This dark academic romance was consuming! It follows an orphaned heiress, Kidan Adane, as she hunts down the person/vampire who stole her sister June. Her journey begins at the elite Uxlay University—where students study to ensure peaceful coexistence between humans and vampires and inherit their family legacies. Kidan must survive living with Susenyos, a vampire who feels he is the rightful owner of her family house and is doing all that he can to get her out so that he may claim his prize.

The house is somehow connected to the two of them and feeds off their emotions, causing issues with the house. Also, Kidan's parents put a curse on the house and Susenyous: if he does anything to harm the house, the house will take away from him something of equal value.

This was an amazing twist on the age-old vampiric trope. The idea of vampires living side by side with humans, the fact that the relationship is needed for humans to be able to tap into their magic, the vampires can't drink from a human that has not freely given themselves, and the relationship is needed for the hierarchy of the house structure was quite entertaining.

I had the pleasure of getting the ALC of this book, courtesy of Netgalley, Hachette Audio | Little, Brown Young Readers, and Tigest Girma.

The narrator Jordan Cobb did a great job bringing life to each character, even the male characters!

I am giving this review voluntarily and without coercion.

Vampires in a dark academia setting was an irresistible lure for me, and I didn’t even try to resist it. The fact that I found this in audiobook format on NetGalley made this even easier to request. Vampire stories haven’t had a resurgence like they are experiencing now since Twilight, and I am here for it.

Girma is Ethiopian, and found a way to combine her Ethiopian heritage with traditional vampire lore and newer elements to create an entirely new type of vampire story. I loved that the entire cast was Black, and there were strong ‘Black is sexy’ and ‘proud to be Black’ vibes throughout the entire story. Combining all these different elements gave everything a fresh and unique feel. The characters have a variety of skin tones, representing a wide range of Black humanity.

However, I quickly discovered that the start of the book was detailed and confusing for me to take in through audiobook format. I had to listen to the start of the book three times before everything sank in, and I couldn’t help but think that it would have been easier to to read it as an ebook, since I tend to process more complex information when I read it as a book rather than having it read to me as an audiobook.

Kidan isn’t a simple Mary Sue character. In the very beginning, we learn right away that she is a morally gray character, just like all the others we meet. She’s killed someone, and all to find her missing sister. The suspect that she knows is responsible is the vampire who is tied to her house, and by following her sister to Uxlay University, she hopes to discover where her sister is. This leads us into a wonderful dark academia section of the book, involving rich kids, a lot of studying, secrets, vampires, shifting alliances, and feuds between the major families.

There’s also an enemies to lovers subplot, and while it becomes a huge part of the story that kind of overshadows the main plot in parts of the story, Girma provides what might be the best possible example of a slow-burn enemies to lovers trope. Kidan and Susenyos aren’t just not in agreement, these two actively hate each other. I liked how their relationship slowly changed over the course of the story, making it feel believable when it changed from enemies into something more.

However, there were some things that I didn’t love about the story. The story felt like it dragged, and could easily have been shorter. There’s also a big change in the story at around the halfway point, and I found myself feeling less invest in the second half of the book as opposed to the first half. I also really struggled with Kidan’s central premise, that since one vampire did something bad, that all vampires are horrible and deserve to be wiped out. It smacks of genocidal thinking, and I don’t know how not a single person called her out for that. I’m glad that she was able to get past that, but that kind of dehumanizing and prejudicial thinking needs to be challenged, and not a single person did that in this story.

Overall, this had all of the elements that I love, but when it all came together, it kind of fell short for me. There were a few things that I didn’t like, such as the genocidal thinking, the way the romance overshadowed the plot, and how much the story changed from the first half and the second, while there were more things that I did like. I loved the way the author incorporated her Ethiopian culture and heritage, the pride in being Black vibes, the morally gray cast of characters, how fantastically the enemies to lovers trope plays out, and the dark academia setting. So if those are things you like, this might just be the book for you.

Man. I wanted to like this more than I did.

Legacies attend school to compete to inherit family ties to different vampires. Kirdan doesn’t want to go to the school or have anything to do with vampires but her sister gets abducted by vampires and she will do anything to find her.

The world building and magic system needed some attention cuz where it lacked left me confused and the characters were really annoying. So much so that knowing it’s a trilogy… I won’t be continuing…

Thanks to netgalley and hachette for an alc

Immortal Dark tells the story of Kidan as she tries to find her missing sister. She was raised away from the arcane society her family comes from. When her sister June goes missing, she suspects it was because of the vampire bound to their family. She infiltrates the secret University to find June and kill the vampire who took her.

Immortal dark is a gothic dark academia filled with secrets and politics. Kidan is such a complex character. She's not always likeable as a main character because she will do anything if it means finding her sister. She is violent and unhinged as a main character but that is who she has to be in the world she lives in.

I really liked the elements of African mythology mixed in with the vampire lore. It brings something new to the genre. I am excited to see more from this author.

There is not a single" good" person in this world. Everyone is out to get what they want no matter the cost. Kindness is a virtue that does not exist. If you love morally grey characters this book is for you.

The romance was touted as enemies to lovers and boy does Tigest Girma deliver. Kidan and Susenyos truly hated each other from the start. Throughout the story though Susenyos' darkness calls to Kidan's violent nature_ There is no awkward banter between the two they get right to the point. And I respect that

Now I got a copy of the audiobook from Netgalley and Hatchet audio. Jordan Cobb is an excellent narrator. There was not a time where I was confused on which character she was voicing at all. I will definitely be on the lookout for more work of hers as well.

I have to say I did enjoy this book. The second half was a little slow for me, but it didn't make me want to stop reading I love a story where the characters are neither good nor bad. I love flawed messed up characters and Tigest Girma delivers. Immortal Dark is the decadent, Gothic book that I haven't seen in a while.

Thank you to Netcalley and Hachet Audio for the ARC of Immortal Dark.

Please note, my rating is based on the performance of the audiobook as opposed to the story itself. That said, Immortal Dark at its core, is a great blend of dark academia meets vampires. However, the story just did not hit well with me. BUT I am more so here to discuss how INCREDIBLY done the audiobook was! I genuinely enjoyed Jordan Cobb's reading of this! Jordan did a phenomenal job at differentiating the character's and their voices, there was no point where I had to question who was speaking. I also felt that each voice given to the characters fit them and their personality well. This helped carry the story and made the listening experience incredible!
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for allowing me to listen to an early copy of this audiobook!

thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced audiobook!

a delectably dark romantic fantasy/dark academia tale with true enemies to lovers, found family, a sentient house, a hidden university, secret societies, oh and did I mention it has VAMPIRES? but not twilight-y vampires, oh no. these vampires originated from Africa and bring with them all the rich lore associated with African culture.

it’s a story about a woman’s quest to find her kidnapped sister among the vampires who took her, but in turn it morphs into a journey to find herself. and the romance that’s woven into this dark tapestry of a book is so full of angst and tension, I was biting my nails when kidan and susenyos were in the same room lol. basically the gist of it is *centuries old vampire vs. headstrong fmc 🤝🏼 me*, yes please. the first half of the book is a sprawling, world-building phase that takes some time to get into, but the second half flies by in the blink of an eye. my only wish is that I would’ve had a physical copy to better grasp and visualize the names of people and places, hence the 4 stars. but the audiobook of this was absolutely fantastic and the narrator, Jordan Cobb, was captivating.

another wickedly delightful fall read to get me in the autumnal/spooky season mood.

it totally went over my head that this is part one of a trilogy… *born to binge read, forced to wait between releases* 🥲

The narrator did an amazing job bringing this book to life. It was dark, angsty, bloodthirsty and full of righteous revenge. A girl driven to do unspeakable things to unearth her sister and her kidnappers, invited into an academy to inherit her families home and become a companion to a vampire. Secret societies with ulterior motives, sentient houses. All black cast steeped in Ethiopian mythology. Deep and dark speculative fantasy.

Rating: 5 stars!

Twilight with a razzle dazzle of Kingdom of the Wicked. Absolutely obsessed. I CANNOT wait to continue this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC. I was wavering on it being a 2.5-star initially, but after some reflecting, this is a solid 3.

What I really liked about Immortal Dark: the East African-based lore that forms the foundation of the story's vampiric worldbuilding, the (flimsy-but-servicable) university culture, and our utterly unhinged, murderous (anti)heroine and her morally grey circle of peers. Kidan as a protagonist really grew on me, from her determined "ends justifies the means" attitude to attain her goal of finding her missing sister, to her complicated emotions as a person. She loves strongly, grapples with guilt and hypocrisy, and her growth is incredible to see. From someone who pushes people away to one that tries her goddamn hardest to be loyal to the friends she grew to care for. Someone who is both in denial and self-aware of the darkness inside her and her circle.

While I came to enjoy the supporting characters that make up Kidan's friends, admittedly I did not fall in love with the other main character, the vampire Susenyos. I found him utterly insufferable for 80% of the book, but it did mean he made for a perfectly engaging adversary for Kidan. I will say I won't ever root for any attempt in romance between a teenager and an immortal character who is effectively hundreds of years old (my own personal book ick), but I suppose if said immortal also acts like a teenager despite his centuries of experience, it's easy to forget his true age.

I will commend that this is definitely a TRUE Enemies-to-(Begrudging Allies to Eventual)-Lovers, and not one of those attempts where "enemies" just refer to mild annoyance/misunderstanding between two strangers that last for the first 20% of the book. Kidan and Susenyos don't give into their (physical) attraction till waaay past the midway point, and before that, they're utterly, turbulently violent towards each other; plotting each other's downfall and humiliation. That said, because I don't care for one-half of the pairing, it meant that the romance was lost on me. I can, however, see the appeal that this romance will have to many other readers. Perhaps if the beginnings of their attraction had begun in the second book of this planned trilogy, and this had focused more on their allyship-turned-friendship, I would warm to the pairing more. An Enemies to Lovers of this wild turbulence require a crazy amount of slowburn to work for me.

The dark academia aspect of Immortal Dark hinges on the gloomy atmosphere of the university setting, macabre subject matter they are learning, the presences of a secret society on campus, and the crimes that occur in said setting. There is, however, no obsession in the academic pursuits themselves by the main students; they are simply motivated to graduate the course due to reasons unrelated to academia, and aren't spurred on by their intellectual ambitions. If you're a stickler for the kind of dark academia you consume—the kind that also offers critique on academia—this may not be up your alley.

Lastly, if there ever was a case to push forth the need for a New Adult category of books, it would be Immortal Dark. Too dark and explicit to be YA, yet not having the depth, complexity and character maturity I expect from Adult books.

Also props to the narrator Jordan Cobb for her excellent work. She breathed life into so many characters; effortlessly giving each of them their own distinct voice and personality. Even with my frustration with the story at times, I still find myself immersed in the narration.

3.5 - There were many parts I liked about this book but also many I wasn’t a fan of. I liked the vampire university, Uxlay University, and the many houses that were a part of it. The dark academic setting was the best part of this book for me. You get those eerie, something is up here feelings in parts. I very much enjoyed how African mythology was woven into this book. I do feel like the world building left me confused and wanting more in parts.

Kidan is definitely a morally gray character. Most of the reasoning behind this is because of her sisters disappearance and her dislike of vampires which makes total sense but some scenes trying to play to her kindness actually felt forced to me. The enemies to lovers was good!

I’ve never encountered a title that fits a book more. The immortality of vampires and the story of an ancient African culture and kingdom was intricately weaved into the story of a modern vampire utopian society Uxlay. But it’s the darkness of the main characters that are the star. The book was screaming with questions of morality and innocence. The main characters’ level of enemies-to-lovers heat was a slow but spicy burn and was definitely giving Angel and Buffy vibes…or more like Blade and the Jamaican slayer Kendra from Buffy.

In a quest to find her missing sister Kiran, the last heir to a house in a utopian vampire human college society, infiltrates Uxlay to get answers. Of course the tenant of her home and her main suspect Susenyos are one and the same and the level of animosity and distrust is real. As the story progresses you see Kiran question everything and come to terms with her own villainy, and those of her closest friends. In a world where villains are vampires, you realize how much humans can match that same energy…and it’s such a good ride.

I will admit that I didn’t like the “ending” as it’s got a cliffhanger ending that I won’t spoil. I wanted more - but I guess that’s the sign of a good book and author #tigestgirma

This honest review was given in exchange for an advanced audiobook copy. Thanks #netgalley and #littlebrownyoungpublishers for the ARC.

Compared to the Cruel Prince and Ninth House I thought I would like this book because I do like the Cruel Prince and I love vampires. Sadly, not for me. I DNF at 40%. Here are some further thoughts:

Things I liked:
I enjoyed the narrator. I think they did a great job with giving the characters the voice that allowed you to get the overall vibe and setting of the story.

I liked the overall idea and the lore.

Things that was not for me:
I found the story very confusing. It was difficult to follow and there was a lot of different parts of the plot that were not explained.

It was on the slow side and it was difficult to find the hook to get me to want to continue reading.

I think if someone likes dark academia a lot they would like this book.

I am going to give this book a three stars, as I could understand how others may like it and I did like the voice for the audio book.

This book was captivating! The protagonist, Kidan, is on a quest to find her missing sister, June, by unraveling clues at a secret university. Driven by revenge and the desire for inheritance, Kidan is ruthlessly determined.

Her main antagonist, Susenyos, is a formidable vampire bound to Kidan’s sentient house, which complicates her efforts. She suspects him of being involved in June’s disappearance, and their mutual animosity adds tension to the story, as Susenyos often disrupts Kidan’s plans.

The novel expertly blends morally gray themes and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The writing is engaging throughout, filled with secrets and intrigue. The Gala scene and the connection between bite marks and memories were particularly intriguing.

The audiobook narrator was exceptional, capturing Kidan’s character perfectly and differentiating between voices with skill. Her performance enhanced the overall experience, making the story even more immersive.

Thank you NetGalley, Tigest Girma, and Hachette Audio for this incredible ALC. It was such a mesmerizing read! I cannot wait for the next book, what a cliffhanger—or two!

Vampire lovers, this is our time. Vampires are finally making their comeback. The last few years have had a slow but steady trickle of new YA vampire books. Immortal Dark is the latest YA fantasy with vampires and it did not disappoint! This book is perfect for fans of fantasy and dark academia.

Kidan’s sister is missing and she knows who took her–a vampire. If Kidan wants answers, she has to attend Uxlay University and learn about the history of vampires and the importance of keeping peace between them and humans. Only things don’t go as planned, once she arrives at the university she learns she’ll have to share a home with the vampire she believes took her sister. Soon, Kidan questions everything she thought she knew about vampires as she faces twists and turns at every corner.

Immortal Dark is a great debut novel full of suspense, romance, and vampires. I listened to an early copy of the audiobook and the narrator is fantastic. Her narration added to the story and really helped set the tone of the story. I can’t wait for the next book!

3 stars

I liked the aesthetic, setting, and overall magic system in this book. The thing is.... the characters... I didn't care about them.
Kidan should have been the most interesting character, but at times, she was so infuriating that i had to put the audiobook down several times.
Suseynos is giving a mix between Edward and Jacob from Twilight... but the bad parts, the immature and creepy ones tho and that's not good. How's someone so old was so childish, i dont know. Just no.
I liked the mystery and the blend of vampire lore and dark academia with Ethiopian culture.
Also, the way this was written was so good that I'll be reading more from this author.
Narration was enthralling and part of the reason I liked this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting take on Vampires. I will likely continue on with the series. The comp titles make sense for this one, it has its own feel but definitely has vibes of Ninth house and The Cruel Prince.

I tried so hard, but I couldn’t get into this one. The lore and premise drew me in at first, but ultimately couldn’t hold my attention. I also found that the narrator didn’t have many fluctuations between the different characters voices which also threw me off. I dnf’d at 55%.

I had come across this book through the author’s reels on instagram and felt very blasé with the use of ‘dark academia’ in the promo, since most people think of it as an aesthetic rather than an actual criticism of the romanticization of academia itself. Now let me be clear, this book provided no actual criticism of academia so it falls into that category. It’s not dark academia but gothic!!!! Please, call it what it is, which is gothic, gothic is the aesthetic you’re thinking of. Anyway. The GOTHIC!!!!! vibes were immaculate, I loved the old campus setting and I almost wish we had gotten more descriptions of buildings, decor, etc. I enjoyed this version of the vampires the author created, very much inspired by African folklore but also very dark and, I’m sorry, but you can’t write a vampire book and not make it dark, it doesn’t work otherwise. What truly hit the mark for me was Kidan as a character and her relationship with Susenyos: she is very much morally grey which I truly appreciated and I just liked her depth in general. She was a little too reckless at times and it can become quite annoying but it didn’t happen too much in the second half of the novel so it didn’t bother me too much either. The enemies-to-lovers was mwah🤌😙, they had great chemistry and I’m really curious how that will unfold in the next books. The plot was overall rather good, I don’t have anything bad to say about it aside from that it was maybe a little all over the place at times? It’s more of a feeling that it wasn’t really perfect but I can’t explain it and it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book too much. A really good read that I would recommend to vampire lovers! 4 stars

kidan grew up far away from the arcane society she was born into, where human bloodlines gain power through vampire companionship. she decides to infiltrate the elite uxlay academy when her sister, june, goes missing and she’s sure susenyos, the vampire bound to her family, had something to do with the disappearance. as she works on finding her sister, a murder mirroring june’s disappearance causes kidan to sink further into the ruthless underworld of vampires.

i really don’t know if i have the words to do this book justice, but i’m going to try.

immortal dark is such a unique vampire book, while still using some themes we all know and love. i loved how the world was built in an immersive way. i enjoyed learning about how uxlay academy came to be, including how vampires and humans are now friendly (or at least, they’re supposed to be). the companionship and house concepts were also very interesting.

now…let me say, as someone who generally prefers friends to lovers, this book had the best enemies to lovers romance i’ve probably ever read. there was soooo much tension between kidan and susenyos, and every time i thought they were about to give in, it was drawn out just a bit more. i really loved how their relationship played out.

narration: jordan cobb narrated the audiobook and did a wonderful job bringing the story to life. i felt immersed throughout the whole book.

immortal dark is one of my new favorite books, not only in the vampire category, but overall. i can’t wait for book two!

It started off slow, but once the action started I couldn’t put it down. I love the references to ancient African culture, and Kidan’s strength. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.