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What Manner of Man
What would tempt you to sin?
A sweet and naïve priest at war with his desires, tormented by nightly dreams of a wicked demon.
A vampire lord forced to do the unthinkable, battling needs he can scarcely control.
Father Ardelian has been summoned to a distant, secluded island to perform an exorcism. What will happen when he begins to suspect his host — the mysterious, nocturnal lord of the manor — of wanting him for another reason entirely? Will the piously celibate priest be able to resist his monstrous host’s diabolically seductive charms?
What Manner of Man is a blasphemous queer horror romance about a priest and a vampire, inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. A tale of forbidden love with themes of devil worship, demonic possession, and human sacrifice — this is the long-awaited completed version of the widely beloved story which rose to fame and fortune in the form of a newsletter!
A sweet and naïve priest at war with his desires, tormented by nightly dreams of a wicked demon.
A vampire lord forced to do the unthinkable, battling needs he can scarcely control.
Father Ardelian has been summoned to a distant, secluded island to perform an exorcism. What will happen when he begins to suspect his host — the mysterious, nocturnal lord of the manor — of wanting him for another reason entirely? Will the piously celibate priest be able to resist his monstrous host’s diabolically seductive charms?
What Manner of Man is a blasphemous queer horror romance about a priest and a vampire, inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. A tale of forbidden love with themes of devil worship, demonic possession, and human sacrifice — this is the long-awaited completed version of the widely beloved story which rose to fame and fortune in the form of a newsletter!
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2024
18 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 5, 2025
”This silence from Heaven is more than I can bear. I know Christ is with me, but I cannot hear him. I yearn for Him to take me again, bend me beneath His force, break me, make me anew. It is only in servitude to Him that I can be free. And yet for all that I have laboured to admit Him, I find I am betrothed to his enemy.”
i am subscribed to the author’s newsletter where they send the book out chapter by chapter so i could have read this months ago but i didn’t. because i’m lazy.
it has been a while since i have been completely enraptured and captivated by a story. even longer that i have actually physically READ something in one sitting.
if i had to put a finger on why it is that i couldn’t put this down it would mostly come back to the author’s writing. it just puts you in this nice flow state where you can think about nothing else and just continue flipping page after page eager to consume more of it.
also, themes of homosexuality and religion? totally my jam. i’m not even religious. it’s been like fifteen years since i’ve been to church. but put the gays in a religious setting and give me some lines about god and jesus and queerness and i’m locked in af.
i am subscribed to the author’s newsletter where they send the book out chapter by chapter so i could have read this months ago but i didn’t. because i’m lazy.
it has been a while since i have been completely enraptured and captivated by a story. even longer that i have actually physically READ something in one sitting.
if i had to put a finger on why it is that i couldn’t put this down it would mostly come back to the author’s writing. it just puts you in this nice flow state where you can think about nothing else and just continue flipping page after page eager to consume more of it.
also, themes of homosexuality and religion? totally my jam. i’m not even religious. it’s been like fifteen years since i’ve been to church. but put the gays in a religious setting and give me some lines about god and jesus and queerness and i’m locked in af.
April 13, 2025
This queer gothic features a charmingly naive narrator who quickly won my heart. What Manner of Man captures the magic of classic adventure novels. I found it difficult not to devour it in one sitting, eager to learn the fate of Father Ardelian.
The whimsical elements make the sin taste all the sweeter by contrast. The content warning list is downright delightful in my humble opinion. My personal favorites include "improper use of church confessional" and "ceremonial knifeplay."
Epistolary queer pining is by far one of my favorite approaches to romantic horror. If this isn't yet considered a trope, consider this my heartfelt call to make it one. If you like the vibes of The Flesh of the Sea by Lor Gislason and Shelley LaVigne, I bet you'll love this book.
Thanks so much to the Indie Ink Awards for the chance to judge this gem of a book. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
The whimsical elements make the sin taste all the sweeter by contrast. The content warning list is downright delightful in my humble opinion. My personal favorites include "improper use of church confessional" and "ceremonial knifeplay."
Epistolary queer pining is by far one of my favorite approaches to romantic horror. If this isn't yet considered a trope, consider this my heartfelt call to make it one. If you like the vibes of The Flesh of the Sea by Lor Gislason and Shelley LaVigne, I bet you'll love this book.
Thanks so much to the Indie Ink Awards for the chance to judge this gem of a book. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
October 31, 2024
I received an ARC of this novel for review.
So excited to finally be reviewing this--I read the original version on the author's substack and have been following their patron since.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. Where Starling really excels is in creating the mood of the story--you really feel like you're right there in the dark with Father Ardelian and Lord Vane, and the gothic vibes of the story carry it through. It's not a long book, and there's not a huge amount of relationship development. There are a lot more descriptions of enthralling conversations between Victor and Alistair than there are actual on-page convos. But I think it still works, honestly. This kind of story lends itself to that intense, instantaneous chemistry.
If I had to sell it to a friend I'd call it Dracula meets Jane Eyre, with a gay apostate twist. 5/5!
So excited to finally be reviewing this--I read the original version on the author's substack and have been following their patron since.
Overall, I really enjoyed it. Where Starling really excels is in creating the mood of the story--you really feel like you're right there in the dark with Father Ardelian and Lord Vane, and the gothic vibes of the story carry it through. It's not a long book, and there's not a huge amount of relationship development. There are a lot more descriptions of enthralling conversations between Victor and Alistair than there are actual on-page convos. But I think it still works, honestly. This kind of story lends itself to that intense, instantaneous chemistry.
If I had to sell it to a friend I'd call it Dracula meets Jane Eyre, with a gay apostate twist. 5/5!
October 29, 2024
I really enjoyed and love this book! I followed it from its Substack days (where it's still available, albeit in unedited form, for free) and through the Patreon where edited chapters are posting. I got an ARC for review copy, but will get the book with my Patreon membership regardless.
The edited version is so much tighter, the tension builds beautifully. The atmosphere is reminiscent of Poe or Dracula, gothic and fraught, but the language is readable without being too modern for its gorgeously old-world subject matter.
The uptight Catholic priest, Father Ardelian, is called to an obscure island to perform an exorcism for its sole nobleman, Lord Vane. We get the tension inside Ardelian right away, repressed as only a priest can be, and devoted to the ideals of his church. As he travels through the book, his ideals are stripped away and that repression stretched to its limits. Lord Vane has his own repressed desires, so really everyone in this book is keeping themselves in horny jail.
The book is circumspect in its eroticism, but in a way that makes it work even better for the characters and their internal struggles.
Everything is told through letters and journal entries, as well, which gives it a very old-school feel and makes everything seem intimate, a confession rather than a mere story.
The edited version is so much tighter, the tension builds beautifully. The atmosphere is reminiscent of Poe or Dracula, gothic and fraught, but the language is readable without being too modern for its gorgeously old-world subject matter.
The uptight Catholic priest, Father Ardelian, is called to an obscure island to perform an exorcism for its sole nobleman, Lord Vane. We get the tension inside Ardelian right away, repressed as only a priest can be, and devoted to the ideals of his church. As he travels through the book, his ideals are stripped away and that repression stretched to its limits. Lord Vane has his own repressed desires, so really everyone in this book is keeping themselves in horny jail.
The book is circumspect in its eroticism, but in a way that makes it work even better for the characters and their internal struggles.
Everything is told through letters and journal entries, as well, which gives it a very old-school feel and makes everything seem intimate, a confession rather than a mere story.
September 21, 2025
It’s so deliciously sacrilegious. It gave me everything I could have wanted. Crumbling manor on an isolated island, erotic nightmares, weird mysteries, and of course homoerotic love. This one fed me well.
October 31, 2024
What Manner of Man is a beautiful queer romance that not only pays homage to Dracula but weaves a story of longing and hope in a world where finding and accepting oneself is the route to true happiness. I love the characters the Starling portrays in this story from Danny our no-nonsense sailor (who is in a canonical lesbian relationship!) and Silas our roguish ferryman (also queer), to the main characters themselves -- the dashing Lord Vane and our ingenue exorcist Victor -- all of which are engaging and meaningful to the story. Its treatment of the inspirational material is also tongue in cheek at times and anyone who has read Dracula Daily will know about the modern reader's interpretation of Johnathan Harker's lack of social awareness and more generally the underlying homoeroticism. In What Manner of Man these facets are portrayed openly and readers will find themselves noting parallels between Johnathan's time in Dracula's castle and Victor's stay at the Hall.
These aside, its refreshing to read a queer romance that doesn't make the queerness the main issue or focus. Yes Victor's struggle with his homosexuality is part of the main plotline but outside of him grappling with his own feelings due to his religious upbringing, other characters have no issues with his sexuality and although Victor initially sees it as a sin and a stain upon his soul, others are far more concerned with the murder spree happening on the island. Similarly, Lord Vane sees his form of vampirism as the main issue he has to tackle if he wants to find love, not the fact that he is into men. The novel loses its bite (heh) if the queerness is removed, and I would also argue that the true value in the story lies in Victor's acceptance of himself and the healing he pursues along the way to tackle his spiritual abuse.
As for the romance itself, the main characters have a tantalizing slow burn that is so satisfying to read. As much as we would love for Danny or Sylvia to come in and point out the obvious to Victor, its entertaining to watch these two lovestruck fools dance around each other and extremely rewarding when we finally get to see them together.
Overall, I loved the novel and as a Patreon, having early access to the story and watching the creative process was amazing and I highly recommend following Starling as they move on to tackle their rendition of the first ever Sci-fi novel, Frankenstein (got to love Mary Shelley), next. You also get access to the behind the scenes snippets and extras for What Manner of Man which, in and of themselves, are worth it.
These aside, its refreshing to read a queer romance that doesn't make the queerness the main issue or focus. Yes Victor's struggle with his homosexuality is part of the main plotline but outside of him grappling with his own feelings due to his religious upbringing, other characters have no issues with his sexuality and although Victor initially sees it as a sin and a stain upon his soul, others are far more concerned with the murder spree happening on the island. Similarly, Lord Vane sees his form of vampirism as the main issue he has to tackle if he wants to find love, not the fact that he is into men. The novel loses its bite (heh) if the queerness is removed, and I would also argue that the true value in the story lies in Victor's acceptance of himself and the healing he pursues along the way to tackle his spiritual abuse.
As for the romance itself, the main characters have a tantalizing slow burn that is so satisfying to read. As much as we would love for Danny or Sylvia to come in and point out the obvious to Victor, its entertaining to watch these two lovestruck fools dance around each other and extremely rewarding when we finally get to see them together.
Overall, I loved the novel and as a Patreon, having early access to the story and watching the creative process was amazing and I highly recommend following Starling as they move on to tackle their rendition of the first ever Sci-fi novel, Frankenstein (got to love Mary Shelley), next. You also get access to the behind the scenes snippets and extras for What Manner of Man which, in and of themselves, are worth it.
October 31, 2024
I love this book, having followed it from the very start to its current form. It's the kind of story I keep thinking about, that's enjoyable both on a surface level and rewards deeper thinking when an unspoken element suddenly reveals itself.
The connection between What Manner of Man and Dracula is subtle yet clear for those who think to look, the parallels are truly parallels in that they don't intersect, this is its own narrative. What Manner of Man essentially asks is, what if the dynamic of Dracula's first act was the entire story, what if the hints of homoeroticism were expanded on?
But again, What Manner of Man is a story that has its own things to say, it is not Dracula. And it says what it wants to loudly and clearly without fear, not neutering itself for some attempt at mainstream appeal like so many other works.
Our narrator and protagonist, Father Ardelian, is a deeply repressed man. From the start we see the difference in what he writes in his journal as opposed to letters to his sister. And as the novel progresses this repression comes to the forefront as Father Ardelian is forced to confront it. By the end even the way I addressed the characters had changed, that is how powerful the character growth in this novel is.
The newly added scenes and revisions from the newsletter version add so much to the story. They tighten and amplify the narrative to help it reach new heights. Starting with this version will put you in for quite the treat. And even if you've read the newsletter version, you're still in for some surprises.
The connection between What Manner of Man and Dracula is subtle yet clear for those who think to look, the parallels are truly parallels in that they don't intersect, this is its own narrative. What Manner of Man essentially asks is, what if the dynamic of Dracula's first act was the entire story, what if the hints of homoeroticism were expanded on?
But again, What Manner of Man is a story that has its own things to say, it is not Dracula. And it says what it wants to loudly and clearly without fear, not neutering itself for some attempt at mainstream appeal like so many other works.
Our narrator and protagonist, Father Ardelian, is a deeply repressed man. From the start we see the difference in what he writes in his journal as opposed to letters to his sister. And as the novel progresses this repression comes to the forefront as Father Ardelian is forced to confront it. By the end even the way I addressed the characters had changed, that is how powerful the character growth in this novel is.
The newly added scenes and revisions from the newsletter version add so much to the story. They tighten and amplify the narrative to help it reach new heights. Starting with this version will put you in for quite the treat. And even if you've read the newsletter version, you're still in for some surprises.
December 18, 2025
First and foremost, I loved this novel's style. The main character's voice (not so dissimilar to the author's own, judging by the afterword) was an absolute delight. It felt believably old-timey and yet was never needlessly verbose or cliché. Everything was described with gothic flair, from nature to friendly lesbians to visions of godly rimjobs. I also LOVED the narrative framing!!! The little editor's notes sprinkled throughout added so much character and made everything feel so much more real.
The second thing I loved was how unashamedly kinky this novel is. Even with all the sex scenes fading to black and not being especially explicit, the kink aspects never felt censored, the main character's desires always on full display and even his childhood games being mentioned. This is the most natural, passionate and loving way I think I've ever seen this kind of desire described and I am so happy the author was brave enough to do it justice in this way.
What I did NOT enjoy were the errors. I sympathize with the fact that the editor of this book is just the disembodied hand living with the author, and this whole project is an incredibly impressive feat of indie publishing, but it definitely broke my immersion a bit to see the odd superfluous ", spelling error (the past tense of 'lead' is 'led'!!!) or subject/verb misalignment. I also really strongly dislike the book's cover and am grateful I started reading before I'd ever seen it, though this might be a matter of personal preference.
All in all I'm so happy I bought this and would recommend it to anyone who likes Dracula and wishes Jonathan realized in-text he wanted to be mounted by that count.
The second thing I loved was how unashamedly kinky this novel is. Even with all the sex scenes fading to black and not being especially explicit, the kink aspects never felt censored, the main character's desires always on full display and even his childhood games being mentioned. This is the most natural, passionate and loving way I think I've ever seen this kind of desire described and I am so happy the author was brave enough to do it justice in this way.
What I did NOT enjoy were the errors. I sympathize with the fact that the editor of this book is just the disembodied hand living with the author, and this whole project is an incredibly impressive feat of indie publishing, but it definitely broke my immersion a bit to see the odd superfluous ", spelling error (the past tense of 'lead' is 'led'!!!) or subject/verb misalignment. I also really strongly dislike the book's cover and am grateful I started reading before I'd ever seen it, though this might be a matter of personal preference.
All in all I'm so happy I bought this and would recommend it to anyone who likes Dracula and wishes Jonathan realized in-text he wanted to be mounted by that count.
October 31, 2024
I loved the epistolary nature of Dracula Daily, a newsletter via email that delivers the contents of Dracula, in order, based on when the letters and journal entries are dated in the book.
This came to me in the same form, with the author delivering a chapter at a time periodically based on the dated journal entries as discovered and preserved by the protagonist's sister.
Fr. Ardelian is deployed to a weird island that has a vibe of some kind he cannot, or will not, identify by name. He is charged with locating and exorcising a great evil on behalf of the church and is subsequently challenged at every turn by people who do not particularly respect his office or the word of God. He is even more challenged when he encounters the lord of the island and must reconsider his profession, his spiritual beliefs, and how much those things have clouded and warped his own identity.
Very sexy, action-packed, and lovingly crafted story for those among us who love found footage, queer romance, and a little blasphemy as a treat. Can't wait to see what the author does next!
This came to me in the same form, with the author delivering a chapter at a time periodically based on the dated journal entries as discovered and preserved by the protagonist's sister.
Fr. Ardelian is deployed to a weird island that has a vibe of some kind he cannot, or will not, identify by name. He is charged with locating and exorcising a great evil on behalf of the church and is subsequently challenged at every turn by people who do not particularly respect his office or the word of God. He is even more challenged when he encounters the lord of the island and must reconsider his profession, his spiritual beliefs, and how much those things have clouded and warped his own identity.
Very sexy, action-packed, and lovingly crafted story for those among us who love found footage, queer romance, and a little blasphemy as a treat. Can't wait to see what the author does next!
December 5, 2025
I haven’t been this invested in a book in a hot minute. Every time I had to put it down I was getting furious! As always, I rate for my personal enjoyment, not “quality” or anything like that and this is definitely the book I enjoyed the most this year. There were some bits that could’ve used some pacing tweaks and suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader (which I am always here for), but all in all I LOVED this book. If there’s ever a print run, I will ABSOLUTELY be preordering (and probably making the library I work at purchase it). In all honesty, I was putting off reading this one since it came out because I almost exclusively read audiobooks and when something isn’t in audio, I rarely am interested enough to finish a book, but I finished this one in less than 24 hours in 3 sittings (if it were up to me, it would’ve been 1 sitting lol), so that says it all.
That said, go read this book if you’re a fan of gothics, epistolary format, sexy priests and monsters, and slow burn but very sensually written romance!
That said, go read this book if you’re a fan of gothics, epistolary format, sexy priests and monsters, and slow burn but very sensually written romance!
March 2, 2025
I love Dracula. I love books in epistolary form. I love gay erotic romance with religious themes. Which means it’s safe to say that I loved this book. I stumbled across What Manner of Man while on Substack reading the Dracula Daily (it came up as a recommendation) but I was late to the game and didn’t read this in its serialized form. I’m kind of glad for that because I would have been so frustrated having to wait for new installments!!! This was so good. It was edited together in such a way that you can feel the tension, you feel like you’re in Whithern Hall, that you are conversing with Lord Vane (or Alistair, as he is later called) and that you feel like you’re losing your religion with Father Ardelian (or Victor). This was truly an amazing work.
Father Victor Ardelian is fetched by Lord Vane to help him, requesting an exorcism, as there is something dark he feels is plaguing his home. Fr Ardelian arrives to Swallows Rest and finds a quaint village but no Lord Vane. He is perturbed, thinking he has been fooled when finally, after several days (weeks?) he meets Lord Vane, where upon he is transfixed by him. Fr Ardelian is a pious man, however, and is determined to assist Lord Vane however he can. But is he strong enough to beat the demons in Whithern Hall? Or even his own? Told in letters to his sister that were never sent and journal entries of his time there, we find the story of Fr Ardelian and Lord Vane, and the demon among them all.
“…so I will need to discover a way by which I can maneuver myself into a position where he will submit” and “I didn’t know you had that kind of strength in you, Father” had me hot under my collar! But then you get hit with “I desire desperately to save him, for I have come to care for him more than I could have ever expected” and your heart breaks for Fr Ardelian. Only to have Lord Vane pull out “I want to devour you. You should run little lamb.” Like 🥵🥵🥵. In the end, seeing Victor completely leave God (“Perhaps, like Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, I felt I had committed an act of unforgivable betrayal.”) and embrace himself as he was? Possibly the best way this could have all been. What a fabulous story.
Father Victor Ardelian is fetched by Lord Vane to help him, requesting an exorcism, as there is something dark he feels is plaguing his home. Fr Ardelian arrives to Swallows Rest and finds a quaint village but no Lord Vane. He is perturbed, thinking he has been fooled when finally, after several days (weeks?) he meets Lord Vane, where upon he is transfixed by him. Fr Ardelian is a pious man, however, and is determined to assist Lord Vane however he can. But is he strong enough to beat the demons in Whithern Hall? Or even his own? Told in letters to his sister that were never sent and journal entries of his time there, we find the story of Fr Ardelian and Lord Vane, and the demon among them all.
“…so I will need to discover a way by which I can maneuver myself into a position where he will submit” and “I didn’t know you had that kind of strength in you, Father” had me hot under my collar! But then you get hit with “I desire desperately to save him, for I have come to care for him more than I could have ever expected” and your heart breaks for Fr Ardelian. Only to have Lord Vane pull out “I want to devour you. You should run little lamb.” Like 🥵🥵🥵. In the end, seeing Victor completely leave God (“Perhaps, like Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, I felt I had committed an act of unforgivable betrayal.”) and embrace himself as he was? Possibly the best way this could have all been. What a fabulous story.
November 4, 2024
An absolutely phenomenal read that let me feel seen on so many levels. Having been hooked since it was first being released over substack it is undeniable just how deeply in love I am with this book. I passionately recommend it if you think you might enjoy it (which you will)
November 15, 2024
4.5*
For me, this was everything Dracula wasn’t, or only hinted at. It had really amazing character development, atmosphere and tone, excellent use of the epistolary format and felt very Dracula-minus-the-gratuitous-violence-against-women-and misogyny/ racism etc
It was really satisfying to dig into the themes of repression and queer desire that were present in Dracula, and overall I think it accomplished so much more in its exploration of monstrosity. I was pleased to see some of the same devices in play (doppelgänger, dreams, etc), which made the book feel like it was both honoring and expanding on the original.
I did find myself wishing there was a stronger reason Victor fell so hard for Lord Vane. I think it was tricky to parse Victor’s self-discovery via Lord Vane, with Vane’s enigmatic nature, with Victor’s actual affection for him. I was also hoping for more of an explanation in regard to the lore driving the plot, and certain significant artifacts which I won’t spoil. But the epistolary format obscured some of these details, along with the fact that the main character and author of the letters and diary entries may not have known himself.
Overall this was a really lovely story on its own, and as inspired by Dracula, with moments of dark mystery, delicious tension, and cathartic triumph.
For me, this was everything Dracula wasn’t, or only hinted at. It had really amazing character development, atmosphere and tone, excellent use of the epistolary format and felt very Dracula-minus-the-gratuitous-violence-against-women-and misogyny/ racism etc
It was really satisfying to dig into the themes of repression and queer desire that were present in Dracula, and overall I think it accomplished so much more in its exploration of monstrosity. I was pleased to see some of the same devices in play (doppelgänger, dreams, etc), which made the book feel like it was both honoring and expanding on the original.
I did find myself wishing there was a stronger reason Victor fell so hard for Lord Vane. I think it was tricky to parse Victor’s self-discovery via Lord Vane, with Vane’s enigmatic nature, with Victor’s actual affection for him. I was also hoping for more of an explanation in regard to the lore driving the plot, and certain significant artifacts which I won’t spoil. But the epistolary format obscured some of these details, along with the fact that the main character and author of the letters and diary entries may not have known himself.
Overall this was a really lovely story on its own, and as inspired by Dracula, with moments of dark mystery, delicious tension, and cathartic triumph.
October 31, 2024
4.5 rounded up
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is really everything I’ve wanted in a vampire book! It’s got everything: blasphemy, catholic guilt, wings, slutty priests, kinky horror imagery, sword-fighting lesbians, secret underground altars, a cat.
Honestly, I have very few criticisms, which is saying something because I tend to tear up books even when I like them. This book really does have the perfect blend of character development, disturbing/paranormal imagery, self-discovery and self-acceptance for my personal taste. And bonus~ it also explores religion in a way that questions, analyzes, and eventually tears down the belief of sin as a concept and how it leads to self-loathing and destruction of self/identity.
Truly, the only thing I don’t like is that it’s epistolary style—I know this was written that way on purpose to mirror Dracula, but for me it takes away from the pacing/tension. The beginning was slow for my taste and it does seem like weeks and weeks are spent with the characters not doing anything but hanging out and talking. Again, though, this just sort of comes with the territory of historical epistolary novels. (It was certainly also true for Dracula, lol)
I do wish Vane had been a tad more Classic Vampire™ rather than But again, that's personal taste. And for the story focusing so heavily on catholic guilt and exploration of religion, it’s only logical that it has a more godlike/religious take on vampire tropes.
But uhhhh yeah, that’s it. I truly can’t think of anything else I didn't like. I wish the editor commented more?? LOL
The writing style itself was literary and focused on descriptions of not only scenery but also emotions, and at times got abstract/nebulous which for me is a bonus but isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. It forces the audience to fill in the gaps of what isn’t explicitly said, and I love that. Especially for the sex scene, this is my new favorite sex scene of all time because it was emotion-based and not smutty, so really you could imagine them however you liked.
Ardelian is just a great character. His story is so important and one that so many people need to hear. He felt so tangible, like a real person, that it’s almost cathartic when he finally accepts himself and his queerness and owns who he is. He grows into a person who I think all queer people strive to be, or at least who I strive to be.
What Manner of Man is an excellent paranormal horror romance novel, paying homage to the classic Dracula but bringing to it explorations of queerness and discussions of religion that I haven’t read in vampire fiction before. Ardelian’s arc is just so lovely and kept me hooked even though epistolary isn’t really my jam. If you have any interest at all in monsters, the intertwining of horror and sexual imagery, exploration of religious identity and catholic guilt, and queer stories of self-acceptance, then this is for you.
I will certainly be rereading this. I can’t wait to own a physical copy of this for my shelf <3
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is really everything I’ve wanted in a vampire book! It’s got everything: blasphemy, catholic guilt, wings, slutty priests, kinky horror imagery, sword-fighting lesbians, secret underground altars, a cat.
Honestly, I have very few criticisms, which is saying something because I tend to tear up books even when I like them. This book really does have the perfect blend of character development, disturbing/paranormal imagery, self-discovery and self-acceptance for my personal taste. And bonus~ it also explores religion in a way that questions, analyzes, and eventually tears down the belief of sin as a concept and how it leads to self-loathing and destruction of self/identity.
Truly, the only thing I don’t like is that it’s epistolary style—I know this was written that way on purpose to mirror Dracula, but for me it takes away from the pacing/tension. The beginning was slow for my taste and it does seem like weeks and weeks are spent with the characters not doing anything but hanging out and talking. Again, though, this just sort of comes with the territory of historical epistolary novels. (It was certainly also true for Dracula, lol)
I do wish Vane had been a tad more Classic Vampire™ rather than But again, that's personal taste. And for the story focusing so heavily on catholic guilt and exploration of religion, it’s only logical that it has a more godlike/religious take on vampire tropes.
But uhhhh yeah, that’s it. I truly can’t think of anything else I didn't like. I wish the editor commented more?? LOL
The writing style itself was literary and focused on descriptions of not only scenery but also emotions, and at times got abstract/nebulous which for me is a bonus but isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. It forces the audience to fill in the gaps of what isn’t explicitly said, and I love that. Especially for the sex scene, this is my new favorite sex scene of all time because it was emotion-based and not smutty, so really you could imagine them however you liked.
Ardelian is just a great character. His story is so important and one that so many people need to hear. He felt so tangible, like a real person, that it’s almost cathartic when he finally accepts himself and his queerness and owns who he is. He grows into a person who I think all queer people strive to be, or at least who I strive to be.
What Manner of Man is an excellent paranormal horror romance novel, paying homage to the classic Dracula but bringing to it explorations of queerness and discussions of religion that I haven’t read in vampire fiction before. Ardelian’s arc is just so lovely and kept me hooked even though epistolary isn’t really my jam. If you have any interest at all in monsters, the intertwining of horror and sexual imagery, exploration of religious identity and catholic guilt, and queer stories of self-acceptance, then this is for you.
I will certainly be rereading this. I can’t wait to own a physical copy of this for my shelf <3
November 2, 2024
This novel is a beautiful read! I really enjoy the epistolary format. The contrast between Father Ardelian's letters to his sister and his private journal entries gives really fun insights into the layers of fascination, pain, denial, and hope that he's built up around himself -- and it's also a real joy to see them start to fall apart and turn into something new.
The central relationship between Father Ardelian and Lord Vane is really compelling, but Father A's relationship with himself and with his faith is honestly just as interesting. I would describe the vibe as more erotic than smutty (both of which are things I enjoy, just to give a sense of where this falls on the spectrum). The slow build, complete with steps forward and then doubling back, ramps up the tension really effectively.
The mystery of the island itself and the rich descriptions of the setting feel Romantic in the classic sense. That sense of the sublime, of awe-inspiring ancient natural forces and of a deep, mysterious history that you can feel in the architecture and gothic ruins, all comes through so clearly. The vivid mental images of Whithern Hall and its surroundings are a real treat!
I originally read this book in its serialized version on substack, and then the updated, edited version on Patreon that became the published version. If you enjoyed the substack version, I *highly* recommend reading the completed work! It has everything the original had, but even richer, with more relationship development and time to build tension and intrigue before it all comes to a head.
The central relationship between Father Ardelian and Lord Vane is really compelling, but Father A's relationship with himself and with his faith is honestly just as interesting. I would describe the vibe as more erotic than smutty (both of which are things I enjoy, just to give a sense of where this falls on the spectrum). The slow build, complete with steps forward and then doubling back, ramps up the tension really effectively.
The mystery of the island itself and the rich descriptions of the setting feel Romantic in the classic sense. That sense of the sublime, of awe-inspiring ancient natural forces and of a deep, mysterious history that you can feel in the architecture and gothic ruins, all comes through so clearly. The vivid mental images of Whithern Hall and its surroundings are a real treat!
I originally read this book in its serialized version on substack, and then the updated, edited version on Patreon that became the published version. If you enjoyed the substack version, I *highly* recommend reading the completed work! It has everything the original had, but even richer, with more relationship development and time to build tension and intrigue before it all comes to a head.
October 21, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book in an uncharacteristically short amount of time. I have been dying for a tried and true gothic m/m romance that does not shy away from the inherent erotic nature of vampirism and the struggles of exploring one's sexuality. As an ex-catholic, the POV character spoke to me and my internal mindset in a way I have not really experienced in a text before, leading to me walking out of a 'sexy vampire book' with a new outlook on interrogating my own faith. Starling has mastered straddling the line of compelling literary writing and the erotic. He does not shy away from exploring sexuality and eroticism in a way I've been longing for in this kind of story, all while keeping the story firmly on track. Simultaneously, I found myself drawn into the most colorfully described worlds so vivid you'd mistake Starling for a painter rather than a writer! I could so clearly see and FEEL the scenes playing out in my mind's eye in a way so few texts have succeeded in (for me). The ending truly may have been some of my favorite imagery in a book I've read to date. If I must nitpick, I felt story beat wise the ending might have needed a tad longer in the oven. However, it is handled exceptionally well considering this is an epistolary novel (I'll leave it at that to spare spoilers). All that said, it felt like everything in this novel was tailored to my exact personal tastes, so much so I dare say What Manner of Man has landed a spot as one of my all-time favorites.
October 30, 2024
What Manner of Man is a gothic romance/horror mystery about an island hiding dark secrets, an ancient curse repeating throughout history, and a forbidden romance full of longing, repression, and all of the religious guilt a Catholic priest is capable of.
The story is told through the recovered journal and undelivered letters of one Father Victor Ardelian, a priest called to the remote island to perform an exorcism on its sole noble, Lord Alistair Vane. Through the medium of Victor’s first-hand narration, the events of the story unfold with both the weight of history and the intimacy of a personal account as we witness his fall into temptation. And like all of the best gothic novels, the setting is a character in its own right and imbues each scene with the sheer weight of its presence. The writing is wonderfully descriptive and evocative, delving into the atmosphere and rich details without subtracting from the character’s internal world or the wonderfully tense dialogue between our wayward priest and mysterious lord.
Every facet of the story is richly dark, beautifully angsty, and full of both horror and wonder in equal parts and I loved every moment of it! From the first chapters of that weird gay priest serialized novel I first found on tumblr, to the fully fleshed out, intricate, and wonderfully plotted novel being published now. This story is all of the enticing bloody gothic vibes of Dracula paired with a stunningly queer and supremely blasphemous love story.
The story is told through the recovered journal and undelivered letters of one Father Victor Ardelian, a priest called to the remote island to perform an exorcism on its sole noble, Lord Alistair Vane. Through the medium of Victor’s first-hand narration, the events of the story unfold with both the weight of history and the intimacy of a personal account as we witness his fall into temptation. And like all of the best gothic novels, the setting is a character in its own right and imbues each scene with the sheer weight of its presence. The writing is wonderfully descriptive and evocative, delving into the atmosphere and rich details without subtracting from the character’s internal world or the wonderfully tense dialogue between our wayward priest and mysterious lord.
Every facet of the story is richly dark, beautifully angsty, and full of both horror and wonder in equal parts and I loved every moment of it! From the first chapters of that weird gay priest serialized novel I first found on tumblr, to the fully fleshed out, intricate, and wonderfully plotted novel being published now. This story is all of the enticing bloody gothic vibes of Dracula paired with a stunningly queer and supremely blasphemous love story.
September 16, 2025
i love how in the face of the homoeroticism of Stoker's Dracula the collective had exactly one thought: jonathan needs to fuck that old man stat. and they were right. Starling's epistolary novel is not only wonderfully blasphemous, but both titillatingly queer and a loving homage to the original text, which you need not have to have read to enjoy this novel to its fullest. What Manner of Man isn't a retelling, but so much more than, and dare i say even better than the original. Starling deftly enfolds us into the quaint world of Swallow's Rest as we follow Father Victor Ardelian who arrives at the shores of this little island town upon a, charming yet odd, gentleman's request for an exorcism. the days that follow amongst the tight-lipped townsfolk, and then within the halls of Whithern Hall with only the company of the enigmatic Lord Alistair Vane, we bear witness to the war that wages between Ardelian's faith to a religion that he soon learns has no love for him and his growing feelings for Lord Vane who is supposedly more monster than man. this novel was swoony and thoughtful in equal measure and impossible to put down and you have to read it right this instant or else.
P.S. ^^^ me watching Dracula 1992 on a CRT TV, age 6
The power he had over me then frightens me even now, and somewhere deep within myself I knew that should he like to, he could have done anything he wished with me.
P.S. ^^^ me watching Dracula 1992 on a CRT TV, age 6
October 30, 2024
Equal parts Dracula, equal parts The Wicker Man (1973), What Manner of Man is complete blasphemous goodness.
Originally published serially a la Dracula Daily, What Manner of Man details the letters of one Father Victor Ardelian, a priest called to perform an exorcism on the mysterious Lord Vane, ruler of the remote island of Swallow's Rest.
What follows is a torturous love affair between Victor and Lord Vane, as Victor struggles to cope with feelings he thought he repressed long ago with the aid of his faith. Guilt and obsession plague him as he ruminates over how much he enjoys the thought of being utterly corrupted and devoured by Lord Vane- and living a life free of societal chains.
Armed with his only clue to the island's past- a mysterious ring, Victor sets out to discover the hidden, archaic mysteries of Swallow's Rest, and save Lord Vane's soul- through any means necessary.
Highly recommended to angst lovers, hierophiliacs, monsterfuckers and anyone that wished The Wicker Man ended with a lot more gay sex.
Happy reading!
Originally published serially a la Dracula Daily, What Manner of Man details the letters of one Father Victor Ardelian, a priest called to perform an exorcism on the mysterious Lord Vane, ruler of the remote island of Swallow's Rest.
What follows is a torturous love affair between Victor and Lord Vane, as Victor struggles to cope with feelings he thought he repressed long ago with the aid of his faith. Guilt and obsession plague him as he ruminates over how much he enjoys the thought of being utterly corrupted and devoured by Lord Vane- and living a life free of societal chains.
Armed with his only clue to the island's past- a mysterious ring, Victor sets out to discover the hidden, archaic mysteries of Swallow's Rest, and save Lord Vane's soul- through any means necessary.
Highly recommended to angst lovers, hierophiliacs, monsterfuckers and anyone that wished The Wicker Man ended with a lot more gay sex.
Happy reading!
October 31, 2024
This is a story which is altogether compelling, charming, endearing, rousing, clever, and wonderfully well-written. If you enjoy romance, dynamic characters and their relationships, scandalous subjects written in a thought-provoking and evocative manner, you will love this book.
WMOM manages to tell a story about personal growth and finding love for oneself and others, it’s about the navigation of otheredness in religion and spirituality, unlearning shame and embracing one's true self - all in enticing subversive ways. While reading there were times I felt arrested, felt as if I couldn’t stop reading, or like I might cry, like I perhaps needed to eat my corn flakes, and at others I felt inspired to challenge my philosophical views. There were even some moments which I found so thought-provoking I actually had to set it down to consider and digest the subject matter. Every moment was a pleasure to read, even when I thought I might cry. Not to mention the gorgeous art. It will make you smile, cry, and gasp.
WMOM manages to tell a story about personal growth and finding love for oneself and others, it’s about the navigation of otheredness in religion and spirituality, unlearning shame and embracing one's true self - all in enticing subversive ways. While reading there were times I felt arrested, felt as if I couldn’t stop reading, or like I might cry, like I perhaps needed to eat my corn flakes, and at others I felt inspired to challenge my philosophical views. There were even some moments which I found so thought-provoking I actually had to set it down to consider and digest the subject matter. Every moment was a pleasure to read, even when I thought I might cry. Not to mention the gorgeous art. It will make you smile, cry, and gasp.
December 29, 2024
I love a good epistolary novel and this was such a fun read. There were so many threads to the mystery to unravel and the story works so well as an epistolary. The book is in conversation with Dracula (the book that made me fall in love with epistolary novels) and it was so much fun to draw parallels and see how the story stood on its own
I loved the characters and setting. Vane and Ardelain’s dynamic was fascinating. Silas was my favorite character from the moment we met him and his role in the story was fascinating. The descriptions in this novel are breathtaking. The scenes and setting came to life beautifully. I didn’t want to put the book down (clearly I need to find a less captivating book to read on my lunch break at work. I didn’t want to leave Swallow’s Rest and Withern Hall for capitalism smh
One of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I read it serialized as a newsletter when the author was first releasing it and seeing how the published version improved/was strengthened was so cool
I loved the characters and setting. Vane and Ardelain’s dynamic was fascinating. Silas was my favorite character from the moment we met him and his role in the story was fascinating. The descriptions in this novel are breathtaking. The scenes and setting came to life beautifully. I didn’t want to put the book down (clearly I need to find a less captivating book to read on my lunch break at work. I didn’t want to leave Swallow’s Rest and Withern Hall for capitalism smh
One of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I read it serialized as a newsletter when the author was first releasing it and seeing how the published version improved/was strengthened was so cool
October 31, 2024
What Manner of Man is a brilliant piece I think anyone with good taste will enjoy. Where to start? Starling's prose is gorgeous, evocative of Victorian era literature while remaining penetrable and rich in language—by the time you reach Chapter 12, you'll know Whithern Hall and Swallow's rest as if it were your own home. The plot is enthralling, the sort that encourages one to devour the book; I certainly did. The first time I read the book, I tried to take notes on every chapter, but by the midway point I abandoned my efforts and finished it in a day. My second reading is made all the sweeter, now that I feel I can take my time and absorb all the details.
However, the shining jewel of the book is the characterization of Father Ardelian; he is a man tortured by self-denial, and the conflict between his morals and his desires spill out onto the pages to create a beautiful, complicated character.
I couldn't recommend this book more.
However, the shining jewel of the book is the characterization of Father Ardelian; he is a man tortured by self-denial, and the conflict between his morals and his desires spill out onto the pages to create a beautiful, complicated character.
I couldn't recommend this book more.
October 31, 2024
I received an ARC for the purposes of reviewing.
What Manner of Man frankly floored me upon reading it. I'd followed the Substack for a bit, read an excerpt or two but never really dived in and immersed myself in the story. When I got the ARC I started right away and was immediately charmed by Father Ardelian. He's a man of fascinating contradictions and it's truly a pleasure to see him develop through the course of the novel.
The story is a slow burn erotica, and there are tantalizing passages throughout to keep ones appetite up for the meat of that aspect of the story. I struggled between taking my time and savoring the book and devouring it quickly, wanting to know everything at once.
The story kept me engaged throughout and it was truly a joy to read. We need more queer erotica that takes chances, does something more offbeat and really grabs you and What Manner of Man absolutely did so for me.
What Manner of Man frankly floored me upon reading it. I'd followed the Substack for a bit, read an excerpt or two but never really dived in and immersed myself in the story. When I got the ARC I started right away and was immediately charmed by Father Ardelian. He's a man of fascinating contradictions and it's truly a pleasure to see him develop through the course of the novel.
The story is a slow burn erotica, and there are tantalizing passages throughout to keep ones appetite up for the meat of that aspect of the story. I struggled between taking my time and savoring the book and devouring it quickly, wanting to know everything at once.
The story kept me engaged throughout and it was truly a joy to read. We need more queer erotica that takes chances, does something more offbeat and really grabs you and What Manner of Man absolutely did so for me.
November 30, 2024
Genuinely one of my new favorite books. Discovering What Manner of Man as a serial release on Substack had me, one) using Substack for once, and two) making an account here on Goodreads to actually recommend to people that they HAVE to check out this book.
It's such a delightful epistolary book, a lovely romance, tragic horror, and even something of a mystery too. The setting being in the past, but really not THAT far in the past makes it that much more interesting too given the stigmas of the time.
In a way, it also reminded me of the original 70s Wicker Man movie with Christopher Lee, and as he also played Dracula, I found myself imagining Lord Vane as Christopher Lee too. If it were to be made into a film, I feel having someone with less charisma that Mr. Lee would fail to truly showcase the subtleties of the character that St John Starling created.
You'll love the tableau he's painted with his words here, trust me.
It's such a delightful epistolary book, a lovely romance, tragic horror, and even something of a mystery too. The setting being in the past, but really not THAT far in the past makes it that much more interesting too given the stigmas of the time.
In a way, it also reminded me of the original 70s Wicker Man movie with Christopher Lee, and as he also played Dracula, I found myself imagining Lord Vane as Christopher Lee too. If it were to be made into a film, I feel having someone with less charisma that Mr. Lee would fail to truly showcase the subtleties of the character that St John Starling created.
You'll love the tableau he's painted with his words here, trust me.
January 1, 2025
Oh, this was a great way to move from one year into the next!
I discovered "What Manner of Man" quite by coincidence via a tumblr post and read a couple of chapters for free on Substack before I decided I needed to have the finished product and shove some money into the author's pocket. Brilliant decision on my part!
Father Ardelian is a wonderful character, though I spent a lot of time feeling very sorry for him (the repression was so sad to see!) but my gosh did he rise above and beyond my wildest expectations of him!
At no clue did I have any idea what was going to happen next in this story and it was an absolute delight to read. I had no idea where it might lead or how it might end, and so every word was a delightful discovery. I was thrilled and excited and extremely entertained.
Take this as your sign to take a chance on some independently published books this year, and to branch out to authors you've never heard of before. There's magic in every word you read.
I discovered "What Manner of Man" quite by coincidence via a tumblr post and read a couple of chapters for free on Substack before I decided I needed to have the finished product and shove some money into the author's pocket. Brilliant decision on my part!
Father Ardelian is a wonderful character, though I spent a lot of time feeling very sorry for him (the repression was so sad to see!) but my gosh did he rise above and beyond my wildest expectations of him!
At no clue did I have any idea what was going to happen next in this story and it was an absolute delight to read. I had no idea where it might lead or how it might end, and so every word was a delightful discovery. I was thrilled and excited and extremely entertained.
Take this as your sign to take a chance on some independently published books this year, and to branch out to authors you've never heard of before. There's magic in every word you read.
March 14, 2025
4.5 stars, rounded up. What an absolute gem of a story! I'd forgotten how weak I am for an epistolary novel, and WMOM absolutely hits it out of the park. The pacing is excellent and the world-building is really compelling. Victor has a strong narrative voice; I particularly liked seeing the differences between what he would admit/acknowledge in his journal versus the unsent letters to his sister. My only quibble is that I would have liked the relationship between Victor and Lord Vane to be more fully developed -- tough to do effectively within an epistolary conceit, but I wanted to really see their dynamic develop throughout, rather than getting kind of flashbulb moments where the growth has already happened. All in all, a brilliant take on Dracula, that also (at times) put me in mind of Beauty and the Beast in the very best way. And it's all available for free on Starling's substack (though I forked over the small amount for an ePub and consider that money very well spent)
October 31, 2024
I received an ARC of this book and read it in a week after failing to keep up with the weekly emails on substack. What Manner of Man was a great read. The epistolary format of the novel allowed you do come along on the journey along with the protagonist, Father Ardelian. His struggles were your struggles. The pace starts of slow and lulls you into an easy rhythm that picks up speed faster and faster as the plot unfolds until the last part where you feel like you are racing to get to the end. I had a hard time putting the book down. I wanted to uncover the secrets and figure out where we were going. I needed to know how this story ended. Strongly recommend. Excellent book.
August 4, 2025
ante la (tan esperada) noticia de que el autor planea sacar otra novela dentro de poco, tomé la inteligente decisión de releer esta joya mientras espero. increíble, fabulosa y altamente adictiva, what manner of man es, a mi parecer, una de esas pocas novelas que realmente logran expandir y mejorar el concepto original en el que se basan. st. john starling tiene un talento brillante para la escritura, y me alegra enormemente haber sido testigo de la creación de una obra tan preciosa. si bien me gustaría evitarles los spoilers, les ruego encarecidamente que le den una oportunidad. como todo lo que escribe el autor, deslumbra por completo.
October 15, 2025
A thoroughly delightful gothic romance! Many things to praise about this novel, but with the novel being an epistolary primarily told through the writings of a single character, I found the primary PoV in Father Ardelian to be a fascinating exploration of a man torn between deep convictions and deep love.
The romance in particular was thrilling and excellently paced. I found myself frustrated at the obstacles to Ardelian's love, and cheering at every slow emotional barrier torn down. A wonderful burn with real joy found in its triumphs.
The romance in particular was thrilling and excellently paced. I found myself frustrated at the obstacles to Ardelian's love, and cheering at every slow emotional barrier torn down. A wonderful burn with real joy found in its triumphs.
October 31, 2024
I have been a fan of St John Starling since the Sacred Sins of Father Black! I have followed this book across the entire Substack journey and I don't know an author that's more dedicated to the process of making an amazing book. This is the Dracula I wanted! It's gay! It has requited yearning! It is so good! I sincerely urge anyone who is a fan of gothic queerness...so...everyone. Go read this amazing book by this very talented author!
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