Again David has managed to turn certain supernatural characters on their head which we saw in The Alchemy of Moonlight and now David turns his attention onto Vampires in A Vile Season and flips it by turning it into sumptuous historical gothic novel with LGBTQ.

For me my favourite character hands down was Lucian he was so entertaining and loved how David showed his before and after. I admit I nearly took a star off the ratings as I found some of the chapters too long but then I had to put the star back when sneaky David did a HUGE plot twist which I was not expecting.

For all the above reasons A Vile Season receives 4 stars

I decided not to finish this book at 59%. I looooved the author's debut but this one differed so much in the writing style that it just wasn't my cup of tea. It will find its audience though—it's frothy and accessible.

I knew I would love this book after knowing that it involves vampires. I haven't read many books that include vampires, but my most favorite show so far is The Vampire Diaries. I have other favorite shows too, but TVD has imprinted on me. Maybe that's why I love the concept of vampires. My first and only book I read of vampires is Salem's Lot, and I dearly loved reading it. So that makes "A Vile Season" my second vampire read, or should I say, second favorite vampire read.

The story follows Lucian, who has been a vamp for 2 centuries. When he encounters a "God" vampire, he is given a task to secure the hand of a future duke for marriage and find the vampire hunters. The God vamp takes away his immortality so he can live among humans.

Lucian's character was likeable from the start. I loved how charming he was, but as the story progressed and glimpses of his past were revealed, I began to hate how much he hurt humans when he was a vampire. The interesting part is that his emotions returned when he became human again, and he began to realize how cruel he had been. He regrets so many things he did that show he was not a bad person by heart.

The portrayal of how the influence of others can change a person was well done. How Maxwell's presence changed Lucian was so good to read. It clearly shows that when we have good-hearted people around us, we can be the best version of ourselves. I loved the chemistry between Maxwell and Lucian. They were just so cute together.

The plot involves games that must be won to secure the hand of the future duke, Ambrose. However, the story mainly focuses on finding a missing person, which adds an interesting twist. There was this thrill until the end to know what happened to that missing person.

The side characters were also given enough space in the story, which I liked. Even though I anticipated most of the twists, the final twist in the climax surprised me. I surely didn't see that coming.

If you’re a fan of vampire tales blended with cute romance, thrilling plots, complex characters, and unexpected twists, A Vile Season is definitely a book to check out!

Lucian was a vampire. One of the best, the brightest, and the most beautiful. His cruelty was infamous, his bloodthirstiness unmatched … until hunters stormed his castle, forcing him to hide in a cave in the woods. There he met Vrykolakas, the vampire god, who demanded Lucian infiltrate a nearby human house — a duke’s house, where they were currently holding a contest to find the heir a spouse — and discover the names of the vampire hunters that stalked his children. To this end, he turned Lucian … human.

Cast into the care of Helena, his one-time servant, Lucian begins to make friends. There are a host of hopefuls vying for the young ducal heir’s hand and, of course, Ambrose, the tall, dark, and handsome heir Lucian is supposed to woo and wed. Then there’s Maxwell, Ambrose’s younger brother, who is quite taken with Lucian. Maxwell is charming and friendly, though Lucian thinks little of him until the young man is nearly kidnapped. It’s from Maxwell that Lucian learns that Emett, the third brother, has been missing for some nights and no one knows where he is. And then there’s the blood left in his bed, and the dark paintings of tombstones and twisted trees. Then Lucian and his new friends meet Raven, Lucian’s vampire child, who hates him, and now that Lucian’s mortal and vulnerable, wants to kill him.

What happened to Emett? Who are the vampire hunters? And can Lucian charm Ambrose into picking him as his new spouse?

I think this is a book that will have more appeal to a younger audience — middle school to high school — with the way it’s written, the way character motivations are patiently explained, the lack of nuance or depth, and the simple, obtuse, and — sorry, but — often unintelligent characters. There’s a delicate balancing act between letting the reader in on the mystery while keeping the characters in the dark, not letting them know or guess information they don’t have yet … and having your characters unable to put together a simple puzzle. And I regret to say that this book never quite finds that balance.

Lucian comes across not very smart. I can somewhat justify his absolutely naivety in thinking Helena, the woman who he lied to for years, betrayed, abandoned, and cast out of his house, will now welcome him back into her new life with open arms, serve and protect him, and excuse his previous actions. It’s foolish, but it’s the sort of blind thoughtlessness and self-absorption that Lucian shows as a character through the whole book. However, when it comes to the story itself, man of his thoughts and actions just don’t make sense. There’s a missing boy who has been painting pictures of tombstone and a dark forest, a forest Lucian now knows is right up against a ‘haunted’ house. Does he or anyone else think to check the house? No. Not until the end of the book. Lucian sees a vampire in the woods, his former apprentice who wants to kill him. He shoos the humans away, pretends to kill her, and goes back to the house to play more ball games — and is shocked when a vampire shows up and kills one of the guests. And then it’s back to ignoring the situation. There are missing sheep from the village, people everywhere coming down with a strange paleness. But maybe it is just bandits stealing the sheep, or servants getting sick. Lucian, the one-time vampire, never once wonders if it’s a vampire in the wood, stealing the livestock, preying on the party guests. Not once.

In terms of romance, Lucian seems to have no real inclination towards Maxwell. Oh, he likes the guy, but there’s little thought of romance. Sadly, Maxwell, on the other hand, has fallen hard and fast for the mysterious stranger. Lucian is someone who has come into his familiar life with its familiar people — almost everyone at the ball to win his brother’s hand in marriage is known to him — like a breath of fresh air. Lucian listens to Maxwell, laughs with him, and favors him with attention over Ambrose. And Maxwell thrives in it, thinking Lucian means something by it. But when Lucian is with Maxwell, neither his actions nor his words give much encouragement, and in Lucian’s thoughts, while there are some tepid lines about how nice Maxwell’s company is, there’s no sense of interest, let alone love. Lucian just seems absolutely indifferent to people. He has nothing against physical intimacy, but it doesn’t really touch him. He seems to only think of romance when the story needs him to; otherwise, he’s just focused on himself and his immediate needs and wants. Lucian’s not a terrible character, but he’s shoved around by the plot, made to say things that don’t feel natural for the person the book has shown him to be, so much so that I feel both offended on his behalf, and irritated with the book as a whole.

This might be a fun book for someone on the younger side of YA, with the slow and deliberate conversations, the utterly clueless characters, the blatant foreshadowing and vampire-centric breadcrumbs, and the ending with all disputes settled and everyone getting a simple happy ending. However, for older readers, I think this might be too simple, too obvious, and the characters too two-dimensional for the book to be enjoyable. That and the romance is tepid at best, forced at worst. Personally, this is a pass from me.

This was an interesting premise with an okay execution. I am really picky about writing styles that I enjoy reading and this was just too choppy. The book threw the reader into the deep end immediately without any kind of backstory or background about the characters. It felt like you were supposed to care for the characters and the stakes, but that’s hard when you don’t understand the motivations. It felt more like I was reading fanfiction for Bridgerton than an edited novel on shelves. I did like the atmosphere and the general plot, but it needed more thought and development.

Thank you to Colored Pages Book Tours and Page Street YA for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A queer normative society, vampires and a forbidden romance, made for a very entertaining read!

I absolutely adored Lucian’s character development as the story progressed, and the friends he made along the way were all well fleshed out!

I highly recommend checking out this fantastic book once it is released, 22/10/2024!

4 stars

You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.

I devoured this YA Historical Romance book in one day. It was such a fun read, with vampires, angry villagers, vampire hunters, dukes, court intrigue and revenge. The main character, Count Lucian, has been a vampire for centuries. He's gotten comfortable living in a remote old castle with his servants and protege. But, all good things come to an end and he's chased out of his castle by a group of vampire hunters.

On the run and unlikely to survive on his own, he comes across a god of vampires who offers him a deal. Track down all the vampire hunters, win the hand of a Duke in a bachelor type of contest, and he'll make Lucian the most powerful vampire. But if he loses, the god will torture Lucian forever. The god makes Lucian a mortal, and for the first time in centuries, Lucian can walk in the sunlight, eat and appreciate real food, and have human emotions. These all change Lucian (for the better), and as he becomes besotted with the Duke's brother, he tries to decide if being mortal with his new love is worth giving up immortality. Add in a curious mystery and lots of backstabbing, and this book is a hit.

I loved reading Lucian's progression from cruel and jaded vampire to a loving and considerate person that seeks to protect others. The changes were subtle enough to not give you whiplash, but moved the story along so that the book didn't drone on for 500 pages. The Duke is a vain goofball, so it's no wonder Lucian is drawn to his warm and caring brother instead. I figured out the overarching mystery pretty quickly, but I still enjoyed reading how the author revealed it. The catfights and jockeying for the Duke's attention between the contestants was fun to read and reminded me of The Selection and other books that center on a game for a royal's hand in marriage. If you want a quick and easy read that will make you smile and keep you on your toes, this book is for you.

I was provided a complimentary e-copy of this book from TBR Beyond Tours, NetGalley, the author and Page Street YA. All opinions are my own.

I loved the diversity this book offers. A Regency, vampire, horror, queer diverse read.
Lucian has been made human again - searching for the group of hunters who forced him from the comfort of his home. A duke searching for a partner provides the perfect cover for this investigation.
Filled with great side characters, lots of drama - an entertaining read.

I have read two books about vampires in the last few weeks and they’ve both been drastically different in the best ways.

I love Lucian so much. His personality and thoughts are on point. There are so many of his quotes I could’ve picked, but I went with the ones that made that first impression sink in. He grows a ton on his journey, and he certainly has his quirks, but I can’t help but smile reading his throwaway thoughts about everything going on, especially when you compare his ego to Ambrose’s.

The ending was not quite what I had anticipated. While I had assumed the call was coming from inside the house, I didn’t think it would be that way, and it made for a refreshing end, in my opinion. I really shouldn’t have been surprised, considering how Ferraro’s The Alchemy of Moonlight ends (which easily goes down as one of my favorites), but I found myself tapping away in denial about what was happening and unable to look away. I don’t want to spoil too much, but it gives the characters I love the ending they deserve.

I have to mention the worldbuilding. From how the world of vampires appears to work, to the hunters, to the ghoul hunt, I found it unique from what I’ve read before. The ghoul hunt was easily my favorite scene of the book and I need novellas just to see more of them. Lucian’s vampire powers were interesting and different while staying rooted in what I would call staples of the genre.

"Bridgerton meets The Bachelor in this queer regency romance of a vampire competing for the heart of a duke.

After being run out of his castle by vampire hunters, Count Lucian encounters the god of vampires, Vrykolakas, while in hiding. Unhappy with how many vampires have been bested by hunters, Vrykolakas gives Lucian a test: Infiltrate the future duke's marriage games as a suitor and uncover the clandestine vampire hunters Vrykolakas suspects lurk in their midst. The god strips Lucian of his immortality so he can walk amongst mortals - making him human for the first time in centuries. If Lucian succeeds, Vrykolakas will make him the most powerful vampire in existence, but if he fails, the god of vampires will torture him for the rest of his life.

Unfortunately, Lucian isn't prepared for the emotions that come with humanity, nor the treacheries of courting season with fellow nobles posing as friends, enemies, and wholly unsuitable romantic distractions. To win the life he wants, Lucian will have to decide if being a vampire is worth giving up the friendship and love he's found."

And in the spirit of this Susanna Clarke laden week, MORE Regency Magic!

A fun read, but there were a lot of details that made it hard for me to like it more than I did. I felt like we kept being told the stakes were high but they never actually were. The big mashup of genres didn't have enough of any element to make any of them stand out. Too many promising plot starts that were barely developed and honestly (sadly!) too many vampires in the end. I was really surprised and disappointed by how easily things worked out for basically everyone but the expected villains. Overall, gave me Vampire Diaries vibes, but more like the later seasons than the first seasons.

I was super excited to read this because it sounded like such a fun concept. Lucian, a vampire, is turned back into a mortal human by his god so that he can infiltrate English society to find out who belongs to a secret society of vampire hunters who have driven him out of his home. Part of his bargain includes a bet that he can not only find the information but also win the hand of a duke in a marriage competition. It's like queer Bridgerton with vampires.

Unfortunately, the book ended up falling flat for me. The prose just didn't feel like it flowed naturally, there were a decent amount of typos, and none of the characters felt like they had any depth. For someone who spent his immortal life as a creature of the night, Lucian came off as pretty naive (yes, I know it's been awhile since he's been mortal...but he was mortal once and should understand how the human world works).

3.5
This is an intriguing tale that incorporates aspects of classic vampire myths in a fresh narrative. While it didn't always hold my attention in the middle, there is a lot of momentum at the end and the climax had me on the edge of my seat.

Lucian, once human, then vampire, has been turned human again by the god of vampires to discover the identities of human vampire hunters. He must compete for and win a duke's hand in marriage in order to do so. Things get complicated when he realizes that one of the duke's younger brothers has disappeared under mysterious circumstances and finds himself drawn to the youngest brother, Maxwell, instead of the duke.

The premise of a vampire infiltrating a duke's marriage games is both captivating and unique.
The story follows Count Lucian, a vampire forced to become human to complete a dangerous mission. As he navigates the complexities of courting season, Lucian grapples with newfound emotions and the challenges of maintaining his true identity. The author does a great job of exploring the contrast between Lucian's centuries-old vampire life and his newfound human experiences.

What I Loved:

Unique Premise: The combination of vampires, regency romance, and reality TV-style competition is a refreshing and entertaining take on the genre.
Character Development: Lucian's journey from immortal vampire to mortal human is well-crafted, allowing for significant character growth and emotional depth.
Intrigue and Mystery: The underlying mystery of the vampire hunters adds an element of suspense and keeps the reader engaged.
What Could Have Been Better:

Pacing: While the story is enjoyable, some parts might feel a bit slow-paced, particularly as Lucian adjusts to his new human life.
Romance: While the romantic tension is present, the development of the main relationship could have been explored in more depth.
Overall:

A Vile Season is a captivating and entertaining read that blends elements of fantasy, romance, and mystery. Fans of Bridgerton and The Bachelor will appreciate this unique take on the regency romance genre. While the pacing could be improved in some areas, the story's overall premise and character development make it a worthwhile read.

The premise of this was absolutely absurd in a very fun way. The set up: a former vampire, now human, has to compete in games of skill and cunning in a bachelor-style competition for the hand of a duke in order to gain his vampire powers back again. Except at least on the bachelor, everyone is (presumably) there to fall in love; in this competition, if you fail to dance, perform music, or hunt well enough, you’re eliminated. It’s a dinner party from a Jane Austen novel crossed with Survivor.

The main romance that develops in this is sweet and develops very naturally, with it both obvious from the start what will happen but also fairly organic. Where I think this got a little muddled is with the vampires; do we forgive them because they couldn’t control themselves? If not, has the main character really reconciled with all of the horrible things he’s done? If so, it’s hard to then reconcile the vampire hunters. The whole thing is quite messy and I’m not sure the wrap up in the last 5% of the book did it justice. But, I think the book very much tries to grapple with those issues, and I particularly liked how it handled Helena’s role in the plot.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

A Vile Season is a riveting, wildly addictive YA historical fantasy with vampires, romance, and captivating characters.

I had the best time with this one. From the start, I was hooked by Lucian’s personality. As I saw more characters, I fell even more in love with David’s fantastic character development. The world-building was lovely, and I enjoyed the Bridgerton vibes and inclusion of vampires and other monsters. The romance was so sweet and satisfying, and I loved the epilogue and ending. The pacing was wonderful, and the writing beautifully fit Lucian and the story. I highly recommend this spellbinding story!

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy!

You say queer vampire story that involves a marriage plot and I already know that I will be reading it. A Vile Season is exactly the book I love and it did not disappoint. I was thoroughly entertained throughout the book and will absolutely be recommending it to everyone upon its release.

A Vile Season is a fun story of one Lucian Cross, ex vampire, now human who has to take part in marriage games for a very serious deal.

The book's premise and cover are very attractive and immediately caught my attention. The first few chapters are equally enjoyable, setting up a good premise. The vampirisms paralleled with aristocratic wedding shenanigans set up a great introduction to the book.

I did like the author's attempt to write wide and diverse characters, most of which I liked a lot. The conversations and dialogue flowed naturally as well. However, after the 40% mark it felt like the characters lacked depth and it was more of the same thing over and over.

For me, the charm was more about fascinating marriage games than the underlying mystery but the plot focuses more on the mystery which I found to be outright boring. I honestly did not care much about Emmett or Ambrose.
Though Lucian & Maxwell were cute, I felt the potential of romance felt underdeveloped.

While this book held a lot of promise, I thought it left a lot to be desired. Regardless, it's a funny, cute little book which is an enjoyable one time read.

Fantastic book. I adored this. I wanted to get approved for it so badly and I was so happy I got to read it. The tension was there. The chemistry was there. The plot was there. Overall this was such a fun read and one I really enjoyed. I highly recommend it. It had everything I could have wanted in a book and it was exactly what I needed to get out of my reading slump.

An absolutely excellent queer vampire story that digs into how monsters are made and unmade. The banter was genuinely so fun and entertaining; the flirting was incredible. No notes. The ambience and worldbuilding was crafted artfully, and the character dynamics and development of relationships between all of the characters, both romantic and platonic, was so much fun. There's only one small nitpick I have for the worldbuilding, and that's the use of modern terms for ethnicity that don't really make sense even in a fantasy progressive alternate Regency history and thus took me a little out of the story, but that's more of a blip than anything. I think this could have been good as a secondary world fantasy to balance both the desire for the Regency aesthetic and the queernormative/no racism setting, just swapping out a couple of fantasy names for places here and there. But again, it doesn't really detract from the experience. In the end this is a really well done, extremely fun and entertaining vampire romance that examines both humanity and immortality, and (small spoilers I guess) has a surprisingly happy ending! Highly recommend it to anyone looking for good vampire fiction.