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Vow of Eternal Night
Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and that the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. For years the prince has treated his people as livestock to sate his thirst for blood. But when he decides it’s time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the centre of his attention.
Abducted and forced into a betrothal against her will, Clara would do anything to escape her fate. And so she is given an lift Raleigh’s vampiric curse before the end of the year or become his bride for eternity.
Vow of Eternal Night is a gothic, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about the lengths people will go for love, and the many faces monsters can wear.
'It’s rare that a gothic romance surprises me, but Vow of Eternal Night did. Fun, gripping, and desperately goth. One of the best I’ve read all year.' - T. Kingfisher
Abducted and forced into a betrothal against her will, Clara would do anything to escape her fate. And so she is given an lift Raleigh’s vampiric curse before the end of the year or become his bride for eternity.
Vow of Eternal Night is a gothic, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about the lengths people will go for love, and the many faces monsters can wear.
'It’s rare that a gothic romance surprises me, but Vow of Eternal Night did. Fun, gripping, and desperately goth. One of the best I’ve read all year.' - T. Kingfisher
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,639 reviews
June 13, 2025
10/10 would write again
Currently Reading
July 27, 2026I’m so excited to read my first vampire romance! 🤭♥️ And, omg, the cover is sooo pretty! 😍 I hope I love it 🤞🏼
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
a lot of books I've been reading lately have the main guy be a bad evil man at first and instead of gradually warming the love interest (and us) up to him with proper character development, they just show the other characters in the book to be exceedingly worse in comparision to the first guy, and that we've misunderstood his previous actions. all so we see this main guy as a lesser evil compared to the others.
don't you get it? yes, he's evil, he killed people, but his cousins are worse!!! at least he's not them, you know? he only kills those who already want to die!
fine. you want to stockholm syndrome the woman. she falls for the guy because he's the lesser evil and feeds her. okay. but I am not getting stockholm syndromed. I have to sit here and read this and accept it as romance?? this is not swoon-worthy romance to me. this was a boring, snooze-worthy, desperate attempt to get two bland main characters together and it did not work for me 😔‼️
── .✦ romance
was boring asf. I cannot lie. it is technically a slow-burn, yes, but the buildup to them getting together and professing their love for each other was non-existent. literally why were they in love?
── .✦ plot
flimsy at best. multiple ways out of a predicament, yet none of them take the easy way out? not once? there is no way for me to explain this without spoilers, so: spoilers! only read on if you aren't bothered by them or have no plans of reading this book.
the plot: like what? I am supposed to buy all this nonsense? a few ways I think all of this could be avoided:
── .✦ writing
this is marketed and shelved as Adult, but I don't think so. this is YA or upper-YA at best. the language used is confusing: the story reads like it wants to depict a medieval (or historic, in general) period but the language used is a little too modern. nevertheless, certain phrases and words are scattered here and there to make it sound like a period piece. but again, overall, it doesn't sound like one. like I mentioned—confusing.
── .✦ pre-read 𖹭.ᐟ
58 books in my priority shelf is crazy but it is what it is.
this one's for camp netgalley 💚
don't you get it? yes, he's evil, he killed people, but his cousins are worse!!! at least he's not them, you know? he only kills those who already want to die!
fine. you want to stockholm syndrome the woman. she falls for the guy because he's the lesser evil and feeds her. okay. but I am not getting stockholm syndromed. I have to sit here and read this and accept it as romance?? this is not swoon-worthy romance to me. this was a boring, snooze-worthy, desperate attempt to get two bland main characters together and it did not work for me 😔‼️
── .✦ romance
was boring asf. I cannot lie. it is technically a slow-burn, yes, but the buildup to them getting together and professing their love for each other was non-existent. literally why were they in love?
── .✦ plot
flimsy at best. multiple ways out of a predicament, yet none of them take the easy way out? not once? there is no way for me to explain this without spoilers, so: spoilers! only read on if you aren't bothered by them or have no plans of reading this book.
the plot: like what? I am supposed to buy all this nonsense? a few ways I think all of this could be avoided:
── .✦ writing
this is marketed and shelved as Adult, but I don't think so. this is YA or upper-YA at best. the language used is confusing: the story reads like it wants to depict a medieval (or historic, in general) period but the language used is a little too modern. nevertheless, certain phrases and words are scattered here and there to make it sound like a period piece. but again, overall, it doesn't sound like one. like I mentioned—confusing.
── .✦ pre-read 𖹭.ᐟ
58 books in my priority shelf is crazy but it is what it is.
this one's for camp netgalley 💚
Did Not Finish
July 17, 2026DNF 45%!
Let me see if I got this straight: the FMC is kidnapped by a vampire prince who, as far as she knows, killed most of her family and countless others in her village. He makes a bargain with her: either cure him, or marry him. When her father shows up to kill him, and even though nothing has happened yet to change her mind about the prince, she decides to save him. Why? Because if she finds a cure, she can be free of him. But wouldn’t letting her father kill him accomplish the exact same thing?
I have failed to understand the logic here.
But that’s not all. Because of course the romance is being rushed, and the characters are as flat as a board.
I just don’t get it. This is a retelling, so the book is practically written. All I need are decent characters and a romance to root for. Why are you giving me this unflavored mashed potato instead 😭
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: ooh camp Netgalley is here + i finally got out of pending purgatory 🙏 starting this asap
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
Let me see if I got this straight: the FMC is kidnapped by a vampire prince who, as far as she knows, killed most of her family and countless others in her village. He makes a bargain with her: either cure him, or marry him. When her father shows up to kill him, and even though nothing has happened yet to change her mind about the prince, she decides to save him. Why? Because if she finds a cure, she can be free of him. But wouldn’t letting her father kill him accomplish the exact same thing?
I have failed to understand the logic here.
But that’s not all. Because of course the romance is being rushed, and the characters are as flat as a board.
I just don’t get it. This is a retelling, so the book is practically written. All I need are decent characters and a romance to root for. Why are you giving me this unflavored mashed potato instead 😭
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: ooh camp Netgalley is here + i finally got out of pending purgatory 🙏 starting this asap
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
August 11, 2026
This was quite an enjoyable. I found both main characters to be endearing...and the secondary characters as well. I'm mostly not a fan of slowburn, but the these two kept me on my toes the entire book. The plot twist did not hit as hard as i would like but i was still pleasantly surprised.
The ending however, did have me giggling and kicking my feet.
Definitely worth a reread.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Entangled for the ARC!
The ending however, did have me giggling and kicking my feet.
Definitely worth a reread.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Entangled for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐
Honestly, this wasn't as good as I thought it would be. The characters were frustrating at times and there was a hint of a plot, for it to be then lost for some time, to then appear again and that wasn't ideal, but I did still enjoyed it!!
Clara always knew monsters were real, but she never imagined she would be forced to wed one. Prince of Rostenburg was the monster responsible for murders of her mother, aunt and so many neighbours and now she's going to be his wife thanks to her father's lies.. She's desperate to escape, so the Prince makes her a deal, heal him of his curse and she's free, fail and they would marry by the end of the year. The clock is ticking, frustration growing and feelings arising.. Will she be free or stuck with her captor for eternity?
Clara was incredibly frustrating, she really pissed me off at times with her stupidity. I understand her stubbornness and the less than ideal situation, but if she ever stopped and actually thought about certain things or, I don't know, just freaking listened, a lot of situations could've been avoided...
Raleigh made me dislike him right at the beginning and clearly being that old didn't come with the skills for communication, but my heart did break for him. Broken villains were always my weak spot, even if they are more soft than dark. Sometimes his reactions would remind me more of one of a boy than a man though and that kinda took me out of the story, but it also made me sad for him, so that was pretty conflicting.. I can't say I loved him, but I didn't hate him either.
The romance felt a little lackluster, it was a slow-burn and some of their moments were amazing, but I wished they spent more time getting to know each other, learning about one another and that we could've seen and felt the moments everything started to change to Clara better because it felt like it came out of nowhere, or to me it did at least. Raleigh also drove me insane with his secrets, we needed more meaningful conversations to make their connection more believable.. I did enjoy the escape, the town visits, the tower scene, the inn scenes, the court, the carriage and the ending.
I loved the house and the vibes. Characters were either a hit or a miss for me, but honestly there was a lot more misses than hits.. It was boring at times, but it was still entertaining and even though I didn't read it as quickly as I normally do, I was still interested enough to continue.
In a way and I know most people would never see this as a compliment like I do, but this reminded me of the stories I used to read religiously on Wattpad. Those vampire stories meant a lot to me and this gave me some of those feelings back and it's why I decided to up my rating a bit.
I personally think this was a great debut, despite the issues, and I'm looking forward to reading whatever comes next!!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for providing me with an ARC.*
Honestly, this wasn't as good as I thought it would be. The characters were frustrating at times and there was a hint of a plot, for it to be then lost for some time, to then appear again and that wasn't ideal, but I did still enjoyed it!!
Clara always knew monsters were real, but she never imagined she would be forced to wed one. Prince of Rostenburg was the monster responsible for murders of her mother, aunt and so many neighbours and now she's going to be his wife thanks to her father's lies.. She's desperate to escape, so the Prince makes her a deal, heal him of his curse and she's free, fail and they would marry by the end of the year. The clock is ticking, frustration growing and feelings arising.. Will she be free or stuck with her captor for eternity?
Clara was incredibly frustrating, she really pissed me off at times with her stupidity. I understand her stubbornness and the less than ideal situation, but if she ever stopped and actually thought about certain things or, I don't know, just freaking listened, a lot of situations could've been avoided...
Raleigh made me dislike him right at the beginning and clearly being that old didn't come with the skills for communication, but my heart did break for him. Broken villains were always my weak spot, even if they are more soft than dark. Sometimes his reactions would remind me more of one of a boy than a man though and that kinda took me out of the story, but it also made me sad for him, so that was pretty conflicting.. I can't say I loved him, but I didn't hate him either.
The romance felt a little lackluster, it was a slow-burn and some of their moments were amazing, but I wished they spent more time getting to know each other, learning about one another and that we could've seen and felt the moments everything started to change to Clara better because it felt like it came out of nowhere, or to me it did at least. Raleigh also drove me insane with his secrets, we needed more meaningful conversations to make their connection more believable.. I did enjoy the escape, the town visits, the tower scene, the inn scenes, the court, the carriage and the ending.
I loved the house and the vibes. Characters were either a hit or a miss for me, but honestly there was a lot more misses than hits.. It was boring at times, but it was still entertaining and even though I didn't read it as quickly as I normally do, I was still interested enough to continue.
In a way and I know most people would never see this as a compliment like I do, but this reminded me of the stories I used to read religiously on Wattpad. Those vampire stories meant a lot to me and this gave me some of those feelings back and it's why I decided to up my rating a bit.
I personally think this was a great debut, despite the issues, and I'm looking forward to reading whatever comes next!!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for providing me with an ARC.*
Did Not Finish
August 1, 2026dnf @52%
i don’t like the writing, the characters are flat and im so bored. all of it feels bland, i really can’t see myself changing my mind either.. so, im calling it quits here.
— thanks to NetGalley, the author and Entangled Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i don’t like the writing, the characters are flat and im so bored. all of it feels bland, i really can’t see myself changing my mind either.. so, im calling it quits here.
— thanks to NetGalley, the author and Entangled Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
July 24, 2026
Two idiot bisexuals in their mid (300)20s passing each other a note during class:
''Do you like like me? mark YES/NO''
''Do you like like me? mark YES/NO''
August 1, 2026
❛ ❛𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶,❜ 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘐 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵. ❜
✧˖°. ┆★ ¾ — 𝟭.𝟳𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
.✦🧄 ݁˖🩸 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 ⋆˚࿔
i love vampires, gothic vibes, and fantasy romance, and i was so excited for this book but it just fell sooooo incredibly flat for me. i think im in the minority here bcuz a lot of ppl seem to have loved this (which is great btw!! lily crozier did an amazing thing by writing and publishing her debut novel!! 💗) but im kinda just like did we all read the same book orrr…🫤 i am not a harsh rater at all, and 98% of the books i read are rated 4 stars or above, so for me to rate a book THIS low it has to be pretty unenjoyable.
for 416 pages a whole lot of nothing happened, and listen, i can read a book w no plot if it has compelling characters, but i cannot read a book w boring characters, let alone boring characters AND a non-existent plot.
two things i did kind of like was the scene where clara asks the castle to protect her and it led her straight to raleigh 💗 and when lukas showed her raleigh feeding and she acted unbothered and was kinda just sassy abt it instead of being disgusted and dropping her act.
🤍 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 ✴︎˚｡⋆
𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢 ࣪ ˖ 𖦹°⋆
i did NOT like her 😭 she was genuinely so fucking stupid it pissed me off so bad and i haaated being in her pov. her inner monologue was so incredibly bland and boring because not a single important thought goes on in her head. she was also boring and whiny and that just gave me the ick.
𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩 ⊹₊⟡⋆
man i hated this boy 🙄 he was also so bloody whiny and boringgg and quite literally just a boy. there was nothing manly or attractive or mature about him and that was such a turn off for me bcuz why are you acting like my 11 year old cousin 😩 the one thing i kind of liked was that the vampires in this book were very classically written in their weaknesses like with garlic and daylight, etc., which i kinda fw.
❤️ 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 ₊˚⊹♡
uhhh which was where btw bcuz i couldn't find any. there was quite literally NO tension or chemistry between clara and raleigh, which left me wondering how tf they fell in love?? they barely saw each other, let alone spoke to each other?? like where were the moments where we watched them falling in love w each other?? i'm convinced it only happened bcuz raleigh was so fucking desperate for love he was willing to settle for the dumb whiny mayor's daughter 😑 they would've been so much better as friendss 😭
💌 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𖤝ᝰ.ᐟ
apparently this is meant to be an adult book, but i feel like it's definitely a lot more YA. i found that at the 55% mark it got a tad more interesting, but as someone taking creative writing, the first thing anyone ever teaches u is that u MUST hook ur readers from the very beginning!! and let me tell you, i was not hooked. it was pretty unengaging, and i felt no pull to continue reading whenever i stopped. it was V predictable, and i felt no suspense or mystery. however, bcuz of this and how little brainpower it took, it was quite easy to read, which is the one of the only reasons it's higher than just one star.
there is a big difference between a RETELLING and a retelling, and this book was the latter. it didn't really play off an existing concept and make it something totally new and original (not to compare authors, but a great example of a good retelling is anything by Marissa Meyer!!), and it was essentially just beauty and the beast if he was a vampire and she was stupid.
i also found the descriptions were lacking?? everything i imagined was purely pulled from my mind and not the book; i couldn't even tell you what all the characters are supposed to look like.
overall, i can kind of understand how ppl might like this book?? but unfortunately it was just not for me :/
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ⏾⋆.˚ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
.✦ ݁˖ ┆ 𝘱𝘳𝘦-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𖹭.ᐟ
gotta lock in and read this b4 it publishes 😬 this is my first ever arc!! i'm pretty excited but i've heard mixed things abt this soo hopefully it delivers 🫣🤞
thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and Lily Crozier for the arc!!
✧˖°. ┆★ ¾ — 𝟭.𝟳𝟱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
.✦🧄 ݁˖🩸 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 ⋆˚࿔
i love vampires, gothic vibes, and fantasy romance, and i was so excited for this book but it just fell sooooo incredibly flat for me. i think im in the minority here bcuz a lot of ppl seem to have loved this (which is great btw!! lily crozier did an amazing thing by writing and publishing her debut novel!! 💗) but im kinda just like did we all read the same book orrr…🫤 i am not a harsh rater at all, and 98% of the books i read are rated 4 stars or above, so for me to rate a book THIS low it has to be pretty unenjoyable.
for 416 pages a whole lot of nothing happened, and listen, i can read a book w no plot if it has compelling characters, but i cannot read a book w boring characters, let alone boring characters AND a non-existent plot.
two things i did kind of like was the scene where clara asks the castle to protect her and it led her straight to raleigh 💗 and when lukas showed her raleigh feeding and she acted unbothered and was kinda just sassy abt it instead of being disgusted and dropping her act.
🤍 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 ✴︎˚｡⋆
𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘢 ࣪ ˖ 𖦹°⋆
i did NOT like her 😭 she was genuinely so fucking stupid it pissed me off so bad and i haaated being in her pov. her inner monologue was so incredibly bland and boring because not a single important thought goes on in her head. she was also boring and whiny and that just gave me the ick.
𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩 ⊹₊⟡⋆
man i hated this boy 🙄 he was also so bloody whiny and boringgg and quite literally just a boy. there was nothing manly or attractive or mature about him and that was such a turn off for me bcuz why are you acting like my 11 year old cousin 😩 the one thing i kind of liked was that the vampires in this book were very classically written in their weaknesses like with garlic and daylight, etc., which i kinda fw.
❤️ 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 ₊˚⊹♡
uhhh which was where btw bcuz i couldn't find any. there was quite literally NO tension or chemistry between clara and raleigh, which left me wondering how tf they fell in love?? they barely saw each other, let alone spoke to each other?? like where were the moments where we watched them falling in love w each other?? i'm convinced it only happened bcuz raleigh was so fucking desperate for love he was willing to settle for the dumb whiny mayor's daughter 😑 they would've been so much better as friendss 😭
💌 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𖤝ᝰ.ᐟ
apparently this is meant to be an adult book, but i feel like it's definitely a lot more YA. i found that at the 55% mark it got a tad more interesting, but as someone taking creative writing, the first thing anyone ever teaches u is that u MUST hook ur readers from the very beginning!! and let me tell you, i was not hooked. it was pretty unengaging, and i felt no pull to continue reading whenever i stopped. it was V predictable, and i felt no suspense or mystery. however, bcuz of this and how little brainpower it took, it was quite easy to read, which is the one of the only reasons it's higher than just one star.
there is a big difference between a RETELLING and a retelling, and this book was the latter. it didn't really play off an existing concept and make it something totally new and original (not to compare authors, but a great example of a good retelling is anything by Marissa Meyer!!), and it was essentially just beauty and the beast if he was a vampire and she was stupid.
i also found the descriptions were lacking?? everything i imagined was purely pulled from my mind and not the book; i couldn't even tell you what all the characters are supposed to look like.
overall, i can kind of understand how ppl might like this book?? but unfortunately it was just not for me :/
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. ⏾⋆.˚ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
.✦ ݁˖ ┆ 𝘱𝘳𝘦-𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𖹭.ᐟ
gotta lock in and read this b4 it publishes 😬 this is my first ever arc!! i'm pretty excited but i've heard mixed things abt this soo hopefully it delivers 🫣🤞
thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and Lily Crozier for the arc!!
March 23, 2026
Quite an interesting story, and I did like the ending, but the romance felt like it was missing something. Where are the conversations where the characters actually get to know each other? Where are the small moments that relationships are built on? Yes, the FMC realizes the MMC isn’t actually a jerk, but what does he do specifically for her? He gives her a dress and some dictionaries (which, honestly, he needed more than she did), and that’s it? Because of that, her love feels like it came out of nowhere. Still, it was a fun read overall, and the best thing about the book is that it’s a standalone.
July 29, 2026
Vow of Eternal Night by Lily Crozier
Book Blurb: Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But when he decides it’s time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the center of his attention.
Rating: ****
Feels: Intrigued, Pleased, Vengeful, Satisfied
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Vampires, Paranormal, Enemies To Lovers, Fantasy Romance
First published August 4, 2026 : 400 pages
Themes & Setting: Beauty and the Beast but make it Vampire !! Totally here for that. I love a good retelling and this was soooo much fun. This takes place in a foreign land with different customs and I appreciated how they kept to the basics of the tale yet made it seem really fresh for this read.
FMC: Clara has grown up sheltered, book smart and what you would think of for a naive girl who was pampered. Yet she showed she had strength of character and heart in all her dealings. I loved the spine of steel that was exposed as the story went on.
MMC: Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg was truly a monster of stories stepped into their small village and terrifying at the start. I adored getting to know him and see him through Clara's eyes.
Conclusion: I feel like this is a looking for love in all the wrong places situation. Love finds you when you least expect it! For Clara who grew up rather privileged and tutored in books she believed she had found love. I enjoyed her world being opened up and tested. The pace and reveal of all the intricacies and machinations of plots going on around Clara and behind the scenes was wild. I just ate up all the drama !!! I wasn’t sure about Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg at first. Truly appreciate how he came off as a monster at first being seen through the eyes of Clara and the villagers. Then we see more as she sees it also. It was like the story unfolded for us as it did for Clara and that storytelling style was really fun to be along for. Totally recommend this if you enjoy a good story.
This book has:
Vampires & Humans
Beauty & the Beast retelling
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Arranged Marriage
Grumpy x Sunshine
Magical Castle
Book Blurb: Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But when he decides it’s time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the center of his attention.
Rating: ****
Feels: Intrigued, Pleased, Vengeful, Satisfied
Style: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Vampires, Paranormal, Enemies To Lovers, Fantasy Romance
First published August 4, 2026 : 400 pages
Themes & Setting: Beauty and the Beast but make it Vampire !! Totally here for that. I love a good retelling and this was soooo much fun. This takes place in a foreign land with different customs and I appreciated how they kept to the basics of the tale yet made it seem really fresh for this read.
FMC: Clara has grown up sheltered, book smart and what you would think of for a naive girl who was pampered. Yet she showed she had strength of character and heart in all her dealings. I loved the spine of steel that was exposed as the story went on.
MMC: Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg was truly a monster of stories stepped into their small village and terrifying at the start. I adored getting to know him and see him through Clara's eyes.
Conclusion: I feel like this is a looking for love in all the wrong places situation. Love finds you when you least expect it! For Clara who grew up rather privileged and tutored in books she believed she had found love. I enjoyed her world being opened up and tested. The pace and reveal of all the intricacies and machinations of plots going on around Clara and behind the scenes was wild. I just ate up all the drama !!! I wasn’t sure about Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg at first. Truly appreciate how he came off as a monster at first being seen through the eyes of Clara and the villagers. Then we see more as she sees it also. It was like the story unfolded for us as it did for Clara and that storytelling style was really fun to be along for. Totally recommend this if you enjoy a good story.
This book has:
Vampires & Humans
Beauty & the Beast retelling
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Arranged Marriage
Grumpy x Sunshine
Magical Castle
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August 4, 2026
.3 stars.
- mini review!
This was an entertaining read at the best. I picked this up and then I found myself unable to put this book down. The world building and plot was interesting enough to keep me hooked. Initially I had some problems but yeah. Raleigh was like the only character I cared enough about, he was humorous at the best and I found myself looking forward to his antics. Clara was okay sometimes. The romance was confusing as it's more like Stockholm Syndrome.
I was only interested because of Raleigh and how the world building played that's it.
.pre-read.
I haven't picked it up yet, but I was really interested by the synopsis when I first saw it. Luck is there for me when I find that it has been chosen as one of the Camp Netgalley's Book to read and review so I snatched an e-arc hehe. I hope this is worthwhile and I read it on time.
- mini review!
This was an entertaining read at the best. I picked this up and then I found myself unable to put this book down. The world building and plot was interesting enough to keep me hooked. Initially I had some problems but yeah. Raleigh was like the only character I cared enough about, he was humorous at the best and I found myself looking forward to his antics. Clara was okay sometimes. The romance was confusing as it's more like Stockholm Syndrome.
I was only interested because of Raleigh and how the world building played that's it.
.pre-read.
I haven't picked it up yet, but I was really interested by the synopsis when I first saw it. Luck is there for me when I find that it has been chosen as one of the Camp Netgalley's Book to read and review so I snatched an e-arc hehe. I hope this is worthwhile and I read it on time.
August 9, 2026
I am going to be painfully honest right now, and some of you may want to throw rotten produce at me. I didn't like The Twilight Saga. There. I said it. I watched the films and then read the books back when I wasn't in the right place in life to give them a fair chance. So I had a moment's hesitation when Vow of Eternal Night by Lily Crozier was offered to me for review. Clearly, though, I accepted and read it. And I'm glad I did. It's turned around the disdain for vampires in paranormal romance that I developed for a long while after The Twilight Saga.
Clara Wagner was only 10 years old when Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg killed her mother. She and her village have always known there was something monstrous about him. Fifteen years later, she receives a proposal from her longtime lover. As she and her father celebrate, the prince arrives at their home. To keep a terrible secret hidden, Clara's father offers her hand in marriage to Raleigh instead, tearing her away from the future she'd planned. The prince offers her one chance at freedom: cure the curse that has made him what he is before the end of the year, or marry him.
I especially loved the opening chapters as Crozier established the setting and backstory. I could easily picture the storybook fantasy town forming in my imagination, and the first quarter quickly pulled me into the story. The middle slowed as Clara conducted her research, but that quieter section was necessary for both her and the reader to begin seeing a different side of the prince. I consider that essential for a romance like this to work. Clara and Raleigh are both well-rounded characters whose complicated history adds depth to their relationship. Some of the supporting cast, especially Clara's father, could have benefited from additional development.
The writing is smooth, immersive, and highly readable, striking a balance between modern accessibility and gothic atmosphere. Lily Crozier keeps the story moving through purposeful dialogue, strong character interactions, and steadily rising tension while weaving in vivid descriptions that enrich the setting without slowing the pace. As the novel progresses, the prose becomes increasingly atmospheric and emotionally engaging, making it easy to invest in both the romance and the mystery.
Beyond its paranormal romance, the novel explores love versus duty, trust, redemption, and the nature of monstrosity, asking whether people should be judged by what they are or by the choices they make.
Vow of Eternal Night has shifted my perspective on vampires in paranormal romance, leaving me much more open to exploring the genre in the future. Readers who enjoy dark fairy tale-inspired fantasy, morally complex characters, and atmospheric romance should feel right at home.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓1/2 — a vampire romance worth sinking your teeth into
Let's Discuss: Which, if any, book has changed your mind about a genre or trope you thought you disliked?
I read a digital copy made available by Entangled: Amara through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
📚 More book reviews and bookish content:
Clara Wagner was only 10 years old when Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg killed her mother. She and her village have always known there was something monstrous about him. Fifteen years later, she receives a proposal from her longtime lover. As she and her father celebrate, the prince arrives at their home. To keep a terrible secret hidden, Clara's father offers her hand in marriage to Raleigh instead, tearing her away from the future she'd planned. The prince offers her one chance at freedom: cure the curse that has made him what he is before the end of the year, or marry him.
I especially loved the opening chapters as Crozier established the setting and backstory. I could easily picture the storybook fantasy town forming in my imagination, and the first quarter quickly pulled me into the story. The middle slowed as Clara conducted her research, but that quieter section was necessary for both her and the reader to begin seeing a different side of the prince. I consider that essential for a romance like this to work. Clara and Raleigh are both well-rounded characters whose complicated history adds depth to their relationship. Some of the supporting cast, especially Clara's father, could have benefited from additional development.
The writing is smooth, immersive, and highly readable, striking a balance between modern accessibility and gothic atmosphere. Lily Crozier keeps the story moving through purposeful dialogue, strong character interactions, and steadily rising tension while weaving in vivid descriptions that enrich the setting without slowing the pace. As the novel progresses, the prose becomes increasingly atmospheric and emotionally engaging, making it easy to invest in both the romance and the mystery.
Beyond its paranormal romance, the novel explores love versus duty, trust, redemption, and the nature of monstrosity, asking whether people should be judged by what they are or by the choices they make.
Vow of Eternal Night has shifted my perspective on vampires in paranormal romance, leaving me much more open to exploring the genre in the future. Readers who enjoy dark fairy tale-inspired fantasy, morally complex characters, and atmospheric romance should feel right at home.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓1/2 — a vampire romance worth sinking your teeth into
Let's Discuss: Which, if any, book has changed your mind about a genre or trope you thought you disliked?
I read a digital copy made available by Entangled: Amara through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
📚 More book reviews and bookish content:
December 10, 2025
Vow of Eternal Night transported me straight back to that feeling I had as a kid discovering fairytales for the first time. It’s whimsical, dark, and deeply romantic, with a slow burn so delicious that it’s almost painful.
While the inspiration from Beauty and the Beast is unmistakable, this story never feels derivative. Instead, it takes those familiar bones and reshapes them into something uniquely its own - a beautiful, moody, and enchanting interpretation that honors the classic while creating an entirely new story. The world-building leans into classic vampire lore but introduces fresh twists that make the setting feel alive rather than borrowed.
The characters are where the book truly shines. They’re wonderfully complex in ways that feel real. Flawed, layered, and just the right amount of chaotic. We love a soft, bisexual king!! The MMC was kinda goofy and I loved that about him. Both main characters were incredibly endearing. And because the story is told entirely through the FMC’s perspective, the reader is left to gobble up crumbs and read between the lines. I was invested from the first lingering look. We love a man that YEARNS!!
And the best part? It’s a COMPLETE STANDALONE. No cliffhangers, no waiting years for the next book. Instead a completely immersive story that begins and ends exactly where it should.
I can’t wait for more from Lily!
Final rating: 4⭐️ 1🌶️
Thank you Penguin for the ARC.
August 8, 2026
A Beauty and the Beast meets Dracula romantasy! I loved this for the character relationships. An enemies-to-lovers romance with an extra-slow burn.
We follow Clara, the daughter of a mayor in a small rural village living under the terror of a dark prince. The village has been devastated by famine and death, and the deceased bodies are completely drained of their blood. Even though Clara has plans to finally wed her childhood sweetheart, those plans are quickly thwarted when her father offers her hand in marriage to the dark prince himself, Raleigh.
Whisked away to his gothic castle, Clara refuses to give up on the life she had planned, and she makes a deal with the prince: cure him of his curse by the end of the year, or become his eternal bride. But as Clara tries to uncover the cure for Raleigh's curse, she also uncovers many secrets involving her village and those closest to her, slowly crumbling the walls she has built against the vampire prince.
The story was well-written and an easy-to-read page-turner, making it a great debut novel. I felt the author did just the right amount with the atmosphere and setting, allowing me to fill in the rest with my imagination. I also fell in love with the side characters and the found-family aspect. Moira definitely brought the action, and as a bona fide badass ride-or-die queen, she definitely needs her own story!
Don't pick this one for the spice though, especially after the uber-slow burn, but there was still a satisfying development of the love story with enough romance🫠. This was heartwarming and fairytale-esque, and exactly what I expected from a Beauty and the Beast-inspired story.
Definitely recommended for those who enjoy a standalone tale with a bad-boy-turned-cinnamon-roll love interest and a historical setting full of the dark themes that follow a classic Dracula story.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We follow Clara, the daughter of a mayor in a small rural village living under the terror of a dark prince. The village has been devastated by famine and death, and the deceased bodies are completely drained of their blood. Even though Clara has plans to finally wed her childhood sweetheart, those plans are quickly thwarted when her father offers her hand in marriage to the dark prince himself, Raleigh.
Whisked away to his gothic castle, Clara refuses to give up on the life she had planned, and she makes a deal with the prince: cure him of his curse by the end of the year, or become his eternal bride. But as Clara tries to uncover the cure for Raleigh's curse, she also uncovers many secrets involving her village and those closest to her, slowly crumbling the walls she has built against the vampire prince.
The story was well-written and an easy-to-read page-turner, making it a great debut novel. I felt the author did just the right amount with the atmosphere and setting, allowing me to fill in the rest with my imagination. I also fell in love with the side characters and the found-family aspect. Moira definitely brought the action, and as a bona fide badass ride-or-die queen, she definitely needs her own story!
Don't pick this one for the spice though, especially after the uber-slow burn, but there was still a satisfying development of the love story with enough romance🫠. This was heartwarming and fairytale-esque, and exactly what I expected from a Beauty and the Beast-inspired story.
Definitely recommended for those who enjoy a standalone tale with a bad-boy-turned-cinnamon-roll love interest and a historical setting full of the dark themes that follow a classic Dracula story.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 3, 2026
🌟 3.75 stars 🌟
Beauty and the Beast vibes but make it vampires.
Beauty and the Beast vibes but make it vampires.
July 31, 2026
It’s basically Beauty and the Beast with vampires, and I was so here for it. Raleigh completely stole the show for me. He’s whimsical, flamboyant, and gave off major Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3 energy. Between his chaos and the fantastic banter throughout the book, I was cackling out loud more than a few times. I also loved the sentient castle that rearranges its hallways just to mess with people, and I really respected how the author handled the vampires. No sparkling, just classic lore with no reflections, no crossing running water, and strict invitation-only rules.
When it comes to the romance, this is a true, clean slow burn. If you’re the type of reader who gets hyped when the main characters’ pinkies accidentally touch 60% into the book, you’ll love the build-up. That said, the burn did feel a bit grindy at times. I really needed a little more high-stakes angst. Give me some "who did this to you?" or "touch her and die" moments to make all that waiting feel worth it. The heroine's internal thoughts also got pretty repetitive in places, which dragged the pacing down here and there.
Overall though, Lily Crozier is officially on my radar. Her humor and character dynamics are fantastic, and I have a feeling that at some point down the line she’s going to write an absolute romance masterpiece. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever she releases next.
Provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When it comes to the romance, this is a true, clean slow burn. If you’re the type of reader who gets hyped when the main characters’ pinkies accidentally touch 60% into the book, you’ll love the build-up. That said, the burn did feel a bit grindy at times. I really needed a little more high-stakes angst. Give me some "who did this to you?" or "touch her and die" moments to make all that waiting feel worth it. The heroine's internal thoughts also got pretty repetitive in places, which dragged the pacing down here and there.
Overall though, Lily Crozier is officially on my radar. Her humor and character dynamics are fantastic, and I have a feeling that at some point down the line she’s going to write an absolute romance masterpiece. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever she releases next.
Provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Currently Reading
August 7, 2026₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
camp netgalley here i come for you! also picked this one cuz it seems like it's the only one out of the few options that i would enjoy??? and also mostly cuz of the pretty cover :))
camp netgalley here i come for you! also picked this one cuz it seems like it's the only one out of the few options that i would enjoy??? and also mostly cuz of the pretty cover :))
May 26, 2026
I reallllllllly wanted to love this book but I honestly was just a lil bored throughout it. The beauty and the beast retelling really was a RETELLING and felt like I knew everything that was going to happen next. By the end of it I just wasn’t invested. Also I think it’s reads a lot more YA than marketed. That being said, it was still great writing I would read another book by Author, just don’t think this one was for me
April 8, 2026
This was definitely a bingeable read and an impressive debut. I loved the gothic vibes and storytelling. I think this reads a little more YA than I was expecting based off the marketing.
I still enjoyed the characters and the pacing, but feel like the romance aspect could have been added to some more.
A worthwhile stand alone vampire read 🧛
I still enjoyed the characters and the pacing, but feel like the romance aspect could have been added to some more.
A worthwhile stand alone vampire read 🧛
July 21, 2026
For a vampire romance, this has one of the healthiest relationships I've read in a long time. Now I usually love a morally dark MMC but Raleigh completely won me over. His darkness comes more from the reputation the towns people have built around him. The opening chapters had me immediately second guessing the humans perspective. He isn’t over dramatic or unhinged. Instead he is quiet, patient, respectful and internalizes everything. The character had far more depth than I initially imagined.
The romance was paced very well alongside the ever morphing plot which made it far more compelling. Their chemistry is slow burn, to elongate the yearning, that never felt rushed. Making their first kiss feeling perfectly timed. Trust was built, truths were told and the relationship became realistically genuine with it. Chapter 8 in particular was easily one of my favorites. It was just one truth bomb after another. I will even admit to loving the "I love you" conversation. Considering how often those scenes make me cringe, it actually works here because of execution. It felt earned because it grew naturally from everything they'd been through together. Raleigh never stops checking in with Clara or making sure she is comfortable. Clara grew beautifully as well. Naive to eagerly learning and keeps her wits about her. Never succumbing to the dim witted FMC.
I enjoyed the juxtaposition between Raleigh and the Queen. The book gives two vampires with completely different ideas of power. Raleigh refuses to feed on healthy humans. Surviving mostly on animal blood or those on the brink of death. Meanwhile, the Queen was exactly the kind of manipulative villain I love to hate. Her influence stretched far beyond physical or mental power. I liked that Clara didn't immediately recognize her. It displayed how deeply the Queen could manipulate the people around her.
The move from the village to the wider kingdom opened the story up nicely. I was completely invested once the world opened up. There is a plethora of things going on besides the romance. The curse, the political schemes and the mystery surrounding Raleigh's sad past. There was always something pushing the plot forward. Keeping the book’s genre very well balanced. The final battle absolutely delivered. One aspect I loved was that the ending was not simply just about defeating the villain.
If I had anything to complain about, I wish there were actual chapter names. As opposed to numbers. It would have given a bit extra personality. This was an incredibly easy book to binge. I look forward to what else Lily Crozier has in store.
Thank you to Lily Crozier, Entangled Publishing, & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The romance was paced very well alongside the ever morphing plot which made it far more compelling. Their chemistry is slow burn, to elongate the yearning, that never felt rushed. Making their first kiss feeling perfectly timed. Trust was built, truths were told and the relationship became realistically genuine with it. Chapter 8 in particular was easily one of my favorites. It was just one truth bomb after another. I will even admit to loving the "I love you" conversation. Considering how often those scenes make me cringe, it actually works here because of execution. It felt earned because it grew naturally from everything they'd been through together. Raleigh never stops checking in with Clara or making sure she is comfortable. Clara grew beautifully as well. Naive to eagerly learning and keeps her wits about her. Never succumbing to the dim witted FMC.
I enjoyed the juxtaposition between Raleigh and the Queen. The book gives two vampires with completely different ideas of power. Raleigh refuses to feed on healthy humans. Surviving mostly on animal blood or those on the brink of death. Meanwhile, the Queen was exactly the kind of manipulative villain I love to hate. Her influence stretched far beyond physical or mental power. I liked that Clara didn't immediately recognize her. It displayed how deeply the Queen could manipulate the people around her.
The move from the village to the wider kingdom opened the story up nicely. I was completely invested once the world opened up. There is a plethora of things going on besides the romance. The curse, the political schemes and the mystery surrounding Raleigh's sad past. There was always something pushing the plot forward. Keeping the book’s genre very well balanced. The final battle absolutely delivered. One aspect I loved was that the ending was not simply just about defeating the villain.
If I had anything to complain about, I wish there were actual chapter names. As opposed to numbers. It would have given a bit extra personality. This was an incredibly easy book to binge. I look forward to what else Lily Crozier has in store.
Thank you to Lily Crozier, Entangled Publishing, & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I think I should start by saying that I love villains and any time I see the trope villain gets the girl or morally grey male main character I want to read it no matter what... especially if the cover is so beautiful, then it goes even higher on my priority list.
Vow of Eternal Night promised everything I could think of and more, I mean: sentient castle, gothic vibes, beauty and the beast retelling, but make it vampire prince and enemies to lovers. I was sold immediately and when I noticed that it was as read now because of the Camp event? YES PLEASE.
I was really enjoying it at first and it was delivering everything that it promised, but around... 30%-ish in? I felt like something shifted to the point I thought I'm reading a completely different book, but with the base and characters I already knew.
Clara started making questionable choices all of sudden and the first one that really stood out to me was when .
Same goes for Raleigh, who also had a sudden change of his character and went from someone Oh and another thing:
I'm a bit conflicted when it comes to the romance itself, because it was on the slow-burn side, but nothing about it really convinced me that they really fell for each other? I feel like we focused on a lot of things at the same time and the romance trope became a background and when it was time to finally pull it back to the front, we were supposed to be convinced that along the way they started to love each other... and I think I could believe it, if I squinted my eyes enough, but I wish that they interacted more, especially in something that's labeled as paranormal romance/romantasy.
On the bright side, there were moments that I enjoyed, like dialogue (there was one part that made me laugh and it was the aunt talk between Clara and Raleigh), everything about the sentient castle, that I wish we gotten more of and gothic vibes in general, but unfortunately they weren't enough for me to rate the book higher.
I think I should start by saying that I love villains and any time I see the trope villain gets the girl or morally grey male main character I want to read it no matter what... especially if the cover is so beautiful, then it goes even higher on my priority list.
Vow of Eternal Night promised everything I could think of and more, I mean: sentient castle, gothic vibes, beauty and the beast retelling, but make it vampire prince and enemies to lovers. I was sold immediately and when I noticed that it was as read now because of the Camp event? YES PLEASE.
I was really enjoying it at first and it was delivering everything that it promised, but around... 30%-ish in? I felt like something shifted to the point I thought I'm reading a completely different book, but with the base and characters I already knew.
Clara started making questionable choices all of sudden and the first one that really stood out to me was when .
Same goes for Raleigh, who also had a sudden change of his character and went from someone Oh and another thing:
I'm a bit conflicted when it comes to the romance itself, because it was on the slow-burn side, but nothing about it really convinced me that they really fell for each other? I feel like we focused on a lot of things at the same time and the romance trope became a background and when it was time to finally pull it back to the front, we were supposed to be convinced that along the way they started to love each other... and I think I could believe it, if I squinted my eyes enough, but I wish that they interacted more, especially in something that's labeled as paranormal romance/romantasy.
On the bright side, there were moments that I enjoyed, like dialogue (there was one part that made me laugh and it was the aunt talk between Clara and Raleigh), everything about the sentient castle, that I wish we gotten more of and gothic vibes in general, but unfortunately they weren't enough for me to rate the book higher.
August 7, 2026
4,75 ⭐
I received an ARC from Netgalley, opinions are always my own.
Clara Wagner is very familiar with monsters - after all, years ago her mother was killed by the Vampire prince who lives in the castle at the top of the mountain. And one day, she will pay him back for that mistake. On the eve of her engagement with baker's boy Yann she and her father are celebrating when they get an uninvited guest. The prince that killed her mother shows up, angry about something her father did, with only one way to be sated. She has to marry him, because he happens to be in (desperate) need of a wife.
This was exactly what a Fantasy romance book should be: slow burn, tension, misunderstandings that actually made sense, true enemies to lovers, Beauty and the Beast vibes.. And THE YEARNING... It was so good!
The plot was not the most complicated or new, but the reason I read a lot of romantasy is to find something exactly like this. The romance was honestly perfection! It had ACOTAR vibes with a tad of twilight (but better vampires!) and regency era novels (pride and prejudice vibes) sprinkled in. I can't wait to see what else this author will have to offer.
I received an ARC from Netgalley, opinions are always my own.
Clara Wagner is very familiar with monsters - after all, years ago her mother was killed by the Vampire prince who lives in the castle at the top of the mountain. And one day, she will pay him back for that mistake. On the eve of her engagement with baker's boy Yann she and her father are celebrating when they get an uninvited guest. The prince that killed her mother shows up, angry about something her father did, with only one way to be sated. She has to marry him, because he happens to be in (desperate) need of a wife.
This was exactly what a Fantasy romance book should be: slow burn, tension, misunderstandings that actually made sense, true enemies to lovers, Beauty and the Beast vibes.. And THE YEARNING... It was so good!
The plot was not the most complicated or new, but the reason I read a lot of romantasy is to find something exactly like this. The romance was honestly perfection! It had ACOTAR vibes with a tad of twilight (but better vampires!) and regency era novels (pride and prejudice vibes) sprinkled in. I can't wait to see what else this author will have to offer.
August 7, 2026
If you hand me a gothic castle, a cursed vampire prince, and a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I'm already clearing my schedule.
Vow of Eternal Night delivers all the dark fairy tale vibes with a deliciously slow-burn romance that makes you work for every stolen glance. Clara is easy to root for, and Raleigh is the kind of vampire hero who proves monsters aren't always what they seem. Their relationship builds on tension, trust, and plenty of emotional payoff instead of rushing straight into romance.
The atmosphere is where this book truly shines. Between the eerie castle, ancient curses, and gothic setting, every chapter feels like wandering through a haunted fairytale. While the pacing is slower in places, it gives the characters and mystery room to breathe, making the final act feel well earned.
If you're looking for a romantasy filled with vampires, curses, yearning, and classic fairy tale magic, Vow of Eternal Night is one worth sinking your teeth into. It left me wanting to spend just a little longer in its beautifully haunted world.
Vow of Eternal Night delivers all the dark fairy tale vibes with a deliciously slow-burn romance that makes you work for every stolen glance. Clara is easy to root for, and Raleigh is the kind of vampire hero who proves monsters aren't always what they seem. Their relationship builds on tension, trust, and plenty of emotional payoff instead of rushing straight into romance.
The atmosphere is where this book truly shines. Between the eerie castle, ancient curses, and gothic setting, every chapter feels like wandering through a haunted fairytale. While the pacing is slower in places, it gives the characters and mystery room to breathe, making the final act feel well earned.
If you're looking for a romantasy filled with vampires, curses, yearning, and classic fairy tale magic, Vow of Eternal Night is one worth sinking your teeth into. It left me wanting to spend just a little longer in its beautifully haunted world.
March 26, 2026
Moving Castle inspired Beauty and the Beast retelling… but make it vampires?
Lily really said let’s combine three of my favorite things and expected me not to immediately INHALE this book.
Clara is stolen from her home and fiancé by the infamous Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg and taken to his looming gothic castle in the mountains. Rumor in the town below says Raleigh is no ordinary prince… but something far darker.
Forced to live in the castle under his watch, Clara begins to see Raleigh for who he truly is while uncovering secrets not only about the castle but about her own family and home.
Tropes & Vibes
🩸 Vampires
🏰 Gothic castle setting
💍 Arranged marriage
🌑 Beauty & the Beast retelling
✨ Court intrigue & town secrets
😤 Grumpy MMC × grumpy FMC
This was such a bingeable read. The atmosphere is the real standout here with moody castles, dying towns, and that delicious gothic tension running underneath everything. It was giving Dracula aesthetic with Howl’s castle.
For a standalone, this story packs in a lot without feeling rushed. The character dynamics were especially fun to watch unfold, particularly Raleigh, who is rumored to be this terrifying vampire prince but is actually just a hopeless, softie of a man having to put masks on. I absolutely loved Moira and might even argue she was my favorite character.
I also loved that this sticks fairly close to classic vampire lore while still adding a few fresh twists. And honestly? The fact that this is a fantasy standalone made it so satisfying to inhale quickly.
My main gripe is that the pacing can feel slow in places, and despite being marketed as romantasy, the romance itself is pretty light. I personally would have loved more yearning, tension, and stolen glances between the main characters. A few plot points also resolve a little too easily.
Call me weird but all the ‘fight’ scenes played out in my head peak Twilight Volturi style and I ate it up, okay.
Still, this was a moody, atmospheric, gothic romantasy that really scratched my vampire itch and I had a great time with it. If you are in the right mood for something slow and atmospheric you should reach for this
Lily really said let’s combine three of my favorite things and expected me not to immediately INHALE this book.
Clara is stolen from her home and fiancé by the infamous Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg and taken to his looming gothic castle in the mountains. Rumor in the town below says Raleigh is no ordinary prince… but something far darker.
Forced to live in the castle under his watch, Clara begins to see Raleigh for who he truly is while uncovering secrets not only about the castle but about her own family and home.
Tropes & Vibes
🩸 Vampires
🏰 Gothic castle setting
💍 Arranged marriage
🌑 Beauty & the Beast retelling
✨ Court intrigue & town secrets
😤 Grumpy MMC × grumpy FMC
This was such a bingeable read. The atmosphere is the real standout here with moody castles, dying towns, and that delicious gothic tension running underneath everything. It was giving Dracula aesthetic with Howl’s castle.
For a standalone, this story packs in a lot without feeling rushed. The character dynamics were especially fun to watch unfold, particularly Raleigh, who is rumored to be this terrifying vampire prince but is actually just a hopeless, softie of a man having to put masks on. I absolutely loved Moira and might even argue she was my favorite character.
I also loved that this sticks fairly close to classic vampire lore while still adding a few fresh twists. And honestly? The fact that this is a fantasy standalone made it so satisfying to inhale quickly.
My main gripe is that the pacing can feel slow in places, and despite being marketed as romantasy, the romance itself is pretty light. I personally would have loved more yearning, tension, and stolen glances between the main characters. A few plot points also resolve a little too easily.
Call me weird but all the ‘fight’ scenes played out in my head peak Twilight Volturi style and I ate it up, okay.
Still, this was a moody, atmospheric, gothic romantasy that really scratched my vampire itch and I had a great time with it. If you are in the right mood for something slow and atmospheric you should reach for this
July 21, 2026
☆ 3.5 stars
Vow of Eternal Night by debut author Lily Crozier is a standalone Gothic Paranormal Romance with an intriguing premise and an alluring cover to match. It felt like a no-brainer for this to be my Camp NetGalley 2026 pick and I’m really glad that I was able to get my hands on this early. This story felt really immersive and addictive from the start with the moral complexities of the characters creating enough doubt in the progression of the story to stave off thoughts of predictability. It’s very bingeable and reads with ease with minimal world building centring the focus on it being a character-driven tale. The intent of the story works well as a standalone with the conclusion wrapping everything up nicely enough to feel satisfactory whilst also leaving you wishing for a little bit more time in the aftermath of the resolved conflict. The romance felt well executed enough as a slow-burn romance within a short space of time with just a few minor lacking details as the characters learn how to navigate their complicated feelings with their emotional connection being rooted in effortless chemistry, alongside their ability to adapt and evolve. The side characters were wonderfully depicted and sometimes stood out more than the main characters themselves, and overall I think this is the perfect spooky season retelling for somebody looking for easy and entertaining paranormal tale to consume.
Clara Wagner was a really interesting protagonist to follow as she finds herself being forcefully engaged to the monster in the castle she’s been taught to fear her entire life. I really enjoyed her complexities as a woman who is struggling with the development that she suddenly finds herself holding more autonomy over her own life in the hands of her ‘captor’ than she ever did with her father and first love. Clara has continuously been belittled, scorned and dismissed by the men in her life for voicing her opinions in a world that demands women to be silent and obedient. She craves autonomy and the independence to live for herself whilst being blinded by a youthful love that expects her to pursue the role of a doting wife and mother that society demands of her. I loved getting to see her flourish over time as new experiences and interactions find her questioning the truth that Clara has blindly accepted from those for her entire life. Her perception of the world around her is challenged and I loved getting to see Clara learn how to trust herself and her own mind more as circumstances continue to change. It was really fun getting to see her adapt to her new normal and the unexpected friendships that she forges in pursuit of her goals. I enjoyed experiencing the story from her narrative and the unexpected outcome of her story… even if it did feel a bit rushed towards in the end. Her backstory did lack depth outside of the ongoing conflict which made connecting with her feel difficult at times. I wish I could’ve learned more about her ambitions in life as this would’ve helped make the ending feel stronger and more impactful for her character... but overall I can’t complain about the direction of Clara’s story, and I just wish we could’ve been given further insight into her future to help wrap up her ending more resolutely.
Prince Raleigh of Rosenberg was a bit of a contradiction from the beginning in the best possible way and I loved getting to better understand his character outside of his ruthless reputation. I felt surprisingly emotionally moved by his moral integrity when it comes to feeding on humans for survival and the he desperately tries to hold onto those values, even when his own life is in peril. Raleigh is much softer than I anticipated as I recognised that underneath his immovable exterior as a predator is a broken and abused boy that found his love thrown back in his face time and again. His backstory as a vampire fractured my heart when the truth came to light and I felt myself feeling as wrathful as Clara did the more he opened up. I really appreciated how progressive Raleigh was in regard to women and the society roles expected upon them in the era that they were existing in. He never once expected anything that Clara wasn’t herself willing to give and (despite obviously being the bare minimum but equally substantive in context) his respect for her autonomy definitely stood out to me in contradiction to how the people she has trusted prior treated her. His softness and almost boyish energy was really sweet to see and I loved how open he is about the flaws that he’s determined to improve upon. I just wish we had gotten the opportunity to know more about Raleigh’s life prior to being turned and for more depth as to why he was desperate to retain his humanity outside of the obvious. The ending to his character felt a bit redundant after everything he endured throughout the book which I also wish had been discussed more in-depth to really understand what he wanted within the future, but overall Raleigh is a wonderful character for those looking for a morally complex love interest that yearns for love and softness in a world that has only brought him pain and violence.
I did really like Clara and Raleigh as a prospective couple and I’m a huge fan of a slow-burn approach, but that being said it took me a while to connect to their connection because they seemed to spend an equal amount of time apart as they did together. As a standalone this creative decision didn’t make much sense to me because there is only so much time to establish the romantic connection between two people that have such differing experiences and expectations in life, never mind the conflict that Raleigh brings in with his history feeding on the townspeople. Within the first half Clara is shown to spend a lot of time alone whilst Raleigh left to do whatever it is he did in the background. He often opted to ‘give her space’ to process her new life situation and as a result I feel like we’ve missed out on prime opportunities for emotional depth and connection. We never once see them sit down and get to know one another down to the mundane facts about themselves that can largely build up who a person is. I couldn’t tell you a single personal detail about neither Clara nor Raleigh down to their favourite colour or if they have a hobby they’re passionate about… never mind what their aspirations are for the future. This did create a sense of disconnect for me despite my enjoyment of them as a couple on a surface level. I liked them in theory but I didn’t love them in the way that I would’ve had I better known them as individuals outside of their roles within the ongoing plot.
Vow of Eternal Night was a fun debut from Crozier that has definitely put her on my radar for more releases. This worked well as a standalone as I stated above but the more I think about it… the more I do personally think it may have worked a little better as a duology to better expand on the characters themselves whilst leaving more room to build upon the world itself. The story was entertaining and the vibes were perfect to make this a cold weather read, and I’ll definitely have my eye out on this author in the future. I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to see more books within this world featuring Moira and Enrique as both characters have potential to have strong backstories that I would love to know more about.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.
Vow of Eternal Night by debut author Lily Crozier is a standalone Gothic Paranormal Romance with an intriguing premise and an alluring cover to match. It felt like a no-brainer for this to be my Camp NetGalley 2026 pick and I’m really glad that I was able to get my hands on this early. This story felt really immersive and addictive from the start with the moral complexities of the characters creating enough doubt in the progression of the story to stave off thoughts of predictability. It’s very bingeable and reads with ease with minimal world building centring the focus on it being a character-driven tale. The intent of the story works well as a standalone with the conclusion wrapping everything up nicely enough to feel satisfactory whilst also leaving you wishing for a little bit more time in the aftermath of the resolved conflict. The romance felt well executed enough as a slow-burn romance within a short space of time with just a few minor lacking details as the characters learn how to navigate their complicated feelings with their emotional connection being rooted in effortless chemistry, alongside their ability to adapt and evolve. The side characters were wonderfully depicted and sometimes stood out more than the main characters themselves, and overall I think this is the perfect spooky season retelling for somebody looking for easy and entertaining paranormal tale to consume.
Clara Wagner was a really interesting protagonist to follow as she finds herself being forcefully engaged to the monster in the castle she’s been taught to fear her entire life. I really enjoyed her complexities as a woman who is struggling with the development that she suddenly finds herself holding more autonomy over her own life in the hands of her ‘captor’ than she ever did with her father and first love. Clara has continuously been belittled, scorned and dismissed by the men in her life for voicing her opinions in a world that demands women to be silent and obedient. She craves autonomy and the independence to live for herself whilst being blinded by a youthful love that expects her to pursue the role of a doting wife and mother that society demands of her. I loved getting to see her flourish over time as new experiences and interactions find her questioning the truth that Clara has blindly accepted from those for her entire life. Her perception of the world around her is challenged and I loved getting to see Clara learn how to trust herself and her own mind more as circumstances continue to change. It was really fun getting to see her adapt to her new normal and the unexpected friendships that she forges in pursuit of her goals. I enjoyed experiencing the story from her narrative and the unexpected outcome of her story… even if it did feel a bit rushed towards in the end. Her backstory did lack depth outside of the ongoing conflict which made connecting with her feel difficult at times. I wish I could’ve learned more about her ambitions in life as this would’ve helped make the ending feel stronger and more impactful for her character... but overall I can’t complain about the direction of Clara’s story, and I just wish we could’ve been given further insight into her future to help wrap up her ending more resolutely.
Prince Raleigh of Rosenberg was a bit of a contradiction from the beginning in the best possible way and I loved getting to better understand his character outside of his ruthless reputation. I felt surprisingly emotionally moved by his moral integrity when it comes to feeding on humans for survival and the he desperately tries to hold onto those values, even when his own life is in peril. Raleigh is much softer than I anticipated as I recognised that underneath his immovable exterior as a predator is a broken and abused boy that found his love thrown back in his face time and again. His backstory as a vampire fractured my heart when the truth came to light and I felt myself feeling as wrathful as Clara did the more he opened up. I really appreciated how progressive Raleigh was in regard to women and the society roles expected upon them in the era that they were existing in. He never once expected anything that Clara wasn’t herself willing to give and (despite obviously being the bare minimum but equally substantive in context) his respect for her autonomy definitely stood out to me in contradiction to how the people she has trusted prior treated her. His softness and almost boyish energy was really sweet to see and I loved how open he is about the flaws that he’s determined to improve upon. I just wish we had gotten the opportunity to know more about Raleigh’s life prior to being turned and for more depth as to why he was desperate to retain his humanity outside of the obvious. The ending to his character felt a bit redundant after everything he endured throughout the book which I also wish had been discussed more in-depth to really understand what he wanted within the future, but overall Raleigh is a wonderful character for those looking for a morally complex love interest that yearns for love and softness in a world that has only brought him pain and violence.
I did really like Clara and Raleigh as a prospective couple and I’m a huge fan of a slow-burn approach, but that being said it took me a while to connect to their connection because they seemed to spend an equal amount of time apart as they did together. As a standalone this creative decision didn’t make much sense to me because there is only so much time to establish the romantic connection between two people that have such differing experiences and expectations in life, never mind the conflict that Raleigh brings in with his history feeding on the townspeople. Within the first half Clara is shown to spend a lot of time alone whilst Raleigh left to do whatever it is he did in the background. He often opted to ‘give her space’ to process her new life situation and as a result I feel like we’ve missed out on prime opportunities for emotional depth and connection. We never once see them sit down and get to know one another down to the mundane facts about themselves that can largely build up who a person is. I couldn’t tell you a single personal detail about neither Clara nor Raleigh down to their favourite colour or if they have a hobby they’re passionate about… never mind what their aspirations are for the future. This did create a sense of disconnect for me despite my enjoyment of them as a couple on a surface level. I liked them in theory but I didn’t love them in the way that I would’ve had I better known them as individuals outside of their roles within the ongoing plot.
Vow of Eternal Night was a fun debut from Crozier that has definitely put her on my radar for more releases. This worked well as a standalone as I stated above but the more I think about it… the more I do personally think it may have worked a little better as a duology to better expand on the characters themselves whilst leaving more room to build upon the world itself. The story was entertaining and the vibes were perfect to make this a cold weather read, and I’ll definitely have my eye out on this author in the future. I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to see more books within this world featuring Moira and Enrique as both characters have potential to have strong backstories that I would love to know more about.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞.
January 22, 2026
vampires are BACK!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Recieved an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was genuinely so surprised by this! This is a wonderfully done vampire book. And, I realized, this is a beauty and the beast retelling too! I kept noticing the similar plot points to the fairytale. Clara is even doing her research in the library and is given her own desk, along with so much magic/enchantments.
Speaking of Clara, I really enjoyed her character. She's headstrong and independent, and she's also so stubborn and (rightfully) holds grudges so deeply. I think this makes her a little naive at times, but I can't really fault her for what she grew up believing about Raleigh. I loved her openness, and her kindness despite being kidnapped by a whole vampire who can literally eat her at any time.
Raleigh is my sweet little vampire prince and he needs the biggest hug. I loved how he's not the typical brooding, angry, mysterious vampire. He has his secrets (there wouldn't be much of a plot if he didn't), but he's so incredibly kind to Clara despite their bargain. It's what made me believe their relationship grew.
The plot itself is a little slow, and majority of it is Clara learning about vampires and the "truth" of what's been happening with Raleigh. I liked how their relationship was slow moving, and found that to be very realistic. I just wish the ending was a bit longer, so we can see more of them actually being together, and that we got to see more of what happens between them and their relationship while they did their actual research together. Those were more mentioned in passing as the book progressed, but I actually wanted to read them!!
The cover is not great but the book is good trust!
I was genuinely so surprised by this! This is a wonderfully done vampire book. And, I realized, this is a beauty and the beast retelling too! I kept noticing the similar plot points to the fairytale. Clara is even doing her research in the library and is given her own desk, along with so much magic/enchantments.
Speaking of Clara, I really enjoyed her character. She's headstrong and independent, and she's also so stubborn and (rightfully) holds grudges so deeply. I think this makes her a little naive at times, but I can't really fault her for what she grew up believing about Raleigh. I loved her openness, and her kindness despite being kidnapped by a whole vampire who can literally eat her at any time.
Raleigh is my sweet little vampire prince and he needs the biggest hug. I loved how he's not the typical brooding, angry, mysterious vampire. He has his secrets (there wouldn't be much of a plot if he didn't), but he's so incredibly kind to Clara despite their bargain. It's what made me believe their relationship grew.
The plot itself is a little slow, and majority of it is Clara learning about vampires and the "truth" of what's been happening with Raleigh. I liked how their relationship was slow moving, and found that to be very realistic. I just wish the ending was a bit longer, so we can see more of them actually being together, and that we got to see more of what happens between them and their relationship while they did their actual research together. Those were more mentioned in passing as the book progressed, but I actually wanted to read them!!
The cover is not great but the book is good trust!
August 7, 2026
Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book that was just released on August 4th called, Vow of Eternal Night. This is about Clara, she is the mayor's daughter and he is trying to find someone suitable for her to marry. When Prince Raleigh returns and announces he is searching for a bride, Clara finds herself being taken by the same man who killed her mother years ago, by draining her of her blood. Raleigh is a vampire and Clara is now struggling with the fact she will either be his bride or his next victim. But Raleigh is different than she expects and he makes her a deal, she has until the end of the year to help him find a cure for this so he no longer has to be a vampire and if they succeed she can go free, but if they don't succeed then she has to marry him. So as they spend time together trying to find the cure, things start to slowly shift between them and before either of them realize it not only are they enjoying each other's company but wanting to spend time together. But Raleigh isn't the only vampire, and danger is lurking closer than they think.
I really enjoyed this paranormal romance, it was a vampire twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast story. Clara grew so much throughout the story and her character development was really well done. Raleigh was misunderstood, seeming to be the bad guy in the beginning but you get to know the real him as the story progresses. I really enjoyed their enemies to lovers story, it was slow and it felt authentic. I read this along with some other book lovers as a part of Entangled Publishing's Insiders reading group, and I really enjoyed being a part of that! I loved all the group discussions, as well as getting to spend an evening chatting with the author! I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more stories by this author! ❤️📚
Thank you to Lily Crozier, Entangled Publishing, Red Tower Books, and Netgalley for this ARC of Vow of Eternal Night, in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this paranormal romance, it was a vampire twist on the classic Beauty and the Beast story. Clara grew so much throughout the story and her character development was really well done. Raleigh was misunderstood, seeming to be the bad guy in the beginning but you get to know the real him as the story progresses. I really enjoyed their enemies to lovers story, it was slow and it felt authentic. I read this along with some other book lovers as a part of Entangled Publishing's Insiders reading group, and I really enjoyed being a part of that! I loved all the group discussions, as well as getting to spend an evening chatting with the author! I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more stories by this author! ❤️📚
Thank you to Lily Crozier, Entangled Publishing, Red Tower Books, and Netgalley for this ARC of Vow of Eternal Night, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
OMG, Lily—you’ve absolutely smashed this out of the park.
This book was immersive, addictive, and completely impossible to put down. The atmosphere was chef’s kiss—dark, gothic, and dripping with vibes.
And the characters… I genuinely can’t put into words how much I adored Clara and Raleigh. They owned my whole heart.
A heads up: don’t go in expecting spicy scenes every few chapters—and honestly, that’s what made it even better. Instead of relying on constant heat, this delivers a slow-burn romance that’s beautifully woven into a rich, compelling story. The focus on world-building, tension, and mood made it stand out in the best way.
If you love your romantasy atmospheric, brooding, and story-driven, this one is a must 🖤📖
This book was immersive, addictive, and completely impossible to put down. The atmosphere was chef’s kiss—dark, gothic, and dripping with vibes.
And the characters… I genuinely can’t put into words how much I adored Clara and Raleigh. They owned my whole heart.
A heads up: don’t go in expecting spicy scenes every few chapters—and honestly, that’s what made it even better. Instead of relying on constant heat, this delivers a slow-burn romance that’s beautifully woven into a rich, compelling story. The focus on world-building, tension, and mood made it stand out in the best way.
If you love your romantasy atmospheric, brooding, and story-driven, this one is a must 🖤📖
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