What do you think?
Rate this book
Leaving Onyx
A girl desperate for her freedom.
A mother determined to control her.
And a town bound by secrets and rules...
TO EVADE IMMORTALITY...
Bianca Levasseur has always dreamed of getting out of her hometown—the aristocratic vampire city of Onyx. To do so, she'll have to outsmart her controlling and wicked mother who has her own agenda for her: marry Thomas Lutrec and fulfill her predestined path to immortality—neither of which Bianca wants.
SHE'LL HAVE TO DEVISE A PLAN...
After her close friend Lily gets caught trying to escape, the severe punishment she receives serves as a constant, chilling reminder of what's at stake. Terrified, yet more determined than ever, Bianca cautiously plans her next moves in secrecy—trusting no one.
AND RISK EVERYTHING...
Torn between leaving the people she loves and the life she already knows for a future of uncertainty, Bianca questions her resolve—fearful of making one wrong move that would cost her the rest of her life... but equally fearful of finally getting what she wants only to realize that it isn't... because once you leave Onyx... there's no going back.
Perfect for fans of dark YA fiction, crossover fantasy, and aristocratic vampire drama.
A coming-of-age story wrapped in gothic glamour and dangerous tradition.
A mother determined to control her.
And a town bound by secrets and rules...
TO EVADE IMMORTALITY...
Bianca Levasseur has always dreamed of getting out of her hometown—the aristocratic vampire city of Onyx. To do so, she'll have to outsmart her controlling and wicked mother who has her own agenda for her: marry Thomas Lutrec and fulfill her predestined path to immortality—neither of which Bianca wants.
SHE'LL HAVE TO DEVISE A PLAN...
After her close friend Lily gets caught trying to escape, the severe punishment she receives serves as a constant, chilling reminder of what's at stake. Terrified, yet more determined than ever, Bianca cautiously plans her next moves in secrecy—trusting no one.
AND RISK EVERYTHING...
Torn between leaving the people she loves and the life she already knows for a future of uncertainty, Bianca questions her resolve—fearful of making one wrong move that would cost her the rest of her life... but equally fearful of finally getting what she wants only to realize that it isn't... because once you leave Onyx... there's no going back.
Perfect for fans of dark YA fiction, crossover fantasy, and aristocratic vampire drama.
A coming-of-age story wrapped in gothic glamour and dangerous tradition.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2025
6 people are currently reading
1664 people want to read
About the author
R.H. Ferrante
1 book18 followersR.H. Ferrante is the author of Leaving Onyx, The Hauntingly Beautiful YA Vampire Romance Redefining the Genre🩸
📱 TikTok: @rhferrante
📸 Instagram: @rhferrante
📱 TikTok: @rhferrante
📸 Instagram: @rhferrante
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 18, 2026
This was such a great YA fantasy read! I really enjoyed the different storylines between the human world & the world of aristocratic vampires. They were tied together perfectly! The mysterious undertones kept me turning pages late into the night so I could find out the ending! I was a little shocked & honestly hoping there with be a book 2! Marked down a star simply because the writing did feel a bit robotic at times. I know this is a debut novel, so I definitely wasn’t expecting perfection. Overall, I would absolutely recommend especially if you have a teen or young adult looking for a new fantasy!
Want to read
October 1, 2025Is this book worth the read or I like the cover a little to much !!!! LOL
January 19, 2026
Leaving Onyx pulled me in with its elegant, rule-bound vampire world and the quiet tension simmering beneath the surface. The founding families, rigid traditions, and underlying mystery give the city of Onyx a controlled, dangerous, almost demure feel. The romance is subtle, the angst lingers, and everything feels carefully restrained in a way that suits the story beautifully.
The writing style is layered and a bit different, taking a few chapters to settle into, but once it clicks, the world truly opens up. There are subtle echoes of classic vampire stories, reimagined in a more refined and understated way. And that ending? Completely unexpected — it left me wanting more immediately. Knowing a sequel is coming makes this a compelling start to what feels like a larger story.
The writing style is layered and a bit different, taking a few chapters to settle into, but once it clicks, the world truly opens up. There are subtle echoes of classic vampire stories, reimagined in a more refined and understated way. And that ending? Completely unexpected — it left me wanting more immediately. Knowing a sequel is coming makes this a compelling start to what feels like a larger story.
November 20, 2025
This is my first vampire book and I really enjoyed it. The writing is amazing. The story and Characters will draw you in from page 1and take you on a magical journey. I highly recommend this beat book!📕
January 10, 2026
I'm fascinated by the story line, I want to, no, I need to know what happens next.
November 15, 2025
Wow. Just wow. If you’d enjoy a young adult story set in a modern-day, aristocratic vampire world, ruled by tradition and power—and at the center is a slow burn romance that tests desire, loyalty, and one girl's secret determination to escape immortality… then this is definitely the book for you. The author so beautifully takes you through a multi POV story where you actually care about every POV. Everything is a little confusing at first like most fantasy stories but the author does such a beautiful job of tying everything together. One of my favorite reads this year! 🖤
October 22, 2025
I couldn’t put Leaving Onyx down! The mix of emotion, suspense, and the vampire world was addictive. Bianca is such a compelling heroine — strong yet vulnerable, torn between light and shadow. It’s more than a vampire story; it’s about transformation, love, and finding strength in the darkest places.
October 1, 2025
And…we have a winner! This is an easy prediction: page to screen within a month of getting into the right hands.
R.H. Ferrante, is a gifted writer, using short sentences, like Hemingway, Anderson, and Marquez (“It was October” No One Writes to the Colonel). But the crisp sentence structure is populated with flowy words and written in a syncopated rhythm facilitating deliberate forward movement so well that I often had to slow down reading because my fingers could not turn the page fast enough. The overall effect is a novel that is pleasant to read, whether or not the genre is preferred. Onyx is great writing and worth reading for anyone who appreciates that alone. The book cover is also beautiful. And I realize that the fact that a book will look great on your bookshelf is of minimal value in a review. So what about the story under the great cover?
The first line of a great novel ought to be sublime. Take, for example, Orwell’s 1984: “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” Clocks that strike thirteen bells are probably not to be trusted.
The first line of the prologue of Onyx is: “In the tranquil countryside of upstate New York lies Onyx – one of many aristocratic vampire cities scattered across the globe, all ruled under the same governance.” The author rattles reality right out of the gate by informing the reader that we will be most likely be encountering central characters that are above our own level of power and authority; and, in the case of the vampire mythos, those characters will not be subject to the human order of nature or social criticism. Characters. Vampires are, after all, immortal.
Ferrante’s wonderful first novel, however, transcends far beyond a mere reconceptualized vampire origin reimagining. There is, however, a paranormal Shakespearean love story (Romeo & Juliet), driving the greater narrative. It is unobtrusive and painless, I assure you. And although those themes run interesting axes throughout the tight narrative. Onyx is much more about metaphorical imprisonment in rigid social structures and, in Ferrante’s embryonic universe, compelled cultural isolation.
Ferrante chose an interesting and foreshadowing epigraph placed before the prologue: “One always begins to forgive a place as soon as it’s left behind.’ Charles Dickens.
It is from Dickens’s novel Little Dorrit, which is a story about a young woman born in a debtors’ prison. Like Onyx, it is about family dynamics and loyalty, relationships, and basically a journey embarked on, voluntarily or by force, to finding out whom they truly are. The characters are well developed and there is room for development of every character in the story. Although Onyx is self-contained, I hope that the author will continue to architect the world of Onyx into series. At the very least, I hope that we will see more of Ferrante’s writing in any genre. I’m afraid in this exciting time of artificial intelligence, great storytellers are a dying breed.
R.H. Ferrante, is a gifted writer, using short sentences, like Hemingway, Anderson, and Marquez (“It was October” No One Writes to the Colonel). But the crisp sentence structure is populated with flowy words and written in a syncopated rhythm facilitating deliberate forward movement so well that I often had to slow down reading because my fingers could not turn the page fast enough. The overall effect is a novel that is pleasant to read, whether or not the genre is preferred. Onyx is great writing and worth reading for anyone who appreciates that alone. The book cover is also beautiful. And I realize that the fact that a book will look great on your bookshelf is of minimal value in a review. So what about the story under the great cover?
The first line of a great novel ought to be sublime. Take, for example, Orwell’s 1984: “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” Clocks that strike thirteen bells are probably not to be trusted.
The first line of the prologue of Onyx is: “In the tranquil countryside of upstate New York lies Onyx – one of many aristocratic vampire cities scattered across the globe, all ruled under the same governance.” The author rattles reality right out of the gate by informing the reader that we will be most likely be encountering central characters that are above our own level of power and authority; and, in the case of the vampire mythos, those characters will not be subject to the human order of nature or social criticism. Characters. Vampires are, after all, immortal.
Ferrante’s wonderful first novel, however, transcends far beyond a mere reconceptualized vampire origin reimagining. There is, however, a paranormal Shakespearean love story (Romeo & Juliet), driving the greater narrative. It is unobtrusive and painless, I assure you. And although those themes run interesting axes throughout the tight narrative. Onyx is much more about metaphorical imprisonment in rigid social structures and, in Ferrante’s embryonic universe, compelled cultural isolation.
Ferrante chose an interesting and foreshadowing epigraph placed before the prologue: “One always begins to forgive a place as soon as it’s left behind.’ Charles Dickens.
It is from Dickens’s novel Little Dorrit, which is a story about a young woman born in a debtors’ prison. Like Onyx, it is about family dynamics and loyalty, relationships, and basically a journey embarked on, voluntarily or by force, to finding out whom they truly are. The characters are well developed and there is room for development of every character in the story. Although Onyx is self-contained, I hope that the author will continue to architect the world of Onyx into series. At the very least, I hope that we will see more of Ferrante’s writing in any genre. I’m afraid in this exciting time of artificial intelligence, great storytellers are a dying breed.
October 16, 2025
I actually stumbled on Leaving Onyx completely by accident. My sister and I went on a beach vacation a few weeks ago, and of course, I forgot all my books at home. She had packed three, and this was one of them. Honestly, I rolled my eyes when she handed it to me — vampires are not my thing. I usually go for mysteries or contemporary fiction, not fantasy or anything paranormal. But by the second chapter, I was completely hooked.
What really surprised me was how atmospheric it was. The world felt so vivid that I could almost picture the places — the settings had this strange, elegant tension to them. The characters were so well developed that I fell in love with every single one.
And the writing is stunning. There’s something about the tone that makes it linger. I devoured it and kept flipping back through certain pages just because the writing was that good. I genuinely didn’t expect to love it the way I did.
If vampire stories aren’t your genre, this will change your mind. It’s not what you think it is — it’s richer, slower, more elegant. Easily one of the best surprises I’ve had in a long time.
What really surprised me was how atmospheric it was. The world felt so vivid that I could almost picture the places — the settings had this strange, elegant tension to them. The characters were so well developed that I fell in love with every single one.
And the writing is stunning. There’s something about the tone that makes it linger. I devoured it and kept flipping back through certain pages just because the writing was that good. I genuinely didn’t expect to love it the way I did.
If vampire stories aren’t your genre, this will change your mind. It’s not what you think it is — it’s richer, slower, more elegant. Easily one of the best surprises I’ve had in a long time.
November 8, 2025
I found out about this book completely by accident. A good friend of mine had won a free Kindle copy through a Goodreads giveaway. She’d read a few chapters and immediately called me, insisting I would love it. I trust her judgment—she knows me well, and we share the same taste in books.
Let me just say, I was floored. Lately, I’ve been so disappointed by so many overhyped books. The reviews always sound amazing, but when I actually read them, I end up feeling let down—like I’ve been conned by all the buzz. Leaving Onyx was the complete opposite. It felt like finding a diamond in the rough—something truly special that not enough people know about.
This book was everything: beautiful, glamorous, heartbreaking, romantic, and suspenseful. The world-building was vivid and rich without ever feeling overdone. The characters were incredibly well-written—detailed enough to feel real, yet never exaggerated or tiring to read about.
I honestly can’t say enough good things about this book. It gave me hope again for good stories, and I’m already hoping there will be a second one—I need to know what happens.
Let me just say, I was floored. Lately, I’ve been so disappointed by so many overhyped books. The reviews always sound amazing, but when I actually read them, I end up feeling let down—like I’ve been conned by all the buzz. Leaving Onyx was the complete opposite. It felt like finding a diamond in the rough—something truly special that not enough people know about.
This book was everything: beautiful, glamorous, heartbreaking, romantic, and suspenseful. The world-building was vivid and rich without ever feeling overdone. The characters were incredibly well-written—detailed enough to feel real, yet never exaggerated or tiring to read about.
I honestly can’t say enough good things about this book. It gave me hope again for good stories, and I’m already hoping there will be a second one—I need to know what happens.
September 21, 2025
Okay, y’all… this book hooked me. It’s one of those multi-POV stories where you actually care about every storyline. No skimming, no “ugh can we get back to the main character?” Every perspective mattered, and by the end, they all snapped together like the final pieces of a puzzle.
We’ve got Bianca, one of our FMCs, daughter of the elite, aristocratic vampires who rule the city of Onyx. In this world, leaving isn’t an option, but all she wants is freedom. Then we shift to the human world, where Vivian is grieving her best friend’s death and starts digging… only to stumble into a world she never knew existed.
I loved how the tension built, between family expectations, political scheming, grief, and forbidden knowledge, and the way these storylines intertwined had me flipping pages like wait… wait… ohhh it’s all connected. The gothic glamour of the vampire city mixed with the raw emotion of the human side made it feel both dark and grounded.
If you’re into dark YA, aristocratic vampire drama, and stories where every POV keeps you invested until the last page, Leaving Onyx needs to be on your TBR.
We’ve got Bianca, one of our FMCs, daughter of the elite, aristocratic vampires who rule the city of Onyx. In this world, leaving isn’t an option, but all she wants is freedom. Then we shift to the human world, where Vivian is grieving her best friend’s death and starts digging… only to stumble into a world she never knew existed.
I loved how the tension built, between family expectations, political scheming, grief, and forbidden knowledge, and the way these storylines intertwined had me flipping pages like wait… wait… ohhh it’s all connected. The gothic glamour of the vampire city mixed with the raw emotion of the human side made it feel both dark and grounded.
If you’re into dark YA, aristocratic vampire drama, and stories where every POV keeps you invested until the last page, Leaving Onyx needs to be on your TBR.
November 12, 2025
This book was well written and engaging. The writing is phenomenal and descriptive. The characters are well thought out.
It is a multi-point of view story. There is Bianca, who is the daughter of the elite, aristocratic vampires who rule the city of Onyx. She cannot leave and all she dreams about is freedom. In the human world, we meet Vivian, who is grieving her best friend’s death and is determined to find out what happened to her which leads her to a world she didn’t know about. There’re secrets, lies, and so much more to dive into.
The writing was beautiful, and I can’t wait to read more
It is a multi-point of view story. There is Bianca, who is the daughter of the elite, aristocratic vampires who rule the city of Onyx. She cannot leave and all she dreams about is freedom. In the human world, we meet Vivian, who is grieving her best friend’s death and is determined to find out what happened to her which leads her to a world she didn’t know about. There’re secrets, lies, and so much more to dive into.
The writing was beautiful, and I can’t wait to read more
October 16, 2025
I honestly can’t believe how good this book was. I almost didn’t even give it a chance (I don’t ever read indie books), but a friend wouldn’t stop talking about it, so I figured I’d try a few chapters (I was sure I wouldn’t finish it). Well, I did, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.
The writing is incredible! Everything about it feels so vivid and cinematic. I could see it as I was reading, like I was watching a film play out in my head.
I’m still kind of in shock at how much I loved it. This book deserves way more attention. I'm really hoping for more!
The writing is incredible! Everything about it feels so vivid and cinematic. I could see it as I was reading, like I was watching a film play out in my head.
I’m still kind of in shock at how much I loved it. This book deserves way more attention. I'm really hoping for more!
November 20, 2025
I recently read Leaving Onyx and it was such a captivating read! It has that classic contemporary fiction feel where the story is layered, fast-paced, and deeply immersive. The story is very plot-driven, keeping you invested not only in Bianca’s storyline but also in the suspense/thriller elements that build tension throughout.
I was completely hooked and can’t wait for the second book! A sharp, addictive YA with Gossip Girl drama, vampire politics, and a touch of thriller. Loved it!
I was completely hooked and can’t wait for the second book! A sharp, addictive YA with Gossip Girl drama, vampire politics, and a touch of thriller. Loved it!
September 30, 2025
Fantastic Read!
A real page Turner that I could not put down. The writing was beautiful and the story and characters were very well developed. I’m hoping for more because it ended on a cliffhanger and I definitely did not see the twist coming either. It was such a nice change from the usual vampire books I’ve read
A real page Turner that I could not put down. The writing was beautiful and the story and characters were very well developed. I’m hoping for more because it ended on a cliffhanger and I definitely did not see the twist coming either. It was such a nice change from the usual vampire books I’ve read
October 12, 2025
I’m calling it now—Leaving Onyx is going to be the next Twilight. It has that same addictive pull, but it’s deeper, more emotional, and the writing is so much better. It feels like Twilight reimagined for an older, more sophisticated audience—lush, emotional, and devastatingly beautiful. I couldn’t stop reading, and I already miss the world.
October 19, 2025
What I loved most about Leaving Onyx was that the FMC was strong-willed and confident, such a nice change from all the whiny/needy ones lately! I totally fell in love with her. This book made me feel so many things, and I was honestly sad when I finished it.. I can’t remember the last time a fantasy book did that.
October 12, 2025
Okay, wow. I was not ready for how good this was. I thought it’d be your typical vampire romance, but it’s way deeper. The world is beautiful and eerie, and the ending seriously got me. I’ll be stalking the author until Book 2 drops.
October 13, 2025
I don’t even know where to start. This book completely pulled me in. The emotions felt so real that I actually had to stop reading a few times just to process. Bianca’s story broke my heart but also gave me chills. I’m still thinking about it.
November 4, 2025
Thank you for the giveaway copy.
I was a bit bored by this book and skimmed through parts just to finish. The writing was a bit sophomoric and robotic. There was no real depth to it. I don't understand how it has 5 stars.
I was a bit bored by this book and skimmed through parts just to finish. The writing was a bit sophomoric and robotic. There was no real depth to it. I don't understand how it has 5 stars.
November 10, 2025
I loved Leaving Onyx!! Once I picked it up I couldn’t stop! The story line was different from your traditional vampire book. I found the book fun, suspenseful and well written. Can’t wait for a sequel! A great beach read or vacation book!!!
November 15, 2025
This is a great, fast paced and fun read. It is a YA Vampire fantasy , definitely reads like a CW show to me. I liked the characters and the multi pov kept me engaged. Will be looking out for the next book!
December 5, 2025
I could not put this book down! If you love dark YA fantasy then you need to read Leaving Onyx. It's set in modern times but there are vampires living in secret communities hidden from humans. Our FMC, Bianca, comes from an elite family in her community and wants to escape from her unhinged mother and predestined future. Bianca is expected to marry young and eventually transform into her full vampire form but she wants nothing to do with it. Her dream is to leave the city and live her life free and human. Wealth, power, deception, betrayal and love. Leaving Onyx has it all and I cannot wait for book 2!
October 12, 2025
Can’t believe how fast I read this. It’s dark, emotional, and the ending destroyed me in the best way. Bianca deserves the world.
October 12, 2025
I’m OBSESSED!!!!!! The tension between Bianca and Thomas……The drama……The entire Onyx world…….I was completely hooked from the first chapter. I need the sequel immediately!!!!!
October 19, 2025
I can see this becoming the next big series everyone’s talking about. The atmosphere, the emotion, the love story—it’s all there. Absolutely addictive.
October 24, 2025
Leaving Onyx surprised me in the best way. The writing was so immersive that I completely lost myself. I LOVED the ending, even though it made me cry. I'm so sad it's over.
November 4, 2025
This book feels like the start of something huge. The kind of story people will be obsessing over for years. I loved it and am keeping my fingers crossed for the next one!
November 9, 2025
One of the best books I’ve read by far! An absolute winner in my eyes and the story just keeps you hooked wanting to dive in more and more! 10/10!
January 3, 2026
Loved this book. Couldn't put it down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews