Immortal Dark was an intense read packed with suspense. It was set in an intriguing and interesting world. It had a dark and gritty feel to it that I loved.

I also loved the vampire folklore and the house system and all that it entailed.

I loved the characters especially the heroine, Kidan even though at times she annoyed me. She was still bad***.

There's an enemies to lovers something developing that I'm here for. It is very much heavy on the enemies part.

I think the narrator did an awesome job with bringing the characters to life with various tones and nuances of her voice. It was a pleasure listening to her.

I enjoyed this book and so can't wait to see what happens next. I definitely recommend.

This book had some of the best vampire lore I've read in years, it truly added so much to the story instead of just having vampires to have vampires. I didn't feel like Most of the trigger warnings were necessary. I am so excited for more of this story, that ending had me screaming how could it wnd like that how am I supposed to wait till book 2

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
4.5 🌟
-
Hunni, this is what WE been looking for, an all black fantasy vampire cast! The premises, "The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House in this dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy, where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family and kidnapped her sister." I can't compare it to ninth house because I haven't read that series yet, but I can compare it to the cruel prince, and it definitely gives you those vibes.

The audiobook was great. The narrator, Jordan Cobb, did a great job. He voice was easy to listen to, and I could understand that she read. Also, her male voice was pretty good and didn't make me cringe. Major points there.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
•romantasy
•Vampires
•mgc (morally gray character)
•enemies to lovers
•dark academic
•all black cast | characters
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Sept.3
Thank you, Netgalley, and Hachette Audio for the audiobook for my honest review.

5/5

Brilliant. Amazing, Terrific. Truly. I love a main character with thorns where their heart should be. It's so satisfying when they start to care and love.

I went into this book completely blind. All I knew was that there would be vampires. Imagine my surprise when I found out this book has my absolute favorite kind of magic--a magical house. Not only that, but it is a magical house you need to win over. And there is competition, the form of a brooding and proud vampire.

This book has everything: vampires, competition, tension, friendship, murder, academia, philosophical contemplations of what it means to be a vampire, and trauma. So much trauma, but well-explored!

Jordan Cobb did an amazing job with the narration for this book. As an avid audiobook reader, sometimes a good narrator can save a book and while the Immortal Dark itself is incredible the narration truly elevates it for me.

Thank you, Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this early copy of the Immortal Dark. I kindly ask for the eARC of the sequel once it's ready for the public!

This truly felt like you're eighteen and devouring a new series the week before university starts, and it's all you can think about when you enter your halls. I loved the way this book was brimming with atmosphere and tension. The writing style was really gorgeous and fit the story so well—a feat that came through especially with the narrator's performance. I was starting to feel tired of dark academia, but this really brought a fresh spin to it. I also loved the romance—though only time can tell if it takes over my brain the way books like the Cruel Prince, These Violent Delights, etc. did. Truly a brilliant debut.

I had to take a few days to write this because this book left me emotional but only because it was over and I need book 2 in my life ASAP! I already had this book preordered before getting the ARC because I already knew this book was gonna be a win for me!!! Immortal dark has vampires, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, morally gray characters, secret society and has a dark academia setting.

Kidans sister is kidnapped after her parents deaths and she will stop at nothing to find her and bring her home. Kidan was born into a society where humans gain power through their vampire companions but she did not grow up there but must return now.
Susenyos is the vampire bound to her family but Kidan is convinced he is who kidnapped her sister. She wants to find her sister and then eliminate Susenyos. She returns to her families estate and has to infiltrate the a secret society inside of the elite university to try to find her sister. She is forced to have to be near Susenyos even though she hates him and wants to kill him after she finds her sister.
The twists and turns and amazing plot keep me hooked throughout this entire book. I really loved the detail of depending on where a vampire bites you to feed reveals different memories and emotions. The tension between Kidan and Susenyos was impeccable and the character development was amazing. It was such an absolute pleasure to listen to and unlike any other vampire book I’ve read thus far and I absolutely loved it. If you haven’t already added this to your TBR you definitely should.

Thank you to NetGalley and hatchett Audio for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Tigest Girma for an ARC copy of the audiobook of Immortal Dark. This is one of the best audiobooks I have listened to thus far. The narrator for the audiobook was done so well, with differentiating voices for certain characters, emphasis on voicing emotions such as sadness, anger, distrust, and all other emotions were executed well to make the reader understand the circumstances for each conversation that was had. The dark academia setting, the vampires, the secrets, the mystery, and the tension between Kidan and Susenyos throughout the story was so GOOD! Their characters were written so well, and fleshed out to demonstrate how and why they are enemies to lovers. The tension between the two was stellar and not rushed. As the reader I could feel how much they hated each other, but wanted each other in the same breathe, this was written so well. I loved world building of the University, and the fantasy surrounding the vampires, their houses, their families, their interactions with humans and more. I really loved the mystery of it all, and not being able to guess what was about to happen and being on pins and needles throughout the story. The way the author was able to tell different stories (whether from the past or the present.) This was a well developed story and I am excited for the next book.

4.5 ⭐️
This book was one hell of a ride. It was so deliciously dark, gritty, and emotionally charged, filled with mysterious Vampires, Ethiopian mythology, and engaging characters. It sucked me in from page one, and never let up. It’s been described as The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House, and that comparison is spot on. The MCs, Kidan & Susenyos, are definitely Jude and Cardan coded, and they brought those same angsty, true enemies-to-lovers vibes throughout the whole story. The push and pull of their relationship was utterly entrancing, and the banter was perfection. More steam than spice in this one, but it was just the right amount for the story.

The vampire lore shares some of the same classic mythos as many books others in this genre, but the author adds some fresh new elements, that really set this story apart. This, combined with the mystery, secrets, and twists and turns, made for a fully engaging, highly entertaining read, from start to finish. I was blown away by this incredible debut, and recommend it for anyone looking for a beautifully written, unique vampire story, with just the right amount of dark academia, romance, and mystery.

🎧The narrator did an amazing job navigating effortlessly between all of the various roles. I felt she truly brought these characters to life, and I’m looking forward to exploring more of her catalog.

Tropes:
Vampires
Secret societies
Sentient house
Ethiopian mythology
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn romance
Dark academia

I'm extremely picky with voices but Jordan Cobb did an AMAZING job with the audiobook. Excellent narration, distinct voices for the different characters, emotional reading. I'm kind of addicted to her voice now and think I enjoyed this book so much because of her narration.

There was a lot in the plot to juggle: a missing person case, a dark academic struggle, an eerie magical house, a murder mustery, human-vampire power politics, human-vampire romance, secret societies... As I said, A LOT. I think some aspects worked better than others. I LOVED how unhinged Kidan was. What a spectacularly unique FMC (hardened, occasionally violent, easy to root for even though she's bloodthirsty). And I liked her friends too. I wish the book had been longer so we could've delved into them a bit more.

Immortal Dark does have the typical human-vampire romance: teenaged human girl and her centuries-old male vampire love interest. I did love how they were both strong characters on their own, and there was so much more to their personalities and personal storylines than their romance. The growing romance was actual enemies-to-lovers where the enemy stage lasted about half the book, and that was glorious. There was a little bit of Boys Over Flowers ("kneel" instead of "lick my shoe", though Susenyos is definitely not a popular boy), a little bit of Hades and Persephone (but they both feed off of each other's darkness), and a lot of tension. This is definitely Upper YA because of the light steam, but nothing too explicit.

I was a bit confused by some of the worldbuilding, and more and more kept getting added as the book went on (suddenly there's a new evil group from the outside because an evil group from the inside isn't enough). I'm also confused about how the vampires haven't completely died out yet when they can't create any new ones without sacrificing one of their own lives, humans are murdering them, and they have their own special Purge Holiday where they can legally kill each other. And I got tired of hearing how muscular Susenyos is 😞

I still enjoyed this so much. THIS is how you do a unique vampire story filled with morally gray characters!

4.5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Immortal Dark was one of my most anticipated books of this year, and it did not disappoint.
The pace at the start was a little slow for me, and I think I would´ve better understood the story's magic and political system if I read it on a physical or ebook copy (luckily, I already have my physical copy pre-ordered). But that had everything to do with the way I better process some type of information, and nothing to do with the audiobook itself. Jordan Cobb did an amazing job narrating this book and making me engage with the story and the characters.
The book as such was unique and interesting, unlike any other vampire book I´ve read before. Tigest Girma really knows how to write morally grey characters. The tension between Kidan and Susenyos had me screaming. And, even though I´m still a little confused about some aspects of the world-building, I can´t wait to read more about it all. I don´t know how I am expected to just patiently stand by for the next book in the trilogy, specially after that ending.

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma is a dark academia, vampire novel that pulls from African mythology and features a lot of black characters. It is being pitched as The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House. After finishing the book, I do think that pitch is accurate and I think fans of those books will enjoy this book.

This book follows Kidan as she searches for her sister. She believes her sister has been taken by a vampire. In order to find out what happened to her sister, Kidan decides to infiltrate an elite university called Uxlay. The story progresses from there.

This book was full of so much lore and it was so unique, I don’t want to say more because it’s best to discover it as you read but I was captivated. I had super high expectations for this book and it surpassed those. I can’t believe this is a debut book. My only complaint is that I don’t have the second book now to read immediately.

I listened to the audio of this one and it’s narrated by Jordan Cobb. Her voice was so perfect for this story and I think it added to the experience. I could easily differentiate between the characters and it was easy to listen to.

I’m predicting it now. This will be a sleeper hit. It will come out and a few people will talk about it and then more people will talk about it and more until it really blows up. This book has the perfect fall vibe which will match up well with its release date. Plus the first print run is absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to get a physical copy.

Lets start with the audio review. The narrator did a amazing job. Wow , like i have hear other audios by her but this one was very well done. Love that part of it.
Now book wise . The story is intriguing and interesting, i would have love a bit less back and forth with her desire to kill someone, like pick one . Anyway , the world building is a bit confusing at times but nothing that would take away from the story. The main character for me is absolutely not relatable, whatsoever the rest of the characters are so qell integrated that I keep on just to see where this was going. Overall is a good fantasy and I did enjoy my time with it.

I absolutely loved this dark academia, vampires and humans rooted in African decent living together, and a missing twin sister story. It was complex and you never knew who to trust. The FMC, Kidan, must attend Uxlay University in order to find her sister. This book had twists and turns, and even a bit of romance- enemies to lovers to enemies...and so on. I cannot wait for the next book to come out!

4,75
guys, you’re definitely not ready for this fantasy banger 🫣
we desperately needed you Tigest Girma ! and you served us a splendid vampire fantasy with black characters (including the mmc and fmc), academic setting, mystery, murder… the good recipe so well executed
the banter between those two… i was giggling 🤭
can’t *already* wait for the next book in the series !
thank you netgalley for the review

Immortal Dark is Gothic, decadent tale, riddled with family secrets, bloody politics, and dark magic. Kidan is such a complex character, caring but ruthless (and <i>unhinged</i>), and I loved following her through Uxlay University and watching her develop her views of both the world and herself. There is so much potential here, I'm really excited to see where the author goes.
The romance is a big part of the plot and I found it to be well done and believable, but everything else was so interesting that I didn't much care for it, though I am curious to see how some things will play out given what we discovered in this book. I highly appreciate how the romance didn't take away from Kidan's personality/strengths.

Immortal Dark was my first audiobook narrated by Jordan Cobb but it won't be my last. The performance was incredible; she breathed so much life into the characters. Masterfully done.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC.

I was so excited to receive early access to this audio book and it did not disappoint. First, I want to give my flowers to the narrator. She did an amazing job with keeping my attention without being over the top.
The book itself was a breath of fresh air. I love anything to do with vampires and morally gray characters and the author did an excellent job with the execution of Kidan and Susenyos. Their relationship was the most interesting plot point for me and I can't wait to see how their relationship grows as the series continues. I will say the world building was not that fleshed out to me. I still have a lot of questions about the magic system. All in All I look forward to the next book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

Immortal Dark is a dark, haunting YA fantasy with an interesting plot and seductive romance.

I enjoyed this one, but a few things made it less than amazing for me: The pacing was fairly slow, and I found myself losing interest quickly. The MC was fascinating and well-written, though she sometimes annoyed me. I could not fully connect to the characters and story, though the characters were very interesting. The plot was so fun, and the writing was beautiful, but I wanted to see more world and character development. The relationship development between Kidan and Susenyos felt odd to me, and I will admit the romance felt a tad uncomfortable. I adore enemies-to-lovers and dark romance, and while this story presented a dark and sexy romance I think many will enjoy, the romance between Susenyos and Kidan did not feel right to me. There are many things to enjoy in this story, and I would recommend it to readers who have had their eyes on it!

The audiobook narrator for this one did a great job! Her voice paired nicely with the story, and I loved the voices she used. Her performance gave the story an exciting depth.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

Oh boy, did I ever struggle to get through this book and not just DNF. When I say struggle- I mean I literally sighed, bitched, complained and dreaded each time I picked up this book. I can't remember the last time I looked at my progress percentage so often in a book and damn did it move incredibly slow. I thought it was never going to end.

Had it been an epub copy and not an audio- I would have given up for sure.

╰┈➤˗ˏˋ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂

We follow Kidian our FMC who is trying to track down her sister who's the only family she has left. To get closer to finding her sister she agrees to attend a secret university that's historic and has vampires. When she gets to the school and starts investigating her sister's disappearance, her top suspect is a vampire, Susenyos, her mortal enemy.

╰┈➤˗ˏˋ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼

When reviewing an arc, publishers ask for an honest review. Of course, I always give my honest thoughts, but I know that I'm not as harsh as I am with already published books. (Or at least it seems that way to me lol) This time, I just can't. I didn't like anything about this book. Borderline hated it.

The worldbuilding was unclear and muddled. The magic system wasn't explained very well and I found it confusing. The characters were so bland and boring - they were like little cardboard cutouts walking around 'I hate you' 'No, I hate you' 'Rawr I'm going to bite you' ooof, shut up.

╰┈➤˗ˏˋ Flat, lacking personality, not fleshed out.

The author's prose tried to be beautiful but it felt like the characters were speaking in riddles without really saying anything at all. It felt forced and try hard. It was exhausting and long winded.

This is one that I really should have just stopped torturing myself with and DNF because it truly never got any better for me.


˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House in this dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy, where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family and kidnapped her sister. Not an accurate comparison.
༄.ೃ࿔࿐໋✧˖°.☁️𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

╰⪼ Enemies to Lovers
╰⪼ Romantasy
╰⪼ Vampires
╰⪼ Sentient Houses
╰⪼ Morally Gray Characters
╰⪼ Villainous Romantic Leads
╰⪼ Dark Academia

˚୨୧⋆ Many thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio and Tigest Girma for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. ❤️🧛‍♀️🩸🖤

This book sets the stage for a dark tale that intertwines familial duty, political intrigue, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. The protagonist, Kidan Adane, is an orphaned heiress with a destiny tied to a society where power is derived from vampire companionship. When her sister, June, disappears, Kidan believes the vampire bound to their family, Susenyos Sagad, took her. Kidan must infiltrate the elite Uxlay University, where students study to ensure peaceful coexistence between humans and vampires and inherit their family legacies to find June. Susenyos's wickedness speaks to Kidan's violent nature and tempts her to surrender to a life of darkness. She must find her sister and kill Susenyos at all costs. Kidan sinks further into the ruthless underworld of vampires, risking her very soul. Kidan must bring Uxlay down to save her sister and either break free from the horrors of her actions or embrace the dark entanglements that require her blood.

This novel is a dark blend of fantasy, gothic, and thrilling elements that will immerse the reader in a world where power and blood are inextricably linked. Kidan is a strong and relatable protagonist whose journey is fraught with danger and revelations that challenge her perception of herself and her world. The author built a unique story involving vampires that is unlike other books. I was engaged in the storyline from the first page. I was not interested in the romantic plotline. This book's romantic interest may have been the foundation for the next book, and the relationship will evolve. This story and narration was masterfully done.

I received an ARC audiobook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio, Little Brown Young Readers

Oh. My. Word. This was easily one of the most unique vampire books I have read in a long time. It is dark, intense, unsettling, and absolutely riveting. The relationship between Kidan and Susenyos is absolutely fascinating and I never knew if they would kill each other or kiss, and I cannot express how much the author absolutely *nailed* the dynamic. I need the sequel DESPERATELY.