Once Upon a Dark October

by Jessie Thomas

All curses made in blood must be broken with blood.

Dreadmist Harbor sleeps under a near-perpetual veil of coastal fog, home to mortals, vampires, and those somewhere in between. Already down-on-her-luck, mortal charwoman Elspeth finds herself the target of a rogue vampire, shattering the peaceful coexistence. Forced to seek help from a reclusive vampire coven, she barely makes it to their dreary seaside perch before she succumbs to the bite.

Morrigan and her coven are haunted by a bitter rivalry that has left them devastated and fractured. As their old feud is once again rekindled, she is inexorably tied to Elspeth, who now carries an ancient vampiric power within her. The two are quickly swept up into a tangle of bloodlust and sorcery after the fraught transformation—realizing that matters of the heart are complicated, especially in undeath.

While something sinister gathers in the shadows of their quiet town, they are pulled deeper into a world of curses and magic, dark dealings and betrayal. But Elspeth and Morrigan soon learn that all power must come with a price, for curses are not so easily broken.

ONCE UPON A DARK OCTOBER is an adult sapphic reimagining of Cinderella with a vampiric twist on other classic fairytale tropes. Perfect for fans of CARMILLA, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, and DRACULA.

Genres: Lesbian, Fantasy, Vampires, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Paranormal

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2024

About the author

Jessie hails from the land of chicken wings and snow, otherwise known as Buffalo, NY. She's an indie author who writes historical fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance.

Jessie earned a B.A. in Television and Film Arts at SUNY Buffalo State, where her full-length screenplay, POST MORTEM, was nominated for the Michael Collyer Fellowship Award in Screenwriting from the Writer’s Guild of America, East.

When she isn't writing, Jessie enjoys reading, watching and analyzing her favorite TV shows, discussing fictional characters, eating ice cream, and spending time with her pets.

Reviews

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus)]

Putting this on pause for now, it's just not grabbing me right now. I hate when this happens with an arc.

Nah me adding another sapphic vampiric romantasy to my October tbr. Hopefully it serves! 🤞 😍🎃🐈‍⬛

╰⪼ 🩸Blood Magic
╰⪼ 🦇Dark Curses
╰⪼ 🖤Who Did This to You?
╰⪼ 🩸Shape-Shifting
╰⪼ 🦇Rival Vampire Covens
╰⪼ 🖤Dreary Gothic Setting
╰⪼ 🩸Fairytale Reimagining
╰⪼ 🦇Angsty ✘ Swoony
╰⪼ 🖤Sapphic

Expected Release Date - 10/31/24

Many thanks to Book Sirens and Jessie Thomas for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts are my own. 🎃

[Brend · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this with a good feeling because it has most of my favorite things:
Lesbians! Dark! Fantasy! Vampires! Curses! Yeah!

But i couldn't stand the way the story was structured and told. Like a friend who spends too much time talking about what they did on their way to work, when the story they were supposed to be sharing was entirely set at the office has nothing to do with that interaction they had with the barista at 8am.

Way too much information was given to us as dialogue, all at the same time while it stopped the story from going somewhere. I felt nothing towards the characters and even less (if possible) about their relationships.

Disappointed.

[Sober Decay · Rating 4 out of 5]

(NOT an ARC Reader or a lesbian) Recommended for our book club! This is a slow to medium paced novel so take your time! It takes patience. Very descriptive settings put you right in the scene. Lovely characters and a great plot and well written. There’s a few powerful moments I’ve captured and will take with me and no, it’s not the bat scene 🫣😏

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this novel. I have been on a bit of a vampire kick as its spooky season, and I think this was one of the best ones I have read. If you like vampires then this is a must-read that used that whole dynamic very well. If you don’t particularly love vampires though I would still recommend this because it somehow also doesn’t get too hung up on the vampire part. Hard to describe; its obviously a major part of the novel but it doesn’t go too hard on the fantasy elements, just the right amount. It is, simply put, very well written, detailed, balanced, sweet, and spicy. This succeeds as a fantasy novel, and as a romance, and you could probably call it a thriller or action novel as well if you really wanted to.

My Rating: "A"
GoodReads: 5-stars

Highlights:
-The writing! The writing was vivid, and I could feel like I really saw the setting, the harbor, the manor. It was also fun, not just the novel but the writing itself. The aesthetic of this novel was excellent.
-This novel was well balanced. There was a lot of plot and character, but also lots of spicy content, plenty of romance and relationship angst, and also worldbuilding that felt complete and detailed. Emotionally it was balanced as well with parts that were funny, sad, heartwarming, suspenseful, and action-packed!
-The protagonists were so sweet together. Regardless of the supernatural elements and motivations, this was an incredibly supportive and caring relationship and they were simply adorable.
-The spice. It was nice. This was one of the best spicy vampire novels I have read. The author used the vampire angle nicely to lead into and maintain the steamy content (which was plentiful despite how much actual plot and action took place as well).
-This was a longer novel (for me) but it never felt like it dragged to me, I would say there were not any lulls in the pacing at all! This is the mark of good writing and a compelling novel!
-The author made me ok with insta-love for this novel. I usually hate it, and it was on full display here, but they actually made it work. I can’t say more without spoilers, but ill just say it was a pleasant surprise!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kate C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am 100 pages in more or less and I am really so impressed with the writing, the world building, the pacing, and the spice! I love reading and I read a lot of books, but books that are this well written are rare and truly feel like a treat. Even the intimate scenes are poetically written like damn. I will update more as I read.

Super spooky season vibes and aesthetic

“‘Are we scheming, then?’…’Oh, I love it when our coven starts scheming!’”

“If you cannot find the strength within yourself, you can find it within me.” -this has to be one of the most romantic sentences I’ve ever read

I’m not sure if this was intentional but I found quite a few interesting twists or little features from fairytales, not big enough to detract from the story as it was but just enough to make you wonder if it’s intentional

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and I have to say it was absolutely stunning.

The atmosphere is incredibly immersive and sucks you in from the first page. The depth, darkness, and emotions that are found not just in the world, but in each character are amazing.

Morrigan and Elspeth relationship development is beautiful and the ending truly had me stressed out with their outcome. I will always attempt to keep reviews spoiler free, but the last 50 pages prior to the epilogue of this story had me in a choke hold.

Overall, this story was an amazing story about the trials that come with power, love, and immortality all wrapped up in a beautiful sapphic romance.

[Talli Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book!!
ONCE UPON A DARK OCTOBER is everything I love in a vampire book. The gothic vibes are simply exquisite, placing me vividly in the chilly setting of Dreadmist Harbor. The characters are at once endearing and intriguing, and tbh I was swooning over Morrigan right alongside Elspeth.

I don’t usually love fairy tale retellings, but this one was the most unique take on Cinderella that I’ve ever seen, and it worked incredibly well. It’s more inspired-by than a retelling of the story, and it was fun to spot all the easter eggs referring to the original tale. Classic fairy tale elements, interesting vampire lore, and heart-stopping romance made for an engaging, heart-wrenching, and addictive story.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This was really good! The writing is fantastic. So atmospheric and moody. The plot was great and had some really great plot reveals and twists along the way. All of that was well done.

My main gripe with this book is that I honestly couldn't connect with the main characters Morrigan and Elspeth. This book is well over 400 pages and neither of them grew on me by the end which is unfortunate as I'm a character driven kind of reader. Neither were annoying or anything like that but they both felt so flat. The romance between them was fine, very insta but this is a vampire romance so that didn't bother me. The spice was great though. I just wanted more from them as individuals, any type of personality or dimension but that's just me. I honestly liked a lot of the side characters way more and I wouldn't mind following some of them on their own adventures. Overall, I did really enjoy this off of the strength of the addictive plot but the main characters left a lot to be desired. I'd definitely read something else by this author though because again the writing was damn good.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Lesbians, lesbians, lesbians!!!!

Genuinely loved the way this book was written. It felt very spooky and moody in the best way. I absolutely adored the characters.

The plot was really interesting too and I was sad to see it end.

I did however not care that much for the romance. I don't really care much for the insta-love trope, even though they ended up quite cute together. I'm also not the biggest fan of smut (apparently even sapphic smut), so the first like 33% of the book dragged on a bit for me. After that it really picked up plot-wise and got so much better.

I'd definitely recommend this book and it was a nice october read.

Thank you to Booksirens and the publisher for this free e-ARC.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The details of the characters and surroundings made it easy to picture what I was reading. The journey was great. I finished in one day.

[Chelsea Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: ITS HERE!! RELEASE DAY! And omg I am devouring this story all over again. It's so perfect for spooky season. The atmosphere, the characters. Chef's kiss and well done!


Jessie is a fantastic writer. I love all her work and was fortunate enough to see her put this together. It's such a beautiful awesome story. You don't want to miss this one. 💜💜💜💜💜

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.9/3

"Even if something looks beautiful from the outside, it might be hiding rot at its core."

[Stephieloohoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book.

Jessie’s prose is really nice. She writes in a way that’s older and poetic by not overwhelming. It’s really beautiful. This is now one of my favorite vampire novels.

I absolutely loved every MC and coven mate in this book.

Morrigan is my absolute favorite. She is so tender and sweet and fierce. She’s perfect in my eyes. The love and duty she has for Jo, Gwen, Elpeth and Clarabella is special. She’s been around for a very long time but still struggles with a lot of the betrayal (who wouldn’t) and she gains strength from Ella.

Elspeth is amazing. She took on her new life with so much hope and child like wonder. The way she knew she needed Morrigan’s love closeness was appreciated. I liked at times she was unsure or insecure and Mor pushed those doubts away quickly.

Jo, Bella, and Gwen are such fun characters. You really feel as though you know them and the curses placed on each is heartbreaking, but it doesn’t stop them from giving their all to finding a cure and supporting one another.

Something refreshing with this story is all of the subtle sweetness shown in hand holding. Sexual and romantic tension is primarily carried out by light brushes or shoulder grips or arm grabbing. But the way Morrigan and Elspeth always want to show affection and being near each other by slipping their hands together, almost subconsciously, is so sweet.

My only “critique” is (and this is something with me personally and I know it) when Morrigan essentially told Elspeth she knew she was falling in love with her nothing else was stated for a while in the book. And toward the end Mor tells Ella she loves and she doesn’t say it back (but doesn’t completely ignore it) bummed me out a little. Again this is a me thing.

This book hooked me almost immediately, which hasn’t happened in a couple of months. It’s not a story you should pass on.

Vampires, blood sorcery, curses, schemes, sexy sapphic spice oh and some things happen with a bat.

5/5

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you know me, you know how excited I get about new sapphic vampire books!

I have mixed feelings about this book; there were aspects I really liked and aspects I didn't. To start with the things I liked: the first chapter blew me away with its atmospheric writing. I immediately loved the setting and the vibes of the book. There were more beautiful descriptions throughout the book and though I wished for even more, the descriptions that were there were very nice to read.
I also loved the concept of a queer female vampire coven that has so much love for one another and supports each other no matter what. It sounded very sweet.

I would have wished the characters had more depth, as I found it hard to relate to them. Their backgrounds, desires and motivations seemed a bit simple, which made the story less engaging to read. I found myself having a hard time focusing on the story at times, because I did not feel connected to the main character.
I also personally don't like the instalove trope. I would have liked the main relationship to have had some more build-up, or at least some insecurity or challenges to overcome. It's (again) harder to relate to a relationship where everything is amazing and goes smoothly.

So if you like the instalove trope, I'd still recommend it! It just wasn't completely for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Dreadmist Harbor, where mortals and vampires coexist peacefully, Elspeth, a down-on-her-luck charwoman, is targeted by a rogue vampire, breaking the harmony. She seeks help from a reclusive vampire coven led by Morrigan but is bitten before reaching them. Morrigan and her coven are haunted by a rivalry that has fractured them, and Elspeth now carries an ancient vampiric power within her. Drawn into a world of curses, bloodlust, and sorcery, they realize that matters of the heart are complicated, especially in undeath. As something sinister looms, they must navigate a world of betrayal and dark dealings, learning that all power comes with a price, and curses are not easily broken.

When I saw this arc on Booksirens, I jumped at the chance to read it! I thought as a reader it checked a lot of boxes I find myself drawn to! The cover is stunning and the writing matches! Plus, I read this in the month of October and it really set the tone for the spooky season. I think some of the scenes in this book were so good and steamy (where are my pants?) I enjoyed that this is an LGBTQ book because I don’t really see a large amount of books in this genre with these themes. I just really loved this book and it was such a good spooky season read!

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“People often can’t see beyond their own comfort… until that comfort is ripped away.”

“Once Upon a Dark October,” by Jessie Thomas

What I liked:
-Very Halloween and spooky but it a very aesthetic autumn cottage core type of way.
-Liked the vampire story, perfect for the spooky season.
-It was sweet, poetic, and comforting.
-Liked the romance F/F aspect, they were a good match for each other.
-The cover is stunning!

I really liked this book, and it was one of the best sapphic books I’ve read. 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Booksirens.

-Vampires
-F/F
-Sapphic
-Gothic
-Horror

“Once you make room in your heart for someone, they often stay there. No matter how much time has passed.”

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the strong female characters throughout the story.
I've not read many standalones and found it really satisfying as a complete story (though I would be interested if led to future stories).
It gave me hocus pocus / bedknobs and broomsticks vibes but adult and with just the right amount of spice.
I would definitely recommend this to friends; though with sufficient trigger warnings for some of the content. There was one element that I didn't expect.
One of my favourite things about this book was the descriptive writing that really made me feel immersed in the world.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Keri]

Really wanted to finish this since the writing was pretty decent, but I’m not built for insta-love/insta-lust. Like 2 smut scenes within the first 13%? And the book is 400+ pages? I had to tap out

BUT if you don’t mind instalove and are looking for a super smutty sapphic vampiric time, you should def check out this book!

[Sarah McKnight]

DNF (at least for now) around 50%

Don't get me wrong, I like the characters and the overall story, but the pacing has been far too slow for me. I've had a hard time focusing on the story. The writing is beautiful and descriptive, but sadly it's just not enough to keep me engaged. I may pick it up again someday.

[Aislynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s like no men, it’s so gay, and they’re vampires!! The main characters are so fun, and you get to see the grow so much. I loved it💖

[Venez Ordoyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girl gets attacked on the pier and brought to vampires to heal her. She chooses to save her life by becoming a vampire. Falls for her maker all to find out they in the middle of a war with her sisters coven. Sister is vampire/demon. They fight off and on throughout the book and the spice is nice. And then the grand plan on blood moon night comes and they all are about to die trying to kill Sonia. Morrigan does die and offers her heart to elli to give her the boost she needs to kill her. She kills Sonia and steals her heart and force feeds it to Morrigan in hopes it will bring her back. It works and she becomes vampire queen and they live happily ever after

[Mathilda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this well enough, mostly because it has gay vampires, an interesting start and a nice ending.

But it also has a relatively uninspired fantasy world, that nonetheless takes up a lot of the exposition. An insta lovey romance, which mostly gets going because they are both horny for each other. Which might be fine for fantasy, but I do expect a bit more from romantasy. The middle of the book dragged a lot as well. A whole lot of nothing happened for a while.

[Rin Varga · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She'd made me hers again with nearly all of Dreadmist to bear witness. Revealed herself to her enemy with a kiss."

{I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.}

Overall 3.5 stars
I had SUCH high hopes for this book, and it initially sucked me in completely in the beginning!! It has amazing atmosphere, beautiful prose, a haunting yet charming Victorian seaside setting, excellent consensual spicy scenes, a dashing love interest who wears trousers and waistcoats...I was absolutely swooning over the beginning!

As a lesbian reader always looking for more sapphic characters and relationships, I was more than delighted to see that the entire main cast is sapphic in some way, and the spicy scenes were well written and satisfied my "sexy vampire lesbians" craving, lol! Despite the insta-love between Elspeth and Morrigan—and the ongoing question in Elspeth's mind if their relationship is the foundation of something lasting or a fragile frivolity—the tenderness and compassion that not just Morrigan but her entire coven shows towards Elspeth was something I appreciated throughout the story.

Unfortunately, the plot and the main relationship eventually fell a little flat for me, so as someone who sometimes reads for character-driven narratives and sometimes for intriguing plots, I was a bit disappointed on both accounts. We know from the beginning what is being set up for us as the finale between the rival covens without too many twists or turns outside the preparations and execution. What's more, even if Morrigan and Elspeth are ADORABLE and want to prove their resolve to protect one another, I didn't feel there was much substance or growth to their characters or their relationship. Morrigan was constantly over-protective and self-sacrificing without completely opening up to Elspeth, and Elspeth becomes frustrated that Morrigan won't trust her more and is willing to put all the burden on herself rather than teaching Elspeth how to share their fate which is inevitably intertwined anyway as blood sorcerers.

I was honestly far more interested in the premise of their other coven-mate's relationships: the blood alchemist Josephine married to the resident banshee who's spent half of her relationship with her wife separated by the veil, and Gwen whose sunny disposition hides her deep sorrow at what's preventing her from being close with those she loves to protect them from a poisonous curse. Their backstories are tragic, their love stories are terribly romantic, and there are high stakes that depend on the success of their mission that the main pairing just can't match.

This was ultimately a very beautifully written, deliciously sapphic, wonderfully atmospheric (if a bit predictable) story that was only slightly deprived of some of its potential to be a more romantic, edge-of-your-seat vampire tale of found family, love that outlasts death, and the strength of women coming together and relying on one another's power to overcome the odds.

[Skylar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely very surprised (in a great way) by the writing and storytelling within this book. The way the author describes the scenery, the appearances, the events, and characters is detailed and intricate and really helps the reader visualize the story as they read!

I also greatly appreciate that the book is more than just a "adult romance" book, there is a genuinely good story, the setting and tone is perfect for a dark fantasy/vampire theme and the romance scenes are very well written and I could tell that the author genuinely was/is passionate about this book and its characters.

There were many moments were I found myself holding my breath, or starting to tear up and feel just as the characters were! I felt a real, genuine connection with the MC, and thats not something that happens often with the books I read.

The love that the MC has for her vampire lover, is the kind of love and romance that I've always desired, so that also hits home and is a big plus in my book!

The author also did a rather great job at creating a fleshed out, interesting antagonist or rather coven of antagonists!

The only issue I had, is not an actual issue with the author or the book but just purely on my is that some words that were used were difficult to pronounce but thats just a "me" issue lol, but it was a great learning experience as well and helped broaden my vocabulary!

I know i've been vague with things but that's because im not really wanting to spoil anything about this book, as I want readers to go into it as spoilerless as possible and enjoy the book, the storytelling and the romance as I did, as I always find the best way to enjoy a book is spoiler free and knowing very little about it.

I love this book so much, that I genuinely binged it like there was no tomorrow; like I literally devoted multiple hours every day to just reading it, i had soft thematically appropriate lofi type music play, cups of tea and a warm blanket all ready for my reading time. I am beyond excited for the physical release of this book so I can hold it in my hands and not just scroll on my phone.

I had received an advanced review copy for free, and am completely leaving this review voluntarily. I do so because I love this book, and want to see it do well!

[Allison Ripley-Duggan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

Warning: Suitable for 18+ readers. It includes scenes that depict elements of war, battle, hand-to-hand combat, blood, violence, self-harm (blood-oath), injuries, death, death of friends, alcohol consumption, drug use (magical elixirs), mild bullying, manipulation, and spicy sexual activities that are shown on the page (female x female). Readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please be aware.

It was so enticing that I couldn’t put it down, this book grabbed my interest from the very first page. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what happened next. The story is well written with a very good storyline. This is an adult sapphic reimagining of Cinderella with a vampiric twist on other classic fairytale tropes. Perfect for fans of Carmilla, Interview With A Vampire, and Dracula. All curses made in blood must be broken with blood.

Dreadmist Harbor sleeps under a near-perpetual veil of coastal fog, home to mortals, vampires, and those somewhere in between. Already down-on-her-luck, mortal charwoman Elspeth finds herself the target of a rogue vampire, shattering the peaceful coexistence. Forced to seek help from a reclusive vampire coven, she barely makes it to their dreary seaside perch before she succumbs to the bite.

Morrigan and her coven are haunted by a bitter rivalry that has left them devastated and fractured. As their old feud is once again rekindled, she is inexorably tied to Elspeth, who now carries an ancient vampiric power within her. The two are quickly swept up into a tangle of bloodlust and sorcery after the fraught transformation, realizing that matters of the heart are complicated, especially in undeath.

While something sinister gathers in the shadows of their quiet town, they are pulled deeper into a world of curses and magic, dark dealings and betrayal, but Elspeth and Morrigan soon learn that all power must come with a price, for curses are not so easily broken. So with all that and more this story pulls you in and holds you tight. It’s a must read. I highly recommend to everyone.

[Nessie Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a Dark October is perfect read for the spooky Halloween season as it is filled with a wonderfully written atmospheric story that held a delightful gothic feel to it and the premise that a long old feud between two vampire covens is rekindled as a mysterious force working in the shadow is exhilarating to read.

I normally don’t read a lot of sapphic books, but when I was given the opportunity to ARC read for Jessie Thomas, I thought why not? After all, I’ve been trying to branch out into different genres I normally don’t read this year. And can I say wow, because holy cow it was an amazing read.

Everything about this book—from the riveting history of the two feuding vampire covens to the sweet and spicy romance—has made me obsess over the disheartening fact that I am not a vampire in Thomas’ spellbinding world. The word love cannot adequately describe just how much I adore this book. It is now everything to me, period.

While the romance between Morrigan and Elspeth is amazing, it is not what made me fall in love with this book. I fell in love with the way the plot grew the way a tiny little seedling blossomed into a beautiful, twisted black rose would. I felt drawn to the mystery of the mysterious sinister forces that hid in the dark of Dreadmist Harbor and how the two vampire covens vie for vengeance and victory over one another in the most clever and sneaky ways.

You might be wondering if I love this story as much as I do, why then did rate four stars? It’s mostly due to the fact that I’m not really a huge fan of instant-love tropes—unless there’s a well-written reason for it and I am convinced by it. With Elspeth being a newly made vampire at the merciful hand of Morrigan, I can understand why the love is instant and I can go along with it.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲! 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first.

I rate this book as 15/10.

I received a free ARC copy of this book. Prior to downloading it there was a warning that this book was over 500 pages long. Now, the length of a book has never been an issue to me except where a 300-page book has been stretched to be a long book that drags on and on. Now that is frustrating!

But this so not the case with Once Upon a Dark October.

This was so fast paced and thoroughly engaging that I did not notice the pages flying by. My only upset was that it ended.

The world that Jessie creates is so believable and easy to become a part of. A wonderful medieval/township/vampire theme runs throughout the story in this small-town story, that was so intriguing. The air of mystery is there from the beginning, as is the start of the action that will not stop to the end.

The romance between two of the FMC’s is dark, deep, and beautifully written.

The descriptive elements of the locations and characters within this book are beautifully created and it would be so easy to just close your eyes and visualise it all in your head.

This becomes an electric journey with a battle of good against evil, past against present, with greed, lust, treachery, manipulation, trust, love, friendship, mortals and immortals, and twisted characters’ all playing leading roles in this journey.

Your emotions will be taken on a roller coaster as you cheer, cry, hide and hope.

I found that once I started the book, it became almost impossible to put down until I had finished. Prepare to be grabbed and not let go till the end.

A great read. I cannot recommend this enough. It is fully engaging and a completely satisfying read.

[Leane · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Once Upon A Dark October' is wonderfully written with amazing world building, gothic atmospheric prose, and sapphic spice.

This is not a short read, but the twists, tension, and story elements come together very nicely to create a terrific reader journey.

Morrigan and Elspeth's relationship is a hot, dark, evolving, breathing entity that you can't help but root for as the story drags you along with them.

This book has everything I like, but as much as the story and Morrigan and Elspeth's relationship evolved, I felt that I still only knew them fairly superficially. I would have liked to have more depth to these main characters.

Aside from this, I enjoyed this book, and although this is the first book I've read by Jessie Thomas, it won't be the last.

If you love dark sapphic vampires, sorcery, horror, spice, and bloody tales, then this book is for you.

Please note that this book has CWs at the start due to this being a gothic horror romance, and readers should always put their own mental wellbeing and safety first.


*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*

[Angel Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fabulous. It gave a very magical feel yet also was gruesome and gory where it needed to be, since it is a vampire novel it felt very balanced. I hate when I read a vampire novel and it’s all rainbows and sunshine, vampires are complex creatures of lore and deserve to have the scary aspect as well. On the flip side this author did an amazing job showing the romance and relationship building between characters. Every vampire had a partner and they each had their own back stories, some of them were very tragic and creative. These backstories and past trauma also contribute to the resolution of conflict with the villian. I love how everything was interconnected and how certain curses actually helped them. The curses in this novel also are drawn from common vampire lore, such as transforming into bats and being unable to go into sunlight. I. Loved. That.

This book is spicy and has lesbian couples. Some very creative scenes there as well. Overall I highly recommend this book if you want a Halloween vibe, with strong character development, bloody scenes, and also scenes that have you on the edge of your seat.

[B.J. Sikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody, passionate, and beautifully written.
For fans of dark sapphic vampire romance, this book truly delivers.
The characters, including the side characters feel real, with doubts, insecurities and desires.
It's a brooding sort of book, perfectly Gothic, from the town's architecture to the overall mood.
Despite that there's a thread of hope running throughout.
And did I mention the gorgeous prose. It's almost poetic, just this side of purple but it works. You feel the icy wind off the ocean and the cosy warmth of the candles in carved pumpkins.
Just a warning for the squeamish, these are not delicate vampires nipping necks and taking little sips of blood; these vampires tear open throats and devour living hearts.