Kiss of the Vampire: A Forbidden Lovers Vampire Romance

by Miranda Thorn

A vampire hunter with failing magic. A thousand-year-old vampire stalking her library. One forbidden obsession neither will survive.

I want out. Away from the blood, the fear, and the pain of being a vampire hunter. That's why I'm in college. I want a normal life. I'm three weeks from finishing my summer semester when a vampire walks into my life and ruins everything.

Liam is ancient, lethal, and researching demonology in my library. If whatever he's summoning gets loose, the body count will be remembered for decades. I can't scare him off—he's too old and too strong—which means I'm stuck keeping tabs on him while he brings me gourmet donuts and props his bare feet on my chair like we're friends. When he pins me against the shelves and the lights explode overhead, I realize two my magic isn't as dead as I thought, and neither is whatever's burning between us.

But Liam isn't just any vampire. He's one of three brothers my ancestors tried to massacre—and failed. His family has a vendetta. Mine has a kill order. And the witch hunters circling my city don't care that I'm falling for the enemy; they just want us both dead.

With dark forces rising, my mother's betrayals unraveling, and an ancient conspiracy dragging us into the crossfire, Liam offers me something I've never a way out. All it costs is everything I was raised to believe.



Enemies to loversForbidden romanceForced proximity (college library)He falls firstTouch her and dieMorally grey vampire heroHidden identity / secret relationshipWitch x vampireFamily betrayalHeat Spicy
Suspenseful / Angsty
Series Interconnected Standalone
HEA
First Person, Single POV
Content On-page violence, explicit sexual content, controlling/toxic parent dynamic

Perfect for fans of Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews, and Jennifer L. Armentrout. If you like fast-burn forbidden romance with a heroine who hunts monsters and falls for the most dangerous one, start The Vampire's Kingdom series here.

145 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2025

About the author

I've been obsessed with vampires, ghosts, witches and almost anything else paranormal since I can remember. Possibly before that.

I started devouring books at the late age of ten after battling the dyslexia monster. I quickly made up for all those lost reading years. The joke was that my end of the trailer was going to sink under the weight of all the books.

By the ripe old age of twelve I knew I wanted to be a writer after reading an author who was published at thirteen. I didn't make it by thirteen, and not to brag or anything ("who am I kidding? I love to brag!" - name that TV character!) but I was finally published at nineteen.

Things have happened since then. I've quit and tried to join the normal world. You can see how well that worked out because I've come back to writing. I've taken a new pen name. I've ripped apart my process and old books and now I'm trying to make up for lost time. Again!

You haven't failed until you quit. That's my piece of life advice for you.

If you know the TV quote above, you can probably guess that I'm obsessed with kick as* heroines, dastardly villains, and a little bit of romance. If you love those things too, you're in the right place.

All my love,

Miranda Thorn

Get early access to my stories on Ream:
https://reamstories.com/page/leiklquhwq

Reviews

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This was a good prequel to the rest of the series. It gives more insight on Grace and Liam. Grace being a lowly witch and vampire hunter who's attending college when she notices a handsome blonde vampire at her library looking at books. Interesting. When neither outright hurt one another they become allies when witch hunters attack Grace. Liam states that there are demon signs all around and he's trying to find a link. The more time Grace spends with Liam the more she realizes everything she knows about vampires are a lie.

[Amileigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miranda Thorn's The Kiss of the Vampire is a thrilling and steamy prequel that perfectly sets the stage for a new paranormal world. I was immediately drawn into the story, which masterfully balances a compelling plot with a scorching forbidden romance.

What stood out most to me was the fantastic character progression of Grace. She's introduced as someone burdened by expectation and weighed down by the legacy of her vampire-hunting family. It's easy to relate to her deep-seated desire to just have a normal life—to attend college and get a degree, to escape the shadow of her family's vendetta. Her struggle feels incredibly real, and you can feel her yearning to be seen as more than just a witch with "weak" magic. The book beautifully charts her journey from this place of insecurity to one where she begins to question everything she's ever known, thanks to an unexpected encounter.

And that encounter is, of course, with Liam. The pull between Grace and Liam is absolutely electrifying. This isn't just a simple case of opposites attracting; it’s a palpable, dangerous, and deeply emotional connection. The author does an incredible job of building a tension so thick you can practically feel it. Every stolen glance and every forbidden moment brings them closer, blurring the lines between their roles as sworn enemies and their undeniable attraction. Their dynamic is the heart of the story, and it’s what makes Grace’s inner conflict so powerful. She's not just betraying her family's legacy; she's embracing a part of herself that she was always taught to hate.

Overall, The Kiss of the Vampire is a fast-paced, action-packed, and wonderfully steamy read. It's a testament to how an author can pack a huge emotional punch and build an entire world in a short amount of time. I finished it desperate for more of Grace and Liam's story and can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series.

[The Books of Costy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vibe: Comfort-core for 2000s paranormal kids—but it struggles to stand on its own.

This novella (technically a prequel to The Vampire’s Kingdom series) moves at breakneck speed: a witch trained to kill vampires falls into instant, overwhelming lust with a 700-year-old vampire in a Savannah library. It’s fast. It’s familiar. It’s chaotic in a way that feels nostalgic if you grew up on Buffy, Blue Bloods, or even Twilight.

But here’s the hard truth:
This reads less like a standalone novella and more like a bonus scene stretched past its breaking point.
The pacing is frantic—major conflicts are introduced and resolved before you can feel the stakes.
The enemies are barely named before they’re defeated.
The world-building is almost nonexistent unless you already know the series lore.

The emotional beats feel rushed and unearned. Insta-love can work (Sparrow by L.J. Shen pulled it off beautifully), but here, it feels thin because there’s no real time to invest in the characters. Grace and Liam have chemistry… but not much story to anchor it.

In short:
This novella has the right ideas—paranormal enemies-to-lovers, forbidden attraction, ancient vendettas—but the execution feels incomplete.
It assumes emotional investment from the reader without earning it.

If you’re already invested in The Vampire’s Kingdom world, this might be a fun bonus.
If you’re coming in cold, like me? It leaves you with more questions than emotional payoff.

⭐️⭐️ (2/5 stars) — All the ingredients were here, but it needed more pages, more tension, and honestly, more heart.

ARC graciously provided by the author through BookSirens. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dionne Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiss of the Vampire by Miranda Thorn, the prequel novel in The Vampire's Kingdom series, weaves an enchanting tale of forbidden love, dark magic, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.

While it may have been published after other entries in the series, this book serves as a captivating introduction to the rich and dangerous world Thorn has created. The story follows Grace McCormic, the youngest member of a powerful vampire-hunting coven, as she navigates the challenges of college life while trying to keep her supernatural heritage a secret. However, her plans are thrown into disarray when a chance encounter at the library brings her face to face with Liam, an ancient and alluring vampire immersed in the study of demonology. Despite her family's sworn mission to eradicate vampires, Grace finds herself inexplicably drawn to Liam, and the two become entangled in a perilous dance of attraction and danger. As dark forces gather and witch hunters close in from all sides, Grace and Liam must confront not only the external threats but also their own conflicting desires and loyalties.

Thorn's evocative prose paints a vivid picture of this shadowy realm, populated by complex characters and steeped in atmospheric tension. While there may be some narrative gaps, likely due to the series' publication order, Kiss of the Vampire remains a compelling and beautifully crafted tale that will leave readers eager to delve deeper into the saga of The Vampire's Kingdom.

[S G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 5/5

Spice: 3.5/5

Genre: Vampire Romance

Content Warnings: Violence

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

Synopsis:

This is the prequel to the already released 3 book series, The Vampire’s Kingdom. I am starting this series with this book so I don’t have a ton of information about the others but I hope these characters come back around in one of the other books.

Grace is a witch vampire hunter legacy, trying to face the fact that she has very little magic. She wants to live a normal college life, graduate and then get out of the family business. Liam is a 700yo vampire tracking down some information on demons. When they bump into each other at the library, their lives are forever changed. Watch them as they try to decide if their forbidden love is worth losing everything for.

Thoughts:

This was a quick (2ish hours), fun, action packed read with a dash of spice. The author could have easily flushed out this novella to a full book and I hope she does at some point or have a stand alone within the series at some point. I definitely will be reading the rest of this series and recommend this book.

[Cyrene Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a prequel to the main series and it’s a longer novella, bringing the reader into this world. Grace is a witch and college student and comes from a long line of vampire hunters, although she herself didn’t get as much magic in her blood as her sisters and really just wants a normal life away from the family business. When she sees Liam in the library, she knows she must kill him, but she expected Liam to save her life from witch hunters. Her world and everything she’s been taught her whole life about vampires will be turned upside down.

Liam is a 700 yr old vampire, along with his brothers, are a group that has been wrongfully blamed for deaths they didn’t commit, and Grace’s ancestors couldn’t bring them down.

Overall, I like the story, but it’s definitely lacking in the character development and I realize this is a prequel, but Grace’s emotions were a bit too surreal in her quick attachment to Liam. This pairing could easily have been a full novel. Even having read this one, and been a bit underwhelmed with it, I do have the first main book on my Kindle and am planning on going forward, as I like the premise of it and want to see how the story unfolds with Liam’s brothers.

[Marie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this “prequel” just as much as the rest of the series. It can be read as a standalone but I do recommend reading the series first. What started out as a writing exercise for the author, turned into a novella for her readers. Sometimes side characters want a little bit of the spotlight too and I am here for it.

The synopsis gives you an idea of what to expect. Liam, a 500 year old vampire, is trying to stop some of the history he saw firsthand from being repeated. We also meet Grace, still in college, still trying to get a degree and have a life outside of her coven. Her family is one of the strongest line of vampire hunter witches. Let’s just say college isn’t done in her family.

This is a quick, fun read and I enjoyed getting to see how Liam and Grace’s relationship developed from the beginning. I would recommend this novella for fans of forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers, betrayal, a little bit of family drama and spice.

I would like to thank the author and BookSirens for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Grace, the female vampire-hunter witch lead, is unreasonably attracted to Liam, the male vampire lead, who she knows her coven would expect her to kill. She, however, is focused on her studies and tries to ignore the gorgeous vampire researching demons.

When she’s attacked, however, it’s Liam who comes to her aid. Struggling to stay away from each other, Grace and Liam end up spending time together as they try to work out who their foes are, and the attraction becomes irresistible…

This novella is mostly female lead POV, well written, and a contemporary, forbidden lovers, witch/vampire romance adjacent to the author’s The Vampire’s Kingdom series. I empathised with Grace’s concerns. I enjoyed seeing her become confident and independent from her coven. I enjoyed Liam’s certainty of what he wanted and his gentle pursuit of Grace. I enjoyed the intimacy and chuckled at the banter.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

In ‘Kiss of the Vampire’, we meet Liam, a Vampire, and Grace, a Vampire Hunter. They’re inexplicably drawn to each other—it’s forbidden, they fight it, but, he IS perfection … what’s a girl to do? Throw in a crazy mother, OTT Protective family, and jerk witch hunters and you get a 2-hour read that’ll hold your interest from page 1-til-done.

It’s nice getting a brief glimpse of the sexy Vampires and beautiful Witches’ personalities we’ll see featured in ‘The Vampire’s Kingdom’ series.

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
* Liam
FMC:
* Grace
HEA/Cliffhanger:
* HEA
Series:
* The Vampire’s Kingdom: Book 0
Epilogue:
* Yes
Tropes:
* Supernatural Romance
* Forbidden Love
* Forced Proximity
* Enemies to Lovers
* Vampire x Witch
* Virgin FMC
* MF
Triggers:
* 18+
* Sex
* Profanity
* Violence
* Death
Burn Speed:
* Medium
Spice Level:
* 🌶️🌶️🌶️


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

[RoseyLovesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiss of the Vampire by Miranda Thorn is a sizzling, fast-paced ride that combines enemies-to-lovers romance with supernatural suspense. Grace, a witch who’s always been too focused on her studies to think about boys, finds her world turned upside down when she meets Liam, a stunning vampire with a dangerous mission. Their chemistry is undeniable, even as Grace tries to keep things strictly professional. But after a steamy date and a few too many suggestive glances, Grace’s “no romance” rule starts to unravel. With vampires, demons, and witch hunters on the line, the stakes are high, and the passion is even higher. Packed with drama, action, and twists, Kiss of the Vampire will have you hooked from start to finish. Perfect for fans of supernatural romance with plenty of heat and heart-pounding moments.

[Kamiye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kiss of the Vampire is a short book prequel to the The Vampire's Kingdom series. I didn't read the series, it was not mandatory to read to understand the book. I guess some of the characters might appear in the series but the story is focused on Grace and Liam. It was an enjoyable read.

It's a fast-paced book, packed with actions and sizzling chemistry between the MMC and FMC. She's the witch vampire-hunter, he's a vampire. They fall for each other.
I was not expecting the end (maybe because I'm clueless about the series) and that was a nice development.

If you like vampires, insta-love, and HEA, pick this book. You won't be disappointed.

I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens. Thank you for the opportunity. I'm leaving this review voluntarily. This review is my own.

[Lea Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think there is a book with vampires written by Miranda Thorn that I wouldn't read in one day and wouldn't love it. Thank you , Miranda, for the free copy of this book, you just got me out of my reading slump!
Oh,yes , about the book . What can I say? I found myself completely fascinated by it , even if it was short , because it gave us a view about how Liam and Grace's relationship started. I mean sure, I knew what was going to happen at the end of this book because I already read Bite of Magic, but it was interesting to see their love story from the beginning.
Miranda, I hope your next book will come fast( even if this didn't even get published yet😂) because I can't wait to see what masterpiece will come out next and how things will turn out.

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a vampire hunting witch Grace is very well aware of the consequences of being seen with a vampire. But when witch hunters attack, and Liam saver her, she finds herself drawn to him in a way she can't explain. But dark magic is rising, and they both have enemies that want to see them destroyed.
Very Steamy read with enemies turned lover and plenty of action that makes it hard to put this book down. Grace and Liam are fascinating characters who try to resist each other but fail to do so even when it could mean their deaths at the hands of their loved ones. They are wonderfully compelling and well written characters, and I recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book.

[Mariaan Belinfante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was smitten with this 0.5 book adding to the series. Liam is such an adorable loving vampire character. Grace, from the McCormic witch vampire hunting family, didn't want to be a vampire hunter, only a normal life with a family. Except for the budding romance, witch hunters are out to capture her, for the demon princes?? Her treacherous mother is busy with her horrific practices and Alaric had to step in.
It felt like a reunion with the characters and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and leave this review voluntary Thank you Miranda, this was so great.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC. I have not read anything by this author before, and upon finishing this book, I immediately added several of her books to my TBR.

Grace is a witch and a vampire hunter. Liam is a vampire. Together, they are a couple I was rooting for. I enjoyed these characters and the world Miranda Thorn builds in the book. The events between the end of the book and the epilogue seemed rushed; it made me hope there was more about those events in later books. I didn't feel like the love story was too rushed. They had some build-up, and the dirty talk was working. I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Carrie McConn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel to the rest of the series, which I have not read. But I probably will now :) I do love vampires and this is right up my alley. The MC vampire is 700 years old and the MC witch/vampire hunter is in a college summer course. I prefer an older female MC but this was fine, she's a mature liberated woman.

I had a bunch of trouble uploading to my Kobo reader as an ePub (would shut off at chapter 5) and ended up having to read on my computer. So a bit annoying and really nothing to affect the story whatsoever, just adding to my review for the full experience.

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

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first three in the series already, so when I discovered that she finally wrote a prequel, I jumped at the chance to get it!

I love being able to see how Liam and Grace actually met. I feel like this should get everyone to go to the library more often. I already knew what was going to happen going into it, so it may have ruined the surprises for me, but that's okay. A couple of things happened that I could remember reading from another's perspective once already, so that was neat.

This series is a great one. There is a ton of action in every book and more than enough spice to require an antacid!

[The Plot Thickens Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jennifer J for The Plot Thickens Book Club
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2🌶️🌶️
This is a dark, addictive paranormal romance that pulls you into a dangerous world of secrets & power.
The story follows strong-willed vampire hunter Grace who gets entangled with brooding vampire Liam whose motives aren’t always clear.
The chemistry between them is intense. Their relationship builds through suspicion & intrigue rather than instant trust. The atmosphere is moody & suspenseful, with enough twists to keep things interesting.
Overall, it’s a fast, engaging read perfect for fans of dark romance with a bite!!

[RosieRitesReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book with the understanding that this is a prequel to The Vampire Kingdom series and the other books did not have to be read prior to reading this one. This is an enemies-to-lover's paranormal romance following a vampire hunting witch, Grace, and a vampire, Liam. The story is packed with romance, action, and just the right amount of spice to keep things interesting. This was an enjoyable read, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.

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

[Fae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiss of the Vampire by Miranda Thorn absolutely hooked me from page one. The atmosphere is dark, seductive, and immersive in the best way, and the chemistry between the characters practically crackles off the page. I loved the balance of romance, tension, and danger nothing ever felt rushed, yet I could not stop turning the pages. The world building is rich, the writing is vivid, and the emotional pull had me thinking about the story long after I finished. If you love paranormal romance with gothic vibes and unforgettable characters, this is an absolute must read.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entrancing preview story of The Vampire Kingdom series. This enemy to lover story is about Grace a witch and Liam a vampire. The story starts when both are at the library and Grace is watching him. For two days he's been flirting with her, and she decides to approach him. She was trained to hunt and kill vampires. What occurs was an entertaining read as this unlikely couple are drawn together in this enjoyable copy I'd received and volunteer to read and review

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

It had fast pacing, hints of rich world-building, and major end-of-book reveals.

But… I really wanted more depth. The world had potential, but some info felt dropped in without enough context. And I couldn’t fully connect with the main characters — I needed more emotional buildup and development. That said, I’m still intrigued enough to check out book one!

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

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is getting a 4 stars for me I love it but the ending didn’t really do anything for me felt a bit rushed. I love a “happy ending” but it seemed like there could have been more in between the last chapter and the ending. I would however love to see more from Liam and grace. Over all this book was great! Couldn’t put it down love the banter between Liam and Grace and the connection they have.

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

[Jacqualine Martinez]

Fantastic read you’re gonna love this. They have the most amazing characters, wonderful world building and terrific storyline you would ever believe this story really get your engine going and you just don’t wanna stop reading till you hit the end and you want and told give me the next book in line. It is a definite page trainer must read that highly recommend this book and I’m highly looking forward to the next book

[HfbR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Liam, a vampire, and Grace, a witch and vampire hunter. Grace meets Liam while studying at her local library. Her first instinct is to kill him, but she ends up kissing him instead……..

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s well written with a good plot and excellent characters too, so I’m looking forward to reading more in this Vampire’s Kingdom series 🐈‍⬛

[Sarah Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hot. I hate insta love but this is a mates situation so it soothed my worries.
This is a novella so it moves fast, but it's the perfect amuse-bouche and I can't wait for the entree.
I love a simping MMC!
Enemies to lovers but that instantly desolves into obsessive lust ❤️‍🔥
Only a tiny spoiler above but that is all you will get from me. Go get the book! It's free right now.

[Miaowwow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t quite do it for me, I found it a bit trite and couldn’t really get into the characters unfortunately.

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

This is just my personal opinion and I am sure lots of other people will thoroughly enjoy it. You can’t please all of the people all of the time, just not so much for me.

[MaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quick prequel for the series is enough to spark the interest and gives just enough detail of characters and events that entices the reader to want more. Engaging plot with what promises to be interesting characters. Awaiting more..well done.

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

[Printessan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel to The Vampire Kingdom series. I haven't read the series but after reading the prequel I have added the series to my TBR. I would love to read more and see what happens. The story has action, spice and romance. I enjoyed reading it.

Thank you Miranda and BookSirens for letting me be a part of the team. ♥️🌺

[Sarah Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this prequel novella immensely!! It was easy to read and not too long but also had action and tense moments to keep you on the edge of your seat.

I just loved Liam, he was definitely not your average monster vampire. He was sexy and sweet but could be ruthless if necessary. I was so pleased with the ending and thought it finished everything off really well. Great read!!