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The Callisto Chronicles #1
The Book of Blood and Roses
A vampire hunter goes undercover at a mysterious university—and finds herself falling in love with her roommate, an alluring vampire, in book one of a seductive sapphic paranormal fantasy.
“A thrilling and addictive adventure, this debut tackles all my favorite vampire tropes and makes them new again.”—Kamilah Cole, Lodestar Award finalist and bestselling author of the Divine Traitors duology
“Then her red eyes are on mine, gentle, deadly. . . . She takes her time, kissing my neck. . . . I pull her closer, and I say, Bite me.”
In the mists of the Scottish Highlands is a university where vampires study alongside humans.
Rebecca Charity is a vampire hunter undercover at the university, searching for the mysterious Book of Blood and Roses, a lost compendium of ways to kill vampires. If she finds it, she’ll be one step closer to avenging her parents, who were slain by those creatures of the night.
But when Rebecca arrives, she finds something a coffin. Her new roommate is Aliz Astra, scion of one of the most powerful vampire families . . . and the most beautiful woman Rebecca has ever met.
The maddeningly gorgeous Aliz is everything that Rebecca has always hated but also everything she’s ever wanted, and now Rebecca doesn’t know if she wants to kiss or kill her.
When one moonlit night Aliz rescues her from a vampire attack, she accidentally makes Rebecca her Familiar. Now they must work together to break the curse—but as they get closer to solving the mystery, Rebecca and Aliz get closer, too.
Can a vampire hunter ever fall in love with a vampire?
★ “[A] sexy and exhilarating debut . . . Summerlee’s worldbuilding is skillful and immersive, taking the classic setup of a supernatural boarding school in exciting new directions, and the tension-filled relationship between the leads keeps the pages flying.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Book One of The Callisto Chronicles
“A thrilling and addictive adventure, this debut tackles all my favorite vampire tropes and makes them new again.”—Kamilah Cole, Lodestar Award finalist and bestselling author of the Divine Traitors duology
“Then her red eyes are on mine, gentle, deadly. . . . She takes her time, kissing my neck. . . . I pull her closer, and I say, Bite me.”
In the mists of the Scottish Highlands is a university where vampires study alongside humans.
Rebecca Charity is a vampire hunter undercover at the university, searching for the mysterious Book of Blood and Roses, a lost compendium of ways to kill vampires. If she finds it, she’ll be one step closer to avenging her parents, who were slain by those creatures of the night.
But when Rebecca arrives, she finds something a coffin. Her new roommate is Aliz Astra, scion of one of the most powerful vampire families . . . and the most beautiful woman Rebecca has ever met.
The maddeningly gorgeous Aliz is everything that Rebecca has always hated but also everything she’s ever wanted, and now Rebecca doesn’t know if she wants to kiss or kill her.
When one moonlit night Aliz rescues her from a vampire attack, she accidentally makes Rebecca her Familiar. Now they must work together to break the curse—but as they get closer to solving the mystery, Rebecca and Aliz get closer, too.
Can a vampire hunter ever fall in love with a vampire?
★ “[A] sexy and exhilarating debut . . . Summerlee’s worldbuilding is skillful and immersive, taking the classic setup of a supernatural boarding school in exciting new directions, and the tension-filled relationship between the leads keeps the pages flying.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Book One of The Callisto Chronicles
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2026
252 people are currently reading
24947 people want to read
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75💫
# started: 01/01/2026
# finished: 04/01/2026
⤿spoiler free review:
⋮ ⌗ ┆Thoughts:
✧ wlw ✧
Damn. This was good. I went into this with little expectations because this was my first time reading something from this author.
The story follows Rebecca Charity, a vampire huntress. She's given a mission to go undercover as a student at a vampire+human university with a fake identity and retrieve The Book of Blood and Roses. Her roommate, Aliz Astra is a vampire, heiress to the most powerful vamp family.
There's banter, there's chemistry, there's betrayal, there's love. Tho there wasn't exactly much HATRED between both of the FMCs given their profession? You know, I wouldn't call this 'the enemies-to-lovers' because this was kinda insta-lovey (not in a bad way but still).
There's not much world building to this. It's not VERY fantasy heavy. The writing is easy to understand. It's super binge-able. There was so much happening during the last hundred pages. The ending omg😭😭 I can't tell you much without spoiling it but what was that? Idek who am I supposed to trust. That left me with so many unanswered questions. Give me the next book rn please!!!
⤿Thank you Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, the author, and NetGalley for the eARC.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
↝Pre-read°｡.ﾟ.｡♡
Starting the year with this sapphic paranormal vampire x vampire huntress romantasy!
# started: 01/01/2026
# finished: 04/01/2026
⤿spoiler free review:
Maybe I'll bleed for her. Then she'll be the one obsessed. I'll have her on her knees, I'll let her have a taste. She'll lick blood from my fingers, and she'll plead for more. I'll make her break the treaties; I'll drive her insane. And then I'll go, and she'll spend the rest of her wretched eternity dying to taste me again.
⋮ ⌗ ┆Thoughts:
✧ wlw ✧
Damn. This was good. I went into this with little expectations because this was my first time reading something from this author.
The story follows Rebecca Charity, a vampire huntress. She's given a mission to go undercover as a student at a vampire+human university with a fake identity and retrieve The Book of Blood and Roses. Her roommate, Aliz Astra is a vampire, heiress to the most powerful vamp family.
Wanting her was so much easier when I only looked at her from afar.
There's banter, there's chemistry, there's betrayal, there's love. Tho there wasn't exactly much HATRED between both of the FMCs given their profession? You know, I wouldn't call this 'the enemies-to-lovers' because this was kinda insta-lovey (not in a bad way but still).
There's not much world building to this. It's not VERY fantasy heavy. The writing is easy to understand. It's super binge-able. There was so much happening during the last hundred pages. The ending omg😭😭 I can't tell you much without spoiling it but what was that? Idek who am I supposed to trust. That left me with so many unanswered questions. Give me the next book rn please!!!
⤿Thank you Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, the author, and NetGalley for the eARC.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
↝Pre-read°｡.ﾟ.｡♡
Starting the year with this sapphic paranormal vampire x vampire huntress romantasy!
July 15, 2025
Maybe I’ll bleed for her. Then she’ll be the one obsessed. I’ll have her on her knees, I’ll let her have a taste. She’ll lick blood from my fingers, and she’ll plead for more. I’ll make her break the treaties; I’ll drive her insane. And then I’ll go, and she’ll spend the rest of her wretched eternity dying to taste me again.
rating: 4.5❤️🔥
sapphic vampire hunter x vampire filled w intense yearning and horniness, bless!!!
this was such a fun paranormal romance ride and def had me staying up late to keep reading.
rebecca has been a vampire hunter ever since vampires killed her parents and her mentor/handler penny took her in. now she must go undercover at a prestigious vampire university that has just opened its doors to human students with one mission: find the elusive book of blood and roses, and get the hell out before her cover is blown.
a lot easier said than done, since almost no one has ever seen the book, you can’t really ask about it since it holds clues to killing vampires, and oh yeah, her roommate is the heir to one of the elite vampire bloodlines … and rebecca can’t help but be drawn like a moth to a flame.
a mysterious and intriguing plot filled with secret societies and turns, you start to question who is the bad guy and who’s actually the good guy?
i really liked the weird limbo this world existed in with vampires alongside humans: on the one hand, there’s treaties set by the counsel and there are humans who - gasp - even date vampires? on the other hand, there’s blood parties that end in well, bloodshed. so while it’s understandable that rebecca has serious distrust with vampires, her intense dislike (and downright loathing) has its moments of moral ambiguity, when she’s calling them leeches and seeing even other humans’ negative reactions to that.
while the lore was fun and creative (vampires from various mythology pop in), the romance def had me totally hooked. of course i’m gonna eat up the mortal enemies to lovers trope but especially when it arrives in the platinum-blonde butch vampire package that is aliz astra? rebecca and i didn’t stand a chance 🤭 the yearning and tension was insane!! add the amplification of it by their circumstances and whether it’s purely vampire magic or not and it only makes it even more delicious!
I wouldn’t necessarily say this is dark academia bc the school is just her front/cover and the intrigue is more related to secret societies not tied to the school, but i enjoyed this setting and the vibes it gave it!
i devoured this book in a day and i’m just disappointed that it’s only going to be a duology 😭
“Life is too short to dress casually.”
“You are quite literally immortal.”
vampire lovers and yearners, put this on your tbr! 💋
an honest arc review 💘
rating: 4.5❤️🔥
sapphic vampire hunter x vampire filled w intense yearning and horniness, bless!!!
this was such a fun paranormal romance ride and def had me staying up late to keep reading.
rebecca has been a vampire hunter ever since vampires killed her parents and her mentor/handler penny took her in. now she must go undercover at a prestigious vampire university that has just opened its doors to human students with one mission: find the elusive book of blood and roses, and get the hell out before her cover is blown.
a lot easier said than done, since almost no one has ever seen the book, you can’t really ask about it since it holds clues to killing vampires, and oh yeah, her roommate is the heir to one of the elite vampire bloodlines … and rebecca can’t help but be drawn like a moth to a flame.
a mysterious and intriguing plot filled with secret societies and turns, you start to question who is the bad guy and who’s actually the good guy?
i really liked the weird limbo this world existed in with vampires alongside humans: on the one hand, there’s treaties set by the counsel and there are humans who - gasp - even date vampires? on the other hand, there’s blood parties that end in well, bloodshed. so while it’s understandable that rebecca has serious distrust with vampires, her intense dislike (and downright loathing) has its moments of moral ambiguity, when she’s calling them leeches and seeing even other humans’ negative reactions to that.
while the lore was fun and creative (vampires from various mythology pop in), the romance def had me totally hooked. of course i’m gonna eat up the mortal enemies to lovers trope but especially when it arrives in the platinum-blonde butch vampire package that is aliz astra? rebecca and i didn’t stand a chance 🤭 the yearning and tension was insane!! add the amplification of it by their circumstances and whether it’s purely vampire magic or not and it only makes it even more delicious!
I wouldn’t necessarily say this is dark academia bc the school is just her front/cover and the intrigue is more related to secret societies not tied to the school, but i enjoyed this setting and the vibes it gave it!
i devoured this book in a day and i’m just disappointed that it’s only going to be a duology 😭
“Life is too short to dress casually.”
“You are quite literally immortal.”
vampire lovers and yearners, put this on your tbr! 💋
an honest arc review 💘
January 13, 2026
── 3.75 stars .ᐟ ₊⊹☆
「 ❝ I'm a firm believer in the wind being able to wipe away words we shouldn't have said. ❞ 」
⤿ read: july 25 • july 29 • 2025
⤿ age rating: 14+
⤿ spice level: 2/5
⤿ content warnings: sexual content, language, violence & death
ᯓ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review. the book of blood and roses is out now!
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ ♥️ ꒰ now playing: ꒱
» [ bad idea - girl in red ] «
0:59 ──〇──── 3:39
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
╰⪼┆ᯓ⚝〝 it was a bad idea, to think i could stop. was such a bad idea, i can’t get enough. 〞
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ 🫀 ꒰ main tropes: ꒱
⤿ dark academia
⤿ forbidden romance
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ sapphic
⤿ vampire x hunter
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ 🏰 ꒰ review: ꒱
i don’t even have a good starting point for this review. my brain has short-circuited like a victorian woman seeing an ankle.
this book only had to promise me sapphic vampires and i was sat… but i remained seated. i’m so in love with the main characters and their romance! i fear it may have been an insta-love instead of a slow burn, but it was so full of other tropes and plot-lines that i didn’t actually care too much—the whole book was pretty fast-paced, so it fit right in.
i immediately fell in love with the setting of this book. a university for vampires and humans set in the scottish highlands?? spectacular, give me fourteen of ‘em. throw in underground tunnels and old libraries and we’ve got ourselves a feast.
the vampire lore didn’t even strike me as unoriginal either. it was true to the classic stereotypes while also introducing some new ones. it left just enough mystery to keep me wanting the sequel yesterday…
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ 🥀 ꒰ characters: ꒱
➳ rebecca charity .ᐟ
vampire hunter sent to work undercover at a university while simultaneously trying to uncover her parents’ murderer.
➳ aliz astra .ᐟ
vampire royalty—rebecca’s classmate and, more importantly, her unwanted obsession… (she’s mine too.)
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ ꒰ pre-read: ꒱
stop, i’m so happy i got the ARC for this because the vibes look immaculate!! i don’t read vampire novels but i read the word ‘sapphic’ and every bone in my body just started giggling. i’m loving the dark academia setting so much and i already feel like the main couple will be so yum. i’m sat.
જ⁀➴ ₊˚⊹ ⚝
「 ❝ I'm a firm believer in the wind being able to wipe away words we shouldn't have said. ❞ 」
⤿ read: july 25 • july 29 • 2025
⤿ age rating: 14+
⤿ spice level: 2/5
⤿ content warnings: sexual content, language, violence & death
ᯓ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review. the book of blood and roses is out now!
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ ♥️ ꒰ now playing: ꒱
» [ bad idea - girl in red ] «
0:59 ──〇──── 3:39
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
╰⪼┆ᯓ⚝〝 it was a bad idea, to think i could stop. was such a bad idea, i can’t get enough. 〞
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ 🫀 ꒰ main tropes: ꒱
⤿ dark academia
⤿ forbidden romance
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ sapphic
⤿ vampire x hunter
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ 🏰 ꒰ review: ꒱
i don’t even have a good starting point for this review. my brain has short-circuited like a victorian woman seeing an ankle.
this book only had to promise me sapphic vampires and i was sat… but i remained seated. i’m so in love with the main characters and their romance! i fear it may have been an insta-love instead of a slow burn, but it was so full of other tropes and plot-lines that i didn’t actually care too much—the whole book was pretty fast-paced, so it fit right in.
i immediately fell in love with the setting of this book. a university for vampires and humans set in the scottish highlands?? spectacular, give me fourteen of ‘em. throw in underground tunnels and old libraries and we’ve got ourselves a feast.
the vampire lore didn’t even strike me as unoriginal either. it was true to the classic stereotypes while also introducing some new ones. it left just enough mystery to keep me wanting the sequel yesterday…
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ 🥀 ꒰ characters: ꒱
➳ rebecca charity .ᐟ
vampire hunter sent to work undercover at a university while simultaneously trying to uncover her parents’ murderer.
➳ aliz astra .ᐟ
vampire royalty—rebecca’s classmate and, more importantly, her unwanted obsession… (she’s mine too.)
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
⋆˙⟡ ⋮ ⌗ ꒰ pre-read: ꒱
stop, i’m so happy i got the ARC for this because the vibes look immaculate!! i don’t read vampire novels but i read the word ‘sapphic’ and every bone in my body just started giggling. i’m loving the dark academia setting so much and i already feel like the main couple will be so yum. i’m sat.
જ⁀➴ ₊˚⊹ ⚝
January 22, 2026
Sapphic vampire + vampire hunter. Dark academia. Scottish Highlands.
YES. Yes, you should absolutely read this. Bonus points for reading via audio.
Everything about this was a fantastic time.
This feels like a true romantasy. A balance of romantic and non-romantic plot that leans towards a focus on the romantic plot.
This is set in the modern world at a university for vampires, recently allowing humans to attend. Modern day college settings can be a little hit or miss for me but this was an absolute HIT. The vampires are (mostly) old AF, attending for decades at a time. Actually I really loved the idea that learning was an ongoing pursuit for the vampires. The colleges philosophy degree was something like 60 years long? I lol'd at that bc honestly that sounds about right.
Whats to love...
- sapphic vampire + vampire hunter pairing
- roommates + forced proximity
- the TENSION
- revenge plots
- found family
Audio Narration: a million stars. Seriously good performance I want to listen to a million more from Katie Leung. Also I was today years old when I realized she's also an actress on Bridgeton. brb while I go obsessively watch everything she's been in now.
🌶️ - open door but pretty mild, the scenes are a bit on the shorter side, you get details and then it often fades to black rather than playing out a full scene.
| TikTok | IG |
YES. Yes, you should absolutely read this. Bonus points for reading via audio.
Everything about this was a fantastic time.
This feels like a true romantasy. A balance of romantic and non-romantic plot that leans towards a focus on the romantic plot.
This is set in the modern world at a university for vampires, recently allowing humans to attend. Modern day college settings can be a little hit or miss for me but this was an absolute HIT. The vampires are (mostly) old AF, attending for decades at a time. Actually I really loved the idea that learning was an ongoing pursuit for the vampires. The colleges philosophy degree was something like 60 years long? I lol'd at that bc honestly that sounds about right.
Whats to love...
- sapphic vampire + vampire hunter pairing
- roommates + forced proximity
- the TENSION
- revenge plots
- found family
Audio Narration: a million stars. Seriously good performance I want to listen to a million more from Katie Leung. Also I was today years old when I realized she's also an actress on Bridgeton. brb while I go obsessively watch everything she's been in now.
🌶️ - open door but pretty mild, the scenes are a bit on the shorter side, you get details and then it often fades to black rather than playing out a full scene.
| TikTok | IG |
December 16, 2025
I really had a great time reading this vampire sapphic romance fantasy! I have always loved reading books that include vampires and that is what ultimately made me want to read this one! The enemies to lovers trope is in this book, which I was extremely excited about. I found that the two main characters were lovable, strongly developed and multilayered. The side characters were also lovable and stood out in the story. One of the girls is a vampire heir, while the other one is a vampire hunter.
This novel came with strong tension, along with a slow burn romance. This book gets spicy! The setting in this book is atmospheric, eerie, dark, and very mysterious. It is at a vampire academy, where the two girls become roommates. This book truly takes you on an adventure and will even give you a few laughs along the way! While reading it, it definitely reminded me of Vampire Academy! Be sure to read the content warnings. Overall, I give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Annie Summerlee and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on January 13, 2026!
This novel came with strong tension, along with a slow burn romance. This book gets spicy! The setting in this book is atmospheric, eerie, dark, and very mysterious. It is at a vampire academy, where the two girls become roommates. This book truly takes you on an adventure and will even give you a few laughs along the way! While reading it, it definitely reminded me of Vampire Academy! Be sure to read the content warnings. Overall, I give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Annie Summerlee and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on January 13, 2026!
![Profile Image for minnie. [semi hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1767121182i%2F190542410.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars rounded up!
𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 .ᐟ review #8
𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: january 13
⤿🌷⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐬𝐲𝐩𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬꒦꒷🕯️ ꒱
rebecca charity is a vampire hunter, and has been one ever since her parents were killed by vampires, and her mentor penny took her in. now, she is on a mission to go undercover as a student at a prestigious vampire university and find the mysterious book of blood and roses. however, her roommate turns out to be aliz astra, descendant of one of the most powerful vampire bloodlines, someone she can't help being drawn to like a moth to a flame...
𐔌🕯️⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭꒦꒷🌷 ꒱
⤿ vampire x hunter
⤿ enemies to lovers
⤿ dark academia
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ forbidden romance
⤿ sapphic vampire wlw
⤿ revenge plots
⤿ tension
⤿ gothic university vibes
⤿🌷⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬꒦꒷🕯️ ꒱
damn this book was good. i quickly fell (as in right away) in love with the setting of this novel, like a vampire + human university in the scottish highlands? i love it. i love a dark academic romantasy, so the setting was just chef's kiss for me, and then throwing in a sapphic vampire romance was, well, immediate success.
the romance was so good, and im so happy for the wlw relationship because i feel like there isn't always that much representation in the media (maybe im js not looking the right places but most romantasy tend to be straight (nothing wrong with that i love me a straight romance) so im happy to see a sapphic fantasy). anyways, my point is very wonderful lesbian representation <3 the tension between rebecca and aliz was so delicious, and i thought that both characters were strongly developed and had multiple layers to their personality.
the worldbuilding was amazing, and i especially liked the vampire lore. it had a lot of stereotypes and ideas we've all seen before about vampires, but it also introduced more, such as the familiar bond, which i don't see in many other vampire fantasy novels.
the overall vibes were immaculate, with an atmospheric background that's dark, eerie and mysterious, just what you want in a slow burn dark academy romantasy <3
⤿🕯️⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬꒦꒷🌷 ꒱
rebecca charity: our favorite vampire huntress - i loved how fiery and determined she was. she never backed down without a fight, and refused to let vampires intimidate her even though she was a human.
aliz astra: vampire heir - omg i love aliz so much. the moment she popped onto the page i knew that rebecca (and me 🤭) didn't stand a chance.
𐔌🌷⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭!꒦꒷🕯️ ꒱
⤿ spice: 2/5
⤿ age rec: 13/14+
⤿ content warnings: violence, sexual content, swearing
╰┈➤biggest thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
---------------------------------
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀𐔌🌷 preread ⸝⸝ jan. 12th 🕯ˎˊ˗
˖ ࣪જ so like...the publish date is tmr. i'm so cooked. wish me luck guys! haven't read a sapphic romance in a while, so im really excited! and there's vampires too, so i know this one's gonna be good <3
𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 .ᐟ review #8
𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: january 13
"I'm a firm believer in the wind being able to wipe away words we shouldn't have said."
⤿🌷⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐬𝐲𝐩𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬꒦꒷🕯️ ꒱
rebecca charity is a vampire hunter, and has been one ever since her parents were killed by vampires, and her mentor penny took her in. now, she is on a mission to go undercover as a student at a prestigious vampire university and find the mysterious book of blood and roses. however, her roommate turns out to be aliz astra, descendant of one of the most powerful vampire bloodlines, someone she can't help being drawn to like a moth to a flame...
𐔌🕯️⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭꒦꒷🌷 ꒱
⤿ vampire x hunter
⤿ enemies to lovers
⤿ dark academia
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ forbidden romance
⤿ sapphic vampire wlw
⤿ revenge plots
⤿ tension
⤿ gothic university vibes
⤿🌷⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬꒦꒷🕯️ ꒱
damn this book was good. i quickly fell (as in right away) in love with the setting of this novel, like a vampire + human university in the scottish highlands? i love it. i love a dark academic romantasy, so the setting was just chef's kiss for me, and then throwing in a sapphic vampire romance was, well, immediate success.
the romance was so good, and im so happy for the wlw relationship because i feel like there isn't always that much representation in the media (maybe im js not looking the right places but most romantasy tend to be straight (nothing wrong with that i love me a straight romance) so im happy to see a sapphic fantasy). anyways, my point is very wonderful lesbian representation <3 the tension between rebecca and aliz was so delicious, and i thought that both characters were strongly developed and had multiple layers to their personality.
the worldbuilding was amazing, and i especially liked the vampire lore. it had a lot of stereotypes and ideas we've all seen before about vampires, but it also introduced more, such as the familiar bond, which i don't see in many other vampire fantasy novels.
the overall vibes were immaculate, with an atmospheric background that's dark, eerie and mysterious, just what you want in a slow burn dark academy romantasy <3
⤿🕯️⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬꒦꒷🌷 ꒱
rebecca charity: our favorite vampire huntress - i loved how fiery and determined she was. she never backed down without a fight, and refused to let vampires intimidate her even though she was a human.
aliz astra: vampire heir - omg i love aliz so much. the moment she popped onto the page i knew that rebecca (and me 🤭) didn't stand a chance.
𐔌🌷⸝⸝꒷꒦𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭!꒦꒷🕯️ ꒱
⤿ spice: 2/5
⤿ age rec: 13/14+
⤿ content warnings: violence, sexual content, swearing
╰┈➤biggest thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
---------------------------------
˖ ࣪જ so like...the publish date is tmr. i'm so cooked. wish me luck guys! haven't read a sapphic romance in a while, so im really excited! and there's vampires too, so i know this one's gonna be good <3
July 12, 2025
3.5⭐️ It’s a gothic lesbian vampire romantasy set in the real world where humans attend the same university as the vampires. Although treaties are established, humans are still being hunted and drained either for pleasure or kill. A vampire hunter (Rebecca) infiltrates this school by pretending to be a student on a mission to find the lost book of Blood and Roses. She is unknowingly assigned a vampire roommate (Aliz) and now she has to learn ways to coexist together. When Rebecca gets hurt and Aliz offers a touch of her blood to save her life, a bond is formed between the two & now the vampire hunter must find ways to undo this blood contact. Does Rebecca have what it takes to let go of her vampiric hatred and work together to solve more than just the mystery of the lost book?
The book gave off serious Buffy-The Vampire & True Blood vibes. From vampires turning into bats, wooden stakes, garlic pills and vampires sleeping in coffins— how much unoriginal can you get? That’s probably the biggest problem that I had with this book— the lack of originality. I was waiting for the writer to give us some creativity, perhaps a twist to the entire vampire lore. Taking on more of a modern take, the vampires were a lot more traditional than I wanted them to be. It lacked richness and depth, world building and imagination.
It’s not to say that all things were bad. The FF romance was good, not the best, but done thoroughly spread out. We have a fiery FMC who absolutely & wholeheartedly hates vampires. Here she meets Aliz who challenges her in all ways possible. She fights with her feelings (a little annoyingly) for majority of the book but then accepts Aliz for who she is. The love story did take time to build but when it peaked, it also soared in a span of few pages.
The allure between the vampire and human was there just not delivered in the way I would have enjoyed.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds & Inklore for this early eARC.
Expected publication date: January 13, 2026
The book gave off serious Buffy-The Vampire & True Blood vibes. From vampires turning into bats, wooden stakes, garlic pills and vampires sleeping in coffins— how much unoriginal can you get? That’s probably the biggest problem that I had with this book— the lack of originality. I was waiting for the writer to give us some creativity, perhaps a twist to the entire vampire lore. Taking on more of a modern take, the vampires were a lot more traditional than I wanted them to be. It lacked richness and depth, world building and imagination.
It’s not to say that all things were bad. The FF romance was good, not the best, but done thoroughly spread out. We have a fiery FMC who absolutely & wholeheartedly hates vampires. Here she meets Aliz who challenges her in all ways possible. She fights with her feelings (a little annoyingly) for majority of the book but then accepts Aliz for who she is. The love story did take time to build but when it peaked, it also soared in a span of few pages.
The allure between the vampire and human was there just not delivered in the way I would have enjoyed.
Big thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds & Inklore for this early eARC.
Expected publication date: January 13, 2026
did-not-finish
December 28, 2025Sad to be DNFing this one 100 pages in. The setting is a vibe but I’m already growing irritable towards the FMC’s inability to be subtle, especially considering she’s a supposed hunter entering a dubious attempt at vampire/human co-living. I think this will be a fun read for many though, especially if you love vampire lore and gothic scenery.
[thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book]
[thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book]
May 29, 2025
i’m cured. my skin is clear. my crops are flourishing. nature is healing. lesbian vampires i love you!!!
this hit on everything i’d want to see when it comes to vampires — if you’re someone who’s still mourning the cancellation of first kill like i am, this hits that exact same sweet spot. the vampire x vampire hunter romance is just as delicious, and this one promises to actually deliver a second book to finish the story! i really loved the world building in this one — vampires have been done so many times that it can be hard to touch on something new, but i thought the concept of vampires’ abilities changing based on the cultural beliefs of their place of origin is such a cool concept. i hope to see that explored more in book 2, because it’s a fascinating idea! i also loved the intricacy of vampiric society, from the council to the callisto hunters and more. annie summerlee did a fantastic job carving out a unique spot in a heavily covered genre.
something small that means a lot to me is that both rebecca/cassie and aliz say that they’re lesbians on page. i still never take it for granted when i get to have that moment in any form of media, so to get that experience with three different characters in this book was amazing!! i sincerely recommend picking this up in the new year when it’s published!
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
this hit on everything i’d want to see when it comes to vampires — if you’re someone who’s still mourning the cancellation of first kill like i am, this hits that exact same sweet spot. the vampire x vampire hunter romance is just as delicious, and this one promises to actually deliver a second book to finish the story! i really loved the world building in this one — vampires have been done so many times that it can be hard to touch on something new, but i thought the concept of vampires’ abilities changing based on the cultural beliefs of their place of origin is such a cool concept. i hope to see that explored more in book 2, because it’s a fascinating idea! i also loved the intricacy of vampiric society, from the council to the callisto hunters and more. annie summerlee did a fantastic job carving out a unique spot in a heavily covered genre.
something small that means a lot to me is that both rebecca/cassie and aliz say that they’re lesbians on page. i still never take it for granted when i get to have that moment in any form of media, so to get that experience with three different characters in this book was amazing!! i sincerely recommend picking this up in the new year when it’s published!
thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2025
4/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
Wow, what a fantastic debut! I adore vampires and will read anything that involves them with no hesitation.
This book had such good writing and atmosphere!! I was in this university, I was in Scotland. Perfectly executed.
Our main characters were well developed as well. I liked Cassie/Rebecca a lot , and I also really liked Aliz! I did feel that we could have gotten more development from them both in coming to terms with their attraction but I won’t complain.
The romance was super sweet. It was maybe a bit too fast for my tastes but I liked their dynamic and it was wonderful lesbian representation :)
The plot itself didn’t really wow me as far as vampire books go (nor was the interpretation of vampires new) but it was ultimately just really really fun. I enjoyed the twists and I enjoyed all of the Scottish elements, like the Gaelic language being used on page.
All in all, I’m excited for the sequel!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
Wow, what a fantastic debut! I adore vampires and will read anything that involves them with no hesitation.
This book had such good writing and atmosphere!! I was in this university, I was in Scotland. Perfectly executed.
Our main characters were well developed as well. I liked Cassie/Rebecca a lot , and I also really liked Aliz! I did feel that we could have gotten more development from them both in coming to terms with their attraction but I won’t complain.
The romance was super sweet. It was maybe a bit too fast for my tastes but I liked their dynamic and it was wonderful lesbian representation :)
The plot itself didn’t really wow me as far as vampire books go (nor was the interpretation of vampires new) but it was ultimately just really really fun. I enjoyed the twists and I enjoyed all of the Scottish elements, like the Gaelic language being used on page.
All in all, I’m excited for the sequel!!!
January 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐
This is a vampire enemies-to-lovers romance following Rebecca, a vampire hunter who infiltrates a vampire university for a dangerous mission. That’s where she meets Aliz, a vampire who, after an unfortunate accident, ends up turning Rebecca into her familiar. As they work together to break the curse, they slowly realize they might not be as different as they once believed…
This vampire romance felt different from what I usually read, and not in a bad way, just unexpected. I really liked how the author handled the vampire lore, especially the focus on the familiar bond, something that’s rarely explored in other vampire books. The search for a cure added a lot of tension and momentum, and I loved how that constant chase kept pulling me back in, always wanting to know what they’d discover next.
While I enjoyed the world-building, the characters themselves didn’t quite draw me in. I felt pretty disconnected from them, and at times they read more like teenagers than college students. Still, Rebecca was a highlight. I loved how fiery and determined she was, how being human never held her back, and how she refused to be intimidated by vampires. Even though I’m not a fan of lying, I appreciated how she hid her true identity and chose the perfect moment to reveal herself as a vampire hunter. That reveal was honestly very satisfying.
Aliz, on the other hand, didn’t work for me. She felt surprisingly plain and contradictory for a vampire, she came across as fairly subdued and didn’t leave a strong impression on me, which made it difficult to stay invested in her character.
Because of that, the romance also suffered. Since I didn’t connect with one of the FMCs, the relationship didn’t fully convince me. It leaned heavily into insta-love, which made it feel a bit shallow, and I missed the emotional depth I was hoping for. Still, I can’t deny that the sexual tension between them was there, and it was definitely hot.
Overall, this is a fast-paced, action-filled story that keeps you reading because you want to know how it ends. Even if some aspects weren’t exactly my taste, I’m still planning to pick up book two, hoping it’ll win me over even more.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a vampire enemies-to-lovers romance following Rebecca, a vampire hunter who infiltrates a vampire university for a dangerous mission. That’s where she meets Aliz, a vampire who, after an unfortunate accident, ends up turning Rebecca into her familiar. As they work together to break the curse, they slowly realize they might not be as different as they once believed…
This vampire romance felt different from what I usually read, and not in a bad way, just unexpected. I really liked how the author handled the vampire lore, especially the focus on the familiar bond, something that’s rarely explored in other vampire books. The search for a cure added a lot of tension and momentum, and I loved how that constant chase kept pulling me back in, always wanting to know what they’d discover next.
While I enjoyed the world-building, the characters themselves didn’t quite draw me in. I felt pretty disconnected from them, and at times they read more like teenagers than college students. Still, Rebecca was a highlight. I loved how fiery and determined she was, how being human never held her back, and how she refused to be intimidated by vampires. Even though I’m not a fan of lying, I appreciated how she hid her true identity and chose the perfect moment to reveal herself as a vampire hunter. That reveal was honestly very satisfying.
Aliz, on the other hand, didn’t work for me. She felt surprisingly plain and contradictory for a vampire, she came across as fairly subdued and didn’t leave a strong impression on me, which made it difficult to stay invested in her character.
Because of that, the romance also suffered. Since I didn’t connect with one of the FMCs, the relationship didn’t fully convince me. It leaned heavily into insta-love, which made it feel a bit shallow, and I missed the emotional depth I was hoping for. Still, I can’t deny that the sexual tension between them was there, and it was definitely hot.
Overall, this is a fast-paced, action-filled story that keeps you reading because you want to know how it ends. Even if some aspects weren’t exactly my taste, I’m still planning to pick up book two, hoping it’ll win me over even more.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 21, 2026
The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee
The Book of Blood and Roses opens in the misty Scottish Highlands at Tynahine University, a once‑exclusive vampire school that has begun admitting humans. Rebecca Charity, a trained vampire hunter driven by the haunting loss of her parents, goes undercover as a student to seek out the legendary tome said to reveal every vampire weakness. Once there she discovers her assigned roommate is Aliz Astra, an impossibly alluring vampire scion who challenges everything Rebecca thought she believed about monsters and love. After a fateful encounter bonds them in a cursed familiar connection, they must work together to unravel secrets, confront prejudice, and decide whether forbidden desire might be stronger than hatred. This debut blends vampiric mystery with spirited sapphic romance and layered worldbuilding.
I liked how Rebecca’s hardened resolve softened in the glow of Aliz’s quiet strength. A transformation that made every tender moment shimmer with longing and risk. Their slow burn, tangled with danger and secrets, felt both exhilarating and emotionally grounded. The vivid university setting and rich tapestry of lore kept me turning pages, even if some familiar tropes occasionally felt comfortably familiar rather than revolutionary. I finished feeling eager for the next chapter of their journey.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Because it mixes cozy Gothic atmosphere, heartfelt sapphic tension, and sharp emotional stakes in a vampire tale that made me root for love to outshine legacy.
The Book of Blood and Roses opens in the misty Scottish Highlands at Tynahine University, a once‑exclusive vampire school that has begun admitting humans. Rebecca Charity, a trained vampire hunter driven by the haunting loss of her parents, goes undercover as a student to seek out the legendary tome said to reveal every vampire weakness. Once there she discovers her assigned roommate is Aliz Astra, an impossibly alluring vampire scion who challenges everything Rebecca thought she believed about monsters and love. After a fateful encounter bonds them in a cursed familiar connection, they must work together to unravel secrets, confront prejudice, and decide whether forbidden desire might be stronger than hatred. This debut blends vampiric mystery with spirited sapphic romance and layered worldbuilding.
I liked how Rebecca’s hardened resolve softened in the glow of Aliz’s quiet strength. A transformation that made every tender moment shimmer with longing and risk. Their slow burn, tangled with danger and secrets, felt both exhilarating and emotionally grounded. The vivid university setting and rich tapestry of lore kept me turning pages, even if some familiar tropes occasionally felt comfortably familiar rather than revolutionary. I finished feeling eager for the next chapter of their journey.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Because it mixes cozy Gothic atmosphere, heartfelt sapphic tension, and sharp emotional stakes in a vampire tale that made me root for love to outshine legacy.
December 10, 2025
Okay, I loved this book. It was an excellently built world of vampires, vampire hunters and humans, in a dark academia setting, with a sapphic enemies to lovers romance - what's not to love?!
Rebecca is a vampire hunter, and she's very good at what she does. She's sent undercover by Callisto, the group she works for, into a vampire university to find the Book of Blood and Roses - a lost book hidden somewhere in the libraries. This is the first time the university has officially taken human students, and Rebecca, disguised as Cassie, finds herself sharing a room with Aliz, the heir of a powerful vampire family. Despite initially hating each other, the two accidentally form a kind of unbreakable bond one night after Cassie is attacked by a vampire, and the two of them have to work together to destroy this - all the while, wanting to be closer than ever.
I devoured (lol) this book in two sittings. It had a strong storyline that pushed forward constantly, never lingering in one place for too long, and characters that brought it to life. While I loved the relationship between Cassie and Aliz (there was definite chemistry there!), the side characters added the extra depth that this novel needed. Cassie is clearly an outsider at the school, a human among vampires, but she quickly finds comrades - a human and (shock, horror!) vampires who accept her into the group. We all love a found family, don't we!
This book was full of yearning as the two try to fight their feelings, whether they're real or not entirely. It's a romantasy, but the underlying plot with the wider world around them adds depth.
The setting of the university in the Scottish Highlands really added to the atmosphere. I liked the way that the campus names were often in Gaelic, and little pieces of dialect were thrown in every now and then to remind you that it wasn't just a generic or a fantasy setting. Also there were underground tunnel mazes with hidden libraries. What else do I need to say?!
This is a twisting tale where you're never quite sure who the monsters are. It flips itself on its head a couple of times, and while I somewhat saw some of this coming, other parts I didn't see so much. I love that.
As I said, I really enjoyed the worldbuilding too, where the traits of the vampires were almost a parody - with features from vampire lore such as sleeping in coffins, garlic allergy and shying away from religious icons. I liked the touch that each vampire was different depending on the mythology of their heritage - that was fun and interesting.
There will be a sequel to this book, however it doesn't leave you on a huge cliffhanger - it feels like it could standalone. Nevertheless, I'm still super excited for the next one (this is the worst part about reading ARCs - this one isn't even published yet and I'm waiting for the next!)
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
Rebecca is a vampire hunter, and she's very good at what she does. She's sent undercover by Callisto, the group she works for, into a vampire university to find the Book of Blood and Roses - a lost book hidden somewhere in the libraries. This is the first time the university has officially taken human students, and Rebecca, disguised as Cassie, finds herself sharing a room with Aliz, the heir of a powerful vampire family. Despite initially hating each other, the two accidentally form a kind of unbreakable bond one night after Cassie is attacked by a vampire, and the two of them have to work together to destroy this - all the while, wanting to be closer than ever.
I devoured (lol) this book in two sittings. It had a strong storyline that pushed forward constantly, never lingering in one place for too long, and characters that brought it to life. While I loved the relationship between Cassie and Aliz (there was definite chemistry there!), the side characters added the extra depth that this novel needed. Cassie is clearly an outsider at the school, a human among vampires, but she quickly finds comrades - a human and (shock, horror!) vampires who accept her into the group. We all love a found family, don't we!
This book was full of yearning as the two try to fight their feelings, whether they're real or not entirely. It's a romantasy, but the underlying plot with the wider world around them adds depth.
The setting of the university in the Scottish Highlands really added to the atmosphere. I liked the way that the campus names were often in Gaelic, and little pieces of dialect were thrown in every now and then to remind you that it wasn't just a generic or a fantasy setting. Also there were underground tunnel mazes with hidden libraries. What else do I need to say?!
This is a twisting tale where you're never quite sure who the monsters are. It flips itself on its head a couple of times, and while I somewhat saw some of this coming, other parts I didn't see so much. I love that.
As I said, I really enjoyed the worldbuilding too, where the traits of the vampires were almost a parody - with features from vampire lore such as sleeping in coffins, garlic allergy and shying away from religious icons. I liked the touch that each vampire was different depending on the mythology of their heritage - that was fun and interesting.
There will be a sequel to this book, however it doesn't leave you on a huge cliffhanger - it feels like it could standalone. Nevertheless, I'm still super excited for the next one (this is the worst part about reading ARCs - this one isn't even published yet and I'm waiting for the next!)
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
January 3, 2026
I grew up obsessing over Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so when I hear that there's a vampire hunter x vampire dynamic I'm SO in. The Book of Blood and Roses was a super bingeable, fun read.
I honestly wish this book came out in July or August ahead of spooky season because the vibes are perfect for that season.
📖 Early Reader Review 📖
🗓️ Release date: January 13, 2026
🖤 Sapphic, paranormal romantasy
🖤 1st person POV
🖤 Vampire hunter x vampire
🖤 Dark academia
🖤 Forced proximity
Spice rating: 🌶🌶.5
The rivals-to-lovers, vampire hunter x vampire dynamic was fun as hell. I binged it in less than two days, and the chemistry between Rebecca and Aliz was absolutely what drove me through this book. The romance is definitely the star of this show (even if it was insta love).
The writing style of this book reads a bit more new adult (borderline young adult) than adult, and I'm curious why the author and publisher aren't choosing to market it that way. Especially because our FMC is in her early 20s and this takes place at a university.
Speaking of, I loved the setting of this book. A vampire university in the Scottish Highlands? Coffins in dorm rooms? I ate it up. Curious to see if we'll continue to get more world building outside of the walls of the university.
My biggest reasons for not giving this the full five stars comes down to feeling that there were a lot of telling versus showing moments. It also features a lot of existing stereotypes when it comes to vampires, and I was hoping for a bitttt more of a unique flair/take. While we do get some unique flair (& I loved it), the lack of it resulted in minimal world building and relying on readers' existing knowledge of vampires (in my opinion).
I'm definitely planning to read book 2 and am excited to see where Annie Summerlee takes this story!
A sincere thank you to Allurial for gifting me an early hardcover limited edition ahead of its release.
I honestly wish this book came out in July or August ahead of spooky season because the vibes are perfect for that season.
📖 Early Reader Review 📖
🗓️ Release date: January 13, 2026
🖤 Sapphic, paranormal romantasy
🖤 1st person POV
🖤 Vampire hunter x vampire
🖤 Dark academia
🖤 Forced proximity
Spice rating: 🌶🌶.5
The rivals-to-lovers, vampire hunter x vampire dynamic was fun as hell. I binged it in less than two days, and the chemistry between Rebecca and Aliz was absolutely what drove me through this book. The romance is definitely the star of this show (even if it was insta love).
The writing style of this book reads a bit more new adult (borderline young adult) than adult, and I'm curious why the author and publisher aren't choosing to market it that way. Especially because our FMC is in her early 20s and this takes place at a university.
Speaking of, I loved the setting of this book. A vampire university in the Scottish Highlands? Coffins in dorm rooms? I ate it up. Curious to see if we'll continue to get more world building outside of the walls of the university.
My biggest reasons for not giving this the full five stars comes down to feeling that there were a lot of telling versus showing moments. It also features a lot of existing stereotypes when it comes to vampires, and I was hoping for a bitttt more of a unique flair/take. While we do get some unique flair (& I loved it), the lack of it resulted in minimal world building and relying on readers' existing knowledge of vampires (in my opinion).
I'm definitely planning to read book 2 and am excited to see where Annie Summerlee takes this story!
A sincere thank you to Allurial for gifting me an early hardcover limited edition ahead of its release.
December 29, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
In this gothic and atmospheric FF romance, a vampire hunter must go undercover inside a vampire university as a human. Despite there being treaties in place to protect the humans, they are still being killed. So the goal is simple. Find the book and get out. But if course, it isn’t easy and she finds herself sharing a room with a vampire. She hates vampires but is definitely drawn to this one.
I thought it was entertaining but I would have preferred more world building and just felt it was missing something.
In this gothic and atmospheric FF romance, a vampire hunter must go undercover inside a vampire university as a human. Despite there being treaties in place to protect the humans, they are still being killed. So the goal is simple. Find the book and get out. But if course, it isn’t easy and she finds herself sharing a room with a vampire. She hates vampires but is definitely drawn to this one.
I thought it was entertaining but I would have preferred more world building and just felt it was missing something.
August 18, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
A vampire romance without a problematic age gap? I didn't even know such a thing was possible unless both love interests were ancient vampires. Here, though, Rebecca, the vampire hunter, is 22, and Aliz, the vampire, is 24. No creepy vampires spending their immortal lives hanging out with teenage girls or breaking into their room to watch them sleep.
This is a vampire college that has started admitting a few select humans, and the Council has gotten Rebecca in, although everyone thinks her name is Cassie. Trying to find a book but then accidentally becoming a familiar. I read that and laughed; how does a vampire accidentally make you their familiar? It made so much sense in the book, though.
The Vampire Diaries is one of my favorite tv shows ever. I have watched it so many times that I can't even count. This is better.
Definitely would recommend.
A vampire romance without a problematic age gap? I didn't even know such a thing was possible unless both love interests were ancient vampires. Here, though, Rebecca, the vampire hunter, is 22, and Aliz, the vampire, is 24. No creepy vampires spending their immortal lives hanging out with teenage girls or breaking into their room to watch them sleep.
This is a vampire college that has started admitting a few select humans, and the Council has gotten Rebecca in, although everyone thinks her name is Cassie. Trying to find a book but then accidentally becoming a familiar. I read that and laughed; how does a vampire accidentally make you their familiar? It made so much sense in the book, though.
The Vampire Diaries is one of my favorite tv shows ever. I have watched it so many times that I can't even count. This is better.
Definitely would recommend.
June 2, 2025
Dark academia, sapphic vampires, and magical hidden libraries with what might be the snarkiest- and smartest- librarian? What’s not to love?
I flew through this book; everything works- the plot, pacing, writing, suspense. I loved all the characters, major and minor, with the exception of the protagonist. It takes her a very long time to overcome her prejudices, and I found her blind hatred of what she doesn’t yet understand frustrating. However, it makes the payoff of her change of perspective that much better, when it finally arrives.
This is a great book to start off my month of reading LGBTQIA+ books for Pride. Can’t wait for book 2. Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC!
I flew through this book; everything works- the plot, pacing, writing, suspense. I loved all the characters, major and minor, with the exception of the protagonist. It takes her a very long time to overcome her prejudices, and I found her blind hatred of what she doesn’t yet understand frustrating. However, it makes the payoff of her change of perspective that much better, when it finally arrives.
This is a great book to start off my month of reading LGBTQIA+ books for Pride. Can’t wait for book 2. Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC!
January 2, 2026
I had such a good time with this one. A sapphic vampire story with a dark academia setting? Immediately yes!!!
This story follows a vampire hunter who goes undercover at a university where vampires and humans coexist, and the tension is baked in from page one. The worldbuilding feels familiar in a comforting way but still fresh, especially the way vampire lore is handled, it takes classic elements and gives them just enough of a twist to keep things interesting.
The characters were a big highlight for me. The side characters added a lot of depth, and the interpersonal dynamics made the world feel lived-in. I especially loved the slow, simmering tension between the leads. The sapphic romance is deliciously angsty, full of yearning, forced proximity, and that irresistible I shouldn’t want you but I do energy. The spice is there, the chemistry is there, and the emotional build absolutely worked for me.
The pacing kept me engaged, the mystery gave me plenty to theorize about, and the ending definitely left me ready for more. If you enjoy sapphic enemies-to-lovers, dark academia vibes, vampires, and a story that balances romance with plot, The Book of Blood & Roses is absolutely worth picking up. Thanks to DelRey for the gifted ARC.
This story follows a vampire hunter who goes undercover at a university where vampires and humans coexist, and the tension is baked in from page one. The worldbuilding feels familiar in a comforting way but still fresh, especially the way vampire lore is handled, it takes classic elements and gives them just enough of a twist to keep things interesting.
The characters were a big highlight for me. The side characters added a lot of depth, and the interpersonal dynamics made the world feel lived-in. I especially loved the slow, simmering tension between the leads. The sapphic romance is deliciously angsty, full of yearning, forced proximity, and that irresistible I shouldn’t want you but I do energy. The spice is there, the chemistry is there, and the emotional build absolutely worked for me.
The pacing kept me engaged, the mystery gave me plenty to theorize about, and the ending definitely left me ready for more. If you enjoy sapphic enemies-to-lovers, dark academia vibes, vampires, and a story that balances romance with plot, The Book of Blood & Roses is absolutely worth picking up. Thanks to DelRey for the gifted ARC.
January 24, 2026
I had so much freaking fun reading this book. I had just finished the Game Changers series and was a bit worried it was going to put me in a slump, but this was the perfect read after. Anytime I find a book that is a) sapphic, b) has vampires, and c) is set in a mysterious academy, I know it’s going to be a win for me.
I devoured this book in two days. I loved the tension between Aliz and Rebecca. Rebecca was such a fierce character, especially when it came to fighting vampires. It was giving immaculate Buffy vibes and I was absolutely here for it. I also found the element surrounding Rebecca’s blood to be fascinating. It felt like a fresh spin on the vampire hunter storyline. And I was obsessed with the fact that the vampires could turn into 🦇. I don’t know why that made me so happy, but it did. 🤣
I loved how the relationship progressed between our two leads. My one minor complaint is that it wasn’t quite as slow burn as I would have liked for an enemies to lovers dynamic, but I also understand why, given what unfolds in the book. No spoilers here, so apologies for the vague references.
This was a solid 4.5 star read for me and I CANNOT wait for book two!! I’m definitely hoping we get more scenes with both Julia and Elia.
Thank you so much Del Rey for the gifted free copy!!
I devoured this book in two days. I loved the tension between Aliz and Rebecca. Rebecca was such a fierce character, especially when it came to fighting vampires. It was giving immaculate Buffy vibes and I was absolutely here for it. I also found the element surrounding Rebecca’s blood to be fascinating. It felt like a fresh spin on the vampire hunter storyline. And I was obsessed with the fact that the vampires could turn into 🦇. I don’t know why that made me so happy, but it did. 🤣
I loved how the relationship progressed between our two leads. My one minor complaint is that it wasn’t quite as slow burn as I would have liked for an enemies to lovers dynamic, but I also understand why, given what unfolds in the book. No spoilers here, so apologies for the vague references.
This was a solid 4.5 star read for me and I CANNOT wait for book two!! I’m definitely hoping we get more scenes with both Julia and Elia.
Thank you so much Del Rey for the gifted free copy!!
November 26, 2025
Probably one of the best Dark Academia novels I’ve ever read. There was a fair amount of world building within and without the school. I really liked the side characters and hope we get more of their stories in the next book, especially Julia.
I can’t say I loved Rebecca/Cassie. Something just didn’t click for me.
Besides that, everything else worked really well. When all the pieces of the puzzle (Callisto/Vassals/Council/etc) came together I was freaking out. What a revelation! The plot was very detailed and was complemented by the romance aspects, not the other way around. So it’s a great read for someone just wanting a general fantasy book as well.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Del Rey/Inklore/ Random House Worlds for a copy!
I can’t say I loved Rebecca/Cassie. Something just didn’t click for me.
Besides that, everything else worked really well. When all the pieces of the puzzle (Callisto/Vassals/Council/etc) came together I was freaking out. What a revelation! The plot was very detailed and was complemented by the romance aspects, not the other way around. So it’s a great read for someone just wanting a general fantasy book as well.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Del Rey/Inklore/ Random House Worlds for a copy!
November 29, 2025
i spent this entire book giggling and kicking my feet twirling my hair… aliz and cassie/rebecca you will always be famous 😭😭!!
the romance between a vampire and a vampire hunter who’s out for revenge is sooo scrumptious. there was realistic pacing in how they fell for each other in my opinion, and the circumstance of their relationship was handled very well! it was obvious how much they grew to care for each other, and even in the beginning of their relationship i was getting so giddy over little things like aliz reaching books for cassie hehehe 💖💖
i also think the explanations of the world in this book were done very well and everything was memorable enough that i didn’t have to go back to find information i was finding trouble recalling. the rules for vampires are super interesting and it was a great read!! i found the plot twists and ending to be very satisfying and well done !
all in all, i can’t wait to read book 2 !! 💖
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! <3
the romance between a vampire and a vampire hunter who’s out for revenge is sooo scrumptious. there was realistic pacing in how they fell for each other in my opinion, and the circumstance of their relationship was handled very well! it was obvious how much they grew to care for each other, and even in the beginning of their relationship i was getting so giddy over little things like aliz reaching books for cassie hehehe 💖💖
i also think the explanations of the world in this book were done very well and everything was memorable enough that i didn’t have to go back to find information i was finding trouble recalling. the rules for vampires are super interesting and it was a great read!! i found the plot twists and ending to be very satisfying and well done !
all in all, i can’t wait to read book 2 !! 💖
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! <3
December 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 4.5 stars
The Book of Blood & Roses is a story about a vampire hunter, Rebecca, who goes undercover at a university that lets humans attend to search for the mysterious Book of Blood and Roses, while rooming together with one of the vampires attending.
I was absolutely blown away by the beautiful cover and reading the synopsis made me immediately excited to read and discover the story within the pages! Being send an early copy made my day and for Spooktober I dove into this incredible book!
The opening was one that drew me in immediately! I loved the introduction to Rebecca, her situation and her stance on vampires. Pair that with the amazing atmosphere and vibe created with the vivid descriptions and details and I was sold!
The writing is really nice and it flows. Together with the pacing, it made this a quick and easy read for me. I didn’t really notice how much I’d read until putting the book down and looking at the page number, it went that easy haha.
I loved the classic presentation of vampires in the story! Lately, authors give some sort of twist to the vampires in their stories and there’s nothing wrong with that! But I really loved the sort of freshness of vampires being portrayed so classically, like sleeping in a coffin, no reflection and garlic allergies. And even then there’s something new added about the origin of the vampires, which does make the book original.
Rebecca is an intriguing character and I really liked her. She is determined and funny. I had a lot of fun reading her thoughts while undercover. I also loved her growth and how she kinda found herself while at the university, questioning the things she had been thought. It made her a relatable character. Aliz was the same, just living her life, trying to survive university and going through it with the grace of an immortal being haha.
The romance between the two was good and hot, although it was a bit too insta-love for me. At the same time, the banter and chemistry between the two was absolutely amazing!
The plot and the mystery were entertaining and addicting and especially towards the end, I was glued to the pages due to the unexpected twists and turns! I have to say, this book really went out with a bang and I loved it!
Overall, The Book of Blood & Roses is a brilliant debut that I very much enjoyed!! I can’t wait to explore this world more in book 2!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book!
The Book of Blood & Roses is a story about a vampire hunter, Rebecca, who goes undercover at a university that lets humans attend to search for the mysterious Book of Blood and Roses, while rooming together with one of the vampires attending.
“Maybe I’ll bleed for her. Then she’ll be the one obsessed. I’ll have her on her knees, I’ll let her have a taste. She’ll lick blood from my fingers, and she’ll plead for more. I’ll make her break the treaties; I’ll drive her insane. And then I’ll go, and she’ll spend the rest of her wretched eternity dying to taste me again.”
I was absolutely blown away by the beautiful cover and reading the synopsis made me immediately excited to read and discover the story within the pages! Being send an early copy made my day and for Spooktober I dove into this incredible book!
The opening was one that drew me in immediately! I loved the introduction to Rebecca, her situation and her stance on vampires. Pair that with the amazing atmosphere and vibe created with the vivid descriptions and details and I was sold!
The writing is really nice and it flows. Together with the pacing, it made this a quick and easy read for me. I didn’t really notice how much I’d read until putting the book down and looking at the page number, it went that easy haha.
I loved the classic presentation of vampires in the story! Lately, authors give some sort of twist to the vampires in their stories and there’s nothing wrong with that! But I really loved the sort of freshness of vampires being portrayed so classically, like sleeping in a coffin, no reflection and garlic allergies. And even then there’s something new added about the origin of the vampires, which does make the book original.
Rebecca is an intriguing character and I really liked her. She is determined and funny. I had a lot of fun reading her thoughts while undercover. I also loved her growth and how she kinda found herself while at the university, questioning the things she had been thought. It made her a relatable character. Aliz was the same, just living her life, trying to survive university and going through it with the grace of an immortal being haha.
The romance between the two was good and hot, although it was a bit too insta-love for me. At the same time, the banter and chemistry between the two was absolutely amazing!
The plot and the mystery were entertaining and addicting and especially towards the end, I was glued to the pages due to the unexpected twists and turns! I have to say, this book really went out with a bang and I loved it!
Overall, The Book of Blood & Roses is a brilliant debut that I very much enjoyed!! I can’t wait to explore this world more in book 2!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book!
July 18, 2025
Sapphic enemies to lovers, we are so back!!
This was a fun vampire x vampire hunter romance with a bit of a dark academia twist, set in a mysterious Scottish university. I'll always love a good hidden library and a secret society, and this had plenty of familiar beats yet didn't feel generic. I particularly enjoyed the cultural differences between the vampires and how folklore impacted their strengths and weaknesses.
Rebecca, the vampire hunter, is a bit of a rough character in the beginning of the story, but I came to like her more as it progressed. Aliz, the vampire, was great from her first scene to her last. The Book of Blood and Roses appears to be book 1 of a duology, and I look forward to reading book 2 in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This was a fun vampire x vampire hunter romance with a bit of a dark academia twist, set in a mysterious Scottish university. I'll always love a good hidden library and a secret society, and this had plenty of familiar beats yet didn't feel generic. I particularly enjoyed the cultural differences between the vampires and how folklore impacted their strengths and weaknesses.
Rebecca, the vampire hunter, is a bit of a rough character in the beginning of the story, but I came to like her more as it progressed. Aliz, the vampire, was great from her first scene to her last. The Book of Blood and Roses appears to be book 1 of a duology, and I look forward to reading book 2 in the future!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
January 20, 2026
This wasn't the read I was expecting it to be. I liked the storyline of it because it didn't seem so complex at the beginning of the book but then there's the mystery of who killed Rebecca's parents and the library. It really kept my attention throughout the story which I found to be one of the better parts of it. It's not completely loaded with romance but more fantasy lore. Now getting down to what I did not like about it is geared towards the fact that the end felt very rushed, even with the epilogue. It could have honestly gone deeper and left less rocks unturned. And what I mean is it felt like there were some dynamics missing like why Aliz was so sheltered, more info about her father, more info on what happened on prom night. For me it was just way too much left up in the air.
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
January 21, 2026
I am a sucker for Dark Academia enemies to lovers.
Plot got me turning the pages and I was surprised several times.
I also liked that the author kept some classic elements of the vampire archetype and mixed them with more contemporary ones.
I wonder how the story will continue. I know there are several side characters that got my attention and would love to read more about them.
Plot got me turning the pages and I was surprised several times.
I also liked that the author kept some classic elements of the vampire archetype and mixed them with more contemporary ones.
I wonder how the story will continue. I know there are several side characters that got my attention and would love to read more about them.
January 23, 2026
It was a good book, I enjoyed!
October 20, 2025
solid 4 star read. a vampire hunter goes under cover at vampire collage just to get tangled up with her vampire roommate? for as much system and world building as there was this book was an easy fantasy with a heavy dose of yearning, I cant quite call it romance.
June 14, 2025
3.5 / 5.0
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thanks to the author and NetGalley.]
The Book of Blood and Roses invites the reader to a dark academia setting, heavier on the dark than the academia, with vampires and vampire hunters as the characters on stage. A hunter on a personal quest for revenge meets the heiress of an old, established vampire family and this is where the story unfolds.
I think this book could have been for me, if the stakes had been a little different (pun … intended), this felt all a little too much on the shallow side of things for me, but considering it is a rather short book, the characters are in their very early twenties, I think I might just not be the intended audience. Maybe this book is more for the young-ish adults, than for the dark, eerie lovers of literature.
It is quite well written, there is no hurdle to get into the story and the pacing is rather consistent throughout the whole book, however, I missed the feeling of truly being afraid for the characters. The overarching mission was laced with opponents that kept changing, maybe evolving, but for me failed to instill this feeling of urgency and fear.
At some points I would have wished for more depth in the described situations, especially in confrontations of main character and love interest, but it is a good, entertaining book nonetheless.
If you enjoy a vampire setting in a school, with WLW romance and medium to fast pacing, this book might be for you!
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thanks to the author and NetGalley.]
The Book of Blood and Roses invites the reader to a dark academia setting, heavier on the dark than the academia, with vampires and vampire hunters as the characters on stage. A hunter on a personal quest for revenge meets the heiress of an old, established vampire family and this is where the story unfolds.
I think this book could have been for me, if the stakes had been a little different (pun … intended), this felt all a little too much on the shallow side of things for me, but considering it is a rather short book, the characters are in their very early twenties, I think I might just not be the intended audience. Maybe this book is more for the young-ish adults, than for the dark, eerie lovers of literature.
It is quite well written, there is no hurdle to get into the story and the pacing is rather consistent throughout the whole book, however, I missed the feeling of truly being afraid for the characters. The overarching mission was laced with opponents that kept changing, maybe evolving, but for me failed to instill this feeling of urgency and fear.
At some points I would have wished for more depth in the described situations, especially in confrontations of main character and love interest, but it is a good, entertaining book nonetheless.
If you enjoy a vampire setting in a school, with WLW romance and medium to fast pacing, this book might be for you!
January 15, 2026
4.3⭐️ and 2🌶️
🖤Dark Academia Romantic Paranormal Fantasy set in Edinburgh
🖤Sapphic Vampires and Vampire Hunter
🖤Mysteries, Twists, Deceit
🖤Yearning and spiciness
(Spoiler-free as always!) I absolutely loved this read- the balance of romance and mystery and politics was perfect for me and I found myself not even paying attention to the chapters and just reading and absorbing- I’m obsessed with vampires right now so this book ABSOLUTELY hit the spot 🖤
Thank you to Del Rey for the gifted ARC.
🖤Dark Academia Romantic Paranormal Fantasy set in Edinburgh
🖤Sapphic Vampires and Vampire Hunter
🖤Mysteries, Twists, Deceit
🖤Yearning and spiciness
(Spoiler-free as always!) I absolutely loved this read- the balance of romance and mystery and politics was perfect for me and I found myself not even paying attention to the chapters and just reading and absorbing- I’m obsessed with vampires right now so this book ABSOLUTELY hit the spot 🖤
Thank you to Del Rey for the gifted ARC.
September 14, 2025
my rating: ★★★★
aesthetic:🏫🩸📓⚰️💼🧛🏻♀️🥀🍂🌧️👻🕸️
Annie Summerlee delivers a deliciously dark, spellbinding tale in The Book of Blood and Roses, an enemies-to-lovers, vampire x vampire hunter sapphic romance set within the haunting halls of a vampire-run university. From the first page, the tension is palpable—dripping with secrets, forbidden attraction, and a creeping sense that nothing is what it seems.
This isn’t just another vampire romance. It’s layered, atmospheric, and wickedly clever, with a protagonist whose true identity is as dangerous as the monsters she’s been trained to hunt. The vampire hunter hiding in plain sight among the very beings she was raised to destroy creates a level of internal and external conflict that crackles on every page. And the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers relationship? Absolutely magnetic. Every glance, every betrayal, every near-confession builds toward a crescendo of vulnerability, trust, and unexpected tenderness.
The university itself feels like a character—steeped in tradition, shadowed by ancient power, and pulsing with dark secrets buried behind its elegant facade. There are hidden agendas, and a growing sense that the real danger isn’t just fangs and bloodlust—but the lies everyone is willing to keep.
Summerlee crafts a world where love is risky, trust is earned with blood, and survival means confronting who you really are. It’s haunting, seductive, and satisfyingly twisty, with revelations that will leave readers breathless. If you love gothic academia, sapphic tension, and morally complex heroines with something to prove, The Book of Blood and Roses deserves a place on your radar.
thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy—this one sank its teeth into me and didn’t let go.
aesthetic:🏫🩸📓⚰️💼🧛🏻♀️🥀🍂🌧️👻🕸️
Annie Summerlee delivers a deliciously dark, spellbinding tale in The Book of Blood and Roses, an enemies-to-lovers, vampire x vampire hunter sapphic romance set within the haunting halls of a vampire-run university. From the first page, the tension is palpable—dripping with secrets, forbidden attraction, and a creeping sense that nothing is what it seems.
This isn’t just another vampire romance. It’s layered, atmospheric, and wickedly clever, with a protagonist whose true identity is as dangerous as the monsters she’s been trained to hunt. The vampire hunter hiding in plain sight among the very beings she was raised to destroy creates a level of internal and external conflict that crackles on every page. And the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers relationship? Absolutely magnetic. Every glance, every betrayal, every near-confession builds toward a crescendo of vulnerability, trust, and unexpected tenderness.
The university itself feels like a character—steeped in tradition, shadowed by ancient power, and pulsing with dark secrets buried behind its elegant facade. There are hidden agendas, and a growing sense that the real danger isn’t just fangs and bloodlust—but the lies everyone is willing to keep.
Summerlee crafts a world where love is risky, trust is earned with blood, and survival means confronting who you really are. It’s haunting, seductive, and satisfyingly twisty, with revelations that will leave readers breathless. If you love gothic academia, sapphic tension, and morally complex heroines with something to prove, The Book of Blood and Roses deserves a place on your radar.
thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy—this one sank its teeth into me and didn’t let go.
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