This is the beginning of a slow burn enemies to lovers romance and this first book really doesn't have much romance in it, so be aware of that going in. There's nothing more classic than vampire versus vampire hunter. This book was a bit predictable, the people you dislike from page one are the bad guys. I was so excited for this sapphic Black vampire, knife to the throat, only I get to kill you romance. This is historical paranormal, I would not call it fantasy, and I would definitely not call it romantasy. The writing ultimately just did not pull me in any step of the way.

ultimately this came down to lack of personal interest for me. it thinks its a really great book, just not for me. i think I came into it expecting something different. the vampire aspect of the novel didnt really have the effect on me that I was looking for which again is another personal preference. the pacing for me was a bit slow and it didnt really pick up until around 50%.

3.5 rounded up. Very promising debut but had some pacing issues in the first third. Once the setup was done and the plot picked up it was a fun read. The writing was repetitive at times with describing emotions and there was more telling than showing for emotional backstories which prevented readers from fully immersing in the story. Loved the last 10% and am excited to read book two.

This Ravenous Fate is an urban fantasy novel with a bit of mystery. Set in 1920's Harlem you follow two childhood friends with some bad blood that have to work together to solve a murder and clear the name of the Harlem Reapers as a group.

I was so excited to read this book and rightfully so. I loved the world building and most of the characters, the few characters I didn't like were ones that you weren't supposed to. I really enjoyed Dennings' writing throughout this book especially her descriptions, they were so detailed and the word choice was amazing. I loved the mystery aspect although I was able to quickly pick up on some of the details. I have never read a vampire book so that might have been something in my favor as I haven't read nearly enough of the genre to compare it to anything else or be tired of the portrayal of vampires. I absolutely adored the platonic relationships in this book I thought that was a nice touch as a lot of books focus heavily on the romance and tend to forget about platonic ships (and while I know some people prefer that I personally prefer there to be a nice combination). I loved all of the drama and side-plots that ended up all tying together. I did do a tandem read of this physically while I listened to the audiobook and I have to say I didn't necessarily love the audiobook, although I think it was just the narrator that I wasn't entirely fond of as her voice didn't seem to fit with what was going on in the story. I can't wait to read the next book.

I would recommend this to anyone looking to get into urban fantasy or anything paranormal especially if they are already a fan of mysteries because while this has paranormal/fantastical elements they aren't so dense that a beginner wouldn't know what was going on or where to begin.

Trigger Warnings - Blood, Death, Gore, Racism, Emotional Abuse, Torture, Medical Trauma

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an advanced copy of this book as well as RB Media for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lesbian vampires!! I'm obsessed. Only a Monster x Ace of Shades.

What I liked:
- Layla and Elise have an absolutely electric relationship. Their past friendship and the night it fell apart drives every choice that either one of them makes, but in a way where they both feel three dimensional.
- The dynamics are less of enemies to lovers than exes to grumpy allies to wait a sec we're still in love
- Layla in general. She's Fanon Kaz Brekker, in that she's ruthless but still is kind and loving at heart.
- Generational racial trauma represented through vampires is kind of a stroke of genius.
- Harlem renaissance setting is iconic

What I didn't like:
- There was a lot happening all of the time...the plot is intricate, but not enough time was spent on the machinations of various people for me to get everything.
- More Jamie pls. Given the focus on the impact of violence and discrimination against Black people, I think it would be interesting to compare and contrast that with Jamie, who is white but has an Irish name. It would've been cool to dive into discrimination against the Irish.
- The good and evil people, for the most part, were obvious, and the characters trying to understand their motives to be frustrating.
- There are about a million stupid things that were unbelievable, especially revolving the whole Saint family business. They didn't affect my reading experience, but were a bit baffling looking back.

This book has several layers. On one level, it’s a YA historical fantasy mystery with a side of sapphic romance set in prohibition era New York with manmade vampires. On another level, it’s a commentary on race relations, personal identity, and an exploration of what it means to be loyal to family (biological or found). It gave me a lot to think about.

This is a book that I had high expectations for that fell a bit flat by the end. I was very intrigued by the concept and plot (1920's Black, sapphic vampires!!) and in general this book was pretty exciting and entertaining. I love a good murder mystery and friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance, but while on the surface, there was A LOT to love about this one, once I got a bit deeper, I lost interest. Too much of this book felt like it was still in the early stages, versus a finished published book. Repetitive conversations, plot points that got a little lost, scenes that popped up without a ton of flow. Unfortunately, all of these small things really added up and took a toll on my enjoyment of this book.

his Ravenous Fate is a sapphic fantasy set in Jazz Age Harlem. The regal world-building is intertwined with the threat of vampires and a mysterious affliction that haunts them. Elise and Layla have a very complicated relationship that is slowly revealed. The chemistry between them is intense, especially as the truth of their connection is rekindled. The pacing felt a little off at times, with some reveals being glossed over too quickly or at times lacking momentum. Still, this was an intriguing debut and I’m excited to see what happens in the sequel!

Vampires, gangsters, prohibition era speakeasies, and murders all come together in this book to make a fascinating mystery. Working together to solve a crime, Elise and Layla end up finding out a lot more about the going’s on in their neighborhood of Harlem. The childhood trauma both experienced, and the different lives these former best friends lead, make for a compelling story on their own, add in the murder mystery, and the criminal underbelly of the 20s, and you’ve got a great story.

This was on my radar as soon as I heard it was Black sapphic vampires. I didn’t need anymore info than that. It sounded like everything I wanted in a vampire book. (Some of you may know I’m not usually a fan of them lol) And although this one wasn’t perfect, I did enjoy reading it.

Ok so what I didn’t care for was the world-building. For this to be promoted as a 1920’s book, it just didn’t FEEL like one. I know there was some piano playing and some talk of the club, but besides that I just didn’t feel like it was set during the Harlem Renaissance. And as someone whose blog was partly made because of her love for settings, i just wanted more.

The main characters were cool tho. To me they never felt like REAL enemies. I did think that Layla was the better character tho. Because she was more believable. She wasn’t taking no shit from Elise and wasn’t letting her forget what she did. It took her a lot to trust Elise and I don’t blame her at all. I would have been the same way. Elise on the other hand was the sheltered person I thought she was. I was surprised by her actions in the very end tho. I was not expecting her to choose that.

The vampire thing was cool, but I also thought it could be more here too. We see a lot from Layla’s POV, but I think I wanted more from Elise’s. She wasn’t nearly as scared of them as she should have been. AND THEN, it was like they didn’t even really show up while they were trying to find out what was going on. It felt too convenient. I guess i wanted more of the scary ones and more times when Elise had to show that she wouldn’t hesitate and that she would shoot/fight them if need be. I didn’t understand how this was a vampire book but they were barely around to create that fear. I guess this goes with the world-building too. The prologue had me all set up ready for some weird ass vampires that were powerful, but we only saw one powerful vampire and she doesn’t even really fight them until the ending. I think I wanted the same energy from the prologue.

This wasn’t bad, but I think it could have been better if there was some more editing and tighter amount pf pages. I don’t think it should have been this long. On the plus side I was very entertained so I won’t say that aspect was too upsetting. I will still be on pins and needles for when the next one comes out.

I had a fun time reading this book. I was immediately engaged since the 1st chapter. The characters were amazing. My only issue is the chemistry between Layla and Elise was lacking. The reason why this book caught my attention was that it's set in the 1920s (the Harlem Renaissance) about a black vampire and a vampire hunter and it's enemies to lovers which I would have love to see more of. I'm looking forward to the sequel. Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book

"You're my best everything."

Elise Saint, daughter of the esteemed Saint family in New York and piano prodigy, returns home for the anniversary of her family's business. The business being reaper hunting, and her past is full of reapers. Layla used to be her best friend, until one night she's turned and almost kills Elise because of it. There has been virtually no contact between the two in five years until one of Elise's closest friends is murdered and Layla is a suspect. They must work together to unravel the mystery of what happened, who is to blame, and how they can work together without being at each other's throats (figuratively and literally).

Sapphic vampire enemies to lovers in the 20s?? LITERALLY perfect. Though the build-up was a little slow for me and some parts were dragged out longer than I would've liked, I loved this. Elise realizing how Harlem and the reapers actually work, and what her family actually does in the city, one of my favorite tropes. And the tension! WOW I was loving it, and honestly I'm in full support of Layla. She deserves the world and nothing less👏
Sterling babe, I wanted to give you a hug one half of the book, and punch you the other half...
Overall, excellent read and I enjoyed it, and is honestly such a good fall read🤭

3.8 stars

Blood, vampires, dancers, jazz clubs, danger, vampire hunters. This Ravenous fate is a black vampire x vampire hunter story set in the Harlem Renaissance. If you love female rage and forbidden romance you will want to sink your teeth into this one.

Elise is back home from Paris while she is excited to see her family she isn’t at the same time. She is the heiress to her family vampire killing business. Also the vampires in Harlem want her dead especially Layla her old friend. She quickly finds herself working with her old friend who is a vampire and her enemy. There are mysterious killings happening around the city and investigating if the cure for vampires are true.

This story is fast paced and does at times keeps you at the edge of your seat. Some of the chapters did drag a little bit i felt like something was missing. I think the audiobook would have been better if it was dual pov. And I felt like the ending had an abrupt end. I do wish we got more of an enemies vibes between Elise and Layla. I absolutely love Layla she carried the book for me! Layla stood on business and she deserves all the happiness in the world

Elise and Layla were best of friends growing up. Their parents worked closely together to help resolve the Harlem's reaper (vampire) problem. Eventually there became a riff in their parent's ideologies. Layla and her parents are attacked by reapers, resulting in her parent's deaths and Layla's reaperhood. Elise is shipped overseas for her safety and Layla is welcomed into a reaper clan now that she is alone with no family or friends. Years later, Elise and Layla are reunited when Elise returns from Paris. This is where the book begins.

When I first started reading this book I thought I would dislike Layla and be on Elise's side. But the more I got into the book, the more I couldn't stand Elise and had empathy for Layla. Every time Elise would do something smart/helpful, by the next scene she was spewing her elitist attitude on everyone. She had no self-awareness. It was hard to feel sorry for her when her dad was cruel. Don't get me wrong, he was the worst.

I enjoyed the premise because I'm a sucker for vampires but there was a lot lacking in this book. There were many repetitive sequences. Hopefully that was removed before the book was published. Also the two main characters were supposed to be soooo in love with each other but had no chemistry at all. Maybe it was clunky writing? But they seemed better suited and/or had more sexual tension with side characters. The "big mystery" in the book, I solved it as soon as the first murder occurred. It wasn't even a mystery.

Looks like this book in going to be a series. I am interesting in seeing how their lives progress. I want to know more about Jamie and hope that Elise personality becomes less annoying since so much happened to her during the first book that she SHOULD learn from.

Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC Copy! 4.5 Stars

The second I saw the cover of this book I was drawn to it, then I read the synopsis and I knew that I was going to love it. I was not disappointed in the least.

Sapphic romance with vampires, but not in the traditionally sense, gangsters, powerful families, politics, mad scientist, and the realities of racism all set in 1920's Harlem during the prohibition period. I never knew what was going to happen next and I loved every minute of it.

As wild as the story got at times, I felt fully immersed in the world the entire time. The author did such a good job with the world and characters, I will forever read anything and everything that they write.

Sapphic goodness with vampires? What more could you want! Anyone who loved Twilight or The Vampire Diaries is going to adore this. I love the representation in this novel, from the queer characters to those of colour. It's not something we see a lot of in vampire stories and Hayley did it brilliantly. It's a hauntingly beautiful novel and I cannot wait to see what else Hayley releases.

this book was one of my most anctipated and it didn't disappointed this book, was amazing and I love it so much. the way I am so obsessed with both main. characters should be studied I love love love Hayley and she deserves everything. and this book was just mind blowing and hot, and I need more books by her because I love the way she writes.

This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings is the first book in a captivating fantasy duology set in Jazz Age Harlem. At night, the dance halls come to life, and death waits in the dark. It's 1926, and the number of reapers, the once-human vampires with a terrifying affliction, is rising in New York. The story is centered around our two main characters, who are the most unlikely pair, set to solve a murder that quickly devolves into a much larger and messier mystery. Layla Quinn is now a reaper after a devasting attack on her and her parents, who were killed. Elise Saint is the daughter of the most famous main in Harlam and is at the center of the reaper-hunting enterprise.

This book was a fun and exciting read with reapers (Vampires), humans, gangs, and vampire hunters; it immediately sucked me in. I loved the chemistry and tension between Layla and Elise that persists throughout the entire book, and I enjoyed how their relationship developed. My fingers are crossed that nothing else bad happens between them! However, I did want more world-building in different places in this novel. I loved that Hayley Dennings created this fantasy novel with so many underlying themes woven through it. It talks about systematic racism, classism, segregation, and the struggles that occur to the black main characters. In addition, this is a lesbian novel where the two main characters, Layla and Elsie, are childhood best friends, enemies, and lovers, and this is artfully done. I am now anticipating the second novel in this duology to see how Hayley Dennings handles all the loose ends.

The debut books just get better and better every year!

And this year we have BLACK LESBIAN VAMPIRES & VAMPIRE HUNTERS!!

My eyes were peeled back taking in this story! Where do I even begin?? The way that this Vampiric/Human world was created and easily intertwined itself with black Harlem renaissance history was ✨immaculate✨

Reading Elise and Layla running around Harlem investigating these killings, while trying to tolerate each other, was very entertaining to read!

I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!!

Thank you Sourcefire Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ✨

In 1926 New York, reapers—vampires —are on the rise. The powerful Saint family controls the city through their reaper-hunting business. Eighteen-year-old Elise Saint, recently back from Paris, is the reluctant heir and more worried about the Harlem reapers who want her dead.

Layla Quinn, a reaper who lost her humanity and parents five years ago, blames Elise for her fate. When Layla is framed for a brutal murder, she's forced to team up with Elise to uncover the truth behind the killings and rumours of a reaper cure.

Once close friends, now enemies, they must navigate their complicated past while facing a growing threat to both reapers and humans.

Sapphic, vampires, mystery, gangsters, 1920s Harlem - as the kids say, the vibes were immaculate.

Mixed feelings on the best friends to enemies to lovers. My expectations were maybe a little different than what was in the book? It didn't quite hit the way I wanted it to and I think this maybe just because of the expectations of these tropes in general. I will say that I do love both the characters and seeing them forced to work together was great. The history between them initially really worked for the tropes but as we learned more about them it kind of lost the edge for me (not a lot I can expand on here without spoilers).

The family dynamics explored in this book were really interesting. Elise and her family's expectations/legacy, Layla and her found family/loss of family. I'm interested to see how these develop in the next book!

I flew through this, it was an easy read. But the pacing did occasionally feel a bit odd and I felt like there were gaps in the plot a bit? Not like a full blown plot hole but I'd feel like I missed something in a scene and had to go back (only to find I hadn't missed anything).

The plot itself was really interesting and I think it set itself up really well for the second book. The mystery did get a little muddled (see earlier comments about feeling like I missed something) but I'm hoping this will improve in book 2.

I'm so pleased for Hayley - having followed her on BookTube for a long time I'm so pleased to see her dream come to life and I'm so so excited to see where she takes us next.

Thank you again Sourcefire Books and NetGalley.