Flesh is interesting and the plot is intricate. However, Giron fails to follow the various plots to a satisfying conclusion. Her prose is rich and multi-layered, but her characters' motivations are weak and sketchy, leaving too many questions unanswered. The climactic scene is rushed and leaves the reader unsatisfied. The idea that there is insufficient energy in the universe to support more than one immortal is ludicrous. Borrowed Flesh takes an interesting and promising premise and turns it into a hurried mélange of impressions more like a fever dream, than a full-bodied horror classic. The bones are intact, but Giron needs to borrow more than flesh to make this story immortal.

I dont know why this is getting unfavorable reviews from people I thought it was a great read and was able to finish it in a couple days. I liked the fact that neither of the main characters was good in the beginning but things sort of turned around in the end which was kind of a bad thing for the heroine of the book although she was able to take it all in stride. I liked it and would recommend it.