First up is Anna Burke’s sapphic paranormal IN THE ROSES OF PIERIA (Bywater Books, ebook, $8.99), in which the historian Clara Eden leaves her dead-end college job for a post as an archivist, cataloging a private collection of artifacts for a mysterious woman named Agatha. The materials are wildly exciting, and her new boss’s assistant, Fiadh, is attractive. But then Clara’s curiosity leads her to uncover the house’s darker secrets. Such as: Agatha is an ancient blood-drinking vampire.

Clara’s blooming affection for Fiadh is the frosting on top of the sinister romance Clara translates from the library’s letters: a bitter, tempestuous passion between Agatha and her vampire beloved. Samara Breger’s “A Long Time Dead,” a favorite of mine from earlier this year, was told from the novice vampire’s perspective; “In the Roses of Pieria” is vampirism from the view of human prey, and it flirts engagingly with the elements of horror.

It’s also a particularly erudite romance, suggesting sly parallels between working for a supernatural predator and laboring in modern academia. Sure, Clara might be a source for a nutritious snack in Agatha’s eyes, but she’s already had to sell her plasma when her adjunct salary failed to cover rent and groceries. At least the vampire offers health insurance! Unfortunately, that plasma donation is only the first painful compromise Clara has to make in this series starter, and the book ends on an ominous (but delicious) note of suspense.

ACOTAR meets A Dowry of Blood

On the verge of burnout, adjunct professor Clara Eden gets a job offer she simply cannot refuse. Little does she know, it might bring her closer to her research than ever before.

In the roses of Pieria is an action-packed novel with dark academia vibes, complete with sapphic romance, that builds on real ancient history (Alexander the Great? very nice! It even goes as far as reaching to Anne Carson's translation of Sappho!) intertwined with the supernatural.

Although I do not think I was the intended public for this book, I really enjoyed the social commentary about academia and research and the several winks to translation work (which did seem at times a little too easy to be quite realistic - but I don't think this book aimed at realism so it's fine). The descriptions are beautiful and the epistolary parts are a great strength of this novel.

The romance DID take up much part of the narration and since I did not really latch on to it, it was kind of a hindrance to the plot for me.

From time to time, I like to get out of my comfort zone. Picking up this book clearly accomplished that.
This is a book written with a single pov. We follow Clara Eden, an academic that sees herself getting a job that is too good to be true. The first part of the book is Clara diving into the artefacts, translating correspondance between two people from the Nektopolian period. Burke really took me into a special atmosphere, between mystery and history, telling the story with a very human point of view.
Part two really marks a shift and the pace changes into a whirlwind readers are sucked into. I found myself sometimes scared and my heart clinging to every pages. A lot happens and I barely had the time to recover from one scene, another took my breath away.
Burke really emphasizes the antagonism of the world in which the MC is living with the world she is stepping into, the detail even in her last name.
Eventually this book pictured two relationships Gata and Natek, Fiadh and Clara. The second one seem liked a young seed, next to first that is a roses garden, beautiful and hurtful. The first one was complex and mysterious, I found it so interesting. Although Clara and Fiadh is not the main subject here, the development of their relationship had a taste of not not enough in my mouth, so I really look forward reading their next adventure.
It was my first book from Anna Burke and her writing is really immersive and beautifully smart. Maybe even a bit too smart for me because I often found myself re reading sentences, especially letters translations, which is logical for a non native English speaker like myself. I definitely need a re read to fully embrace all the subtility of the book.
And that last chapter....what to say except I NEED THAT SEQUEL.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was really a treat. I have loved gothic novels since a college capstone class and this checked all my boxes and more. The dark sapphic fantasy was really well written and honestly kept me reading the entire way through in one sitting. The pacing of the novel changes and it was unexpected but really refreshing. I think that is sometimes overlooked when authors constructive a narrative. I loved the incorporation of letters - it only added to the gothic theme and motive. Clara and Fiadh are great characters who are fleshed our so well. Overall I really enjoyed this and I know it will be on my reread list

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The atmosphere was very well crafted and the story had good gothic themed elements. The romance was entertaining and the characters were enjoyable. Overall, a nice read.

Anna Burke delivers another atmospheric narrative that is as complex as it is intense. I absolutely loved the first part of the novel where Clara is in her element as an academic and archiving historical documents. For me, the letters exchanged between Natek and Gata were a highlight, as they were filled with haunting sincerity and layers of emotion. While the world-building is largely successful, it can occasionally veer into the confusing with lots of different supernatural elements.

Although I enjoyed the romantic arc between Clara and Fiadh, it was somewhat less convincing than that of Natek and Gata, accelerating too quickly from tension to full-fledged involvement. Additionally, the latter part of the book seemed to lose narrative focus, and I found it really hard to follow at times. I had to keep re-reading paragraphs and sections so I could try to understand the plot. Although the language that Anna Burke is beautiful and immersive, I think it did lead to confusion for me at times.

However, where Burke excels unequivocally is in her characterisation. Fiadh, Clara, Natek and Gata are compelling and well-developed figures, leaving the reader eager for more. Despite minor setbacks, In The Roses of Pieria remains an engrossing read and I can't wait for the sequel.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bywater Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bywater Books for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This has got to be one of my favourite dark academia books I have ever read. In the Roses of Pieria is a sapphic dark academia novel for lovers of Carmella & A Dowry of Blood. It features a WLW romance that has been around for centuries, and a newly blooming one.

I loved the feature of the letters, where you learnt about the vampire’s romance along with the MC. This was very easy to read and get into, with the plot addictive that had a strong build up featuring a lot of suspense.

This is perfect for Spooky Season.

IN THE ROSES OF PIERIA is a book that took by surprise.
It’s very much a book of two parts.
The first half of the book has a slow-paced Gothic vibe, dark academia angle as Clara explores her new home, gets to know (or doesn’t, as is the case) her employer, and digs into a series of centuries old letters. Burke’s writing is beautiful, and the love of history really comes through in Clara, while giving all those plush and melodramatic Gothic sentiments.
My only critique is that are the halfway make I did get a little frustrated with the pacing. However! As if the author knew exactly the length of my attention span, the action absolutely ratcheted up to full speed in the second half, and I absolutely flew through those pages. There’s so much action, drama, and all the hints and nods from the build up comes into play.
I’d actually thought this was a standalone, and I do think you could read it that way, but the set-up for the sequel is well done, and expands the world and central character group enough to be really intriguing. I’ll be looking out for the sequel.
Perfect for fall, history lovers and all the eerie vibes.

Anna Burke never fails to deliver. Vampires aren't my thing but maybe they are my thing when Burke pens the tale. A must read for character and plot depth alignside some mindbending research.

My goodness what a treat this book was!! From the moment I heard about this book I was obsessed. Let me set the vibe: dark libraries, shelves and shelves of ancient manuscripts that you find yourself studying till late in the night, mysterious ailments, why are you always so tired? And why the bad dreams? Doesn’t matter because the assistant to your reclusive, enigmatic employer is flirting with you.
This book has it all: a lesbian mc, not one, but two sapphic romances, all wrapped up in a glorious package of dark academia, horror and a touch of fantasy. I am obsessed with the way that history and in particular Sappho played into the book. This is truly a book worth reading. When I say I love dark academia, this book is the perfect example of it. 5/5 stars

*Thank you to netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review*

I got about 30% into this arc and while it is really really good, the mood reader in me put it down and haven't picked it back up in a few weeks and my brain has now lost interest in finishing it *right now*. I want to eventually finish it, but god I hate my brain somedays. I was really enjoying what I was reading, but trying to finish a book when my brain says no always hinders my reading experience and makes me rate things way less than they deserve, so I don't force myself to finish them. I will eventually finish this though!

I am honestly still not sure exactly what happened in this book. It was so different than most of what I read which I liked but I found this hard to follow.
The first few chapters started slow then got really interesting. However the final third of the book left me wondering what the heck was going on.
I think for some who normally read fantasy this might make more sense.
I did overall enjoy this. I would recommend to those who enjoy dark fantasy and/or vampires.
* thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC

I was so looking forward to this book because I love Anna Burke but I found myself just not being able to get into it. I tried a few different times in different moods but alas it didn’t hold my interest. I will continue to read this author, but I may need to be more selective with my genres.

"In the Roses of Pieria" by Anna Burke promises readers a captivating and dark fantasy romance that delves into the realms of sensuous vampires, dark academia, and otherworldly horrors. This book's description hints at an atmospheric and suspenseful tale that combines elements of gothic romance and supernatural intrigue.

The story centers around Clara Eden, who embarks on a new job as an archivist for the enigmatic Agatha Montague. The discovery of a romantic correspondence from ancient times adds a layer of mystery and allure to the narrative. However, as Clara's feelings for Fiadh, Agatha's assistant, deepen, she begins to sense that something is amiss in this eerie estate.

Burke's ability to craft an engaging and immersive world is evident from the description. The promise of sensuous vampires, dark academia, and terrifying fungal fae adds layers of intrigue and mystique to the plot. Readers can expect a story that skillfully blends romance with supernatural elements, creating an atmosphere of both passion and foreboding.

The book's exploration of Clara's suspicions about Agatha Montague and the increasing sense of danger as the story progresses suggests a thrilling and suspenseful narrative. It appears that the author has expertly woven a web of secrets and mysteries that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

"In the Roses of Pieria" seems like a promising addition to the world of dark fantasy romance, offering readers a chance to immerse themselves in a story that combines love, danger, and the supernatural in a richly imagined setting.

As a former academic, some of the details seemed a bit off to me (but I wasn't in the MC's field, so who knows). The premise is super fun and wish-fulfillment-y, which is what drew me to it, but I didn't love the execution as much as I'd hoped.

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦: ꜱᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ. ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ. ᴠᴀᴍᴘɪʀᴇꜱ. ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ. ᴘᴀʀᴀɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ. ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ. ᴅᴀʀᴋ.

This book is probably good. I think it is wonderful. I just didn't understand the story. I think I am confused. Or I am not confused, I am just not sure how I feel.

The cover is outstanding. The transition between the cataloguing and the present story had me at crossroads. I simply didn't know how to follow both stories and at a certain point, I started wondering if even the catalogues were complimenting the present story at all. I sometimes have a hard time seeing the scenes in my head. But I do believe there is a deeper story in this story. Because they are paranormal creatures but my inability to visualise the scenes made it difficult to follow the story.

My favourite scene was that first thrall scene, the emotions in that scene were spectacular. I had this pink bubble that there was something special about Clara. Because humans in some amazing paranormal books are usually not just humans.. they usually got secret powers ready to be revealed.

When book 2 is released, I will read this book again, to see if I can understand it better. But for now, it is just another story I read and that's not a good feeling because I was expecting more than that.

𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bywater for this copy of the book.

I could not put this down. The story follows Archivist Clara Eden who gets the chance of a lifetime to get her hands on a large group of previously unknown materials relating to her specific field of study. There she finds a massive mansion, an eccentric boss, a stern assistant, and a treasure trove of history for her to go through. However she starts to realize there's more to this buisness arragement then an ancient enemy to lovers tale and her struggle with being unable to do anything with this information given to her.

This book had me guessing from the get go about what was going on. The first part of the story does start off slow as we follow Clara deciphering these letters and flirting with the mysterious Fiadh. But once the secrets start coming, they just keep coming. Clara is thrust into a world of secrets and vampires, revenge and love. Everything she thought she knew is questioned and she struggles to keep up.

I loved Burke's take on the fey, it's not one i've ever seen before, but works so well. Also seeing Clara and Fiadh's relationship develop was sweet and flirty and I found myself rooting for them with everything else going on.

The only thing I didn't like about this was it left me with so many questions that I hope we get more in this series. I want to know more about Gata and Natek and about Bran and Clara.

Cannot recommend this enough.

The words that form these beautiful sentences, the research, the spine tingling horrors and the loves that span hundreds of years. This is a masterpiece of a sapphic, dark academia, vampire tale. It is definitely not my go to genre but, oh my, this one has turned me into a raving fan.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Clara Eden is a struggling academic. She devoted her life to uncovering the ancient history of Nektopolis and its founder Nektarios. Or is it Nektaria? Much of the historical evidence of this old city state is gone. The artifacts and texts that survived the years are Clara’s main focus of research. When she gets an alluring job offer from a private estate, she leaves academia in the hopes to find some hidden gems from Nektopolian times. What she discovers is too wild to even comprehend and sets her up for great, unfathomable danger.

Fiadh is the manager of the estate and Clara feels a strong pull towards her. Fiadh is mysterious but is drawn to Clara all the same. Can their bond be as unbreakable in the face of death as the bond between the ancient women, Nektaria and her love interest Galatea?

I don’t even know where to begin with praise for this story. The writing is sublime. Each beautifully constructed sentence lures you to the next. The translations of ancient letters and texts give the story so much depth that it is impossible to read only once. As a reader you want this language to fuse into your bones, reading it again and again.

As I’ve said before, the vampire/horror trope is not my favorite. This one is definitely worth stepping out of my comfort zone for. Although there is some gore, the jawdropping descriptions make even that feel beautiful.

In The Roses Of Pieria is definitely at the top of my list of the best books I’ve read this year. It would be a shame to not submerge yourself in its beauty.

Dark academia, vampires, fae, and mushrooms! Clare, a historian, is given a unique opportunity to archive ancient history, but tell NO ONE about it. With a present-day romance blooming, you also get to read about the origins of another romance. I find it humorous in stories when characters experience situations that cannot be explained or defy our conventional understanding of humanity. The historical context took a little while for me to get into, but once more was revealed, I was hooked. The story ends with a cliffhanger, and I am excited to read the next. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and Bywater Books for the advanced copy of this book. Also, happy pub day!!

Where to even start? I went into this book without reading reviews or really understanding what it was about beyond vampires and books. BUT WOW, I absolutely loved this book. I felt at times that the main romance was a bit rushed... but then given the context of it all and the fact that Fi and Clara were the only people one another saw for weeks on end... it made sense. Trust me, I'm gay.

The premise of the book was really interesting and I found myself lost in the gorgeous writing between Clara and the letters she translates. I cannot express how much I loved this. I will absolutely be grabbing a physical copy of this book and encourage anyone reading this to give it a shot.