An immortal soul. A forgotten curse. A love that rewrites fate.
Once a proud Scottish nobleman, Derek Drummond has spent 124 years caught between day and night, hiding from the world — and from himself. A shadow among shadows, he has watched time unravel, love vanish, and hope fade into myth.
Until Megan MacKenzie looks at him — and sees more than she should.
With haunted eyes and a quiet, stubborn kindness, she stirs the man he used to be. But the past never stays silent. Some curses won’t break. And some ghosts refuse to let go.
Told entirely in Derek’s voice — darkly poetic, sardonic, and painfully human — The Diary of Derek Drummond is a gothic fantasy of redemption and reckoning.
From the storm-lashed cliffs of northern Scotland to the rain-soaked rooftops of London, it is a story of immortality, forgiveness,and the terrifying hope of being truly seen.
If you believe in second chances — even after death — open the diary.
What a great gothic, eerie story about the life of Lord Derek Drummond who was cursed, immortal, and even turned into a raven. It follows a man who spends far too long just existing before finally learning how to actually live.
What really stood out to me was how his entire fate was shaped by betrayal and jealousy. He wasn’t just randomly cursed he was wronged. The way he was treated so unfairly, out of pure jealousy, added a whole different layer to the story and made everything that followed feel heavier and more personal.
We follow him from 1897 all the way to 2020, which I honestly loved. It was really cool seeing how the world kept evolving while he stayed the same, stuck with this curse. The whole raven part was especially haunting… he’s there, aware of everything, watching life happen around him but not really able to be part of it during the daytime. That loneliness made this so powerful, it really felt like it was just him and his diary against the world.
Throughout the story, he forms connections and relationships, but it’s always temporary. People he loves grow old and die, and he just keeps going. You really feel how heavy that is losing people over and over again, knowing you can’t live a normal life. It’s not just dark though. Over time, you see him slowly start to understand what it actually means to live, not just exist.
When he finally gets a second chance at love, at being human again it actually feels rewarding. It’s not rushed.
We laughed with Derek, we were sad with Derek. The writing is beautiful, the concept is honestly really unique, and that ending… wow. Just perfect.
~Pre-read~ Always on the hunt for my next fav gothic fantasy!! Received an ARC copy.. (the list continues to grow) lol
I really enjoyed this book! A fascinating premise, I was so excited to dive into this one. I found the writing style perfect for the book- the setting, characters and plot all shone with the gothic feel. The author definitely knows how to write this timeline well and it is very impressive for her debut. The Diary format was fantastic, and I love books written this way. Thank you to Love Books Tours for my gorgeous print copy.
The Diary of Derek Drummond is an enjoyable and interesting read that follows Derek Drummond who is cursed and immortal who has just existed in the shadows for so long, then he meets Megan and his life changes as you read through their slow burn romance, as it grows into something deeper and together they seek to lift the curse.
This was a dark and unique read that has you gripped and pulled into the storyline. The author's writing has that special uniqueness about it that makes you feel all the emotions and really connect to the storyline while reading.
Overall, this was a really incredible and memorable read that I would recommend.
Derek is a 19th century Scottish Laird who, after sowing his wild oats, wants to settle down and marry Margaret from a neighbouring estate. But one night something happens and his witch fiancee curses him to immortality and the transformation into another creature during daylight hours. But then in the noughties he meets Megan who is of the same family as his Margaret and, through their love for each other, they seek to lift the curse. I loved this novel. It's sad and funny and philosophical and it's about life, love and being human.
the diary of derek drummond This is as the title suggests, the Diary of Derek Drummond (Lord Drummond) -a captive in his own Scottish castle re-telling what led him to be so after a curse was placed upon him then his travels and life in the shadows. This is a story of grief, despair, love and loss all told from a man’s perspective set in a time when men were to show no emotion. Imagine only being able to live during the night and never growing old whilst watching people you love age and die? I enjoyed the way this book was written, it felt very intimate as was written as though we were reading a diary and the times changing as being set across very different decades (1897-2020) was an interesting take.
This story is so unique, for me. Obviously told through diary entries (hence the title), I felt every emotion alongside our MC Derek. This is dark, gloomy, hopeful, romantic, all the emotions are in here, and I loved it. I don't even know how to describe the way reading this made me feel, and i know it'll be a re read for me soon. This is a longer read, over 500 pages. In my opinion it could have been a little shorter, but im not mad because I genuinely loved it. And now that this is over, I fear a book wont top this for me
A parannomal romance entirely from the MMC's POV. Derek ends up cursed and immortal and waits over a hundred years for his soul mate to return to undo the curse. What he didn't expect was falling in love with her. So, the life he thought he was running from, he found it was the one he was looking for this whole time.
A cozy read for my gothic romance girlies who like period pieces, second chance, lost soul found again with twist and turns that leave you hooked.
I really enjoyed The Diary of Derek Drummond. The diary format makes the story feel very personal and emotional, and Derek is a deep and sympathetic (yes, YES) character. The mix of mystery, romance, and supernatural elements creates a dark but beautiful atmosphere!
Overall, it is a touching and memorable novel about love, loneliness, and second chances. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy emotional and atmospheric stories.
This is a gothic fantasy romance that combines immortality, grief, redemption, and psychological depth into an unusually intimate narrative. Told entirely through the voice of Derek Drummond—a Scottish nobleman cursed to spend his days as a raven and his nights as a man—the novel leans heavily on atmosphere, character introspection, and emotional storytelling rather than action-driven fantasy.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is it's narrative voice. Writing the entire story from Derek’s perspective creates a sense of closeness that many gothic romances struggle to achieve. Derek is melancholy, sardonic, reflective, and often painfully self-aware. His diary entries allow readers to experience more than a century of loneliness, regret, and longing from the inside, making his emotional journey feel authentic rather than merely dramatic. Novak has described the decision to rewrite the novel from Derek’s perspective as the change that gave the story its emotional core, and that choice clearly pays off.
The romance between Derek and Megan MacKenzie gives the novel its emotional momentum. Rather than presenting love as an instant cure, Novak treats it as a difficult process of trust, vulnerability, and self-forgiveness. Megan functions as more than a love interest; she becomes the catalyst that forces Derek to confront his past and consider whether he is still capable of hope.
Overall, The Diary of Derek Drummond is a captivating gothic romance with a distinctive narrative voice, an atmospheric Scottish setting, and strong emotional depth. While its slower pace may not suit every reader, its exploration of love, loss, and redemption makes it a memorable and rewarding read.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I found The Diary of Derek Drummond to be a really interesting and unexpectedly enjoyable read. It’s not my usual genre, but I embraced something a little different and I’m so glad I did. Told entirely from Derek’s perspective the narrative feels deeply personal, reflective, and immersive. His voice carries the story melancholic, sharp, and full of quiet emotion which really draws you into his long, complicated existence. The gothic atmosphere is beautifully done with the Scottish setting and darker tone adding depth and mood throughout. There’s a strong sense of loneliness and longing woven into the story, balanced by moments of hope and connection, particularly through Megan’s presence. While the pacing is more reflective than fast mmoving, it suits the story being told and allows Derek’s journey to unfold in a meaningful way. Overall, a unique and atmospheric read that steps outside my usual preferences but completely worked for me. I’m really glad I gave it a chance
I’ve rated this book 4.5 stars, this isn’t my normal type of book, but I was intrigued when I saw it on NetGalley. I’m usually a romantasy type gal, whereas I feel this falls under gothic literature/gothic fantasy.
I must say this is a really wonderful book. The storyline of tragedy and curses were somewhat understandable, but the way the author portrayed every emotion so well is astronomical. I really enjoyed the diary style, and I loved going through the emotions with Derek. From despair/hatred/love/acceptance …it was all there for me. The story was easy to follow, and the writing structure was smooth.
I enjoyed midway through, the author introduced Derek’s sarcastic banter through the pages and this felt very apt for the emotions portrayed at that time. It was executed really well.
The small twists and turns throughout the story kept me really engaged, and I must say overall it was a really enjoyable read.
Where can I start? I had absolutely no idea what to expect going into this book, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I was intrigued by Derek and intrigued to learn the truth behind his curse. The diary entry format was such a unique way to tell the story and made it feel incredibly personal. I loved following Derek's life through the years and seeing how he coped with living under the weight of his curse while adapting to the many changes that came with over a century of life in the world.I found his journey both fascinating and emotional. And poor Megan... she really went through a lot throughout this story! I was fully invested in seeing how everything would unfold for her, for herself and with Derek. This is a true romance at its core, woven together with mystery and intrigue rather than spice. The slow uncovering of secrets kept me turning the pages, and I enjoyed the balance between the romance and the mystery elements.
This was an interesting book. It popped up as I was browsing on Netgalley and the cover drew me in but then looking at the description of the book it is a gothic romance written entirely from the perspective of the MMC which is so rare.
The main character is a lord of a Scottish castle back in 1897. He runs afoul of a curse that causes him to lead a long and split life. The story is about him and how he deals with the curse and how that shapes him and the woman that he falls in love with. It is written in diary form and therefore we get a lot of his thoughts and feelings on the events that he comes across.
I really enjoyed this book, it was written from a character that I dont feel is done that often and in such a way that you really feel his pain and loneliness. The dark, gloomy scottish setting added another layer to this books tragic story and I really enjoyed it. Im so glad that I took a chance on this one.
Sadly I did not finish this book straight away, I had to leave it and come back to it because I really struggled to enjoy it.
The concept of the book was great and I loved the story idea and the star crossed lovers theme but sadly the chapters got boring, and most of them just seemed to be there to give the book a higher page count. This book would have worked better as being a shorter novel with less chapters that all seemed to be about his travels and not the idea of his loved one being reborn.
Concept of story was great and it is well written but chapters could have been cut down and the story more streamlined to keep people interested.
A paranormal romance told completely from the perspective of the male main character. Derek is cursed with immortality enduring centuries in hopes of reuniting with his soulmate to lift the curse. He never anticipated developing feelings for her. As he travels, you can see the world changing around him, but you also notice his personal struggles and the understanding that he can't run away from who he is. This book has a dark mood, a Scottish backdrop, and deep emotions, making it feel like a movie. At its heart, it's a tale about self growth and finding the true meaning to life.
What a beautiful love story wrapped up in Scottish lore, familial agreements between neighboring clans, gothic imagery, and a curse sentencing the cursed to forever living in the shadow of night. I liked that the entire story was written by the cursed as diary entries. His description of his life over the 147 years covered was both interesting and sad. And, of course, I love second chances and forgiveness themes! The end is absolutely precious, so don’t be intimidated by the length of the book. It goes by quickly, and you want to read until the end. 5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was quite a thick book and it looked intimidating when I first picked it up but I found myself getting caught up straight away so the size seemed to disappear. There was a Gothic romantic feel straight from the prologue and a melancholy air about it in the beginning with intrigue surrounding the character of derek especially towards the end of chapter 5 before you get a real understanding of what is going on. I Love the way it is written from the perspective of Derek writing his own history and present as a diary. The sadness when he realises he never ages and the excitement of finally meeting someone to break the curse. Some people may think that living forever is a bonus but when reading Derek's story it is apparent that in this case it is not. Will love finally prevail and will Derek get his happily ever after over 100 years late?
An extremely eerie book that takes you through an emotional, sad but meaningful journey of Derek. A cursed man who experienced loss and heartbreaking love which made him angry, sad and trapped. I loved that the book took you through the elements of his immortal life and didn’t show living eternally as a positive like most other books do. It showed the loneliness perfectly. I also liked that it followed Derek through the different years of life and the changes from the 1800’s to the 2000’s. Lovely book that I lapped up in days.
The Diary of Derek Drummond: The Story of My Cursed Life by Katelyn Emilia Novak. wow. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did not expect it to go this way. What a surprise. I just saw the cover and signed up straight away for this tour. I loved the writing style. The story did surprise me. I loved the setting. So well described. I did feel for Derek. I really didn't like Eleanor at all. I did like the diary part. How at the start of each chapter we had the date and where he was. wow. This book was incredible. what a read. I did like Megan. How she was with Derek. Their chemistry. I most definitely recommend this book.
If you want to see inside a deep hopeless and dark soul that just wants to be seen and loved in the same way he gives that love. For the deeply emotional hopeless romantics and for the lonely souls you crave connection. For the dark broken souls who just crave to get out of the corner they have been backed into by themselves and/or others. SOOOOO GOOD.
Unlike nearly all of the books I read this was written from the male POV and I found it a refreshing take and had me seeing things differently. I found this a book that you take time with, its heavily detailed and it felt like a real journey through time with Derek. The setting of this book was truly atmospheric and had a looming sense throughout that perfectly captured his intense isolation, making the slow-burn romance feel much more impactful and deeply earned by the end
A really interesting read and not like anything I’ve read before! You follow the MMC as he deals with being wrongfully cursed, there is a lot of emotion and depth and you see him really grow as a character. I liked the twists and turns towards the end however I did feel it was a little long winded in certain places! But nonetheless an enjoyable read!
I just finished this book, and I’m just sitting here thinking I’ll read it again. It was just that good. I want to reread and try to catch hints of what I might have missed the first time. This book gave me all “the feels” and I’m so happy I read it. You will not be disappointed.
I did struggle to fully get into this, it is a good gothic story done as an diary of derek drummond, it reminded me of dracula, i did like it just not loved it.its an fasinating, intriguing read.
Beautifully written. I laughed, cried, and raged with him. I’d say the only thing I didn’t like were the “fillers” in the book that were really boring. I did have to do some skimming
Devoured would be an understatement! I loved going on this journey with Derek; I felt it right there with him. The journal stylings were a great touch too. It was dark and addictive.