Hmmmm what to say about this book.

ON PAPER
This book has it all. Black Vampires in Harlem during the 1920s?! PERFECT. The premise is golden and was bringing me back to my reading vampire YA days.

However,
Something fell flat. I had a very hard time connecting to the characters and even really understanding what was going on? Like I got it but like the pacing was just a little TOO clunky for my taste. Characters all felt a little 2D to me. Could be because it literally is a YA novel and I am in no way the target demographic but...

This was such a unique concept for a book and I enjoyed it! I didn’t love the narrator, and it did take away from the book a bit, but overall I enjoyed!

This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings is an intriguing mix of historical fantasy set in Jazz-era Harlem, with a dash of forbidden love and lots of action. The story centers around Elise and Layla—former friends who are forced to team up amidst a chaotic world of reapers, vampires, and family drama.

The world-building is rich, and the plot is fast-paced, keeping you on your toes from start to finish. While the enemies-to-lovers romance between Elise and Layla is a slow burn, it adds depth to the story without overshadowing the action. However, Elise's character development felt a bit slow at times, which might leave you wanting more from her.

The highlight of the audiobook is definitely Tamika Katon-Donegal's narration. She brings the characters to life with distinct voices and emotions, making the listening experience more immersive. If you're into complex characters, intense power struggles, and a touch of magic, this audiobook is worth a listen!

3.5 stars

When I read the description of the book I needed to read/listen it. It takes place in New York Harlem in the 1920s. There is a conflict between the reapers and the Saint family. I did not feel invested in the characters which made it challenging to get through the audiobook. I didn’t understand why Layla and Elise didn’t act on their hatred earlier because their romantic interest was unclear until about 60% in. At 70%, my perspective changed. I was invested in the storyline and wanted to know what would happen next. This is a perfect book for the fall/spooky season. The narrator made the story come to life. I will be reading the second book.

Thank you, RBmedia and NetGalley, for an advanced ARC of this book as an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Let's begin:

"sapphic /vampire /romance/friends-enemies-lovers"
This is how I would describe this book on a surface level.
Vampires are back, and not only are they back, they are vicious now. 

Just to clarify some things, reapers are a type of vampire that were made in a laboratory. Basically, people were experimenting on Black people with some weird chemicals, and the result was reapers.

The book takes place in 1920 where racism was very popular and Black people were criticized for breathing . Like imagine being a reapper ( who is basically trash ) and black :| like damn .

We have two main characters in this story: Layla (who is my favorite) and Elise. Elise is back from France and is ready to take over her family business. People and reapers are turning up dead, and it's her job—and Layla's—to find out what is happening.

I loved the fact that even though Layla is a reaper, she is not sorry that she kills people for blood. This is who she is now, and she is trying her best to survive. She might not like it, but that's her life now.

Elise will do anything for her family, especially her little sister. I found her very annoying and naive at times, but she grew on me by the end.


I liked it. I liked the characters and the plot wasn’t something i necessarily care for .

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This follows Elise, musical prodigy and eldest living child of the Saint vampire aka reaper hunting empire. She returns home from studying piano in France to visit her family to find Harlem more dangerous than when she left. Her father has named her younger sister heir to the empire, but Elise wants nothing more than to protect her sister, so she makes him a bargain he can't resist. This puts her in harms way and back in touch with her former best friend Layla who was turned several years ago. Layla has a vendetta against the reapers, but when she is framed for a crime she didn't commit she must work with Elise to uncover what is going on in reaper territory and causing chaos on her turf. The former friends uncover more than they bargained for as they learn about what happens behind closed doors between the reapers, the Saints, and those with deep pockets to keep the city running.

I found this to be a bit too long, and while I can appreciate a longer book with a slow burn plot this didn't keep my interest. There wasn't enough action, character development, or paranormal elements to keep me invested in listening to the book. This had all of the elements of a novel I would normally be very interested in vampires, a mystery element, morally grey characters, a romance; however the execution didn't work for me. I didn't feel the chemistry between Layla and Elise, I would have preferred the repair their friendship before delving into a romance.

Overall, I think this has all of the elements to be a great book and series, however it missed the mark for me. I think younger readers will really enjoy this. I think the slower pace paired with the author trying to tackle alot of topics in one book made it hard for me to focus on what was going on. The author does tackle some heavy and important topics, but I lose track if there are too many at once. This book reminded me quite a bit of These Violent Delights as it has some similar elements and is about the same length. I really enjoyed These Violent Delights, and while there are some major differences between the two tales if you liked one of these you may enjoy the other.

This Ravenous Fate is the first book of a historical fantasy duology sets in the Jazz Harlem era, packed with lots and lots of actions, angsty forbidden love enemies-to-lovers, complex family dynamics, power struggles, and magic. I'm glad I got to try the audiobook because the narrator was amazing. She sets out different tones and different voices for each character. Through the narrator, I could feel like I was in the story and watching all the events untangled in front of my eyes, I could feel the suspense when a reaper lunged at someone, the longing heartache between the lovers, and the chilling atmosphere. It was a wild ride.

This story was packed with actions from the start, making the romance as a subtle sub trope, which I liked. Instead, this book gave more stage on the world building, the multi-layered characters development, and the fast-paced plot. Although, I must say, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance hits the hardest.

Elise's development was too slow for my liking. I often found myself wanting to slap her to reality because she is the one causing my favorite character, Layla, the roughest pain. But, making me worked up on a character showed how well the author and the narrator were. In this book, we saw more of Elise's character development, but honestly, I enjoyed Layla's side of the story more. I hope to see more of Layla and Sterling in the second book. Josie annoyed me a bit to be honest, but I'm looking forward to her development in the second book.

Though it has lots of actions, the story could feel dragged at certain parts, making me double the speed of the narration. The writing and the narration were beautiful, but somehow it was not immersive enough for me. Perhaps it was because certain parts felt dragged.

Vampires in Harlem, in the 1920's... YES PLEASE!
This book was beautifully written, though the plot seemed to become skewed at points. The multiple conflicts, political, strained family situations, forbidden friendship/love. There was a lot going on but I was locked in. I do wish that it moved along a bit quicker..the pace became slightly stressful, it could totally be because I was so committed to finding out the ending.

I was given an audio ARC and enjoyed it. The narrator doing all of the voices made me chuckle...she is NOT good at male voices..lol. This is not a deal-breaker however, Tamika Donegal did a great job!

I can't wait to see what book 2 will bring with it!

Thank you Netgalley, and Haley Dennings for the ability to review this book and give my honest opinion.

Thank you to RBMedia and NetGalley for a free advanced listener’s copy. I received this copy in exchange for my honest review.

A rich historical fantasy set in 1920s Harlem. The vampire and vampire hunter love story is a tale as old as…well the invention of vampire hunters probably (I’m looking at you 2004 Van Helsing Movie) but This Ravenous Fate, I think, really leans into that proper friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope that sucks me in. In a 1920s Harlem where reapers (the vampires of this world, victims of antebellum human experimentation) stalk the night, Elise Saint is the heiress of a vampire hunting empire that manufactures vampire killing bullets. Meanwhile, on the other side of this war, Layla Quinn, a young reaper and Elise’s childhood friend, is suspected of a gruesome murder. Even worse, the victims were human. Now Elise is assigned to solve the case to earn her place as the Saint Family’s true heir and Layla is helping to clear her name even though the two girls are…not friends would be putting it lightly.

Denning’s interpretation of the homoerotic friend break-up with a magical twist was definitely present through all of Elise and Layla’s interactions but from the beginning it felt like something was missing. The two girls always felt like they were on different pages and there wasn’t much done to clue the reader in on why that is. Their initial banter always felt both too aggressive and not aggressive enough and I think that weird feeling was attached to the lack of stakes to the venom between them beyond the vague explanations given. As the mystery of the story built, though, I became much more invested.

I loved the conversations around privilege that come about due to the existence of reapers and the conversation around what makes someone human, particularly in a world where your humanity can be taken from you so violently. Our window into the lives of reapers is already biased, seeing as Layla is wrestling with her desire to be human so, even in her narration, she’s kind of tugging the reader back and forth. She hates being a reaper and the monstrosity forced upon her but she’s very defensive of reaperhood particularly when faced with prejudice from Elise. Elise, on the other hand, was easy to understand both in personality and goals and it was easy to root for her even though she wasn’t perfect. An artist who has become a reluctant heiress to her family empire in order to save her younger sister from such a fate; she’s naive and well intentioned and privileged in many ways but under privileged in others and her growth is easy to map throughout the book. Layla isn’t so easy, and I had to sit with her a while more. She was hard to pin down particularly because of her inner struggles and how monstrously she paints reapers and their existence while still finding sympathy for their plight, her own plight.

The audiobook version of this book, in particular, was a must for me. I feel like the extra personality given by the narrator, Tamika Katon-Donegal, really helped me get invested in the story during those unsteady beginning bits. She also has such a way with action scenes and the force behind her line delivery during fights made one of my least favorite aspects of any book really enjoyable (it was also helped by the fact that they were vampire fight scenes).

Overall, I really enjoyed this book for its mystery and its creative storytelling. I think it’s a perfect read for this upcoming fall season to get you into that gothic horror or noir mystery mood!

loooved this! I'm not usually a huge historical fan but I thought this was so much fun and I love childhood friends to lovers!

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Jazz Age Harlem, this gripping fantasy novel intertwines historical ambiance with supernatural intrigue, crafting a tale that's both thrilling and evocative. The story plunges readers into a 1926 New York where power struggles among oligarchs, gangsters, and vampires—known as reapers—create a dangerous, alluring world. The narrative revolves around two young women, Elise Saint and Layla Quinn, whose past friendship has soured into bitter enmity.

Elise, the reluctant heir to a powerful reaper-hunting family, finds herself thrust back into the violent, politically charged world of her family's empire after five years abroad. Her inner conflict and the heavy weight of her legacy are palpable, adding depth to her character as she navigates a city that is both her home and her enemy. Layla, a reaper with a tragic history, carries her own burdens, not the least of which is the pain of Elise's betrayal. The tension between the two former friends-turned-enemies forms the emotional core of the story, driving both their personal journeys and the overarching plot.

As reapers begin to regain parts of their lost humanity, the mystery deepens, drawing Elise and Layla together despite their tumultuous past. Their investigation into a series of brutal murders and the possibility of a reaper cure forces them to confront not only the dangers around them but also the unresolved feelings they have for each other. The narrative expertly balances romance, action, and the complex social dynamics of a richly imagined world.

The author's depiction of Jazz Age Harlem, infused with a dark, fantastical twist, is vivid and immersive. The setting acts almost as a character in itself, with its nightclubs, shadowy alleyways, and the looming presence of both human and supernatural threats. The clash between tradition and progress, humanity and monstrosity, plays out not just in the broader world but within the characters themselves, making for a story that is as introspective as it is action-packed.

Overall, this novel is a must-read for fans of historical fantasy and paranormal romance. With its rich atmosphere, complex characters, and a plot that keeps readers guessing, it offers a unique take on the vampire genre, blending the glamour and grit of the 1920s with a dark, supernatural undercurrent. Whether you're drawn in by the intrigue, the romance, or the beautifully rendered setting, this book promises an unforgettable experience.

I received a gifted audiobook ARC of this through Netgalley. I voluntarily read this book and am leaving an honest review.

I was very excited for this book for months prior to reading it, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat. I enjoyed the characters, but there were issues with pacing and it left me questioning much of the flow of the plot...

I loved the idea of this book and will likely be willing to read more from this author in the future, but unfortunately I do not think I'll be continuing this series.

This series probably could be good for someone who really loves both vampires AND prohibition era stories.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The premise of this book was exactly what I was in the mood for; a Sapphic Black vampire book set in 1920's Harlem. Unfortunately, I felt let down by this book. I liked that this book tried to tackle complex themes like racism, class, and wealth. But I think this book could have used a little more editing.

I enjoyed it enough to finish and give it a 3 star rating but I was hoping for a 4-5 star read.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.

To summarize the book: sapphic vampires in Harlem 1920s with devious plots from everyone.

I think this book does a great job at pacing, complexity of characters, and having a natural way of evolving the stats of enemies to lovers. Much of it is character driven plot, but every event and chat was impactful to the overarching story.

Not only will I 100% be interested in listening to the next installment, but I am actively looking forward to the next story.

I really struggled to get through this one. The only reason I probably did finish was because it was audio, and I was driving a lot this month, so it wasn’t that big of a deal to just put this on.
I love vampire books normally, but I don’t know- there just didn’t seem to have enough going on to really hold my interest. I also felt like it was almost 200 pages too long. I really wanted to like this one but unfortunately it just fell really flat.
I did think the narrator did a good job though.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ARC

I was really intrigued by this story. Vampires, sapphic relationship, enemies to lovers, what more could I want? Unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. I didn't find the story all that interesting nor the characters very likeable. It felt a bit bland, perhaps because I couldn't connect with the characters. It had it's highs and lows, but I don't think I'll continue the series. The political intrigue was good though.

4 ⭐️ She's a vampire and she's a vampire hunter!! 1920 Jazz Harlem gangs with vampires like what sounds better than that?! And it's sapphic, so happy to have another sapphic vampire read to add to my favorites. This was such a unique setting for a fantasy book and such a fun idea. I think this would be a great fall time read!

- Sapphic
- Vampire Hunter & a Vampire🩸
- Touch her & die
- 1920s jazz Harlem era✨
- Gangs

Thank you to Netgalley and RBmedia for the audio galley in exchange for my honest review.

I was very intrigued by the setting of 1920s Harlem during Prohibition era. Adding in vampires and enemies to lovers, I was ready to dive in.

The audio narration is really well done and Tamika Katon-Donegal brings two distinct voices to the characters of Layla and Elise, as well as unique voices to so many others.

But dude, I was lost. I don’t know if I misinterpreted things but did Layla kill Elise’s sister Charlotte? That would be the end of any love story on page without some WORK.

And I don’t feel like the work was there for the emotional arcs. Layla is shown to mourn her mentor but pretty unbothered about her lover, Mae. Elise is adamant about protecting her sister, writes her a ton of letters she doesn’t send, and then the book ends without saving her. And okay, cliffhanger. But I felt like at least THAT needed to be tied up. The emotional aspects of the story crop up without introduction, and are then cast off without much ceremony.

As far as the romance goes, if this becomes a series, I think this slow-burn wasn’t slow enough. They fight and make up a lot and it wore me down and didn’t endear me to either of them. Friends (off page) to enemies to lovers where the only love scene which occurs is between one of the main characters and somebody else. Save it for Book Two.

I also really didn’t get the mystery, I don’t know why it was so important that Elise and Layla team up. To get them together narratively, yeah, but there’s really not a good enough reason for Elise’s father to request that she do that and solve a mystery when it seemed like he was in on it the whole time. And he didn’t seem to want her to know about it. So why send her out to investigate?

But I liked what was going on at the end where the Reapers kind of end up being victims of Big Business and the commentary about how politicians and the upper class may seem to be offering a benevolent hand, but it’s for no one’s gain but their own. I wish there was more about that.

But I’m not a romance reader and this was sadly not for me, but I did enjoy the narration very much.

3.5

Thank you RB Media for the advanced listener copy!

The only thing you need to know about this book is that it is a black, sapphic, vampires.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it fun & engaging. I enjoyed the main characters, although Layla was my favorite of the two. I enjoyed the relationships between the two and i enjoyed the mystery of the book. I absolutely loved the monster x monster hunter, when done right it is truly one of the best tropes & i think this book did it really well. I really enjoyed the tension/pinning between the two main characters.

There are some things that irked me but they’re just tiny things. Elise frustrated me so much during this book especially at the end of the book, It seems she’s very the kinda person who does things before she acts. I wish the enemies lasted way longer than it did, in the very beginning there is a scene that truly shows how much they hate each other but then it turns to reluctant allies so fast. I did find the pace to be a little slow at times and i found confused at times with the mystery.

In terms of the audiobook, i really enjoyed it. The narrator did an amazing job! She had me wanting to keep listening from beginning to end. The only thing i didn’t like was it wasn’t dual narration & because of that i kept getting confused whose pov i was in.

This book was quite interesting. Vampires and humans in gangs that takes place in 1920s jazz New York. There is some sapphic love interest going on that were two ex best friends who have to work together to solve the mystery of what’s happening to the vampires. I really enjoyed the relationship to the two sisters