So many twist and turns!!! I thought I had the ending figured out and then it twisted to something different. I loved it and could not put it down!

THANKKKK YOUUU

I will return to do a full review but right now, I love this book!!! Hayley Dennings really did her thing. I cant wait to read the second book and all her future works.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The atmosphere was impeccable, I loved the urban world set in the 1920s. In some aspects, it reminded me of These violent delights by Chloe Gong and that is definitely a praise. The plot was gripping from the start. It was also quite gruesome and grim. I loved the mystery surrounding the characters. Elise and Layla were intriguing characters, and their relationship was full of enigmas and secrets. The only thing that kept me from giving this novel a higher rating has to do with Elise’s relationship with her family — especially with her father: I did not like the weakness she showed, I found it frustrating.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcefire books for allowing me to read an early copy of this! It’s not often a book grabs me so tightly when I’m in a book slump due to…. Well. The time of year and mental exhaustion.

But This Ravenous Fate snatched at my brain strings, holding them tightly, hungry as a rogue Reaper. I devoured it on my trip to school, during my lunch, during even my prep periods when I could have ensuring my lessons for the day didn’t need tweaking.

Like many paranormal books, the common name of the beings is not necessarily given. Vampires here are called Reapers, and they’re relentlessly holding onto their morals and values as the world tries to eradicate them. What made them is known and something that comes up often- turned from torture, immense pain, racism, and experimentation on bodies that affluent society would care for the least (enslaved peoples). They care for each other, form communities for protection, and shield each other from their bloodlust to keep each other alive.

As a child, Elise heard her sister die to defend her, and the death turned her family into seeking to destroy Reapers. Their family name of Saint hints at their struggles, at Elise’s burdens— the all-too-high punishing expectations forced upon her, the weight she carries to try to protect her younger sister.

As a young adolescent, Layla’s best friend betrayed her and she and her family were killed by Reapers due to said friend’s family. Layla awoke into a new life without her parents, and swore to kill her once-friend— she knew who was truly responsible for her pain, and it remained the Saints.

Elise and Layla are thrust together to work on a strange affliction that may be causing Reapers to suffer to kill swathes of humans. If they do not, Elise cannot protect her little sister’s innocence and she would be made family heir, destroying her life and dreams. If they do not, Layla sees the Reaper communities eradicated, as no signed treaty would find in favor of the Reapers.

Together, they face not only their struggles but also each other and the betrayal and pain they caused each other. With that comes, of course, exploration of how they’ve changed, grown, and their own feelings: those of which they knew….. and those which they didn’t.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Summary of plot:
It's 1926 where reapers (also known as vampires) prowl the city. Humans have created a way to "control" the reaper population by 1) creating "peace treaties" with them and 2) the creation of special steel bullets that can kill them. Elise Saint is the daughter of the man who created these special bullets and is also a music prodigy. However, after spending years in France (due to the trauma of almost being killed by her ex-best friend who turned into a reaper), she's forced to come back home and reluctantly accept the role as heir to this empire.

Layla Quinn, the ex-best friend, is accused of murder that she did not commit. In exchange for her freedom, she is forced to work with Elise to solve the murders. There is a lot of tension between them and something political is brewing in the background...

Pros about the book:
✔️ LGBTQ+ representation in the main characters
✔️ Author does a great job weaving in a history of racial and sexual discrimination, as well as a history of unethically performing medical treatment Black people
✔️ Easy to read as this is not a high fantasy book
✔️ Gives off 1920s vibes
✔️ The romance made sense!!!

Cons about the book:
❌ Not sure why reapers weren't just called vampires
❌ I could have used more of Valeriya (the reaper clan leader) in this book since she seemed to have a deep history with the city
❌ Elise's father felt too stereotypical to me and could have used a bit more complexity (also not sure why the father would assign Elise's 10 year old sister as heir when the sister's personality is way bubbly and cute to run an empire)

Would I recommend this book? Yes

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this!

It's 1926 and reapers, the once-human vampires with a terrifying affliction, are on the rise in New York. But the Saint family's thriving reaper-hunting enterprise holds reign over the city, giving them more power than even the organized criminals who run the nightclubs. Eighteen year-old Elise Saint, home after five years in Paris, is the reluctant heir to the empire. Only one thing weighs heavier on Elise's mind than her family obligations: the knowledge that the Harlem reapers want her dead.

Don't walk, RUN to pre-order this!

When going into a book with a lot of expectations, you often set yourself up for terrible disappointment. This was the opposite. This book has met all my admittedly high expectations and far surpassed them. When I read the first page I said "This might become my top read of the year" and it is, it really is. The writing style is absolutely gorgeous and really draws you in right from the first sentence. The characters too are beautifully crafted. I really couldn't name a character that felt flat or unnecessary to me. And what is always important to me in a book that contains romance but isn't primarily a romance: The romance feels important to the plot but doesn't overshadow or take away from it. I love the way their past weaves into their present when it comes to the difficulty of their feelings for each other, and everything just develops so perfectly fitting. Last but not least, the setting of 1920s Harlem is not just beautiful but also given so much importance in the story and is just perfectly chosen.
Honestly, I was so blown away when I finished this like half an hour ago that I'm proud of myself for even writing semi-coherent sentences. It may only be March, but I am definitely calling this as my book of the year and will now go on to recommend this to everyone I know (prepare to be sick of me).

I loved everything about this! A queer black vampire in the 1920’s! It was absolutely delicious. This author’s writing style is beautiful, poetic and descriptive. I cannot wait for book 2. Please don’t make us wait long! Thank you for the opportunity to read!