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Unholy with Eyes like Wolves
“Indulgent, depraved, and sanguine, UNHOLY WITH EYES LIKE WOLVES is a gory fugue that will have readers cheering for its queer women no matter the wrongs they commit in pursuit of survival and salvation.” –Ladz, author of THE FEALTY OF MONSTERS
"Sumptuous and intoxicating as a black rose, UNHOLY WITH EYES LIKE WOLVES unfurls slowly to reveal the intricate layers of its themes, from forbidden sapphic desire to the religious subjugation of women. A must-read for those who yearn to become the monster and seek liberation through transgression." – Camilla Andrew, author of THE SANGUINE SORCERESS
"A slow-burn that lures you into its decadence, UNHOLY WITH EYES LIKE WOLVES unspools like the ultimate gothic delight—and doesn’t shy away from grisly indulgence and debauchery. Morgan Dante is a master of blood-soaked sex, and fans of horror romance will be loath to miss this one." – Tyler Battaglia, PRAY FOR HIM
***
Noémie, a dishonored and widowed noblewoman in early 17th century Hungary, finds herself in an unenviable position: After grievous trauma and loss, her last chance to regain her honor comes when she must serve as Lady Erzsébet Báthory’s handmaiden. Báthory is stoic and imperious, and as Noémie struggles to acclimate and accept her present and future, she begins to have dreams about a mysterious woman. Worse, there are stories of disappearance and deaths in the castle, and Noémie might be next.
A sapphic historical horror romance with vampires and based on CARMILLA. Báthory x FMC x Carmilla. Perfect for fans of A DOWRY OF BLOOD.
"Sumptuous and intoxicating as a black rose, UNHOLY WITH EYES LIKE WOLVES unfurls slowly to reveal the intricate layers of its themes, from forbidden sapphic desire to the religious subjugation of women. A must-read for those who yearn to become the monster and seek liberation through transgression." – Camilla Andrew, author of THE SANGUINE SORCERESS
"A slow-burn that lures you into its decadence, UNHOLY WITH EYES LIKE WOLVES unspools like the ultimate gothic delight—and doesn’t shy away from grisly indulgence and debauchery. Morgan Dante is a master of blood-soaked sex, and fans of horror romance will be loath to miss this one." – Tyler Battaglia, PRAY FOR HIM
***
Noémie, a dishonored and widowed noblewoman in early 17th century Hungary, finds herself in an unenviable position: After grievous trauma and loss, her last chance to regain her honor comes when she must serve as Lady Erzsébet Báthory’s handmaiden. Báthory is stoic and imperious, and as Noémie struggles to acclimate and accept her present and future, she begins to have dreams about a mysterious woman. Worse, there are stories of disappearance and deaths in the castle, and Noémie might be next.
A sapphic historical horror romance with vampires and based on CARMILLA. Báthory x FMC x Carmilla. Perfect for fans of A DOWRY OF BLOOD.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2024
96 people are currently reading
1362 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Dante
16 books293 followersHorror, fantasy, and romance writer. Vampire and angel enjoyer. They/Them. Read more on morgandante.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
March 2, 2024
I love women’s wrongs.......
May 3, 2024
I love sapphic Elizabeth Bathory retellings, and Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves might be my favorite iteration so far. This gorgeously written gothic tale subverts and combines an Elizabeth Bathory and Carmilla retelling by featuring our protagonist Noemie, a widowed noblewoman’s daughter who is sent to become Countess Bathory’s handmaiden as a way to regain her honor after a shameful incident. The two women are heavily traumatized by their pasts — they share many similar sufferings as widows, mothers, and women suffering under the patriarchy of 17th century Hungary. They discuss religion and philosophy and keep each other company. As Noemie tends to her lady, she slowly falls in love…
But this is not your average historical romance, because a mysterious creature is killing young women on Bathory’s property. And when Noemie is eventually targeted, things take a sharp turn…
God, this novel was so beautiful. The prose was luscious, lovely and evocative. The romance was a sweet slowburn so full of yearning and pining. And most of all, I loved Noemie’s character arc. She goes from a frightened woman who thinks her only role in life is to be a docile wife and mother, to a real human being who accepts her own feelings and desires. This novel isn’t just a love story; it’s an exploration of womanhood and women’s companionship, of religion vs one’s personal morality, of learning to take control of your own female destiny, and of accepting and awakening sapphic desire. It’s dark, brutal and bloody but incredibly romantic. Quite frankly one of the best books I’ve read in 2024 so far. I’m looking forward to trying the author’s other works!
But this is not your average historical romance, because a mysterious creature is killing young women on Bathory’s property. And when Noemie is eventually targeted, things take a sharp turn…
God, this novel was so beautiful. The prose was luscious, lovely and evocative. The romance was a sweet slowburn so full of yearning and pining. And most of all, I loved Noemie’s character arc. She goes from a frightened woman who thinks her only role in life is to be a docile wife and mother, to a real human being who accepts her own feelings and desires. This novel isn’t just a love story; it’s an exploration of womanhood and women’s companionship, of religion vs one’s personal morality, of learning to take control of your own female destiny, and of accepting and awakening sapphic desire. It’s dark, brutal and bloody but incredibly romantic. Quite frankly one of the best books I’ve read in 2024 so far. I’m looking forward to trying the author’s other works!
July 4, 2025
This book was the epitome of horror romance with feminine rage and the darkest bloody lust mixed in. Noémie was the new lady in waiting to Erzsébet after being widowed and disgraced by an SA. She went on a journey throughout this book of self-discovery, which involved accepting her queerness and her darkest desires. The gothic setting and vicious world she existed in was as unforgiving as she eventually became. I appreciated the chronic illness (epilepsy) rep from Erzsébet. The prose of the book was intense and engaging, even if some of the gore was a bit much for me. Dante is a very talented writer.
Spice: 4/5
SPOILERS IN TRIGGER WARNINGS
Triggers: Rape mention; mention of underage arranged marriage in 17th century; pregnancy; mentions of miscarriages and stillbirths; abortion depiction; violence; death; blood-drinking; blood in sex scenes; sacrilegious use of Mother Mary
Spice: 4/5
SPOILERS IN TRIGGER WARNINGS
Triggers: Rape mention; mention of underage arranged marriage in 17th century; pregnancy; mentions of miscarriages and stillbirths; abortion depiction; violence; death; blood-drinking; blood in sex scenes; sacrilegious use of Mother Mary
February 10, 2024
Indulgent, depraved, and sanguine, UNHOLY WITH EYES LIKE WOLVES is a gory fugue that will have readers cheering for its queer women no matter the wrongs they commit in pursuit of survival and salvation.
November 7, 2024
As her long, precise fingers drape over my knuckles, and she inspects my wound, I think to myself, Erzsébet. Erzsébet, but no saint. I could still worship her.
2.5 stars. Maybe 3? I picked this up because I read and really liked one of the author's previous books, Providence. I already knew I really liked their writing, so this was yet another scenario where I didn't bother to read the entirety of the blurb for this book. And I'm not sure if that ended up being a good thing or a bad thing. For one, I had no idea that the Countess was a real historical figure. Now that I've read up on her a little, it gives a lot of context for stuff that happens in the book, the twists the author put on certain things, the way they explained other things. I think it could have given me some good extract insight while reading, and perhaps some of the writing decisions might have made more sense. Or maybe it would have just distracted me. I also didn't realise going in that this was tangentially a Carmilla retelling, but that became evident soon enough. Anyway, I'm going back and forth on how I feel about this. Lots of great ideas, and SO SO SO much lovely writing, but with a plot that didn't come together well. (And some stuff I'm just not into.) This is a book that desperately needed to be longer, if it really wanted to tell this story well. We're following a young widow in 17th century Hungary, who is sent to be the handmaiden of a rich and powerful countess. But there's also something dark lurking in the castle and its environs. This is a dark, horror romance, about downfall and ascension, and women reclaiming power and agency.
Bullet points, because that's always easiest.
Those were a lot of complaints, but idk, thinking about the writing, maybe I will bump my rating up to a 3. And I do think that my reading experience might have been a bit more positive, if I'd known more about the history of the characters, the folktales that have sprung up around the Countess. Now that I do know about them, I almost feel like this merits a reread. IDK if I actually will return to this, because it still has a lot of other flaws. But idk. Overall, even if this wasn't a total win, I'm glad I read it.
Content warnings:
I’m better, but I’m not healed. Healing, such a pleasant word for something that only means that the wounds continue on.
April 1, 2025
4.5 Stars
Unholy with Eyes like Wolves by Morgan Dante - wow. The depravity was intoxicating.
Based on its synopsis, Carmilla + Lady Bathory, I had preconceived ideas of the outline of the story. And I have never been happier for being wrong! The twist was unexpected but oh so delicious! The slow burn of events unfolding, the warring conscience between being a good Catholic blindly following the rules her god and society set and the temptation to break free from her “mimicry of life”, it was all so beautifully put together, lyrical even.
If sanguineous, gothic novels is not to your liking, perish the thought of this book. But if you long for women who choose to be the monster, “to bathe the world red” and indulge in base urges, then welcome to Castle Csejthe, Countess Bathory and Lady Esterházy will be with you shortly.
Unholy with Eyes like Wolves by Morgan Dante - wow. The depravity was intoxicating.
Based on its synopsis, Carmilla + Lady Bathory, I had preconceived ideas of the outline of the story. And I have never been happier for being wrong! The twist was unexpected but oh so delicious! The slow burn of events unfolding, the warring conscience between being a good Catholic blindly following the rules her god and society set and the temptation to break free from her “mimicry of life”, it was all so beautifully put together, lyrical even.
If sanguineous, gothic novels is not to your liking, perish the thought of this book. But if you long for women who choose to be the monster, “to bathe the world red” and indulge in base urges, then welcome to Castle Csejthe, Countess Bathory and Lady Esterházy will be with you shortly.
March 6, 2024
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from the author.
5/5
If anyone is going to deliver on vampire books, it’s going to be the Morgan Dante. Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves weaves a story of grief, the pursuit of personal identity, and vampiric eroticism into one delectable read.
The story follows Noémie entering the care of Countess Báthory as her lady-in-waiting and the mysterious circumstances that follow her. Set in 17th-century Hungary, Dante did their research, seen in small details sprinkled throughout the text. I am always on the hunt for anything set in Eastern Europe, and the use of the Hapsburg Rule as a backdrop for the setting feels perfectly apt for a story about vampires. Historical details are utilized effectively to convey the world they live in and elevate the story.
And, the characters. Dante has a wonderfully interesting cast of characters; I think this may be my favorite collection of characters from their backlog of work, every side character captures your attention and offers a glimpse of conflict. Noémie, Erzsébet Báthory, and the mysterious woman of (quite literally) Noémie’s dreams play off each other, especially their wants. I really enjoyed the majority female cast and think the way the characters discussed gender was really, truly interesting. And, despite the length of the novella, the character relationships almost felt like slow-burn in just how satisfying it was to see how the main relationship dynamic pulled and pushed throughout our main POV’s character transformation.
The set-up of the plot and the climax was so exciting to watch as it built up, developing into satisfying cause-and-effect situations. Although the plot is a lot more back burner in the novel, it is well-balanced out with the focused character work through the eyes of Noémie. The beauty of Unholy with Eyes Like Wolves is the absolutely wonderful character work and truly just good writing . I am well-known for my dislike of first person, but it is so expertly wielded by Dante in this novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
Of course, as per the nature of the work, there are a lot of sensitive topics. Dante successfully engages with each one, giving the characters the space to grieve and recover. The emotional depth of the book is skillfully handled, and honestly, just very meaningful. I think it’s more important now than ever to engage with these topics. But, please do read the trigger warnings beforehand to understand what to expect.
100% a strong start to my reading year (yes, in March)—If you love vampires, historical fiction, and deeply fascinating character dynamics, please pick up Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves .
5/5
If anyone is going to deliver on vampire books, it’s going to be the Morgan Dante. Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves weaves a story of grief, the pursuit of personal identity, and vampiric eroticism into one delectable read.
The story follows Noémie entering the care of Countess Báthory as her lady-in-waiting and the mysterious circumstances that follow her. Set in 17th-century Hungary, Dante did their research, seen in small details sprinkled throughout the text. I am always on the hunt for anything set in Eastern Europe, and the use of the Hapsburg Rule as a backdrop for the setting feels perfectly apt for a story about vampires. Historical details are utilized effectively to convey the world they live in and elevate the story.
And, the characters. Dante has a wonderfully interesting cast of characters; I think this may be my favorite collection of characters from their backlog of work, every side character captures your attention and offers a glimpse of conflict. Noémie, Erzsébet Báthory, and the mysterious woman of (quite literally) Noémie’s dreams play off each other, especially their wants. I really enjoyed the majority female cast and think the way the characters discussed gender was really, truly interesting. And, despite the length of the novella, the character relationships almost felt like slow-burn in just how satisfying it was to see how the main relationship dynamic pulled and pushed throughout our main POV’s character transformation.
The set-up of the plot and the climax was so exciting to watch as it built up, developing into satisfying cause-and-effect situations. Although the plot is a lot more back burner in the novel, it is well-balanced out with the focused character work through the eyes of Noémie. The beauty of Unholy with Eyes Like Wolves is the absolutely wonderful character work and truly just good writing . I am well-known for my dislike of first person, but it is so expertly wielded by Dante in this novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
Of course, as per the nature of the work, there are a lot of sensitive topics. Dante successfully engages with each one, giving the characters the space to grieve and recover. The emotional depth of the book is skillfully handled, and honestly, just very meaningful. I think it’s more important now than ever to engage with these topics. But, please do read the trigger warnings beforehand to understand what to expect.
100% a strong start to my reading year (yes, in March)—If you love vampires, historical fiction, and deeply fascinating character dynamics, please pick up Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves .
November 14, 2024
What an insane book for my 75th read of the year! I JUST— this is so good.
The gothic atmosphere is endlessly spilling off every page, and even when nothing intense is happening, Dante keeps you on the edge of your seat begging for the next sentence with how stunning their writing is. I loved being challenged by the intricacies of this book.
While being a single POV, both of the FMCs are unique characters with their own obstacles, transgressions, and perspectives. I loved both of them so much, but I especially loved how much Noémie changed and grew as a person throughout the story. The ending was also so, so incredibly cathartic.
If you’re looking to expand your genre of fantasy reads, try this one! It’s so different that I’m not sure I’ll ever be the same after it. <3
The gothic atmosphere is endlessly spilling off every page, and even when nothing intense is happening, Dante keeps you on the edge of your seat begging for the next sentence with how stunning their writing is. I loved being challenged by the intricacies of this book.
While being a single POV, both of the FMCs are unique characters with their own obstacles, transgressions, and perspectives. I loved both of them so much, but I especially loved how much Noémie changed and grew as a person throughout the story. The ending was also so, so incredibly cathartic.
If you’re looking to expand your genre of fantasy reads, try this one! It’s so different that I’m not sure I’ll ever be the same after it. <3
October 16, 2024
Deeply brooding, utterly sensuous and scrumptiously detailed, UNHOLY WITH EYES LIKE WOLVES is a feast for the senses. Dripping in gothic mystique and complex characters, Morgan Dante's tale of anger, defiance, politics and Sapphic yearning tugs at the heartstrings while simultaneously leaving the reader on the verge of disgust and desire as we watch Noémie's journey forces her not only to adapt, but to transform. UNHOLY is a feast of decadence, gore and gothic excess.
March 26, 2024
Disclaimer: I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Morgan Dante excels at the gothic format: a slow, tense building dread that culminates in chilling horrors. But this time, the women are the monsters, and you want the monsters to win.
Morgan Dante excels at the gothic format: a slow, tense building dread that culminates in chilling horrors. But this time, the women are the monsters, and you want the monsters to win.
April 6, 2025
Came for the sapphic vampires stayed for…. Sapphic vampires, Elizabeth Bathory retellings, gothic atmosphere, castles, and religious discourse
April 18, 2024
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lore: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“𝑰𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆-𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔, 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒔, 𝒊𝒕’𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑻𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒅, 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑩𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉. 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒕. 𝑫𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏. 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒎𝒆; 𝒏𝒐, 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑.”
Things you’ll find in this book
🩸 Body horror
🩸 Older FMC’s
🩸 Scissoring (hell yeah)
🩸 The promise of love that isn’t shown in typical ways
I loved this 17th century gothic fairytale of a handmaiden falling for her countess.
The power dynamics between the characters were complex and were so new to me.
I loved watching these two women care for each other in their own strange ways.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and the time and effort the author took to make this such an authentic and wonderfully magical read ❤️
(I was fortunate enough to receive this as an ARC - thank you again xx)
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lore: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“𝑰𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆-𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔, 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒔, 𝒊𝒕’𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑻𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒅, 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑩𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉. 𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒕. 𝑫𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏. 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒎𝒆; 𝒏𝒐, 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑.”
Things you’ll find in this book
🩸 Body horror
🩸 Older FMC’s
🩸 Scissoring (hell yeah)
🩸 The promise of love that isn’t shown in typical ways
I loved this 17th century gothic fairytale of a handmaiden falling for her countess.
The power dynamics between the characters were complex and were so new to me.
I loved watching these two women care for each other in their own strange ways.
I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and the time and effort the author took to make this such an authentic and wonderfully magical read ❤️
(I was fortunate enough to receive this as an ARC - thank you again xx)
May 10, 2025
This took all my expectations and shattered them to pieces, and I couldn't be more grateful for it. This is exactly what I needed for a gothic sapphic horror-romance inspired by Carmilla and the stories of Elizabeth Bathory.
July 26, 2024
what can i say…it was a masterpiece
August 31, 2024
I should have liked this a lot more I'm so sad
April 30, 2025
i genuinely don't know how i got myself into this one. i thought i was out of my gothic/medieval vampire phase but then i surprised myself, i guess. after this book i will be taking quite the long break from the genre...the first half of this was perfect. beautiful writing. the references were 10/10. the second half fell apart: everything escalated from 0 to 100 with no regard for pacing, relationship development, etc.
April 23, 2024
Edit: 16/04/24 can we PLEASE talk about this cover though!? Absolutely gorgeous. I am obsessed with the art style!
I received an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review from the author, thank you Morgan Dante for the chance to read! Please be mindful of the content warnings for this novel as it is a very dark and, often graphic, novel depicting abortion, violence, death, graphic sexual content, absolutely gallons of blood, and a whole load of sacrilege. The author does a stellar job of covering everything in the content warning at the start of the book but take care of yourselves!
When I sat down after finishing Unholy with Eyes Like Wolves to write my review all that came to me was ‘something something religious fervor the horror of womanhood blood-drenched yearning’. It is hard to put into words the impression this book has left on me but I will try.
Noémie is a dishonored widow who finds herself, after experiencing trauma and loss, in an unenviable position playing handmaiden to Lady Erzsébet Báthory in an attempt to claw back her honor. Lady Báthory, a fellow widow and in a far greater position of power for it, is hard to get a read on but Noémie is determined to try as she acclimates to her new station and accepts how it may impact her future. However, there are rumors of previous handmaidens going missing in the woods surrounding Báthory's land and now Noémie has started to dream of a mysterious and beautiful woman who may be the key to all of this.
Unholy with Eyes Like Wolves is a brutal book that never holds any punches and leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. It was visceral and truly horrific and lusciously written. The first half of the book especially was incredibly polished and did a masterful job of building suspense. I felt immersed in the richly detailed world that the author had clearly spent a good deal of time researching. The highlights for me were the descriptive writing, the horror, sapphic yearning, and religious aspects.
When I say the author went off with Catholicism in this, I mean they went OFF. I ate that shit up, ravenous for more.
‘God, I know You are a jealous one, but so am I. Don’t loathe me for loving eating her as much as I love eating You.’
Body and blood of Christ! Give me more queer religious horror, every serving of it! The relation Noémie has with her faith, the differences (and similarities) between her and Erzsébet's Calvinism, and how that fit in the landscape of the story overall was really well thought out and executed. Vampires and religion (especially through a Catholic lens) are just such a delicious mix.
I just want to say that this book had the bloodiest sex scenes I have ever, and likely will ever, read. They were very well written and keenly erotic despite the grotesque or perhaps because of it! I have read blood as many bodily fluids yet somehow never........!
Now I have said the first part of the book felt polished and, despite maybe one typo I caught, that remains my impression. It is a great crying shame however that the second half in comparison felt anything but. From chapter 15 onwards the book is littered with typos and the plot begins to feel just a wee bit rushed. It felt like it had not been proofread in all honesty. I understand this is not the finished manuscript that will go to print (God I pray it is not!). If this was just a couple of typos, like in the first part, then I could let this slide but unfortunately, the sheer volume was not acceptable at this stage. I know that sounds harsh but it really broke the immersion for me and that combined with how the pace jumped all over the place in a plea to resolve everything that had so painstakingly been set up in the first part, had my reading enjoyment massively decrease. I cannot say that without the typos I would have noticed the pacing issues or vice versa but regardless, it was kind of a letdown. I just really hope the typos at least are caught before print!
Also, I was in two minds about the ending for reasons I will not delve into here as it will lead into spoiler territory but what I will say is that it felt tacked on, like literally just in the final chapter, and at the point we are at by then, just seemed unnecessary when if handled differently it perhaps wouldn’t be and would instead be as satisfying as I am sure the author intended.
Actual rating 3.75. Overall I enjoyed Unholy with Eyes Like Wolves, where there were certain aspects that could be improved to enhance my enjoyment but this is truly a book unlike anything I have read before. I adored the lush storytelling and unique take on a sapphic vampire story mixed with fascinating folklore. I will leave you with my favorite quote, the one that has stuck with me ever since and is the crux of the novel in a way:
‘If the gods didn’t want Pandora to open the box, there should’ve been no box. If God didn’t want Eve to eat the fruit of knowledge, there would’ve been no tree.’
I received an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review from the author, thank you Morgan Dante for the chance to read! Please be mindful of the content warnings for this novel as it is a very dark and, often graphic, novel depicting abortion, violence, death, graphic sexual content, absolutely gallons of blood, and a whole load of sacrilege. The author does a stellar job of covering everything in the content warning at the start of the book but take care of yourselves!
When I sat down after finishing Unholy with Eyes Like Wolves to write my review all that came to me was ‘something something religious fervor the horror of womanhood blood-drenched yearning’. It is hard to put into words the impression this book has left on me but I will try.
Noémie is a dishonored widow who finds herself, after experiencing trauma and loss, in an unenviable position playing handmaiden to Lady Erzsébet Báthory in an attempt to claw back her honor. Lady Báthory, a fellow widow and in a far greater position of power for it, is hard to get a read on but Noémie is determined to try as she acclimates to her new station and accepts how it may impact her future. However, there are rumors of previous handmaidens going missing in the woods surrounding Báthory's land and now Noémie has started to dream of a mysterious and beautiful woman who may be the key to all of this.
Unholy with Eyes Like Wolves is a brutal book that never holds any punches and leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. It was visceral and truly horrific and lusciously written. The first half of the book especially was incredibly polished and did a masterful job of building suspense. I felt immersed in the richly detailed world that the author had clearly spent a good deal of time researching. The highlights for me were the descriptive writing, the horror, sapphic yearning, and religious aspects.
When I say the author went off with Catholicism in this, I mean they went OFF. I ate that shit up, ravenous for more.
‘God, I know You are a jealous one, but so am I. Don’t loathe me for loving eating her as much as I love eating You.’
Body and blood of Christ! Give me more queer religious horror, every serving of it! The relation Noémie has with her faith, the differences (and similarities) between her and Erzsébet's Calvinism, and how that fit in the landscape of the story overall was really well thought out and executed. Vampires and religion (especially through a Catholic lens) are just such a delicious mix.
I just want to say that this book had the bloodiest sex scenes I have ever, and likely will ever, read. They were very well written and keenly erotic despite the grotesque or perhaps because of it! I have read blood as many bodily fluids yet somehow never........!
Now I have said the first part of the book felt polished and, despite maybe one typo I caught, that remains my impression. It is a great crying shame however that the second half in comparison felt anything but. From chapter 15 onwards the book is littered with typos and the plot begins to feel just a wee bit rushed. It felt like it had not been proofread in all honesty. I understand this is not the finished manuscript that will go to print (God I pray it is not!). If this was just a couple of typos, like in the first part, then I could let this slide but unfortunately, the sheer volume was not acceptable at this stage. I know that sounds harsh but it really broke the immersion for me and that combined with how the pace jumped all over the place in a plea to resolve everything that had so painstakingly been set up in the first part, had my reading enjoyment massively decrease. I cannot say that without the typos I would have noticed the pacing issues or vice versa but regardless, it was kind of a letdown. I just really hope the typos at least are caught before print!
Also, I was in two minds about the ending for reasons I will not delve into here as it will lead into spoiler territory but what I will say is that it felt tacked on, like literally just in the final chapter, and at the point we are at by then, just seemed unnecessary when if handled differently it perhaps wouldn’t be and would instead be as satisfying as I am sure the author intended.
Actual rating 3.75. Overall I enjoyed Unholy with Eyes Like Wolves, where there were certain aspects that could be improved to enhance my enjoyment but this is truly a book unlike anything I have read before. I adored the lush storytelling and unique take on a sapphic vampire story mixed with fascinating folklore. I will leave you with my favorite quote, the one that has stuck with me ever since and is the crux of the novel in a way:
‘If the gods didn’t want Pandora to open the box, there should’ve been no box. If God didn’t want Eve to eat the fruit of knowledge, there would’ve been no tree.’
Read
March 6, 2025i’ve been in a bit of a slump this year and desperately needed something that would drawn me in and keep me engaged and ofc it was the lesbian vampire erzsebet bathory book that did it, no one is surprised. love love loved so many details about this book, particularly the writing style and the characterisation of countess bathory. she is undoubtedly my favourite part of reading this (partially bc i was picturing amira casar tbh) and i honestly wish more adaptations would take this sort of approach to the character bc she’s just so much well written.
it’s not a 5 star, though, bc i honestly feel like it could’ve used about 50-100 more pages to flesh things out more. the back half is just far too quick and i wish we’d just been able to slow things down and go through things in more detail, particularly after noemie is turned. there’s five months of tension, blood lust, and character work that we just don’t get to see and i feel like we needed that time to truly understand how we get to where the book ends. and i haven’t even mentioned the carmilla aspects yet, which also suffer from this issue imo.
still loved it overall but i need MORE!!!
it’s not a 5 star, though, bc i honestly feel like it could’ve used about 50-100 more pages to flesh things out more. the back half is just far too quick and i wish we’d just been able to slow things down and go through things in more detail, particularly after noemie is turned. there’s five months of tension, blood lust, and character work that we just don’t get to see and i feel like we needed that time to truly understand how we get to where the book ends. and i haven’t even mentioned the carmilla aspects yet, which also suffer from this issue imo.
still loved it overall but i need MORE!!!
September 28, 2024
Goddamn. THAT is how you do vampires.
This book was insane. I don't even know how else to describe it. I support women's wrongs. I love how unhinged the MC is; truly, she does not give a fuck and I love that for her. And what better way to get back at those that hurt you than to become a feral vampire and tear them apart with your two girlfriends?
On a serious note, though, the way that Dante blends the horror of vampirism with the romanticism of it is simply exquisite. Yes, Noemie is a monster, but damn it, she embraces it. She learns to be unashamed of what and who she is, and I *love* the use of vampirism for this character journey. I love that Carmilla was there. I love the twist on the Erszebet Bathory legend. This book is going to live rent-free in my brain forever.
This book was insane. I don't even know how else to describe it. I support women's wrongs. I love how unhinged the MC is; truly, she does not give a fuck and I love that for her. And what better way to get back at those that hurt you than to become a feral vampire and tear them apart with your two girlfriends?
On a serious note, though, the way that Dante blends the horror of vampirism with the romanticism of it is simply exquisite. Yes, Noemie is a monster, but damn it, she embraces it. She learns to be unashamed of what and who she is, and I *love* the use of vampirism for this character journey. I love that Carmilla was there. I love the twist on the Erszebet Bathory legend. This book is going to live rent-free in my brain forever.
March 9, 2025
This was a pretty strong no for me. The writing wasn’t bad but it did feel like there was a crap ton of unnecessary information or blurbs. Was exciting at the idea of a bloody/vampire romance, it wasn’t really all that bloody, no more than you’d expect from a vampire. The romance was not it after about the half way point, there was so much tension the first half and an obvious buildup and it just dropped off around 40-60% and she just casually decided she’d go 2 different routes…didn’t get the intended anticipated “romance” until the very end and then I wasn’t even all that great. The ending was okay, nothings special either
October 13, 2024
I'm giving it a 3 because the writing is good.
But this is a very misleading book.
It's presented as FFF. There is no FF between MCs until almost 80%. There is, however, a graphic MF scene that is not in the CW.
I specifically was looking for only Sapphic love interests. I definitely did not want a cis dude banging one of the MCs.
But this is a very misleading book.
It's presented as FFF. There is no FF between MCs until almost 80%. There is, however, a graphic MF scene that is not in the CW.
I specifically was looking for only Sapphic love interests. I definitely did not want a cis dude banging one of the MCs.
April 30, 2024
In the chilled afternoon, the windows and grounds frost-blearied, I wear my shawl; I wear Erzsébet’s kisses; I wear her kisses like my shawl.
content warnings: rape mention, mention of underage arranged marriage in 17th century, pregnancy, mentions of miscarriages and stillbirths, abortion depiction, violence, death, blood-drinking, blood in sex scenes, sacrilegious use of Mother Mary
content warnings: rape mention, mention of underage arranged marriage in 17th century, pregnancy, mentions of miscarriages and stillbirths, abortion depiction, violence, death, blood-drinking, blood in sex scenes, sacrilegious use of Mother Mary
December 23, 2024
love and lesbians and blood and the symbolism of pomegranates and cannibalism and UGH fucking obsessed. i respect women’s rights but more importantly i respect their wrongs x (though do we call murdering rapists wrong? i won’t)
Read
July 27, 2024I'm not completely sure how to review this book. I didn't really feel anything when reading it, but I can't dismiss it, because the writing wasn't bad at all. The story probably just was not my style.
September 6, 2024
i support women’s wrongs
March 17, 2025
This genre is definitely not what I'm used to but somehow I still had expectations about this book, sadly it just wasn't for me...
June 20, 2025
this genuinely felt like two different books. a 5/5 before the turning and a 3/5 after it. the change in pacing, prose, and the modernist temperament was wild.
November 23, 2025
It was good but also mid but also really good? I had the most mixed feelings reading this. Very gothic, very fun but also a little boring idk
April 9, 2024
Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves
RELEASE DATE: 16th April 2024
━━ † ━━
⭐️ overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 plot intensity: 📚📚📚📚
🔥 burn: 🔥🔥
💋 spice: 💋💋💋
🍬 sweetness: 🍬
🩵 the feels: 🩵
🤣 humour: 🤣
🩸 gore/violence: 🩸🩸🩸🩸
👤 POV: 1st person — single POV
━━ † ━━
“Our bed is red; our lips are red. If love is a vineyard, we aren’t the vines; we’re the swollen, sensitive grapes. My arousal is blood. Her lips are red with blood. Hers. Mine.”
It’s just… the VIBES of this book has made me so WEAK! It’s got me in an entire chokehold—it’s amazing! I can’t say enough how erotically poetic this novel is and the language sweeps you up and captivates you entirely.
‘Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves’ is my first novel of Morgan Dante and I’m HOOKED. The vivid imagery was STUNNING; beautifully crafted world building, character building and the bloody decadence of vampiric hunger intertwined with exquisite sapphic desires.
The spice was so intense and erotic, blending poetic beauty with carnal desires—but also with a love that’s as gentle as it is vicious. The relationship between Noémie & Lady Erzsébet grows so organically that it brings a familiarity and intimacy that’s an almost stark contrast to the hauntingly tempting relationship between Noémie & Mircalla. I devoured every word with rapt enthralment.
I have always had a love for vampires, and I found the vampiric legend explored in this novel a perfect encapsulation of the aesthetic of the story itself, building upon a gothic-esque world and adding a layer of sensual horror to an already horrific life; so human in its darkness, brutality and beauty.
There are a few trigger/content warnings in this book that play a pretty heavy part in the story and are detailed on page. I found them handled with great care but the author still embraces the brutality and rawness of such acts, so please read the content warnings before reading. Most of these are posted by the author themselves at the beginning of the book, but I’ve just listed the ones I think are of greatest trigger risk.
━━ † ━━
⚔️TRIGGER LIST⚔️
— Explicit sexual content
— Rape & sexual assault (mentioned)
— Pregnancy
— Miscarriages & stillbirths (mentions)
— Abortion depiction (on page, detailed)
— Violence, murder & death
— Blood & gore
— Blood drinking
— MF, FF & FFF scenes
— Blood & blood drinking during sex scenes
━━ † ━━
‘Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves’ was a DECADENCE of sapphic vampiric horror dripping with poetic imagery, sensual eroticism and sacrilegious indulgence in the primal desires of both beast and human. It has the aesthetic of a handmaiden falling for her Countess among the gothic expanse of 17th century Hungary, but it’s so much more than that. It evokes a HUNGER that’s bubbling just beneath the surface of us all, like a wolf waiting to be free. Exquisite and beautifully macabre. 5/5 stars!!!
━━ † ━━
❗️I received this ARC via sign up and every part of this review is written willingly and genuinely with my own personal feelings/thoughts and is under no conditions or obligations❗️
RELEASE DATE: 16th April 2024
━━ † ━━
⭐️ overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 plot intensity: 📚📚📚📚
🔥 burn: 🔥🔥
💋 spice: 💋💋💋
🍬 sweetness: 🍬
🩵 the feels: 🩵
🤣 humour: 🤣
🩸 gore/violence: 🩸🩸🩸🩸
👤 POV: 1st person — single POV
━━ † ━━
“Our bed is red; our lips are red. If love is a vineyard, we aren’t the vines; we’re the swollen, sensitive grapes. My arousal is blood. Her lips are red with blood. Hers. Mine.”
It’s just… the VIBES of this book has made me so WEAK! It’s got me in an entire chokehold—it’s amazing! I can’t say enough how erotically poetic this novel is and the language sweeps you up and captivates you entirely.
‘Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves’ is my first novel of Morgan Dante and I’m HOOKED. The vivid imagery was STUNNING; beautifully crafted world building, character building and the bloody decadence of vampiric hunger intertwined with exquisite sapphic desires.
The spice was so intense and erotic, blending poetic beauty with carnal desires—but also with a love that’s as gentle as it is vicious. The relationship between Noémie & Lady Erzsébet grows so organically that it brings a familiarity and intimacy that’s an almost stark contrast to the hauntingly tempting relationship between Noémie & Mircalla. I devoured every word with rapt enthralment.
I have always had a love for vampires, and I found the vampiric legend explored in this novel a perfect encapsulation of the aesthetic of the story itself, building upon a gothic-esque world and adding a layer of sensual horror to an already horrific life; so human in its darkness, brutality and beauty.
There are a few trigger/content warnings in this book that play a pretty heavy part in the story and are detailed on page. I found them handled with great care but the author still embraces the brutality and rawness of such acts, so please read the content warnings before reading. Most of these are posted by the author themselves at the beginning of the book, but I’ve just listed the ones I think are of greatest trigger risk.
━━ † ━━
⚔️TRIGGER LIST⚔️
— Explicit sexual content
— Rape & sexual assault (mentioned)
— Pregnancy
— Miscarriages & stillbirths (mentions)
— Abortion depiction (on page, detailed)
— Violence, murder & death
— Blood & gore
— Blood drinking
— MF, FF & FFF scenes
— Blood & blood drinking during sex scenes
━━ † ━━
‘Unholy With Eyes Like Wolves’ was a DECADENCE of sapphic vampiric horror dripping with poetic imagery, sensual eroticism and sacrilegious indulgence in the primal desires of both beast and human. It has the aesthetic of a handmaiden falling for her Countess among the gothic expanse of 17th century Hungary, but it’s so much more than that. It evokes a HUNGER that’s bubbling just beneath the surface of us all, like a wolf waiting to be free. Exquisite and beautifully macabre. 5/5 stars!!!
━━ † ━━
❗️I received this ARC via sign up and every part of this review is written willingly and genuinely with my own personal feelings/thoughts and is under no conditions or obligations❗️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews