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The Dawn of Vesper: A Gothic Dark Fantasy Romance of Tragic Love and War
He wasn’t supposed to come home.
Instead, Sergeant Ben Hale returns from the front lines broken, infected, and marked by the blood of an enemy no one understands. Discarded in a military hospital, he’s dead inside—until Eden, a determined nurse with steady hands and a stubborn heart, breathes life back into him.
But peace is a lie.
Hidden deep in a government lab lies a serum that could end the war—or destroy what’s left of him. When Ben is offered a chance to protect Eden by sacrificing himself, he takes it—knowing it will turn him into the very thing they were fighting.
And once he changes, there’s no going back.
The Dawn of Vesper is a dark, character-driven sci-fi romance of tragic love, slow-burn desire, and humanity on the brink of extinction. Book One of The Noctis Cycle—a complete trilogy where hearts break, lines blur, and legends awaken.
Instead, Sergeant Ben Hale returns from the front lines broken, infected, and marked by the blood of an enemy no one understands. Discarded in a military hospital, he’s dead inside—until Eden, a determined nurse with steady hands and a stubborn heart, breathes life back into him.
But peace is a lie.
Hidden deep in a government lab lies a serum that could end the war—or destroy what’s left of him. When Ben is offered a chance to protect Eden by sacrificing himself, he takes it—knowing it will turn him into the very thing they were fighting.
And once he changes, there’s no going back.
The Dawn of Vesper is a dark, character-driven sci-fi romance of tragic love, slow-burn desire, and humanity on the brink of extinction. Book One of The Noctis Cycle—a complete trilogy where hearts break, lines blur, and legends awaken.
- GenresDark RomanceVampires
420 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2025
5 people are currently reading
1080 people want to read
About the author
Melody Kepler
7 books51 followersMelody Kepler writes emotionally intense romance where love collides with darkness, science, and the unknown. Her debut—seven years in the making—sparked a passion for tragic, character-driven stories that blend science fiction with haunting romance. When she’s not exploring the fragile line between monster and man on the page, she’s at home in Utah with her husband, kids, and two dogs, always searching for new ideas and the psychology that makes characters feel real.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 8, 2025
If "Happily Ever After" had an opposite it would be this book. We follow Ben Hale, a decorated soldier in the war to save humanity. He is left injured and infected by an enemy soldier. Ben becomes marked by the Turig's blood and this changes the course of his life: from being discharged from the military, to being in constant pain from his injuries, everything seems to indicate that Ben was not meant to survive. The one bright spot was his sunshiney nurse Eden, but even the peace she brought to Ben's life was short lived.
Ben discovers a serum that is being tested by the government. This serum has the potential to end the war but on the same token it could also destroy what is left of Ben and life as we know it.
The Dawn of Vesper is a character driven Sci-fi Romance with strong themes of military dystopia and vampires.
In the beginning of the book Melody does a great job of making you feel connected to the characters just so she can rip your heart out and stomp on it at various points later on.
This book held my attention and kept the pages turning. I never found myself bored.
As hinted at above this book provides top tier emotional damage in a gut wrenching fashion. The ending was intense and guaranteed my continuation of the series.
I read this book as an ARC.
Ben discovers a serum that is being tested by the government. This serum has the potential to end the war but on the same token it could also destroy what is left of Ben and life as we know it.
The Dawn of Vesper is a character driven Sci-fi Romance with strong themes of military dystopia and vampires.
In the beginning of the book Melody does a great job of making you feel connected to the characters just so she can rip your heart out and stomp on it at various points later on.
This book held my attention and kept the pages turning. I never found myself bored.
As hinted at above this book provides top tier emotional damage in a gut wrenching fashion. The ending was intense and guaranteed my continuation of the series.
I read this book as an ARC.
October 18, 2025
Thank you Goodreads for the chance to win a copy. Military romance is not usually my go-to romance and not something I would generally would have reached for if I was out looking for books on my own. This book may have changed military romances for me.
Ben Hale struggles after a near death experience while working a special ops mission. He meets Eden, while recovering in the hospital. The connection is felt instantly and I caught myself cheering for the two of them immediately.
This book also had a supernatural vibe as the infected military in the war that is being fought are actually turning into a form of vampires. Ben’s best friend Cal works at a lab that is trying to create a cure.
I don’t want to give anyway any spoilers. You will have to read for yourself.
If you are looking for a romance with a happy ending this book is not for you. If you are looking for a book that is difficult to put down that is dark, mysterious and suspenseful then I would recommend this book to you.
Ben Hale struggles after a near death experience while working a special ops mission. He meets Eden, while recovering in the hospital. The connection is felt instantly and I caught myself cheering for the two of them immediately.
This book also had a supernatural vibe as the infected military in the war that is being fought are actually turning into a form of vampires. Ben’s best friend Cal works at a lab that is trying to create a cure.
I don’t want to give anyway any spoilers. You will have to read for yourself.
If you are looking for a romance with a happy ending this book is not for you. If you are looking for a book that is difficult to put down that is dark, mysterious and suspenseful then I would recommend this book to you.
November 12, 2025
The Dawn of Vesper is a refreshing, unique take on a vampire story. It is a character-driven plot focusing on ex-military man Ben Hale. There is a lot of internal conflict as the main character struggles with his newfound civilian life, an unexplainable change resulting from his final mission, and the undeniable feelings he has towards Eden.
While I would have enjoyed to see stronger world-building to get a better sense of what the characters were living through, the author did such a phenomenal job at conveying Ben's struggles and the anguish he endured that I couldn't put the book down.
The stage has been set for an entire series, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
While I would have enjoyed to see stronger world-building to get a better sense of what the characters were living through, the author did such a phenomenal job at conveying Ben's struggles and the anguish he endured that I couldn't put the book down.
The stage has been set for an entire series, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
September 3, 2025
Received this as part of a Goodreads giveaway. Love the premise. Enjoyed the story. The ending though… I would read the next one as I want to know what happens to the world
July 31, 2025
I received this as an arc and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The story follows Ben Hale, a broken soldier marked by something he can’t understand, and Eden, the nurse who brings him a sliver of peace in a world that’s anything but. Their connection feels authentic and deeply human, even as the story descends into the eerie unknown.
What stood out most to me was the character development. Ben’s internal struggle, his sense of duty, and his unraveling humanity were all handled with nuance and care. There’s just enough mystery to keep you turning pages, and the emotional tension builds steadily until the devastating end.
No HEA but an impactful ending.
The story follows Ben Hale, a broken soldier marked by something he can’t understand, and Eden, the nurse who brings him a sliver of peace in a world that’s anything but. Their connection feels authentic and deeply human, even as the story descends into the eerie unknown.
What stood out most to me was the character development. Ben’s internal struggle, his sense of duty, and his unraveling humanity were all handled with nuance and care. There’s just enough mystery to keep you turning pages, and the emotional tension builds steadily until the devastating end.
No HEA but an impactful ending.
July 16, 2025
"I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.” The dawn of vesper.
Ben hale a wounded soldier struggling to hold on to his identity and meanwhile he tries to suppress his feelings for Eden (a nurse caring for his battle wounds and scars.) Ben is broken, infected and marked by the blood of a creature he doesn’t understand. He needs to choose. End the war and himself or become a monster… will he come closer to Eden or lose her? Waiting on book 2 to know more off this world 💛
Ben hale a wounded soldier struggling to hold on to his identity and meanwhile he tries to suppress his feelings for Eden (a nurse caring for his battle wounds and scars.) Ben is broken, infected and marked by the blood of a creature he doesn’t understand. He needs to choose. End the war and himself or become a monster… will he come closer to Eden or lose her? Waiting on book 2 to know more off this world 💛
June 30, 2025
It's been a long time since I read fiction. In theory, I want to read, but ADHD often makes finding books and actually getting motivated to read them a daunting task.
I picked up The Dawn of Vesper, not really knowing what I was getting myself into. It took me a couple weeks to decide to start it. I had no idea I was just delaying a wonderful experience.
I cracked it open the first time thinking, I'll see what Chapter 1 is like. I read three chapters which surprised me.
I read more the next night and I was thoroughly hooked.
Soon a transition occurred. Instead of mindlessly scrolling X, I was reading instead and actually looking forward to it!
The pace of the book is calculated. The events therein are not really earth-shattering, but exciting and interesting. The story is a fresh take. A deviation from your run-of-the-mill romance, vampires, dark settings, and drama.
Laced with humor where you don't expect it, it weaves the story of Ben Hale, a wounded soldier struggling to hold on to his identity and quell his feelings for Eden, a nurse caring for his battle wounds and scars.
The book has it all: action, sci-fi, mystery, intrigue, unrequited love, loyalty, all swirling around a man of honor who is tragically flawed.
The visuals are stark and realistic. It was like watching a movie. By the end, I found myself binging chapters 8 and 10 at a time. It left me wondering what to read next, and how I would find something comparable to this masterpiece.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series. I have no regrets. It was worth my time and effort and has hopefully helped me establish a reading habit that will take me on many more adventures.
I picked up The Dawn of Vesper, not really knowing what I was getting myself into. It took me a couple weeks to decide to start it. I had no idea I was just delaying a wonderful experience.
I cracked it open the first time thinking, I'll see what Chapter 1 is like. I read three chapters which surprised me.
I read more the next night and I was thoroughly hooked.
Soon a transition occurred. Instead of mindlessly scrolling X, I was reading instead and actually looking forward to it!
The pace of the book is calculated. The events therein are not really earth-shattering, but exciting and interesting. The story is a fresh take. A deviation from your run-of-the-mill romance, vampires, dark settings, and drama.
Laced with humor where you don't expect it, it weaves the story of Ben Hale, a wounded soldier struggling to hold on to his identity and quell his feelings for Eden, a nurse caring for his battle wounds and scars.
The book has it all: action, sci-fi, mystery, intrigue, unrequited love, loyalty, all swirling around a man of honor who is tragically flawed.
The visuals are stark and realistic. It was like watching a movie. By the end, I found myself binging chapters 8 and 10 at a time. It left me wondering what to read next, and how I would find something comparable to this masterpiece.
I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series. I have no regrets. It was worth my time and effort and has hopefully helped me establish a reading habit that will take me on many more adventures.
August 23, 2025
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews