You know what's the worst? Being super sick. And in the world of The Reformed Vampire Support Group, vampirism is an infection, an illness that weakens you and makes your eternal life miserable. Vomiting blood? Check. Hemorrhages from light exposure? Check. Cramps and body aches and general discomfort? Yep.
Of course, this is an equal-opportunity world, where there's plenty of suffering to go around. Reuben's life as a werewolf, for instance, is also pretty crummy, but for different reasons. And it's not easy on Nina's mom or Father Ramon to be the humans who help take care of angst-ridden vamps. Everywhere you look in this book, someone's hurting.
Questions About Suffering
- What is the worst thing a vampire goes through in the book, in your opinion? Use the text to support your answer.
- If you became a vampire, which symptom would bother you the most? Give evidence that this symptom is the worst.
- How does Nina cope with suffering? What about the other vamps? Who handles it best, and why?
- Do you think Horace's punishment for biting Dermid fits the crime? Why or why not?
Chew on This
The cool powers that vampires get don't make up for all the suffering they have to go through.
Being sympathetic to others' suffering is what helps Nina rise above her own.