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Keep It in the Dark
In this unashamedly queer, supernatural romance, Justin Arnold, author of Wicked Little Things, challenges the institutions that have sidelined queer love to the shadows, and brings it into the light.
Rowan Young knew where his life was heading.
The headmaster’s son and golden boy of elite Vermont boarding school Mockingbird Prep, Rowan was set to inherit a legacy passed down through generations of forefathers.
Until a strange new student arrives to derail those plans.
Casper Belamy didn’t ask to be a vampire.
But now that he is one, all he wants is to travel the world looking for more of his kind.
Before he can do that, he must accomplish an impossible task set forth by his adoptive family of vampiric royals: prove he can keep their kind safe and finish high school without being discovered.
If controlling his thirst wasn’t hard enough, he is forced to share a dorm with the headmaster’s son. And despite their instant dislike for one another, Casper can’t ignore the mouth-wateringly delicious scent of Rowan’s blood.
When bitter fights become late night rendez-vous, forbidden romance blossoms in the shadows. Facing a fearful world that would rather they stay hidden, Rowan and Casper contend with an onslaught of troubles: Rowan’s father is breathing down his neck, the safety of Casper’s new-found family is on his shoulders, and a secret society of slayers threatens to destroy everything.
Rowan Young knew where his life was heading.
The headmaster’s son and golden boy of elite Vermont boarding school Mockingbird Prep, Rowan was set to inherit a legacy passed down through generations of forefathers.
Until a strange new student arrives to derail those plans.
Casper Belamy didn’t ask to be a vampire.
But now that he is one, all he wants is to travel the world looking for more of his kind.
Before he can do that, he must accomplish an impossible task set forth by his adoptive family of vampiric royals: prove he can keep their kind safe and finish high school without being discovered.
If controlling his thirst wasn’t hard enough, he is forced to share a dorm with the headmaster’s son. And despite their instant dislike for one another, Casper can’t ignore the mouth-wateringly delicious scent of Rowan’s blood.
When bitter fights become late night rendez-vous, forbidden romance blossoms in the shadows. Facing a fearful world that would rather they stay hidden, Rowan and Casper contend with an onslaught of troubles: Rowan’s father is breathing down his neck, the safety of Casper’s new-found family is on his shoulders, and a secret society of slayers threatens to destroy everything.
306 pages, Paperback
Published December 3, 2024
26 people are currently reading
985 people want to read
About the author
Justin Arnold
3 books51 followersJustin Arnold is the author of gay fiction including Wicked Little Things, The Prince and The Puppet Thief: A Gay Fairytale, and Keep It In The Dark. He is also the twisted mind behind The NoSleep Podcast season 18 feature episode Haunter's Game. Before fiction, Justin reimagined numerous classics such as Anne of Green Gables, Cinderella, and The Snow Queen for stage, and his plays are performed by schools and community organizations internationally each year. When not writing, he serves as CEO and co-founder of Triple Crown Theater Group, the first community theater of its kind in his hometown. He lives in the bluegrass region of Kentucky with a cat named Evie and Huckleberry, a wild raccoon who Justin foolishly feeds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
December 14, 2024
2.75*
Rep: gay MCs, sapphic side characters, achillean side character
Good idea, bad execution.
I think this book was trying to be too complicated. Making Casper a whole damn royalty of the vampires was over the top. It would have been better if his family was just some old rich aristocrats from the Middle Ages or something along the lines. But making vampires have a whole damn monarchy implies they have - if not a country - then at least their own culture and history figure, ect. - which they don't. The author just wanted to make Casper extra special and play the metaphor of him being different.
I also think the word 'subtle' doesn't exist in the author's dictionary. It was VERY obvious being a vampire is a metaphor for being gay. I think the author should have removed homophobia from his world entirely and left their problems just be about vampirerism. This not only would have made the metaphor stronger, but also would have made the narrative flow better (+ get all the unnecessary complications I mentioned above removed). It's not that what the author wanted to do here can't work - it's that the author (currently) doesn't have the skill to do it well.
The writing itself was below average. I'll give credit where credit is due and say at least it was readable. I read 60% in one sitting and if I didn't have to get up early the next morning, I'd have finished it in one sitting. But this is where the good end. I feel like I'm reading off a script at this point but the dual POV wasn't distinctive enough. And it was written in first person which I think requires skill that the author just don't have currently.
The prose itself was very unemotve. When they kissed, when stuff was reveled, the blood-drinking, their dilemmas - I didn't feel them. All these moments fell flat, leaving almost no impression. If they were better written, the emotions would hit home very well.
Another thing - there were moments when the breaks withing a chapter came too suddenly. The author doesn't know where to stop and where to continue. It distributed the flow a bit and serval times I felt like I missed a page or two.
For the characters - I don't have much to say. Capser and Rowan were alright-ish, mostly victims to bad writing. I didn't like Casper's family very much. They weren't flashed out well but they also just don't have likeable personalities for me. Everyone is pretty much one dimensional, nothing special to see here.
All in all, fast read that probably would have benefited from more editing. Despite everything I said, I read it in less than 24 hours - and I was intrigued by the plot. I mean, ngl I probably read so much of it so fast is because I wanted to get to the moment when they kiss - but it just ended up anticlimactic because of the writing. Honestly and genuinely - this is a good concept, just with bad performance.
Rep: gay MCs, sapphic side characters, achillean side character
Good idea, bad execution.
I think this book was trying to be too complicated. Making Casper a whole damn royalty of the vampires was over the top. It would have been better if his family was just some old rich aristocrats from the Middle Ages or something along the lines. But making vampires have a whole damn monarchy implies they have - if not a country - then at least their own culture and history figure, ect. - which they don't. The author just wanted to make Casper extra special and play the metaphor of him being different.
I also think the word 'subtle' doesn't exist in the author's dictionary. It was VERY obvious being a vampire is a metaphor for being gay. I think the author should have removed homophobia from his world entirely and left their problems just be about vampirerism. This not only would have made the metaphor stronger, but also would have made the narrative flow better (+ get all the unnecessary complications I mentioned above removed). It's not that what the author wanted to do here can't work - it's that the author (currently) doesn't have the skill to do it well.
The writing itself was below average. I'll give credit where credit is due and say at least it was readable. I read 60% in one sitting and if I didn't have to get up early the next morning, I'd have finished it in one sitting. But this is where the good end. I feel like I'm reading off a script at this point but the dual POV wasn't distinctive enough. And it was written in first person which I think requires skill that the author just don't have currently.
The prose itself was very unemotve. When they kissed, when stuff was reveled, the blood-drinking, their dilemmas - I didn't feel them. All these moments fell flat, leaving almost no impression. If they were better written, the emotions would hit home very well.
Another thing - there were moments when the breaks withing a chapter came too suddenly. The author doesn't know where to stop and where to continue. It distributed the flow a bit and serval times I felt like I missed a page or two.
For the characters - I don't have much to say. Capser and Rowan were alright-ish, mostly victims to bad writing. I didn't like Casper's family very much. They weren't flashed out well but they also just don't have likeable personalities for me. Everyone is pretty much one dimensional, nothing special to see here.
All in all, fast read that probably would have benefited from more editing. Despite everything I said, I read it in less than 24 hours - and I was intrigued by the plot. I mean, ngl I probably read so much of it so fast is because I wanted to get to the moment when they kiss - but it just ended up anticlimactic because of the writing. Honestly and genuinely - this is a good concept, just with bad performance.
December 3, 2024
Featuring an uppity boarding school, teen angst and discovery, a queer enemies to lovers story, vampire royalty, and vampire/slayer lore, Keep It In the Dark is a beautiful blending of genres all wrapped up in a supernatural YA.
December 2, 2024
Love. Love. Love. LOVE! 4.5 ⭐️
Ive moved away from a lot of YA but when the opportunity for an ARC came up for this, I was so intrigued that I had to apply.
The Tiny Ghost marketing gave me a bit of an idea of what to expect but honestly, I was so pleasantly surprised!! Its like if Carry on by Rainbow Rowell and The Addams Family had a baby…It would be this book!!
Rowan and Casper were adorable. I loved watching them grow into themselves while also navigating their relationship (as well as the secret society plot twist). The climax didnt quite hit as well as Id have liked, with a lot of build up and then not an equal BANG! But the overall story, and writing and characters are an absolute delight.
Id definitely be keen on reading more from Justin Arnold in the future, and recommend this to everyone who’s after a Vampire x Human coming-of-age/coming out story, with mysterious secret societies and a very Golden Retriever/Black Cat couple dynamic.
Greatful to have recieved an ARC copy for review 👏🏻 Thoughts are honest and my own.
Ive moved away from a lot of YA but when the opportunity for an ARC came up for this, I was so intrigued that I had to apply.
The Tiny Ghost marketing gave me a bit of an idea of what to expect but honestly, I was so pleasantly surprised!! Its like if Carry on by Rainbow Rowell and The Addams Family had a baby…It would be this book!!
Rowan and Casper were adorable. I loved watching them grow into themselves while also navigating their relationship (as well as the secret society plot twist). The climax didnt quite hit as well as Id have liked, with a lot of build up and then not an equal BANG! But the overall story, and writing and characters are an absolute delight.
Id definitely be keen on reading more from Justin Arnold in the future, and recommend this to everyone who’s after a Vampire x Human coming-of-age/coming out story, with mysterious secret societies and a very Golden Retriever/Black Cat couple dynamic.
Greatful to have recieved an ARC copy for review 👏🏻 Thoughts are honest and my own.
June 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this one! The roommates-that-hate-each-other-to-lovers pipeline has me in a death grip. The forced proximity? The dual POV to get both sides of the story? Yes, please! This is the perfect book for Buffy fans as we get the vampire x slayer dynamic. The vampire lore was fleshed out nicely, but I wish we'd gotten a little more info on the slayers as a whole. Regardless, I gave this one a 4.5 stars. It was dark, but not too dark. Definitely going to look into other books by this author.
Content warnings:
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Bullying, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Kidnapping, Deadnaming, Animal death, Cursing, Murder, and Sexual content
The animal death is brief, and only for the sake of Casper being able to feed and survive at school.
Content warnings:
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Bullying, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Kidnapping, Deadnaming, Animal death, Cursing, Murder, and Sexual content
The animal death is brief, and only for the sake of Casper being able to feed and survive at school.
Want to read
September 16, 2024so basically carry on
October 30, 2024
Un grand merci à Tiny Ghost Press et à l’auteur pour cet ARC et leur confiance.
Je n’avais pas ressenti ça pour un YA depuis Cemetery Boys! J’ai tellement eu plaisir à lire l’histoire de Rowan et Casper que je regrette qu’il ne s’agisse pas d’une série.
La plume de l’auteur est très agréable, les chapitres sont courts et la narration est légère. Et je salut la profondeur et la franchise des échanges entre les personnages que je rencontre dans peu de YA mais qui font toute la différence et leur richesse.
J’ai vu un commentaire sur Goodreads (de quelqu’un n’ayant même pas encore lu le livre) dire que c’était comme Carry On…
Carry On est plus un copié/collé de HP que Keep It In The Dark de Carry On.
La seule similitude réside dans le fait que deux étudiants partagent une chambre et que l’un d’eux est un vampire. C’est tout.
Et honnêtement il y a plus de vibes de la série Mercredi. Parce que Casper a basiquement été adopté par la famille Addams.😂
Au début du livre l’ambition de Rowan dans la vie est de reprendre le poste de son père en tant que directeur. Puis il rencontre Casper et alors (heureusement) tout déraille. J’ai trouvé mon compte d’action, d’émotions, d’une histoire bien construite avec du développement, du mystère, et des personnages secondaires d’enfer.
Ce livre est vraiment bon!
Ça m’a rappelé l’ambiance de mon adolescence, en pleine mode vampire.😂
La tension est palpable tout au long du livre😮💨🔥 et mes orteils se sont recroquevillés à chaque baiser échangé. Et bien sûr c’est un fade to black.😉
Mais la romance entre eux est tellement adorable: je parle ici d’acheter des livres comme love language📚♥️, de partager de fugaces coup d’œil et de longs baisers, des conversations franches sur n’importe quel sujet, et de sentir qu’on peut faire confiance à l’autre avec sa vie mais aussi ses peurs et ses fardeaux.
Aborder tant de choses avec autant de dextérité et que ce soit crédible pour des jeunes gens de cet âge est vraiment remarquable.
L’auteur nous fait entrevoir une toute nouvelle façon d’aborder le vampirisme. Loin du glamour de vivre pour toujours, et plus proche de ce que cela implique réellement.
J’adore tout particulièrement la manière dont Casper aborde la notion d’immortalité. Comme une infinité de chances de bien faire les choses, avoir tout le temps du monde pour se trouver, pour être qui il veut et à quel moment.
Le vampirisme est traduit ici comme une analogie pour les personnes LGBTQ+. Le message est très fort et également criant de vérité pour toutes les autres communautés marginalisées.
Rajoutez à cela des conversations sérieuses et ouvertes, et c’est le YA parfait!😩🤌✨
🧛♂️Young Adult (17/17)
🩸Dark academia
🧛♂️Enemies to Lovers
🩸Mystère
🧛♂️Jock/Nerd vibes
🩸2POVs
🧛♂️Found Family
🩸Amour défendu/relation secrète
🧛♂️Black cat/Golden retriever
TW/CW:
Homophobie, racisme/vampisme, lavage de cerveaux, coercition parentale.
Je n’avais pas ressenti ça pour un YA depuis Cemetery Boys! J’ai tellement eu plaisir à lire l’histoire de Rowan et Casper que je regrette qu’il ne s’agisse pas d’une série.
La plume de l’auteur est très agréable, les chapitres sont courts et la narration est légère. Et je salut la profondeur et la franchise des échanges entre les personnages que je rencontre dans peu de YA mais qui font toute la différence et leur richesse.
J’ai vu un commentaire sur Goodreads (de quelqu’un n’ayant même pas encore lu le livre) dire que c’était comme Carry On…
Carry On est plus un copié/collé de HP que Keep It In The Dark de Carry On.
La seule similitude réside dans le fait que deux étudiants partagent une chambre et que l’un d’eux est un vampire. C’est tout.
Et honnêtement il y a plus de vibes de la série Mercredi. Parce que Casper a basiquement été adopté par la famille Addams.😂
Au début du livre l’ambition de Rowan dans la vie est de reprendre le poste de son père en tant que directeur. Puis il rencontre Casper et alors (heureusement) tout déraille. J’ai trouvé mon compte d’action, d’émotions, d’une histoire bien construite avec du développement, du mystère, et des personnages secondaires d’enfer.
Ce livre est vraiment bon!
Ça m’a rappelé l’ambiance de mon adolescence, en pleine mode vampire.😂
La tension est palpable tout au long du livre😮💨🔥 et mes orteils se sont recroquevillés à chaque baiser échangé. Et bien sûr c’est un fade to black.😉
Mais la romance entre eux est tellement adorable: je parle ici d’acheter des livres comme love language📚♥️, de partager de fugaces coup d’œil et de longs baisers, des conversations franches sur n’importe quel sujet, et de sentir qu’on peut faire confiance à l’autre avec sa vie mais aussi ses peurs et ses fardeaux.
Aborder tant de choses avec autant de dextérité et que ce soit crédible pour des jeunes gens de cet âge est vraiment remarquable.
L’auteur nous fait entrevoir une toute nouvelle façon d’aborder le vampirisme. Loin du glamour de vivre pour toujours, et plus proche de ce que cela implique réellement.
J’adore tout particulièrement la manière dont Casper aborde la notion d’immortalité. Comme une infinité de chances de bien faire les choses, avoir tout le temps du monde pour se trouver, pour être qui il veut et à quel moment.
Le vampirisme est traduit ici comme une analogie pour les personnes LGBTQ+. Le message est très fort et également criant de vérité pour toutes les autres communautés marginalisées.
Rajoutez à cela des conversations sérieuses et ouvertes, et c’est le YA parfait!😩🤌✨
🧛♂️Young Adult (17/17)
🩸Dark academia
🧛♂️Enemies to Lovers
🩸Mystère
🧛♂️Jock/Nerd vibes
🩸2POVs
🧛♂️Found Family
🩸Amour défendu/relation secrète
🧛♂️Black cat/Golden retriever
TW/CW:
Homophobie, racisme/vampisme, lavage de cerveaux, coercition parentale.
December 14, 2024
A Captivating Paranormal Romance!
"Keep it in the Dark" by Justin Arnold is an absolute showstopper! This enemies-to-lovers, high school boarding school romance, infused with paranormal suspense, has left me breathless.
Rowan and Casper's story is expertly woven, with well-developed characters, a gripping plotline, and a secret society that adds an extra layer of intrigue. The forbidden romance between a vampire and a slayer's son simmers with tension, making their late-night rendezvous utterly captivating.
Arnold's writing masterfully balances suspense, thriller elements, and heartfelt moments, creating a page-turning experience. The world-building is rich, with a unique take on vampire lore.
One of the best books of the year, "Keep it in the Dark" has left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. If you're a fan of paranormal romance, enemies-to-lovers, or secret societies, this is a must-read!
"Keep it in the Dark" by Justin Arnold is an absolute showstopper! This enemies-to-lovers, high school boarding school romance, infused with paranormal suspense, has left me breathless.
Rowan and Casper's story is expertly woven, with well-developed characters, a gripping plotline, and a secret society that adds an extra layer of intrigue. The forbidden romance between a vampire and a slayer's son simmers with tension, making their late-night rendezvous utterly captivating.
Arnold's writing masterfully balances suspense, thriller elements, and heartfelt moments, creating a page-turning experience. The world-building is rich, with a unique take on vampire lore.
One of the best books of the year, "Keep it in the Dark" has left me eagerly anticipating the next installment. If you're a fan of paranormal romance, enemies-to-lovers, or secret societies, this is a must-read!
December 29, 2024
This was my first queer vampire book, and it did not disappoint. As someone who’s always been drawn to vampire stories, I appreciated how this one handled vampire lore. Instead of overwhelming the reader with a big info dump at the beginning, the details about what these vampires can and can’t do were subtly woven throughout the story, which was a refreshing approach. At its core, this is an enemies-to-roommates-to-lovers tale, and the dynamic between the main characters was compelling. Both protagonists were equally engaging, which is rare for me, as I usually find myself gravitating toward just one. Their individual journeys added depth and kept me hooked from start to finish.
October 10, 2025
between 3.5 and 4 i think? book is not even 300 pages so i expected it to be fast paced, yet i felt like it was a little too fast maybe? could've done with a couple more pages so that things wouldn't be moving so fast. especially towards the ending it felt super rushed. would've loved to see the things happening there be explored more. i think it would've hit a lot more if only more time was taken for it. overall i did like the story, i was very engaged. loved the couple, rooted for them the whole time.
December 3, 2024
Eeesh, imagine having to come out as gay AND a vampire. I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story with a supernatural twist.
I found the vamp/gay parallels charming if a bit direct. I also liked the vamp/slayer lore. This book is full of tongue-in-cheek references to popular vampire media. I'm feeling nostalgic for some of my favorite YA vampire series growing up.
Thanks so much to Tiny Ghost Press for the chance to check this book out for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
I found the vamp/gay parallels charming if a bit direct. I also liked the vamp/slayer lore. This book is full of tongue-in-cheek references to popular vampire media. I'm feeling nostalgic for some of my favorite YA vampire series growing up.
Thanks so much to Tiny Ghost Press for the chance to check this book out for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
October 26, 2024
4.5
I received a DRC for this book from Tiny Ghost Press and the author. Thank you for the opportunity!
This was a great kind of enemies-to-lovers, secret society against vampires romance, but also the addition of the school banning vampire books really touched on the all too true problem of book bans being out of control in real life. Bravo to Justin Arnold for writing a book with such relevant real life issues, and making it an enjoyable story with a happy ending.
I received a DRC for this book from Tiny Ghost Press and the author. Thank you for the opportunity!
This was a great kind of enemies-to-lovers, secret society against vampires romance, but also the addition of the school banning vampire books really touched on the all too true problem of book bans being out of control in real life. Bravo to Justin Arnold for writing a book with such relevant real life issues, and making it an enjoyable story with a happy ending.
November 29, 2024
3.5 stars. Had some thoughts about the ending but overall enjoyed it
October 27, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. The will they won't they, enemies to couple was very well done. I laughed reading the book so much. I also enjoyed the sweet moments between Casper and rowan. The dual pocs were really well done. I could not put this book down. I will definitely be recommending this book.
February 9, 2025
Justin Arnold’s Keep It In The Dark swept me off my feet with its perfect blend of humor, heart, and supernatural intrigue. Set in the elite Mockingbird Prep boarding school, steeped in a legacy of vampires and slayers, the story follows Rowan Young, the sunny golden boy, and Casper Belamy, the grumpy vampire struggling to stay hidden. Their rivals-to-lovers romance is brimming with tension and charm, featuring such sharp and hilarious banter that I couldn’t stop smiling.
Rowan and Casper’s relationship had me hooked from the start. Their sunshine-versus-grumpy dynamic was both endearing and electric, and their chemistry leaped off the page. The stakes of their forbidden love—rooted not just in their queerness but in Casper’s vampirism—added a poignant layer of realism. I was particularly moved by the societal parallels Arnold draws, such as the banning of vampire literature and attempts to erase Casper’s existence, which deeply resonate with real-world challenges faced by queer communities. Watching Rowan and Casper navigate this oppressive world while finding strength in each other was both heartbreaking and uplifting.
Arnold’s world-building and character development are simply exceptional. The elite school setting, with its secrets and traditions, felt immersive, while Rowan and Casper were so relatable and lovable that I found myself rooting for their happiness with all my heart. The pacing was perfect—I devoured this book in record time, unable to put it down. Keep It In The Dark is not only an addictive supernatural romance but also a powerful exploration of love’s resilience against the forces that seek to keep it in the shadows. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves queer romance with depth, wit, and a lot of heart.
Rowan and Casper’s relationship had me hooked from the start. Their sunshine-versus-grumpy dynamic was both endearing and electric, and their chemistry leaped off the page. The stakes of their forbidden love—rooted not just in their queerness but in Casper’s vampirism—added a poignant layer of realism. I was particularly moved by the societal parallels Arnold draws, such as the banning of vampire literature and attempts to erase Casper’s existence, which deeply resonate with real-world challenges faced by queer communities. Watching Rowan and Casper navigate this oppressive world while finding strength in each other was both heartbreaking and uplifting.
Arnold’s world-building and character development are simply exceptional. The elite school setting, with its secrets and traditions, felt immersive, while Rowan and Casper were so relatable and lovable that I found myself rooting for their happiness with all my heart. The pacing was perfect—I devoured this book in record time, unable to put it down. Keep It In The Dark is not only an addictive supernatural romance but also a powerful exploration of love’s resilience against the forces that seek to keep it in the shadows. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves queer romance with depth, wit, and a lot of heart.
October 26, 2024
Oh man, I REALLY don’t want to come across as critical or nitpicky. (I mean I REALLY don’t.) There’s just a lot of little things that added up.
First, I couldn’t shake the fast-paced feeling I had the entire book. This story is around 280 pages I think, but I feel like it could’ve been longer - at least to 300 pages. I wanted more descriptions of the characters/environments. Above all, I wished the characters had taken more time to process things instead of just moving on.
With Casper’s backstory, I’m still a little confused. I get he was in an orphanage, which is where he shared a birthday with another kid, but the Mr. kyle thing was a bit hazy. I got the impression he was like the headmaster(?), but there could be a seriously loose implication that he was abusing them (psychologically for sure but unclear if there was physical). The turning scene worked but I don’t know if it was the disjointedness of how the memories came back to Casper that muddled the series of events the day he was turned (for me).
The mystery of the branches and the secret society/cult thing was neat! I loved the suspense and little “gifts” left for Casper and Rowan! …But then it was kind of shattered when Rowan discovered Diego was part of the society. I really wish the mystery had lasted longer.
Other little things that bothered me:
- Four different couples were a human-vampire combo, two of which were slayer-vampire combos
- I couldn’t tell you, between Sophie and Dakota, who was who.
- Why did the setup for the backstory of how Mr. Abadi and Scarlett’s significant others feel the same? (i.e. getting one or both MCs alone, some kind of pause, monologing the account)
- The musical just didn’t feel necessary at all. I wasn’t engaged in those scenes. Speaking of, Rowan was just let into the class and no one questioned it?? Not his dad, the fencing team - no one? Wouldn’t that have been suspicious? Also, how incompetent are vampires in fighting, especially Oscar the BODYGUARD, where Casper AND Rowan were kidnapped?
I have so many little questions! I feel like I’m ripping into the book but I don’t mean to. I’m genuinely curious (and confused) by some choices made by the author and characters.
First, I couldn’t shake the fast-paced feeling I had the entire book. This story is around 280 pages I think, but I feel like it could’ve been longer - at least to 300 pages. I wanted more descriptions of the characters/environments. Above all, I wished the characters had taken more time to process things instead of just moving on.
With Casper’s backstory, I’m still a little confused. I get he was in an orphanage, which is where he shared a birthday with another kid, but the Mr. kyle thing was a bit hazy. I got the impression he was like the headmaster(?), but there could be a seriously loose implication that he was abusing them (psychologically for sure but unclear if there was physical). The turning scene worked but I don’t know if it was the disjointedness of how the memories came back to Casper that muddled the series of events the day he was turned (for me).
The mystery of the branches and the secret society/cult thing was neat! I loved the suspense and little “gifts” left for Casper and Rowan! …But then it was kind of shattered when Rowan discovered Diego was part of the society. I really wish the mystery had lasted longer.
Other little things that bothered me:
- Four different couples were a human-vampire combo, two of which were slayer-vampire combos
- I couldn’t tell you, between Sophie and Dakota, who was who.
- Why did the setup for the backstory of how Mr. Abadi and Scarlett’s significant others feel the same? (i.e. getting one or both MCs alone, some kind of pause, monologing the account)
- The musical just didn’t feel necessary at all. I wasn’t engaged in those scenes. Speaking of, Rowan was just let into the class and no one questioned it?? Not his dad, the fencing team - no one? Wouldn’t that have been suspicious? Also, how incompetent are vampires in fighting, especially Oscar the BODYGUARD, where Casper AND Rowan were kidnapped?
I have so many little questions! I feel like I’m ripping into the book but I don’t mean to. I’m genuinely curious (and confused) by some choices made by the author and characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2024
This one is an absolute must-read for fans of YA Queer Vampires! (If you liked Carry On by Rainbow Rowell you’re gonna absolutely consume this, much SnowBaz energy!)
17 year old Rowan Young is in his final year at Mockingbird Prep School - the son of the headmaster, he’s always been the golden boy, top of his classes, captain of the fencing team and popular with all his peers. So when he’s assigned a roommate to is his complete opposite in every way, he’s furious… especially when that roommate starts stirring up feelings he’s been desperately trying to keep hidden.
Caspar Bellamy is a vampire prince; recently turned, he’s trying to get used to being a vampire whist battling the trauma of being a teenager. But being placed in the same room as popular jock Rowan is grating on his nerves… made worse because Rowan is the most delicious-smelling human he has ever met.
The two start off antagonising each other, but quickly realise that maybe they’re not so different after all. When Rowan starts getting strange threats and messages, he has to make a decision as to who he is and who he wants to grow into.
I loved the coming-of-age angst in this book! There were so many twists and turns and I loved both characters; they’re both trying to figure themselves out as well as keep their relationship hidden from forces that wish them harm.
Read Keep it in the Dark for:
✨ YA coming of age story
✨ Vampire x human
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Teenage angst
✨ Boarding school roommates
✨ Jocks vs theatre kids
✨ Mysterious secret society
✨ Showing your true colours
I was lucky enough to pick up an early copy of this book from the lovely guys at Tiny Ghost Press at YALC! This book is releasing on 3rd Dec 2024 💕
17 year old Rowan Young is in his final year at Mockingbird Prep School - the son of the headmaster, he’s always been the golden boy, top of his classes, captain of the fencing team and popular with all his peers. So when he’s assigned a roommate to is his complete opposite in every way, he’s furious… especially when that roommate starts stirring up feelings he’s been desperately trying to keep hidden.
Caspar Bellamy is a vampire prince; recently turned, he’s trying to get used to being a vampire whist battling the trauma of being a teenager. But being placed in the same room as popular jock Rowan is grating on his nerves… made worse because Rowan is the most delicious-smelling human he has ever met.
The two start off antagonising each other, but quickly realise that maybe they’re not so different after all. When Rowan starts getting strange threats and messages, he has to make a decision as to who he is and who he wants to grow into.
I loved the coming-of-age angst in this book! There were so many twists and turns and I loved both characters; they’re both trying to figure themselves out as well as keep their relationship hidden from forces that wish them harm.
Read Keep it in the Dark for:
✨ YA coming of age story
✨ Vampire x human
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Teenage angst
✨ Boarding school roommates
✨ Jocks vs theatre kids
✨ Mysterious secret society
✨ Showing your true colours
I was lucky enough to pick up an early copy of this book from the lovely guys at Tiny Ghost Press at YALC! This book is releasing on 3rd Dec 2024 💕
October 31, 2025
I like this book but I also had a long list of issues with it.
The writing, the dialogue, was stilted. This book tackled some hard topics like bullying, homophobia and grief. I wanted it to be deeper. With the dialogue being kinda clipped when those issues were discussed, I felt like I couldn’t really sympathize with what the characters went through. There wasn’t a character in it that I felt soft and mushy for.
I’m a details person, I need it to make sense. There were so many inconsistencies with this book:
When introduced to our vampire, Casper, it was written like the only issue he had with the sun was light sensitivity so he wore sunglasses. Later, it’s written that he is burned by the sunlight and that it can kill him. So how was he able to walk around in said sun the whole book?
It’s written that Casper’s skin is so cold, it feels like it’s burning you when you touch it. How is Rowan snuggling up to him without so much as a flinch? The cold apparently doesn’t affect Casper but then he needs mittens to keep his hands warm?
Finally, these are vampires. They are written to be super strong and fast, typical vampire abilities. Why is it that those vampire traits go flying right out the window when they are in actual danger? How are teenagers able to best you and tie you up with some rope? Boy, if you don’t gut them and pimp walk away! What the hell? I don’t feel like a human should ever be a match to a vampire in some hand and hand shit. Nah.
The plot was also a bit odd to me. Casper is a newly turned vampire who has to learn to control his hunger. So his family decides to test him by putting him in this school with no help and no plan on how to feed. In this world, if vampires don’t feed often, they turn feral and kill everyone around them. So, we just skip the small steps and drop off a baby vampire in a buffet? Why? At times, his family just turn up so I don’t know if they are secretly monitoring him because it’s never said. So of course there’s a ton of trouble that stems from just that decision.
I did really like the ending. I think it was very realistic to the situation and what transpired in the book. I would absolutely recommend this if the small things don’t make you crazy and you like fluffy, sweet love. It was definitely cute.
The writing, the dialogue, was stilted. This book tackled some hard topics like bullying, homophobia and grief. I wanted it to be deeper. With the dialogue being kinda clipped when those issues were discussed, I felt like I couldn’t really sympathize with what the characters went through. There wasn’t a character in it that I felt soft and mushy for.
I’m a details person, I need it to make sense. There were so many inconsistencies with this book:
When introduced to our vampire, Casper, it was written like the only issue he had with the sun was light sensitivity so he wore sunglasses. Later, it’s written that he is burned by the sunlight and that it can kill him. So how was he able to walk around in said sun the whole book?
It’s written that Casper’s skin is so cold, it feels like it’s burning you when you touch it. How is Rowan snuggling up to him without so much as a flinch? The cold apparently doesn’t affect Casper but then he needs mittens to keep his hands warm?
Finally, these are vampires. They are written to be super strong and fast, typical vampire abilities. Why is it that those vampire traits go flying right out the window when they are in actual danger? How are teenagers able to best you and tie you up with some rope? Boy, if you don’t gut them and pimp walk away! What the hell? I don’t feel like a human should ever be a match to a vampire in some hand and hand shit. Nah.
The plot was also a bit odd to me. Casper is a newly turned vampire who has to learn to control his hunger. So his family decides to test him by putting him in this school with no help and no plan on how to feed. In this world, if vampires don’t feed often, they turn feral and kill everyone around them. So, we just skip the small steps and drop off a baby vampire in a buffet? Why? At times, his family just turn up so I don’t know if they are secretly monitoring him because it’s never said. So of course there’s a ton of trouble that stems from just that decision.
I did really like the ending. I think it was very realistic to the situation and what transpired in the book. I would absolutely recommend this if the small things don’t make you crazy and you like fluffy, sweet love. It was definitely cute.
June 25, 2025
✨️A lush, bleeding-heart romance with fangs and fury✨️
Sometimes a book doesn’t just ask you to fall in love—it dares you. Keep it in the Dark is that kind of story. A velvet-gloved punch to the chest, Justin Arnold’s tender, aching, and gloriously defiant supernatural romance delivers every beat of yearning with a side of bloodlust. It’s Twilight for the disenfranchised, The Vampire Diaries for the queer kids who never saw themselves on the page, and yet entirely its own—fierce, thoughtful, and unflinchingly honest.
Rowan and Casper are opposites by design: the headmaster’s golden-boy son, basking in privilege and pressure, and the brooding new vampire roommate hiding teeth behind sharp restraint. Their enemies-to-lovers arc is slow-burn perfection—antagonistic banter that drips with tension, stolen glances turned midnight cravings, and a tenderness that grows out of the kind of mutual recognition only outsiders understand. The moment their hate calcifies into something far riskier—love—the novel truly bares its fangs.
Arnold doesn’t just play with tropes—he reclaims them. This is a story that interrogates legacy, shame, and control while still giving us all the lush romance and gothic drama we crave. The setting (Mockingbird Prep) is vividly atmospheric, a cradle of rules and repression ripe for rebellion. And rebellion is exactly what Rowan and Casper offer: against institutions, bloodlines, and the cages they’ve been groomed to inhabit.
The plot is beautifully paced, deftly balancing intimate character growth with looming threat. There’s real peril here—not just in the violence brewing outside their dorm room, but in the emotional risks they take every time they inch closer to one another. Their love feels dangerous—not because it involves a vampire—because their world tells them it shouldn’t exist at all. That kind of narrative power? It's devastatingly good.
Justin Arnold doesn’t just bring queer love out of the shadows—he lets it burn, bite, and bloom. Keep it in the Dark is a hauntingly romantic tale about choosing your own legacy, no matter what it costs. Sink your teeth in and let it devour you.
Sometimes a book doesn’t just ask you to fall in love—it dares you. Keep it in the Dark is that kind of story. A velvet-gloved punch to the chest, Justin Arnold’s tender, aching, and gloriously defiant supernatural romance delivers every beat of yearning with a side of bloodlust. It’s Twilight for the disenfranchised, The Vampire Diaries for the queer kids who never saw themselves on the page, and yet entirely its own—fierce, thoughtful, and unflinchingly honest.
Rowan and Casper are opposites by design: the headmaster’s golden-boy son, basking in privilege and pressure, and the brooding new vampire roommate hiding teeth behind sharp restraint. Their enemies-to-lovers arc is slow-burn perfection—antagonistic banter that drips with tension, stolen glances turned midnight cravings, and a tenderness that grows out of the kind of mutual recognition only outsiders understand. The moment their hate calcifies into something far riskier—love—the novel truly bares its fangs.
Arnold doesn’t just play with tropes—he reclaims them. This is a story that interrogates legacy, shame, and control while still giving us all the lush romance and gothic drama we crave. The setting (Mockingbird Prep) is vividly atmospheric, a cradle of rules and repression ripe for rebellion. And rebellion is exactly what Rowan and Casper offer: against institutions, bloodlines, and the cages they’ve been groomed to inhabit.
The plot is beautifully paced, deftly balancing intimate character growth with looming threat. There’s real peril here—not just in the violence brewing outside their dorm room, but in the emotional risks they take every time they inch closer to one another. Their love feels dangerous—not because it involves a vampire—because their world tells them it shouldn’t exist at all. That kind of narrative power? It's devastatingly good.
Justin Arnold doesn’t just bring queer love out of the shadows—he lets it burn, bite, and bloom. Keep it in the Dark is a hauntingly romantic tale about choosing your own legacy, no matter what it costs. Sink your teeth in and let it devour you.
November 10, 2024
This book was ok, it wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either, for me it was right in the middle. I’m sad to say this, because I enjoyed author’s previous book much more.
Throughout the book I felt like I was missing some information, the pacing felt quite fast, and it felt like it should have focused on some scenes more.
For example, the whole thing with Blackthorns, it was interesting at the beginning, when Rowan got clues, and was supposed to be initiated, but then it kind of disappearead into the background, and while Casper and Rowan are talking about being killed if they are discovered, you don’t really feel any danger, as Diego said to Rowan that they don’t stakes vampires anymore. I think it would feel more dangerous if the stories of Scarlett, and Mr. Abadi were revealed earlier.
The final scene, where Rowan discovers his dad is also part of the Blackthorns didn’t hit at all (especially when they’re all talking about how the sons continue the traditions, so ofc his dad is part of it too).
The minor characters were just there, they didn’t add too much to the plot, not to mention two of them have the same background stories.
You will enjoy this more, if you don’t go in with any expectations. Otherwise it’s a mix of Addam’s family, High school musical, and Twilight.
Again, it’s not a bad book, it’s just too short, and I would like it more, if it focused more on the mystery aspect.
I’m still laughing at Rowan and Casper making out at the ceiling though.
Disclaimer: I received a free earc in exchange for my honest reviews. All opinions are my own.
Throughout the book I felt like I was missing some information, the pacing felt quite fast, and it felt like it should have focused on some scenes more.
For example, the whole thing with Blackthorns, it was interesting at the beginning, when Rowan got clues, and was supposed to be initiated, but then it kind of disappearead into the background, and while Casper and Rowan are talking about being killed if they are discovered, you don’t really feel any danger, as Diego said to Rowan that they don’t stakes vampires anymore. I think it would feel more dangerous if the stories of Scarlett, and Mr. Abadi were revealed earlier.
The final scene, where Rowan discovers his dad is also part of the Blackthorns didn’t hit at all (especially when they’re all talking about how the sons continue the traditions, so ofc his dad is part of it too).
The minor characters were just there, they didn’t add too much to the plot, not to mention two of them have the same background stories.
You will enjoy this more, if you don’t go in with any expectations. Otherwise it’s a mix of Addam’s family, High school musical, and Twilight.
Again, it’s not a bad book, it’s just too short, and I would like it more, if it focused more on the mystery aspect.
I’m still laughing at Rowan and Casper making out at the ceiling though.
Disclaimer: I received a free earc in exchange for my honest reviews. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2024
3.5/5 stars
Keep It in the Dark is a gay YA vampire romance set in an elite boarding school. Rowan Young is the golden boy, fencing team captain, and headmaster’s son who has big plans for his senior year, but it all goes wrong when a new student enrolls and they are forced to room together. Casper Belamy is a newly turned vampire that nearly became feral until he is found and adopted by a vampiric royal family. Now he must prove his ability to blend in and control his bloodlust by completing his high school education. Attraction was never part of the plan when Rowan isn’t out and Capser’s supposed to be lying low, and things get even more complicated when a secret society of vampire slayers become involved.
I’d describe this book as Twilight meets The Covenant with the homoerotic undertones just fully gay. What worked best for me was the romance. This forbidden disgruntled roommates-to-lovers romance just hits right and felt natural. Their mutual instant attraction brings complications to both of their lives with Rowan’s still not accepting of his own sexuality and Casper’s still burgeoning control. The book also offers such a rich history for the vampires with Casper’s own tragic childhood before he is turned as well as those of the royal vampire family. It’s just that felt glanced over and not given enough time to make the impact it most certainly could have had. There were some truly great character moments, but the plot itself felt questionable.
The vampirism for queerhood was an imperfect metaphor. The vampire book banning was ridiculous in that context. The vampire slayer society that doesn’t actually slay vampires is equally head-scratching. Then it never made sense to me why Casper’s family would put him in a school (and town) with a known slayer history and heritage. Also, how was enrolling him in a boarding school to test his ability to control his thirst even a good idea in the first place?
Keep It in the Dark did things right with its great coming-of-age romance, but the world needed more fleshing out.
*Thank you to Tiny Ghost Press for the eARC.
Keep It in the Dark is a gay YA vampire romance set in an elite boarding school. Rowan Young is the golden boy, fencing team captain, and headmaster’s son who has big plans for his senior year, but it all goes wrong when a new student enrolls and they are forced to room together. Casper Belamy is a newly turned vampire that nearly became feral until he is found and adopted by a vampiric royal family. Now he must prove his ability to blend in and control his bloodlust by completing his high school education. Attraction was never part of the plan when Rowan isn’t out and Capser’s supposed to be lying low, and things get even more complicated when a secret society of vampire slayers become involved.
I’d describe this book as Twilight meets The Covenant with the homoerotic undertones just fully gay. What worked best for me was the romance. This forbidden disgruntled roommates-to-lovers romance just hits right and felt natural. Their mutual instant attraction brings complications to both of their lives with Rowan’s still not accepting of his own sexuality and Casper’s still burgeoning control. The book also offers such a rich history for the vampires with Casper’s own tragic childhood before he is turned as well as those of the royal vampire family. It’s just that felt glanced over and not given enough time to make the impact it most certainly could have had. There were some truly great character moments, but the plot itself felt questionable.
The vampirism for queerhood was an imperfect metaphor. The vampire book banning was ridiculous in that context. The vampire slayer society that doesn’t actually slay vampires is equally head-scratching. Then it never made sense to me why Casper’s family would put him in a school (and town) with a known slayer history and heritage. Also, how was enrolling him in a boarding school to test his ability to control his thirst even a good idea in the first place?
Keep It in the Dark did things right with its great coming-of-age romance, but the world needed more fleshing out.
*Thank you to Tiny Ghost Press for the eARC.
October 25, 2024
Thanks Tiny Ghost Press for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Rowan is looking forward to his senior year, he’s finally getting his own dorm room, things are looking perfect. He just has to show the new kid around, downfall of his dad being the Headmaster. Casper is looking forward to his tour, where he gets to see the world and be around other vampires, he just has to get through a year of high school. He has to prove that he can be around humans and not feast on them. When he meets Rowan he’s never smelt blood so good. Unfortunately he thinks Rowan is a jerk. Rowan’s not too fond of him either but Casper is very attractive. That’s a problem as Rowan is not into boys. Absolutely not into boys. When they’re forced to share a room the tension will become overwhelming. They both have secrets to keep but with their dislike for one another and their growing attraction can they keep them? When strange things start happening they might just learn that there is more going on then they are prepared for. I enjoyed this one so much! I love a good vampire book! Thrilling, exciting, romantic! A page turner that kept me hooked all the way through! I love the dislike that grows into attraction between Casper and Rowan! I also love Casper’s family they’re fun and supportive! Definitely worth the read!
October 20, 2024
Arnold combines the political commentary of Wicked with the spooky fun of Wednesday for a spellbindingly delightful upper-YA novel.
I'm not trying to say Justin Arnold should be one of your auto-buy authors if you love spooky books with a lot of heart, but I'm not /not/ saying that either. The way Arnold weaves world building into a story hat focuses primarily on characters just doing what every person ever has had to do (figure out who they are) always leaves me with the feel-good fuzzy feeling post-read.
And Keep it in the Dark is no different! The themes of not just finding yourself, but also making yourself, and building your own family, combine together to be the perfect coming of age story for any age. After all, aren't we all still learning who we are as we go? Add in some vampires for spice, and you've got something that brings all the nostalgia of the Addams, and the Munsters, to reminds readers new and older what it was we love about the vampire genre.
All I can say is, I hope you won't stay in the dark (or sleep) on this book. Because you need it for your library!
I'm not trying to say Justin Arnold should be one of your auto-buy authors if you love spooky books with a lot of heart, but I'm not /not/ saying that either. The way Arnold weaves world building into a story hat focuses primarily on characters just doing what every person ever has had to do (figure out who they are) always leaves me with the feel-good fuzzy feeling post-read.
And Keep it in the Dark is no different! The themes of not just finding yourself, but also making yourself, and building your own family, combine together to be the perfect coming of age story for any age. After all, aren't we all still learning who we are as we go? Add in some vampires for spice, and you've got something that brings all the nostalgia of the Addams, and the Munsters, to reminds readers new and older what it was we love about the vampire genre.
All I can say is, I hope you won't stay in the dark (or sleep) on this book. Because you need it for your library!
October 31, 2024
Keep it in the Dark
Justin Arnold
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶
Justin Arnold does it again!
I read Wicked Little Things, Arnold’s previous novel, back in 2022. I not only enjoyed that book, but it became my favorite read of that year. Keep it in the Dark might be a contender for top read this year.
Rowan was more than he first appeared, he begins as the school’s “It Boy”. His father is the headmaster, he’s popular, he is on the fencing team and has goals to go to Cornell. He’s kind of a tool, think Freddie Prinze Jr at the beginning of She’s All That, but Casper opens him up to be more than expected.
Casper was my favorite character. He is a newborn vampire prince, but he was so unsure of himself and his place in this world and that made him so likable.
I love the monarchal vampire society and enjoyed them not being monsters, but wanting to live their lives in peace. The slayers being the antagonist was a fun deviation from the norm and it kept these two busy.
Twists and turns are around every corner as Casper and Rowan fight for themselves against friends, family and destiny.
Justin Arnold
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶
Justin Arnold does it again!
I read Wicked Little Things, Arnold’s previous novel, back in 2022. I not only enjoyed that book, but it became my favorite read of that year. Keep it in the Dark might be a contender for top read this year.
Rowan was more than he first appeared, he begins as the school’s “It Boy”. His father is the headmaster, he’s popular, he is on the fencing team and has goals to go to Cornell. He’s kind of a tool, think Freddie Prinze Jr at the beginning of She’s All That, but Casper opens him up to be more than expected.
Casper was my favorite character. He is a newborn vampire prince, but he was so unsure of himself and his place in this world and that made him so likable.
I love the monarchal vampire society and enjoyed them not being monsters, but wanting to live their lives in peace. The slayers being the antagonist was a fun deviation from the norm and it kept these two busy.
Twists and turns are around every corner as Casper and Rowan fight for themselves against friends, family and destiny.
December 4, 2024
This book is for anyone who loved Buffy, Vampire Academy, Young Dracula, and Carry On. Is it indulgent? Yes. Is it sometimes over the top? Yes. Is it queer? Also yes. Did the parallels drawn between being a vampire and being queer occasionally make me emotional? Very much yes.
Did I find out it existed, read and listen to the sample, buy the audiobook, and then binge-listen in one day? Yes, yes I did. I don't regret it for an instant.
I absolutely adored everything about it. My only complaint is that the drama wraps up a tad too easily, but it's a very small complaint that is easily drowned out by the overwhelming nostalgia and joy the story evoked.
It absolutely has the feeling of a vampire TV series from the 90s and early 2000s. The characters are all excellent and again feel made for a TV series. It also has the "do I want to kiss or kill my roommate" vibes from Carry On that make for such a compelling story.
I spent most of the book reveling in nostalgic queer and vampire feels which was delightful, but every so often the author drew a parallel between being queer and being a vampire that hit hard.
I will definitely be checking out more by this author.
Did I find out it existed, read and listen to the sample, buy the audiobook, and then binge-listen in one day? Yes, yes I did. I don't regret it for an instant.
I absolutely adored everything about it. My only complaint is that the drama wraps up a tad too easily, but it's a very small complaint that is easily drowned out by the overwhelming nostalgia and joy the story evoked.
It absolutely has the feeling of a vampire TV series from the 90s and early 2000s. The characters are all excellent and again feel made for a TV series. It also has the "do I want to kiss or kill my roommate" vibes from Carry On that make for such a compelling story.
I spent most of the book reveling in nostalgic queer and vampire feels which was delightful, but every so often the author drew a parallel between being queer and being a vampire that hit hard.
I will definitely be checking out more by this author.
February 11, 2025
Rowan Young is ready for another year at school as the popular-Captain of the fencing team-Headmaster's son and then he gets saddled with an "important" new student. Casper Belamy is really odd. He doesn't dress like everyone else, and he certainly doesn't look like everyone else. Then there's the time Rowan finds Casper holed up in their closet.
What Rowan doesn't know is that Casper is a Prince... And not just any price. He's a vampire prince. It's Casper's task to make it through an entire year at the school without biting anyone.. and without revealing himself as a blood-drinker.
As the roomies get to know one another, their relationship changes and things get ... Complicated! Romance bleeds through into the fragile friendship and Rowan and Casper become entangled in a world more convoluted than they realized.
This was a fun read. What I love to see in a YA novel are great friend groups and queer characters. There's some really cute and funny dialogue, an ample serving of snark and a lot of action. This author isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects and it's done with delicacy and style.
What Rowan doesn't know is that Casper is a Prince... And not just any price. He's a vampire prince. It's Casper's task to make it through an entire year at the school without biting anyone.. and without revealing himself as a blood-drinker.
As the roomies get to know one another, their relationship changes and things get ... Complicated! Romance bleeds through into the fragile friendship and Rowan and Casper become entangled in a world more convoluted than they realized.
This was a fun read. What I love to see in a YA novel are great friend groups and queer characters. There's some really cute and funny dialogue, an ample serving of snark and a lot of action. This author isn't afraid to tackle tough subjects and it's done with delicacy and style.
December 7, 2024
🌶️
1.5/5
Favorite bit:
Fast paced narrative that didn’t drag
Worst con:
Shallow relationship building
My thoughts:
This was very much a sweet YA gay vampire book. The plot is EXACTLY what you think it is. There were no red flags and a HEA.
For me the story lost 2 stars for
1. Gayness and vampirism blend together to have A VERY HEAVY HANDED message against hate (vampire books are removed from the library and are referenced as “banned books” - they aren’t overlapping but the desire to celebrate queer relationships becomes conflated throughout the story.
2. There was no passion during the relationship part of the book. The last one third was very “daddy, i love him” but there wasn’t really any chemistry before that. I LOVE enemies to lovers, but it seemed to switch quick.
Lastly just a little thing, the vampires were a bit cartoony but that just a preference.
The spice is off page which is fine for YA but there just fyi
I would consider reading more by this author, as they get a lot right. I just wanted more overall emotion /angst/tension between the mains.
1.5/5
Favorite bit:
Fast paced narrative that didn’t drag
Worst con:
Shallow relationship building
My thoughts:
This was very much a sweet YA gay vampire book. The plot is EXACTLY what you think it is. There were no red flags and a HEA.
For me the story lost 2 stars for
1. Gayness and vampirism blend together to have A VERY HEAVY HANDED message against hate (vampire books are removed from the library and are referenced as “banned books” - they aren’t overlapping but the desire to celebrate queer relationships becomes conflated throughout the story.
2. There was no passion during the relationship part of the book. The last one third was very “daddy, i love him” but there wasn’t really any chemistry before that. I LOVE enemies to lovers, but it seemed to switch quick.
Lastly just a little thing, the vampires were a bit cartoony but that just a preference.
The spice is off page which is fine for YA but there just fyi
I would consider reading more by this author, as they get a lot right. I just wanted more overall emotion /angst/tension between the mains.
January 13, 2025
Keep in the Dark es basicamente "What Is This Feeling?" de Wicked pero gay (aun más de lo que es la original) y con vampiros.
I'M SEATED!!!!
Este libro tiene todos y cada uno de los clichés de las historias vampirescas. Literal podría escribir una checklist e irlos marcando. Pero saben que? NO ME INTERESA PORQUE ES QUEER Y ESTUVO ENTRETENIDO. Definitivamente no es el mejor libro que he leido en mi vida, pero me la pase espectacular leyendo y hay una historia muy bonita detrás de todo.
Me gustó que la figura de un vampiro es usada como una alegoría para la homosexualidad. El autor hace comparaciones interesantes, y los discursos tienen esa linea lo suficientemente delgada para pensar que esta hablando de cualquier de los dos temas. No se, me parecio muy padre todo eso.
Fue un libro super encantador, y una gran manera de cerrar mi año lector. Creo que este libro tiene el potencial de volverse un confort book, si me veo releyendolo solo para sentirme feliz y pasar un rato padre.
I'M SEATED!!!!
Este libro tiene todos y cada uno de los clichés de las historias vampirescas. Literal podría escribir una checklist e irlos marcando. Pero saben que? NO ME INTERESA PORQUE ES QUEER Y ESTUVO ENTRETENIDO. Definitivamente no es el mejor libro que he leido en mi vida, pero me la pase espectacular leyendo y hay una historia muy bonita detrás de todo.
Me gustó que la figura de un vampiro es usada como una alegoría para la homosexualidad. El autor hace comparaciones interesantes, y los discursos tienen esa linea lo suficientemente delgada para pensar que esta hablando de cualquier de los dos temas. No se, me parecio muy padre todo eso.
Fue un libro super encantador, y una gran manera de cerrar mi año lector. Creo que este libro tiene el potencial de volverse un confort book, si me veo releyendolo solo para sentirme feliz y pasar un rato padre.
November 23, 2024
This was definitely a different direction from Wicked Little Things and that’s not a bad thing. This book is coming out at such a pivotal moment in time.
There are so many things in this book that echo real life and it is scary, but it is also beautiful. It showcases hope, love, and acceptance. The most important thing it showcases though? Change.
Is this just another vampire-mortal love story? No not all. This is a story of what it means to fight for the right to exist. This is a story of life as an LGBTQIA2S+ individual. This is not just fiction. This is a reflection of life experiences.
Thank you Justin Arnold for this magnificent piece of work! Thank you Tiny Ghost Press and Justin for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Keep It in the Dark by Justin Arnold releases 12/3/24!
There are so many things in this book that echo real life and it is scary, but it is also beautiful. It showcases hope, love, and acceptance. The most important thing it showcases though? Change.
Is this just another vampire-mortal love story? No not all. This is a story of what it means to fight for the right to exist. This is a story of life as an LGBTQIA2S+ individual. This is not just fiction. This is a reflection of life experiences.
Thank you Justin Arnold for this magnificent piece of work! Thank you Tiny Ghost Press and Justin for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Keep It in the Dark by Justin Arnold releases 12/3/24!
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