What do you think?
Rate this book
Descendants of Helsing #1
The Curse of Eternity
Hairs rose along my exposed arms, and my jaw clenched. Somewhere ahead, the scent of decay wafted closer, and the undead hungered.
Ex-addict and current vampire hunter, Maria Harker, has a legacy to uphold—slaying the undead. Recovery isn't easy for the twenty-one-year-old descendant of Van Helsing, especially when her family can't seem to let go of the past. Mistakes haunt her present, but none as bad as the unusually polite vampire she fails to kill.
A hunt gone awry lands Maria in the unfortunate circumstance of being at her immortal enemy’s mercy, but—contrary to everything Maria’s witnessed from the bloodthirsty, murderous creatures—the vampire, Drake, claims he doesn’t eat people. Afraid to risk her family’s tenuous trust, Maria chooses to lie to those closest to her when she’s released relatively unharmed. Except now she’s hell-bent on tracking down the bloodsucker in her home city of Albuquerque, New Mexico without the help of her monster-hunting relatives.
Torn about keeping secrets from her eggshell-walking family, and starting to believe the immortal man she shouldn’t be falling for, Maria soon finds out she’s not the only one with skeletons in her closet. Because when her ancestor defeated Dracula, a new evil rose from the grave to take his place—threatening not only their lives, but the burdensome legacy Maria resents.
The seductive first installment in the Descendants of Helsing series featuring high-stakes action, forbidden romance, and a fresh take on vampires that blurs the line between haunting monsters and sympathetic villains.
Ex-addict and current vampire hunter, Maria Harker, has a legacy to uphold—slaying the undead. Recovery isn't easy for the twenty-one-year-old descendant of Van Helsing, especially when her family can't seem to let go of the past. Mistakes haunt her present, but none as bad as the unusually polite vampire she fails to kill.
A hunt gone awry lands Maria in the unfortunate circumstance of being at her immortal enemy’s mercy, but—contrary to everything Maria’s witnessed from the bloodthirsty, murderous creatures—the vampire, Drake, claims he doesn’t eat people. Afraid to risk her family’s tenuous trust, Maria chooses to lie to those closest to her when she’s released relatively unharmed. Except now she’s hell-bent on tracking down the bloodsucker in her home city of Albuquerque, New Mexico without the help of her monster-hunting relatives.
Torn about keeping secrets from her eggshell-walking family, and starting to believe the immortal man she shouldn’t be falling for, Maria soon finds out she’s not the only one with skeletons in her closet. Because when her ancestor defeated Dracula, a new evil rose from the grave to take his place—threatening not only their lives, but the burdensome legacy Maria resents.
The seductive first installment in the Descendants of Helsing series featuring high-stakes action, forbidden romance, and a fresh take on vampires that blurs the line between haunting monsters and sympathetic villains.
368 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
6 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
Michaela Cunningham
1 book12 followersMichaela Cunningham is an inadvertent globetrotter and nonbinary mother-of-one who consumes way too much caffeine while writing characters that often do the wrong thing for the right reasons. They also have a penchant for run-on sentences.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 11, 2025
This book was so nostalgic—like all your fave supernatural shows and movies got together for a chaotic sleepover. It feels like coming home to everything you once loved. The writing flows so easily, I basically inhaled it in one sitting (well my version of one sitting meaning two days). And Drake?? MY BELOVED. A total cinnamon roll vampire baby who must be protected at all costs 🥺🖤. I will fight for him.
Also, major props for the anxiety rep—it was real, thoughtful, and honest!
The last third of the book was very fight scene heavy so people that love a ton of action will live for that!! And they’re really well written!!
I will say that I loved the MMC way more than the FMC as I got annoyed with Maria every now and then and I just want more Drake😍
The ending has me so ready and waiting for book 2!!
This book will be a slump buster for sure!!
Read if you like:
🖤Van Helsing and Dracula
🩸Supernatural (both the tv show and as a whole)
🖤Twilight
🩸True Blood
🖤Elijah from TVD
🩸mortal enemies to lovers
🖤Hunter FMC
🩸gore
🖤gothic setting
🩸Action and fight scenes
🖤recovering addict and anxiety rep
Thank you so much to the author for an eARC🖤🖤
4.25⭐️ rounded up for Goodreads!
Also, major props for the anxiety rep—it was real, thoughtful, and honest!
The last third of the book was very fight scene heavy so people that love a ton of action will live for that!! And they’re really well written!!
I will say that I loved the MMC way more than the FMC as I got annoyed with Maria every now and then and I just want more Drake😍
The ending has me so ready and waiting for book 2!!
This book will be a slump buster for sure!!
Read if you like:
🖤Van Helsing and Dracula
🩸Supernatural (both the tv show and as a whole)
🖤Twilight
🩸True Blood
🖤Elijah from TVD
🩸mortal enemies to lovers
🖤Hunter FMC
🩸gore
🖤gothic setting
🩸Action and fight scenes
🖤recovering addict and anxiety rep
Thank you so much to the author for an eARC🖤🖤
4.25⭐️ rounded up for Goodreads!
October 1, 2025
This feels like a fanfic mash-up of Twilight and Dracula for zoomers, with a little bit of everything thrown at the wall.
October 17, 2025
3.25⭐️ I was really excited for this in the beginning but it just didn’t give what it could and should’ve gave the more it progressed. There was just way too many layers like we started off strong with vampires and then all of a sudden there was witches, Lycans etc all just thrown in randomly and it didn’t actually add anything to the plot. The mortal enemies to lovers trope was pretty weak, like yes they were enemies simply because drake is a vampire and Maria is a hunter but their ‘chemistry’ if you can even call it that was still pretty instant. I think the concept was interesting but the characters themselves were pretty brand and forgettable. The further I got into the book the more I struggled with the writing, I couldn’t connect with the characters and by the end I was just over it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2025
His forced smile didn’t touch the despair behind his eyes, but he offered his hand all the same. An invitation to our damnation, the road ahead paved with good intentions.
A vampire x vampire hunter romance? Sign me up! I was so privileged to read an advanced copy of The Curse of Eternity. This book takes everything we love about vampires and wraps it all up in a fresh take that will make you swoon, scream, and smile. Set within the backdrop of Albuquerque, NM, the author uses beautiful descriptions to fully flesh out a world that features a whole host of supernatural creatures alongside its humans and vampires.
I did trust my family. It was me they didn’t trust—my ability to do anything right, to make decisions that anyone would be proud of.
I’m a Drake enthusiast as much as the next reader, but I am forever a fan of my girl, Maria. Despite always trying to do what’s right, she doesn’t always make the best decisions—sometimes with disastrous results. A complicated character battling her own demons as she battles vampires, she’s a protagonist I found myself constantly rooting for, and loving every minute of it.
"I can, quite literally, do this forever," he said politely. "I suggest you make the choice so we may end this stalemate."
"Fine," I snapped, out of options and losing faith in any backup arriving. "But if you try anything-"
"You will be just as ineffective as before, yes."
As for Drake, (fans self) the things that I would do for this undead man. This “vegetarian” vampire defines the “soft for her” persona from the start, but do not be fooled—he can and WILL do heinous things to keep Maria safe. From the moment of their meet cute (does kidnapping count as a meet cute?), the chemistry between Drake and Maria leapt right off the page, and started them down a path that would turn the world on its head for them both.
“You are a light in my abyss, guiding me toward hope that my legacy can leave behind more than bloodshed.”
Their blossoming love has plenty of heartfelt moments that made me swoon, but was also a battle at times—literally. Nothing solidifies a bond like tearing off heads and sliding machetes into hearts together! We really get to see how Drake and Maria’s feelings for each other go beyond simple attraction. They work well together as a team, even in the beginning when the foundation of trust isn’t there yet. It was a pleasure to watch these two grow, both separately and together, as the book progressed.
“If I were to judge a person based on who they used to be, then I would never be capable of looking into the mirror.”
“Then what do you judge someone by?” Despite my small voice, I looked up to face him head on. He’d moved closer, his steps silent, until I was staring up at him from only a foot away.
“By what they choose to overcome.”
In addition to two well-developed main characters, this book has a wide range of side characters—a couple of whom are the type you will love to hate. Large casts can be difficult to do well, but in The Curse of Eternity, the author pulls it off without a hitch. Everyone had a distinct personality and was fully fleshed-out, to the point that I could tell whose dialogue it was just from the way they spoke. Whether friend, family, or foe, these characters were brought to life and made for a well-rounded story. I cannot recommend this book enough!
A vampire x vampire hunter romance? Sign me up! I was so privileged to read an advanced copy of The Curse of Eternity. This book takes everything we love about vampires and wraps it all up in a fresh take that will make you swoon, scream, and smile. Set within the backdrop of Albuquerque, NM, the author uses beautiful descriptions to fully flesh out a world that features a whole host of supernatural creatures alongside its humans and vampires.
I did trust my family. It was me they didn’t trust—my ability to do anything right, to make decisions that anyone would be proud of.
I’m a Drake enthusiast as much as the next reader, but I am forever a fan of my girl, Maria. Despite always trying to do what’s right, she doesn’t always make the best decisions—sometimes with disastrous results. A complicated character battling her own demons as she battles vampires, she’s a protagonist I found myself constantly rooting for, and loving every minute of it.
"I can, quite literally, do this forever," he said politely. "I suggest you make the choice so we may end this stalemate."
"Fine," I snapped, out of options and losing faith in any backup arriving. "But if you try anything-"
"You will be just as ineffective as before, yes."
As for Drake, (fans self) the things that I would do for this undead man. This “vegetarian” vampire defines the “soft for her” persona from the start, but do not be fooled—he can and WILL do heinous things to keep Maria safe. From the moment of their meet cute (does kidnapping count as a meet cute?), the chemistry between Drake and Maria leapt right off the page, and started them down a path that would turn the world on its head for them both.
“You are a light in my abyss, guiding me toward hope that my legacy can leave behind more than bloodshed.”
Their blossoming love has plenty of heartfelt moments that made me swoon, but was also a battle at times—literally. Nothing solidifies a bond like tearing off heads and sliding machetes into hearts together! We really get to see how Drake and Maria’s feelings for each other go beyond simple attraction. They work well together as a team, even in the beginning when the foundation of trust isn’t there yet. It was a pleasure to watch these two grow, both separately and together, as the book progressed.
“If I were to judge a person based on who they used to be, then I would never be capable of looking into the mirror.”
“Then what do you judge someone by?” Despite my small voice, I looked up to face him head on. He’d moved closer, his steps silent, until I was staring up at him from only a foot away.
“By what they choose to overcome.”
In addition to two well-developed main characters, this book has a wide range of side characters—a couple of whom are the type you will love to hate. Large casts can be difficult to do well, but in The Curse of Eternity, the author pulls it off without a hitch. Everyone had a distinct personality and was fully fleshed-out, to the point that I could tell whose dialogue it was just from the way they spoke. Whether friend, family, or foe, these characters were brought to life and made for a well-rounded story. I cannot recommend this book enough!
July 29, 2025
“𝕱𝖔𝖗 𝖒𝖞 𝖇𝖊𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖉, 𝖑𝖊𝖙 𝖚𝖘 𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖗𝖆𝖈𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖚𝖗𝖘𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖊𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖙𝖞.”
The Curse of Eternity by Michaela Cunningham is such a unique and refreshing take on the vampire lore we’ve come to know. If True Blood, Van Helsing and Underworld had a baby, it might look a little bit like this.
Being from the southwest, the setting of Albuquerque, New Mexico was so nostalgic and helped paint the setting in finer detail inside my mind.
Our FMC Maria is a stabby, sarcastic vampire hunter with a family legacy to live up to, and a whole host of secrets that come along with it. (As one might expect, being a descendant of Helsing, after all.)
Our MMC Drake is a mysterious vampire with good manners, a morality complex, and a vicious protective streak, all wrapped up in a leather jacket.
Together they navigate the evil that has emerged following the death of Dracula and threatens their worlds, while resisting the temptation of forbidden love.
This was such a fun read, while being serious when it needed to be. I appreciated the care with which subjects such as anxiety and addiction were approached and represented, while also diving into the pressure of living up to a family’s expectations.
The fight scenes were written in a way that was easy to follow, as if I were watching a choreographed action scene in a movie or television show.
We got just a little glimpse of fae and lycans, witchcraft and supernatural politics that I’m sure will develop as the series continues.
This debut novel is an action packed, bloody good time with an ending that beautifully sets the stakes for what’s to come without leaving you dangling from a cliff.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Curse of Eternity by Michaela Cunningham is such a unique and refreshing take on the vampire lore we’ve come to know. If True Blood, Van Helsing and Underworld had a baby, it might look a little bit like this.
Being from the southwest, the setting of Albuquerque, New Mexico was so nostalgic and helped paint the setting in finer detail inside my mind.
Our FMC Maria is a stabby, sarcastic vampire hunter with a family legacy to live up to, and a whole host of secrets that come along with it. (As one might expect, being a descendant of Helsing, after all.)
Our MMC Drake is a mysterious vampire with good manners, a morality complex, and a vicious protective streak, all wrapped up in a leather jacket.
Together they navigate the evil that has emerged following the death of Dracula and threatens their worlds, while resisting the temptation of forbidden love.
This was such a fun read, while being serious when it needed to be. I appreciated the care with which subjects such as anxiety and addiction were approached and represented, while also diving into the pressure of living up to a family’s expectations.
The fight scenes were written in a way that was easy to follow, as if I were watching a choreographed action scene in a movie or television show.
We got just a little glimpse of fae and lycans, witchcraft and supernatural politics that I’m sure will develop as the series continues.
This debut novel is an action packed, bloody good time with an ending that beautifully sets the stakes for what’s to come without leaving you dangling from a cliff.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 1, 2025
4.25*
Maria is a descendant of Helsing, meaning that her family’s legacy is to kill vampires. She’s been on a couple of missions since her mistake, but her impulsiveness is still going strong. Strong enough that a lone vampire kidnaps her one night during one of her said missions to make her realize that he’s not bloodthirsty like the others. What comes from that peculiar encounter is a situation that none of them would’ve foreseen, yet they have to face it. Together. A vampire hunter and… her vampire.
The Curse of Eternity is a nostalgic delight. It makes me think of many fiction pieces (Twilight, Buffy, True Blood, you name it), yet it still undoubtedly stands on its own. It’s a successful mashup of those things, while still being entirely unique with its takes.
Maria has her flaws, which makes her human and relatable, in opposition to Drake, good looking and ancient cinnamon roll of a vampire. He has a European accent, naturally that’s all I needed to know to fall for him. Their chemistry was almost instant and sweet, I’m eager to see where it’ll lead in the next book, because I need to be FED fed. It was kind of a slow burn, so you know, mama’s hungry.
I loved the world building and the takes on the vampires and the lore, it was refreshing. It was also fast paced, so I flew through the book pretty quickly; the combat scenes were engagingly descriptive and well written.
Thanks so much to Michaela Cunningham for the arc, it was a pretty solid debut.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 /5
•vampires
•recovering addict vampire hunter
•cinnamon roll vampire (for her)
•battle scenes
•unique vampire lore
•slow burn
Maria is a descendant of Helsing, meaning that her family’s legacy is to kill vampires. She’s been on a couple of missions since her mistake, but her impulsiveness is still going strong. Strong enough that a lone vampire kidnaps her one night during one of her said missions to make her realize that he’s not bloodthirsty like the others. What comes from that peculiar encounter is a situation that none of them would’ve foreseen, yet they have to face it. Together. A vampire hunter and… her vampire.
The Curse of Eternity is a nostalgic delight. It makes me think of many fiction pieces (Twilight, Buffy, True Blood, you name it), yet it still undoubtedly stands on its own. It’s a successful mashup of those things, while still being entirely unique with its takes.
Maria has her flaws, which makes her human and relatable, in opposition to Drake, good looking and ancient cinnamon roll of a vampire. He has a European accent, naturally that’s all I needed to know to fall for him. Their chemistry was almost instant and sweet, I’m eager to see where it’ll lead in the next book, because I need to be FED fed. It was kind of a slow burn, so you know, mama’s hungry.
I loved the world building and the takes on the vampires and the lore, it was refreshing. It was also fast paced, so I flew through the book pretty quickly; the combat scenes were engagingly descriptive and well written.
Thanks so much to Michaela Cunningham for the arc, it was a pretty solid debut.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 /5
•vampires
•recovering addict vampire hunter
•cinnamon roll vampire (for her)
•battle scenes
•unique vampire lore
•slow burn
September 27, 2025
This was such a fun book! I loved all the vampire lore, and it was so neat to watch Maria and Drake work together to free themselves. My heart fluttered every time he called her love and she referred to him as ‘my vampire’ 🥰 I’m excited to see where this series goes, because there’s so much potential for future conflict! The family relationships were also a nice touch.
September 26, 2025
Everyone who likes vampire fiction needs to read this one!
September 15, 2025
"Do you always dress so nicely when you make plans to meet your mortal enemies?"
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
What you'll find in this book:
- Paranormal Romantasy
- Forced Proximity
- Stabby FMC
- Vamp Daddy
- Slow Burn
- Touch Her and Die
- Beheading the Undead
- Morally Gray MMC
- Legacy Monster Hunters
- Unique Vampire Lore
I want to start off by commending Michaela for how amazing this book is, it was so good I early forgot that this was their debut book. Michaela has created a stunning paranormal romantasy that blends together traditional well-known vampire lore with something new and refreshing that absolutely captivated my attention. Having subtle nods to vampire traits that are so well known and seen throughout other literature and film was so satisfying. The forbidden romance only adds to a story that is so well written that it I struggled to put it down. Of course a hunter x vampire dynamic has been seen before but Michaela brings a fresh take with an ancient gentleman vampire and a stabby hunter FMC with a conscience. I found the fact that this book opts to lean into the gore of a paranormal fantasy so enjoyable, and made it feel so unapologetically true to itself.
Maria Harker, part of a family of vampire hunters and recovering addict, is a legacy descent of Van Helsing with a legacy to uphold which involves slaying the undead. With her family unable to forget the past and see the progress she has made, mistakes haunt Maria with every step she takes but nothing throws her off kilter quite as much as the unusually polite ancient vampire she chooses not to kill. A walking talky contradiction, Drake challenges everything that Maria thinks she knows, ripping to shreds rhe stereotypical bloodthirsty and murderous creatures that she usually hunts. Claiming not to eat people, Maria can't help but be intrigued by this conundrum of a vampire. Despite her curiosity she forgoes telling her family the exact happenings of the time during which she was missing while working solo to find out where Drake is and finish what she should have started. Torn between the lies she is telling and the secrets she is desperate to keep about her growing feels for the one creature that feels forbidden above all others. However, Maria isn't the only one with secrets and the more she learns the more she realises that there is a larger evil force at play which is a threat to not only their lives but also Maria's legacy.
I am absolutely here for Drake's devotion to Maria and this ancient gentleman vampire makes consent so damn hot. Despite Drake's immersion into modern day society I am such a fan of how Michaela makes sure that it is obvious of how old he is with his use of language and mannerisms. Maria is initially so steadfast in her beliefs and what she has been told coming from a family of hunters, but becomes so open to other possibilities of what is out there which is so crucial for the story. She goes through a very eye opening experience so quickly being drawn into vampire politics where the stakes are high, and this forces out two main characters even closer together. Maria and Drake have dark pasts, neither of them are without their demons and it is so wonderful to see them connecting through their acceptance of eachothers darkness and how this allows them to forgive themselves. The evolution of their relationship feels natural with pulse pounding moments, spice, and those tender emotional moments that remind ys of the romanfe outside the paranormal craziness of the story and the fact that their lives are literally on the line.
We follow Maria and Drake on a mission to save themselves and their family utilising Maria's descendant blood in order to unlock secrets they'll find in a castle in Romania while being chased by vampires, lycans and more. The story itself flowed incredibly wells with highs and lows, Michaela had me guessing at points whether we were going to get any form of HEA, and frankly you'll just have to read it to find out as it as I'm not spoiling anything. I can't overstate enough how well the lore is thought out as well as blending the paranormal with the modern day, and if you didn't think everything I've already mentioned is enough Michaela mixes in other paranormal creatures as well such as the fey and how they interlink into this world. I loved every aspect of this book and I can't wait for more of this series, especially after the epilogue that has left me firmly wanting more.
Thank you so much to Michaela for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early.
Author: Michaela Cunningham
Series: Descendants of Helsing
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: September 16th, 2025
Pages: 338
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
What you'll find in this book:
- Paranormal Romantasy
- Forced Proximity
- Stabby FMC
- Vamp Daddy
- Slow Burn
- Touch Her and Die
- Beheading the Undead
- Morally Gray MMC
- Legacy Monster Hunters
- Unique Vampire Lore
I want to start off by commending Michaela for how amazing this book is, it was so good I early forgot that this was their debut book. Michaela has created a stunning paranormal romantasy that blends together traditional well-known vampire lore with something new and refreshing that absolutely captivated my attention. Having subtle nods to vampire traits that are so well known and seen throughout other literature and film was so satisfying. The forbidden romance only adds to a story that is so well written that it I struggled to put it down. Of course a hunter x vampire dynamic has been seen before but Michaela brings a fresh take with an ancient gentleman vampire and a stabby hunter FMC with a conscience. I found the fact that this book opts to lean into the gore of a paranormal fantasy so enjoyable, and made it feel so unapologetically true to itself.
Maria Harker, part of a family of vampire hunters and recovering addict, is a legacy descent of Van Helsing with a legacy to uphold which involves slaying the undead. With her family unable to forget the past and see the progress she has made, mistakes haunt Maria with every step she takes but nothing throws her off kilter quite as much as the unusually polite ancient vampire she chooses not to kill. A walking talky contradiction, Drake challenges everything that Maria thinks she knows, ripping to shreds rhe stereotypical bloodthirsty and murderous creatures that she usually hunts. Claiming not to eat people, Maria can't help but be intrigued by this conundrum of a vampire. Despite her curiosity she forgoes telling her family the exact happenings of the time during which she was missing while working solo to find out where Drake is and finish what she should have started. Torn between the lies she is telling and the secrets she is desperate to keep about her growing feels for the one creature that feels forbidden above all others. However, Maria isn't the only one with secrets and the more she learns the more she realises that there is a larger evil force at play which is a threat to not only their lives but also Maria's legacy.
I am absolutely here for Drake's devotion to Maria and this ancient gentleman vampire makes consent so damn hot. Despite Drake's immersion into modern day society I am such a fan of how Michaela makes sure that it is obvious of how old he is with his use of language and mannerisms. Maria is initially so steadfast in her beliefs and what she has been told coming from a family of hunters, but becomes so open to other possibilities of what is out there which is so crucial for the story. She goes through a very eye opening experience so quickly being drawn into vampire politics where the stakes are high, and this forces out two main characters even closer together. Maria and Drake have dark pasts, neither of them are without their demons and it is so wonderful to see them connecting through their acceptance of eachothers darkness and how this allows them to forgive themselves. The evolution of their relationship feels natural with pulse pounding moments, spice, and those tender emotional moments that remind ys of the romanfe outside the paranormal craziness of the story and the fact that their lives are literally on the line.
We follow Maria and Drake on a mission to save themselves and their family utilising Maria's descendant blood in order to unlock secrets they'll find in a castle in Romania while being chased by vampires, lycans and more. The story itself flowed incredibly wells with highs and lows, Michaela had me guessing at points whether we were going to get any form of HEA, and frankly you'll just have to read it to find out as it as I'm not spoiling anything. I can't overstate enough how well the lore is thought out as well as blending the paranormal with the modern day, and if you didn't think everything I've already mentioned is enough Michaela mixes in other paranormal creatures as well such as the fey and how they interlink into this world. I loved every aspect of this book and I can't wait for more of this series, especially after the epilogue that has left me firmly wanting more.
Thank you so much to Michaela for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early.
Author: Michaela Cunningham
Series: Descendants of Helsing
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: September 16th, 2025
Pages: 338
November 4, 2025
Being the 80's baby that I am, I will likely never get over vampires, and this book sated my craving beautifully. When monster hunter Maria Harker meets an unusually polite vampire she failed to kill, the resulting tension crackles with the kind of forbidden romance that Twilight fans have been craving for years.
This book is, in my opinion, for those fans that wanted a bit more and never quite got over that era. Think of it as the love child of Twilight's Volturi and the Van Helsing movie with a modern spin. Cunningham delivers exactly what we have been missing – a supernatural romance with actual teeth, vampire hunting action with a gothic atmosphere, and characters who feel genuinely complex rather than simply brooding for the sake of it.
I loved both main characters immensely. Maria Harker is a refreshingly flawed protagonist – struggling to rebuild her life after personal mistakes and a drug-fueled spiral that nearly destroyed her. She's not your typical invincible heroine; she's human, vulnerable, and fighting for redemption in ways that feel real. Her vampire counterpart flips expectations with his unusual politeness and depth, creating a dynamic where the traditional hunter-prey relationship becomes something far more nuanced and emotionally charged.
What sets this apart from other vampire romances is how the author blurs the line between monster and sympathetic character. The history elements are expertly woven throughout, taking classic vampire hunting traditions and giving them a fresh modern twist. The Helsing connection feels authentic while the story reveals hidden truths about vampire nature that completely upends everything hunters believed they knew. The romance is steamy without taking over the story, and the action scenes are genuinely exciting.
I'm not even going into the ending of this book, and let's just say I can't wait for book two.
Overall a fantastic debut and a definite recommendation for anyone who's been waiting for vampire romance to reclaim its gothic roots while adding modern complexity.
Thank you to author for the gifted ARC
This book is, in my opinion, for those fans that wanted a bit more and never quite got over that era. Think of it as the love child of Twilight's Volturi and the Van Helsing movie with a modern spin. Cunningham delivers exactly what we have been missing – a supernatural romance with actual teeth, vampire hunting action with a gothic atmosphere, and characters who feel genuinely complex rather than simply brooding for the sake of it.
I loved both main characters immensely. Maria Harker is a refreshingly flawed protagonist – struggling to rebuild her life after personal mistakes and a drug-fueled spiral that nearly destroyed her. She's not your typical invincible heroine; she's human, vulnerable, and fighting for redemption in ways that feel real. Her vampire counterpart flips expectations with his unusual politeness and depth, creating a dynamic where the traditional hunter-prey relationship becomes something far more nuanced and emotionally charged.
What sets this apart from other vampire romances is how the author blurs the line between monster and sympathetic character. The history elements are expertly woven throughout, taking classic vampire hunting traditions and giving them a fresh modern twist. The Helsing connection feels authentic while the story reveals hidden truths about vampire nature that completely upends everything hunters believed they knew. The romance is steamy without taking over the story, and the action scenes are genuinely exciting.
I'm not even going into the ending of this book, and let's just say I can't wait for book two.
Overall a fantastic debut and a definite recommendation for anyone who's been waiting for vampire romance to reclaim its gothic roots while adding modern complexity.
Thank you to author for the gifted ARC
August 21, 2025
🖤“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙮𝙨𝙨, 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙.”🖤
The Curse of Eternity by Michaela W. Cunningham is an action-packed romantic adventure from beginning to end. This one is for all my late 90s—early 2000s vampire girlies.
🖋️Review
Maria is an ex-addict and, as a descendant of Helsing, a legacy vampire hunter. Drake is a vampire who claims he doesn’t eat people. When a mission turned wrong ends in an accidental kidnapping, the tension and their separate pasts begin to unfold creating an epic story of love, redemption, and forgiveness.
I loved the different elements of fantasy and paranormal genres that Michaela weaved into this story. The author gave each character their own unique voice that was consistent throughout this book so each of these characters felt so real and 3 dimensional. This story was action packed and the fight scenes were on point! The romance had me kicking my feet and the found family was so heartwarming. And that ending. 🥹🤯 And Stake!!! 🐶 Absolutely loved this book, I cannot recommend it enough!
If you enjoy Buffy, Twilight, True Blood, anything vampires, or just fantasy and/or paranormal romance then this book is for you.
Genre: Paranormal Romantasy
Publication Date: September 16th, 2025
Series: Descendants of Helsing - Book 1
Pages: 338
⭐️: 4.75
🌶️: 2
Available with Kindle Unlimited!📲
Tropes:
🗡️Beheadíng the Undēad
🩸“Touch her and díe”
🗡️Legacy Monster Hunters
🩸Vamp Daddy
🗡️Forced Proximity
🩸Unique Vampire Lore
🗡️Dracula-inspired Premise
🩸Macabre Gothic Imagery
🗡️Stabby FMC
🩸Morally-gray MMC
🗡️Slow Burn
And More…
🚨⚠️This book has dark elements and is not suitable for all readers. Please be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading this book!⚠️🚨
#️⃣: #thecurseofeternity #michaelacunningham #descendantsofhelsing #paranormalromance #vampire
The Curse of Eternity by Michaela W. Cunningham is an action-packed romantic adventure from beginning to end. This one is for all my late 90s—early 2000s vampire girlies.
🖋️Review
Maria is an ex-addict and, as a descendant of Helsing, a legacy vampire hunter. Drake is a vampire who claims he doesn’t eat people. When a mission turned wrong ends in an accidental kidnapping, the tension and their separate pasts begin to unfold creating an epic story of love, redemption, and forgiveness.
I loved the different elements of fantasy and paranormal genres that Michaela weaved into this story. The author gave each character their own unique voice that was consistent throughout this book so each of these characters felt so real and 3 dimensional. This story was action packed and the fight scenes were on point! The romance had me kicking my feet and the found family was so heartwarming. And that ending. 🥹🤯 And Stake!!! 🐶 Absolutely loved this book, I cannot recommend it enough!
If you enjoy Buffy, Twilight, True Blood, anything vampires, or just fantasy and/or paranormal romance then this book is for you.
Genre: Paranormal Romantasy
Publication Date: September 16th, 2025
Series: Descendants of Helsing - Book 1
Pages: 338
⭐️: 4.75
🌶️: 2
Available with Kindle Unlimited!📲
Tropes:
🗡️Beheadíng the Undēad
🩸“Touch her and díe”
🗡️Legacy Monster Hunters
🩸Vamp Daddy
🗡️Forced Proximity
🩸Unique Vampire Lore
🗡️Dracula-inspired Premise
🩸Macabre Gothic Imagery
🗡️Stabby FMC
🩸Morally-gray MMC
🗡️Slow Burn
And More…
🚨⚠️This book has dark elements and is not suitable for all readers. Please be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading this book!⚠️🚨
#️⃣: #thecurseofeternity #michaelacunningham #descendantsofhelsing #paranormalromance #vampire
October 28, 2025
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘺𝘴𝘴, 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥.”
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝙀𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 was SO fun and nostalgic.
For those of us that started our journey with an obsession with Supernatural, Buffy, Dracula, Van Helsing (all the good sh!t) this one ticks so many boxes, giving you that reminiscence of all the things we love, while still being something new and unique to obsess over.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝙀𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 follows Maria Harker, raised a vampire hunter as a descendent of the Helsing line.
(Do I hear… ‘Saving people, hunting things, the family business’ anyone?) 🔥
Maria meets her match while attempting to take down the skilled and enigmatic Vampire, Drake.
Except Drake isn’t like all the other vampires she’s been trained to dispatch. He actually has no desire to harm her at all, and is actually trying to… help her?
Maria’s budding (albeit hesitant) trust in Drake leads them on quite the adventure, Maria learning there is far more to the Vampire world than her, or her family ever realized.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝙀𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 was fast paced and had me hooked from the beginning, I had the best time reading it!
@michaelawcunningham SLAYED 🔪 with 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝙀𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, and I absolutely can’t wait to see what comes next!
You should absolutely pick this one up if you enjoy:
⚔️Paranormal Romantasy
🩸Unique Vampire Lore
⚔️ A Stabby FMC
🩸’touch her and ☠️’
⚔️ Legacy Vampire Hunters
🩸Forced Proximity
⚔️ Slow Burn
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝙀𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 was SO fun and nostalgic.
For those of us that started our journey with an obsession with Supernatural, Buffy, Dracula, Van Helsing (all the good sh!t) this one ticks so many boxes, giving you that reminiscence of all the things we love, while still being something new and unique to obsess over.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝙀𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 follows Maria Harker, raised a vampire hunter as a descendent of the Helsing line.
(Do I hear… ‘Saving people, hunting things, the family business’ anyone?) 🔥
Maria meets her match while attempting to take down the skilled and enigmatic Vampire, Drake.
Except Drake isn’t like all the other vampires she’s been trained to dispatch. He actually has no desire to harm her at all, and is actually trying to… help her?
Maria’s budding (albeit hesitant) trust in Drake leads them on quite the adventure, Maria learning there is far more to the Vampire world than her, or her family ever realized.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝙀𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 was fast paced and had me hooked from the beginning, I had the best time reading it!
@michaelawcunningham SLAYED 🔪 with 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝙀𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, and I absolutely can’t wait to see what comes next!
You should absolutely pick this one up if you enjoy:
⚔️Paranormal Romantasy
🩸Unique Vampire Lore
⚔️ A Stabby FMC
🩸’touch her and ☠️’
⚔️ Legacy Vampire Hunters
🩸Forced Proximity
⚔️ Slow Burn
October 24, 2025
I really enjoyed The Curse of Eternity!
It was such a highly entertaining read that was hard to put down.
Maria was a great main character, though I questioned some choices she made once or twice in the story.
I absolutely adored Drake, he was hands down my favourite character in the book!
I really loved the romance, it was so well done and I really felt like Maria and Drake were perfect for each other!
There was also so much fun action throughout the story that was really well written.
The book made me feel very nostalgic as it reminded me of when I was a teen as these kinda books were all that I read back then. I haven't read a book like this in years so it was amazing to experience it again and definitely made me wonder why I stopped reading them.
The world was great and I definitely can't wait to see more of it. I'm also really curious to see what will happen next in the sequel.
All in all, this was a highly enjoyable read that I definitely recommend checking out especially if you are a fan of Vampire Diaries, Twilight, Buffy or just love anything to do with vampires!
It was such a highly entertaining read that was hard to put down.
Maria was a great main character, though I questioned some choices she made once or twice in the story.
I absolutely adored Drake, he was hands down my favourite character in the book!
I really loved the romance, it was so well done and I really felt like Maria and Drake were perfect for each other!
There was also so much fun action throughout the story that was really well written.
The book made me feel very nostalgic as it reminded me of when I was a teen as these kinda books were all that I read back then. I haven't read a book like this in years so it was amazing to experience it again and definitely made me wonder why I stopped reading them.
The world was great and I definitely can't wait to see more of it. I'm also really curious to see what will happen next in the sequel.
All in all, this was a highly enjoyable read that I definitely recommend checking out especially if you are a fan of Vampire Diaries, Twilight, Buffy or just love anything to do with vampires!
December 14, 2025
I love the action scenes and just the action pact of it but there are things that ruined it for me.
I really wanted to love it, this was my most anticipated read but no. I found myself constantly skipping and dnf at chapter 17. The over description of places was more than one page long. There are ways to condensed it into maybe 2 pages but more than 2 pages was too much and was losing interest. It felt like that took most of the book.
Repetition of memories, purpose, guilt. I get that the initial mentioned was important but it was constantly brought up and the story itself felt short.
I feel like there was so much potential if the over description was cut short and the repetition was saved for relative scenes. Not when the FMC is alone with her thoughts, which was pretty often.
This is a vampire action romance. If you were expecting smut then this is not for you.
I really wanted to love it, this was my most anticipated read but no. I found myself constantly skipping and dnf at chapter 17. The over description of places was more than one page long. There are ways to condensed it into maybe 2 pages but more than 2 pages was too much and was losing interest. It felt like that took most of the book.
Repetition of memories, purpose, guilt. I get that the initial mentioned was important but it was constantly brought up and the story itself felt short.
I feel like there was so much potential if the over description was cut short and the repetition was saved for relative scenes. Not when the FMC is alone with her thoughts, which was pretty often.
This is a vampire action romance. If you were expecting smut then this is not for you.
gave-up-on
September 25, 2025DNF @ 45% Page 153
I'd be pushing through to complete just for the sake of it. Trying not to live that way anymore. This feels like perhaps it started off as a Twilight Fanfic. There's nothing wrong with that, as there are plenty of amazing books out there that had similar origins (and plenty of great fanfics that did not get rewritten), but this book is not for me. I couldn't get into the writing, its very over-descriptive, and I did not really care about any of the characters and therefore my engagement was minimal! I was hoping I'd feel nostalgia as it did give me slight Charley Davidson series vibes, but alas. Not for me but will definitely find its audience 💖
I'd be pushing through to complete just for the sake of it. Trying not to live that way anymore. This feels like perhaps it started off as a Twilight Fanfic. There's nothing wrong with that, as there are plenty of amazing books out there that had similar origins (and plenty of great fanfics that did not get rewritten), but this book is not for me. I couldn't get into the writing, its very over-descriptive, and I did not really care about any of the characters and therefore my engagement was minimal! I was hoping I'd feel nostalgia as it did give me slight Charley Davidson series vibes, but alas. Not for me but will definitely find its audience 💖
September 22, 2025
What do you get when you take vampires, a vampire hunter, a little forced proximity, slow burn and him calling her “love”? Me swooning, that’s what you get.
Besides the fact that I was in love with this book the moment I saw the cover, literally the entire trope list had me diving for the book faster than you can say the words morally-grey. It was such a perfect mix between an urban present day romantasy, with our delightful MMC being just a touch on the… vintage side. The way he talks has me essentially falling at his feet, and the “touch her and ☠️” vibes solidified that.
Besides the fact that I was in love with this book the moment I saw the cover, literally the entire trope list had me diving for the book faster than you can say the words morally-grey. It was such a perfect mix between an urban present day romantasy, with our delightful MMC being just a touch on the… vintage side. The way he talks has me essentially falling at his feet, and the “touch her and ☠️” vibes solidified that.
August 17, 2025
Obsessed is an understatement! This is a must read if you love vampires, the paranormal, and monster hunters making it the perfect spooky read. The Curse of Eternity strikes a great balance between a fully immersive, action-packed adventure and a romantic story. Be prepared to fall in love with both Maria and Derek. 🖤
September 9, 2025
The Curse of Eternity feels like reading a love letter to the vampire stories of my youth. It's so nostalgic, while also being fresh, fast-paced and LOADS OF FUN. It made me want to rewatch True Blood and Twilight and Supernatural and also Shaun of the Dead. Our FMC is a chaos goblin vampire hunter with an inner monologue which had me snorting out loud. She's also an absolute badass with a penchant for bad decisions. And our MMC? OUR MMC? A well mannered, perfect cinnamon roll of a vampire whose packaged in leather clad bad-boy persona. "But what about the people he murdered?" WHAT MURDER?!" If only I could be the object of Drake's desires.
The story moved quickly, while still having endless possibilities of the plot to come. It was easy to follow while being super engaging. Michaela's writing is fantastic. Like I said this is FUN. The fight scenes? Impeccable. I said it was making me want to rewatch Shaun of the Dead because the fighting was giving me zombie hunter (but make it vampires and werewolves) camp with the sheer amount of severed limbs.
I am SO impressed with Michaela Cunningham's debut series, and I cannot wait for book 2.
Read this if you love:
- Paranormal Fantasy Romance
- Touch her and die
- Touch him and die. Yes she's a stab first and ask questions maybe later kind of gal.
- Forced Proximity
- Vampire Hunter / Vampire
- 2000s Supernatural Shows
- Recovering Addict and Anxiety Rep
𝕭𝖊𝖈𝖆𝖚𝖘𝖊 𝖎𝖋 𝖒𝖞 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖚𝖊𝖉 𝖊𝖝𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖉𝖚𝖈𝖊 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖆𝖈𝖙 𝖇𝖊𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 𝖌𝖔𝖓𝖊, 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 𝖌𝖑𝖆𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖎𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖉𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖞𝖔𝖚.
The story moved quickly, while still having endless possibilities of the plot to come. It was easy to follow while being super engaging. Michaela's writing is fantastic. Like I said this is FUN. The fight scenes? Impeccable. I said it was making me want to rewatch Shaun of the Dead because the fighting was giving me zombie hunter (but make it vampires and werewolves) camp with the sheer amount of severed limbs.
I am SO impressed with Michaela Cunningham's debut series, and I cannot wait for book 2.
Read this if you love:
- Paranormal Fantasy Romance
- Touch her and die
- Touch him and die. Yes she's a stab first and ask questions maybe later kind of gal.
- Forced Proximity
- Vampire Hunter / Vampire
- 2000s Supernatural Shows
- Recovering Addict and Anxiety Rep
𝕭𝖊𝖈𝖆𝖚𝖘𝖊 𝖎𝖋 𝖒𝖞 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖚𝖊𝖉 𝖊𝖝𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖈𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖉𝖚𝖈𝖊 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖆𝖈𝖙 𝖇𝖊𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 𝖌𝖔𝖓𝖊, 𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝕴 𝖆𝖒 𝖌𝖑𝖆𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖎𝖙 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖉𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖞𝖔𝖚.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews