Member Reviews
Kit Vincent is an author I know I can rely on for some FANTASTIC LDBTQIA+ representation in books. I have followed them on socials for a while and truly love introducing students and staff to their work.
Thank you NetGalley & Kit Vincent for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
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This Book! I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. Love Immortal was my favorite read in October. I think this book made me love dark academia vibes, which wasn't really my jam before. This book is so creative in how it incorporates vampire lore and the Dracula story (I don't want to say too much and spoil it, but it's super cool how Kit told the story). I also didn't think I would enjoy the professor x student aspect but I did! I think Kit just has a way with storytelling that always has me devouring their books! Overall I loved the mystery aspect, the emphasis on book preservation, and the romance between Jonathan and Dacian. I will definitely be rereading this soon!
I absolutely devoured this book. I love it so much I won’t even talk about its Dracula connections. A perfect mix of gothic romance and 80s horror and academia and one (1) extremely hot vampire.
Vincent’s writing creates a vivid, atmospheric world where love is not only a force of passion but one that defies the boundaries of life and death.
The characters are deeply compelling, with emotional depth that draws the reader in. The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, making their journey both heart-wrenching and beautiful. Vincent skillfully explores themes of fate, loss, and the enduring nature of love, weaving them seamlessly into the plot. The story’s pacing is well-balanced, with moments of tension and tenderness that keep the reader engaged.
Very interesting reinterpretation of Dracula, this time set in the 1980s with a university in the USA as the setting, a lot of "Gothic vibes", also somewhat reminiscent of Lost Boys and a charming and extremely attractive vampire. It reads very fluently, is exciting and has an nice love story; You're really rooting for Jonathan, I read it in just 24 hours. I would only have liked the somewhat open ending to be different, but maybe there will be a sequel, that would be really great!!
"Love immortal" is a cute and wholesome romantasy, with a little bit of dark and splatter scenes.
I have to be a hundred percent honest: the first half of this book was a little bit too slow for my preferences, and the story was mainly focused on the romance between the two main characters; the second half was a little more my cup of tea, with a darker tone and more mysteries to solve. It had a gothic atmosphere and the plot twists were really surprising. I liked it more and thanks to that, my vote was higher.
Talking about the characters, I loved them all: from the main protagonists to the secondary characters and the evil ones. Jonathan is sweet, smart, has a complex backstory and a lot of character development; Dacian is elegant, intelligent, fascinating, and his story is the most interesting of all; Fiona is simply the best friend that everyone could ask for, and she's extremely kind and brave.
The dark academia / gothic atmosphere elevates the setting and the story itself, and it fits the story very well, expecially if we consider all the references to gothic literature and classics.
The writing style is simple and yet fascinating, the chapters have multiple povs and their lenght is just right (in my opinion).
Trigger warnings: the story talks about suicide, bullies, homicide, dark rituals, blood, homophobia. ⚠️
*thanks NetGalley for the arc*
All thoughts are mine as usual.
It’s my second book by this author and like Us et cetera I really enjoyed it ! As a twilight and vampire knight(we don’t judge) girlie I grew up reading and loving about vampire so when I heard about Love immortal I knew I had to get itttt.
Was it the best book about vampire ? Probably not.
Did I still swoon really hard ? Hell yeah.
We follow Jonathan a student who’s been struggling with his past and his life in general. He’s a gay student who was abandoned by his family when he got outed so he’s very lonely. His only real relationship is with Fiona his bff, we love her. The new year is starting and he meet with his new gothic literature who seems to hate him for no reasons…
Add to this a series of missing persons and strange murders et voilà!
Love immortal is a super quick, fast paced read and it satisfied the vampire nerd in me.
The writing was great and the characters were interesting, if not somehow easy at times. The romance was cute but maaaaaybe I would have preferred if it was more developed and less insta link.
Anyway, I read it in one day and if you want to read a book about queer vampire I would recommend this !
If broody Gothic vibes, mysterious professors, and rare book drama are your thing, then Love Immortal will have you hooked. This one feels like it’s part dark academia, part supernatural thriller, with just enough slow-burn romance to keep you on edge.
Jonathan Evergreen is the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for—talented, ambitious, but seriously struggling to catch a break. Between being disowned by his family, navigating a pretentious college full of old-money legacies, and the slightly suspicious disappearance of his advisor, it’s safe to say he’s got a lot on his plate. Enter Dacian Bathory, the enigmatic new professor with a questionable amount of interest in Jonathan and the college’s Rare Books library.
The tension between Jonathan and Dacian is palpable from the start—equal parts attraction and suspicion. Dacian’s hot-and-cold behavior keeps you guessing, and when sinister things start happening on campus (missing people, drained bodies, creepy legacies acting weirder by the day), you’ll find yourself side-eyeing him right alongside Jonathan.
What kept me turning pages was the atmosphere—Vincent nails the eerie, isolated college setting. You can practically feel the chill of Vermont winters and the weight of the secrets lurking in those ivy-covered walls. The mystery builds slowly but steadily, and while a few twists were predictable, others genuinely caught me off guard.
Why 4 stars and not 5? The pacing dragged a bit in the middle, and Dacian’s character felt a little underdeveloped compared to Jonathan. That said, the climax packed a punch, and the themes of heartbreak, resilience, and trust really hit home.
If you’re into dark academia with a supernatural twist, Love Immortal delivers on the moody, mysterious front. It’s an engaging read that’ll leave you questioning everyone’s motives (and probably looking over your shoulder in the library).
Thank you to Sky House Publishing for an ARC of this novel.
I’m giving Love Immortal a solid 3 stars, with a few bonus points for the dynamic between the two main characters. The relationship at the story’s core is undoubtedly the highlight, offering moments of genuine connection and depth.
What really shines in Love Immortal is its atmosphere. The book exudes an eerie, dark academia aesthetic that pairs perfectly with its gothic themes. From dimly lit libraries to stormy evenings in shadowy corridors, the setting is rich and immersive, and it draws you in even when the plot stumbles.
The story follows a student who becomes infatuated with their enigmatic new gothic literature professor, only to uncover that his professor is a vampire. What starts as a slow-burn infatuation quickly escalates into a tale of forbidden desire and dangerous secrets. The professor-student trope is handled with some nuance here, particularly in how their dynamic shifts once the supernatural element is introduced. However, some of the moral questions raised by the premise remain underexplored, which might leave readers wanting more depth from the story’s central conflict.
Overall, while Love Immortal doesn’t reinvent dark academia or vampire fiction, it offers an enjoyable, atmospheric read for fans of gothic romance. If you’re looking for something moody and steeped in gothic vibes, this might be worth picking up, especially if you enjoy tales of forbidden love with a supernatural twist.
This is what looking camp directly in the eye means. I'm going to be really honest, I saw gay vampires, blacked out and then the book was in my app. I'm a simple person, really and I read twilight at a significant point in my adolescence and there's never been any going back. So I ate this book up. When I realized who Dacian was I literally had to take a lap I was so giddy. Told like four people to read it from that alone. And it only got better. The mystery they were getting to the bottom of had all the right tension and so did Jonathan and Dacian. I adored this book. It's very well written, the characters are so fleshed out, and honestly it was just a very fun read for me, and I assume anyone else who has never really gotten over their emo phase.
This book is the perfect fix for anyone wanting a gothic paranormal romance. It mixes vampires, dark academia, and the nostalgia of the 80s, creating an atmospheric mystery that is both spooky and - dare I say it - cozy. I'm a sucker for all things vampires, but it's tough finding a book or author that understands the assignment. This book promises a gothic academia setting, mystery, and vampire romance, and it delivers.
I really enjoyed this semi-modern take on Dracula. Or, this "historical" (set in the '80s, making me feel real old) story that brings back Dracula in a more modern setting, and where we learn what really happened with Jonathan Harker back in Transylvania.
This was a great blend of mystery, dark academia (though not all *that* dark, imo), and fantasy. There were definitely some bits that seemed exceptionally unreal, but then, Dracula in the '80s is also pretty unreal. I liked some of the small details, like, about Dracula driving. Also, the fact that our main character, Jonathan, wants to be a book conservator and the links to Oxford made me squee just a little bit. (IYKYK)
So happy to have gotten to read this one early and am very much looking forward to whatever Kit Vincent wants to give us next.
2.5 stars but I'm rounding this up to three stars as this may be a case of just not the right book for me, but I honestly didn't enjoy all that much in this book. The premise was very promising and had a lot of themes that I usually enjoy reading, but somehow it didn't manage to deliver on any of those points and also added things that just didn't add anything of value for me. Purely in terms of writing though, apart from a few typos, this was definitely not poorly written.
Somewhat a pro and a con, the pacing was quite fast which let me fly through this book, and yet it felt oddly uneventful. It took quite a while before anything happened and that would have been ok had it been more atmospheric. But ultimately it felt very devoid of any suspense and I largely felt like I am just reading any old daily life in an academic setting. And mind you, I enjoy school settings with all the clichés that often come with it, but I think what really dragged this aspect down was both the main character Jonathan and the author's voice slipping through.
I did not like Jonathan. I found him very obnoxious and judgmental. Yes, he has had bad things happen to him and, while not spelt out that way, is most likely working through trauma. But there was something about the way his narrative went and how he commented on other people that rubbed me the wrong way and negated most of the sympathy I'd have otherwise had for him. I also felt like a lot of his social commentary was very much 2024, hence why I felt like it was more the author's voice than Jonathan's. And that was another issue for me: I see little reason why this was set in the 80s because absolutely nothing about it felt like it was. With perhaps the exception of the mention that the new A Nightmare on Elm Street movie is airing, nothing added to the feeling that this is set four decades before it was written. While the subject matter is different (e.g. to fantasy), I couldn't help but compare this to Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda - this may seem like a far fetched comparison as the plot isn't exactly comparable, but I do think they both tap into similar social criticism and attempted to convey similar messages. The difference was that the latter has a likeable main character and it was more subtle, as in you could pick up the ideas from characters' actions and interactions, whereas in Love Immortal, it felt very much like tell and not show.
I kept holding out for the romance or mystery to kind of save this for me. I love a good slow burn and given the circumstances, I would have expected this one to be just that. While there isn't much romantic interaction so to speak of until about half way into the book, it still felt like quite a rushed job and I felt absolutely no chemistry between them. From Jonathan's part I can at least gather that he finds Dacian attractive looking but we know absolutely nothing about why Dacian might like him and there was also no spark that made me think, yes this is working.
The mystery wasn't much of a mystery after all and the sudden extreme shift to fantasy and gore in the last few chapters felt odd compared to the otherwise almost mundane feeling rest of the book. Also there were way too many dream sequences. Rather than dreams and petty school squabbles, I just kept waiting for the actual plot to move along already. Also I didn't like the reveal about Dacian's origin's (more on that in my GR review - skipping here as spoilers)
Last but not least, what I did was for one the two references to A Nightmare on Elm Street and Fiona - she was a pretty awesome character and an even better friend. I daresay I'd have enjoyed this book a lot more had she been the main character. I also liked the ending - a little open but sweet and satisfying. As mentioned above, this might all really be a me thing and others have clearly enjoyed it so if the tropes sound like your cup of tea, by all means, give it a chance - it just simply wasn't for me, but I appreciate the opportunity to read this!
A new romantasy-esque adventure that packs a punch from the start. Full of intrigue, drama, vampires, action and romance, this was a truly compelling read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sky House Publishing for a copy of my arc ✨
All I’m saying is, Jonathan would 100% let Astarion bite him in BG3. He really said “give me the Bloodless debuff” 😩 Real af
Love Immortal follows Jonathan, a gay sophomore in college as he navigates the wealthy elite at a (fictional) Ivy League college in hopes of becoming a book conservationist.
Enter Dacian Bathory, a mysterious, Tuxedo Mask-esque professor who takes a special interest in our MC. Dacian is trying to find something that was stolen from him, and enlists Jonathan for help. Some creepy shit is going down in this dark academia, slow-burn novel about a human and a vampire.
I really enjoyed this book and had a lot of fun while reading it. I thought Jonathan was sweet and caring, with just the right amount of spiciness in him to know when to kick it up a notch. I thought the author did a great job with spinning a very classic tale (avoiding names for spoiler purposes), and really enjoyed Dacian’s backstory and watching as he navigated his many, many emotions.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I’m very interested in reading more!
I loved this dark academia vampire book and how it was a queer retelling of Dracula. It made we want to read the original book. I was skeptical of the professor student relationship at first but he’s not really a professor and they’re all adults.
Gothic queer dark academia with vampires?! YES PLEASE!
Slow Burn x Student Professor x Tragic Backstory
I absolutely love the way Kit Vincent writes and this story is everything that I wanted it to be. I liked the fun 80s references that are sprinkled throughout. Petitioning to bring back the word "rad" because I love it. My heart broke when I learned why Johnathan was being haunted by Clay and it felt so nice to see him grow in his happiness again.
3.5 stars.
This was a fun book! I loved the dark academia, gothic vibes. And a main character who loves old books as much as Jonathan does is a win for me. I found the beginning a bit slow, but the second half of the book really picked up the pace. Dacian's flashbacks were a nice touch. I struggled to connect with the characters a bit. Dacian was very withdrawn and aloof, and I feel like we didn't really find out anything about him until the second half. Their strong connection to each other felt a little forced to me.
I thought the writing was fantastic though. The gothic imagery was great and the overall plot was good. And the cover art is beautiful! I would definitely be interested to read more from this author :)
3.5⭐️
I liked this book a lot - it didn't change my life, but I also binged it in two days. Dacian was so *sultry* I loved him.
I felt such heartbreak at the end, but the effect was somewhat lost at the end of the last chapter. I absolutely wanted a HEA but I felt like it needed a bit... more? I also felt that it took too long for the vampire reveal, about 60% - it would ideally be about 45-50% in my opinion.
Nevertheless I am an absolute slut for gay Twilight and would 100% read it again. It's an easy enjoyable read.
Dark Academia at its best!
An atmospheric, passionate spin on the original vampire lore!
The immersive worldbuilding teleports the reader to 1980s Vermont where Jonathan is trying to rebuild his life after a tragic and sad turn of events surrounding his high school boyfriend. Jonathan is sad and haunted by his last. He is also nerdy and stubborn and wants to be loved, and his heart is in the right place - a main character you fervently root for!
Dacian's mysterious aura is the perfect blend of dark attraction, beautiful and foreign, cold and threatening. His connection with Jonathan is electric: hot and sparkling and fragile.
The inclusion of historical characters and the queer twist on the most famous vampire story adds to the Gothic vibe and the whole setting of the story.
There is violence, gore, vengeful retribution and darkness, alongside lust, passion and real, deep connection, all packaged in a perfect dark academia background!
Kit Vincent, consider me a fan!
Thank you NetGalley and Sky House Publishing for the ARC!