This book had such a great premise! There are some exciting and fun horror that I enjoyed. The three stars aren't because the story is bad. I found the writing super confusing. I had trouble keeping up with the characters. Who was where? Why? What did I miss? Was I daydreaming? Whatever the cause it was hard for me to follow the thread until the ending. And what an ending it was.
I did enjoy the narrator.

Sapphic vampires in the roaring twenties should have been amazing. Instead this was a little too preachy and a lot too pedestriation. I can see whybothers love it but I didn't care for this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB media for this audio arc.

I want to be upfront and say I DNF this at 17%

I was intrigued by the unique Harlem era jazz setting for this vampire fantasy. However, it was slow placed in the beginning and hard to follow at first. This definitely could be a me problem and not a book problem though. I thought the narrator did an amazing job with the differing voices as well.

⭐️⭐️.5

🩸Sapphic
🎹Vampire X Vampire Hunter
🩸Friends to Enemies to Lovers
🎹Set during the Harlem Renaissance
🩸Female Rage

This was an ALC and E-ARC.

I really really wanted to love this one. I love sapphic romances and then add in vampires I was ready to devour. The build up took a long time. The last 5 percent was the best part of the book as far as action and shock.

The storyline was very predictable. There is a bit at the end that leads up to their being a second book. I don’t really feel any closure for first part of the book.

I think that this book was just not for me but I know a few book besties that would love it.


The narrator did an amazing job! They conveyed all emotions and kept me focused. I would definitely listen to more by this narrator.

I wanted to love this...but I just didn't. I really struggled to get through this.

I must say the book was easy to read and it did touch on important topics. However, it wasn't for me. The pacing was too slow for me and the mystery just didn't captivate me. I didn't connect with any of the characters or the relationships.
But overall, my biggest issue was the plot. I just couldn't get into it and really had to force myself to finish it.
It is really unfortunate because I was looking forward to this...
Needless to say this made me crave a good vampire story.
I would also be open to trying another book by the author, just not in this series.
Also, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-Arc.

“It’s easy to do anything when you love someone. Even if it’s the hardest choice you’ve ever made.”

I loved the idea of a 1920s vampire fantasy - a la Great Gatsby - but make it sapphic. Sadly, this book was just not for me.

I wanted to love this book. In fact, if I had read it vs listening to it, I may have. The premise of Jazz Age, sapphic vampires in Harlem checks so many boxes for me. The problem was the narration.
I had such a hard time with this book. My problem was that the narrator didn’t differentiate between the females’ voices enough for me. I’m an audiobook girlie & I like to listen at 1.3-1.5x speed. I had to turn down the speed so I could differentiate between Layla, Elsie, and the other characters. Because of this, I struggled getting into the book & casually listening during my commute & errands.
I may give the book another chance in print, but I’d pass on the audio.

I had this ARC in both print and audio, and I will say that even though I enjoyed the story, the narration was very difficult for me. The male voices were so unpleasant and uncomfortable, and the 20s gangster accents felt very overdone.

4.5 stars!!!

I was super excited when I was approved for the ARC of this since it was one of my most anticipated books of the year! And I gotta say, this book did NOT disappoint! I think I'm a true enemies to lovers girl and this book really scratched the itch I had for an incredible fantasy romance. The banter between the love interests had me giggling and kicking my feet, which is everything anyone ever wants from a romance. I loved that the romance was also kind of forbidden, it added high stakes to the characters spending time together. I can't wait to read more in this series, it was so much fun and I always had a hard time putting it down everytime I picked it up to read. The only reason it's lowered 0.5 stars is because I felt like things lagged a little bit in points. I wanted the action and romance to continue faster, so it's definitely more of a me thing than a book thing. I really enjoyed the narrator's voice in this audiobook. I think it really fit the characters well and she did a really great job showing the character's emotions through her tone of voice. I had a little trouble figuring out which characters thoughts we were following at first but I eventually got used to it.

I enjoyed the narrator. She did an amazing job with the different characters. The story vampire wise was great. Romance wise not the best. If that is what you are looking for it was seriously lacking. It did end with me wanting more and looking forward to the next book however.

Wow! Hayley Dennings should be proud, this is a wonderful debut. I flew through this. The narrator did a wonderful job narrating this novel and really bought the story to life. Dennings did a wonderful job transporting readers to 1920 Harlem. The story is unique, gripping, has an intoxicating atmosphere, and features diversity. We follow Layla and Elise who were once friends turned enemies turned complicated as they work together to solve a mystery. This Ravenous Fate is the perfect fall read or listen and is a must read is you are a fan of vampires, specifically sapphic vampires!

Vampires vs the saints. It’s almost like a Romeo and Juliet. Neithe one should be together but they find a way and kindle what was there.

Layla is framed for murders she did not commit and this up to her old friend Elise to prove her innocence. However, Elise Layla because when Layla first turned, she tried to kill Elise. Little by little things do not add up to Elise and she finds the real root to the problem and try’s to fix it even if it kills her.

Friends to enemies to lovers.

In 1926 Harlem, the reapers, vampiric creatures born from medical experiments, stalk the night. The Saint family hunt the reapers, keeping them at bay. 18 year old Elise has returned home after spending 5 years in Paris to reluctantly take over the family business. Layla is a reaper, who was turned 5 years ago. Layla is accused of a reaper attack, and enlists the help of Elise to clear her name.

I was really intrigued by a lesbian vampire x vampire hunter romance. I really wanted to like this, but something about it just didn't work for me. This was quite slow in my opinion, it took me quite awhile to get into it. I think the world building was lacking in this. I liked the childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-reluctant allies-to-lovers aspect, but wish the enemies aspect lasted a little longer. I also wish we got more of a glimpse into their initial friendship before they become enemies. I liked Layla, and thought she was an intriguing character. Her anger and rage was the best part. I loved how she would call Elise out on her bullshit prejudiced views and didn't let her get away with anything. Elise was a little harder for me to like. I think she was complicated, but a bit blind to her privilege.

Really cool vampire origin story couched in the systemic racism of America and the slave trade. Now in the 1920s tensions after the Civil War are high with the added pressure of Reaper violence and discrimination complicating everything. But there’s power there, too. In all this, our FMCs also navigate their own personal betrayals and feelings.

I really loved the atmospheric friction, the slippery secrets, and the cool worlds building. A great start to a compelling series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

I loved the world building in 1920’s, the setting and the intentionality of the book to address bigger topics like race and trauma in a world of vampires and black culture. However, it honestly took me awhile to get into this book...I’m not a big fan of historical fiction in general but I know it was needed for this book. Elise and Layla have a great story and with slayers it should have been a win but I didn’t connect to them like I wanted to. I think that the world building and story got confusing at parts. I will also preface that I listened to the audiobook and while I appreciated the authenticity and voice of the audio talent, I feel like reading the physical or ebook version would have been a better fit for me at least. I will reread and test this theory soon.

Either way, it’s worth a listen and definitely a read. I wanted to give it a 5, but there’s more to the series so I have high hopes for the next installment.

Thanks to #netgalley and #rbmedia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well the angst and the family drama was on 100, and never really let off the gas.

But the vibes were right. The yearning, the plot, the characters were all really great and made for a really atmospheric read.

I think my only issue is that both Elise and Leila sounded a lot a like (there was only one narrator), and sometimes it was hard to parse whose brain we were in, but other than that, it was really good read and I enjoyed what I think is a great read to start the fall, October vibes.

Thank you to Recorded Books and Netgalley for an audio copy.

🌑✨ I just finished This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings, and wow, what a journey! This dark, gothic fantasy kept me hooked from start to finish with its atmospheric writing and intense plot, and reapers, aka VAMPIRES! Elise and Layla’s struggle with fate, curses, and inner demons was captivating, and the world-building was beautifully eerie. This was set in 1920’s Harlem, I loved that! If you’re into stories that blend supernatural elements with deep emotional struggles, this one’s for you. Can't wait to see where Dennings takes us next! 🌒🖤

Thank you NetGalley and Recorded books for the ALC!

- I loved the concept and atmosphere-friends to enemies to lovers + sapphic + vampire x vampire hunter + 1920s Harlem Renaissance? Count me in!
- I struggled a bit with the mystery. The mystery itself was a bit all over the place, and it didn’t feel as urgent as it seemed it should. The resolution felt a bit abrupt, and a bit cartoon villain, but this could be expanded on in the next book!
- The audio helped a ton with the pacing, and I highly recommend it! The writing is so well done, so the audio let me focus more on that without getting distracted by the slower pace.
- The world building for the vampires was a little confusing at times, but I thought the ideas behind it were so interesting and not ones I’ve seen in other vampire books!

This one was slow going at the beginning. Lots of exposition dumping mixed with some bloody vampire rage that didn’t make a whole lot of sense. The book does pick up about 1/2 way through for a while. I was able to become invested in Layla and Elsie even though I didn’t really like either of them. But things start to. fall apart again for me towards the end I think this was just too much and not for me

I was able to listen the audiobook and that kept me impressed involved. I enjoyed listening but still struggled to follow all the dynamics toward the end.

Thanks to recorded books and NetGalley for access to ALC for review.

Really good! I loved the characters; they felt so dimensional. The book explored themes of racism, sexism, medical experimentation, etc while combining it with the fantasy element of reapers (vampires). I do feel like some of the actions and dialogue didn’t quite fit with the 1920s but I have to imagine that obviously in a world with reapers things may be different in that way too.