REVIEW: Lightfall by Ed Crocker
If you thought vampires and werewolves in epic fantasy were dead, then Ed Crocker is here to prove you wrong in Lightfall. Bleeding with intrigue, emotion, and snarky dark humour, this fangtastically fun yet bloody brutal dark fantasy will ensorcell you with its mystery and have you howling from laughter and heartache the entire way through. 
In a world where mortals are myth, a rebellious vampire maid, a magicless sorcerer and his rakish companion, a pompous and grieving vampire Lord, a secretive vampire countess and her enigmatic lady friend, and a deadly werewolf assassin cross paths as they stumble into a seemingly simple murder mystery investigation that unearths a dark conspiracy which turns their entire world on its head; it’s not the start of a bad joke, it’s the batshit crazy premise of Lightfall.
Now, it might have taken me a few chapters to really sink into the narrative because of the frequent mid-chapter POV switches, but once I was in, I was IN. Crocker’s bold storytelling and whip-smart authorial voice just worked for me in every single way, and I personally think he pulled off the tricky multi-POV first person present tense narration with effortless grace. The way that the prose subtly shifted in tone and diction to fit with the race, cultural background and class of each character was so masterfully done and made them all so distinct and uniquely compelling, even if some of them were maybe a bit overwhelmingly wordy or had a flair for the dramatic that probably even Gabriel de Léon and Jean-François from Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire would roll their eyes at.
Honestly though, for a book that Crocker promotes as ‘anti-human propaganda’, it is filled with suspiciously lively and inexplicably loveable weirdos whose raw and relatable (in?)human emotions get you emotionally invested to a point that is honestly not safe for your own sanity. I loved seeing unexpected bonds of loyalty and friendship (and maybe even more? CUTE) tentatively start to develop between them, despite their best efforts to pretend they truly absolutely didn’t care for each other (nice try). And don’t get me started on how much I adored all the fierce, feisty and fearsome ladies, they just truly stole the show for me in Lightfall. From the rebellious Sam and her quietly endearing friend Beth, to the deviously clever and enigmatic Lady Hocquard and Alanna, and can’t forget the snarky and deadly werewolf assassin Raven Ansbach; I want to be them all when I grow up.
And when I tell you that this story just gets better and better with each chapter, I mean that it got so good that I couldn’t hold myself back from devouring the last half of the book in one afternoon. Lightfall isn’t just a fantasy mystery, but instead it’s also got a truly addictive air of mystery and intrigue that permeates every aspect of the story. Crocker just knows how to strike the perfect balance between giving enough information to feel deeply immersed and follow along with all the mystifying clues of the mystery investigation, while also keeping his cards deviously close to his chest and dangling just the most tantalising teases about the rich history/lore of the world and the obscure backstories of the enigmatic characters in front of your nose.
Moreover, for all that Lightfall is a wildly entertaining and exciting romp (we’ve even got a suicide mission of a blood bank heist, for goodness’ sake), at its core it’s still a dark fantasy with good horror flavours which unflinchingly explores some heavier topics and knows how to deliver emotional gutpunches that just hurt oh so good. When you’re dealing with a world ruled by immortal beings, the themes of mortality, the fallibility of memory and historical accounts, and the weight of grief and grudges naturally sneak their way into the narrative in the most unexpectedly hard-hitting and profound ways. Not to mention the commentary on classism and elitism through the set-up of the vampire society, where the nobility thrive on the most nurturing and powerful blood while the poor are left to wither away on the weak blood; even in a society of vampires, you can count on the rich to be the true suckers.
Just when I thought we had twisted the last twist and turned the last turn, Crocker had another few corkscrews up his sleeve, and the last chapter of Lightfall truly has me dying for book 2 in The Everlands trilogy already. With its high stakes, riveting mystery, pulse-pounding action, and irresistibly charming humour and heart, this comfortably familiar yet refreshingly inventive dark fantasy mystery adventure is just the perfect treat for all the dark souls who love the tone and vibe of David Wragg, Jay Kristoff, and Joe Abercrombie; I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Thank you to the author and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Lightfall is scheduled for release on January 14, 2025.
Read Lightfall by Ed Crocker
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