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These Eternal Bones
Her- Stowing away on the nearest vessel wasn’t the best plan when I left everything I’d ever known in the middle of the night. Promising the captain coin I did not possess only drove the nail deeper into my coffin. The moment a storm knocks us off course, damaging the ship, I run. But There’s more than meets the eye in the foggy town of Port Clyde, its onyx lighthouse standing like a beacon, or a warning.
Him- Many things can be said about eternity. Soul binding love squandered life and life again by elephantine heartache. So I wait, trapped in this godforsaken town by a long dead coven. I wait, unable to follow, unable to bleed every corner of the earth in search of her. This time when she finds her way back. I will keep her safe, alive, mine, even if she hates me. But what a beautifully gilded cage it will be.
Him- Many things can be said about eternity. Soul binding love squandered life and life again by elephantine heartache. So I wait, trapped in this godforsaken town by a long dead coven. I wait, unable to follow, unable to bleed every corner of the earth in search of her. This time when she finds her way back. I will keep her safe, alive, mine, even if she hates me. But what a beautifully gilded cage it will be.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2025
695 people are currently reading
9994 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Fern
4 books74 followersMaggie Fern is a pen name of the dark romance author Callie Moss who is known for her dark and unconventional take on romance. Maggie Fern is meant to explore all that wonderful darkness but with an otherworldly twist. For more information please visit her author website under the Maggie Fern tab
https://authorcalliemoss.com/maggie-fern
https://authorcalliemoss.com/maggie-fern
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
not-published-yet
January 27, 2025You had me at dark vampire romance then lost me at coming out in September 😭
October 2, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and went in with high hopes, but unfortunately it fell flat for me and I ended up DNF-ing at 23%. The writing style was difficult to follow and left me feeling more confused than immersed. It seemed like the author was leaning heavily on flowery descriptions to make scenes feel more vivid, but instead it often came across as disjointed and hard to navigate.
The first meeting between the FMC and MMC felt abrupt and oddly placed. I was expecting more impact or at least a clearer reason for their connection, but instead it left me questioning why they met at all or what was supposed to draw them to each other. At one point, the story even seemed to shift into a Beauty and the Beast–style retelling, while also weaving in a backstory that gave me Handmaid’s Tale vibes. These elements weren’t blended together smoothly, so it felt like the story kept pulling in different directions.
Overall, I think the core idea had potential, but the execution lacked clarity, which made it difficult to stay engaged with the plot or characters.
The first meeting between the FMC and MMC felt abrupt and oddly placed. I was expecting more impact or at least a clearer reason for their connection, but instead it left me questioning why they met at all or what was supposed to draw them to each other. At one point, the story even seemed to shift into a Beauty and the Beast–style retelling, while also weaving in a backstory that gave me Handmaid’s Tale vibes. These elements weren’t blended together smoothly, so it felt like the story kept pulling in different directions.
Overall, I think the core idea had potential, but the execution lacked clarity, which made it difficult to stay engaged with the plot or characters.
September 20, 2025
DNFed 100 pages in.
This book was riddled with incomplete sentences from the very first page. The prologue also had the MMC explain what a lighthouse is to the reader.
There were sentences that just didn’t make sense and very awkward, clunky prose. It was also overly descriptive, while telling the reader basically nothing. The world building felt non existent.
At one point the FMC was having a conversation but it was only established at the end of the conversation that another person was present. So at first it seems like she’s having a conversation with an invisible person. Transitions between scenes were jarring, making it confusing to follow the story. It felt like I was trying to look at a picture that had a bunch of holes punched in it.
There was a ton of rambling inner monologue which made the story’s pacing feel incredibly slow.
I really had to push myself to the 100 page mark because overall this book was confusing, messy and hard to comprehend.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC to review.
This book was riddled with incomplete sentences from the very first page. The prologue also had the MMC explain what a lighthouse is to the reader.
There were sentences that just didn’t make sense and very awkward, clunky prose. It was also overly descriptive, while telling the reader basically nothing. The world building felt non existent.
At one point the FMC was having a conversation but it was only established at the end of the conversation that another person was present. So at first it seems like she’s having a conversation with an invisible person. Transitions between scenes were jarring, making it confusing to follow the story. It felt like I was trying to look at a picture that had a bunch of holes punched in it.
There was a ton of rambling inner monologue which made the story’s pacing feel incredibly slow.
I really had to push myself to the 100 page mark because overall this book was confusing, messy and hard to comprehend.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC to review.
September 30, 2025
a gothic vampire romance dreams are made of
full review to come but I really enjoyed this!
full review to come but I really enjoyed this!
September 4, 2025
3.5⭐️
“There is not a plane of this realm in which I have not loved you, Molly”
ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐
🥀 gothic romance
🖤 fated mates
🥀 reincarnation
🖤 he loved her across time
🥀 he waited for her for centuries
🖤 vampire x human
🥀 FMC with dark tormenting past
🖤 possessive protective MMC with tendrils
🥀 curses & betrayals
ִ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐
As I said reincarnation is one of my favorite tropes and I don’t find books with this trope especially when the MMC is the one who remembers her and she forgets ( there is just something about seeing men in pain 😫) . So was the MMC tortured?
Yes the MMC was really hurt and was literally going insane because of how much he is in pain as he endured losing her over and over but the thing is I didn’t feel the yearning much like of course there was but it wasn’t as much as I’d have liked and expected. The FMC returned the MMC’s feelings early as she was drawn to him because of the bond so I didn’t feel him being tortured of how much he loves her and she doesn’t because she liked him from the beginning. I liked the FMC she was kind and resilient but I felt she needed to make the man work for it a bit more . The pace was great and I liked the gothic setting ( I love gothic romance ) but I felt like the book could have been shorter as I sometimes felt there wasn’t much going on which bored me . I liked the plot twist near the end and the ending was satisfying to me . The fox was my favorite side character and the selkie was nice too .
Overall I’d recommend this book if you want something with fall vibes and if you like any of the tropes above
🦇˖ִ ࣪ pre read ˖ִ ࣪🦇
Thank you author Maggie fern for sending me the e-ARC . I have been wanting to read this book since last year or maybe the beginning of this year when I saw a TikTok video about it
I loooove when only the man remembers her reincarnation and she doesn’t ( talk about male yearning in this trope ) so when I knew this book has it I immediately want it !!!!
“There is not a plane of this realm in which I have not loved you, Molly”
ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐
🥀 gothic romance
🖤 fated mates
🥀 reincarnation
🖤 he loved her across time
🥀 he waited for her for centuries
🖤 vampire x human
🥀 FMC with dark tormenting past
🖤 possessive protective MMC with tendrils
🥀 curses & betrayals
ִ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐ ִֶָ. ..𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ🦇་༘࿐
As I said reincarnation is one of my favorite tropes and I don’t find books with this trope especially when the MMC is the one who remembers her and she forgets ( there is just something about seeing men in pain 😫) . So was the MMC tortured?
Yes the MMC was really hurt and was literally going insane because of how much he is in pain as he endured losing her over and over but the thing is I didn’t feel the yearning much like of course there was but it wasn’t as much as I’d have liked and expected. The FMC returned the MMC’s feelings early as she was drawn to him because of the bond so I didn’t feel him being tortured of how much he loves her and she doesn’t because she liked him from the beginning. I liked the FMC she was kind and resilient but I felt she needed to make the man work for it a bit more . The pace was great and I liked the gothic setting ( I love gothic romance ) but I felt like the book could have been shorter as I sometimes felt there wasn’t much going on which bored me . I liked the plot twist near the end and the ending was satisfying to me . The fox was my favorite side character and the selkie was nice too .
Overall I’d recommend this book if you want something with fall vibes and if you like any of the tropes above
🦇˖ִ ࣪ pre read ˖ִ ࣪🦇
Thank you author Maggie fern for sending me the e-ARC . I have been wanting to read this book since last year or maybe the beginning of this year when I saw a TikTok video about it
I loooove when only the man remembers her reincarnation and she doesn’t ( talk about male yearning in this trope ) so when I knew this book has it I immediately want it !!!!
October 12, 2025
These Eternal Bones single-handedly cured my insomnia.
Let’s not confuse “good writing” with “insufferability.” A large part of this book felt like reading one very long riddle - except without the joy of ever getting to the answer. And the rest? It's just plain boring. Which, if you ask me, is the worst thing a book can be.
The exuberant, over-the-top language felt like it was overcompensating for the lack of depth in the characters, and the plot… well, “mid” feels generous. I can appreciate good writing, even if it’s a “vibes no plot” kind of book, but this wasn’t that. This was the literary equivalent of someone who swallowed a thesaurus and decided to make it everyone else’s problem.
Using extravagant language doesn’t make something good; it’s how you wield it that counts, as Language is a tool, not a shield. How you wield it should elevate a story, not act as a failsafe for when the story itself falls flat.
Anyway, if this book was good for anything, it was good at putting me to sleep.
Sorry, Maggie, - I’m sure this was meant to be poetic, but I think I accidentally read a lullaby.
Let’s not confuse “good writing” with “insufferability.” A large part of this book felt like reading one very long riddle - except without the joy of ever getting to the answer. And the rest? It's just plain boring. Which, if you ask me, is the worst thing a book can be.
The exuberant, over-the-top language felt like it was overcompensating for the lack of depth in the characters, and the plot… well, “mid” feels generous. I can appreciate good writing, even if it’s a “vibes no plot” kind of book, but this wasn’t that. This was the literary equivalent of someone who swallowed a thesaurus and decided to make it everyone else’s problem.
Using extravagant language doesn’t make something good; it’s how you wield it that counts, as Language is a tool, not a shield. How you wield it should elevate a story, not act as a failsafe for when the story itself falls flat.
Anyway, if this book was good for anything, it was good at putting me to sleep.
Sorry, Maggie, - I’m sure this was meant to be poetic, but I think I accidentally read a lullaby.
October 2, 2025
I am completely bored 60 pages in nothing remotely compelling happens to this storyline or these characters this far into the book. All that has happened is the fmc has spent two weeks in a cabin being fed by an anonymous stranger. Yawn.
September 20, 2025
“ℑ 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔨𝔦𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔡 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔣𝔦𝔫𝔢𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔰 𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔨𝔶 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔢𝔞𝔠𝔥 𝔣𝔢𝔢𝔩𝔰 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔰𝔱.”
4.5⭐️
•gothic romance
•fated mates
•reincarnation
•he loved her across time
•he waited for her for centuries
•vampire x human
•FMC with dark tormenting
•past possessive protective MMC with tendrils •curses & betrayals
•slow burn high tension
•only soft for her
•yearning
9/19: Thank you for this ARC! This story is SO unique. Vampire romance like nothing I have read before. And he has tendrils?!!! Hell yeah. It's a story with Gothic vibes, grief, tragedy and spice. The epilogue was surely unexpected but I’d love to see it that potentially goes elsewhere. This book had me on the edge of my seat. My only qualm is I want MORE. I wish there had been more character back stories but other than that I really really loved this book.
9/17: my god i loved this i’ll come back to write a formal/better review. give me a day😭
4.5⭐️
•gothic romance
•fated mates
•reincarnation
•he loved her across time
•he waited for her for centuries
•vampire x human
•FMC with dark tormenting
•past possessive protective MMC with tendrils •curses & betrayals
•slow burn high tension
•only soft for her
•yearning
9/19: Thank you for this ARC! This story is SO unique. Vampire romance like nothing I have read before. And he has tendrils?!!! Hell yeah. It's a story with Gothic vibes, grief, tragedy and spice. The epilogue was surely unexpected but I’d love to see it that potentially goes elsewhere. This book had me on the edge of my seat. My only qualm is I want MORE. I wish there had been more character back stories but other than that I really really loved this book.
9/17: my god i loved this i’ll come back to write a formal/better review. give me a day😭
September 30, 2025
4 stars for the first ~50%. 3 stars for 50-75%. negative 100 stars for the last ~15%.
it's not often im THIS disappointed in an ending. the last ~15% was an absolute MESS. like the author had just given up.
the hero was cursed to go through 1000 years wherein his soulmate would die and be reborn, just to return to him and then die again, over and over for 1000 years.
he got through ~600 years of that - but hey, at least there's "only" 400 years to go and they'll finally be free.
so the whole book is about the feelings that go along with a curse like this - the fear and love and grief, etc., as well as, of course, the romance between the H and h.
anyway, the whole time in those 600 years, the hero knows he could just turn the heroine into a vampire and she wouldn't have to die, except then they'd both be stuck on one island FOREVER. so he didn't want to do that.
so we hear about all the shit they've gone through over the years, and we see how they fight and fight to stay together and we see the anguish of a looming death... and then at the end... HE JUST FUCKING TURNS HER INTO A VAMPIRE SO THEY'RE STUCK ON THE ISLAND FOR FOREVER.
like, okay, so all that was for nothing???? ALL THAT???? what a fucking disappointing and sad ending. makes me feel like the entire book was a waste of time.
and it's NOT an HEA. i wouldn't even call it a bittersweet ending, because it was so sad. they're trapped on an island forever. forever is a long fucking time.
it's not often im THIS disappointed in an ending. the last ~15% was an absolute MESS. like the author had just given up.
the hero was cursed to go through 1000 years wherein his soulmate would die and be reborn, just to return to him and then die again, over and over for 1000 years.
he got through ~600 years of that - but hey, at least there's "only" 400 years to go and they'll finally be free.
so the whole book is about the feelings that go along with a curse like this - the fear and love and grief, etc., as well as, of course, the romance between the H and h.
anyway, the whole time in those 600 years, the hero knows he could just turn the heroine into a vampire and she wouldn't have to die, except then they'd both be stuck on one island FOREVER. so he didn't want to do that.
so we hear about all the shit they've gone through over the years, and we see how they fight and fight to stay together and we see the anguish of a looming death... and then at the end... HE JUST FUCKING TURNS HER INTO A VAMPIRE SO THEY'RE STUCK ON THE ISLAND FOR FOREVER.
like, okay, so all that was for nothing???? ALL THAT???? what a fucking disappointing and sad ending. makes me feel like the entire book was a waste of time.
and it's NOT an HEA. i wouldn't even call it a bittersweet ending, because it was so sad. they're trapped on an island forever. forever is a long fucking time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
February 15, 2025August let’s goooo
September 15, 2025
✨ I had the pleasure of receiving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
📖 This is quite a unique story. I have to admit that at the beginning the reading wasn’t easy: the approach felt a bit complicated.
However, the story turned out to be enjoyable, with elements that genuinely surprised me.
💀 Elric quickly became my favorite character: well-crafted, complex, and capable of evoking conflicting emotions. You love him and at the same time you hate him – and it’s precisely this ambivalence that makes him feel so authentic.
🌸 Molly, on the other hand, is curious and resourceful; I truly admired her courage in leaving behind a life that was anything but idyllic – in fact, rather terrible – to face the unknown. The secondary characters were also interesting and well developed. On the character front, the author did an excellent job.
✍️ The weak point, for me, is the writing style: at times a bit hard to follow, with transitions between scenes not always clear. I would have liked a richer world building and more details about the characters’ past and their world, because this story has huge potential.
✨ Still, the narration remains enjoyable, original, and with many interesting elements.
🎌 Special mention goes to the references to Japanese culture, which I particularly appreciated.
📅 Release date: September 28, 2025.
---------------------------------------------------------
✨ Ho avuto il piacere di ricevere questo ARC in cambio di una recensione onesta.
📖 Si tratta di una storia particolare. Devo ammettere che all’inizio la lettura non è stata semplice: l’approccio mi è risultato un po’ complicato.
Tuttavia, la storia si è rivelata piacevole, con elementi che mi hanno davvero sorpresa.
💀 Elric è senza dubbio il mio personaggio preferito: ben costruito, complesso e capace di suscitare emozioni contrastanti. Lo si ama e allo stesso tempo lo si odia – ed è proprio questa ambivalenza a renderlo così autentico.
🌸 Molly, invece, è curiosa e intraprendente; ho apprezzato molto il suo coraggio nel lasciare alle spalle una vita tutt’altro che idilliaca – anzi, piuttosto terribile – per affrontare l’ignoto. Anche i personaggi secondari sono risultati interessanti e ben caratterizzati. Sul fronte dei personaggi, l’autrice ha svolto un ottimo lavoro.
✍️ Il punto debole, per me, rimane lo stile: a tratti un po’ ostico, con transizioni tra le scene non sempre chiarissime. Avrei voluto un world building più ricco e maggiori dettagli sul passato dei personaggi, perché la storia ha un potenziale enorme.
✨ Nonostante questo, la narrazione resta piacevole, originale e con molti spunti interessanti.
🎌 Menzione speciale per i riferimenti alla cultura giapponese, che ho particolarmente apprezzato.
📅 Uscita prevista: 28 settembre 2025.
Tropes
♻️ Reincarnation
💫 Fated Mates
🕸️ Curses & Betrayal
⚔️ Touch her and die
🌹 Only soft for her
🩸 Blood tentacles
🌒 FMC with dark tormenting past
🧛♂️ Vampire x Human
🏰 Gothic romance
Trigger Warnings
⛪ Cults
🙏 Religious trauma
🩸 Graphic violence
🖤 Suicidal thoughts
🔪 Self-harm under religious delusion
🌑 Talk of infertility
✂️ Brief non-graphic mentions of castration
🧠 Mental illness
📖 This is quite a unique story. I have to admit that at the beginning the reading wasn’t easy: the approach felt a bit complicated.
However, the story turned out to be enjoyable, with elements that genuinely surprised me.
💀 Elric quickly became my favorite character: well-crafted, complex, and capable of evoking conflicting emotions. You love him and at the same time you hate him – and it’s precisely this ambivalence that makes him feel so authentic.
🌸 Molly, on the other hand, is curious and resourceful; I truly admired her courage in leaving behind a life that was anything but idyllic – in fact, rather terrible – to face the unknown. The secondary characters were also interesting and well developed. On the character front, the author did an excellent job.
✍️ The weak point, for me, is the writing style: at times a bit hard to follow, with transitions between scenes not always clear. I would have liked a richer world building and more details about the characters’ past and their world, because this story has huge potential.
✨ Still, the narration remains enjoyable, original, and with many interesting elements.
🎌 Special mention goes to the references to Japanese culture, which I particularly appreciated.
📅 Release date: September 28, 2025.
---------------------------------------------------------
✨ Ho avuto il piacere di ricevere questo ARC in cambio di una recensione onesta.
📖 Si tratta di una storia particolare. Devo ammettere che all’inizio la lettura non è stata semplice: l’approccio mi è risultato un po’ complicato.
Tuttavia, la storia si è rivelata piacevole, con elementi che mi hanno davvero sorpresa.
💀 Elric è senza dubbio il mio personaggio preferito: ben costruito, complesso e capace di suscitare emozioni contrastanti. Lo si ama e allo stesso tempo lo si odia – ed è proprio questa ambivalenza a renderlo così autentico.
🌸 Molly, invece, è curiosa e intraprendente; ho apprezzato molto il suo coraggio nel lasciare alle spalle una vita tutt’altro che idilliaca – anzi, piuttosto terribile – per affrontare l’ignoto. Anche i personaggi secondari sono risultati interessanti e ben caratterizzati. Sul fronte dei personaggi, l’autrice ha svolto un ottimo lavoro.
✍️ Il punto debole, per me, rimane lo stile: a tratti un po’ ostico, con transizioni tra le scene non sempre chiarissime. Avrei voluto un world building più ricco e maggiori dettagli sul passato dei personaggi, perché la storia ha un potenziale enorme.
✨ Nonostante questo, la narrazione resta piacevole, originale e con molti spunti interessanti.
🎌 Menzione speciale per i riferimenti alla cultura giapponese, che ho particolarmente apprezzato.
📅 Uscita prevista: 28 settembre 2025.
Tropes
♻️ Reincarnation
💫 Fated Mates
🕸️ Curses & Betrayal
⚔️ Touch her and die
🌹 Only soft for her
🩸 Blood tentacles
🌒 FMC with dark tormenting past
🧛♂️ Vampire x Human
🏰 Gothic romance
Trigger Warnings
⛪ Cults
🙏 Religious trauma
🩸 Graphic violence
🖤 Suicidal thoughts
🔪 Self-harm under religious delusion
🌑 Talk of infertility
✂️ Brief non-graphic mentions of castration
🧠 Mental illness
September 28, 2025
3.75*
•ARC review•
Already out
Molly is trapped in New Eden where she is to marry the guru of the religious town. Before the marriage, she decides it’s enough and gathers her courage to brave the seas, to flee that dreadful place. It brings her to Port Clyde, where Elric is waiting for her, her mate, to come back home. He’s been cursed by a coven long ago, bound to Molly and he must suffer her death every single of her lifetimes, her memories being erased every time. Will this time be any different? Can something be done to change this cruel fate?
Molly was so sweet and feminine, having claws sometimes when she was done being toyed with. A beacon of light in the darkness Elric brought with him. He longed for her, he endured many trials that left him hardened and desperate, therefore ready to do dubious things in order to keep his mate safe this time around. It was a sweet yet darkish cottagecore romance, with a vampire ‘’man’’ and a human woman. The vibes were spot on for the Fall season, with a touch of cuteness, because Molly was just so sweet.
If you’re in the mood for that, go ahead and add this one to your TBR.
Thank you so much to Maggie Fern for the arc! I’m excited to read more of Maggie, as I’m used to read her darker stories under Callie Moss’s pen name.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 /5
Some spice
Keywords: sweet, darkish, vampire mmc, human fmc, fated mates, cursed mates, cottagecore, religious trauma.
•ARC review•
Already out
Molly is trapped in New Eden where she is to marry the guru of the religious town. Before the marriage, she decides it’s enough and gathers her courage to brave the seas, to flee that dreadful place. It brings her to Port Clyde, where Elric is waiting for her, her mate, to come back home. He’s been cursed by a coven long ago, bound to Molly and he must suffer her death every single of her lifetimes, her memories being erased every time. Will this time be any different? Can something be done to change this cruel fate?
Molly was so sweet and feminine, having claws sometimes when she was done being toyed with. A beacon of light in the darkness Elric brought with him. He longed for her, he endured many trials that left him hardened and desperate, therefore ready to do dubious things in order to keep his mate safe this time around. It was a sweet yet darkish cottagecore romance, with a vampire ‘’man’’ and a human woman. The vibes were spot on for the Fall season, with a touch of cuteness, because Molly was just so sweet.
If you’re in the mood for that, go ahead and add this one to your TBR.
Thank you so much to Maggie Fern for the arc! I’m excited to read more of Maggie, as I’m used to read her darker stories under Callie Moss’s pen name.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 /5
Some spice
Keywords: sweet, darkish, vampire mmc, human fmc, fated mates, cursed mates, cottagecore, religious trauma.
September 22, 2025
Love love love. Fated mates and vampires, what's not to love?
September 19, 2025
ARC review:
It took me awhile to finish this book and I think it's because I found myself getting confused with the writing. Wasn't sure what was going on sometimes. I contemplated dnfing a couple times because of this but as I would continue, something would pull me back in.
But there were a lot of sentences that didn't make sense, a lot of, I guess trying too hard to be descriptive.
The story it self I liked, but I just don't think it was executed right. I'm sorry to say but I probably should have just dnfed.
It took me awhile to finish this book and I think it's because I found myself getting confused with the writing. Wasn't sure what was going on sometimes. I contemplated dnfing a couple times because of this but as I would continue, something would pull me back in.
But there were a lot of sentences that didn't make sense, a lot of, I guess trying too hard to be descriptive.
The story it self I liked, but I just don't think it was executed right. I'm sorry to say but I probably should have just dnfed.
September 18, 2025
ARC Review! Spoiler Free!🥀🖤
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This book was such a fun read and perfect for that early fall, kind of spooky dark fantasy romance mood. I loved the setting with the port, the lighthouse and the creepy manor. It reminded me a bit of Dark Shaddows. Our main character is taken to Port Clyde by our vampire MMC and she is trying to figure out why he seems so enraptured by her when they barely know each other.
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I really enjoyed the premise of this book and the fated lovers aspect of it. I did find myself around the halfway point wondering when things were going to pick up and what exactly was at stake. Don’t get me wrong, I ate up their romance and found it really easy to read, I just wanted to know what the bigger plot was. With that being said, it really picked up in the last 30% and from then on I couldn’t put it down. Again, this is the perfect read for the fall season and I highly recommend picking it up later this month!
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#bookstagram #bookish #arcreview #bookreview #theseeternalnones
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This book was such a fun read and perfect for that early fall, kind of spooky dark fantasy romance mood. I loved the setting with the port, the lighthouse and the creepy manor. It reminded me a bit of Dark Shaddows. Our main character is taken to Port Clyde by our vampire MMC and she is trying to figure out why he seems so enraptured by her when they barely know each other.
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I really enjoyed the premise of this book and the fated lovers aspect of it. I did find myself around the halfway point wondering when things were going to pick up and what exactly was at stake. Don’t get me wrong, I ate up their romance and found it really easy to read, I just wanted to know what the bigger plot was. With that being said, it really picked up in the last 30% and from then on I couldn’t put it down. Again, this is the perfect read for the fall season and I highly recommend picking it up later this month!
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#bookstagram #bookish #arcreview #bookreview #theseeternalnones
October 1, 2025
2 stars because I really wanted to love this book 😫
The author spends so much time describing the environment she forgets to write what’s actually happening.
In once sentence the FMC is trying to rip her skirt to bind a wound (which I’m still not sure how she got it) and her low pain tolerance. The next thing you know she’s describing “bubbling in the distance” that she’s trying to gauge if she’s walking toward or away from.
Did she bind the wound? When did she start walking again? I still don’t know, and much of the writing is like that. Ultimately, it feels like there are jumps in the story like a record skipping.
The author spends so much time describing the environment she forgets to write what’s actually happening.
In once sentence the FMC is trying to rip her skirt to bind a wound (which I’m still not sure how she got it) and her low pain tolerance. The next thing you know she’s describing “bubbling in the distance” that she’s trying to gauge if she’s walking toward or away from.
Did she bind the wound? When did she start walking again? I still don’t know, and much of the writing is like that. Ultimately, it feels like there are jumps in the story like a record skipping.
December 13, 2025
Did I read the entire thing?
Yes.
Should I have?
No.
Unfortunately this book was a bit of mess.
It was full of plot holes and inconsistencies. I think the premise was okay but it wasn’t well executed. On top of that I didn’t really find anything “dark” about. Especially for a “dark vampire romance”.
Yes.
Should I have?
No.
Unfortunately this book was a bit of mess.
It was full of plot holes and inconsistencies. I think the premise was okay but it wasn’t well executed. On top of that I didn’t really find anything “dark” about. Especially for a “dark vampire romance”.
September 6, 2025
From page one, this story grabs you. 💀✨
Molly is a character you can’t help but root for, heartbreaking yet hopeful as you uncover who she’s running from and why.
Then there’s Elric… wounded, unraveling, and willing to burn the world down for the mate he’s lost again and again. Their story is gothic, tragic, passionate, and so hauntingly beautiful. 🖤
The setting is gothic, the pacing on point, and the side characters (the fox stole my heart 🦊, and the selkie was a delight) add such depth. The twists near the end had me gasping, and that epilogue? Completely unexpected—but it left me smiling.
If you’re craving a vampire romance with gothic vibes, grief, tragedy, and just the right touch of spice… this one’s unforgettable. 🦇🩸
Things to know
Cults, religious trauma, graphic violence and sex, suicidal thoughts, self-harm under religious delusion, talk of infertility, brief nongraphic mentions of castration, mental illness, gothic romance, high fantasy, vampire X human, he falls first, fated loved, reincarnation, slow burn
Molly is a character you can’t help but root for, heartbreaking yet hopeful as you uncover who she’s running from and why.
Then there’s Elric… wounded, unraveling, and willing to burn the world down for the mate he’s lost again and again. Their story is gothic, tragic, passionate, and so hauntingly beautiful. 🖤
The setting is gothic, the pacing on point, and the side characters (the fox stole my heart 🦊, and the selkie was a delight) add such depth. The twists near the end had me gasping, and that epilogue? Completely unexpected—but it left me smiling.
If you’re craving a vampire romance with gothic vibes, grief, tragedy, and just the right touch of spice… this one’s unforgettable. 🦇🩸
Things to know
Cults, religious trauma, graphic violence and sex, suicidal thoughts, self-harm under religious delusion, talk of infertility, brief nongraphic mentions of castration, mental illness, gothic romance, high fantasy, vampire X human, he falls first, fated loved, reincarnation, slow burn
September 11, 2025
I’m so glad I stepped into Port Clyde. The Victorian, Gothic atmosphere charmed its way into my heart. Each detail pulled me in; delivering an enchanting experience!
Maggie Fern has written a timeless story of love and grief. Elric, the Vampire of Port Clyde, is searching for his soulmate. Molly is on the run and has endured traumatic experiences. When their paths cross, memories resurface, lifetimes of secrets are revealed, and stories of curses are rumored. The chemistry and tension is profound and tastefully executed! However, in times of fear, love and grief; bargains are made that will make or break every soul involved.
Each character had their own unique tale, purpose and personality! The banter between each was elegant and witty. I really enjoyed this book! I cannot wait to read what’s in store!! Beautiful job!! 👏
Thank you for the opportunity to ARC 🖤
Maggie Fern has written a timeless story of love and grief. Elric, the Vampire of Port Clyde, is searching for his soulmate. Molly is on the run and has endured traumatic experiences. When their paths cross, memories resurface, lifetimes of secrets are revealed, and stories of curses are rumored. The chemistry and tension is profound and tastefully executed! However, in times of fear, love and grief; bargains are made that will make or break every soul involved.
Each character had their own unique tale, purpose and personality! The banter between each was elegant and witty. I really enjoyed this book! I cannot wait to read what’s in store!! Beautiful job!! 👏
Thank you for the opportunity to ARC 🖤
September 2, 2025
‘If given a choice, I would choose the monsters over the man. At least they are honest in their intentions to defile.’
A vampire romance like none I have read before. It's a story with Gothic vibes, grief, tragedy and a bit of spice. The epilogue was unexpected, but it made me smile.
A vampire romance like none I have read before. It's a story with Gothic vibes, grief, tragedy and a bit of spice. The epilogue was unexpected, but it made me smile.
September 9, 2025
I received an ARC for an honest review.
Unfortunetly I had to DNF at 30% :( In the first chapter I thought i was going to love this book- but then the intro just kept going and going. I felt like I was still in the intro in chapter 5- the pacing became painfully slow for me.
Same for the FMC- you feel for her at the start but I couldn't get past the author making her illiterate and then stuttering with nervousness in every interaction with the MMC 😭😭 I lost interest after that.
Unfortunetly I had to DNF at 30% :( In the first chapter I thought i was going to love this book- but then the intro just kept going and going. I felt like I was still in the intro in chapter 5- the pacing became painfully slow for me.
Same for the FMC- you feel for her at the start but I couldn't get past the author making her illiterate and then stuttering with nervousness in every interaction with the MMC 😭😭 I lost interest after that.
October 30, 2025
DNF at a little past 50%. I had no idea what the plot was tbh. There were allusions to certain events (seemingly crucial events btw) or characters that just never received context or clarification. I don’t mind mystery but to be HALFWAY into a book and know nothing about the characters backgrounds, the world they live in or what caused everything to start to begin with is kinda cray cray to me.
The MMC and FMC felt very basic to me, I’ve seen it many times before already and I didn’t get the feeling of longing at all, more like creepy insta-lust play acting as love? The writing was okay but I found incomplete sentences, typos, or sentences that just didn’t make much logical sense or were repetitive.
I’m honestly bummed cus this sounded really promising on booktok lol
The MMC and FMC felt very basic to me, I’ve seen it many times before already and I didn’t get the feeling of longing at all, more like creepy insta-lust play acting as love? The writing was okay but I found incomplete sentences, typos, or sentences that just didn’t make much logical sense or were repetitive.
I’m honestly bummed cus this sounded really promising on booktok lol
September 28, 2025
ARC review
Thank you to the author for letting me review this for free.
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4 ⭐️
This is such a beautiful story 🖤 I loved the atmosphere and the tragedy that is their love-story so much. My heart broke for Elric, I could feel the grief seeping out of the pages 💔 Molly for me fell a bit flat but mostly because I feel like her story is only really starting now, not because she isn’t an interesting character. Also, the side characters need some lovinnnnn’!
The only thing that took away some of the story was the writing. Sometimes it was hard to follow the timeline or discern when a scene ended. It also felt like we were led through the story a lot, especially at the beginning which made the story quite predictable. It really took me a while to get invested but it was worth it in the end for sure!! It shouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying this beautiful, tragic story 🥰
Note: I’m someone who feels deeply for stories, and by that I don’t just mean for the characters it entails but the person who’s created them. Writing is an art, and art is never perfect. I feel like a lot of people are overly critical with books nowadays and that’s just a shame. You can tell the author poured themselves into this book, the story is deep and beautiful, and so any criticism should be given in a constructive way - always! 🥰
Thank you to the author for letting me review this for free.
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4 ⭐️
This is such a beautiful story 🖤 I loved the atmosphere and the tragedy that is their love-story so much. My heart broke for Elric, I could feel the grief seeping out of the pages 💔 Molly for me fell a bit flat but mostly because I feel like her story is only really starting now, not because she isn’t an interesting character. Also, the side characters need some lovinnnnn’!
The only thing that took away some of the story was the writing. Sometimes it was hard to follow the timeline or discern when a scene ended. It also felt like we were led through the story a lot, especially at the beginning which made the story quite predictable. It really took me a while to get invested but it was worth it in the end for sure!! It shouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying this beautiful, tragic story 🥰
Note: I’m someone who feels deeply for stories, and by that I don’t just mean for the characters it entails but the person who’s created them. Writing is an art, and art is never perfect. I feel like a lot of people are overly critical with books nowadays and that’s just a shame. You can tell the author poured themselves into this book, the story is deep and beautiful, and so any criticism should be given in a constructive way - always! 🥰
October 11, 2025
⭐ 1 star (DNF at 44%)
I really wanted to love this book. It had everything I usually go for — reincarnation, gothic atmosphere, eerie undertones, a dark love story — all the elements that should’ve hooked me. But the execution just didn’t land for me.
The writing felt like it lingered on every tiny detail without really moving the story forward. I kept waiting for something to happen, but by almost halfway through, it still felt like I was stuck in the same place. The pacing was so slow that it was hard to stay engaged, and the lack of momentum made me lose interest.
There’s definitely a haunting beauty to the concept, and I can see why some people might enjoy the lyrical writing. But for me, it just didn’t click.
☕ Verdict: A beautiful premise, but way too slow and meandering for my taste.
I really wanted to love this book. It had everything I usually go for — reincarnation, gothic atmosphere, eerie undertones, a dark love story — all the elements that should’ve hooked me. But the execution just didn’t land for me.
The writing felt like it lingered on every tiny detail without really moving the story forward. I kept waiting for something to happen, but by almost halfway through, it still felt like I was stuck in the same place. The pacing was so slow that it was hard to stay engaged, and the lack of momentum made me lose interest.
There’s definitely a haunting beauty to the concept, and I can see why some people might enjoy the lyrical writing. But for me, it just didn’t click.
☕ Verdict: A beautiful premise, but way too slow and meandering for my taste.
September 20, 2025
4.5 stars!
This book was exactly what I wanted to pick up for spooky season, gothic atmosphere, haunting romance, and just the right touch of eerie magic. From the first few chapters, I knew I was in for something both tragic and beautiful.
This story pulses with longing, grief, and the kind of love that feels both dangerous and inevitable. There’s a tenderness in the way Maggie writes her characters, even when the world around them is sharp and shadowed. I found myself caught between heartbreak and hope on nearly every page.
The writing is lyrical without ever losing its momentum, and the setting is so vivid it feels like stepping into a dream by the sea. It’s a story that lingers is haunting, passionate, and perfect to sink into on a chilly autumn night.
If you’re looking for a gothic romance that will leave your heart a little bruised but full, These Eternal Bones is the perfect pick for fall.
*I received this arc from the author, all thoughts and opinions are my own*
This book was exactly what I wanted to pick up for spooky season, gothic atmosphere, haunting romance, and just the right touch of eerie magic. From the first few chapters, I knew I was in for something both tragic and beautiful.
This story pulses with longing, grief, and the kind of love that feels both dangerous and inevitable. There’s a tenderness in the way Maggie writes her characters, even when the world around them is sharp and shadowed. I found myself caught between heartbreak and hope on nearly every page.
The writing is lyrical without ever losing its momentum, and the setting is so vivid it feels like stepping into a dream by the sea. It’s a story that lingers is haunting, passionate, and perfect to sink into on a chilly autumn night.
If you’re looking for a gothic romance that will leave your heart a little bruised but full, These Eternal Bones is the perfect pick for fall.
*I received this arc from the author, all thoughts and opinions are my own*
September 23, 2025
It was everything I could have hoped for, and you are not going to want to pass this story up. I had a dream about 6 months ago that was the same plot of this book, and I scoured the internet to find a book that was similar, and couldn’t find anything that fit until These Eternal Bones. And OMG it was freaking perfect. I really loved it, and while it was a little slow at the beginning, the rest of the book made up for it. It’s one of those books that I will never forget the characters or plot, no matter what other books I read or how long it’s been.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review, and thank god because I could not wait any longer to read this book.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review, and thank god because I could not wait any longer to read this book.
September 23, 2025
Overall I really enjoyed the book, and was hooked from the TikTok videos! It’s an enjoyable gothic romance , fated mates and I am a sucker for a vampire book 🦇 I will say the writing is a bit confusing in parts especially in the beginning, but after I got used to the writing style I enjoyed it a lot! I will be rereading! Thank you to the author for the ARC read. 🖤🫶🏻
November 3, 2025
DNF. I had high hopes for this book but did not make it very far into the first chapter. There was way too much over explanation and self doubt that I could not continue to read about the main character. Extremely wordy in the first few pages and my interest dropped fast. However, the premise of the story was interesting. Just was not for me.
I did receive this as an ARC copy.
I did receive this as an ARC copy.
December 7, 2025
I really, REALLY wanted to give this one 5 stars. But I just couldn’t. Why? Because I’ve never read a book with more spelling errors than this one. I swear to Christ I do not believe this was edited at all. It’s practically every other sentence. It’s not just spelling either, it’s rife with run-on sentences, missing commas, sentence structure errors and just poor grammar. It’s a shame, because without this it’s written beautifully and the plot was unique and compelling as hell. But a few times is acceptable, this many was grating and lowkey insulting.
Ignoring those issues though, because if they were fixed then I would have rated this 5 stars, I loved this. Many of these reviews say that the writing style is too roundabout and abstract in its descriptive prose, that the characters feel dry because of it, to which I say that you need to read between the lines. Much of what happens is stated outright, but there’s a lot that’s implied as well. I really liked the writing style actually, but it was not conducive to a quick read. It took me a large chunk of the day to read this, whereas I would normally have finished a book this size about 3-4 hours ago. I do believe this is due to the writing style, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t into it. On the contrary, I was very into this book.
The YEARNING!!! Oh my god. This man YEARNS. I don’t know if an mmc exists where he yearns harder than Elric. He is cursed to watch his mate die, over and over and over. Then she’s reincarnated, and shortly after he seals the bond, she dies again. He waited a very long time for the latest reincarnation and it ate away at his sanity until he was barely holding onto it by the time he finds her again. There are some wonderful side characters, cheeky and full of life. Truly a delight to read. The mmc… fucking hell. Some of his quotes absolutely sent me into orbit.
‘There is nothing I can do to make you remember me, but God, how I have loved you. There is no being or creature alive that could compare to the way my soul bleeds for you. I am an open wound until you come and balm the ache.’
‘It is what I am made for. All of my long, weary years, my only purpose is to be hers.’
‘They will not grow here. I have robbed you of enough. I cannot curse you to an eternity here, in this cold, nothingness place without your flowers. Without a chance to see the most beautiful ones. I made a list of them all, where they grow. I want to take you someday.’
So yeah, this man has a phd in yearnology, with a masters in pining. Then there’s this quote, which had me reeling:
‘Come, my sweet Molly. Let’s seat you upon my cock.’
LMAO
Anyway the journey to the ending made my entire body hurt. His guilt over his past actions and everything that lead to what he had to do, all of it spilled over into an account of the most tortured soul in romantic fiction. God what a sweetheart. All he wanted to do was love her, their whole lives. And he went insane waiting for her, but he would wait an eternity for her. This book spoke to me in such a profound way. I just wish it had been fucking edited better 😭😭
It DOES have a hea. It’s a fucking struggle to get there, but they do manage to work it out. Definitely if you can get past the spelling and grammar mistakes, pick this one up. But if you’re someone whose eye twitches when books aren’t perfect, maybe give it a miss.
Ignoring those issues though, because if they were fixed then I would have rated this 5 stars, I loved this. Many of these reviews say that the writing style is too roundabout and abstract in its descriptive prose, that the characters feel dry because of it, to which I say that you need to read between the lines. Much of what happens is stated outright, but there’s a lot that’s implied as well. I really liked the writing style actually, but it was not conducive to a quick read. It took me a large chunk of the day to read this, whereas I would normally have finished a book this size about 3-4 hours ago. I do believe this is due to the writing style, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t into it. On the contrary, I was very into this book.
The YEARNING!!! Oh my god. This man YEARNS. I don’t know if an mmc exists where he yearns harder than Elric. He is cursed to watch his mate die, over and over and over. Then she’s reincarnated, and shortly after he seals the bond, she dies again. He waited a very long time for the latest reincarnation and it ate away at his sanity until he was barely holding onto it by the time he finds her again. There are some wonderful side characters, cheeky and full of life. Truly a delight to read. The mmc… fucking hell. Some of his quotes absolutely sent me into orbit.
‘There is nothing I can do to make you remember me, but God, how I have loved you. There is no being or creature alive that could compare to the way my soul bleeds for you. I am an open wound until you come and balm the ache.’
‘It is what I am made for. All of my long, weary years, my only purpose is to be hers.’
‘They will not grow here. I have robbed you of enough. I cannot curse you to an eternity here, in this cold, nothingness place without your flowers. Without a chance to see the most beautiful ones. I made a list of them all, where they grow. I want to take you someday.’
So yeah, this man has a phd in yearnology, with a masters in pining. Then there’s this quote, which had me reeling:
‘Come, my sweet Molly. Let’s seat you upon my cock.’
LMAO
Anyway the journey to the ending made my entire body hurt. His guilt over his past actions and everything that lead to what he had to do, all of it spilled over into an account of the most tortured soul in romantic fiction. God what a sweetheart. All he wanted to do was love her, their whole lives. And he went insane waiting for her, but he would wait an eternity for her. This book spoke to me in such a profound way. I just wish it had been fucking edited better 😭😭
It DOES have a hea. It’s a fucking struggle to get there, but they do manage to work it out. Definitely if you can get past the spelling and grammar mistakes, pick this one up. But if you’re someone whose eye twitches when books aren’t perfect, maybe give it a miss.
September 4, 2025
I came across These Eternal Bones on TikTok in December and ran to download it only to find out it wasn’t out yet. I have been yearning for it since. I finished it today and have never been so sad to finish a book. It’s one of those ones you wish could just keep going. Forever. It’s that good, y’all.
The storyline pulls you in from the beginning. You really feel affection for Molly right away. Who is this ‘he’ she’s running from? Why is ‘he’ so bad? You feel so sad but yet so hopeful for her. Each character is so well developed and you come to care (or dislike a few of course) EACH one.
The romance is just perfection. The way Elric dotes over Molly and the way he loves her is just so swoony. He lives his life for her. He bears an unimaginable heart break over and over but continues to do so because that small amount of time he gets with Molly each time is all worth it to him. Everything he does is for her. He makes his fair share of mistakes, sure, but helllllo, we ignore all red flags when it comes to vamps.
I really hated for this book to end. It was all wrapped up so perfectly with a pretty bow. I didn’t know how I expected it to end but I truly think the ending was perfect. Such a ‘more sweet than bitter’ ending. This will easily be a book I come back to again and again.
“Time and time again, she has loved me, brought me back from the crevices of my mind.”
“…I do not need to forgive you for loving me so fiercely. What else could I ever want?”
JUST READ IT! Trust me!
The storyline pulls you in from the beginning. You really feel affection for Molly right away. Who is this ‘he’ she’s running from? Why is ‘he’ so bad? You feel so sad but yet so hopeful for her. Each character is so well developed and you come to care (or dislike a few of course) EACH one.
The romance is just perfection. The way Elric dotes over Molly and the way he loves her is just so swoony. He lives his life for her. He bears an unimaginable heart break over and over but continues to do so because that small amount of time he gets with Molly each time is all worth it to him. Everything he does is for her. He makes his fair share of mistakes, sure, but helllllo, we ignore all red flags when it comes to vamps.
I really hated for this book to end. It was all wrapped up so perfectly with a pretty bow. I didn’t know how I expected it to end but I truly think the ending was perfect. Such a ‘more sweet than bitter’ ending. This will easily be a book I come back to again and again.
“Time and time again, she has loved me, brought me back from the crevices of my mind.”
“…I do not need to forgive you for loving me so fiercely. What else could I ever want?”
JUST READ IT! Trust me!
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