I am absolutely devastated to be giving this book two stars. I genuinely thought I'd love it more. Vampires and lesbians are literally the perfect combination and the prospect of a murder mystery involving Elise (a vampire hunter) and Layla (a vampire, called a reaper in-universe) drew me in like a moth to a flame. And in all fairness to this book, the atmosphere really delivered. It felt exactly like a gritty crime thriller, set in 1920s New York and featuring gangs, speakeasies, and jazz music. It had everything I loved about black-and-white noir movies, not to mention served as an excellent exploration of class and race.

But as a murder mystery and a tale of star-crossed lovers, This Ravenous Fate misses the mark. Elise and Layla investigate the murder of human turned reaper turned human again, and navigate all sorts of high stakes and paradigm shifts because of how such a murder mystery could upend human-reaper relations. However, the investigation seemed almost like a background event, with very little of it happening on page. Not to mention neither Elise nor Layla seemed to show the sense of urgency that such a situation warranted. And finally, the reveal was a bit of a letdown. It was an excellent way to wrap up the book, don't get me wrong—but it was just way too predictable, and almost made me wish for some red herrings here and there. A murder mystery is only as good as its twist, and this twist was supremely lacking.

Elise and Layla as friends-to-enemies-to-lovers didn't work out for me either. Friends-to-enemies-to-lovers is literally my favorite romance trope ever (it's much better for me than plain old enemies-to-lovers, I will not be taking any questions), but I struggled so much with believing how their romance was playing out because of a sheer lack of chemistry. The dynamics of their initial friendship wasn't ever really explored, which left me unable to invest my emotions into their current relationship status. Forced proximity is a great way to build chemistry, but unfortunately I think that trope was severely under-utilized. At best, I can believe that Elise and Layla are definitely physically attracted to one another. But I felt zero emotional connection.

On the technical aspect, I also struggled a lot with the writing. While there were moments where certain phrases and paragraphs were really turned out well, quite a lot of the book felt very clunky, clumsy, and repetitive. Also, I wish there had been more contractions used in the dialogue—the lack of it made me feel like a level of formality was being forced so that I, the reader, would attribute a sense of elegance to certain characters or situations, even when it was unwarranted. It made the reading experience that much harder.

This book had an excellent plot and an important message. In my opinion, it fell a bit short of being truly excellent. I think it just could have undergone a bit more editing or experience. Either way, there's an audience out there for this book as it is and I hope it finds its way into their hands.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! This book, set in 1926 New York, follows Elise Saint, heir to a family business hunting reapers. The story is captivating, with well-developed characters and a romance (sapphic black girls!!) that adds to the plot without completely overshadowing it. The setting in 1920s Harlem is beautifully portrayed and integral to the story. Overall, this exceeded my high expectations and is already my favorite read of the year. Highly recommend pre-ordering!

I am so happy I received an early copy of "This Ravenous Fate" By Hayley Dennings. I love that it is a story of queer black vampires that is set in the backdrop of the 1920s. I also like that this would be an enemy to lovers looking for a killer in the 1920s. Thanks again, Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley.

This one was just okay. The premise sounded good and grabbed my attention. I’m a sucker for vampires. However, the plot moved slowly, and it made it hard to get through. If the plot hadn’t dragged out and was faster paced, I would have enjoyed this more. But the ending did leave me interested as to what happens next, so I might read the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC!

thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read the eARC.

this book has been one of my most anticipated reads for a while. i discovered hayley’s book on social media before she signed with an agent and followed her journey since so it’s really nice to finally be able to read the book she posted about often.

the wait for it to be picked up by someone was worth it. i loved this book and it’s one of my favorite reads of the year.

it truly was real enemies to lovers and slow burn which is something i’ve been looking for for a while and i enjoyed every minute of it. i really loved the take on vampires and the way it tore through long relationships like the time meant nothing, but the memories still remained no matter how much time passed.

i’m looking forward to reading the second book and hope the rest of her books get published as well. i will be reading every single one of them no matter the genre.

About 3.5 stars. Thought this would be a little more exciting but i found that i was more frustrated because the fmc got flack from everybody. It was sooo upsetting. I think this was slower paced and less action than expected. But the ending had me intrigued for what comes next. Loved that it's sapphic. This also had interesting vamp lore.

This book is decent but it does this thing that drives me to distraction which is over and over pull a Paris Hilton 'She Knows What She Did' so much and for so long that it barely makes a dent when you get to the meat of it. It's an interesting take on the vampire/reaper kore but needed a little more grit to have it claim it's stake in an overcrowded genre.

This one took me a little longer to get through. The premise was intriguing - vampires or reapers in Harlem during prohibition. However I felt it moved a bit slowly and dragged on in places. Unfortunately it did not hold my attention. I made it 66% of the way through.

I loved the world building in this book the world felt lived in. The world Elise inhabits is dark, her tragedy is so sharp, but the world that Layla inhabits is also dark her tragedy also deep and cutting. Elise is human an heiress to a family legacy that compels her to give up her dreams to ensure that her sister whose innocence she wants to help her hold on to propels her into the dark. Layla inhabits the dark loss of her parents, her life with them, her humanity she's a reaper and that means that she's cut off from the part of the life that she held dearest to her. Once the dearest of friends Elise and Layla have to work together to find a killer, where once there was trust there's distrust, can they find their killer can they both survive the nights and the monsters that inhabit them?
I loved this story my only complaint I was unaware that this book was going to be one in a series which might be a trilogy or a duology and now I have to wait for the next book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the world it’s set in felt really immersive. I loved getting to know the characters of Elise and Layla and how the two of them interact with each other. I think the strong point of this book is the writing style and the way the author makes us feel so connected with the characters.
My one critique would be the pacing, I thought that it was well paced to begin with, although I was never quite sure of the timelines given some things that happen in the story, but the last 100 pages or so were quite chaotic and felt slightly unresolved.
Would definitely recommend this book, and keen to see where the story goes!

Loved the premise here, I'm a big fan of The Originals TV show and this had similar vibes. Unfortunately, the execution let me down, particularly in terms of prose (maybe needed another edit?) and the romance. Nonetheless, I do think THIS RAVENOUS FATE will resonate with the target audience (teens). And the BIPOC and queer rep is appreciated.

Thank you Sourcebooks fire for the arc of This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings.

In this book we follow Elise and Layla, childhood friends with a brutal separation in their past turned reluctant allies as they work together to search for a rumored end to reaperhood. Through the glaring disruption in their friendship, the fact that Layla has become a reaper due to Elise Saint’s involvement, the two take on enemies from all sides as well as the embers of their feelings for each other that dance around them like ghosts.

What a bloody and vibrant book! I felt like I was going on a journey with Elise and Layla and just barely made it out to live to tell the tale. So many aspects of the book from the setting to the descriptions made this really enjoyable. The characters were great and kept the story progressing, especially after the middle of the book.

I love Layla. She had me smirking at the comments she made, highlighting lines that struck something in me, and getting enraged when she felt angry. Her rage rose off the page like smoke.
🩸“I will not allow anyone to tell me how to grieve the life that I should be living.” 🩸

Elise was a flawed character that I rooted for until the bitter end because I genuinely wanted to see her get things right. She’s a Mirrorball, this is me trying, kind of girl and I felt that deeply. I miss her more than I thought I would now that I finished the book.
🕊️ “Elise could not imagine having that level of confidence. To speak, knowing everyone listened, to act, knowing those who watched were judging not his appearance, but the content of his character. To exist as the sole owner of his freedom.”🕊️

Sterling, no comment for you sir.

I love how Layla’s nickname for Elise was Saint (yes that’s her last name but just the duality that comes with the meaning of the word and how it parallels to the reapers and all the intentional ways Layla uses it ugh Hayley you are simply a genius). I love that Elise plays music and Layla longs to dance to it. I love that familial ties are a big theme in this book and even though it seems that blood runs thicker than water, there is so much blood on these pages family lines are blurred beneath it. I love so much I could go on and on.

Overall, the book was a unique and fresh story that I hope readers fall head first in love with.

The blood-soaked streets of Harlem await, so if you haven’t yet, don’t be afraid to dive in to This Ravenous Fate.

Hayley, I told you before but I’ll shout it forever- you shine so bright, friend. Congratulations on your debut, it is exquisite.

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)

i found this book to stay on my mind every second i wasn’t reading it. i loved the setting of it, the characters were well written, the diversity of the characters was beautifully done. i loved how tougher topics were covered and talked about. also really appreciated reading a sapphic book that wasn’t done based on stereotypes! i genuinely adored the book up until about the last 25%, after that it felt like a fever dream. a lot what happened in that section, especially the ending, felt very out of left field and rushed regarding plot. i think more build up and draw outs of what happened would’ve been way better. i also think the romance aspect at the end went a bit too rushed considering how elise and layla’s relationship was before that last chunk.

overall i did enjoy the book and would definitely recommend to friends! i can’t wait to see where this goes in the sequel and i’m excited to see more from the author.

Sapphic 👭🏾 & Vampires 🧛🏾‍♀️

I dragged a lil reading this but I feel like it was a me problem and nothing to do with the book. I enjoyed this I can’t wait to see what happens with Layla and Elise that hot and cold love story had me hooked cause what is about to happen next! Getting your bestfriend killed that you’re in love with is insane even if you thought you were saving her! I guess true love conquers all lol I’m kidding. I truly loved this story and I can’t wait for book 2.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. Because oh my god, This Ravenous Fate was a freaking masterpiece. Queer Black girls?? Vampires?? 1920s New York?? Check. Check. Check. From the moment I read the first page, I knew this would be a book I would enjoy. Hayley Dennings' writing is stunning and the way she writes is so engaging, you will literally not want to put down the book. I had to force myself to take a break, even though I didn't want to.

The amazing writing style was the perfect way to get lost in the dazzling darkness of 1920s New York, as portrayed in this book. I think this book would make such a great TV series, especially if it was animated, Castlevania-style. And it is in this city that we find our main characters, Elise and Layla, former friends turned enemies on the opposite sides of a secret war plaguing New York. The two are forced to work together, investigating a series of brutal killings. Their reluctance plus the burning intensity of their chemistry as they work together was just incredible.

Both their personalities really shine on page and it was so interesting to see their opinions of each other shift at the same time. Elise and Layla are both complex characters, with conflicting motivations and they play out on page wonderful well. Truly, I think this book is a stunningly crafted debut.

And that ending....just....wow....I'm speechless in a good way. This Ravenous Fate was an incredible read and I enjoyed it a lot. Now, I will wait (I'm)patiently to get my hands on book 2 because I need to know what happens.

Oof… This was extremely boring. I’m not the target audience for this, but the premise was intriguing and I still do enjoy picking up a fast-paced YA fantasy on occasion. Unfortunately, the plot and characters were underwhelming. I was expecting a more unique, less tropey read, but nothing about this felt fresh or well executed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved this book and I am obsessed with it. And I just want to thank net gally for this arc and I love it. I love this book because of the way the characters interact and how they have growth and I think has to be one of the reason for why this book is a five star for me. It would be a six. But anyway I love how every detail and description was written. It made me feel even more attached to this story. And it also just makes the story feel like I was in it. This might be controversial but I love how the story was in third person. I know and I think this is perfect for people who love sapphic vampires.

i was super excited to read this book because it had all the ingredients to make a banger for me. unfortunately, the execution wasn't exactly what i hoped and fell a bit short of my expectations. i saw a couple reviews discuss how the pacing was an issue and i totally agree. it was too slow-paced for a mystery which made the middle a bit daunting to get through. obviously in fantasy books, it can be a bit slow because of the world building but there wasn't much world building here so the slowness for me is mostly because of the plot and elise's feelings.

Review will be released to Goodreads on release.

A black sapphic, dark vampire book set in the 1920’s Harlem. Childhood friends, to enemies, back to lovers, mystery, BIPOC characters, and of course, vampires is what this book promises and delivers!

The premise of this book was really great, however I don’t think the writing style of the author is quite my cup of tea. Nothing is terribly wrong with it, just a bit too much information being handed to us that felt a bit spoon-fed, so it hinders the depth of the issues the author wanted to highlight in this book. Or my issue with the current trends of easy to digest, super marketable books instead of a thoughtful in depth piece. I definitely think some of the wording choice could’ve gotten shaken up, as there was times it felt repetitive to me. But that’s just a small, personal nitpick.

But since the information felt very obvious, I was very confused on the shock of the characters when they finally guessed the villain, who I immediately knew.

None of this is a slight to the author, I know she is super talented and I encourage everyone to pick up this book and feel your own opinion out. The book is definitely worth at least a read! I’m very excited for Hayley’s future in writing!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc for my honest review!

So, before I get into the meat of my review, I'd like to say that I think Hayley Dennings shows a lot of promise as an author. There were multiple moments throughout the book where the writing really shined. I feel like both the premise and the setting were very interesting, plus I liked the exploration of race, class, and privilege.

That being said, I had a really rough time with this one. It started out pretty promising, but ultimately this was a very uneven and frustrating reading experience. There were multiple reasons for this. This biggest, however, was within the chapters themselves. The story follows two POVs--Layla and Elise. This would be fine normally, but these POV switches happen within the same chapter. There are times when this can work. Usually that would be when the author wants to show a particular moment that happens in the same chapter from two different POVs. Unfortunately, that wasn't quite what happened in this book. The POV switches within each chapter often felt random and confusing. This had the unfortunate effect of affecting the pacing. Poignant moments between characters never really felt like they had a chance to make an impact. A moment with Elise would then switch to a moment with Layla that didn't really seem to have anything to do with Elise, then the POV would switch back to Elise and characters in that POV that had previously seemed like they'd been in a good mood suddenly switched to angry and hostile. It was jarring. It made it seem like I'd missed out on a good chunk of what happened in the interim by switching to Layla's POV.

The bulk of this could've been avoided by making each chapter contained to a single POV, rather than hopping around. It would've made the story feel slightly more cohesive, too, though I still think this book would suffer a little from pacing issues--especially towards the end.

I also think that some of the world-building needed to be delivered through a different means rather than info-dumping in conversations between characters. It would've made the world feel more exploratory and given the reader a little trust from the author to piece things together themselves.

Again, I do think there's potential here, but it's not really enough to get me interested in continuing on with the story. Unfortunately, I never really got fully invested in the world or the characters. However, I do think if you're interested, it's worth picking up to get a different view on vampires or if you enjoy queer friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance.