The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez (1991)

4/5 stars

In a nutshell The Gilda Stories could be described as Beloved by Toni Morrison meets Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. But it's also so much more than that. It begins in 1850 and follows a girl escaping from slavery who is taken under the wing of a brothel owner. Adjusting to her new life and connecting with other people, she takes a step further and is introduced to the life of the vampire. The story then spans the next two hundred years and each chapter is devoted to a particular time and place that she finds herself in, the people who enter her life and those who leave it, and what gives her life meaning over time.

I really enjoyed Gomez's writing and I found this to be a captivating read. I loved the format and the vignette-style chapters that focus on each time and place, as well as the overall through-story.
The characters are varied and interesting. Most of all Gilda is a unique and fascinating character.

I would say this novel is a mix of horror, speculative fiction, historical fiction, dark fantasy, and it combines them excellently. It includes themes such as racism, feminism, chosen family, journeys (both literal and personal), activism and learning.

Being a vampire story, it's always interesting to see which parts of vampire lore are included or which new elements are added. I thought there was a great mix of both here. There is blood taking but also a psychological part too as the vampires see it as an exchange rather than only taking.

Part of the story takes place in what is now the present day and there are a couple of elements here that felt very prescient especially with regards to technology and the environment.

A wonderful and important read that I definitely recommend!