The Book of Blood and Roses

The Callisto Chronicles #1

by Annie Summerlee

In book one of a seductive sapphic paranormal fantasy, a vampire hunter goes undercover at a mysterious university and falls in love with her roommate, an alluring vampire.

“Then her red eyes are on mine, gentle, deadly. She takes her time kissing my neck. I pull her closer and say: Bite me.”

In the mists of the Scottish Highlands is a university where vampire students study alongside humans.

Rebecca Charity is a vampire hunter undercover at the university, searching for the mysterious Book of Blood and Roses, a lost compendium of ways to kill vampires. If she finds it, she’ll be one step closer to avenging her parents, who were slain by those creatures of the night.

But when Rebecca arrives, she finds something unexpected: a coffin. Her new roommate is Aliz Astra, scion of one of the most powerful vampire families... and the most beautiful woman Rebecca has ever met.

The maddeningly gorgeous Aliz is everything that Rebecca has always hated, but also everything she ever wanted, and now Rebecca doesn't know if she wants to kiss or kill her.

When Aliz rescues her from a vampire attack one moonlit night, she accidentally makes Rebecca her familiar. Now, they must work together to break the curse, but as they get closer to solving the mystery, Rebecca and Aliz get closer, too.

But can a vampire hunter ever fall in love with a vampire?

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

368 pages, ebook

Expected publication January 13, 2026

Reviews

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I’ll bleed for her. Then she’ll be the one obsessed. I’ll have her on her knees, I’ll let her have a taste. She’ll lick blood from my fingers, and she’ll plead for more. I’ll make her break the treaties; I’ll drive her insane. And then I’ll go, and she’ll spend the rest of her wretched eternity dying to taste me again.

rating: 4.5❤️‍🔥

sapphic vampire hunter x vampire filled w intense yearning and horniness, bless!!!

this was such a fun paranormal romance ride and def had me staying up late to keep reading.

rebecca has been a vampire hunter ever since vampires killed her parents and her mentor/handler penny took her in. now she must go undercover at a prestigious vampire university that has just opened its doors to human students with one mission: find the elusive book of blood and roses, and get the hell out before her cover is blown.

a lot easier said than done, since almost no one has ever seen the book, you can’t really ask about it since it holds clues to killing vampires, and oh yeah, her roommate is the heir to one of the elite vampire bloodlines … and rebecca can’t help but be drawn like a moth to a flame.

a mysterious and intriguing plot filled with secret societies and turns, you start to question who is the bad guy and who’s actually the good guy?

i really liked the weird limbo this world existed in with vampires alongside humans: on the one hand, there’s treaties set by the counsel and there are humans who - gasp - even date vampires? on the other hand, there’s blood parties that end in well, bloodshed. so while it’s understandable that rebecca has serious distrust with vampires, her intense dislike (and downright loathing) has its moments of moral ambiguity, when she’s calling them leeches and seeing even other humans’ negative reactions to that.

while the lore was fun and creative (vampires from various mythology pop in), the romance def had me totally hooked. of course i’m gonna eat up the mortal enemies to lovers trope but especially when it arrives in the platinum-blonde butch vampire package that is aliz astra? rebecca and i didn’t stand a chance 🤭 the yearning and tension was insane!! add the amplification of it by their circumstances and whether it’s purely vampire magic or not and it only makes it even more delicious!

I wouldn’t necessarily say this is dark academia bc the school is just her front/cover and the intrigue is more related to secret societies not tied to the school, but i enjoyed this setting and the vibes it gave it!

i devoured this book in a day and i’m just disappointed that it’s only going to be a duology 😭

“Life is too short to dress casually.”
“You are quite literally immortal.”

vampire lovers and yearners, put this on your tbr! 💋

an honest arc review 💘

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really had a great time reading this vampire sapphic romance fantasy! I have always loved reading books that include vampires and that is what ultimately made me want to read this one! The enemies to lovers trope is in this book, which I was extremely excited about. I found that the two main characters were lovable, strongly developed and multilayered. The side characters were also lovable and stood out in the story. One of the girls is a vampire heir, while the other one is a vampire hunter.

This novel came with strong tension, along with a slow burn romance. This book gets spicy! The setting in this book is atmospheric, eerie, dark, and very mysterious. It is at a vampire academy, where the two girls become roommates. This book truly takes you on an adventure and will even give you a few laughs along the way! While reading it, it definitely reminded me of Vampire Academy! Be sure to read the content warnings. Overall, I give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Annie Summerlee and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.


This book is expected to be published on January 13, 2026!

[Liana Gold · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ It’s a gothic lesbian vampire romantasy set in the real world where humans attend the same university as the vampires. Although treaties are established, humans are still being hunted and drained either for pleasure or kill. A vampire hunter (Rebecca) infiltrates this school by pretending to be a student on a mission to find the lost book of Blood and Roses. She is unknowingly assigned a vampire roommate (Aliz) and now she has to learn ways to coexist together. When Rebecca gets hurt and Aliz offers a touch of her blood to save her life, a bond is formed between the two & now the vampire hunter must find ways to undo this blood contact. Does Rebecca have what it takes to let go of her vampiric hatred and work together to solve more than just the mystery of the lost book?

The book gave off serious Buffy-The Vampire & True Blood vibes. From vampires turning into bats, wooden stakes, garlic pills and vampires sleeping in coffins— how much unoriginal can you get? That’s probably the biggest problem that I had with this book— the lack of originality. I was waiting for the writer to give us some creativity, perhaps a twist to the entire vampire lore. Taking on more of a modern take, the vampires were a lot more traditional than I wanted them to be. It lacked richness and depth, world building and imagination.

It’s not to say that all things were bad. The FF romance was good, not the best, but done thoroughly spread out. We have a fiery FMC who absolutely & wholeheartedly hates vampires. Here she meets Aliz who challenges her in all ways possible. She fights with her feelings (a little annoyingly) for majority of the book but then accepts Aliz for who she is. The love story did take time to build but when it peaked, it also soared in a span of few pages.
The allure between the vampire and human was there just not delivered in the way I would have enjoyed.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds & Inklore for this early eARC.

Expected publication date: January 13, 2026

[edie-may ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ᯓ✦.ᐟ "I'm a firm believer in the wind being able to wipe away words we shouldn't have said."

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ rating: ★★★★☆ (3.75)
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ age rating: 14+
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ spice: 2/5
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ genres: new adult, queer, fantasy, romance
‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ content warnings:
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⋆ violence, gore & death
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⋆ sexual content
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⋆ language

‎ ‎ ‎ thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!


⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪


☽｡⋆┆ playlist:

‎ ‎ ‎ ➳ back to friends, sombr
‎ ‎ ‎ ➳ bad idea! girl in red
‎ ‎ ‎ ➳ girls, girl in red
‎ ‎ ‎ ➳ i wanna be your girlfriend, girl in red
‎ ‎ ‎ ➳ middle of the night, elley duhé
‎ ‎ ‎ ➳ the archer, taylor swift
‎ ‎ ‎ ➳ wicked game, chris isaak


☽｡⋆┆ tropes:

‎ ‎ ➳ dark academia
‎ ‎ ➳ forbidden romance
‎ ‎ ➳ forced proximity
‎ ‎ ➳ sapphic
‎ ‎ ➳ ‘tell me to stop’
‎ ‎ ➳ vampire x hunter
‎ ‎ ➳ ‘we shouldn’t do this’


₊˚ ♱ ∿ plot:

‎ ‎ ‎ i don’t even have a good starting point for this review. my brain has short-circuited like a victorian woman seeing an ankle.

‎ ‎ ‎ this book only had to promise me sapphic vampires and i was sat… but i remained seated. i’m so in love with the main characters and their romance! i fear it may have been an insta-love instead of a slow burn, but it was so full of other tropes and plot-lines that i didn’t actually care too much—the whole book was pretty fast-paced, so it fit right in.


₊˚ ♱ ∿ world-building:

‎ ‎ ‎ i immediately fell in love with the setting of this book. a university for vampires and humans set in the scottish highlands?? spectacular. underground tunnels and old libraries? sign me up, immediately.

‎ ‎ ‎ the vampire lore didn’t even strike me as unoriginal either, remaining true to usual stereotypes while also introducing some new and interesting ones. it left just enough mystery to keep you hooked for book two!


☽｡⋆┆ characters:

‎ ‎ ‎ ➳ rebecca charity
‎ ‎ ‎ vampire hunter sent to work undercover at a university while simultaneously trying to uncover her parents’ murderer.

‎ ‎ ‎ ➳ aliz astra
‎ ‎ ‎ vampire royalty—rebecca’s classmate and, more importantly, her unwanted obsession.


┆ ⤿ ♥️ ⌗ first thoughts / pre-read:

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ stop, i’m so happy i got the ARC for this because the vibes are immaculate!! i don’t read vampire novels but i read the word ‘sapphic’ and every bone in my body just started giggling. i’m loving the dark academia setting so much and i already feel like the main couple will be so yum. i’m sat.


┆ ⤿ 🥀 ⌗ final thoughts / post-read:

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ the book of blood and roses is a twisty, sapphic take on vampire lore that had me hooked from page one—full of yearning, denial, and the classic “are these feelings real or just magic?” trope.

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ the characters are endearing and compelling, and the central relationship holds just the right amount of tension and emotional weight.


ᯓ✦.ᐟ a perfect read for fans of dark academia, old libraries, and queer fantasies laced with forbidden romance!


⋆˚🫀˚⋆

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m cured. my skin is clear. my crops are flourishing. nature is healing. lesbian vampires i love you!!!

this hit on everything i’d want to see when it comes to vampires — if you’re someone who’s still mourning the cancellation of first kill like i am, this hits that exact same sweet spot. the vampire x vampire hunter romance is just as delicious, and this one promises to actually deliver a second book to finish the story! i really loved the world building in this one — vampires have been done so many times that it can be hard to touch on something new, but i thought the concept of vampires’ abilities changing based on the cultural beliefs of their place of origin is such a cool concept. i hope to see that explored more in book 2, because it’s a fascinating idea! i also loved the intricacy of vampiric society, from the council to the callisto hunters and more. annie summerlee did a fantastic job carving out a unique spot in a heavily covered genre.

something small that means a lot to me is that both rebecca/cassie and aliz say that they’re lesbians on page. i still never take it for granted when i get to have that moment in any form of media, so to get that experience with three different characters in this book was amazing!! i sincerely recommend picking this up in the new year when it’s published!

thank you to netgalley & the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[☀︎El In Oz☀︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

Wow, what a fantastic debut! I adore vampires and will read anything that involves them with no hesitation.
This book had such good writing and atmosphere!! I was in this university, I was in Scotland. Perfectly executed.
Our main characters were well developed as well. I liked Cassie/Rebecca a lot , and I also really liked Aliz! I did feel that we could have gotten more development from them both in coming to terms with their attraction but I won’t complain.
The romance was super sweet. It was maybe a bit too fast for my tastes but I liked their dynamic and it was wonderful lesbian representation :)
The plot itself didn’t really wow me as far as vampire books go (nor was the interpretation of vampires new) but it was ultimately just really really fun. I enjoyed the twists and I enjoyed all of the Scottish elements, like the Gaelic language being used on page.
All in all, I’m excited for the sequel!!!

[Sian Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I loved this book. It was an excellently built world of vampires, vampire hunters and humans, in a dark academia setting, with a sapphic enemies to lovers romance - what's not to love?!

Rebecca is a vampire hunter, and she's very good at what she does. She's sent undercover by Callisto, the group she works for, into a vampire university to find the Book of Blood and Roses - a lost book hidden somewhere in the libraries. This is the first time the university has officially taken human students, and Rebecca, disguised as Cassie, finds herself sharing a room with Aliz, the heir of a powerful vampire family. Despite initially hating each other, the two accidentally form a kind of unbreakable bond one night after Cassie is attacked by a vampire, and the two of them have to work together to destroy this - all the while, wanting to be closer than ever.

I devoured (lol) this book in two sittings. It had a strong storyline that pushed forward constantly, never lingering in one place for too long, and characters that brought it to life. While I loved the relationship between Cassie and Aliz (there was definite chemistry there!), the side characters added the extra depth that this novel needed. Cassie is clearly an outsider at the school, a human among vampires, but she quickly finds comrades - a human and (shock, horror!) vampires who accept her into the group. We all love a found family, don't we!

This book was full of yearning as the two try to fight their feelings, whether they're real or not entirely. It's a romantasy, but the underlying plot with the wider world around them adds depth.

The setting of the university in the Scottish Highlands really added to the atmosphere. I liked the way that the campus names were often in Gaelic, and little pieces of dialect were thrown in every now and then to remind you that it wasn't just a generic or a fantasy setting. Also there were underground tunnel mazes with hidden libraries. What else do I need to say?!

This is a twisting tale where you're never quite sure who the monsters are. It flips itself on its head a couple of times, and while I somewhat saw some of this coming, other parts I didn't see so much. I love that.

As I said, I really enjoyed the worldbuilding too, where the traits of the vampires were almost a parody - with features from vampire lore such as sleeping in coffins, garlic allergy and shying away from religious icons. I liked the touch that each vampire was different depending on the mythology of their heritage - that was fun and interesting.

There will be a sequel to this book, however it doesn't leave you on a huge cliffhanger - it feels like it could standalone. Nevertheless, I'm still super excited for the next one (this is the worst part about reading ARCs - this one isn't even published yet and I'm waiting for the next!)

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

[Kristi Hovington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark academia, sapphic vampires, and magical hidden libraries with what might be the snarkiest- and smartest- librarian? What’s not to love?

I flew through this book; everything works- the plot, pacing, writing, suspense. I loved all the characters, major and minor, with the exception of the protagonist. It takes her a very long time to overcome her prejudices, and I found her blind hatred of what she doesn’t yet understand frustrating. However, it makes the payoff of her change of perspective that much better, when it finally arrives.

This is a great book to start off my month of reading LGBTQIA+ books for Pride. Can’t wait for book 2. Thank you NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC!

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of the best Dark Academia novels I’ve ever read. There was a fair amount of world building within and without the school. I really liked the side characters and hope we get more of their stories in the next book, especially Julia.
I can’t say I loved Rebecca/Cassie. Something just didn’t click for me.

Besides that, everything else worked really well. When all the pieces of the puzzle (Callisto/Vassals/Council/etc) came together I was freaking out. What a revelation! The plot was very detailed and was complemented by the romance aspects, not the other way around. So it’s a great read for someone just wanting a general fantasy book as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Del Rey/Inklore/ Random House Worlds for a copy!

[jess ⋆. ̊ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i spent this entire book giggling and kicking my feet twirling my hair… aliz and cassie/rebecca you will always be famous 😭😭!!

the romance between a vampire and a vampire hunter who’s out for revenge is sooo scrumptious. there was realistic pacing in how they fell for each other in my opinion, and the circumstance of their relationship was handled very well! it was obvious how much they grew to care for each other, and even in the beginning of their relationship i was getting so giddy over little things like aliz reaching books for cassie hehehe 💖💖

i also think the explanations of the world in this book were done very well and everything was memorable enough that i didn’t have to go back to find information i was finding trouble recalling. the rules for vampires are super interesting and it was a great read!! i found the plot twists and ending to be very satisfying and well done !

all in all, i can’t wait to read book 2 !! 💖

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! <3

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

A vampire romance without a problematic age gap? I didn't even know such a thing was possible unless both love interests were ancient vampires. Here, though, Rebecca, the vampire hunter, is 22, and Aliz, the vampire, is 24. No creepy vampires spending their immortal lives hanging out with teenage girls or breaking into their room to watch them sleep.

This is a vampire college that has started admitting a few select humans, and the Council has gotten Rebecca in, although everyone thinks her name is Cassie. Trying to find a book but then accidentally becoming a familiar. I read that and laughed; how does a vampire accidentally make you their familiar? It made so much sense in the book, though.

The Vampire Diaries is one of my favorite tv shows ever. I have watched it so many times that I can't even count. This is better.

Definitely would recommend.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 4.5 stars
The Book of Blood & Roses is a story about a vampire hunter, Rebecca, who goes undercover at a university that lets humans attend to search for the mysterious Book of Blood and Roses, while rooming together with one of the vampires attending.

“Maybe I’ll bleed for her. Then she’ll be the one obsessed. I’ll have her on her knees, I’ll let her have a taste. She’ll lick blood from my fingers, and she’ll plead for more. I’ll make her break the treaties; I’ll drive her insane. And then I’ll go, and she’ll spend the rest of her wretched eternity dying to taste me again.”

I was absolutely blown away by the beautiful cover and reading the synopsis made me immediately excited to read and discover the story within the pages! Being send an early copy made my day and for Spooktober I dove into this incredible book!

The opening was one that drew me in immediately! I loved the introduction to Rebecca, her situation and her stance on vampires. Pair that with the amazing atmosphere and vibe created with the vivid descriptions and details and I was sold!

The writing is really nice and it flows. Together with the pacing, it made this a quick and easy read for me. I didn’t really notice how much I’d read until putting the book down and looking at the page number, it went that easy haha.

I loved the classic presentation of vampires in the story! Lately, authors give some sort of twist to the vampires in their stories and there’s nothing wrong with that! But I really loved the sort of freshness of vampires being portrayed so classically, like sleeping in a coffin, no reflection and garlic allergies. And even then there’s something new added about the origin of the vampires, which does make the book original.

Rebecca is an intriguing character and I really liked her. She is determined and funny. I had a lot of fun reading her thoughts while undercover. I also loved her growth and how she kinda found herself while at the university, questioning the things she had been thought. It made her a relatable character. Aliz was the same, just living her life, trying to survive university and going through it with the grace of an immortal being haha.

The romance between the two was good and hot, although it was a bit too insta-love for me. At the same time, the banter and chemistry between the two was absolutely amazing!

The plot and the mystery were entertaining and addicting and especially towards the end, I was glued to the pages due to the unexpected twists and turns! I have to say, this book really went out with a bang and I loved it!

Overall, The Book of Blood & Roses is a brilliant debut that I very much enjoyed!! I can’t wait to explore this world more in book 2!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a proof copy of this book!

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sapphic enemies to lovers, we are so back!!

This was a fun vampire x vampire hunter romance with a bit of a dark academia twist, set in a mysterious Scottish university. I'll always love a good hidden library and a secret society, and this had plenty of familiar beats yet didn't feel generic. I particularly enjoyed the cultural differences between the vampires and how folklore impacted their strengths and weaknesses.

Rebecca, the vampire hunter, is a bit of a rough character in the beginning of the story, but I came to like her more as it progressed. Aliz, the vampire, was great from her first scene to her last. The Book of Blood and Roses appears to be book 1 of a duology, and I look forward to reading book 2 in the future!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Green Megs &Ham · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid 4 star read. a vampire hunter goes under cover at vampire collage just to get tangled up with her vampire roommate? for as much system and world building as there was this book was an easy fantasy with a heavy dose of yearning, I cant quite call it romance.

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5.0

[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thanks to the author and NetGalley.]

The Book of Blood and Roses invites the reader to a dark academia setting, heavier on the dark than the academia, with vampires and vampire hunters as the characters on stage. A hunter on a personal quest for revenge meets the heiress of an old, established vampire family and this is where the story unfolds.
I think this book could have been for me, if the stakes had been a little different (pun … intended), this felt all a little too much on the shallow side of things for me, but considering it is a rather short book, the characters are in their very early twenties, I think I might just not be the intended audience. Maybe this book is more for the young-ish adults, than for the dark, eerie lovers of literature.
It is quite well written, there is no hurdle to get into the story and the pacing is rather consistent throughout the whole book, however, I missed the feeling of truly being afraid for the characters. The overarching mission was laced with opponents that kept changing, maybe evolving, but for me failed to instill this feeling of urgency and fear.
At some points I would have wished for more depth in the described situations, especially in confrontations of main character and love interest, but it is a good, entertaining book nonetheless.
If you enjoy a vampire setting in a school, with WLW romance and medium to fast pacing, this book might be for you!

[chenaey ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

my rating: ★★★★

aesthetic:🏫🩸📓⚰️💼🧛🏻‍♀️🥀🍂🌧️👻🕸️

Annie Summerlee delivers a deliciously dark, spellbinding tale in The Book of Blood and Roses, an enemies-to-lovers, vampire x vampire hunter sapphic romance set within the haunting halls of a vampire-run university. From the first page, the tension is palpable—dripping with secrets, forbidden attraction, and a creeping sense that nothing is what it seems.

This isn’t just another vampire romance. It’s layered, atmospheric, and wickedly clever, with a protagonist whose true identity is as dangerous as the monsters she’s been trained to hunt. The vampire hunter hiding in plain sight among the very beings she was raised to destroy creates a level of internal and external conflict that crackles on every page. And the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers relationship? Absolutely magnetic. Every glance, every betrayal, every near-confession builds toward a crescendo of vulnerability, trust, and unexpected tenderness.

The university itself feels like a character—steeped in tradition, shadowed by ancient power, and pulsing with dark secrets buried behind its elegant facade. There are hidden agendas, and a growing sense that the real danger isn’t just fangs and bloodlust—but the lies everyone is willing to keep.

Summerlee crafts a world where love is risky, trust is earned with blood, and survival means confronting who you really are. It’s haunting, seductive, and satisfyingly twisty, with revelations that will leave readers breathless. If you love gothic academia, sapphic tension, and morally complex heroines with something to prove, The Book of Blood and Roses deserves a place on your radar.

thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy—this one sank its teeth into me and didn’t let go.

[Emilija · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

I wanted to love this book so much. It honestly sounded like it was going to be such a fantastic book with so much potential. Seriously, who doesn't want a sapphic vampire love story?

However, this is such a messy book that any good parts that they managed to fit in, almost immediately get negated by the lack of flow and adequate progression. It honestly reads like the author was throwing everything at the wall to see what stuck the best, which in my opinion, was the love story aspect. I feel like the author should have either stuck to a human/vampire relationship, or had the vampire hunter undercover in the school hunting for the book because meshing the two plots together poorly has resulted in this messy feeling.

Also, the main character is judgmental as sin, I kind of got bored of reading her dissing everybody like she's the best thing since sliced bread constantly. There was also a lack of great character development for this main character because you're meant to be rooting for her, because of her past, but I felt absolutely no attachment to her at all, and she felt so flat all the time.

[Romie (romesreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is truly the era for sapphic vampire romances and I’m here for it 🥀

one of my favourite parts of this book was the setting. a Scottish university with vampires thrown into the mix? say no more - i was hooked.

i loved how the vampire lore felt fresh despite drawing on classic traits, they felt reinvented and fresh (like the garlic supplements, because okay girl your vitamins)

cassie’s story is clearly far from over, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next

If you’re craving dark academia, sapphic vampires, and a touch of mystery, this book is exactly what you’re looking for 💫

[zara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5 stars

the writing for this book is laughably bad, but the story itself, while messy, is pretty entertaining and the tension between them genuinely kept me turning the pages so...

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Polish or Greek review scroll

“This madness can't be mine alone.”

And I refuse to carry it alone, because The Book of Blood and Roses cracked open a door I didn’t expect to walk through—and now I’m standing in the hallway, wide-eyed, waiting for someone to hand me the next book. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and listen... I’m being so serious when I say I loved this.

Here’s the thing: dark academia and I do not usually get along. I’ve tried If We Were Villains and The Secret History, and both left me cold. Pretentious characters, meandering plots, a whole lot of brooding for no payoff. So I went into this a little wary, expecting more of the same.

But what Annie Summerlee did? She made it work. Really work. The dark academia vibes are there—mysterious schools, secret societies—but they’re grounded in something more vibrant. The world-building is rich and full of magic, steeped in centuries-old history and blood oaths, with fantasy elements that feel tangible instead of ornamental. The setting isn’t just aesthetic, it has teeth—sharp ones. And yes, there are vampires. And yes, I loved them.

I’ll be the first to admit vampires are usually low on my list of favorite paranormal creatures. They’re overdone, often cheesy, and rarely feel fresh. But here? They’re magnetic. Dangerous. Mysterious without being melodramatic. I found myself genuinely intrigued by their politics and powers. Summerlee breathes new life into them.

The characters are what really pulled me in. Julia, Elia, Aliz—each of them felt alive. Sharp personalities, complicated motivations, and subtle emotional undercurrents that made every interaction feel like it mattered. Julia, in particular, kept surprising me, and I’m dying to know what happens next with her. Elia had that perfect mix of elegance and ruthlessness. And Aliz? My god, I could write a whole separate review just on her.

The only weak link was, surprisingly, the protagonist. Rebecca wasn’t awful, but she didn’t stand out either. And sometimes her choices made me want to reach into the page and shake her. Like, girl, maybe don’t go asking literal vampire professors and classmates about a mysterious forbidden book like it's casual lunchtime conversation?? She made choices that had me side-eyeing the page more than once. Still, her connection with Aliz made up for a lot.

Speaking of that connection... whew. The romance? Was intense. From the moment they locked eyes, the tension was electric. There’s a slow-burn quality that ramps up beautifully, and when things finally boil over—let’s just say the spice was well-earned. It didn’t feel gratuitous; it felt like a culmination of pages and pages of restraint, emotion, and heat. I was absolutely not in the room with them, but I felt like I was, and I was holding my breath the entire time.

And then there’s the Book of Blood and Roses itself—the titular mystery, the thing everyone is quietly (or not-so-quietly) hunting. It’s such a strong narrative anchor. I was fully hooked by the concept, and the reveals just kept coming. Plot twists layered over character twists layered over emotional gut-punches. Every time I thought I had a grip on the story, something shifted. I never felt safe—and I loved that.

The ending left me buzzing. Questions spiraling. Heart racing. What’s going to happen with Penny? With Julia and the Vassals? What even is the truth anymore?? I need answers and I need them yesterday.

So yeah. Was it perfect? No. Did I love it anyway? Absolutely. It gave me everything I didn’t know I wanted in a dark academia fantasy—with a queer romance that slapped, vampires that didn’t make me roll my eyes, and a world I can’t wait to return to. Sign me up for book two. I’m not leaving this madness behind.

૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡

💞Greek💞

Και αρνούμαι να την κουβαλήσω μόνη μου, γιατί το The book of blood and roses άνοιξε μια πόρτα που δεν περίμενα να περάσω — και τώρα στέκομαι στο κατώφλι, με το στόμα ορθάνοιχτο, περιμένοντας κάποιον να μου δώσει το επόμενο βιβλίο. Μου δόθηκε ένα ARC με αντάλλαγμα μια ειλικρινή κριτική, και ειλικρινά; Το καταβρόχθισα.

Το dark academia συνήθως δεν είναι του στυλ μου. Έχω δοκιμάσει το If We Were Villains και το The Secret History, και δεν μου άφησαν καλή εντύπωση. Υπερφίαλοι χαρακτήρες, αργή πλοκή, πολύ μπλα μπλα χωρίς αποτέλεσμα. Οπότε ξεκίνησα αυτό με λίγη καχυποψία.

Αλλά αυτό που έκανε η Annie Summerlee; Το έκανε να λειτουργήσει. Και μάλιστα, υπέροχα. Οι ακαδημαϊκές ατμόσφαιρες υπάρχουν — μυστικά σχολεία, μυστικές οργανώσεις, σκοτεινοί θρύλοι — αλλά είναι ριζωμένα σε κάτι πιο ζωντανό. Το world-building είναι πλούσιο και γεμάτο μαγεία, με στοιχεία φαντασίας που νιώθεις ότι είναι αληθινά. Το σκηνικό δεν είναι απλώς διακοσμητικό, έχει δόντια — και ναι, έχει βρικόλακες. Και ναι, τους λάτρεψα.

Θα το πω: οι βρικόλακες δεν είναι η πρώτη μου επιλογή σε παραφυσικά όντα. Συνήθως μου φαίνονται υπερβολικοί ή κλισέ. Αλλά εδώ; Ήταν γοητευτικοί. Επικίνδυνοι. Σκοτεινοί με ουσία, όχι μόνο στάση. Ενδιαφέρθηκα πραγματικά για την πολιτική και τη δομή τους. Η Summerlee έδωσε νέα πνοή σε κάτι παλιό, και τώρα θέλω κι άλλες ιστορίες μόνο και μόνο για να μάθω περισσότερα.

Οι χαρακτήρες με τράβηξαν τελείως. Η Julia, η Elia, η Aliz — όλες ήταν μοναδικές. Δυνατές προσωπικότητες, με βάθος και σκέψεις που ένιωθες πίσω από κάθε φράση. Η Julia ειδικά με ξάφνιαζε διαρκώς. Η Elia είχε αυτή την κομψή, επικίνδυνη αύρα. Και η Aliz; Θα μπορούσα να γράψω ξεχωριστή κριτική μόνο γι’ αυτήν.

Ο μοναδικός αδύναμος κρίκος ήταν η πρωταγωνίστρια. Η Rebecca δεν ήταν απαίσια, είχε τις στιγμές της, αλλά μπροστά στους άλλους έμοιαζε άχρωμη. Και μερικές φορές, ειλικρινά, ενεργούσε χαζά. Ποια πάει και ρωτά καθηγητές βρικόλακες για ένα απαγορευμένο βιβλίο, λες και δεν θα κινήσει υποψίες; Ήθελα να της φωνάξω.

Αλλά — και αυτό είναι μεγάλο αλλά — η σχέση της με την Aliz; Φωτιά. Η ένταση, το βλέμμα, το αργό χτίσιμο; Όλα ήταν άψογα. Και όταν τελικά ήρθε η στιγμή, η "καυτή" σκηνή ήταν αξιοπρεπής και καλογραμμένη. Δεν ήταν απλώς spice για το spice. Είχε συναισθηματικό υπόβαθρο και πραγματική σύνδεση. Το ένιωθα παντού.

Η πλοκή; Ανατροπή πάνω στην ανατροπή. Δεν ήξερα ποτέ τι να περιμένω. Κάθε φορά που πίστευα ότι καταλάβαινα τι γίνεται, κάτι καινούργιο προέκυπτε και με άφηνε άφωνη. Το τέλος; Με άφησε να κοιτάζω το ταβάνι. ΤΙ ΓΙΝΕΤΑΙ ΤΩΡΑ; Θέλω το δεύτερο βιβλίο asap.

Ήταν τέλειο; Όχι. Το αγάπησα; Χωρίς αμφιβολία. Μου έδωσε ένα είδος dark academia που όντως με άγγιξε, με μία queer σχέση που με έκαψε και έναν κόσμο στον οποίο θέλω να ξαναγυρίσω.

૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡

💞Polish💞

The Book of Blood and Roses otworzyło przede mną drzwi, których nie spodziewałam się przejść — a teraz stoję w progu, oszołomiona, i błagam o kolejną część. Dostałam ARC w zamian za szczerą recenzję — i szczerze? Pochłonęłam tę książkę.

Zazwyczaj nie przepadam za dark academia. Próbowałam If We Were Villains i The Secret History — nie zaiskrzyło. Nadęci bohaterowie, powolna fabuła, dużo pozowania, mało treści. Więc podeszłam do tej książki z lekkim dystansem.

Ale to, co zrobiła Annie Summerlee? Zadziałało. I to świetnie. Mroczny klimat akademicki jest obecny — tajemnicze szkoły, ukryte organizacje, stare legendy — ale wszystko osadzone w fantastycznym świecie z prawdziwą głębią. Świat jest bogaty, magiczny i konsekwentnie zbudowany. To nie tylko klimat, to konkretna rzeczywistość. A tak, są też wampiry. I wiecie co? Są świetni.

Nie jestem fanką wampirów. Wydają mi się często przereklamowani albo banalni. Ale tutaj? Są fascynujący. Groźni, intrygujący, pełni tajemnic — ale nie przesadni. Ich polityka, moce, relacje — naprawdę mnie wciągnęły. Summerlee tchnęła w nich nowe życie i chciałabym więcej książek osadzonych w tym świecie.

Postacie poboczne kradną show. Julia, Elia, Aliz — każda z nich ma silną osobowość i własny głos. Julia ciągle mnie zaskakiwała. Elia była chłodna i bezlitosna w najlepszym wydaniu. A Aliz? Można by napisać osobną książkę tylko o niej.

Jedyny minus? Główna bohaterka. Rebecca nie była zła, ale trochę bezbarwna. I czasami naprawdę głupia. Kto normalny pyta wampirzych nauczycieli o zakazaną księgę, jakby to była rozmowa o pogodzie? Dziewczyno, ogarnij się.

ALE — relacja z Aliz? Była ogniem. Napięcie, spojrzenia, emocjonalne podteksty — wszystko tam było. A gdy w końcu przeszły do rzeczy, ta scena była naprawdę dobra. Nie tania, nie bez sensu. Miała emocjonalny ciężar i odpowiedni klimat. Czułam się, jakbym była z nimi w pokoju.

Fabuła? Jedna zwrotka po drugiej. Koncepcja The Book of Blood and Roses była mocnym punktem. Za każdym razem, gdy myślałam, że rozumiem, co się dzieje, pojawiało się nowe zaskoczenie. To uczucie niepokoju i napięcia towarzyszyło mi przez całą książkę — i to lubię.

Zakończenie? Szok. — CO TERAZ? Potrzebuję drugiej części. NATYCHMIAST.

Czy to było idealne? Nie. Czy pokochałam to całym sercem? Zdecydowanie tak. To dark academia, które naprawdę zadziałało — z queerowym romansem, który mnie rozwalił, i światem, do którego chcę wrócić jak najszybciej.

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

SAPPHIC VAMPIRES WHO YEARN???? Yes. YEEEEES!

This book was so fun! The lore was great, the blending of humans and vampires in this world was really interesting and I looooooove an enemies to lovers between a vampire hunter and the prey they hunt 😍😍😍

This book made me realize how much I need to go back and watch more Buffy the Vampire Slayer! 😂 Yes these vampires were very stereotypical but I don’t care it was fun.

Rebecca and Aliz have my heart and I can’t wait for the world to get their hands on this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vampire hunter vs vampire? Room mate edition? Scottish highlands? ..where do I sign up 😂

A cute paranormal read for spooky season 👻 🎃 🧛‍♀️

This book was fun for what it was, I’d consider this a non serious read, a palette cleanser if you will!

I know people will definitely love this one, for me I prefer my paranormal books with a bit more bite and higher stakes but this was fun.

Disclaimer: This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Luke Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it!
Set me up with a dark academia sapphic vampire story and I am all yours.
I loved the slaying, very much Buffy vibes.
I LOVED Elia, a vampire with lore? Hello 😏
Eager to dive into the next installment!

[magdabuena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was everything I expected of it in the best way possible. Exactly what I needed right now. I apologise in advance if this review is incoherent because of how excited I am.

Every character was just recognisable enough as an archetype for me to know what to expect of them, but none of them fell into the overused stereotypes one so often finds in romantasy. Rebecca is a genuinely interesting protagonist who really didn’t come across as helpless, which would’ve been incredibly easy to do, given that she had literally no idea what was actually going on 90% of the time. I really admire the way the author could change my opinion about Elia as the book went on without her transition feeling forced. I have to say, though, my favourite was DEFINITELY Aliz. An unapologetically slutty vampire love interest that only wears three-piece suits? I’M SOLD. Her kindness and aversion to violence was so refreshing in a genre of ‘morally grey’ male interests who hate the mc for no apparent reason. Every character felt like they had a place; I like that I wasn’t being introduced to random friends and university students to pad the story out.

I’m not going to spoil the plot but let me just say that the suspense levels were perfect. By the end, I was panicking just as much as the characters were. No random plot twists came out of the blue without being hinted at beforehand, but they still shocked me. My only criticism is that that occasionally with the way that the prose/dialogue was phrased, I got a little confused as to what was going on, but, honestly, I find that to a certain extent with most books, it was just especially prevalent here—just stuff like I’d forget that someone was in a scene and then they’d speak out of nowhere, or I wouldn’t notice that one character was blindfolding the other and then I’d get confused when they couldn’t see etc. etc.

The romance didn’t make me cringe, which is quite a feat; I tend to think that the characters move too fast or make wild promises in the name of ‘true love’ but these two seemed perfectly reasonable to me and I’m very excited to see how their relationship develops in book two. The use of romance tropes like the whole enemies to lovers, forced proximity thing didn’t feel too forced, either. The smut was built up to perfection and neither that nor the gore felt gratuitous.

One of my biggest pet peeves for vampire stories is lore that makes no sense, and while this book added some more rules to the typical ones, all of them were understandable. The inclusion of synthetic blood and parched vampires particularly interested me.

Even as an ebook, everything was beautifully formatted, escpecially the typeface. I have a soft spot for books with the page numbers printed at the top. My only qualm was with the text messages being written in text bubbles, which just aggravates me, but that’s more of a me thing. It just feels disruptive. I’ll let it slide though because it would get annoying at parts when there’s both an aloud conversation and a text one having to specify which was which.

In conclusion, I LOVED IT. I will single-handedly market this book FOR FREE with how much I’m talking about it. BRING ON BOOK TWO!!! ‼️‼️‼️

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!!!

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, so, unfortunately I will be in pain until the sequel comes out. 4.5 stars.

When I tell you I was waiting. WAITING. For one particular thing to happen, and I thought it was about to happen at a million different points throughout this story- and it never did. (Not yet, at least. Sequel, please save me!)
It’s fine. Everything is fine. I am fine. (I am not fine).

In all seriousness though, this was really good.
I mean you’re giving me:
- Vampire X vampire hunter
- Forced proximity (roommates)
- Enemies to lovers
- “Who did this to you?”
- Dark academia

What more could a paranormal romance lover ask for?

Rebecca (Cassie, as she goes by for most of the story) and Aliz might just be giving the most amount of tension I have ever read in a book.
The slow burn was so serious I was actually getting a little bit frusrated.
Not in a bad way. I was just on the edge of my seat. Yearning.

This has what I would consider to be a good romance to fantasy ratio.
Which I appreciate!
Sometimes romantasy leans a bit too far to the fantasy side for me, but this was kind of perfect.

The only reason I haven’t given this the full 5 stars, was because Rebecca wasn’t my favorite.
I don’t think she was a bad character, but she was a tad bit uptight.
Which I get, because she’s a vampire hunter. But at some point I was just really wanting her to relax a little bit and stop ruining the moments I’d been waiting so long for.
I know it’s part of the plot, but still!

Overall though, really fun and really tense. I enjoyed it a ton and I need the next one like, right now!

Thank you to Netgalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and author Annie Summerlee for providing me with the eARC of “The Book of Blood and Roses”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: Jan 13, 2026

[Athena Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (athenafreyag on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athenafreyag/ )

Initial thoughts: Sapphic vampire hunter x vampire romance in academia?! What have I done to deserve this in my life?!?!

Now, let the fangirling begin!

What I liked 🤩: I LOVED IT ALLLLLLLLL!! The yearning! The worldbuilding! The steamy scenes! The has she forgiven me yet! This book is everything we queers needed in our lives, and I am so unbelievably happy that this book will be on shelves around the world from January!

I love vampires so much, and I love gay women so much, and I love academia as a setting, so this book is literally all my heart pieces into one.

Rebecca has been saving humans from illegal vampire blood parties, as her role as a vampire hunter. Training and working hard to gain the trust from her organization in order for her handler to tell her who killed her parents. Her latest mission is to infliltrate a renowned academy, find a secret library, and obtain a book long lost rumoured to have all weakness of vampires.

But oh no! Her roommate is the gorgeous heir who was using the bookshelves for a lot more than just studying!!

Did I mention that there are secret organizations and cults that don't agree with the vampire-human treaties? And that those have members in said academy?

I loooooove the plot. I love how easy it was to retain all worldbuilding details AND visualize everything. I love how geography played a role in the vampire's traits and how we saw vampires as more than bloodsucking beings but as academic, always evolving beings. And I love how our human girl was protecting our vampire girl. I mean, the contrast is chef's kiss!

I love the characters of all backgrounds and how respectful all rep was. The author literally weaved magic and created this book from our dreams and hopes.

What I didn’t like 🙃: There is nothing NOT to like about this book. I want to tattoo it on my forehead, which would be interesting given that I am a teacher lol.

Overall: Amazing sapphic enemies to lovers with a couple of crimes and conspiracies to solve along the way! Vampires who get their traits from their birthplace, vampires in academia, good vampires and bad vampires! Humans who show their true colours and maybe a ghost and a witch too. THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE MUST READ IT.

Do you miss Rune and Gideon? Want a sapphic Delena? Wait no more. Read this book and appease your thirst!! hehe

SE info: I think that the first edition has sprayed edges. If this isn't in a monthly book box, I will freaking riot.

[Ceacea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Del Rey, Random House and Inklore for this eARC.

Genre: Urban Paranormal
⭐️ 3/5

Vampire college? Sign me up! This is a dark academia, sapphic, enemies to lovers story with a vampire/vampire hunter dynamic. Both love interests are young and it shows. I struggled with the aggressive bigotry against vampires from the MCs POV, especially considering vampires are a normal part of this world and are not hidden monsters. I get that she had every reason to not trust them but it was extreme hatred for the entire species and the way it is written made me a little uncomfortable. But I'm a softy in that way so do with that what you will.

I like the tweaks to vampire lore in this story, but rest assured there is a ton of classic lore in here as well. Coffins anyone? I also would have liked a more intense story. The stakes didn't not feel very high in this first book but there is plenty of story left for that to be rectified later. What we did get in this first book is entertaining and the love story does not disappoint. Yearning is earning! The 'oops' bond and forced proximity were great.

For me this is totally a vibes read. If you want a an entertaining gothic story with Buffy feels definitely add this to your TBR.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so this book is definitely giving off Buffy vibes. Vampires exist and some of the world is aware of them, there is synthetic blood but not all partake in it. They are now integrating their university in Scotland with a small handful of humans. What better way to get inside Intel on them, then by sending an undercover slayer.

This world building has born and made vampires. There are several species/subjects each with their own gifts and curses. Rebecca is the slayer in question searching for the coveted book of blood and roses written by one of the founding vampire family members. Aliz, is a member of said family who has no interest in university at large but has been there for quite a few years.

Pros: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one bed, all done of my favorite tropes

Cons: naivety and gullible characters in some parts that should have known better with some miscommunication thrown in.

The ending does set up the next book. This book started strong but the ending fell flat in comparison. I'm hoping the next installment turns it back up.

3.75 stars. 3🌶

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for the opportunity.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time putting this book down and coming back to reality, I have to admit it! Wow, what a great start to this series! I really can’t believe how fast-paced this book is, full of great characters and intriguing theories.

The story follows Rebecca, a vampire hunter who infiltrates an academy where vampires coexist with humans. She’s on a mission to uncover the truth about her parents’ deaths, and to do that, she needs to complete her secret mission: find the Book of Blood and Roses. But destiny has other plans.

She ends up with a vampire roommate, Aliz Astra, who isn’t just any vampire, but the heiress of one of the most influential vampire families. Rebecca, now going by the name Cassie, can’t stand vampires… but she also can’t stop thinking about her roommate. And one night, everything changes when Aliz saves Cassie, and in doing so, the two end up connected on a deeper level.

I really liked this book, the quests, the side characters, and the evolving story between Cassie and Aliz. I have so many theories about several characters and events that happened in this first book. It was a great read, never boring, and I can’t wait to dive into the second book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the opportunity to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review.

🇮🇹:

Ammetto che ho fatto davvero fatica a staccarmi da questo libro e tornare alla realtà! Che inizio incredibile per questa serie!
The book of Blood and Roses è un libro scorrevole e pieno d’azione, con personaggi ben strutturati e tante teorie che ti tengono incollato alle pagine.

Rebecca è una cacciatrice di vampiri che si infiltra in un’accademia dove vampiri e umani coesistono. La sua missione è scoprire la verità sulla morte dei suoi genitori, e per farlo deve portare a termine un incarico segreto: trovare il Libro del Sangue e delle Rose. Ma il destino ha in serbo per lei altri piani.

Finisce per avere come coinquilina una vampira, Aliz Astra, che non è una vampira qualunque, ma l’erede di una delle famiglie di vampiri più influenti. Rebecca, che ora si fa chiamare Cassie, non sopporta i vampiri… ma non riesce nemmeno a smettere di pensare alla sua coinquilina. E una notte, tutto cambia quando Aliz salva Cassie, e nel farlo, le due finiscono per legarsi in modo molto profondo.

Ho adorato questo libro: le missioni, i personaggi secondari, e la storia che si sviluppa tra Cassie e Aliz. Ho un sacco di teorie su tanti personaggi e su alcune cose che sono successe in questo primo volume. È stata una lettura interessante, mai noiosa, e non vedo l’ora di leggere il secondo!

Grazie a NetGalley e Del Rey Books per avermi dato l’opportunità di leggere questo libro in anteprima in cambio di una recensione onesta.

[Shenagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars – Dark, Atmospheric, but a Bit Unbalanced

Book of Blood and Roses has a haunting, gothic atmosphere and an intriguing premise that pulled me in right away. The darker elements were well done, and there’s a definite allure to the mystery and romance at the core of the story.

However, the pacing felt uneven—slow in some places and rushed in others. I also found it hard to connect with some of the characters, and a few plot points could’ve used more depth or clarity.

Still, readers who enjoy dark romance with a supernatural edge might find this one worth a try.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.