Wow. First of all, Jagger’s prose is so weird and I’m in love. The way she describes the environment with living, breathing, human qualities sets such an unsettling tone. Almost like the setting itself is watching the story unfold.

I adored Jagger’s commitment to ambiguity. Noelle’s bisexuality, Moses’ undeath, the liminal nature of the setting…I felt that all these things added so much depth to the deeper discussion about how our binary morals and standards contradict the nature of complex humanity.

I think really the only thing that kept me from fully giving this 5 stars, is the fact that the summary states that Noelle enters into a sexual relationship with a vampire. For me, this felt like a pretty major spoiler and I so wish I could have experienced the story unfolding without the knowledge that Noelle and Moses’ relationship turns sexual. Because that sex scene…it would have hit SO hard if I didn’t know for sure it was going to happen.

I enjoyed the experience of reading this novel, and getting inside the head of the main character, but sometimes I found the structure a little awkward. The switching between her past and present was repetitive at times and took away from the progressing current plot, but it does establish a certain rhythm that I got used to. The ending was abrupt considering the build-up, but it was satisfying in a certain way. If you have any interest in vampire stories, I would recommend this novel. If you like stories about characters losing their religion, I would also recommend this.

bizarre in the best way. I loved this real, foul, unromanticised exploration of self and sex. this felt like a journey of self discovery taken together, with all the ugly parts of us helping along the way. refreshing to see vampires in this light too - so many novels paint them in a sexy light and confronting this style of man and sex and crushes was so insightful.

I loved this book. I loved this book. I LOVEEE this book.
So beautifully written (I even read the acknowledgements for genuinely the first time ever.)

Noelle, Paloma, Lorne, Miss Fraser, Moses, Her, the three Fathers.
All wonderfully developed characters, each you believe they are one person then proved otherwise by great character building.

‘The mountains on the horizon look like the backs of wild boar’

5 stars and the best book I’ve read so far this year.

SPOILER/TOO MUCH INFO INCOMING —————
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I was sad for Noly and Moses, sad for her phone call with Lorne then following her ferry ride, sad she didn’t say bye to Miss Fraser.
Happy she chose to live.

Thank you to NetGalley and 404 Ink for the eARC. My first ARC, yay!

Fragile Animals follows Noelle (Noly) as she spirals out on a remote island, looking back on her life and the memories she's been avoiding. Leaving her home, cell phone, and most belongings behind to take this last minute escape, Noly finds herself staying at an inn with the jolly yet particular inn keeper and a vampire. Noly and the vampire get to know each other through swapping the stories of their past lovers, drinking at all times of the day, and gazing into nature to see themselves. This novel is an exploration of our actions as a ripple effect and how self destruction is rarely contained to the self.

This debut novel really blew me away. I didn't expect my first experience with an ARC to be such a great match for all my literary interests. Religious guilt, cold landscapes, spiraling women in denial, this really has it all. Written with poetic language and urgent tones, it's hard to resist slipping into the distress, yearning, and tenderness our main character experiences. At times, I found certain patterns in the language distracting (the word "cacophony" makes a lot of appearances) but it was never enough to make me want to put the book down. The timeline jumps around and while I like being pulled between present and past in stories, I know that isn't the case for every reader. Overall, an incredibly impressive debut. I'm really excited to see what Genevieve Jagger does next, I could easily see her becoming an author whose work I follow closely.

Fragile Animals by Genevieve Jagger is a spellbinding debut that explores love, trauma, and the intersection of religious upbringing with forbidden desires.

The story follows Noelle, a woman burdened by the shadows of her Catholic past, as she seeks solace and soul-searching on the remote Isle of Bute. There, she encounters a mysterious man who claims to be a vampire, and their connection ignites through shared confessions and the allure of the forbidden. As their relationship deepens, Noelle is confronted by the haunting memories of her upbringing. With each revelation, Noelle is forced to confront the fragility of her beliefs and desires, ultimately grappling with the true nature of love and redemption and the role she played in the events.

Fragile Animals is quite slow-paced and reflective and heavily explores Catholic guilt and trauma, which was incredibly relatable. Jagger's prose weaves a tapestry of beauty and darkness, drawing readers into a world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur so cohesively. The magical realism element with the vampire storyline gave me Mona Awad vibes, making this a fitting addition to the 'weird girl books' genre.

When I read the description, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was intrigued, and I think it delivers. I liked the writing style though it did feel a bit hard to follow at times, the characters were interesting, and it's quite introspective, particularly about religious trauma. I don't think I'm exactly the right audience for it because I don't feel that 4 or 5-star feel, but I'm happy I went a bit outside of my comfort zone for this.

This was quite a unique experience. When I read the description, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was intrigued, and I think it delivers. I liked the writing style though it did feel a bit hard to follow at times, the characters were interesting, and it's quite introspective, particularly about religious trauma. I don't think I'm exactly the right audience for it because I don't feel that 4 or 5-star feel, but I'm happy I went a bit outside of my comfort zone for this.

3.5
Fragile Animals was quite sad. Not a traditional vampire horror, but blurred between that and real life. This was by far one of the strangest books I’ve read in a long time


We are jumped around in Noelle’s timeline before and after her parents divorce which gives tremendous depth to her behavior: repressed Catholic guilt and uncertain sexuality plus an unloving mother. I too would be destructive and depressed. To be so on the verge of giving up that the companionship of a vampire nearly killing you is like a reset button.

I also felt that this needed major editing. Words and phrases were repeated that weren’t picked up by autocorrect or initial edits. I had to reread a paragraph several times to understand it because it just didn’t make sense.

God, this book was a windswept, succulent sucker punch to the jugular. Gothic, sensual, superbly sinister in parts. I found myself thrashing in my bed at particular lines of prose that totally swept me off my feet the way I used to with fanfiction as a tween.

Everything about this book hits. It explores religious trauma, repression, grief for those still living, in the most deft and gorgeous way. It swallows you up in a crest of hard truths and spits you out on a silky, poetic shore. It rocked my world for a week and will continue to rock it as I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Girlies with mommy issues who were down bad for Spike, love the idea of communion, and may or may not have a tattoo of saint sebastian— this book is for you.

I'd like to express my gratitude to both NetGalley and Genevieve Jagger for providing me with an ARC of "Fragile Animals," allowing me to share my honest thoughts on this read.

Noelle's journey, as she grapples with the traumas of her Catholic upbringing while navigating a complex relationship with a man who claims to be a vampire, is both haunting and thought-provoking.

While I found the middle section of the book to be a tad slow, the narrative swiftly regained its momentum towards the end, leaving me unable to tear myself away from the page. Jagger's skillful storytelling and masterful pacing ensured that every twist and turn held my attention, building anticipation for the climactic moments that awaited.

One aspect of "Fragile Animals" that particularly resonated with me was its ability to elicit unexpected emotions, including moments of laughter amidst the tension. These instances of dark humor added depth to the reading experience, serving as a testament to Jagger's ability to craft a narrative that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

In conclusion, "Fragile Animals" is a triumph of a novel, offering a compelling exploration of religion, sexuality, and the human psyche against a backdrop of supernatural intrigue. Despite its occasional lulls, the book ultimately delivers a satisfying and memorable reading experience that will linger in the mind long after the final page is turned. Genevieve Jagger has crafted a work that is sure to captivate readers and leave them eagerly awaiting her next literary endeavor.

I’m rating this 3.5 stars (4 star round up)

I really loved Jagger's writing style. I was immediately hooked in the beginning, then it got a bit slow, but she pulled it together for the third act, and I was roped right back in.

My favourite part of this book though, was the discussion of religion/religious trauma, and how it is interlinked. Jagger did a fantastic job connecting religion to Noelle's life, and how it has shaped relationships with herself, her family, Lomie, and the people around her. I also appreciate that the supernatual aspects came secondary, as the real meat of the book seemed to be what I previously mentioned.

Are you going to heaven or hell?
Is it fair that I knew this would be a five star, new favorite by the first chapter? Everything about this book was perfect and crafted in such a way that made me feel compelled to love it no matter what. I instantly clicked with Noelle and the writing. This was just a winner.
We follow Noelle as she travels to the Isle of Bute. There, she stays with an eclectic woman who owns a bed and breakfast. The only other occupant in the house is Moses - a self proclaimed vampire.
Noelle is trying to write her second book of poetry, but soon finds that coming to terms with her past trauma and self are more important. She was raised catholic and has extreme religious guilt. (Same.) So many awful things happened to her and she has not really mourned or faced them. She is self destructive, witty, deprecating and just…. sad. I loved her so much.
We follow Noelle as she befriends this strange vampire man, and get first seat tickets to her childhood and why she is the way she is. Shitty mother, reclusive father trying to do his best, an overlooked daughter who dwells under tables and sees more than what they think.
Noelle’s relationships - both platonic and sexual -, angelic splayed doves, the darkness of a confessional.
I can’t even begin to put into words how this book made me feel and what it has stirred inside of me. I can’t wait to have the final published pages in my hands. Absolutely astounding.
Noelle, I won’t be calling my mom either.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher 404ink for this arc copy.

I had to sit with this for a bit. This spoke to me in so many ways. You know, when a book leaves you staring at a wall after finishing the last page, that it is something that will stick with you for life. This is one of those times, and this is one of those books. In starting Fragile Animals, I really enjoyed the writing of this quirky main character and the setting, but by reading the last page, I didn't realize how cathartic it was.

I went into this book knowing that it was about a girl dealing with leaving catholicism behind and a potential relationship with a vampire. For me, I was intrigued instantly and with my own relationship with catholicism being strained after a childhood in a Catholic private school. I couldn't help myself. My life wasn't like this, but it still helped me heal a bit. And to me, that is what makes an amazing book, and I will probably think about this for years to come. 

In this story, we are jumping back in fourth from the present and past as our MC Noelle grapples with traumatic childhood experiences and the fallout of internalizing it. Noelle finds herself in a small seaside town in Scotland as she essentially forces herself to shake up her current routine. She has isolated and alienated herself from others and has reached a breaking point. On this journey, she stays at a bread and breakfast where we are introduced to some interesting characters.

Through this experience, Noelle embraces her demons as she comes to grips with her own identity and tries to forgive herself and others from past decisions. Lastly, yes, there is a "vampire" named Moses, who is a taxidermist, but was he really or was he just what she needed to face herself in the mirror.

This story is full of beautiful imagery and lyrical writing. There are also quite a few dark scenes. These scenes were uncomfortable but, in my opinion, necessary to push Noelle forward in healing and self-discovery.

I think this author is amazingly talented and I am blown away by this debut novel. I will definitely pick up more.

Unfortunately, this one was just not for me. It's doing a lot of interesting things by weaving together themes of confession, queerness, and vampirism; the particular form the vampirism took is an interesting subversion; Noelle's work as a hotel cleaner offers a lot of avenues for exploration of the novel's motifs. For me, it felt like a draft packed with cool ideas that has not yet found its final form. It's partially an issue of structure - too loose, not propulsive enough - and partially my own stylistic preferences. I found this one overwritten, although the density of impressive, evocative imagery does make me think that restraint and editing could go a long way. For me, the tension at the heart of the novel was not big enough to make an impact, or maybe it's the way it's paced and revealed. I also think that the publisher-provided summary gives far too much away, which further decreases the tension. This is a slow novel that relies heavily on atmosphere; revealing practically everything interesting, including things we don't learn about until the last third, extinguishes the excitement of discovery.

I almost didn’t pick this up and I’m so glad I changed my mind and gave this a chance. I loved this. This is not your typical vampire book. This is a stunning exploration of identity, sexuality, religion, and trauma. The prose is absolutely gorgeous, the characters are compelling, and the atmosphere makes you feel truly enveloped in the setting.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Struggled to switch between the flashbacks and story here, but nonetheless the Catholic guilt was handled really well and I really enjoyed how it was constructed

I’m starting this review about 1/4 of the way into the book mostly because I don’t think I’ll remember so many of the important, yet obscure details given by our narrator. I’m starting to think maybe I’m not smart enough for this story and yet, I can’t put it down.
The prose in this book are beyond belief, truly. Our main character begins her story as though you were a friend, nitty gritty details and internal monologue that sometimes you wish she wouldn’t share. The over sharer herself quickly becomes endearing and realistic in a way that most characters are not. She is, to be frank, a disgusting creature like so many of us are; and not afraid to tell us as much. Perhaps it’s just me, but in that way I related to her.

When I finished-
These characters are real and raw. They show a journey that many of us went through in self discovery. It’s a creative concept to show people their own religious and sexual guilt, in a scope of having you read someone else’s. I felt this book, I believe I will feel it for a long time to come.

I found this a peculiar and interesting read. The beginning quarter lagged a little, and it took me some time to be completely engaged with it. But after that I was compelled. I am perhaps biased as a lover of vampire fiction --- but the theme was done unconventionally and surprised me. The relationships with the protagonist's parents and God felt vital and real, the ending and the romance (if one can call it that) side stepped all cliché. An odd but technically very adept book.

Peak Catholic guilt with a dash of SEVERE mommy issues, painfully accurate queer repression, destructive self-hatred, and confusing vampire sex. I love anything with complex relationships (honest in both intimacy and toxicity), and major bonus points for codependent homoerotic “best friendship” as a cover for being literally in love.