Queer, Black, and Vampires!? Sign me up! Loved this book amd I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

One of the most fun parts of reading historical fiction is the broad swath of time periods and places one has to pick from! There’s almost always something new, with different places and times presenting a plethora of unique story opportunities. So now you have a book that not only explores 1920s New York City but pairs it with a lesbian vampire romance? Sounds super weird and super interesting!

While this wasn’t a perfect read for me, it still was a pretty good one! First of all, the setting didn’t let me down. I loved exploring this time period and its version of New York City, with its dark alleys contrasted with its vibrant night life. The author definitely succeeded in creating a sense of space with its specific vibe and culture. While I think a bit more could have been done with the world-building on the fantastical side, the author seems to effortlessly capture the essence of a large city.

Part of this comes down to her lyrical style of writing. I loved the turns of phrase and varied word choice the author used in crafting this book. If nothing else, this is a beautiful book to read on its own merits as a written product. I often find that a more lyrical approach to writing often results in a bit of a slower paced story, and so we have here. But like my experience with most books written in this style, I was happy to settle in and enjoy the ride, even if it wasn’t the most action packed at times.

I also enjoyed the characters, for the most part. However, Layla was doing much of the work here. I found her to be an interesting character, a young woman who had gone through much in her short life and was rising to meet the challenges placed before her. Elise was the more complicated one. Part of this is built into her character: she’s lived a very priveleged life and is in the midst of still trying to earn the love of an abusive parental figure. Both of these elements, while interesting, did leave her in the unfortunate position of being a very frustrating character to follow. It would be frustrating how little she recognized her own privilege at one point, and then infuriating not to see her stand up to the abuse in her life, even when she’s beginning to fully understand it. That said, these are complicated issues to write about, and there’s really no believable way to do it that wouldn’t run into the growing pain frustrations we dealt with here.

The romance between these two was also only ok. Unfortunately, I feel like the style of writing struggled most with clunky dialogue, and this impacted my ability to really invest in the love story between these two. On paper, this love story should have been right up my alley, but for some reason, it failed to really land for me.

Overall, this was a pretty fun read. I think it almost succeeds more as a historical book than a fantasy, as I feel like the style of writing was at its peak when it was describing the city of New York in this time period. The lore of the reapers, while interesting, didn’t feel quite fully fleshed out. I also thought some of the mystery aspects were quite predictable, with the villainous characters presenting very obviously as such. If you enjoyed historical fiction and aren’t burnt out on the resurgence of vampire fantasy, than this one might be worth checking out!

Rating 8: The lyrical style of writing is at its best when creating this fascinating version of the underworld of New York City in the 1920s!

(Review will go live on The Library Ladies blog on August 2)

I really enjoyed this book. It had everything I adore in a supernatural mystery. And who doesn't love a sapphic friends to enemies to lovers vampire romance to boot? This book really had everything I enjoy about queer storytelling. I am looking forward to seeing more from Hayley Dennings.

Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately a DNF at 33% 😔

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I started reading it the day I got the arc and from the beginning, I really struggled to get into it. This book has everything I would normally love, lesbian vampires set in 1920s New York??? With a murder mystery??? Hello??? That sounds amazing, but I was just so bored. I really tried, but I kept picking it up and putting it down. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad book and if it intrigues you I still recommend giving it a try. This is a book that I may come back to at a later date and try again because I really did want to love it, but when you’re 30% through a book and starting to skim it’s time to pack it up 😖

stuff i love:
— vampires
— lesbians
— new york
— great writing

stuff this book has:
— guess

thank you so much to netgalley for the early access <3

Thank you netgalley for an electronic copy in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars. I was very excited for this book and had such high hopes for it. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. It makes me upset to leave this review honestly because I think the author is great and the idea has potential, but it just didn’t meet expectations. Maybe to an extent this disappointment is because I went into the book with such expectations, but nonetheless, I think there was missed potential.

First of all, this book is heavily marketed as a romance/romantasy by the author. It definitely has the romance aspect, but it feels more like the romance is a subplot which honestly works in my favor because this is how I prefer books, but I do feel a little mislead. Unfortunately, I think the romance was also the most lacking part of the story. I wanted to be obsessed with Layla and Elise so bad because the setup and tropes for them are perfect, but the delivery fell short. The development didn’t feel natural enough and ended up feeling sudden. The chemistry just didn’t hit the way I wanted. It was also a little predictable at times, which is fine to me, but once again, when you could predict what’s coming I need the delivery to hit stronger.

Aside from the romance, I did enjoy the main plot regarding the reapers. I like how it explored politics and juxtaposed the problems with reapers with the issues of racism and politics while feeling like a good old YA mystery. Even though it’s a historical book, it remains relevant to the present. Also as mentioned, this was the main premise of the book over the romance, so at least this was the majority of it. However, although I enjoyed it overall, I will also say the pacing feels awkward at times and it got boring at other times. The same goes for the romance aspect. Additionally, the dialogue also felt very awkward at times. I tried to be forgiving at points because I figured some of the awkward dialogue was to fit the historical aspect of the book, but it still feels more theatrical at times. I would say this is most prevalent when Tobias Saint spoke, particularly to Elise. I know this was likely meant to be stylistic and to show his personality and status, but I think it missed the mark.

Overall, I do still intend to read the second book, if only to see what happens to the main plot regarding the reapers. I don’t regret reading this book, I just was left feeling unsatisfied with the delivery. Nonetheless, thank you to the author for giving us black sapphic vampires.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

This Ravenous Fate is an addictive, romantic, and beautifully dark YA historical fantasy with fantastic characters and a delightful plot.

I had a wonderful time with this one. The romance was *chef’s kiss. I loved the diverse characters and stunning writing. The settings, plot, and character development made for such a fun read, though a few parts felt familiar and predictable. The incorporation of vampires in Jazz Age Harlem was so fun. I cannot wait to read the sequel!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!

Best friends become enemies after a tragic incident. Can they leave the past behind to work together? This isn't your traditional vampire story. Overall I enjoyed this story. There were points that I did get frustrated with the relationship between Elise and Layala. You just want them to figure it out. Also there were some points in the book where the story slowed. This is book one in a series. I will be interested to see how the story progresses.

I wanted to enjoy this one. Really, I did. But…I was bored. Maybe it was my mood, maybe it was because I subconsciously found it predictable, but I just couldn’t get into it. It wasn’t connecting for me AT ALL.

It’s not a bad book. It’s well written, and the plot is fascinating, I just didn’t love it, despite the fact that 1920’s and Vampires are two of my favorite things.

If sapphic vampires in 1926 New York sounds like your vibe, I’d definitely recommend giving This Ravenous Fate a try! And hope you enjoy it more than I did. 😅

(I might try to read it again someday, because like I said, it might just have been my mood, idk)

I received an advance copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own, and a review was not required.

The tension. The setting. The characters....so so good. It's also very visually driven and I read this book like a movie, it was very cinematic.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the epitome of what I love about the current vampire renaissance! Fierce, bloodthirsty, strong, black vampires in 1920s Harlem...ya'll are gonna eat this book up!

I have been hyped for this book since Hayley went on sub so you can imagine how devastated I am with the fact that I DNFed this book.

I'm sad to say that I was overwhelming bored from the very first chapter (not the prologue, the prologue hooked me then the first chapter released me back to the ocean). Also, this book was pitched to me as a Sapphic Vampire×Vampire Hunter and I don't know how many times I have to say this but I hate when pitches/synopsis LIE to me. Elise is not a Vampire Hunter. She is the heir to a Vampire Hunting company but she has never hunted a day in her life. Also Friends to Enemies to Lovers? I had no reason to believe that Elise and Layla should fall in love. They lacked chemistry and most of their arguements felt like they happened for no reason but to show they hate each other and then BOOM they're fighting some sexual tension before starting another argument? Yeah I didn't believe it for one second.

Also the mystery-solving was another let down. Elise and Laura's mystery solving strategy was so boring and it got absolutely no where so I felt no reason to continue reading this book.

The only thing I could say I think was done properly was the privilege Vs race conversations that happened in this book and even then, that felt a bit lecture like at times.

I really wish I enjoyed this book.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3.5? | 😘=3 | 🤬=3.5 | ⚔️=4.5 | 14/15+

summary: 1920s Harlem ex-besties vampire girl and rich human girl have to work together to solve a mystery with some other vampires and evil gangs or something

thoughts: this is okay? I got a little lost, and there were a couple of moments i distinctly did Not Like (like the vampire MC having sex w someone who wasn’t the human MC love interest over halfway through the book??). idk. it’s fine! I love fantasy set in the 1920s or 1920s-inspired world, and I think this incorporated that culture into its story pretty well.

This is a wonderful YA queer horror fantasy that starts with a drippingly lush prologue and continues with intense world-building and some great characters. I can't wait for book 2.

I wanted to love this so much. It has so much promise and so much that I know I love: sapphic, vampires, 1920s era, all of it. That being said, it's clunky and yet I can't find a foothold in the plot or really much that's there in the first 25% to hook me. At this point, I don't really know what's going on and I'm not connecting with the characters. I'm going to try to start reading the novel again, but for right now I'm so bored I'm setting it down.

This wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t for me. I liked the concepts and the characters but the plot was so slow and I found the writing to me a little young for me. However I think a slightly younger age demographic will like this! And, as this is the author’s debut novel, I’m interested to check out what else she ends up writing!

Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the ARC in turn for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book. The vampires, LGBTQ+, the social commentary...what a great concept! Buttttt I made it 60% of the way in before giving up. Layla: great character. Elise: great character. Writing: pretty juvenile. Plot: dragged. I felt like the book tried to tackle too much at once, and was left lacking. Either way, I know someone will click with this book, and it just wasn't me....and after a month sitting on my "Currently Reading" list I had to finally call it quits.

i was procrastinating this review of what was supposed to be one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

the author was really good at marketing without the prose to support it. The twist of the story was given away months ago and i went into the story, thinking that was something we were supposed to know. Ultimately, it lacks the atmospheric vision the author had for it. The prose and writing were not delivering the story I was expecting. the dialogue felt too modern.

Our protagonist has just come back from Paris where she had a lovely time playing piano. she is traumatized by the death of her eldest sisters at the hands of vampires and her father doesn't like her. also her past bff layla who is a vampire has hurt her in the past. nothing strong carries the beginning but the last third packed a bit more punch.

i realised later it was a duology which i don't remember but okay, i mean i thought the ending was ballsy but unsatisfying so i guess it makes sense.

My problem with this book is that the author had a vision, a concept and characters but no real plot and it showed. Your characters drifted apart due to vampirism and you want to bring them together what do you do? investigation where they need to be allies due to a bigger threat, simple, basic. However for the reader you need to make the investigation interesting to read. For your characters to have a vampire hunter x vampire dynamic you need the vampire hunter to show any knowledge of vampire hunting, maybe you know show them hunting? Because Elise is a pushover and absolutely no tension comes from the fact that she's a vampire. It all comes from the fact she is a Saint. It's a story with very little tension because Elise and Layla are allies which protects both from a lot and they are never put in any real danger or caught in something they can't manoeuver their way out.

If you like vampires and a little bit of fantasy , this book is for you! It was a really good story it gives me vibes of the movie blade , with all the human and vampire interaction., it’s full of mysteries and action that will keep you entertained thru the book, from begin to end.

This lush, dark fantasy expertly toed the lines of romance, horror, and fantasy. Although it did not land on my favourites of the year—everything felt serviceable, but apart from the atmosphere and the twist on vampires, I didn't find myself aching to live in this world—I do think this is a brilliant YA fantasy that will receive so much love from readers worldwide.