The first book in a decadent fantasy duology set in Jazz Age Harlem, where at night the dance halls come to life-and death waits in the dark.
It's 1926 and reapers, the once-human vampires with a terrifying affliction, are on the rise in New York.
But the Saint family's thriving reaper-hunting enterprise holds reign over the city, giving them more power than even the organized criminals who run the nightclubs. Eighteen year-old Elise Saint, home after five years in Paris, is the reluctant heir to the empire.
Layla Quinn is a young reaper haunted by her past. Though reapers have existed in America for three centuries, created by New World atrocities and cruel experiments, Layla became one just five years ago. The night she was turned, she lost her parents, the protection of the Saints, and her humanity, and she'll never forget how Elise Saint betrayed her.
Once close friends, now bitter enemies, Elise and Layla explore the city's underworld, confronting their intense feelings for one another and uncovering the sinister truths about a growing threat to reapers and humans alike.
Forgive me for copying and pasting a lot of the plot for this book. I’m very bad at describing books and my brain decides to just short circuit.
Tropes in this Book:
Romeo and Juliet kind of vibes.
Queer Romance
Betrayal
Friends to enemies to lovers
Dark Family Legacy
This book for sure was a nice little twist on what I perceived as a Romeo and Juliet kind of romance. Both love birds are on the opposite sides of a uneasy species truce. While also at odds in a political and sometimes racially decided lines.
I enjoyed this book mainly for its unique spin on vampires and the time period it was set in.
Being able to listen to and read a long was an enriching experience that left me engrossed in this novel. The narrator was perfectly chosen and brought this tale of danger and romance to life. The author was able to mix themes of race, queer romance and the weight of a family legacy into a fantastic story.
That ending left me thirsting for more like the reapers( aka vampires) in this story. I’m thankful for it being only a duology because they are my absolute sweet spot in story lengths. I can’t wait to see what book 2 will take Elise and Layla. I’m sure it will love me shooketh.
Overall: I would recommend this book to fans of vampires, queer romances and looks into species/racial divide.
4 star Read for me.

Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for audio and ebook edition of this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

Harlem is a scary place in 1926, the reapers are everywhere and only the Saint family can help. Disgusting experiments on enslaved people created the vampire-like creatures and even after centuries there is no cure. Though they grew up as friends, Elise Saint and Layla Quinn are on opposing sides of this war but after a series of mysterious murders disturb the balance they must join forces. Running through the Cotton Club, dealing with gangsters, and surviving the underbelly of Prohibition time jazz clubs the two examine their past as they set the world back in order. As Elise explores her feelings regarding her relationship with the male romantic character and Layla the heart of character comes to life. This sapphic novel would be a great asset to any high school or public library collection.

Vampires are on the rise and I am living for it. This was a fabulous historical debut with some complex characters at its core. The dynamic between Layla and Elise makes this so intriguing, with the will they won't they of their past and current animosities. Very much looking forward to the sequel!

4.5 stars*

I LOVED this. I knew going in it was a vampire book with a slow burn sapphic romance, and oh my god it DELIVERED. When I want slow burn, I mean I want SLOWWWWWWWWWW. and this WAS SLOW!!! Exactly what I wanted!!!

One of my only critiques is that the setting was supposed to be 1920s Harlem, and there were really only passing mentions of it being the 1920s. That’s the main reason why I took off half a star, but I still REALLY enjoyed this oh my god

I would like to start this by recommending you all to read the 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 on this book (blood, descriptions of violence, etc.) before reading in case any is upsetting to you.⠀
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Now, to the book: here we find Elyse & Layla, a couple of childhood best friends that had seen the end of their relationship due to unforeseen circumstances (Layla's reaperhood, her thirst for vengeance & Elyse's family being one of the culprits in that event). What first draw me to this book were the 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀, & Hayley delivered, the slow burn, the pinning, the tension. But not only the chemistry between these two was wonderfully crafted, their relationships with the other characters are also not to be pushed to the side. All of them are interesting, be that you end up loving them or wanting to see them perish. I also have to give Tamika her laurels for making each of their voices so unique & recognisable.⠀
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Now, the reaperhood. The book is set in the 1920's, with a prologue to explain further into the lore. I think is a creative, new way to write a topic so well–known in the genre, how it targets black people, how it adds to the ever present issues they face even in current times, in a society that wants nothing to do with you. It also goes into how a supposed "saviour" comes to be, come to play in this world. It's gruesome, bloody & 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻.⠀
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If i have to mention something i didn't like, which is minimal, is the long chapters, though i heavily thank the audiobook for getting me through, & some repeated descriptions, that overall didn't affect the pace & how much i enjoyed this book. The writing only made-up for it a 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱.⠀
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I really liked it & i think you will too! Again, thank you to those mentioned above for the arc.⠀

#netgalley #arc #audiobook #thisravenousfate #hayleydennings

DNF 16% in.

Thank you to RBMedia and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an e-arc and alc.

I really wanted to love this one and I do want to retry it with the ebook eventually but the audio didn’t work for me and I just at 16% in didn’t care about any of the characters. I couldn’t have cared less what happened to them and if I am not caring 16% in I tend to put the book down. It was okay and I liked the 1920s world but I wasn’t connecting to the characters.

It is 1926 and the reapers are on the rise in New York City but the Saint family has a thriving Reaper hunting empire that holds more power than the organized crime families in New York. Elise arrives home after 5 years in Paris to take her role as heir to the Saint family but she has this lingering worry that weighs more than her family’s obligations, the reapers of New York want her dead. Layla is still a new reaper and is haunted by her past, the night she lost her life, her parents, the protections of the saints, and her best friend Elise betrayed her. But when things start to go wrong for both the reapers and the Saints, they have to team up to try and figure out what is happening and save lives.

The world was the most interesting part, we see this fantastical 1920s world at the peak of the harlem renaissance with elaborate parties. I did enjoy that but it wasn’t enough to keep me engaged when I didn’t care about the characters. I do think it may have been that I wasn’t clicking with the audio so if I come back to this with the ebook I’ll update this then but I do think this will work for a lot of people it just currently didn’t work for me.

There is a lot to love about this book - really interesting worldbuilding, a great period piece, an interesting main couple. I think the only thing hampering it was making it YA. While the development of the two girls into their own as women was important to the story, I found some of its more mature themes would have worked better if they were a little older, maybe 20s. But maybe that’s my taste now as an adult reading it. I think if I read this as a teen, much like when I read Twilight which has teen characters being a bit young for some of the things that happen, I would have loved it the same.
The author has some really interesting ideas and prose that I think could really soar in a more mature setting, which is the only reason I bring it up (I don’t want to disparage YA!)
All that being said, I’m looking forward to the next book!

I enjoyed the concept of this book and it had a lot of potential. However, I didn't feel it was executed well. Also, the transition on audio was weird. It would literally change point of views without any context or break.

I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did, but it was a really solid read! The plot was super intriguing and I like the author’s writing style. However, I would’ve rated it a 4 star or higher if 1) I read it as a paperback instead of an audiobook & 2) I connected more with the characters. It’s rare that I dislike a narrator, but I really didn’t like this book’s narrator. Her version of a male voice sounds like a woman pretending to be a man. The worst two depictions are Mae’s and Dr. Hasting’s voice. They’re so nasally and it kept pulling me out of the book.

I liked Layla & Elise enough, but I didn’t love them. However, I loved the nuances to their relationship. Their history plays out to complicated yet beautiful, and that is not an easy feat to achieve. This author is truly talented. Truthfully, I think I could have loved them if I read it rather than listened, but when I don’t love the main characters I don’t fully invest myself in the story. With one exception, I didn’t like any of the side characters. Mae was so annoying and I never trusted Sterling. Baleria was SUPER COOL though. She didn’t have many scenes, but when she did, it captivated me. I would give my left toe for a novella surrounding her story.

All around, I enjoyed this book, and I will definitely read the sequel.

This Ravenous Fate is a slower moving fantasy novel set in the 1920's Harlem jazz era.
Reapers (vampires, this got confusing, they are vampires) are plaguing the area, and the Saint family has a business of taking care of this problem. Elise Saint has returned from Paris, the dutiful older daughter of the Saint family. Her former friend Layla, our additional main character, is Elise's former friend turned Reaper.

Some of the world building was really cool, special bullets created by the Saint patriarch to eradicate Reapers, the whole jazz vibe in Harlem with rival gangs tossed in, even the "mystery" presented to us: that some Reapers are now turning back into humans, had my interest piqued.

This book moved REALLY slowly for me. And while the two main characters were written well and had some good chemistry, I found myself leaving the story often, and just never totally drawn in.
It has some great features though that cannot be denied and I love the inclusion of a vampire fantasy troupe featuring POC and the Harlem setting is perfect for this story.

It ends with a clear opening for a book two, and I think this could just be the world building we need for the next installment, so I'll be looking forward to the next in series.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for this audio ARC version. Released on 8/6/2024, I appreciate the opportunity to read and review prior to publication.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book as an audiobook & for an honest review.

The main reason I asked for this book was because it was based on Vampires which are one of my favourite creatures to read about.

This story is based on Elise Saint a reaper, the once-human turned vampire with a terrifying affliction, & through the book, we are taken on an adventure in 1920s Harlem the Era of Jazz & secret clubs where things are not as they seem. Elise comes back from France deciding to take on the responsibility of being the Era to the Saint family Reapers who are thriving with power, but murders have started happening throughout the city that's been blamed on her with no one believing that more is going on than expected, Elise is trying to discover herself with the world she has chosen to live now she gave up her dreams to save her sister but stepping into these new responsibilities comes at a price & who was once her best friend becomes her enemy. As time goes by in this book we see some particular tropes laid out ( Enemies to Lovers, vampires bad, F4F. Romance, Slow Burn. Worldbuilding, Fantasy. Poc) which I think go together very well & I never felt that any character was not drawn out enough nor too little but giving up a steady paced progression into the goings on that unravel the more you progress. These characters have heart and strength which is seen in the situations that occur & through the actions they do in trying to get to the bottom of what's happening but with a Reaper (vampire) & a hunter nothing goes according to plan and chaos follows no matter where they go. The love story that you see happen is not thrown in your face but takes more of a backseat in certain scenes giving the action and the main Base of the story drawing you into wanting to find out about what's happening as much as Elise Saint on her mission to do what's right no matter the cost, you feel that she doesn't think it's right what's happening to people who are turning up dead who where once reapers but now die human & The complexity of her torn emotions of the life she had before she was a Reaper.

This book is very character-based, slow-burn and World-building book and I do not see this working for everyone, but for the ones it does, I think you will have quite a ride... I am highly looking forward to the second instalment and I also plan to do a book review on my upcoming channel Crimson's Whispering Books 📚

Thank you to Source Books for giving me the great pleasure of reading this book early. Here’s my honest thoughts!!

Set in Harlem during the 1920’s, This Ravenous Fate is a sapphic vampire fantasy made to make you feel every emotion while reading it. The journey I went on while reading this book was emotional and lovely.

The world building and pacing of this story were incredible. I was immersed in their world from the first page. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, trying to see where the story would go. I found myself so enthralled in this world and the journey these characters go on.

Elise and Layla are two complicated, complex, amazing characters who I am both afraid of and also want to wrap up in a blanket and make sure they’re okay. I loved watching them build their bond back after their initial falling out. I loved seeing them grow vulnerable with each other and find out how to trust each other again.

I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here, and I will be impatiently waiting for the next book. (Source Books, if you’re reading this, I NEED IT ASAP!!!)

Happy Pub Day to This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings.

I got an early start and just finished this one!!
Sapphic Vampire Romance you already know I was here for it. A huge thanks to Netgelly and the publisher for this advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review of this debut novel. First, the narrator did a great job keeping me engage with this story. It was a slow burn and at times I couldn’t wait to finish this and to move on to book two. I’m excited to see where the author takes these characters next in book 2.

3.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. I listened to "This Ravenous Fate" by Hayley Dennings and, for the most part, I enjoyed the performance. However, I think I would have enjoyed reading the physical copy better.

Pros:
The plot is thrilling and fast-paced. Dennings does a pretty good job weaving in themes of racial tension and systemic oppression with the clash between reaper clans and reaper hunters. It's an interesting mix that adds depth to the story. In my opinion sapphic romance did not disappoint. The friendship between Layla and Elise was believable and provided a solid foundation for their romantic relationship. I also enjoyed the investigation/mystery storyline and all of the historical context of how the reapers came to be. The way the lore is laid out is very clear and easy to understand, which sets the series up nicely. I believe this series has so much potential.

Cons:
At first, I wasn't really buying the chemistry between Layla and Elise, but as the story progressed, I started to enjoy their dynamic a little more. However, Elise's parents were insufferable. Mr. Saint felt like a bit of a caricature. He's portrayed as the stereotypical Black male villain. The narration didn't help either, as the voice change for his character was jarring and took me out of the story.

The setting is supposed to be 1920s New York, but honestly, it didn't really capture the essence of the 20s for me. Aside from the mention of the Cotton Club, it felt more like present-day. And the conflict between Elise and her dad felt a bit forced. I wish it had been fleshed out more to make it more believable. The action towards the end was a little hard to follow, and after one of the major conflicts, the story started losing my attention. The last 45 minutes or so were tough to get through.

Despite these points, I genuinely enjoyed the story especially considering it is Dennings debut novel. I'm definitely picking up a physical copy and will continue reading the series. I'm excited to see Hayley Dennings grow as an author because she is truly talented.

In jazz age Harlem, reapers, once-human vampires, are on the rise. Luckily for the Saint family, this helps their reaper-hunting business, giving them even more power. Elise Saint is returning home after five years in Paris as the business’s reluctant heir. Layla Quinn is a young reaper haunted by her past. The night she was turned five years ago is also the night she lost her parents and the Saints’ protection. When Layla is framed for a reaper attack, she works with Elise to investigate the murders and how they might be linked to a reaper cure.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for this audio e-arc.*

Thank You Netgalley, RBmedia, and Hayley Dennings for the Audio ARC out today. Narrated by Tamika Katon-Donegal. This is a book about Gangsters. Humans and Vampires (Reapers). Layla a reaper and ex friend,Elise Saint uncover a deeper secret about the head of the Saint family while becoming more than enemies. I enjoy how well Hayley Dennings made you feel all the emotions especially the hatred along with the characters. This is a good book for people looking for gangster themed, along with racism and segregation. There will definitely be another book. The narrator did a good job with portraying the emotions highlighted in the book.

I loved the audiobook narration for this. The narrator did a fantastic job voicing each other characters.

The storyline was interesting and was mostly easy to follow. The reaper dynamic did confuse my brain up until about 60% when my brain stopped overthinking that. Whenever I hear the word reaper I think of the beings that claim souls and bring you to the afterlife or the giant dinosaurs in ARK that are really fun to jump around on; I do not think vampires. It took some adjusting.

I will more than likely be continuing the series and doing so via audiobook.

A gripping and fast paced fantasy set in the 1920’s in Harlem! In a world that has everything from Vampires to Reapers to the Hunters! This had such a beautiful love story underneath all the amazing plot twists!

Loved this story! I felt like some of it was repetitive but definitely a good read overall!

I want to thank NetGalley and SourceFire books for the opportunity for this early audio copy of This Ravenous Fate.

Let me set the scene, Harlem during the prohibition age with black sapphic vampires. You cannot tell me that is not a perfect idea, I started this book so excited to dive right in. As much as I wanted to love this story I was unable to get past the clunky dialogue and the lack of editing was very apparent. I was unable to connect or care for any of the characters, and I typically would, especially with the events that happened within the novel. I am hoping the next novel by Dennings gets the editor it deserves because this plot sounds like something that I should have loved. Instead, I found myself just wanting to finish it so I could move on to the next book. I believe the author has so much potential and I will pick up her next book as this is only her debut.

Exceptional prose and really inventive storytelling. Hayley Dennings is a debut to watch and I can't wait to see what worlds she weaves next!