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Till Death
“Vampire aficionados and romantasy fans alike will swoon over” (Publishers Weekly) this insatiable romantic horror novel from Hugo and Nebula Award–nominated author Kellan McDaniel about two gay men—one young, one ageless—who reclaim their lives and identities from those who would silence them.
Howard is biding his time until he can finally leave for college, where he has been promised it gets better. The last thing he expected was to meet a boy. But George reminds Howard of the movie stars from the 1960s he’s obsessed with. Plus, George is endearingly formal and well-read, and his grandpa fashion is super authentic.
After over twenty years together, George is about to lose his life partner. He met James when they were teenagers then lost track of him until they reconnected in their early sixties. Now, James is going somewhere beyond George’s reach—because George is a vampire, forever trapped in the body of a nineteen-year-old.
As the two grow closer, George begins to see a future beyond losing his first love, and Howard stops imagining himself always being alone…even if companionship comes at the cost of his mortality. When the discrimination the men have suffered their whole lives rears its ugly head to take away their happy ending, they finally strike back at the world that’s done its best to subdue them their entire lives.
Howard is biding his time until he can finally leave for college, where he has been promised it gets better. The last thing he expected was to meet a boy. But George reminds Howard of the movie stars from the 1960s he’s obsessed with. Plus, George is endearingly formal and well-read, and his grandpa fashion is super authentic.
After over twenty years together, George is about to lose his life partner. He met James when they were teenagers then lost track of him until they reconnected in their early sixties. Now, James is going somewhere beyond George’s reach—because George is a vampire, forever trapped in the body of a nineteen-year-old.
As the two grow closer, George begins to see a future beyond losing his first love, and Howard stops imagining himself always being alone…even if companionship comes at the cost of his mortality. When the discrimination the men have suffered their whole lives rears its ugly head to take away their happy ending, they finally strike back at the world that’s done its best to subdue them their entire lives.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2025
22 people are currently reading
1053 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 20, 2025
This was a time and honestly a hard book to review...
What Worked:Till Death tackles some interesting topics including grief, love, acceptance, queerness, and more. Some of my favorite moments were in the first part of the novel as George attempts to work out the emotional turmoil that comes with an aging partner that suffers from memory loss. McDaniel also provides great insight to queer history. Though I wish it was woven into the narrative in a way that didn't feel as info-dumpy, readers are bound to learn quite a bit.
What Didn't Work: The switch between the first and second part of the novel was extremely jarring. To be fair, McDaniel could have been going for a specific emotion in readers. The change between the two sections is triggered by the lack of progress made in the community in it's treatment of queer individuals. It's whiplash for the characters particularly George. However, without the necessary clarity provided by the author, I think that readers will go into this one rather confused and shocked by the changes. Also, there is, in my opinion, some unhealthy isolation that occurs when Howard and George become infuriated and retaliate against the rest of the world.
I'm not sure if this is an allegory or a cautionary tale for the state of the world and the anger and frustration that consistently is felt in the queer community. If so, McDaniel makes some interesting points through vampirism and horror; however, the lack of clarity will continue to leave most readers confused and out of touch with the purpose of the novel.
What Worked:Till Death tackles some interesting topics including grief, love, acceptance, queerness, and more. Some of my favorite moments were in the first part of the novel as George attempts to work out the emotional turmoil that comes with an aging partner that suffers from memory loss. McDaniel also provides great insight to queer history. Though I wish it was woven into the narrative in a way that didn't feel as info-dumpy, readers are bound to learn quite a bit.
What Didn't Work: The switch between the first and second part of the novel was extremely jarring. To be fair, McDaniel could have been going for a specific emotion in readers. The change between the two sections is triggered by the lack of progress made in the community in it's treatment of queer individuals. It's whiplash for the characters particularly George. However, without the necessary clarity provided by the author, I think that readers will go into this one rather confused and shocked by the changes. Also, there is, in my opinion, some unhealthy isolation that occurs when Howard and George become infuriated and retaliate against the rest of the world.
I'm not sure if this is an allegory or a cautionary tale for the state of the world and the anger and frustration that consistently is felt in the queer community. If so, McDaniel makes some interesting points through vampirism and horror; however, the lack of clarity will continue to leave most readers confused and out of touch with the purpose of the novel.
April 3, 2025
Ooooooooof.
Not the senior citizen in an 18 yr old body taking his old dementia patient human lover to an old folks home then start DATING THE HIGH SCHOOLER WHO VOLUNTEERS THERE while HIS LOVER DIES but “it’s all good they’re poly?” Bro no your lover is DYING and that is a child you’re thirsting over.
This was the least romantic thing I’ve ever seen. And it’s hard to make vampires not sexy and cool.
Not the senior citizen in an 18 yr old body taking his old dementia patient human lover to an old folks home then start DATING THE HIGH SCHOOLER WHO VOLUNTEERS THERE while HIS LOVER DIES but “it’s all good they’re poly?” Bro no your lover is DYING and that is a child you’re thirsting over.
This was the least romantic thing I’ve ever seen. And it’s hard to make vampires not sexy and cool.
November 17, 2024
✰ 2.5 stars ✰
“What if . . . what if I held this young man’s joy in my bare hands, pressed my lips to it, sank my fangs into it? Drank it—drank him?”
I honestly cannot figure why it went so off the rails. Was there some context clue I was missing that hinted to the fact that it had always been the author's intent and purpose for the meet and greet of Howard and George and to lead to this? For while I did notice that Fear was included to the title, I don't think the conclusion or even the moral of their romance is a healthy one. And fine, re-reading the final line of the blurb, perhaps, I should have been more aware, but all things considered - okay, fine just don't take it too seriously and then maybe you can enjoy it. 😒
“I want to know more about this guy who dresses like a hot grandpa—why is that doing it for me?—and who stares into my fucking soul every time he looks at me.”
For I was enjoying it. 😮💨 For the better half of the story, meaning Part 1, which showed how George was finding a way to cope with the loss of a longtime love and Howard, who is kindling his own battles and bruises over finding his first love and the challenges of a school system determined to keep the voices of his peers silenced forever. 😔 I liked how the author drew the parallels to the past and the present, especially for how Howard is very much an old soul of the era long gone, one which George has lived and can share his own experiences of. 💌 It was a nicely drawn contrast that I believed and felt that the author had a unique idea of showing that despite the lack of change, there was some connection that they felt towards each other. How Howard was able to better understand his own views of certain aspects through George's own experienced eye. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
Throw in, of course that George is a vampire and that is cue for a whole other awakening for Howard to realize. One which hints on an instant attraction that gave me whiplash, but, oh well. 🙄 I have not seen a single episode of Buffy except for its series finale. Yeah, yeah, don't mock me; but, to be fair, our cable channel really hyped up its finale, since it was simultaneously broadcasting it as the same time in the States, which back in the early 2000s was a pretty big deal in Pakistan. 😅
Well, my own trip down history lane aside, I was enjoying it. 🧛🏻 I even appreciated the various references it made, because I learned information I was not quite privy to. Heck, even the unexpected reveal at the halfway point was an incredibly well-timed and placed one that caught me by surprise! I was invested in George and Howard's romance, the sweet and the sour moments, the hurt and the joy. 🥲 George and James' intimacy was also very heartwarming and bittersweet; a delicate mix of regret, but also contentment of having a second chance at love. Howard's infatuation with George even felt sincere and I liked how openly honest he was in trusting him and believing that he was a vampire and that if the time called for it - he would not hesitate to follow him not even Till Death drew them apart. They belonged to two different worlds, yet they were passionate about similar interests - - for each was yearning for a relationship that could last forever '-— hunger for intimacy and partnership.' 🥺
“I’m cold, George,” I say. “I don’t want to be cold anymore.”
Until, wow! I don't even know how the root of the story just shifted into absolute craziness that had me seeing - not stars, but arrows! It -- I get the frustration. I get the anger and the bitterness over lack of change - if not, the speed of change, believe me, I do. But, is this really the message you do want to deliver. 'We have to threaten what exists.' Be Gay and Do Crime? 🤨 It is entertaining in theory, but if you look at its portrayal, the media that it compared itself with - I felt really weird. Like, it had lost all sense. I was hoping for some lucrative resolution, or even one that catered to some growth; but, it didn't. It almost felt like it was channeling some personal vendetta of its own, like to instill fear, you only have to be a vampire! I don't know, I was too befuddled and muddled in the head to take it seriously - and worried that someone would take it too seriously! 😟
What had started off as a typical vampire romance suddenly delved into unchartered territory of changing the tide of the narrative I could have very much done without. It's not something I am fond of, nor is it one that left me feeling remotely positive or even good about the two of them taking action for - I guess, justice if you wish to call it that. 🙅🏻♀️ To feel empowered and emboldened by how many challenges and struggles of discrimination they faced - prejudice and hatred that set Howard apart, much like how George felt disconnected from the world, simply for outliving them all. And while I do get it - It just lost me completely. I really did not see that coming and it left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. And yet, despite all that, I am still morbidly curious if their story will continue; the open ending left me with a trickle of a doubt that the fear is far from over. 😥
So maybe there is something to be said worthwhile about it after all. 🤷🏻♀️
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
“What if . . . what if I held this young man’s joy in my bare hands, pressed my lips to it, sank my fangs into it? Drank it—drank him?”
I honestly cannot figure why it went so off the rails. Was there some context clue I was missing that hinted to the fact that it had always been the author's intent and purpose for the meet and greet of Howard and George and to lead to this? For while I did notice that Fear was included to the title, I don't think the conclusion or even the moral of their romance is a healthy one. And fine, re-reading the final line of the blurb, perhaps, I should have been more aware, but all things considered - okay, fine just don't take it too seriously and then maybe you can enjoy it. 😒
“I want to know more about this guy who dresses like a hot grandpa—why is that doing it for me?—and who stares into my fucking soul every time he looks at me.”
For I was enjoying it. 😮💨 For the better half of the story, meaning Part 1, which showed how George was finding a way to cope with the loss of a longtime love and Howard, who is kindling his own battles and bruises over finding his first love and the challenges of a school system determined to keep the voices of his peers silenced forever. 😔 I liked how the author drew the parallels to the past and the present, especially for how Howard is very much an old soul of the era long gone, one which George has lived and can share his own experiences of. 💌 It was a nicely drawn contrast that I believed and felt that the author had a unique idea of showing that despite the lack of change, there was some connection that they felt towards each other. How Howard was able to better understand his own views of certain aspects through George's own experienced eye. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
Throw in, of course that George is a vampire and that is cue for a whole other awakening for Howard to realize. One which hints on an instant attraction that gave me whiplash, but, oh well. 🙄 I have not seen a single episode of Buffy except for its series finale. Yeah, yeah, don't mock me; but, to be fair, our cable channel really hyped up its finale, since it was simultaneously broadcasting it as the same time in the States, which back in the early 2000s was a pretty big deal in Pakistan. 😅
Well, my own trip down history lane aside, I was enjoying it. 🧛🏻 I even appreciated the various references it made, because I learned information I was not quite privy to. Heck, even the unexpected reveal at the halfway point was an incredibly well-timed and placed one that caught me by surprise! I was invested in George and Howard's romance, the sweet and the sour moments, the hurt and the joy. 🥲 George and James' intimacy was also very heartwarming and bittersweet; a delicate mix of regret, but also contentment of having a second chance at love. Howard's infatuation with George even felt sincere and I liked how openly honest he was in trusting him and believing that he was a vampire and that if the time called for it - he would not hesitate to follow him not even Till Death drew them apart. They belonged to two different worlds, yet they were passionate about similar interests - - for each was yearning for a relationship that could last forever '-— hunger for intimacy and partnership.' 🥺
“I’m cold, George,” I say. “I don’t want to be cold anymore.”
Until, wow! I don't even know how the root of the story just shifted into absolute craziness that had me seeing - not stars, but arrows! It -- I get the frustration. I get the anger and the bitterness over lack of change - if not, the speed of change, believe me, I do. But, is this really the message you do want to deliver. 'We have to threaten what exists.' Be Gay and Do Crime? 🤨 It is entertaining in theory, but if you look at its portrayal, the media that it compared itself with - I felt really weird. Like, it had lost all sense. I was hoping for some lucrative resolution, or even one that catered to some growth; but, it didn't. It almost felt like it was channeling some personal vendetta of its own, like to instill fear, you only have to be a vampire! I don't know, I was too befuddled and muddled in the head to take it seriously - and worried that someone would take it too seriously! 😟
What had started off as a typical vampire romance suddenly delved into unchartered territory of changing the tide of the narrative I could have very much done without. It's not something I am fond of, nor is it one that left me feeling remotely positive or even good about the two of them taking action for - I guess, justice if you wish to call it that. 🙅🏻♀️ To feel empowered and emboldened by how many challenges and struggles of discrimination they faced - prejudice and hatred that set Howard apart, much like how George felt disconnected from the world, simply for outliving them all. And while I do get it - It just lost me completely. I really did not see that coming and it left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. And yet, despite all that, I am still morbidly curious if their story will continue; the open ending left me with a trickle of a doubt that the fear is far from over. 😥
So maybe there is something to be said worthwhile about it after all. 🤷🏻♀️
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2025
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
This book was... interesting. And I do mean that in a good way, despite the pause. It's just hard to explain.
For the first part of the book, it juxtaposed the sadness of immortality with the freshness of mortality and youth in a way I hadn't read before. Which is not to say no other book explores that, just that I've never found one that explores it the way this one did. By having one of the main characters grapple with losing an old love while simultaneously finding a new one. I enjoyed that exploration.
It was a little weird that the vampire MC was essentially dating one person who was 80-something and one who was 18. But I learned a long time ago to expect and embrace some weirdness when it comes to vampires. So YMMV, but it wasn't that hard for me to shrug off. Especially since I think vampirism could cause you to exist in this conflicting mental state where part of you ages and feels old, but part of you still feels the age at which your life essentially froze.
I also liked how this book did not frame death itself as a sad and terrible thing. It acknowledged that losing someone is sad, someone dying alone or because they've been abandoned by society is horrible, but death itself just is, and not everyone wants immortality. It was nice that a book involving a lot of elderly characters and the grief of losing someone didn't villainize death.
There was also a strong theme of queerness. Queer history, queer rage, queer love. A lot about bigotry, politics, and the way people are treated.
The relationship between Howard and George could've been developed more. I guess time was passing and they were spending it together, but the reader didn't get to see a lot of that, so it felt a little off to me when their feelings were so strong. Still, it was a nice romance with characters who were supportive of each other.
Well, it was nice, excluding the (intentionally)... let's call it concerning element. But that concerning element was not how they treated each other, it was more the effect they had on each other. They brought some things out in each other, but were these changes for the better or for the worse?
The thing about this book is that it takes a turn, and it's one you might not really expect from the description. So you go into it expecting a fairly calm, maybe a bit sad, maybe a bit political, story, and instead you get something quite a bit darker, in a way. The tone also shifts from sober to almost a little campy.
I don't usually compare books to other books or media, but I happened to fairly recently watch *SPOILER* *END SPOILER* and I feel like this book falls into a similar category as those, though with stronger queer themes and its own unique differences. Spoilered because you can probably guess what direction the book will take if you've seen those, though the fun is still in seeing how this specific story and these characters turn out. Funnily enough, I didn't really like any of those movies, but I did enjoy this book, so if you love them, you'll probably like this book even more.
I like "typical" vampire romances, I wouldn't read them if I didn't, but I also like a vampire book that goes in a different direction. To be honest, I feel like the social issues in this book probably could've been largely the same without there being a vampire. But the author did tie it in by having him personally see the injustices done to queer people in history and living a lifetime of the injustice himself. And, well, I'm never mad about there being a vampire around 😅 He wasn't suave and rich, he was struggling like the rest of us, but he was still bitey.
The hardcover is nice, beautiful cover art and fun blood splatter on the title text.
I'm really trying not to spoil anything, so I'll end this by saying: I think this would've been even better for me with a little more development of the relationship before the tone shift and more exploration of immortality, since the book started with that, but ultimately those were not the main point, and I still enjoyed being along for the ride!
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2025 // Format: Ebook & Hardcover*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes YA vampire romance with a twist, queer rage, queer history, and queer love. And perhaps anyone who likes the movies I mentioned in my spoiler.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
This book was... interesting. And I do mean that in a good way, despite the pause. It's just hard to explain.
For the first part of the book, it juxtaposed the sadness of immortality with the freshness of mortality and youth in a way I hadn't read before. Which is not to say no other book explores that, just that I've never found one that explores it the way this one did. By having one of the main characters grapple with losing an old love while simultaneously finding a new one. I enjoyed that exploration.
It was a little weird that the vampire MC was essentially dating one person who was 80-something and one who was 18. But I learned a long time ago to expect and embrace some weirdness when it comes to vampires. So YMMV, but it wasn't that hard for me to shrug off. Especially since I think vampirism could cause you to exist in this conflicting mental state where part of you ages and feels old, but part of you still feels the age at which your life essentially froze.
I also liked how this book did not frame death itself as a sad and terrible thing. It acknowledged that losing someone is sad, someone dying alone or because they've been abandoned by society is horrible, but death itself just is, and not everyone wants immortality. It was nice that a book involving a lot of elderly characters and the grief of losing someone didn't villainize death.
There was also a strong theme of queerness. Queer history, queer rage, queer love. A lot about bigotry, politics, and the way people are treated.
The relationship between Howard and George could've been developed more. I guess time was passing and they were spending it together, but the reader didn't get to see a lot of that, so it felt a little off to me when their feelings were so strong. Still, it was a nice romance with characters who were supportive of each other.
Well, it was nice, excluding the (intentionally)... let's call it concerning element. But that concerning element was not how they treated each other, it was more the effect they had on each other. They brought some things out in each other, but were these changes for the better or for the worse?
The thing about this book is that it takes a turn, and it's one you might not really expect from the description. So you go into it expecting a fairly calm, maybe a bit sad, maybe a bit political, story, and instead you get something quite a bit darker, in a way. The tone also shifts from sober to almost a little campy.
I don't usually compare books to other books or media, but I happened to fairly recently watch *SPOILER* *END SPOILER* and I feel like this book falls into a similar category as those, though with stronger queer themes and its own unique differences. Spoilered because you can probably guess what direction the book will take if you've seen those, though the fun is still in seeing how this specific story and these characters turn out. Funnily enough, I didn't really like any of those movies, but I did enjoy this book, so if you love them, you'll probably like this book even more.
I like "typical" vampire romances, I wouldn't read them if I didn't, but I also like a vampire book that goes in a different direction. To be honest, I feel like the social issues in this book probably could've been largely the same without there being a vampire. But the author did tie it in by having him personally see the injustices done to queer people in history and living a lifetime of the injustice himself. And, well, I'm never mad about there being a vampire around 😅 He wasn't suave and rich, he was struggling like the rest of us, but he was still bitey.
The hardcover is nice, beautiful cover art and fun blood splatter on the title text.
I'm really trying not to spoil anything, so I'll end this by saying: I think this would've been even better for me with a little more development of the relationship before the tone shift and more exploration of immortality, since the book started with that, but ultimately those were not the main point, and I still enjoyed being along for the ride!
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2025 // Format: Ebook & Hardcover*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes YA vampire romance with a twist, queer rage, queer history, and queer love. And perhaps anyone who likes the movies I mentioned in my spoiler.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
May 20, 2025
pure asscheeks bro. half this book read like a 13 year olds tumblr blog in 2014 while the other was insta-love so cringe it genuinely made me go "boy what the hell? what the hell boy?" several times. also. ur 80 in a twinky body thirsting over a CHILD while ur EIGHTY YEAR OLD LOVER dies of dementia 😭☝️ uhhhhhhhh. anyways. it also spiraled out of nowhere and was so exaggerated for no reason. "they wont let us use pronouns in our emails :( im going to kill them!" there are people being bombed and put into concentration camps rn bro. i assure u, it's not worth it for some vampire ass 😭
October 31, 2024
You know those books that are so comically bad that you kind of just have a good time because it's all so ridiculous?
That's this book.
The idea was fun (and 500% inspired by that Buffy episode where she sleeps with Angel and he loses his effing mind afterwards fused with bad horror Netflix originals vibes) but the writing was so weird it felt like eight different people wrote the book. The style would change every other page, you'd get reminded of things that literally just happened even while you were still in the same POV and the reminiscing of 20th century queer history had so much potential but just sounded like ChatGPT wrote it if you gave the prompt "give me nostalgic memories a young but kinda granny vampire would have of the 1960-1980s oh but also add murder for good karma and stuff".
Again, absolutely bonkers and nonsensical but I did cackle a few times so there's that. Pick this up if you're in the mood for something unhinged and/or a palate cleanser.
That's this book.
The idea was fun (and 500% inspired by that Buffy episode where she sleeps with Angel and he loses his effing mind afterwards fused with bad horror Netflix originals vibes) but the writing was so weird it felt like eight different people wrote the book. The style would change every other page, you'd get reminded of things that literally just happened even while you were still in the same POV and the reminiscing of 20th century queer history had so much potential but just sounded like ChatGPT wrote it if you gave the prompt "give me nostalgic memories a young but kinda granny vampire would have of the 1960-1980s oh but also add murder for good karma and stuff".
Again, absolutely bonkers and nonsensical but I did cackle a few times so there's that. Pick this up if you're in the mood for something unhinged and/or a palate cleanser.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2025
3.5 - Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the complimentary copy of this book!
This book is out now!
I have been trying to expand the types of books I am reading this year including a few with paranormal elements. I do not read a whole lot of vampire books and let's be honest my own real comparison are to a certain vampire series that I read over 15 years ago now.
This whole storyline is so wild!! You have Howard this high schooler who is just trying to get through his days and he meets George while volunteering at a nursing home. But George isn't there to visit an aging relative, he is there to spend time with his long time partner during his final days. Howard is immediately drawn to George. I don't know if I would call it insta-love but it was insta connection between the two but George was technically still with his partner James. Even after James had passed (which sort of just kind of happened on page) it was like okay let's be together! I wish we got to see more of George through the grieving process and that there was more time between him and Howard starting their relationship. It just seemed so fast for someone who was so in love with their loved one.
I'm not sure if I missed it but did they even discuss what life is like for George as a vampire? Howard was all about becoming a vampire but it just didn't seem like there was no conversation leading up to it.
I primarily did the audio of this and Kevin R. Free pulled off both point of views. What I thought was brilliant of him was that his voice was different for Howard and George so that it made it easier to tell whose point of view we were in. I am glad I listened to the book because I really was into the story and to see truly how bonkers it could get.
Its very hard to decide how I feel about this book because on one hand it was not the best romance I've read but at the same time I was very into it and couldn't stop myself from enjoying?
If you are looking for a slightly campy MM vampire book - give this one a try!
This book is out now!
I have been trying to expand the types of books I am reading this year including a few with paranormal elements. I do not read a whole lot of vampire books and let's be honest my own real comparison are to a certain vampire series that I read over 15 years ago now.
This whole storyline is so wild!! You have Howard this high schooler who is just trying to get through his days and he meets George while volunteering at a nursing home. But George isn't there to visit an aging relative, he is there to spend time with his long time partner during his final days. Howard is immediately drawn to George. I don't know if I would call it insta-love but it was insta connection between the two but George was technically still with his partner James. Even after James had passed (which sort of just kind of happened on page) it was like okay let's be together! I wish we got to see more of George through the grieving process and that there was more time between him and Howard starting their relationship. It just seemed so fast for someone who was so in love with their loved one.
I'm not sure if I missed it but did they even discuss what life is like for George as a vampire? Howard was all about becoming a vampire but it just didn't seem like there was no conversation leading up to it.
I primarily did the audio of this and Kevin R. Free pulled off both point of views. What I thought was brilliant of him was that his voice was different for Howard and George so that it made it easier to tell whose point of view we were in. I am glad I listened to the book because I really was into the story and to see truly how bonkers it could get.
Its very hard to decide how I feel about this book because on one hand it was not the best romance I've read but at the same time I was very into it and couldn't stop myself from enjoying?
If you are looking for a slightly campy MM vampire book - give this one a try!
April 2, 2025
I enjoyed this one. It was giving off queer twilight vibes and I was here for it.
This was basically a love story between a vampire and a Howard who was struggling to make positive changes in his school but hitting wall after wall.
There isn't too much I can add about this one. It was certainly YA in a sense that all of the characters were high school age, except George, trapped in the body of a high schooler. I felt sad for Howard who was struggling with life. He had a close-knit group of queer friends, but they faced the unfortunate reality of their school not being ready for any changes. George was also Howard's first kiss and first boyfriend, which made the dynamic interesting since George was literally an old soul.
Overall, if this is your type of book, give it a read. I found it enjoyable.
This was basically a love story between a vampire and a Howard who was struggling to make positive changes in his school but hitting wall after wall.
There isn't too much I can add about this one. It was certainly YA in a sense that all of the characters were high school age, except George, trapped in the body of a high schooler. I felt sad for Howard who was struggling with life. He had a close-knit group of queer friends, but they faced the unfortunate reality of their school not being ready for any changes. George was also Howard's first kiss and first boyfriend, which made the dynamic interesting since George was literally an old soul.
Overall, if this is your type of book, give it a read. I found it enjoyable.
October 24, 2024
Some of you are going to love this one. My only problem with this book is that I could have done without the info dump. At times it seemed like a history lesson, and rather preachy. While I get the author wants to get their point across, I wish it had been done in a way that carefully and artfully intermeshed with the story. Another thing that irked me was the age gap between James and George. Of course, that is more of a personal preference than anything, George is meant to be undead after all. As for the character. I loved the character in this book, I loved how George although he looked like a teenager was kept in character of a true teen from the 1960's. I love George and Howard's loves story, how they fell, and I love the James and Georges's love story coming to a close. This isn't really a horror book. I would say the horror and Vampire plot takes a backseat to the story, and this isn't a bad thing. Overall, a beautifully written of story of gay rights and young men falling in love.
June 29, 2025
Very much enjoyed this one. And man a twist of an ending I didn’t really see coming.
June 2, 2025
I’ve really enjoyed Kellan McDaniel’s (aka K.M. Szpara) adult novels and immediately purchased this one as soon as I heard of it’s release believing I’d be adding another favorite to my shelf. Unfortunately, this novel is ideological fiction at its finest. Its characters lack complexity and depth; the opposition is portrayed as entirely villainous, while the main characters are depicted as virtuous, flawless victims of their adversaries. Although I empathize with many of the hardships the main characters endure, I feel the story ultimately undermines the author’s intended message rather than building genuine support for the cause they clearly care deeply about.
This book is full of caricatures and lacks any real nuance or depth. It takes moral and emotional intelligence to tell a story that illuminates both the strengths and flaws of every character—even those you despise—and to explore the vast gray area between the black-and-white extremes of our world. Regrettably, the author approaches this subject with an extremely heavy hand. I read widely across all demographics and have encountered many novels on similar topics that feel authentic and genuine rather than written simply to vilify others, and I’ve never been sorrier to say that this one does not.
In addition to what I’ve already mentioned, I must point out that—aside from one of the main character’s Oma—there is almost no differentiation between the elderly residents and the teenage characters, other than their age and the fact that they live in a senior home. These older characters lack the distinctive voices they should naturally have, having grown up in a different era. Perhaps this jumps out at me because I have worked closely with elderly people for the past twenty years, but instead of feeling authentic, they come across as the idealized, romanticized versions the author wishes they were combined with generic elder stereotypes.
I generally dislike writing reviews without highlighting at least one positive aspect, so I’ll say that I really appreciated how much queer history was incorporated—although I wish there had been more than just hate and tragic death. And for a bonus positive I’ll add that the cover of this novel is stunning. Although that just makes it all the more disappointing that I’ll be un-hauling it. I think it goes without saying but just in case- I do not recommend this book. There are so many better options out there. And if you’re looking for an evocative, heartrending story about two queer characters please let me suggest the masterpiece that is The Silver Cage.
This book is full of caricatures and lacks any real nuance or depth. It takes moral and emotional intelligence to tell a story that illuminates both the strengths and flaws of every character—even those you despise—and to explore the vast gray area between the black-and-white extremes of our world. Regrettably, the author approaches this subject with an extremely heavy hand. I read widely across all demographics and have encountered many novels on similar topics that feel authentic and genuine rather than written simply to vilify others, and I’ve never been sorrier to say that this one does not.
In addition to what I’ve already mentioned, I must point out that—aside from one of the main character’s Oma—there is almost no differentiation between the elderly residents and the teenage characters, other than their age and the fact that they live in a senior home. These older characters lack the distinctive voices they should naturally have, having grown up in a different era. Perhaps this jumps out at me because I have worked closely with elderly people for the past twenty years, but instead of feeling authentic, they come across as the idealized, romanticized versions the author wishes they were combined with generic elder stereotypes.
I generally dislike writing reviews without highlighting at least one positive aspect, so I’ll say that I really appreciated how much queer history was incorporated—although I wish there had been more than just hate and tragic death. And for a bonus positive I’ll add that the cover of this novel is stunning. Although that just makes it all the more disappointing that I’ll be un-hauling it. I think it goes without saying but just in case- I do not recommend this book. There are so many better options out there. And if you’re looking for an evocative, heartrending story about two queer characters please let me suggest the masterpiece that is The Silver Cage.
September 18, 2025
I look at my hands on the steering wheel, remembering the sharp point of George's fang grazing my finger. A shiver slides through me as I realize that even a gentle push would have broken my skin, bled me. How I put my hand in a vampire's mouth but also how he let me - how intimate it was.
this was the most disappointing experience ever. i LOVED mcdaniel/szpara's debut Docile so much when i read it years ago; it was subversive, horrifying, sexy - everything that this book also claimed to be. unfortunately, till death was like if someone wrote a My Immortal/down with cis bus fanfiction. it was the cringiest, most tenderqueer piece of "horror" i've ever read in ya.
also - i love vampires. i know the ageless being/teenage human trope is problematic. but it feels wayyy more problematic when the so-called ageless being is actually just a baby boomer who openly admits they feel their age and not like a teenager. not to mention the whole book took place over a couple of months?? their relationship was like a fox news gays be grooming segment. howard changed his entire moral worldview for george within like two weeks of knowing him :/
i also don't buy the way george spoke. i don't think an 80 something year old vampire is gonna be saying things like "the straights," especially not one who's only been interacting with fellow baby boomers for the past two decades.
overall i'm soooo upset that i even finished reading this, but i just kept hoping against hope that something would happen and the genius of this novel would reveal itself to me. it did not. 1.5. (bc i could never give anything having to do with vampires 1 star)
this was the most disappointing experience ever. i LOVED mcdaniel/szpara's debut Docile so much when i read it years ago; it was subversive, horrifying, sexy - everything that this book also claimed to be. unfortunately, till death was like if someone wrote a My Immortal/down with cis bus fanfiction. it was the cringiest, most tenderqueer piece of "horror" i've ever read in ya.
also - i love vampires. i know the ageless being/teenage human trope is problematic. but it feels wayyy more problematic when the so-called ageless being is actually just a baby boomer who openly admits they feel their age and not like a teenager. not to mention the whole book took place over a couple of months?? their relationship was like a fox news gays be grooming segment. howard changed his entire moral worldview for george within like two weeks of knowing him :/
i also don't buy the way george spoke. i don't think an 80 something year old vampire is gonna be saying things like "the straights," especially not one who's only been interacting with fellow baby boomers for the past two decades.
overall i'm soooo upset that i even finished reading this, but i just kept hoping against hope that something would happen and the genius of this novel would reveal itself to me. it did not. 1.5. (bc i could never give anything having to do with vampires 1 star)
April 14, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital advanced book! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There were a few things that surprised me about this book. We follow Howard, an 18-year-old human boy and George, a vampire who was forcibly turned when he was 18, many decades ago (currently he is in his 80s). These two boys meet at a nursing home that Howard volunteers at and where George visits his first love, a now frail and infirm man named James. George’s first partner in the picture was…a strange development for me. I think it was included to show the maturity of his and George’s relationship, as well as the impression that James was okay with George finding love after him. Regardless, the visual age difference was icky to me.
This book was sex positive, which is awesome. I also loved the friend group that fought so hard for LGBTQ+ rights and representations at the high school. There is bias and bigotry, but also a wealth of love and support shown for the queer characters. I appreciated the spectrum of queer identities represented.
I found Howard’s growth arc interesting. He embraced the darker side of George’s characteristics as a vampire (i.e. killing) much faster than I anticipated. I think he was ready for a swifter justice than the bureaucratic and slow-moving school board members were willing to dispense. And honestly, I vibed with that. Too often, bigotry is allowed to run rampant because of established institutions like this. It was refreshing to see justice performed in a different and quicker method. Trigger warnings for murder.
I found this book to be quite advanced in mature themes. I think it might benefit from aging the boys a few years and making this a New Adult queer paranormal romance. Overall, I would recommend this to people who enjoyed Twilight but like their stories a bit darker.
2.75/5 stars
There were a few things that surprised me about this book. We follow Howard, an 18-year-old human boy and George, a vampire who was forcibly turned when he was 18, many decades ago (currently he is in his 80s). These two boys meet at a nursing home that Howard volunteers at and where George visits his first love, a now frail and infirm man named James. George’s first partner in the picture was…a strange development for me. I think it was included to show the maturity of his and George’s relationship, as well as the impression that James was okay with George finding love after him. Regardless, the visual age difference was icky to me.
This book was sex positive, which is awesome. I also loved the friend group that fought so hard for LGBTQ+ rights and representations at the high school. There is bias and bigotry, but also a wealth of love and support shown for the queer characters. I appreciated the spectrum of queer identities represented.
I found Howard’s growth arc interesting. He embraced the darker side of George’s characteristics as a vampire (i.e. killing) much faster than I anticipated. I think he was ready for a swifter justice than the bureaucratic and slow-moving school board members were willing to dispense. And honestly, I vibed with that. Too often, bigotry is allowed to run rampant because of established institutions like this. It was refreshing to see justice performed in a different and quicker method. Trigger warnings for murder.
I found this book to be quite advanced in mature themes. I think it might benefit from aging the boys a few years and making this a New Adult queer paranormal romance. Overall, I would recommend this to people who enjoyed Twilight but like their stories a bit darker.
2.75/5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2025
Alright. So I finished this two nights ago but haven’t gotten the chance to make an update yet so here it is. I honestly really liked this book!!! Anything with gay vampires always has me hooked right away. I do think think the whole idea of the vampires old lover passing away of old age and then he gets with another person right after is a little bit silly because the whole mourning process and the whole idea of how you shouldn’t be jumping into one relationship to the next. However I guess it is a supernatural world so some rules don’t apply? That’s one of the reasons I gave this four stars. The other reason is because the ending didn’t sit right with me, Howard left all of his friends and his Oma to go be a vampire with a dude he met maybe like less than a year ago? Like I understand the whole vampire appeal and wanting to be one but like…. It was still a pretty good read though and I enjoyed it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2025
A thought-provoking angsty story the likes of which I’d never seen before. It was an intriguing blend of horror, young adult romance, and social injustice with a focus on the queer community.
The author did a beautiful job highlighting the everyday struggles and concerns within the LGBT community.
George and Howard are two queer kids struggling in their own way to live and find happiness.
I enjoyed their characters and it was interesting to see how their past and everyday occurrences led them to the path they chose in the end.
I also enjoyed the blend of Let me Go and Lestat vibes!
Some tropes to note in here were; LGBT reps, morally grey characters, young adult romance, vampire/human, social injustices, tragic past, touch him and xx vibes, angst, found family and more.
The author did a beautiful job highlighting the everyday struggles and concerns within the LGBT community.
George and Howard are two queer kids struggling in their own way to live and find happiness.
I enjoyed their characters and it was interesting to see how their past and everyday occurrences led them to the path they chose in the end.
I also enjoyed the blend of Let me Go and Lestat vibes!
Some tropes to note in here were; LGBT reps, morally grey characters, young adult romance, vampire/human, social injustices, tragic past, touch him and xx vibes, angst, found family and more.
March 19, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
This book does a marvelous job of setting an emotional scene. Though some of the side characters felt a bit two-dimensional, Howard and George had plenty of depth to them to make up for it and then some. It was easy to get engrossed in the story. The ending was so vivid I could hear every heartbeat, feel every drop of sweat, taste every tear. This also meant it was easy to get invested in the two main characters as they developed feelings for each other, and even in the moments where little red flags were waving in the background, I still rooted for them all the way through.
Read Nishan's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
This book does a marvelous job of setting an emotional scene. Though some of the side characters felt a bit two-dimensional, Howard and George had plenty of depth to them to make up for it and then some. It was easy to get engrossed in the story. The ending was so vivid I could hear every heartbeat, feel every drop of sweat, taste every tear. This also meant it was easy to get invested in the two main characters as they developed feelings for each other, and even in the moments where little red flags were waving in the background, I still rooted for them all the way through.
Read Nishan's review in its entirety here.
February 14, 2025
I really wanted to love this book, queer vampires? Absolutely sounds up my alley! But the info dumping and open ended plot points really made it hard for me. I think watching the original love story between George and Howard was nice, and I loved James and George too! I just really struggled to get into this and I’m honestly pretty bummed about that.
I think this book will work perfectly for some people! Unfortunately just not me.
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.
I think this book will work perfectly for some people! Unfortunately just not me.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2025
This book started out really strong and had such potential but the end felt pretty abrupt. It felt like we were building towards this explosive climax that would have devastating consequences for the characters but it just never happened.
Read
May 24, 2025fem top kurt hummel thinks he’s in twilight when he’s actually in heathers. uneven and extremely silly at times but this is probably szpara’s best book.
September 26, 2025
2.5 stars
May 16, 2025
In his YA debut, Kellan McDaniel (known to adult readers as K.M. Szpara of "Docile" fame) delivers a vampire romance that's equal parts tender love story and unapologetic revenge tale. "Till Death" takes traditional vampire mythology and injects it with a powerful dose of queer liberation politics, creating something that feels both nostalgic and utterly contemporary.
Set against the backdrop of Baltimore's historic neighborhoods, this novel introduces us to Howard, a vintage-loving high school senior counting down the days until college, and George, an 80-year-old vampire forever trapped in his 19-year-old body. What begins as a chance meeting at a retirement home evolves into a romance that challenges both characters' notions of love, justice, and what it means to truly live forever.
Two Souls in Different Phases of Life
McDaniel constructs his narrative through dual perspectives that elegantly showcase both protagonists' interior lives:
Howard is immediately compelling as a queer teen who's found refuge with his grandmother after being rejected by his parents. His passion for vintage fashion, classic films, and queer history makes him an old soul well before he meets George. What makes Howard particularly relatable is how he navigates the daily microaggressions of high school life—keeping his head down, focusing on grades, and volunteering at a retirement home where he can be his authentic self among elders who accept him without question.
George brings a different energy—weary but resilient after decades of witnessing the slow march of queer progress. His relationship with James, his dying partner of twenty years (and high school sweetheart from the 1950s), grounds the novel with a poignant portrayal of long-term queer love. Through George, McDaniel explores the emotional toll of living through multiple generations of LGBTQ history, from hiding in the shadows to marching in the streets during the AIDS crisis.
A Romance That Defies Time
The chemistry between Howard and George simmers with delicious tension from their first meeting. Their relationship develops with authentic awkwardness and tenderness:
"That's when a floorboard creaks overhead. Every head turns except mine. I stand dead still, heart racing in my chest, blood pounding in my ears, body cold."
McDaniel excels at portraying the physical aspects of their relationship with a balance of sensuality and restraint appropriate for the YA audience. The first intimate scene between Howard and George—interwoven with Howard's first experience of being fed upon—is both erotic and emotional without becoming graphic.
What makes their romance compelling is how it evolves from mutual attraction to something deeper. Both characters recognize something in each other—a shared understanding of what it means to be queer and marginalized, but also a shared passion for history and cultural preservation.
Queer History as Living Memory
One of the novel's greatest strengths is how seamlessly McDaniel integrates queer historical touchpoints through George's firsthand experiences:
- References to the oppressive "three-article rule" that criminalized cross-dressing
- The AIDS crisis and George's role in comforting dying gay men when others wouldn't touch them
- The gradual evolution from secret relationships to public acknowledgment
These elements never feel like lectures—they're organically woven into George's character and his conversations with Howard. The novel becomes a meditation on queer intergenerational knowledge transfer, with George serving as living history for Howard.
From Romance to Revolution
Where "Till Death" truly sets itself apart from other vampire romances is in its unflinching turn toward justified vengeance. The second half of the novel transforms from a love story into something more radical. When Howard faces discrimination from his school board and bullying from classmates, the narrative shifts from passive endurance to active resistance.
This evolution feels earned rather than shocking because McDaniel has carefully laid the groundwork through Howard's increasing frustration and George's historical perspective on how change really happens:
"The extreme always seems to make an impression."
The novel's climactic acts of violence against those who've oppressed them feels like the natural conclusion of their character arcs, though some readers may find the moral ambiguity challenging. McDaniel doesn't shy away from showing the costs of their actions, including Howard's separation from his grandmother and best friend Sue.
Structural and Stylistic Elements
McDaniel's prose strikes an effective balance between contemporary teen vernacular and more formal language that reflects George's age. The short chapters propel the story forward at a brisk pace, and the alternating perspectives provide both emotional intimacy and narrative suspense.
The settings feel richly realized, particularly:
- Spring Meadows retirement home with its found family of elderly queer allies
- Baltimore's historic neighborhoods with their row houses and hidden alleys
- Wyndhurst Preparatory School as a microcosm of institutional oppression
The novel's structure follows an arc from conformity to rebellion that mirrors the political awakening many young queer people experience. Early chapters establish the characters within systems that require their compliance, while later chapters show their deliberate rejection of those systems.
Critical Assessment
While "Till Death" largely succeeds in its ambitious goals, it does have a few weaknesses:
- Pacing issues in the middle section - The novel's transition from romance to revenge thriller happens somewhat abruptly, with insufficient breathing room between key revelations and actions.
- Underdeveloped secondary characters - The QSA members, particularly Tiana and Gray, feel more like sketches than fully realized characters. Sue receives more development, but even his character sometimes functions more as a plot device than a person with consistent motivations.
- Limited exploration of vampire mythology - For a vampire novel, "Till Death" is surprisingly light on supernatural elements. George's condition is never fully explained, nor are the limits of his abilities clearly defined. This occasionally creates confusion about the rules governing this particular vampire universe.
Despite these flaws, the novel's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. McDaniel has crafted a compelling romance with genuine emotional stakes and a provocative political message.
Final Verdict
McDaniel has created something rare: a vampire romance that feels both classically gothic and urgently contemporary. "Till Death" is a love letter to queer resilience across generations and a bold statement about the necessity of fighting for one's place in the world.
The novel asks difficult questions about justice, vengeance, and the morality of violence against oppressors without offering easy answers. In Howard and George's journey from conformity to revolution, McDaniel has crafted a compelling metaphor for the queer experience—one that acknowledges both the pain of marginalization and the transformative power of love.
With its blend of tender romance, historical perspective, and revolutionary politics, "Till Death" marks McDaniel as an important new voice in YA fiction who isn't afraid to let his characters bite back against a world that has tried to silence them.
Like the best vampire fiction, this novel lingers in the blood long after the final page.
Set against the backdrop of Baltimore's historic neighborhoods, this novel introduces us to Howard, a vintage-loving high school senior counting down the days until college, and George, an 80-year-old vampire forever trapped in his 19-year-old body. What begins as a chance meeting at a retirement home evolves into a romance that challenges both characters' notions of love, justice, and what it means to truly live forever.
Two Souls in Different Phases of Life
McDaniel constructs his narrative through dual perspectives that elegantly showcase both protagonists' interior lives:
Howard is immediately compelling as a queer teen who's found refuge with his grandmother after being rejected by his parents. His passion for vintage fashion, classic films, and queer history makes him an old soul well before he meets George. What makes Howard particularly relatable is how he navigates the daily microaggressions of high school life—keeping his head down, focusing on grades, and volunteering at a retirement home where he can be his authentic self among elders who accept him without question.
George brings a different energy—weary but resilient after decades of witnessing the slow march of queer progress. His relationship with James, his dying partner of twenty years (and high school sweetheart from the 1950s), grounds the novel with a poignant portrayal of long-term queer love. Through George, McDaniel explores the emotional toll of living through multiple generations of LGBTQ history, from hiding in the shadows to marching in the streets during the AIDS crisis.
A Romance That Defies Time
The chemistry between Howard and George simmers with delicious tension from their first meeting. Their relationship develops with authentic awkwardness and tenderness:
"That's when a floorboard creaks overhead. Every head turns except mine. I stand dead still, heart racing in my chest, blood pounding in my ears, body cold."
McDaniel excels at portraying the physical aspects of their relationship with a balance of sensuality and restraint appropriate for the YA audience. The first intimate scene between Howard and George—interwoven with Howard's first experience of being fed upon—is both erotic and emotional without becoming graphic.
What makes their romance compelling is how it evolves from mutual attraction to something deeper. Both characters recognize something in each other—a shared understanding of what it means to be queer and marginalized, but also a shared passion for history and cultural preservation.
Queer History as Living Memory
One of the novel's greatest strengths is how seamlessly McDaniel integrates queer historical touchpoints through George's firsthand experiences:
- References to the oppressive "three-article rule" that criminalized cross-dressing
- The AIDS crisis and George's role in comforting dying gay men when others wouldn't touch them
- The gradual evolution from secret relationships to public acknowledgment
These elements never feel like lectures—they're organically woven into George's character and his conversations with Howard. The novel becomes a meditation on queer intergenerational knowledge transfer, with George serving as living history for Howard.
From Romance to Revolution
Where "Till Death" truly sets itself apart from other vampire romances is in its unflinching turn toward justified vengeance. The second half of the novel transforms from a love story into something more radical. When Howard faces discrimination from his school board and bullying from classmates, the narrative shifts from passive endurance to active resistance.
This evolution feels earned rather than shocking because McDaniel has carefully laid the groundwork through Howard's increasing frustration and George's historical perspective on how change really happens:
"The extreme always seems to make an impression."
The novel's climactic acts of violence against those who've oppressed them feels like the natural conclusion of their character arcs, though some readers may find the moral ambiguity challenging. McDaniel doesn't shy away from showing the costs of their actions, including Howard's separation from his grandmother and best friend Sue.
Structural and Stylistic Elements
McDaniel's prose strikes an effective balance between contemporary teen vernacular and more formal language that reflects George's age. The short chapters propel the story forward at a brisk pace, and the alternating perspectives provide both emotional intimacy and narrative suspense.
The settings feel richly realized, particularly:
- Spring Meadows retirement home with its found family of elderly queer allies
- Baltimore's historic neighborhoods with their row houses and hidden alleys
- Wyndhurst Preparatory School as a microcosm of institutional oppression
The novel's structure follows an arc from conformity to rebellion that mirrors the political awakening many young queer people experience. Early chapters establish the characters within systems that require their compliance, while later chapters show their deliberate rejection of those systems.
Critical Assessment
While "Till Death" largely succeeds in its ambitious goals, it does have a few weaknesses:
- Pacing issues in the middle section - The novel's transition from romance to revenge thriller happens somewhat abruptly, with insufficient breathing room between key revelations and actions.
- Underdeveloped secondary characters - The QSA members, particularly Tiana and Gray, feel more like sketches than fully realized characters. Sue receives more development, but even his character sometimes functions more as a plot device than a person with consistent motivations.
- Limited exploration of vampire mythology - For a vampire novel, "Till Death" is surprisingly light on supernatural elements. George's condition is never fully explained, nor are the limits of his abilities clearly defined. This occasionally creates confusion about the rules governing this particular vampire universe.
Despite these flaws, the novel's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. McDaniel has crafted a compelling romance with genuine emotional stakes and a provocative political message.
Final Verdict
McDaniel has created something rare: a vampire romance that feels both classically gothic and urgently contemporary. "Till Death" is a love letter to queer resilience across generations and a bold statement about the necessity of fighting for one's place in the world.
The novel asks difficult questions about justice, vengeance, and the morality of violence against oppressors without offering easy answers. In Howard and George's journey from conformity to revolution, McDaniel has crafted a compelling metaphor for the queer experience—one that acknowledges both the pain of marginalization and the transformative power of love.
With its blend of tender romance, historical perspective, and revolutionary politics, "Till Death" marks McDaniel as an important new voice in YA fiction who isn't afraid to let his characters bite back against a world that has tried to silence them.
Like the best vampire fiction, this novel lingers in the blood long after the final page.
March 15, 2025
This book gave a way more realistic explanation about what it would be like to be a teenage vampire in my opinion. George doesn’t have investments, identification or his life together, and now he has to face that reality and figure out his next steps. When he meets Howard, they connect immediately as two old souls. Howard is only 18 and mortal, but he loves volunteering at a retirement home and is passionate about history. Together they grow close as they share their troubles and try to figure out their next steps in life. I flew through this book because both of their voices were so real and easy to read. Definitely recommend you check out this book when it comes out on March 18th.
September 15, 2025
📕unique, well developed concept
📘if you’re angry about the things the queer community is facing…this may make you feel better
📙 all about love, and death
I just finished this book in one damned day. I come from a unique perspective when it comes to this novel – and I found that I really was drawn in by the anger in this plot. I’ll explain that – and it certainly doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it. In fact, I adored it.
Howard is going to a school that is hell. Sure, the constant message is that “it gets better.” But does it really? Howard is bullied; his parents basically gave up on him when he came out as gay. His solace is his Oma who took him in and his volunteer job leading craft night for senior citizens. When Howard is dispatched by a couple of charmingly, nosey residents to try and persuade the newest resident to come and join in – he meets a young man who changes his life.
George is spending time with his life partner, James. James has been moved into the home, a home that George can only visit at night and never as the partner of James. George is a vampire. He’s spent twenty years with James. They met in high school and George kept his distance while he was coming to terms with being a “monster”. When he returned to James it was still a time in which they couldn’t live openly. As James aged…it became more and more difficult until he is sneaking into a window to see his life partner.
But vampires really have more than one life, don’t they?
George meets Howard when they are both in transition. George is losing his partner and facing being alone. Howard is engaged in a battle at school trying to fight for the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ students. The two of them are on different journeys, but they have remarkable things in common.
What I really enjoyed about the relationship between the two characters was the mesh of history of the Queer community and the fact that the current state is sometimes, no better.
Here’s where my experience comes into my view on this book. I worked on the frontlines of the HIV/AIDS crisis. I’m talking hands on, in the thick of it. One year, I went to more than 30 funerals. Come forward to today and I’m watching my trans friends battle for their own existence, books with queer themes being banned, and authors with too much money trying to erase people. This book addresses the history and the now of being part of the queer community.
As a vampire, George may appear to be a young man, but he has lived through history. He has watched his friends die, longed to be able to hold a boy’s hand while they were on a date, he is about to outlive his life partner. On the other hand, Howard hasn’t experienced that history but, in some ways, he is still living it. Things may have changed in some ways, but Howard has been disowned by his parents. He has a friend whose family refused to acknowledge a gender transitions. He witnesses and experiences bullying, violence and it’s not stopping.
When these two souls come together, it’s like a perfect storm and one of them is a monster. There is resilience in love.
This story ends up being a remarkable blend of love story, self-discovery, advocacy and fantasy. That is a place the McDaniel inhabits and I’m so thankful for it.
I have thoroughly enjoyed everything from Kellan McDaniel (K.M. Szpara) because his writing is intelligent, creative and stunning. The ideas that come from this author’s mind are truly amazing to experience and I am so grateful to be able to read their creations.
I recommend this book whole-heartedly to anyone who likes thoughtful plots, multi-faceted characters and love.
📘if you’re angry about the things the queer community is facing…this may make you feel better
📙 all about love, and death
I just finished this book in one damned day. I come from a unique perspective when it comes to this novel – and I found that I really was drawn in by the anger in this plot. I’ll explain that – and it certainly doesn’t mean that I didn’t like it. In fact, I adored it.
Howard is going to a school that is hell. Sure, the constant message is that “it gets better.” But does it really? Howard is bullied; his parents basically gave up on him when he came out as gay. His solace is his Oma who took him in and his volunteer job leading craft night for senior citizens. When Howard is dispatched by a couple of charmingly, nosey residents to try and persuade the newest resident to come and join in – he meets a young man who changes his life.
George is spending time with his life partner, James. James has been moved into the home, a home that George can only visit at night and never as the partner of James. George is a vampire. He’s spent twenty years with James. They met in high school and George kept his distance while he was coming to terms with being a “monster”. When he returned to James it was still a time in which they couldn’t live openly. As James aged…it became more and more difficult until he is sneaking into a window to see his life partner.
But vampires really have more than one life, don’t they?
George meets Howard when they are both in transition. George is losing his partner and facing being alone. Howard is engaged in a battle at school trying to fight for the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ students. The two of them are on different journeys, but they have remarkable things in common.
What I really enjoyed about the relationship between the two characters was the mesh of history of the Queer community and the fact that the current state is sometimes, no better.
Here’s where my experience comes into my view on this book. I worked on the frontlines of the HIV/AIDS crisis. I’m talking hands on, in the thick of it. One year, I went to more than 30 funerals. Come forward to today and I’m watching my trans friends battle for their own existence, books with queer themes being banned, and authors with too much money trying to erase people. This book addresses the history and the now of being part of the queer community.
As a vampire, George may appear to be a young man, but he has lived through history. He has watched his friends die, longed to be able to hold a boy’s hand while they were on a date, he is about to outlive his life partner. On the other hand, Howard hasn’t experienced that history but, in some ways, he is still living it. Things may have changed in some ways, but Howard has been disowned by his parents. He has a friend whose family refused to acknowledge a gender transitions. He witnesses and experiences bullying, violence and it’s not stopping.
When these two souls come together, it’s like a perfect storm and one of them is a monster. There is resilience in love.
This story ends up being a remarkable blend of love story, self-discovery, advocacy and fantasy. That is a place the McDaniel inhabits and I’m so thankful for it.
I have thoroughly enjoyed everything from Kellan McDaniel (K.M. Szpara) because his writing is intelligent, creative and stunning. The ideas that come from this author’s mind are truly amazing to experience and I am so grateful to be able to read their creations.
I recommend this book whole-heartedly to anyone who likes thoughtful plots, multi-faceted characters and love.
May 27, 2025
In the acknowledgements the author states this is a story that is supposed to be vicious and tender. And while there are definitely moments of both, the culmination kind of leaves you scratching your head at just what type of book this was supposed to be.
There are so many elements that clash against each other - the tragic love between an eternally 18 year old vampire and his partner who has dementia (great), the insta-love of the eternally 18 year old vampire and a 17 year old kid in highschool (not necessarily bad, but in this story bad), the highschool GSA poltics (almost satirical), the queer history factoids (definitely a plus), and whatever the second act was (whoo boy).
For most of the book Howard (the 17 year old highschool student who just happens to volunteer at the care facility that the vampires partner ends up), didn't quite feel like a character. His only personality, besides being 'a nice guy' into vintage things (including people) and queer history, was how in love he got from someone closing a door in his face. Which makes the absolute 180° he does personality wise in the second act just weird.
George, the vampire, is...almost a character. He has lived history, and a situationship with his 80-year old partner James - one that was way more more depth than the one he shares with Howard. I loved the quiet moments with them in the hospital, the insights into their youth, their separation, and their eventual 20 year long relationship. And while I can understand why James decided not to become like George, it felt tragic in a lovely way. This is what the book should have been about. A vampire coming to terms with death and the emotional repercussions. Not a vampire being egged on by his partner to rebound with someone else immediately so he's not alone.
Especially when that person doesn't even have a fully formed frontol cortex - But then again maybe George doesn't even have one either.
Even when James dies, while we do get a moment of grief for his passing, and a lovable gothic farewell to him, it just feels hollow because for the rest of the book it doesn't really matter.
By the end of this book I could not feel any tenderness between George and Howard, it felt like obsession, not romance. There was nothing in me that could be rooting for them, there were so many moments in the second part of the book that just happened for no reason. Moving the story onward just so we can see Howard and George isolate themselves from everyone because of their own stupidity.
Did I like some parts of this book? Maybe. But the rest of it was just unfocused. Telling a tale of teen 'revenge' while also making it feel like a hastily put together Netflix original.
Anyway, I have a big feeling that these two are not making it past the honeymoon stage.
There are so many elements that clash against each other - the tragic love between an eternally 18 year old vampire and his partner who has dementia (great), the insta-love of the eternally 18 year old vampire and a 17 year old kid in highschool (not necessarily bad, but in this story bad), the highschool GSA poltics (almost satirical), the queer history factoids (definitely a plus), and whatever the second act was (whoo boy).
For most of the book Howard (the 17 year old highschool student who just happens to volunteer at the care facility that the vampires partner ends up), didn't quite feel like a character. His only personality, besides being 'a nice guy' into vintage things (including people) and queer history, was how in love he got from someone closing a door in his face. Which makes the absolute 180° he does personality wise in the second act just weird.
George, the vampire, is...almost a character. He has lived history, and a situationship with his 80-year old partner James - one that was way more more depth than the one he shares with Howard. I loved the quiet moments with them in the hospital, the insights into their youth, their separation, and their eventual 20 year long relationship. And while I can understand why James decided not to become like George, it felt tragic in a lovely way. This is what the book should have been about. A vampire coming to terms with death and the emotional repercussions. Not a vampire being egged on by his partner to rebound with someone else immediately so he's not alone.
Especially when that person doesn't even have a fully formed frontol cortex - But then again maybe George doesn't even have one either.
Even when James dies, while we do get a moment of grief for his passing, and a lovable gothic farewell to him, it just feels hollow because for the rest of the book it doesn't really matter.
By the end of this book I could not feel any tenderness between George and Howard, it felt like obsession, not romance. There was nothing in me that could be rooting for them, there were so many moments in the second part of the book that just happened for no reason. Moving the story onward just so we can see Howard and George isolate themselves from everyone because of their own stupidity.
Did I like some parts of this book? Maybe. But the rest of it was just unfocused. Telling a tale of teen 'revenge' while also making it feel like a hastily put together Netflix original.
Anyway, I have a big feeling that these two are not making it past the honeymoon stage.
June 9, 2025
1,5... 2 stars...? I have no clue, kind of like this book felt like it had no clue what to do. Or well, it did, but...???????????????
This is literally Twilight, if the villains were queerphobes rather than old italian classy vampires. The insta love; the love that transcends everything; the getting turned far too quickly because the MC is horny and feels understood for once in their life... The similarities are endless, and I will assume the Culhane last name is a wink at Cullen.
As soon as Bella meets Edward, her life ends. Howard's situation is no different.
I mean that pejoratively.
I liked the queer rage of it, the idea that sometimes, patience and kindness are not enough. I think it is an interesting concept, and I liked what this book sold in its summary: two gay guys reaping what queerphobes have sown, giving the world their own sense of wicked justice.
Sadly. The book did not deliver on that. It did not deliver on much, actually. It's all over the place and it tells a thousand stories all at once. The queer history, which feels like a lecture with the way it's dumped on you (like everything else in the book tbh). Howard's life before George, which actually is full of a life he just won't see. George's heartbreaking ending with James, which would have been amazing to explore a little more. For all the times Anne Rice is referenced, I think it's a little sad to make this concept into a less-than-300-pages book. It would have been much cooler to have George and James' story, then meeting Howard and how George's presence impacts his life. But... they needed to be sympathetic, didn't they.
Well. They were, but not entirely. Howard is shy and not closeted, but not proud either -- and it was nice to see him bloom. Did not need to go insane or turn into a vampire for that, but 🤷🏻
George I liked more. His POV was enjoyable, while Howard... slightly unbearable. Kind of a pain to read when his thoughts are all over the place and he talks with references all the time.
I loved Oma and she was the only one to matter truly. The rest... indiscernable. The opposite of unique. The same voice over and over and over.
I disliked how all over the place this was. How settings mattered only to serve Howard and George's romance. How this was supposed to be a 'good for them' but it didn't feel rewarding at all. How part 1 is one thing and part 2 is another. It's all loosely tied together to me.
The only reason I finished this was because it was a short read. I'm sorry to you author. For what it was, it was a bit of a page-turner. Sadly, I believe each idea was better on its own, or more developed. Oma was the only character I truly cared about. But I've closed the book now. I hope she'll be well.
Was Charlie well when Beau died in the Twilight remix.... HUH..............
1,5 stars.
This is literally Twilight, if the villains were queerphobes rather than old italian classy vampires. The insta love; the love that transcends everything; the getting turned far too quickly because the MC is horny and feels understood for once in their life... The similarities are endless, and I will assume the Culhane last name is a wink at Cullen.
As soon as Bella meets Edward, her life ends. Howard's situation is no different.
I mean that pejoratively.
I liked the queer rage of it, the idea that sometimes, patience and kindness are not enough. I think it is an interesting concept, and I liked what this book sold in its summary: two gay guys reaping what queerphobes have sown, giving the world their own sense of wicked justice.
Sadly. The book did not deliver on that. It did not deliver on much, actually. It's all over the place and it tells a thousand stories all at once. The queer history, which feels like a lecture with the way it's dumped on you (like everything else in the book tbh). Howard's life before George, which actually is full of a life he just won't see. George's heartbreaking ending with James, which would have been amazing to explore a little more. For all the times Anne Rice is referenced, I think it's a little sad to make this concept into a less-than-300-pages book. It would have been much cooler to have George and James' story, then meeting Howard and how George's presence impacts his life. But... they needed to be sympathetic, didn't they.
Well. They were, but not entirely. Howard is shy and not closeted, but not proud either -- and it was nice to see him bloom. Did not need to go insane or turn into a vampire for that, but 🤷🏻
George I liked more. His POV was enjoyable, while Howard... slightly unbearable. Kind of a pain to read when his thoughts are all over the place and he talks with references all the time.
I loved Oma and she was the only one to matter truly. The rest... indiscernable. The opposite of unique. The same voice over and over and over.
I disliked how all over the place this was. How settings mattered only to serve Howard and George's romance. How this was supposed to be a 'good for them' but it didn't feel rewarding at all. How part 1 is one thing and part 2 is another. It's all loosely tied together to me.
The only reason I finished this was because it was a short read. I'm sorry to you author. For what it was, it was a bit of a page-turner. Sadly, I believe each idea was better on its own, or more developed. Oma was the only character I truly cared about. But I've closed the book now. I hope she'll be well.
Was Charlie well when Beau died in the Twilight remix.... HUH..............
1,5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2025
This book was offered to me by Simon & Schuster to review and I thought, sure, it's been a while since I've read a good vampire romance. While I like the good old vampire love story tropes in the book, it didn't resonant as well as I liked.
There’s no denying "Till Death" has some strong emotional hooks. The idea of eternal love, of finding connection after deep loss, and the tragedy of loving someone who will eventually die while you don’t age—it’s all compelling and beautifully haunting. And the central romance between George, a vampire trapped in the body of a 19-year-old, and Howard, a queer teen waiting for life to finally start, is full of tenderness, vulnerability, and longing. I appreciated the emotional core of this story and the fact that it wasn’t afraid to explore grief, trauma, and the complicated space where love and pain overlap. The author also doesn’t shy away from the gritty parts—there’s a rawness to the narrative that adds weight and realism, which I can see some readers really connecting with. It’s moody, atmospheric, and at times, heartbreaking. The writing itself is solid, and there’s a sincerity to how these characters love that I really liked.
That said, as much as I enjoyed pieces of this book, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d read this story before—many times. It felt like a familiar vampire romance that swapped in gay characters without really doing much to reimagine the narrative. From the bullied queer teen to the emotionally guarded immortal, the tropes are all there—and not in a way that felt fresh or transformative. I went into this book hoping it would offer something new, something that would push boundaries or give me a version of this love story I hadn’t seen. Instead, it felt like the same old setup I’ve seen in straight vampire romances a dozen times over, just re-skinned with queer characters. And while representation is important (and I’m always down for more queer stories!), I also want more than just substitution—I want originality. I also think the darker, grittier tone may not work for every reader. There are some very heavy moments, both emotional and violent, and the line between love and revenge gets blurry fast. For some readers, that will be part of the appeal, but for others, it might feel overwhelming or too bleak. Overall, Till Death wasn’t a bad read by any means—it just didn’t feel as groundbreaking or unique as I hoped.
If you love a gritty, traditional vampire romance with LGBTQ rep, then this is the book for you!
Thank you to the author and Simon & Schuster for the book and my honest review. I'm giving away my hardcover copy, be sure to enter here (ends 4/30/25): https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwriting...
There’s no denying "Till Death" has some strong emotional hooks. The idea of eternal love, of finding connection after deep loss, and the tragedy of loving someone who will eventually die while you don’t age—it’s all compelling and beautifully haunting. And the central romance between George, a vampire trapped in the body of a 19-year-old, and Howard, a queer teen waiting for life to finally start, is full of tenderness, vulnerability, and longing. I appreciated the emotional core of this story and the fact that it wasn’t afraid to explore grief, trauma, and the complicated space where love and pain overlap. The author also doesn’t shy away from the gritty parts—there’s a rawness to the narrative that adds weight and realism, which I can see some readers really connecting with. It’s moody, atmospheric, and at times, heartbreaking. The writing itself is solid, and there’s a sincerity to how these characters love that I really liked.
That said, as much as I enjoyed pieces of this book, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d read this story before—many times. It felt like a familiar vampire romance that swapped in gay characters without really doing much to reimagine the narrative. From the bullied queer teen to the emotionally guarded immortal, the tropes are all there—and not in a way that felt fresh or transformative. I went into this book hoping it would offer something new, something that would push boundaries or give me a version of this love story I hadn’t seen. Instead, it felt like the same old setup I’ve seen in straight vampire romances a dozen times over, just re-skinned with queer characters. And while representation is important (and I’m always down for more queer stories!), I also want more than just substitution—I want originality. I also think the darker, grittier tone may not work for every reader. There are some very heavy moments, both emotional and violent, and the line between love and revenge gets blurry fast. For some readers, that will be part of the appeal, but for others, it might feel overwhelming or too bleak. Overall, Till Death wasn’t a bad read by any means—it just didn’t feel as groundbreaking or unique as I hoped.
If you love a gritty, traditional vampire romance with LGBTQ rep, then this is the book for you!
Thank you to the author and Simon & Schuster for the book and my honest review. I'm giving away my hardcover copy, be sure to enter here (ends 4/30/25): https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwriting...
June 1, 2025
If I could give half-star ratings, this book would’ve been closer to a 3.5 star read for me. But since it wasn’t close enough to a 4 star read, I decided to keep it at 3.
I enjoyed the first 70-ish% of the story…then it spiraled a bit, imo. I don’t think it’s a bad book by any means, but certain parts of it just didn’t appeal to my personal taste. The romance aspect of it was good. I mean, I like how consent was an important part of the intimacy the two main characters eventually share. My issues were more with the subplot of the book.
I don’t wanna get into any spoilers, but the vibe ended up just being…not for me. And, like, I don’t mind violence in vampire stories, by any means. But the way things unfolded toward the end of this book just didn’t seem…idk, justified, ig? Like, one thing in particular, more than other things.
Again, I don’t wanna spoil anything, but one very minor side character gets treatment that I don’t really think was deserved, given that other characters who are more involved in the main conflict of the book face less severe consequences. It just seemed a bit random and out of nowhere to me.
Also, Howard is very chill with the aforementioned violence. Not that he really witnesses much of anything until close to end of the story, but like, imo he’s a bit too chill with some of the (imo) drastic decisions that George ends up making. Like, I get that he holds grudges for some of the other characters, and his…philosophy(?) about certain things influences his opinions about inflicting harm on certain types of people, but it did come across as a bit dramatic to me at times, given the actions these characters actually take in the story itself.
But, then again, this is a book with vampires in it (well, one vampire, at least), so 🤷🏻♀️
Overall, this book’s pacing made it easy to get through in one sitting, and I found it entertaining enough to keep on reading. I kind of wish the supernatural aspects of the story had been explored a bit more, as George isn’t the most, ah, interesting vampire I’ve ever read about. But I liked that the romance itself wasn’t toxic (even if the decisions Howard and George end up making by the end of the book become quite morally questionable).
Oh, also, I have no idea if this story is supposed to YA, NA, or adult, since Howard is a senior in high school and George got turned into a vampire at 18 (I think), so he’s technically still a teenager. Because imo this book should probably at least be NA instead of YA. Not because of the violence, necessarily, but because there is one smut scene that felt a bit too intense for YA to me. (But maybe the book’s supposed to be adult anyhow since the characters are both legal adults. Idk.)
I enjoyed the first 70-ish% of the story…then it spiraled a bit, imo. I don’t think it’s a bad book by any means, but certain parts of it just didn’t appeal to my personal taste. The romance aspect of it was good. I mean, I like how consent was an important part of the intimacy the two main characters eventually share. My issues were more with the subplot of the book.
I don’t wanna get into any spoilers, but the vibe ended up just being…not for me. And, like, I don’t mind violence in vampire stories, by any means. But the way things unfolded toward the end of this book just didn’t seem…idk, justified, ig? Like, one thing in particular, more than other things.
Again, I don’t wanna spoil anything, but one very minor side character gets treatment that I don’t really think was deserved, given that other characters who are more involved in the main conflict of the book face less severe consequences. It just seemed a bit random and out of nowhere to me.
Also, Howard is very chill with the aforementioned violence. Not that he really witnesses much of anything until close to end of the story, but like, imo he’s a bit too chill with some of the (imo) drastic decisions that George ends up making. Like, I get that he holds grudges for some of the other characters, and his…philosophy(?) about certain things influences his opinions about inflicting harm on certain types of people, but it did come across as a bit dramatic to me at times, given the actions these characters actually take in the story itself.
But, then again, this is a book with vampires in it (well, one vampire, at least), so 🤷🏻♀️
Overall, this book’s pacing made it easy to get through in one sitting, and I found it entertaining enough to keep on reading. I kind of wish the supernatural aspects of the story had been explored a bit more, as George isn’t the most, ah, interesting vampire I’ve ever read about. But I liked that the romance itself wasn’t toxic (even if the decisions Howard and George end up making by the end of the book become quite morally questionable).
Oh, also, I have no idea if this story is supposed to YA, NA, or adult, since Howard is a senior in high school and George got turned into a vampire at 18 (I think), so he’s technically still a teenager. Because imo this book should probably at least be NA instead of YA. Not because of the violence, necessarily, but because there is one smut scene that felt a bit too intense for YA to me. (But maybe the book’s supposed to be adult anyhow since the characters are both legal adults. Idk.)
February 21, 2025
1.5 stars rounded up
Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the arc.
Till Death follows Howard, a teenage boy, and George, a vampire stuck looking like he’s 18, as they navigate falling in love, grief, and prejudice.
Howard is a gay boy struggling with his place in life and fighting for LGBTQ+ individuals to feel safe. Then he meets George and begins to fall in love for the first time. George watches helpless as his first love dies slowly in front of him from old age that will never touch him. Meeting Howard renews something within George and makes him look forward to the future. With prejudice still prevalent and affecting their love and lives, they decide to take things in their own hands.
I liked how original Howard was and true to his age. A teenager obsessed with anything vintage, but troubled about his place in his friend group, college, and wanting to be treated like a human being. I also love the reality ofJames’ struggle after being turned into a vampire. There’s no riches or ease, as we see in media, but his struggle with finding resources and not setting roots. I also really liked his life story throughout the decades. And the story tackled very important topics, such as misgendering, unisex bathrooms, sensitivity training, etc.
Which is why I’m disappointed I didn’t like this book! I liked Howard and George individually and would have liked them together if there was more development instead of the insta, tell-not-show love that happened between them. I was not invested in their relationship, and the end made it even worse considering how immature George still is. I stayed for the story thinking the climax would be satisfying with them taking justice in their own hands and it’ll be similar to the movie God Bless America, but obviously with more consideration and character development considering this is a YA book. However, I was let down again, but what I did like was the opposite of what I was anticipating/wanting as George talks about control and what is right. The pacing also needs to worked on as it started slow until the 87% mark where I felt things were rushing to finish. And again, even with the slow pacing the relationship development was lacking because we were told that things were easy between them and that they were important to each other. Having his first love in the picture as George falls in love again was an odd adjustment for me too, which I think will be the case for many others.
Overall, if you want an MM twilight, where real topics are tackled and the vampire doesn’t sparkle, isn’t wealthy and perfect, and drinks human blood, then gives this a try.
Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the arc.
Till Death follows Howard, a teenage boy, and George, a vampire stuck looking like he’s 18, as they navigate falling in love, grief, and prejudice.
Howard is a gay boy struggling with his place in life and fighting for LGBTQ+ individuals to feel safe. Then he meets George and begins to fall in love for the first time. George watches helpless as his first love dies slowly in front of him from old age that will never touch him. Meeting Howard renews something within George and makes him look forward to the future. With prejudice still prevalent and affecting their love and lives, they decide to take things in their own hands.
I liked how original Howard was and true to his age. A teenager obsessed with anything vintage, but troubled about his place in his friend group, college, and wanting to be treated like a human being. I also love the reality ofJames’ struggle after being turned into a vampire. There’s no riches or ease, as we see in media, but his struggle with finding resources and not setting roots. I also really liked his life story throughout the decades. And the story tackled very important topics, such as misgendering, unisex bathrooms, sensitivity training, etc.
Which is why I’m disappointed I didn’t like this book! I liked Howard and George individually and would have liked them together if there was more development instead of the insta, tell-not-show love that happened between them. I was not invested in their relationship, and the end made it even worse considering how immature George still is. I stayed for the story thinking the climax would be satisfying with them taking justice in their own hands and it’ll be similar to the movie God Bless America, but obviously with more consideration and character development considering this is a YA book. However, I was let down again, but what I did like was the opposite of what I was anticipating/wanting as George talks about control and what is right. The pacing also needs to worked on as it started slow until the 87% mark where I felt things were rushing to finish. And again, even with the slow pacing the relationship development was lacking because we were told that things were easy between them and that they were important to each other. Having his first love in the picture as George falls in love again was an odd adjustment for me too, which I think will be the case for many others.
Overall, if you want an MM twilight, where real topics are tackled and the vampire doesn’t sparkle, isn’t wealthy and perfect, and drinks human blood, then gives this a try.
March 5, 2025
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the ARC of this queer vampire drama in exchange for a (gulp) honest review.
I really, really wanted to love it so much but the experience was tumultuous to say the least. Till Death follows Howard, a gay high school student who’s friend group is immersed in school politics, and their fight for acceptance in the hallways against the usual brand of PTA bigotry. Howard and his friends represent a fight very much on-going, but somehow a lot of the writing around it rang false. It felt more like checking a box than an exploration, especially given the historical context that could've been given.
George is a vampire who’s mortal love is entering the final stages of life. Checked into a senior facility by his family who don’t know George exists, James is beginning to lose himself, and George must find a way to go on without him. This is partially because he’s been living in James’ house and has little means to meet basic needs once James passes away and his family takes over. He comes across Howard, a volunteer at the facility, and the two begin to spend time together, perhaps finding something more. While George is very much grieving the end of his relationship with James, James encourages him toward Howard. This gives George the permission he needs narratively, but it feels a little empty.
The juxtaposition of a high school student dealing with very normal teenage things and a vampire confronted with his immortality and the death of a longtime love feel like different stories entirely. The novel waivers under the job of keeping these two premises in the air–the innocent, supernatural romcom and the deeper, poignant drama laced with grief and regret. Because of this, the novel can never fully commit to either James or Howard.
Part of that trouble is George himself. George is a confusing character, in moments expected to be a boy hiding from James’ family (and somehow with no savings or means of his own at his age); in other moments, he’s stereotypically old when it comes to texting or understanding text speak from Howard. Far from the first vampire to date a highschool student, Till Death can’t seem to decide if George is Howard’s contemporary, or a man who graduated high school in the 60s and thus would be over 80 at present day. The two sides are almost separate personalities, and George never quite makes sense.
In the end, Till Death read like it couldn’t decide what exactly it wanted to be. There were plenty of elements that were interesting, but it was more frustrating than anything.
I really, really wanted to love it so much but the experience was tumultuous to say the least. Till Death follows Howard, a gay high school student who’s friend group is immersed in school politics, and their fight for acceptance in the hallways against the usual brand of PTA bigotry. Howard and his friends represent a fight very much on-going, but somehow a lot of the writing around it rang false. It felt more like checking a box than an exploration, especially given the historical context that could've been given.
George is a vampire who’s mortal love is entering the final stages of life. Checked into a senior facility by his family who don’t know George exists, James is beginning to lose himself, and George must find a way to go on without him. This is partially because he’s been living in James’ house and has little means to meet basic needs once James passes away and his family takes over. He comes across Howard, a volunteer at the facility, and the two begin to spend time together, perhaps finding something more. While George is very much grieving the end of his relationship with James, James encourages him toward Howard. This gives George the permission he needs narratively, but it feels a little empty.
The juxtaposition of a high school student dealing with very normal teenage things and a vampire confronted with his immortality and the death of a longtime love feel like different stories entirely. The novel waivers under the job of keeping these two premises in the air–the innocent, supernatural romcom and the deeper, poignant drama laced with grief and regret. Because of this, the novel can never fully commit to either James or Howard.
Part of that trouble is George himself. George is a confusing character, in moments expected to be a boy hiding from James’ family (and somehow with no savings or means of his own at his age); in other moments, he’s stereotypically old when it comes to texting or understanding text speak from Howard. Far from the first vampire to date a highschool student, Till Death can’t seem to decide if George is Howard’s contemporary, or a man who graduated high school in the 60s and thus would be over 80 at present day. The two sides are almost separate personalities, and George never quite makes sense.
In the end, Till Death read like it couldn’t decide what exactly it wanted to be. There were plenty of elements that were interesting, but it was more frustrating than anything.
February 11, 2025
I requested and received an eARC of
Till Death
by Kellan McDaniel via NetGalley. I mean gay vampires? I don't read much YA fiction these days, but I was definitely drawn to this book and had to check it out. Howard is waiting until he can escape the confines of his high school. He doesn't fit in there and prefers to spend his time volunteering with the elderly at a nursing home where he encounters a strange, handsome teenager. Or who appears to be strange, handsome teenager. George is facing the loss of his partner, James, after twenty years together. George and James met when they were teenagers, but lost track of one another until they reconnected in their early sixties. Now James is slipping beyond George's reach, because George is a vampire. Immortal. Forever trapped in the body of a nineteen-year-old.
The second chapter of this book absolutely stole my heart and sold me on this story. No offense to the first chapter, which was a wonderful introduction to Howard, but the second chapter of this story really sunk its teeth into me and refused to let go. The emotional hook, the impending devastation between George and James, sealed my investment in Till Death. The way McDaniel peels back the layers of their history gave them added depth without being overly maudlin and the way their story plays out reflects a very issue that the queer community has been faced with — the disenfranchisement of a partner based on homophobic legality. I think there’s a political awareness to the story that is both important and necessary.
Queer youth do live lives that are politicized, whether their heterosexual, adult counterparts wish to acknowledge that fact or not. We also see this dynamic play out in the story as Howard and his friends face the local school board in an effort to improve the experiences of queer students at their high school. I enjoyed the budding romance between Howard and George, but I do wish there had been more scenes with Howard’s friend group. You know, after about the 50% mark, I have to say I wasn’t entirely sure what direction this story was headed. This isn’t a bad thing, it kept me on my toes and sent me racing toward the conclusion. And man, what an ending. This one is definitely going to stick with me for some time to come, because I’m still wrestling with what to make of it all. While a lot of queer YA books have chosen to lean into a space of light and positivity, Till Death relies on queer cynicism which I found to be both refreshing and honest.
The second chapter of this book absolutely stole my heart and sold me on this story. No offense to the first chapter, which was a wonderful introduction to Howard, but the second chapter of this story really sunk its teeth into me and refused to let go. The emotional hook, the impending devastation between George and James, sealed my investment in Till Death. The way McDaniel peels back the layers of their history gave them added depth without being overly maudlin and the way their story plays out reflects a very issue that the queer community has been faced with — the disenfranchisement of a partner based on homophobic legality. I think there’s a political awareness to the story that is both important and necessary.
Queer youth do live lives that are politicized, whether their heterosexual, adult counterparts wish to acknowledge that fact or not. We also see this dynamic play out in the story as Howard and his friends face the local school board in an effort to improve the experiences of queer students at their high school. I enjoyed the budding romance between Howard and George, but I do wish there had been more scenes with Howard’s friend group. You know, after about the 50% mark, I have to say I wasn’t entirely sure what direction this story was headed. This isn’t a bad thing, it kept me on my toes and sent me racing toward the conclusion. And man, what an ending. This one is definitely going to stick with me for some time to come, because I’m still wrestling with what to make of it all. While a lot of queer YA books have chosen to lean into a space of light and positivity, Till Death relies on queer cynicism which I found to be both refreshing and honest.
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