When the Night Swallowed the Moon

When the Night Swallowed the Moon #1

by Ophelia Wells Langley

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Paranormal

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2025

About the author

Ophelia Wells Langley spent her formative years as a writer shaped by a mild obsession with Celtic mythology, a strong taste for romantic fantasy, and a penchant for escapism. Her goal is simple: create steamy, character-driven stories that are inclusive and diverse. She writes spicy adult fantasy romance with lush worlds and whimsical lore. Most of her stories feature stone circles as portals that connect you to other characters within her fantasy universe.

You can follow her on Instagram @opheliawlangleyauthor or on Tiktok @opheliawellsauthor. For exclusive stories, art, and a great community become a member on her Patreon by searching Ophelia Wells Langley.

Reviews

[Becks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible and I couldn’t put it down!

I adore an older FMC and Adeline does not disappoint. As with all of Ophelia’s writing, I was immediately pulled into a rich world with incredible characters, layers to the emotions and character actions, as well as prose that feels both lyrical and accessible.

Thank you for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review 🥰

***** SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT ******

I absolutely loved the illusion magic and how that was weaved through the story and world-building.

As with Achill in Ophelia’s Stone Circle Series, Erik is a villain that you immediately cannot wait for Karma, or the FMC, to catch up with. To me, it was perfection that all of the grandeur he prides himself in is all a charade- one that can only be achieved through the oppression of the vulnerable. It was a masterful allegory of the illusion of power and which people pay the price for it to be achieved.

The concept of fated mates who find each other, then are separated and one is glamoured to forget is absolutely fascinating. For them to find each other and then a century later have to reestablish their love and trust in each other as seemingly complete strangers?? 🤌🤌🤌🤌

Juliette was an amazing character that kept me on my toes as I tried to figure out alongside Adeline if she could be trusted. She also serves as an excellent lens into the ripples that can come from our actions.

[KMart Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fascinating, atmospheric take on vampire and werewolf lore. This is moody, romantic, and threaded through with a kind of bittersweet tension that really stuck with me. I first met Adeline and Rolf in The Moon and the Hunt, and this reworked version brings so much more character depth to the table. Adeline and Rolf’s early chemistry is still a highlight. Their dynamic hits harder here, especially with the shared history woven into the quick-burning romance. Yes, things move fast, but it works because it’s grounded in something deeper. Their connection in those quiet, snowed-in moments is sharp and compelling enough that I wish we had more time before the action fully kicked in.

The tension, the yearning, the sense of inevitable pull. It’s all there, and it’s the strongest part of the book by far. I loved the emotional core and the messy, healing romance at the center. I especially loved the concept of star-crossed lovers whose memories have been glamoured away. That idea is so compelling and tragic, and it adds emotional stakes. Though at times, they don’t feel like people who are remembering each other as the story progresses. The weight of that lost history isn’t quite there. I wanted more of that aching recognition, the emotional echoes, the sense that their connection is resurfacing through instinct as much as memory.

The world Langley has built here is so rich that I almost felt frustrated not getting to spend more time in it. That’s really my biggest issue: pacing. This book feels like two stories: a revised novella and a more character-focused second half, stitched together, and while both parts are strong in isolation, the transition between them is a little uneven. Some elements in the back half didn’t feel fully earned, likely because there just wasn’t room to explore them properly. I can definitely see how this could have shone brighter as a series of novellas or full-length novels, each given more room to breathe. Introspection takes time and can't be rushed.

But still, there’s a lot to love here. The themes of autonomy, sacrifice, and second chances are powerful. Adeline saving herself at the end is such a strong choice. The characters are older, jaded, and carrying real emotional baggage, which I appreciated so much in a genre that often leans young. And while I did feel the seams of the storytelling, there’s no denying the emotional core is solid.

If you’re into gothic-leaning romantasy with sharp emotional stakes and unusual lore, this is absolutely worth checking out. I just found myself wishing for more of everything.

Thanks so much to MTMC tours and the author for the complimentary and beautiful copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[CristoC · Rating 1 out of 5]

0 fucking ⭐

I’m feeling extremely stupid for several reasons: first, for not reading the reviews of the previous works of the author, and second, for not dnf-ing as soon as I thought of doing so, which happened very early in the book. I can’t believe I got to feel as disappointed and then bored and then angry at this inanimate and not even physical object as I have. This book is fucking despicable, and the worse thing is that it was supposed to be “empowering” or some bullshit like that. Let’s start with the rant.

About the file – I did not appreciate:
1. The watermark at every chapter interruption. I got maybe to chapter 2 before deciding I had to edit the file and remove those annoying ass “book made for…”. Happy I did.
2. The fact that this book is a big ad. One might think it obvious considering it’s an ARC, but wait. I finish the book and then I’m met with this: “Stay tuned for an epilogue in the final publication!”. Let me tell you something. Authors send ARCs to ARC readers for free, so that they read and rate and review the book, so they promote and give credibility to the book. Authors get a free advertisement for every review basically. You don’t use the ARC to advertise the final product to your own ARC readers, who are doing you a favour, and give them an incomplete copy. An ARC it’s by definition an advanced, unfinished copy, but there’s not supposed to be parts missing, the ‘unfinished’ refers to typos. Guess what, even if I had liked the book, even if I had loved it, I still wouldn’t have bought the final copy to read the stupid epilogue, because this is an abuse of the favour that ARC readers are doing to you. And honestly, considering the amount of time that I’ve wasted reading this book? It's a big fucking favour that I’m even writing the review.
3. The fact that this was probably not beta read or even edited by someone other than the author. Mind you, it’s a theory. But it’s a valid one. Sometimes I thought a word was spelled wrong because it was a typo, which is fine, it’s an ARC. But no, it’s used again, and it’s still, wrong. An adverb is used instead of the adjective, more than once and I understand it’s not a typo, it’s fucked up grammar.
3. Receiving the book 5 days before release. I don't think I have to explain this one.

About the book – I fucking despised:
Everything. But let’s make it a bit tidy.
1. The “romance”: there’s no romance. There is insta-lust though. No I don’t care that they knew each other decades ago, before Colin became Rolf and his fucking facial features apparently changed drastically. We’ve not spectated that first romance, so the fact that they are instantly sexually attracted to each other is not particularly compelling and not romantic. Especially because it’s clear that in this book lust is equalled to love. The sexualisation of the characters was nauseating and became boring really fast. We keep reading about hoe small and curvy she is, how beautiful she is, how muscular he is, how hairy he is, and they keep ogling each other, and being horny for each other in the most inappropriate times and from the very start, when they are still enemies. And they know this. They know and explicitly say that they are risking their lives just because they want to fuck each other. And they’re supposed to be what, thirty years old? Then why do they act like teenagers? Or better, bitches in heat? They develop “feelings” for each other like 27% into the book. He gives her a cringe nickname even earlier.
2. The characters: the only semi-decent character is Juliette. Let’s start with Rolf: he’s a selfish, egocentric, possessive and cringy little bastard. He’s a bitch to Juliette, distrusts her from the start for no reason whatsoever .He loses track of the halfling he’s supposed to save (who then dies) because “he had been so blind with rage” and needed to massacre the assaulters, and then in the second half of the book he’s so fucking useless, that he can’t even fulfil his only task: free the prisoners of the castle, and instead goes off to “save” Adeline, who didn’t even need his help. He then feels guilty when he thinks the prisoners didn’t survive the fire, and is happy when he finds out they’re alive and free, thanks to Juliette who did the job he was supposed to do. Speaking of the prisoners: Adeline. Adeline is a fucking asshole. Not only she’s the reason why Juliette, a woman that she supposedly loved in the past, is still a prisoner and under Erik’s influence, but she glamoured the prisoners, making them empty, mindless shells, with no free will “so their stay would be far less traumatic”. So you’re telling me that the woman who is desperate to overcome her abuse and her abuser (the supposed hyper-theme of this fucking book) thought she had the right to herself abuse a whole group of people that were going to be abused anyway and make them even more susceptible to abuse because not conscious of it? This is just bad writing. How can you not know that the whole topic you’re making this whole story about flies out of the window with this easily erasable plot point? And then she wants to adopt them like stray cats? Those people could have decided whether to be obedient, to fight for their lives, to make an escape plan together, it would have been their choice. But no. They had to be glamoured so that Rolf could roam around the castle for half of the book doing absolutely nothing, but undisturbed. They were a fucking device – together with the dwarves and tortured fae – to make Adeline understand that she’s always been a bitch (but not for the glamouring, mind you) and to make the bad guy seem bad. This is even scarier if you think about the parallelism with sexual assault, which is only natural to make in a book about abuse. Are you telling me that if a person is going to be raped, better they get raped without knowing? Does it make the abuse better? It feels so stupid to keep going with the review after this but I have to. Let’s move on to the “”villain””. This bitch appears what, three times? All in the second half of the book? He’s the long awaited abuser that we never saw abuse Adeline? The person she’s trying to free herself from? And the worst thing about him is his breath? He’s literally just a guy with halitosis. We don’t know anything about the previous abuse on Adeline, so why should he feel threatening? Am I supposed to fill in the blanks? Isn’t that the writer’s job?
3. The homophobia: yes that’s right, the book with what was supposed to be some awesome bisexual representation, a “*wink wink* am I right sapphics?” that was supposed to come off from the FMC being bisexual actually come off as homophobic. Surprise surprise. First the already established sexualisation: “A flush crept up Adeline’s neck, the moments of intimacy between them flooding back. How hopeful Adeline had been to have a companion once more and a gorgeous, curvy blonde one, too.” And then: “After being alive for several hundred years, Adeline found herself experimenting with all kinds of lovers—centuries of immortality can do that to someone.” So other sexual orientations other than heterosexuality are a cure for boredom? An experiment? An escape from your male abuser? Because men ain’t shit (except for the one you’re lusting after)? This is tied with the misogynistic rhetoric of the book and the failed attempt at a “strong independent woman” character.
4. As I said, the “men ain’t shit” rhetoric and failed “strong independent woman” character: multiple times in Adeline’s POV chapters we read about men being a certain way and women being another; men being terrible, and stupid ogres with two braincells, and women being wonderful creatures full of wonder and perfectly functioning brains. I bet this was meant to be some empowering, feminist bullshit, but guess what it’s the opposite. Why are you trying to feed me the same stereotypes that (cishet)men themselves use and pass it off as a quirky feminist joke? This book is supposed to be about a woman finding agency against literal centuries of abuse from men and you feed into that same harmful rhetoric? Not to mention that she is not the independent woman that she was meant to be. She keeps saying that she needs no man but she did need a man to understand: 1. That she’s been abused for years 2. That she deserves love 3. That she needs genuine affection 4. That she’s been a bitch to everyone around her. She made a whole pact with her abuser to go and find this man that she thinks is actually dead, risking a life of slavery and further abuse at the hand of Erik. She wants to kill herself when she thinks that Rolf is dead and she’s in Erik’s clutches again. She says that she’s nobody’s possession but the bitch in heat she mated with 1. Disregards her trust towards Juliette, a person she’s known for much longer 2. Disregards her direct request of saving the prisoners by going to “save” her, the only instance where she did in fact do something for herself by the way, and 3. Looks at her as if she was a juicy piece of meat (I mean, she does the same with him, but still…). Does this look like a strong independent woman?
5. The writing: to go back to my theory of no editor and no beta readers being involved in the publishing process of this book, the writing sucks. The pacing is all fucked: the first third is spent in the cabin, the rest in the castle, and that’s it on setting. As I said, the whole castle section is basically Rolf snooping around, doing nothing, discovering magical creatures previously unknown to him, showing us tortured people to make the villain more villainous, and Adeline doing nothing, not planning anything, complaining about Erik’s bad breath and having flashbacks (more about those in a minute), until these two meet, fuck, and mate, instead of concocting a plan to get out of there alive. At least they’re coherent in their stupidity.
The (ab)use of flashbacks is atrocious. They are too fucking frequent, interrupting the already fucked up pacing of the story, and their only purpose is to tell things that should have been showed, and to conveniently bring some bullshit plot point or previously suppressed memory to make whatever bullshit thing in the present make some sort of sense. They are plot devices. And not the only ones either. Wards not working anymore because it's convenient. Characters are dumb for the sake of being dumb, so that the reader understands something ages before them and has to wait for the characters to connect the big flashing red dots under their noses. Adeline, one of the most ancient and powerful vampires, can’t immediately tell that Rolf is a werewolf despite literally sniffing him but good old Juliette can smell him just by passing through. Also the descriptions of smell are so fucking funny, like what do you mean that he smells like fresh-cut pine and woodsmoke and oud and tobacco and worn leather AND parchment? And apparently she smells just as good!!! “You smell like rain on cobblestones after a hot summer day. You smell like slow evenings in the forest after the first frost. You smell like the sun baking fresh-cut pine. You smell like a late afternoon curled up on the chaise in the library of my childhood home. You smell like a fresh summer garden. You smell soft, you smell like home.”
The coherence. is nowhere to be found. she says at the start that “Starting the rumours about the vampires only coming out at night was one of her greatest accomplishments. She prided herself on it each time she heard them.” But later, that is actually true? They sleep during the day because they’re weak. Rolf cuts the “ribbons” of her corset, but then she has it on again? And apparently her corsets are made of fucking diamond plates because it keeps saving her from being injured? So my (rhetorical) question is: is that why she struggles to breathe in a corset? Or is it the usual ‘corsets are torture devices created by men’ bullshit? I’m guessing the latter, considering that no basic research. was done to get clothing right: how does the dress tangle around her ankles if there’s crinoline? Which is specifically made to keep full skirts out of the way? How does she feel a guy’s ‘hardness’ through her skirts If.She.Has.Fucking.Crinoline. A guy that is basically Erik’s right hand risks his life by groping Adeline in front of him? In front of the big bad scary guy that everyone is afraid of and that Adeline can’t escape for the life of hers? And then the big bad guy does nothing about it? This book makes no sense.
The worldbuilding. Is “fae” a general terms for magical creatures or a specific term for a specific type of magical creature? Who knows, they’re used with both meanings. Who is “the ancient Goddess”? Does it even matter that white birds of prey are “a sign from her”? Vampires have “magic” but only sometimes? When it’s convenient at least. Adeline asks herself if she has magic like Erik despite knowing that she sent her sister through a fucking portal to another world? And then she’s surprised that other worlds exists? Erik claiming her body, mind and soul? Is it about mating? Why is it never fully explained? From one of Adeline’s POV chapters we get to know that “Vampires had different rules than regular fae for mates. Once they were through the mating ritual, their scents would merge, the little magic they did have would get stronger, and they would be almost impossible to kill.” But later she says that she doesn’t know anything about vampire mating.
Also, Adeline and Rolf are mated…before mating? How? What does it even mean?
Adeline supposedly has a plan involving the dress, makes the seamstresses do something with her dress…but then no, actually. That was Erik apparently, and she’s happy that Rolf almost burned her whole fucking dress? What? So vampires “couldn’t touch silver without their skin burning”, but when Erik purposefully makes her dress of silver to avoid people touching her…they still can dance with her?

I’m getting more frustrated by the second, so let’s get to my favourite part:
The sentences that sent me into orbit
- “his eyes were dark amber orbs that watched her every move”
- “his voice turned grave. She refused to be sucked into the sexiness of it”
- “Her fangs elongated at the thought of being at the mercy of his carnal need” (did I time-travel to the 80s?)
- “There was nothing sexier than a lover being ravenous for your body, and he looked at her like he was starved.”
- “She needed him in ways that would once, long ago, have been considered unholy. And I have holes. She snickered to herself.” (help)
- “Patience, my darkness,” he practically purred at his nickname for her. What had gotten into him? Had he gone full animal for her? Maybe. (what the fuck…?)
- “Would that we were all brave enough not to fear death,” Adeline said. (??)
- “Silver chains?” Adeline’s voice sounded pained as she stepped up next to him. […] “Why, Rolf?” “Because… I am a beast. A monster,” he said simply. (“I’m weird. I’m a weirdo. Have you ever seen me without this stupid hat on?”)
- “Her senses tingled. The shadows in the cabin danced with roaring fire, tossing shadows along the walls that reminded her of spiderwebs.” (bitch, you think you’re spiderman?)
- “Juliette’s nostrils flared when the smell of fresh blood hit her nose. “You’ve found him, then.” Juliette tilted her head, her eyes narrowed. “No head?” (“so no head?”)
- “Her hands brushed an itch away on her neck, had fully healed and she could think clearly, the constant gnawing of hunger had abated and though she craved more from Rolf, she knew that she could last a little while longer on what she had taken from him.” (???)
- “Mate, she sent to Rolf. […] And, finally, a faint response from his end, Mate.” (unga bunga, me Tarzan you Jane)
- “He crossed his arms, staring down at his ferocious beauty with such awe that he had forgotten his leg was injured, and he was standing in the room naked.”

To be religiously faithful to the book, I won’t reread this review and leave all the mistakes, typos and whatnot. The fact that I even formatted it is making me a heathen. I don’t want to think about this book ever again.




I received an eARC of the book from the author and this represents my honest opinion.

[letsgosupernova · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately it was not for me, purely based on the writing & 100+ pages of the book being spent in a single room. the premise is cool, but execution was inconsistent 🥺

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! Thank you to the author for providing me the opportunity to be an arc reader for this book. I greatly enjoyed the story and the interaction between Rolf and Adeline. The book is fast paced and full of twists and turns. I definitely recommend reading this book!

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story! I went into this thinking it was going to be focused on overcoming the vampire/werewolf divide, but there's so much more to the story! I loved seeing Adeline come into the power of her self-worth. She's an extremely competent assassin, but mentally she's insecure because of the abuse she's sustained for a hundreds of years.
The characters really came to life for me, and they have a special place in my heart now! ❤️
One of my favorite parts of the book was how Rolf continuously trusted and supported Adeline, instead of trying to control her as she had been for so long. He truly loves her, and it shows!

A favorite quote...
"When I say I love you, I mean that I love you into the darkest depths of the night. And I will love you until the moon stops shining and the stars all shimmer out of existence. When I say I love you, I mean that I love every broken, shattered, sharp edge of you as well as the tenderness and the softness you carry."

Thank you to OWL for the ARC copy, I can't wait to read more in your universe!

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so grateful to have received the ARC for this book. I really really enjoyed this story and the star-crossed love between the two characters. Perfect for readers who want a badass FMC who saves herself, a love that defies all, unique world building/magic system that doesn’t go too crazy, and lots of fae/magical creatures.
Only docked one star due to my personal preferences with pacing. I felt like some moments were elaborated on too much and other moments that I felt should be super impactful were lackluster and anticlimactic. Overall a great time and definitely recommend.

[RogueMarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this read! Loved the vibes. I felt like I was reading something out of Underworld with the vampire and werewolf dynamic. I absolutely loved both MCs. I loved the plot and the romance between both characters, it really made for a compelling forbidden love story.

[schmevsss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book that explores what if our trauma does not define us, but can be used to rebuild us.

I loved this story. The main character, Adeline, is just the right amount of sassy and vulnerable in a world where she's had to adapt to survive in. The way the story is interwoven with fairytales is always something I love too! The romance between our characters is fantastically revealed with the right amount of pacing. And the drama and violence is at a great pace too, which is so hard to get right but this book did. Such a lovely read!

Proud ARC reader, opinions all my own ✨️

[Falling_Into_Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow.

This book deserved every single star.
The first half is so jammed with what you think would be the entire story that you fully get swept into every scene, every emotion on the page. And when it continued into the second half I kept thinking wow where else can it go now and i absolutely loved each twost and turn along the way.

I for one definatly want to read more of Adeline and Rolfs story!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read When the Night Swallowed the Moon and it did not disappoint. I loved everything about this story. Thank you Ophelia for my advanced copy. Don't miss out when this gets released.

[Book Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Night Swallowed the Moon is a spellbinding blend of dark fantasy and forbidden romance that had me on the edge of my bed the whole time...🗡️🌳🛖

Adeline’s desperation for freedom is portrayed beautifully throughout the book. Yes, she’s an assassin, and yes, she’s been unaliving people for as long as she can remember under the command of her maker—but what stands out is her relentless determination to achieve her freedom. No matter the cost, she keeps pushing forward, driven by the fierce need to break the chains of control Erick has tried to bind her with for over centuries. Her resilience & her thirst for revenge is as haunting as it is inspiring...🩸🗡️

Separated by a century of misfortune and amnesia, Addy and Rolf’s reunion is anything but simple. From the chaos of their reunion to the fallout of the broken bargain, every moment between them is charged. The resulting fight, the anguish of separation, the betrayal, the twisted game that follows—it’s a rollercoaster of pain, passion, and their commitment towards each other...🩸🩶🐺

That said, the pacing did falter at times and parts of the storyline felt stagnant—but by the end, everything tied together in a satisfying, emotionally vindictive way. I’m genuinely excited to see where this universe takes us next...🐺🩸🗡️
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ARC REVIEW

[Anny Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first series I've read of Ophelia's and it is amazing!!! I started with the prequel novella "When the Forest Enchanted the Fire", which you don't have to read to enjoy "When the Night Swallowed the Moon" but I really appreciated the extra world building. This book is dual pov following a vampire named Adeline and a wereshifter named Rolf. Both in their own kinds of hell and feeling alone.

What I loved most was seeing Adeline's growth throughout the story. It was super cool to see that vampires aren't invincible and also have flaws; weaknesses. The unique magic, how being independent isn't always serving and how powerful relationships can be. It spoke to me as a woman who is super independent who found her person a few years ago. We are stronger together!! 🤩 That ending was everything I could have dreamed of. Fabulous!!

[Mappy BookGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author so I didn't know what to expect, but let me tell you... I Absolutely LOVED this book. I could not stop reading it, everything was perfect - the characters, the plot, the romance, the world building...everything! Add this to your TBR ASAP and excuse me while I track down more of her work.

[Maria Mieling · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I want to say thank Ophelia Wells Langley for this ARC. I absolutely loved this book. Rarely have I read a prequel and prologue in a book and have been so drawn into it that I forget it’s the prequel. That alone deserved 5 stars. The story itself is so rich in description and detail about their emotions and personal struggles. Throughout the story we watch Adeline grow in understanding herself and her self worth. It’s a story of struggles, abuse, emotional pain but also personal growth, devotion and love. If loving someone and not giving up hope for that person for about a century isn’t love and devotion, then I don’t know what is. If you love a good fairytale with vampires and other beings then you won’t want to put this down!!

[Madeeha Idrees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow oh wow! This book was incredible!

This book grabbed me, sunk its fangs in, and did not let go. I am completely obsessed with this book. It is a unique story that I found myself getting lost in easily.

Every twist and turn was a delicious treat I ate up! I cannot express just how much I adore this story. This book was everything and more!

✨️Tropes✨️

✨️Fated Mates
✨️Memory Loss
✨️Only One Room
✨️Burn The World For You
✨️Assassin/Vampire FMC
✨️Werewolf MMC



✨️Thank you so much Ophelia, and Behind the pages PA for the gifted EARC✨️

[Rikke's Reading Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kindly provided with an arc.

I read the original novella, and I was hoping and praying Ophelia would develop this into a full novel because I loved the premise and the two characters so much. So, I’m over the moon (pun intended) that she did just that.

I thoroughly enjoy Ophelia’s prose, there’s something beautiful about it while not being over descriptive. I love the intro and the ending that is clearly a nod to the fairytale genre.
As always, I love the interconnectedness of her and River’s stories, so if you’ve read their work, you may have found some connections and Easter Eggs, I know I did! At the same time, each book can be read as a standalone.

I think Adeline is one of my favourite female characters in Ophelia’s works, I like how she struggles, is blinded and yet finds her inner strength. The intimacy between Rolf and Adeline (not just the steamy scenes) is really beautiful and full of light and reverence, which I really enjoyed.

Let's talk Juliette, I don’t want to spoil anything - but I loved her characters as well, you never really knew which side she was on up until the very end. And Ophelia writes villains really well, they’re very icky and are basically male misogyny personified.

I am biased when it comes to Ophelia's writing, so to probably no one’s surprise, I loved this and would highly recommend it.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love "When the Night Swallowed the Moon", and to its credit, the premise truly shines. It pulled me in with its blend of mystery, self-discovery, and romantic tension, and the atmospheric writing style created a hauntingly beautiful tone that lingered throughout the book.
The world-building was vivid and imaginative—there were moments where the setting felt almost like a character itself.

That said, the story didn’t quite land for me overall. As a reader who enjoys a slow burn with emotional build-up and layered tension, I found the central romance too rushed. The instant attraction between the FMC and MMC moved things forward quickly but at the cost of meaningful development. It felt like they leaped from strangers to soulmates without the emotional groundwork.

One aspect that pulled me out of the story was the portrayal of the FMC. She is consistently described as one of the strongest members of her group, yet she often finds herself defeated in most major confrontations. This inconsistency made it difficult to fully believe in her reputation or to support her development. Additionally, the pacing felt uneven—some scenes were unnecessarily drawn out without a significant payoff, while others that should have been emotionally impactful felt surprisingly flat.

Still, I can see this resonating with readers who enjoy Insta-lust, with rich and moody settings. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this lovely book from Ophelia and wanted to extend my extreme thanks for the chance to read it early!

This was probably the most unique vampire story I’ve ever read. It had a much more classical fairytale feel to it rather than what I usually associate with vampires. They were much more fae-coded than the typical Dracula style vampires we’re/I’m used to seeing - which can be a bit discombobulating at first, but once you realize the small but impactful differences between them, you can get a better sense of exactly the type of character Adeline, our MFC is.

There’s a lot going on in this story and I will admit that the prologue confused the hell out of me at first. I had to double check that I was reading the correct book because it did not seem like it matched up with the description of a vampire storyline at all - but it made sense later on. Initially though - I was so confused. ⬅️⬅️⬅️I want to make it clear that this is in no way a criticism but a suggestion for you to really pay attention to the details in the prologue. The way everything comes together is fantastic and just adds to the overall uniqueness to the book.

I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll only say that I enjoyed the dynamic between Adeline & Rolf and probably enjoyed their chemistry the best before the shit hits the fan. Their story had a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe to it but also not…it’s so hard to explain it without spoiling anything….basically this book reminds me of a cross between one of Mercedes Lackey’s Tales of the Hundred Kingdoms books, Romeo and Juliet, season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and a few other fantasy stories all rolled into one. You’ve got magic, mystery, tragic back stories, a love story, a villain, forced proximity, vampires, werewolves, amnesia, and spice. This book has a little something for everyone.

[Kristin O'donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: 4.5 (Rounding Up)

This lovely fantasy novella by Ophelia Wells Langley is my first read of her books but will definitely not be my last for sure. This was a fun, action packed romantasy with a serious case of what I guess you can call insta-lust but not everything is as it seems.

With werewolves, vampires and fae wrapped into the beautiful elements of dark fairy tale featuring lovers whose fate spans the centuries, I knew that this was going to be a story that I devoured. In When the Night Swallowed the Moon, we meet Adeline, a vampire huntress and assassin, who has been killing wereshifters in order to achieve her ultimate goal, freedom from the grip and control of her maker. Adeline's history is one filled with pain and trauma in the sacrifices she made for her family and the darkness she took on without fully understanding the price she would pay.

In the middle of her last hunt and up against the looming deadline of her maker, Adeline becomes trapped in a snowstorm and seeks shelter in a isolated cabin. She quickly realizes she is not alone as she meet the handsome and rugged Rolf, who only has wanted to keep to himself, and is keenly aware of the deadly presence that now fills his home. The tension between these two is palpable from the start and the circle one another in some of the most delicious banter that I have had the pleasure of reading.

While, Rolf is keenly aware of just what Adeline is and how dangerous she is to him, he cannot help put be drawn to her intensity and beauty. And of course, I was melting even more when he gives her a wonderfully wicked nickname....'my darkness'....um yes please! Adeline is a wonderful FMC who is passionate, brave and speaks her mind. I love how independent and fierce she is and it becomes quite clear that the road ahead for her will be anything but easy.

Without giving too much away, Adeline and Rolf come to find that their destinies and fate are much more intertwined than they had ever expected. Will they be able to overcome the distrust and pain before Adeline's maker comes to claim his offspring again and keep Adeline locked way once again? You will just need to read to find out!

[Lucrezia Castello · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had something else in mind from the vibes and tropes that had been my inspiration for this story.

From the very first pages, we have a clear picture: a kind of fairy tale that goes wrong.
Soon after, she appears - Adeline de la Fôret, one of the deadliest vampires under the power of the vampire Eric, who has only one task to win her freedom: exterminate all the werewolves.

But if there is one thing he has learned after centuries, it is that it is never as easy as it looks. Rolf, a hermit werewolf, senses the danger before he even gets close to where the vampire has put herself to rest...
From that moment on, it will be a toss up as to who will act first; but they still do not know what secrets unite them, and it will be even more difficult to get to the bottom of the matter!

Reading the MC's alternating POV's gave a complete picture of where they came from and the actions they took to get to this moment. I appreciated the various twists - some of them predictable - that made it possible for Adeline and Rolf to find a truce, and to find their own revenge on those who had harmed them both🔥

However, I am curious to know if it will remain a stand-alone or if the author will continue with the vicissitudes of the FM vampire and the MC werewolf🤔

A highly recommended reading😍

[Brenna Mattox · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the prequel for this novel. But this was pretty disappointing. The story had all the elements to be really great. But felt choppy in places and wasn't well written. There are multiple errors in spelling, grammar, and character names/nicknames throughout the entire thing. It also seemed like the author was trying to fit in as many different types of magical/mythical creatures as she could. And then all of a sudden there is a whole new magic system at the end? I finished because I really did enjoy Adeline and Rolf as characters and wanted to finally know where the prequel tied into this story but I'm not sure if it ended up being worth my time, unfortunately.

[Marissa Gideon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly the story twist omg I did not even see it coming! I had suspicions of what was gonna happen but WOW! Adeline’s personal reflection and growth is amazing. The sister really threw me for a loop as well. Seeing Erik get what he deserved all along was beautiful poetry.

[Noore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I absolutely love the characters and the plot twists. I would say they were somewhat predictable but not in a way that it disturbed the vibe of the book.

I love a strong FMC and Adeline is definitely that, strong regardless of her trauma. She doesn't let her past tell her future and i love that. The romance is going in a nice pace and i liked how their dynamic developed throughout the story and the emotions behind each step. Ophelia's writing style is so good as always and I love how easy and fluent the text is to read.

I did feel like the pacing of the book was slightly off balance making some parts super fast and other slow. Its alright but I personally just prefer a more steady pace.

Thank you Ophelia for an arc! All thoughts are my own.

[Adaire | daring.fantasy.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adeline, a vampire assassin, has one final target to dispose of before she can finally be free of her cruel and controlling maker. She is hot on his trail when a snowstorm traps her in a lonely hunter’s cabin deep in the woods. Rolf, happy to be living a life of solitude, knows there is more to the dangerous beauty than she is letting on. But the full moon is approaching, and with it, secrets that he is desperate to keep hidden.

“He was swimming in dangerous waters, but something about her kept pulling him back into her undertow.”

When the Night Swallowed the Moon was an atmospheric and emotional story of two star crossed lovers given a second chance at the worst of times. The worldbuilding was done well. The setting was described as vivid and enchanting, and I felt drawn into the story as I read. However, the details on the magic and the history were somewhat vague and not fully fleshed out.

The book was a good mix of romance and action. The first half had the two protagonists in close but dangerous quarters which added an element of suspense to their evolving chemistry. Both characters had dark pasts, layers of secrets, and an element of amnesia around their origins. It resulted in tension filled chemistry between the two MC’s.

“Her eyes were dark blue, and her pupils were so big and black, looking into them was like staring into the night sky”

The second half of the book saw the pace pick up as well as the action as Adeline went up against her vampiric maker and coven. It was full of suspense as you had no idea who or what she could trust.

The book was a very enjoyable read, and I immensely enjoyed the first half (especially reading it mid winter). The second half was enjoyable but I did feel like there were too many elements introduced late into the book.

Thankyou to MTMC Tours and the author for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

Narration: Dual character, third person POV

Spice: 2-3/5

Tropes:
Amnesia
Forced proximity
Fated mates
Forbidden love
Assassin FMC
Standalone
Dual POV

Similar Titles:
- Bride
- This vicious dream

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[Ophelia Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I'm rating and reviewing this book myself but this book has gone through so many renditions and edits. From the first cobbled together pieces that my developmental editor got to see, to the rough drafts that my beta readers got to read, to the final piece that it is today - this story has become a layered labor of love. Adeline's character has dealt with a fair amount of trauma and abuse, is bisexual, and flawed. Her character arc is not perfect - she is not perfect and was never meant to be. If anything, she reflects a realistic worldview on what it is like to untangle yourself from being under the controlling gaze of a narcissist in a patriarchal world. Some questions I had to constantly ask myself while writing her story was this: How do you unravel the lies you've been told? How do you become your own person in an abusive situation, when your thoughts aren't your own? How do you break free to create the life you want? How do you fight for what you want? What matters when everything else seems lost? Can you save yourself and everyone else you love?
I have a list of trigger warnings in the front of the book as well as on my website - and I urge you to read those before diving in. A lot of the abuse isn't explicit (or detailed, for that matter), but this book does deal with darker/heavier themes than I have before.
And if you do choose to take a chance on this book, I hope you enjoy Rolf and Adeline's story because you, too, deserve to find a love that withstands the test of time.
xo
OWL

[Jenny Hoards Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This is the first book that I've read by Ophelia Wells Langley and I will now read EVERTHING she writes. I absolutely adore Adeline and Rolf. A bad ass FMC and feral, possessive MMC who comes to her rescue, what else could you possibly need?! I also appreciated the unique take on vampires and wereshifters, I read a lot of these types of books and it's refreshing to see new things!

This story transported me and I had no choice but to devour it as quickly as possible. I loved everything about this and it checked so many of my trope boxes. For example: Forced proximity, mates, all that tension, and some very delicious spice. The plot is intense, traumatic and romantic, I was on the edge of my seat so many times.

Anyway if you're reading this stop wasting your time and go read this book instead! (Just kidding thank you for reading my humble review. Not kidding about reading this immediately.)

[Pages by Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written story with lyrical, almost poetic moments woven throughout. Rolf’s voice stands out in particular, using language in a way that conveys the depth of his feelings for Adeline with clarity and emotion. Their love feels enduring, shaped by time and tragedy, and carries a quiet intensity that lingers.
The plot holds interest with steady tension, especially through the separation of Rolf and Adeline just as they find each other. Erik serves as a strong antagonist, while Juliette adds another layer of uncertainty, making it difficult to fully trust her role in the story. These elements help maintain engagement even as the story shifts.
The pacing, however, feels uneven at times—moving from slow to rushed in ways that make the flow feel slightly disjointed. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where it falters, but the transitions don’t always feel smooth. Even so, it remains an enjoyable read overall, carried by its writing style and emotional core.

[loosestocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars

I wanted to enjoy this story but ultimately I think it felt it most of Adeline's story was told to me and I only was able to experience first-hand the very last chapter of her life and story. I'm not saying that I wanted a series following her whole life but I think I would have wanted to feel more of her life firsthand (in present tense) rather than having her past dictated to me in bits and pieces. It made it difficult for me to get emotionally invested in any of the characters. It also made the romance and love story feel a bit shallow. I think there is potential but I think the plot, characters, and romance build-up could be better. Everything also felt very rushed. All in all, 3 out of 5 for me.

[Sarah Heinbaugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this story but unfortunately was kinda let down. I’m a big big big fan of tension, build up, angst or however you’d like to frame it. But there wasn’t any. I felt like the second the fmc/mmc meet, it’s instant lust and there’s no real build up to them finding out who they truly are. I wanted to love this, but overall, it wasn’t my favorite read.

Thank you Ophelia and Behind the Pages for the chance to read this arc.