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Kilthorne
One exorcism is understandable.
Two for good measure.
Three is a lost cause.
Something is haunting Charlotte Windsor.
With her peculiar appearance and having endured two exorcisms, she is already on the path to social ostracism and nearing spinsterhood. After driving off every suitor, for fear that they might also become inflicted with the demon inside her, only one remains: her father’s new secondhand Sebastian. But she soon discovers that he is a vampire, which would have deadly consequences if her father, leader and founder of the Kilthorne Vampire Hunting Society, were to ever find out.
Charlotte was raised to abide by one unbreakable rule—every vampire discovered must be executed.
But the vampire she was taught to fear may be the only one who could save her from the demon that plagues her.
The Vampire Diaries meets The Exorcist with a splash of Jane Austen.
KILTHORNE is an adult standalone romantasy.
Two for good measure.
Three is a lost cause.
Something is haunting Charlotte Windsor.
With her peculiar appearance and having endured two exorcisms, she is already on the path to social ostracism and nearing spinsterhood. After driving off every suitor, for fear that they might also become inflicted with the demon inside her, only one remains: her father’s new secondhand Sebastian. But she soon discovers that he is a vampire, which would have deadly consequences if her father, leader and founder of the Kilthorne Vampire Hunting Society, were to ever find out.
Charlotte was raised to abide by one unbreakable rule—every vampire discovered must be executed.
But the vampire she was taught to fear may be the only one who could save her from the demon that plagues her.
The Vampire Diaries meets The Exorcist with a splash of Jane Austen.
KILTHORNE is an adult standalone romantasy.
- GenresParanormal Romance
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
13 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Vaunt
1 book6 followersElizabeth Vaunt is a romantasy author. When she isn't writing or reading, she is studying for her psychology degree, painting, crafting, or exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where she is from.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
October 13, 2025
I really enjoyed the gothic atmosphere of this vampires vs humans world.
While the plot faltered a few times, overall it kept me engaged from beginning to end.
I would say this is more medium burn versus slow, but the chemistry between characters was 🔥
So many secrets. So many betrayals.
While the plot faltered a few times, overall it kept me engaged from beginning to end.
I would say this is more medium burn versus slow, but the chemistry between characters was 🔥
So many secrets. So many betrayals.
October 29, 2025
ARC REVIEW: This one was out of my confirm zone as far as vampires, but LORD am I happy to have taken that chance. The romance is keep you on the edge of your seat good, with elements that make you wonder if it’ll all crash and burn at every corner. The plot moves very quickly, so I did find myself re-reading to make sure I had all essential plot parts straight. The gothic atmosphere was also TOP TIER.
September 13, 2025
Arc reader review.
I am extremely sad to have to close the book, to say goodbye to Charlotte and Sebastian but a part of my heart is and will always remain within the pages.
I would like to thank you, dear author for writing this book. For blessing me, us, with such beautiful writing and even more beautiful characters. For the many emotions I felt whilst I was reading. I laughed, I cried for someone I didn't think I would ever cry for, I loved and I hoped.
I am extremely sad to have to close the book, to say goodbye to Charlotte and Sebastian but a part of my heart is and will always remain within the pages.
I would like to thank you, dear author for writing this book. For blessing me, us, with such beautiful writing and even more beautiful characters. For the many emotions I felt whilst I was reading. I laughed, I cried for someone I didn't think I would ever cry for, I loved and I hoped.
October 15, 2025
This was a good book, especially for a debut. I enjoyed it--great during spooky season!
TLDR: Overall, I would recommend!
1. Plot: 4/5
The plot is pretty intense. There are a lot of threads to follow, but covers the what you would need in a good romantasy: two worlds at odds, coups, vampires, spice, a dash of good bestie energy, adventure, fighting, evil army, morally gray men, the works. There's also a great twist at the end that had me going "yep, correct, adds up" after getting over the initial surprise.
The only gripe I had with the plot is that it moves very, very quickly. One moment we are in a forest, the next we are back in the manor and Charlotte taking a very haunted bath. I would have loved some more transitional scenes in-between major cuts, where the plot gets a moment to slow down, and we see the characters reflect.
2. Characters: 3.5/5
Charlotte is a decent female lead. She reacts, she has opinions, and she follows her gut. I can respect that. I did, however, sometimes feel a bit confused at WHY she was doing what she was doing. Particularly, I think her feelings towards the two men in her life could have been better explored because I was left not really understanding why she felt what for both of them.
My biggest confusion was with the male leads. I had a hard time getting a gauge of who each of them were outside of their roles. I also didn't fully understand how they fell in love with Charlotte so quickly, but it could very well be a me thing and feel totally right to you. Alaric felt more developed than Sebastian, but both would have benefited from more clarity.
Side characters are great. Pari has my heart.
3. Writing style: 5/5
Hands down, the way Vaunt writes carries everything. Her prose is immersive, gothic, and beautiful. Despite my confusions, the prose kept me reading. She builds an amazing atmosphere and has a great sense of how to keep a vibe going.
4. Pacing and structure: 2/5
This was the aspect of the book that had the most room for growth. The plot was very well thought out, but the pacing was very fast. While I did get the overall gist of what was going on, I will be very honest and say there were times where I had trouble understanding why we were where we were and where we were going.
Again, as noted in the plot section of this review, I really think more time between cuts and moments where we see Charlotte reflect or even gain more insight into the MLs would have helped strengthen everything.
5. Themes: 5/5
Vaunt tackles difficult, complicated themes in her novel. She particularly talks about the nature of evil, and why people who otherwise could be good or normal end up doing evil things. At the end of the book, we really see this conflict come to life. She also does a create job of exploring hypocrisy in powerful leaders. Honestly, there was a lot that she wrote that made me sit and contemplate human nature--which not a lot of romantasy does, so hats off to her.
Overall, I give the book a 4/5. So many strengths and definitely worth the read. I'll be following this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
TLDR: Overall, I would recommend!
1. Plot: 4/5
The plot is pretty intense. There are a lot of threads to follow, but covers the what you would need in a good romantasy: two worlds at odds, coups, vampires, spice, a dash of good bestie energy, adventure, fighting, evil army, morally gray men, the works. There's also a great twist at the end that had me going "yep, correct, adds up" after getting over the initial surprise.
The only gripe I had with the plot is that it moves very, very quickly. One moment we are in a forest, the next we are back in the manor and Charlotte taking a very haunted bath. I would have loved some more transitional scenes in-between major cuts, where the plot gets a moment to slow down, and we see the characters reflect.
2. Characters: 3.5/5
Charlotte is a decent female lead. She reacts, she has opinions, and she follows her gut. I can respect that. I did, however, sometimes feel a bit confused at WHY she was doing what she was doing. Particularly, I think her feelings towards the two men in her life could have been better explored because I was left not really understanding why she felt what for both of them.
My biggest confusion was with the male leads. I had a hard time getting a gauge of who each of them were outside of their roles. I also didn't fully understand how they fell in love with Charlotte so quickly, but it could very well be a me thing and feel totally right to you. Alaric felt more developed than Sebastian, but both would have benefited from more clarity.
Side characters are great. Pari has my heart.
3. Writing style: 5/5
Hands down, the way Vaunt writes carries everything. Her prose is immersive, gothic, and beautiful. Despite my confusions, the prose kept me reading. She builds an amazing atmosphere and has a great sense of how to keep a vibe going.
4. Pacing and structure: 2/5
This was the aspect of the book that had the most room for growth. The plot was very well thought out, but the pacing was very fast. While I did get the overall gist of what was going on, I will be very honest and say there were times where I had trouble understanding why we were where we were and where we were going.
Again, as noted in the plot section of this review, I really think more time between cuts and moments where we see Charlotte reflect or even gain more insight into the MLs would have helped strengthen everything.
5. Themes: 5/5
Vaunt tackles difficult, complicated themes in her novel. She particularly talks about the nature of evil, and why people who otherwise could be good or normal end up doing evil things. At the end of the book, we really see this conflict come to life. She also does a create job of exploring hypocrisy in powerful leaders. Honestly, there was a lot that she wrote that made me sit and contemplate human nature--which not a lot of romantasy does, so hats off to her.
Overall, I give the book a 4/5. So many strengths and definitely worth the read. I'll be following this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 17, 2025
You know that moment when you read the very first page of a book and your brain just goes, “oh I’m gonna adore this one”? 😍 That was Kilthorne for me. Elizabeth Vaunt’s writing grabbed me instantly—dark, lush, addictive—and the vampire atmosphere made everything even better. I was hooked from page one to the very last line.
And listen… I fell instantly, hopelessly, dramatically in love with Alaric. Yes, he’s the villain. Yes, he’s a vampire. And yes, I adored him anyway 😌🖤🩸 His trauma, his loneliness, his desire to create a better world (even while causing more harm than good) turned him into such a beautifully misunderstood character. I kept wishing he’d somehow become the love interest, even though I knew it wasn’t going to happen. Didn’t matter. I was already obsessed. He’s one of those characters who sticks to your ribs and refuses to leave.
Charlotte and Sebastian were also amazing—complex, emotional, and so perfectly written. And the worldbuilding? Dark, magical, gothic, filled with secrets and tension. The vampire lore, the twists, the atmosphere… everything was crafted so well that I couldn’t stop reading.
And then… that ending.
Tragic. Brutal. Heart-shattering. I just stared at the page like, “no way, NO WAY you’re doing this to me.” 💔😩 It hurt exactly how a good dark fantasy should hurt.
Kilthorne is the kind of book that stays with you—sharp, emotional, and unforgettable. If you love morally grey chaos, vampires, and villains who ruin your life (lovingly), this one is absolutely worth reading. ✨📚🩸
And listen… I fell instantly, hopelessly, dramatically in love with Alaric. Yes, he’s the villain. Yes, he’s a vampire. And yes, I adored him anyway 😌🖤🩸 His trauma, his loneliness, his desire to create a better world (even while causing more harm than good) turned him into such a beautifully misunderstood character. I kept wishing he’d somehow become the love interest, even though I knew it wasn’t going to happen. Didn’t matter. I was already obsessed. He’s one of those characters who sticks to your ribs and refuses to leave.
Charlotte and Sebastian were also amazing—complex, emotional, and so perfectly written. And the worldbuilding? Dark, magical, gothic, filled with secrets and tension. The vampire lore, the twists, the atmosphere… everything was crafted so well that I couldn’t stop reading.
And then… that ending.
Tragic. Brutal. Heart-shattering. I just stared at the page like, “no way, NO WAY you’re doing this to me.” 💔😩 It hurt exactly how a good dark fantasy should hurt.
Kilthorne is the kind of book that stays with you—sharp, emotional, and unforgettable. If you love morally grey chaos, vampires, and villains who ruin your life (lovingly), this one is absolutely worth reading. ✨📚🩸
October 27, 2025
Thank you BookSirens for allowing me to recieve and review this ARC for free before it's release! I am leaving this review honestly and on my own accords.
Honestly it's been so long since I found a book that gripped me as fast as this one did! I was completely absorbed into the setting and the more regal but gothic settings and can say without a doubt that, while this book would be so much fun to read at any time, autumn and winter would be when reading this book truly makes it shine even more!
And oh my god I genuinely I was ready to lay down and die for our FMC Charlotte from the get go. I couldn't exactly place my hands on it but something about her drew me in immediately and I couldn't let go
I do wish, however, that we got to see more and know more of Sebastian. I did enjoy the interactions between our FMC and MMC but it did feel slightly lackluster in the sense that I couldn't get fully invested because of the little we know about him.
Honestly it's been so long since I found a book that gripped me as fast as this one did! I was completely absorbed into the setting and the more regal but gothic settings and can say without a doubt that, while this book would be so much fun to read at any time, autumn and winter would be when reading this book truly makes it shine even more!
And oh my god I genuinely I was ready to lay down and die for our FMC Charlotte from the get go. I couldn't exactly place my hands on it but something about her drew me in immediately and I couldn't let go
I do wish, however, that we got to see more and know more of Sebastian. I did enjoy the interactions between our FMC and MMC but it did feel slightly lackluster in the sense that I couldn't get fully invested because of the little we know about him.
September 21, 2025
A wonderful story etched with pain, betrayal and so many emotions that I can't name. This story made me cry so much, as much as it made me laugh.
I loved the characters so much as well as the story. I'd like to thank the author for giving me a chance to be an ARC reader for this amazing story 🫶🏻💓
I loved the characters so much as well as the story. I'd like to thank the author for giving me a chance to be an ARC reader for this amazing story 🫶🏻💓
October 29, 2025
A Booksprout ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
2 STARS.
I am a big fan of the vampire classics, genre, and folklore, so when I had this recommended to me, I was so excited to get into it. I love vampire male characters and romance [especially with humans] but this story disappointed me.
At first, I was intrigued, but I quickly lost interest and wasn't very motivated to turn pages about 20% in besides finishing this ARC. The writing style could've been way worse but I still noticed an awkwardness to it. This book lacks line editing — words constantly repeated across the page/paragraph.
I didn't care much for the characters or the plot. World-building wasn't significant, and vampire lore was severely lacking across the page. Charlotte had some mystery to her, but she turns out to be like most 'romantasy' female leads in terms of specialty. She was plain, while I hoped she'd show deeper involvement and emotions that were failed to deliver. I also had hoped this book would have more horror elements, given the picture it's trying to paint. I felt misled because that was the vibe I got in the first chapter.
I disliked Sebastian ever since his introduction. He was always this dark, glooming figure that was so much bigger than poor Charlotte, which threw me off. He didn't gain much personality through the novel. His 'eyes darkened' way too many times, and he kept smirking, both things I plainly hate in an MMC. He didn't stand out from other leads. I really hope we abandon these clichés in romances because the readers are exhausted. MMCs are less and less memorable as they blend and become one and the same. Besides the smirking, he was the figure who always saved the damsel in distress and growled a few times...
The antagonist and Sebastian were basically the same person in terms of personality. One was just evil and had different motivations. Otherwise, he also smirked and had quite weird moments with the FMC.
The romance was boring. It was based more on attraction and curiosity, I saw no deep connection. The smut was mediocre. We arrive at my next huge problem with this book.
The words 'heat', 'center', and 'core' were ever-present in the same strings of sentences or phases. I think you know what I mean with them, but if you don't, let's just say the FMC felt her "core on fire" every other page [in some instances]. Actually such a phase was used a total of 13 times that I caught. After the fifth, I was thrown off every single time! I cringed very hard. Like "darkened" the synonyms of "warmth" appeared many times.
On the topic of the spice of the book, I expected our unexperienced FMC to act differently when she came to face her strange desires. Pieces of psychosexual horror could've been added to make a bigger contrast between what she consents and doesn't.
I am finishing off this review, but despite my mostly negative feelings toward it, I assume this is a self-published book, for which I applaud the author. There is potential that can be nurtured and with outside help, Vaunt could create more compelling stories.
2 STARS.
I am a big fan of the vampire classics, genre, and folklore, so when I had this recommended to me, I was so excited to get into it. I love vampire male characters and romance [especially with humans] but this story disappointed me.
At first, I was intrigued, but I quickly lost interest and wasn't very motivated to turn pages about 20% in besides finishing this ARC. The writing style could've been way worse but I still noticed an awkwardness to it. This book lacks line editing — words constantly repeated across the page/paragraph.
I didn't care much for the characters or the plot. World-building wasn't significant, and vampire lore was severely lacking across the page. Charlotte had some mystery to her, but she turns out to be like most 'romantasy' female leads in terms of specialty. She was plain, while I hoped she'd show deeper involvement and emotions that were failed to deliver. I also had hoped this book would have more horror elements, given the picture it's trying to paint. I felt misled because that was the vibe I got in the first chapter.
I disliked Sebastian ever since his introduction. He was always this dark, glooming figure that was so much bigger than poor Charlotte, which threw me off. He didn't gain much personality through the novel. His 'eyes darkened' way too many times, and he kept smirking, both things I plainly hate in an MMC. He didn't stand out from other leads. I really hope we abandon these clichés in romances because the readers are exhausted. MMCs are less and less memorable as they blend and become one and the same. Besides the smirking, he was the figure who always saved the damsel in distress and growled a few times...
The antagonist and Sebastian were basically the same person in terms of personality. One was just evil and had different motivations. Otherwise, he also smirked and had quite weird moments with the FMC.
The romance was boring. It was based more on attraction and curiosity, I saw no deep connection. The smut was mediocre. We arrive at my next huge problem with this book.
The words 'heat', 'center', and 'core' were ever-present in the same strings of sentences or phases. I think you know what I mean with them, but if you don't, let's just say the FMC felt her "core on fire" every other page [in some instances]. Actually such a phase was used a total of 13 times that I caught. After the fifth, I was thrown off every single time! I cringed very hard. Like "darkened" the synonyms of "warmth" appeared many times.
On the topic of the spice of the book, I expected our unexperienced FMC to act differently when she came to face her strange desires. Pieces of psychosexual horror could've been added to make a bigger contrast between what she consents and doesn't.
I am finishing off this review, but despite my mostly negative feelings toward it, I assume this is a self-published book, for which I applaud the author. There is potential that can be nurtured and with outside help, Vaunt could create more compelling stories.
October 5, 2025
Oh. My. Freaking. Goodness! THIS BOOK. I have not sat and giggled like a schoolgirl over the chemistry between two characters in a while, but the chemistry between the main characters was really doing it for me. Specifically, the scene where they were traveling through the woods and she was getting all scared and turned on at the same time, and he could sense it… ha, it really made me giggle. Also, the predator-prey scenes in this really tickled my pickle. I loved that it was literal predator and prey, with the emotions and feelings of predator-prey kink. I think about that far too often to be considered normal. The author did an amazing job at creating chemistry between the main characters - I look for good banter in a book, and this definitely had it. It was a slow burn, an enemy-to-lover-esque, I hate you, but I'm drawn to you type of thing and I really enjoy those.
While the main characters were incredible in their own ways, I would have to say that the villain is surprisingly my favorite character. I don't typically love a love triangle, or in this case, an unrequited love triangle, but I really liked this one. The author nailed the emotional nuance of the villain, and I found myself hoping that the FMC would have a 'why choose' moment and just end up with both of them LOL. There were times where he was making me blush and giggle. That's how much I loved the villain. He was nuanced, he had character, he had pain that drove his motives, and I think that that makes him such an important character. We don't often see the villains have this sort of… emotional revelation or journey, and I appreciated that in this book. I understood his motives, and I was found myself feeling sorry for him. Being able to make the reader relate to and feel empathy towards the VILLAIN in a book is deep character building, in my opinion.
I was getting The Vampire Diaries meets Nosferatu vibes. The villain often reminded me of Damian, where he was an absolute shithead of a character, but you found yourself rooting for him because you saw the emotions behind his misguided actions. Loved the gothic feel, loved the wit, the banter, the humor behind each character's personality.
I received this ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, and I will DEFINITELY be buying this in a physical copy when it comes out. I look forward to reading more from the author, she has exceptional storytelling talent.
While the main characters were incredible in their own ways, I would have to say that the villain is surprisingly my favorite character. I don't typically love a love triangle, or in this case, an unrequited love triangle, but I really liked this one. The author nailed the emotional nuance of the villain, and I found myself hoping that the FMC would have a 'why choose' moment and just end up with both of them LOL. There were times where he was making me blush and giggle. That's how much I loved the villain. He was nuanced, he had character, he had pain that drove his motives, and I think that that makes him such an important character. We don't often see the villains have this sort of… emotional revelation or journey, and I appreciated that in this book. I understood his motives, and I was found myself feeling sorry for him. Being able to make the reader relate to and feel empathy towards the VILLAIN in a book is deep character building, in my opinion.
I was getting The Vampire Diaries meets Nosferatu vibes. The villain often reminded me of Damian, where he was an absolute shithead of a character, but you found yourself rooting for him because you saw the emotions behind his misguided actions. Loved the gothic feel, loved the wit, the banter, the humor behind each character's personality.
I received this ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, and I will DEFINITELY be buying this in a physical copy when it comes out. I look forward to reading more from the author, she has exceptional storytelling talent.
October 22, 2025
Vampires, mystery, atmosphere and horror elements, what more could a girl want, well apparently, everything.
We’re introduced to our FMC Charlotte, who has been haunted and forced through exorcisms while living in a world of vampires, and she is determined to make sure that she doesn’t suffer through a third.
The premise of the story is good, and i was really intrigued the second that I read the blurb, but I wanted more.
I am honestly so glad that our FMC doesn’t take the same route as most of the FMC do these days, she’s a damsel, squeamish of blood, comically so, sometimes, not in a good way. She’s still strong, she’s had to be, but it’s kind of nice to see her understanding her own limits, and being ‘rescued’. Outside of this, though I found her a bit tropey, which; the whole, her being different from everyone else, and how she’s looked down on, because of it. While I don’t usually mind this, and I do eat this shit up, i think it would have been done better if we had more information not just about Charlotte, but also the side characters as well. They all just felt very underdeveloped.
Which leads me to the MMC, there are, technically two, and both are sort of just there, on paper; we don’t really get to know either of them, not in a way that makes them well-rounded and unforgettable. The Villains' whole arc made little sense to me, let alone his reasons for it, without spoiling it, but his reasons for his actions just fell short, because what he was doing would have never worked, and i can’t imagine why he thought it would.
The story was extremely fast-paced, and we were constantly moving from one scene to the next without any time to relax into the story. And i don’t mind fast paced, i love it honestly, but in this case we needed those slower moments, because we didn’t get to sit with the characters often enough, to know them, to the point where certain events didn’t hit as hard as they should have, had we been given that time.
The vampires were also very Twilight-esque - the whole venom thing and the whole newborn being controlled by their maker, was very reminiscent of this.
All in all, i liked the story, and i enjoyed it, but i wished i could have enjoyed it more. I wanted to get to know the characters more, i wanted more world-building, so that i could understand some of the plot points a little more. I just found myself wanting more.
Thank you to Booksirens for the arc.
We’re introduced to our FMC Charlotte, who has been haunted and forced through exorcisms while living in a world of vampires, and she is determined to make sure that she doesn’t suffer through a third.
The premise of the story is good, and i was really intrigued the second that I read the blurb, but I wanted more.
I am honestly so glad that our FMC doesn’t take the same route as most of the FMC do these days, she’s a damsel, squeamish of blood, comically so, sometimes, not in a good way. She’s still strong, she’s had to be, but it’s kind of nice to see her understanding her own limits, and being ‘rescued’. Outside of this, though I found her a bit tropey, which; the whole, her being different from everyone else, and how she’s looked down on, because of it. While I don’t usually mind this, and I do eat this shit up, i think it would have been done better if we had more information not just about Charlotte, but also the side characters as well. They all just felt very underdeveloped.
Which leads me to the MMC, there are, technically two, and both are sort of just there, on paper; we don’t really get to know either of them, not in a way that makes them well-rounded and unforgettable. The Villains' whole arc made little sense to me, let alone his reasons for it, without spoiling it, but his reasons for his actions just fell short, because what he was doing would have never worked, and i can’t imagine why he thought it would.
The story was extremely fast-paced, and we were constantly moving from one scene to the next without any time to relax into the story. And i don’t mind fast paced, i love it honestly, but in this case we needed those slower moments, because we didn’t get to sit with the characters often enough, to know them, to the point where certain events didn’t hit as hard as they should have, had we been given that time.
The vampires were also very Twilight-esque - the whole venom thing and the whole newborn being controlled by their maker, was very reminiscent of this.
All in all, i liked the story, and i enjoyed it, but i wished i could have enjoyed it more. I wanted to get to know the characters more, i wanted more world-building, so that i could understand some of the plot points a little more. I just found myself wanting more.
Thank you to Booksirens for the arc.
October 6, 2025
3.75 rounded to 4
Thank you to BookSirens for access to the eARC of this book, this review is written solely by my own volition.
This book was good, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the world building though it felt a little incomplete to me in a way that i can't really describe. I kind of wish it kept up the storyline of the first half , the descriptions of terror were interesting to me but maybe that shows how sick and twisted I am idk.
The writing was wonderful and lyrical but it just felt kind of incomplete to me and it kind of felt a bit like the author was trying to tell me as the reader how to feel and when I didn't understand why I supposed to feel that way it kind of annoyed me, like how am I supposed to believe that after all that He put her through , i'm just supposed to understand that he did all that because he loved her ?? like I don't understand that. Like it still feels like a lot is missing , I have a lot of questions that didn't get answered. Also the romance , the main one I mean didn't feel like a romance , we as the reader don't know anything about Sebastian in any way outside of his relationship to Charlotte , we don't know what he does as the Prince of Svealin , he just felt like a cardboard cut out of a character , didn't have much of a personality outside of protecting Charlotte , I just needed more maybe his POV would have scratched that itch for me idk. Their relationship was just too physical focused for me , they barely acknowledged each other's feelings for more than half the book then boom suddenly I love you's are being said and bonds are being made without acknowledging the fact that she was lied to but its okay because he did it because he couldn't bare the thought of not having the opportunity to do it so he basically took that choice from you for no reason.
All that to say is that it was a really good book but I just kept asking what was the reason for a lot of things and it just felt like there was no real justification for a lot of the things that happened in the book. Would recommend if you are looking for an autumn vampire book to read.
Thank you to BookSirens for access to the eARC of this book, this review is written solely by my own volition.
This book was good, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the world building though it felt a little incomplete to me in a way that i can't really describe. I kind of wish it kept up the storyline of the first half , the descriptions of terror were interesting to me but maybe that shows how sick and twisted I am idk.
The writing was wonderful and lyrical but it just felt kind of incomplete to me and it kind of felt a bit like the author was trying to tell me as the reader how to feel and when I didn't understand why I supposed to feel that way it kind of annoyed me, like how am I supposed to believe that after all that He put her through , i'm just supposed to understand that he did all that because he loved her ?? like I don't understand that. Like it still feels like a lot is missing , I have a lot of questions that didn't get answered. Also the romance , the main one I mean didn't feel like a romance , we as the reader don't know anything about Sebastian in any way outside of his relationship to Charlotte , we don't know what he does as the Prince of Svealin , he just felt like a cardboard cut out of a character , didn't have much of a personality outside of protecting Charlotte , I just needed more maybe his POV would have scratched that itch for me idk. Their relationship was just too physical focused for me , they barely acknowledged each other's feelings for more than half the book then boom suddenly I love you's are being said and bonds are being made without acknowledging the fact that she was lied to but its okay because he did it because he couldn't bare the thought of not having the opportunity to do it so he basically took that choice from you for no reason.
All that to say is that it was a really good book but I just kept asking what was the reason for a lot of things and it just felt like there was no real justification for a lot of the things that happened in the book. Would recommend if you are looking for an autumn vampire book to read.
October 22, 2025
She was raised to hunt monsters..until she found one who saw the monster in her. 🕯️
Kilthorne-by Elizabeth Vaunt
🥀Blurb🥀
One exorcism is understandable. Two for good measure.
Three is a lost cause. Something is haunting Charlotte Windsor. With her peculiar appearance and having endured two exorcisms, she is already on the path to social ostracism and nearing spinsterhood. After driving off every suitor, for fear that they might also become inflicted with the demon inside her, only one remains: her father's new secondhand Sebastian. But she soon discovers that he is a vampire, which would have deadly consequences if her father, leader and founder of the Kilthorne Vampire Hunting Society, were to ever find out. Charlotte was raised to abide by one unbreakable rule-every vampire discovered must be executed. But the vampire she was taught to fear may be the only one who could save her from the demon that plagues her.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
Fog clings to the moors. Secrets rot beneath candlelight. And somewhere between prayer and possession… love takes its first breath.
Charlotte is not your ordinary FMC. She’s haunted, endured two exorcisms, and has driven off every suitor that crosses her path for fear they may also become inflicted by the demon haunting her.
Sebastian is a Vampire, and coincidentally the only suitor that Charlotte hasn’t chased away, and her Fathers Secondhand Man. Except, Charlotte’s Father raised her to abide by one unbreakable rule, every vampire discovered must be executed, as he is the founder and head man in charge of the Kilthorne Vampire Hunting Society. So what is she to do when the only one who may save her from her demons, is the man she was taught to fear?
In Kilthorne, faith falters, hearts hunger, and the dark feels almost divine. A gothic descent into sin, salvation, and everything that bleeds between.
A truly, hauntingly beautiful gothic romance that will leave you feeling devastated it ends.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Booksirens, and the Author for allowing me to ARC read this hauntingly beautiful masterpiece.
Kilthorne-by Elizabeth Vaunt
🥀Blurb🥀
One exorcism is understandable. Two for good measure.
Three is a lost cause. Something is haunting Charlotte Windsor. With her peculiar appearance and having endured two exorcisms, she is already on the path to social ostracism and nearing spinsterhood. After driving off every suitor, for fear that they might also become inflicted with the demon inside her, only one remains: her father's new secondhand Sebastian. But she soon discovers that he is a vampire, which would have deadly consequences if her father, leader and founder of the Kilthorne Vampire Hunting Society, were to ever find out. Charlotte was raised to abide by one unbreakable rule-every vampire discovered must be executed. But the vampire she was taught to fear may be the only one who could save her from the demon that plagues her.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
Fog clings to the moors. Secrets rot beneath candlelight. And somewhere between prayer and possession… love takes its first breath.
Charlotte is not your ordinary FMC. She’s haunted, endured two exorcisms, and has driven off every suitor that crosses her path for fear they may also become inflicted by the demon haunting her.
Sebastian is a Vampire, and coincidentally the only suitor that Charlotte hasn’t chased away, and her Fathers Secondhand Man. Except, Charlotte’s Father raised her to abide by one unbreakable rule, every vampire discovered must be executed, as he is the founder and head man in charge of the Kilthorne Vampire Hunting Society. So what is she to do when the only one who may save her from her demons, is the man she was taught to fear?
In Kilthorne, faith falters, hearts hunger, and the dark feels almost divine. A gothic descent into sin, salvation, and everything that bleeds between.
A truly, hauntingly beautiful gothic romance that will leave you feeling devastated it ends.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Booksirens, and the Author for allowing me to ARC read this hauntingly beautiful masterpiece.
October 22, 2025
"Kilthorne" by Elizabeth Vaunt is a rich and intense romantasy that combines a gothic atmosphere, demonic possession, and an exciting vampire storyline. The book has been called a mix of "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Exorcist," with a touch of Jane Austen. It really lives up to that description, giving readers a new spin on classic themes.
What really grabbed me about this story was its unique approach to vampire mythology. I haven't come across this kind of lore before, and it makes the villain feel new and genuinely scary. The main conflict between Charlotte, who is haunted by a demon and on her way to becoming a vampire hunter, and Sebastian, the vampire who might save her, creates a lot of tension. The story moves quickly, mixing two different worlds, the danger of a coup, and plenty of action. Vaunt packs in everything you hope for in a good romantasy, including some perfectly timed romance.
The writing itself is a major draw. The prose is immersive, gothic, and beautiful, perfectly capturing the tone of Charlotte's troubled existence. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book includes delightful moments of levity. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the characters and found myself laughing out loud in several places, which provided a welcome respite from the darkness.
However, the sheer intensity and breadth of the plot result in a slightly fast-paced reading experience. With so many fascinating threads to follow, I often wished the narrative had slowed down to provide more detail. Deeper world-building in certain areas and more time devoted to truly getting to know the supporting characters would have offered a richer emotional payoff. For me, this desire for a little more foundation is what held this incredible story just shy of a five-star rating.
If you love a dark, complex, and fast-paced romantasy with a fresh take on vampires, excellent character chemistry, and beautiful writing, "Kilthorne" is a must-read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What really grabbed me about this story was its unique approach to vampire mythology. I haven't come across this kind of lore before, and it makes the villain feel new and genuinely scary. The main conflict between Charlotte, who is haunted by a demon and on her way to becoming a vampire hunter, and Sebastian, the vampire who might save her, creates a lot of tension. The story moves quickly, mixing two different worlds, the danger of a coup, and plenty of action. Vaunt packs in everything you hope for in a good romantasy, including some perfectly timed romance.
The writing itself is a major draw. The prose is immersive, gothic, and beautiful, perfectly capturing the tone of Charlotte's troubled existence. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book includes delightful moments of levity. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the characters and found myself laughing out loud in several places, which provided a welcome respite from the darkness.
However, the sheer intensity and breadth of the plot result in a slightly fast-paced reading experience. With so many fascinating threads to follow, I often wished the narrative had slowed down to provide more detail. Deeper world-building in certain areas and more time devoted to truly getting to know the supporting characters would have offered a richer emotional payoff. For me, this desire for a little more foundation is what held this incredible story just shy of a five-star rating.
If you love a dark, complex, and fast-paced romantasy with a fresh take on vampires, excellent character chemistry, and beautiful writing, "Kilthorne" is a must-read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2025
First off I’d like to thank Book Sirens for my ARC copy of this novel. 2.75 stars rounded up.
I’ll start off with the things I liked. I really liked the banter between the MMC and FMC. There were multiple times where I snorted or chuckled out loud. I also really liked the take the author did on a typical love triangle. A tragic, relatable villain is always a treat to read. The overall idea of the plot was interesting and I enjoyed the spice scenes as they were well-places without overwhelming the action.
That being said, this book is not written well. I almost dnf’d it and only pushed through to fulfill my obligation as an ARC reader. This book has a lot of promise but I think the author either needs a really good editor, or more practice writing, or both. I found it very hard to believe the FMC was 26, as the whole book was pretty juvenile and felt like it was on the level of a high school Wattpad novel. There was a lot of telling and not showing. The scenes were very rushed and it felt like you were being tossed from one thing to another with no explanation which made things confusing and it made it very hard for me to connect emotionally to the characters. There is a death near the end that was supposed to be very sad but I felt nothing because the character had spent so little time on the page I just couldn’t be bothered to care. The world building is sparse to the point of being confusing. It seemed like they were going for a Bridgerton type thing, but there’s elements of medieval fantasy and then modern slang thrown in. I also still have no idea if Kilthorne is a nation, a state, a city, or something else. Overall, it’s a little too disjointed and the author needs to go back and spend some more time on the details of certain things, and re-edit for clarity. Once that’s done though, this will be a knock out novel.
I’ll start off with the things I liked. I really liked the banter between the MMC and FMC. There were multiple times where I snorted or chuckled out loud. I also really liked the take the author did on a typical love triangle. A tragic, relatable villain is always a treat to read. The overall idea of the plot was interesting and I enjoyed the spice scenes as they were well-places without overwhelming the action.
That being said, this book is not written well. I almost dnf’d it and only pushed through to fulfill my obligation as an ARC reader. This book has a lot of promise but I think the author either needs a really good editor, or more practice writing, or both. I found it very hard to believe the FMC was 26, as the whole book was pretty juvenile and felt like it was on the level of a high school Wattpad novel. There was a lot of telling and not showing. The scenes were very rushed and it felt like you were being tossed from one thing to another with no explanation which made things confusing and it made it very hard for me to connect emotionally to the characters. There is a death near the end that was supposed to be very sad but I felt nothing because the character had spent so little time on the page I just couldn’t be bothered to care. The world building is sparse to the point of being confusing. It seemed like they were going for a Bridgerton type thing, but there’s elements of medieval fantasy and then modern slang thrown in. I also still have no idea if Kilthorne is a nation, a state, a city, or something else. Overall, it’s a little too disjointed and the author needs to go back and spend some more time on the details of certain things, and re-edit for clarity. Once that’s done though, this will be a knock out novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2025
𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆 by Elizabeth Vaunt
First and foremost, thank you so much to the author for letting me read the ARC for her first published book, when I read what the book was about I just knew that I had to read it!
Lately I've been trying to read vampire books, i'm honestly in the mood to read stories with them mostly because I've always been fascinated with those creatures of the night and I love to see the different takes on them either on films or written stories.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒌𝒂. 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒕.”
Diving into the story of Kilthorne I have to say that it had everything that would make me fall in love with it.
It's a story perfect for this spooky season with that gothic and a little creepy air. It's a story with romance, pain and betrayal and even grief. A story of maybe finding yourself, accepting you the way you are and putting a stop to what everyone else thinks about you and how they see you.
I loved Charlotte, it was a character that since the very beggining had everything to lose, everyone was against her and she was probably becoming crazy and losing herself completely and I loved her because I've felt like her at one point (just without the exorcisms and vampires of course👀). It felt real, SHE felt real and that's something that I love about stories, about characters in general.
I'm not really going to talk about the love interest because I feel that would give away the romance part but I will say that I really loved one and I felt crushed for the other one. (You'll know what i'm talking about if you read the book).
For this being the first book of the author, I have to say that she did an amazing job. It's not a perfect story but at least for me it's a story that made me feel and that's all I ask when I read something.
I really hope that I get to see or read other stories by Elizabeth in the future, because she has definitely grab my attention.
If you want something with the next give this a chance!
🦇 one horse + one bed
🦇 vampire x human
🦇 spooky + gothic feeling
🦇 fake dating
🦇 paranormal activity
🦇 forbidden love
🦇 secrets + secrets + secrets
First and foremost, thank you so much to the author for letting me read the ARC for her first published book, when I read what the book was about I just knew that I had to read it!
Lately I've been trying to read vampire books, i'm honestly in the mood to read stories with them mostly because I've always been fascinated with those creatures of the night and I love to see the different takes on them either on films or written stories.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒌𝒂. 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒕.”
Diving into the story of Kilthorne I have to say that it had everything that would make me fall in love with it.
It's a story perfect for this spooky season with that gothic and a little creepy air. It's a story with romance, pain and betrayal and even grief. A story of maybe finding yourself, accepting you the way you are and putting a stop to what everyone else thinks about you and how they see you.
I loved Charlotte, it was a character that since the very beggining had everything to lose, everyone was against her and she was probably becoming crazy and losing herself completely and I loved her because I've felt like her at one point (just without the exorcisms and vampires of course👀). It felt real, SHE felt real and that's something that I love about stories, about characters in general.
I'm not really going to talk about the love interest because I feel that would give away the romance part but I will say that I really loved one and I felt crushed for the other one. (You'll know what i'm talking about if you read the book).
For this being the first book of the author, I have to say that she did an amazing job. It's not a perfect story but at least for me it's a story that made me feel and that's all I ask when I read something.
I really hope that I get to see or read other stories by Elizabeth in the future, because she has definitely grab my attention.
If you want something with the next give this a chance!
🦇 one horse + one bed
🦇 vampire x human
🦇 spooky + gothic feeling
🦇 fake dating
🦇 paranormal activity
🦇 forbidden love
🦇 secrets + secrets + secrets
October 26, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC.
Sadly, this book fell flat for me as it speeds through any chance of a mysterious or haunting atmosphere within the first twenty percent or so.
Charlotte is a confused FMC, although part of this is the setting she’s in. It’s vaguely historical with strong patriarchal overtones in that women are restricted from weapons and trousers and expected to marry strong men, but then there are exceptions that don’t seem to be notable in that society in any way (Pari, the lesbian marriage in the other kingdom). Without the groundwork, it’s exclusionary for the sake of being ‘not like other girls’ which does Charlotte no favours in being a likeable or consistent character.
Even the setting suffers from this lack of clarity, is Kilthorne a country? There’s mention of a king so probably not. A city, a town, a province, an estate? It’s unclear.
The plot is jumbled, with any chance of a good gothic mystery destroyed in the first few chapters. Sebastien’s identity is revealed, the cause of Charlotte’s haunting is revealed, even the mystery of the vampires is revealed, and nothing is left until later. The plot that follows is the threads of a mystery that is mostly a refrain of Sebastian Big, Charlotte squeamish around blood and the most ineffectual villain ever with his motive the only thing obscured and that’s because it doesn’t make any sense.
There’s a twenty-odd age gap introduced between the MMC and the FMC through this motive which isn’t addressed in the slightest. The romance was piecemeal and not compelling between Sebastian and Charlotte as her side of it is giving poor choices and even poorer reactions.
All in all, the premise was incredibly compelling but the writing failed to follow through with any of it.
Sadly, this book fell flat for me as it speeds through any chance of a mysterious or haunting atmosphere within the first twenty percent or so.
Charlotte is a confused FMC, although part of this is the setting she’s in. It’s vaguely historical with strong patriarchal overtones in that women are restricted from weapons and trousers and expected to marry strong men, but then there are exceptions that don’t seem to be notable in that society in any way (Pari, the lesbian marriage in the other kingdom). Without the groundwork, it’s exclusionary for the sake of being ‘not like other girls’ which does Charlotte no favours in being a likeable or consistent character.
Even the setting suffers from this lack of clarity, is Kilthorne a country? There’s mention of a king so probably not. A city, a town, a province, an estate? It’s unclear.
The plot is jumbled, with any chance of a good gothic mystery destroyed in the first few chapters. Sebastien’s identity is revealed, the cause of Charlotte’s haunting is revealed, even the mystery of the vampires is revealed, and nothing is left until later. The plot that follows is the threads of a mystery that is mostly a refrain of Sebastian Big, Charlotte squeamish around blood and the most ineffectual villain ever with his motive the only thing obscured and that’s because it doesn’t make any sense.
There’s a twenty-odd age gap introduced between the MMC and the FMC through this motive which isn’t addressed in the slightest. The romance was piecemeal and not compelling between Sebastian and Charlotte as her side of it is giving poor choices and even poorer reactions.
All in all, the premise was incredibly compelling but the writing failed to follow through with any of it.
October 27, 2025
This was a difficult book to really sink my teeth into (all the puns intended…). The beginning of the story really kicks off with an interesting premise, and everything vampires is so fascinating to me… However, our female main character… yikes. Whether it was intentional or not, she was such a paradox: she came across as strong and unpliable, yet when she encounters issues with the haunting vampire (no spoilers from me!), she is incredibly easy to manipulate and so so pliant. The plot device of the “haunting” vampire was introduced perfectly, but then it QUICKLY became a centerpiece to her story that just felt so unrealistic. He got away with so much, even though there were others looking out for her. The story felt too long without benefit, and even more frustrating was that the FMC is incredibly passive and constantly influence BY the plot, as opposed to her driving the plot herself with her own actions. This was not my favorite read (first 25% was ok), and the last 3/4 of the book elicited a lot of eye rolls from me. Only because I felt like the story had so so so much potential, but the characters themselves felt so one dimensional and flat and just annoyed me. That made for a very dry slow and uninteresting read. I am grateful to have been able to choose to read this and even more happy that I was able to read an ARC that was interesting and different, albeit not my cup of tea. Some ways this could have been a 5 star read for me is shifting our FMCs character to be reflected more purely in her actions, pivoting the haunting vampire (the main “villain”) into a more mysterious and less obvious plot device, and letting the characters and story breathe a bit instead of rushing into the story too quick. A little mystery and spook would’ve done this story so well!
September 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This book had everything that usually makes me fall in love with a romantasy:
• Slow Burn 🔥
• Enemies to Lovers ⚔️❤️
• Forced Proximity (just one bed, one horse… you know the drill 😉)
• Forbidden Love 🌙
• Fake Relationship / Pretend Dating 🎭
• Redemption Arc 🖤➡️✨
The ingredients were all there, but what I felt while reading was a lack of fluidity in the plot. Sometimes the tropes felt inserted almost by force, as if the skeleton of the story had been built with “this is what readers want, so I’ll add this and this,” instead of letting them flow organically. And that’s where a writer’s true skill shows: keeping only what naturally belongs.
Because of that, I sometimes felt confused, even going back to check if I had missed an important clue. The timeline was vague, and honestly, more often than not, I found myself wondering: Where is Sebastian?
It’s a bit frustrating because the book has so much potential. The characters, the tropes, the worldbuilding — all the pieces are there. But like in movies and TV series today, I get the impression that sometimes writers are pushed to produce books at a rhythm that leaves little time to polish them into masterpieces.
And here’s the thing: as readers, our time is precious. We all have busy lives, so when I sit down with a book, I want to be blown away. I know this author has potential — the talent is there — and I truly hope she keeps writing, because I believe she can reach that higher level with more time and care.
So for me, Killthrone lands between ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨. Not a waste of time, but not the unforgettable experience I was hoping for.
This book had everything that usually makes me fall in love with a romantasy:
• Slow Burn 🔥
• Enemies to Lovers ⚔️❤️
• Forced Proximity (just one bed, one horse… you know the drill 😉)
• Forbidden Love 🌙
• Fake Relationship / Pretend Dating 🎭
• Redemption Arc 🖤➡️✨
The ingredients were all there, but what I felt while reading was a lack of fluidity in the plot. Sometimes the tropes felt inserted almost by force, as if the skeleton of the story had been built with “this is what readers want, so I’ll add this and this,” instead of letting them flow organically. And that’s where a writer’s true skill shows: keeping only what naturally belongs.
Because of that, I sometimes felt confused, even going back to check if I had missed an important clue. The timeline was vague, and honestly, more often than not, I found myself wondering: Where is Sebastian?
It’s a bit frustrating because the book has so much potential. The characters, the tropes, the worldbuilding — all the pieces are there. But like in movies and TV series today, I get the impression that sometimes writers are pushed to produce books at a rhythm that leaves little time to polish them into masterpieces.
And here’s the thing: as readers, our time is precious. We all have busy lives, so when I sit down with a book, I want to be blown away. I know this author has potential — the talent is there — and I truly hope she keeps writing, because I believe she can reach that higher level with more time and care.
So for me, Killthrone lands between ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨. Not a waste of time, but not the unforgettable experience I was hoping for.
November 6, 2025
"You became all that mattered to me, all that I needed. I love you, my moonlight."
🩸 Book Review - Kilthorne by Elizabeth Vaunt 🩸
⭐ Rating: ★★★★★
📖 Spoiler-Free Summary:
Charlotte Windsor has been branded cursed - she’s endured not one, but two exorcisms, and society has all but abandoned her. When her father’s new secondhand, Sebastian, enters her life, she senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. But with her father being the leader of the Kilthorne Vampire Hunting Society, Charlotte’s growing connection with Sebastian becomes dangerously forbidden. And as darkness creeps closer, she learns that the monster she was raised to fear might be the only one who can save her…
💭 My Thoughts:
OMG, what a read - this was so good! I can’t believe this is Elizabeth Vaunt’s debut novel because the writing was incredible. The pacing was fast, the atmosphere deliciously gothic, and the tension between Charlotte and Sebastian was sublime. Their romance gave such perfect forbidden love vibes.
The story is full of twists, turns, and moments that genuinely shocked me - just when I thought I knew where it was going, it completely surprised me. The worldbuilding was beautifully dark, and I loved Charlotte’s relationships with all of the character's within the book.
I really wish we could see even more of this world - I loved it!
If you’re after a gothic fantasy with vampires, demons, forbidden romance, and hauntingly beautiful prose - this is the one.
Available now on Kindle Unlimited, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone. 🖤
🩸 Book Review - Kilthorne by Elizabeth Vaunt 🩸
⭐ Rating: ★★★★★
📖 Spoiler-Free Summary:
Charlotte Windsor has been branded cursed - she’s endured not one, but two exorcisms, and society has all but abandoned her. When her father’s new secondhand, Sebastian, enters her life, she senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. But with her father being the leader of the Kilthorne Vampire Hunting Society, Charlotte’s growing connection with Sebastian becomes dangerously forbidden. And as darkness creeps closer, she learns that the monster she was raised to fear might be the only one who can save her…
💭 My Thoughts:
OMG, what a read - this was so good! I can’t believe this is Elizabeth Vaunt’s debut novel because the writing was incredible. The pacing was fast, the atmosphere deliciously gothic, and the tension between Charlotte and Sebastian was sublime. Their romance gave such perfect forbidden love vibes.
The story is full of twists, turns, and moments that genuinely shocked me - just when I thought I knew where it was going, it completely surprised me. The worldbuilding was beautifully dark, and I loved Charlotte’s relationships with all of the character's within the book.
I really wish we could see even more of this world - I loved it!
If you’re after a gothic fantasy with vampires, demons, forbidden romance, and hauntingly beautiful prose - this is the one.
Available now on Kindle Unlimited, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone. 🖤
October 15, 2025
Debut author Elizabeth Vaunt has created a stunning world between the pages of Kilthorne. I found the characters compelling, the plot fun to follow, and the world captivating.
Elizabeth Vaunt’s prose, however, is the star of the book. Her descriptions of the world and the inner-workings of Charlotte’s mind are beautiful and immersive. She managed to create a haunting atmosphere, suddenly shift into one of the most romantic moments you could imagine, then launch into a great adventure. As a reader, you can truly be truly immersed in the world she’s created.
I did enjoy the romance and found myself rooting for the characters. However, I did think that Charlotte trusted Sebastian far too quickly. I would have liked to see a bit more conflict to drove these two to working together. But the rest of the story and everything else makes up for this.
I love a good villain and Alaric certainly delivers. I won’t go into it too much as I don’t want to spoil anything.
The plot is not predictable and kept me on my toes. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, I was wrong.
Overall, I absolutely loved Kilthorne. I will certainly be excited to see what Elizabeth Vaunt has in store in the future. Kilthorne is perfect for romantasy readers. Elizabeth Vaunt’s take on vampires is rooted in the established lore but adds in a fresh, new perspective.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Elizabeth Vaunt’s prose, however, is the star of the book. Her descriptions of the world and the inner-workings of Charlotte’s mind are beautiful and immersive. She managed to create a haunting atmosphere, suddenly shift into one of the most romantic moments you could imagine, then launch into a great adventure. As a reader, you can truly be truly immersed in the world she’s created.
I did enjoy the romance and found myself rooting for the characters. However, I did think that Charlotte trusted Sebastian far too quickly. I would have liked to see a bit more conflict to drove these two to working together. But the rest of the story and everything else makes up for this.
I love a good villain and Alaric certainly delivers. I won’t go into it too much as I don’t want to spoil anything.
The plot is not predictable and kept me on my toes. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, I was wrong.
Overall, I absolutely loved Kilthorne. I will certainly be excited to see what Elizabeth Vaunt has in store in the future. Kilthorne is perfect for romantasy readers. Elizabeth Vaunt’s take on vampires is rooted in the established lore but adds in a fresh, new perspective.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2025
There is so much that Charlotte has been taught to think and fear. The way she is supposed to perceive herself and to perceive vampires has been formed by family and years of legacy. A lot of that changes when Sebastian enters her life. He becomes a very important part of her adventure of self-discovery and understanding about what has been haunting her for so long. There is not really a love triangle, but the backlash of a love unrequited is the catalyst for the entire book. I was drawn into this world like a moth to a flame right from the start.
“I was ready to entrust my life to the man who truly looked at me and saw moonlight, to the man who told me to stare back at critical eyes and to not wait for the world to change. I had never felt safer than I did with him. With the man I was supposed to fear. And it told me everything. It told me my world was wrong.”
I really had a fun time reading this story. Sebastian's deadpanned responses lighten up the mood as things continue to crumble around Charlotte. As his cold exterior warms from spending time with her, my warmth and endearment for him grow as well. Things move along at a quick clip and you are left with very little downtime between interactions and haunting activities. I am intrigued to see what more this author brings us to indulge in.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
“I was ready to entrust my life to the man who truly looked at me and saw moonlight, to the man who told me to stare back at critical eyes and to not wait for the world to change. I had never felt safer than I did with him. With the man I was supposed to fear. And it told me everything. It told me my world was wrong.”
I really had a fun time reading this story. Sebastian's deadpanned responses lighten up the mood as things continue to crumble around Charlotte. As his cold exterior warms from spending time with her, my warmth and endearment for him grow as well. Things move along at a quick clip and you are left with very little downtime between interactions and haunting activities. I am intrigued to see what more this author brings us to indulge in.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 29, 2025
ARC Review
🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 / 5
🌶️🌶️/5 spice - but when it hits you are begging for the bite.
What started as a gothic haunting turned into a story of love and betrayal. This story is of grief and transformation, power and secrets that come with it.
Charlotte, raised by a father who leads a secret society dedicated to eradicating vampires, has spent her entire life fearing the dark—and herself. She is afraid of the shadows, breath and her reality which hangs on a thin string.
Enter Sebastian: vampire, apex predator, infiltrator. His goal? Unify the species. Stop the slaughter. But to do that, he has to get close to the hunter’s daughter.
And he does it by courting her.
Charlotte isn’t just conflicted, she’s unraveling. Her whole life has been a lie built on fear, and now the very thing she was raised to hate might be the only person who sees her clearly. He doesn’t just want her body. He wants to show her who she is.
When she finally breaks? It’s not fear. It’s power.
👁️ Gothic slow-burn
🦇 Paranormal romance
⚔️enemies-to-lovers
💀 Vampires, secrets, betrayal, and blood
🥀 The most delicious slow burn that will grab you by your neck and lightly graze a sharp fang down your throat.
When that bite hit? I knelt.
🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 / 5
🌶️🌶️/5 spice - but when it hits you are begging for the bite.
What started as a gothic haunting turned into a story of love and betrayal. This story is of grief and transformation, power and secrets that come with it.
Charlotte, raised by a father who leads a secret society dedicated to eradicating vampires, has spent her entire life fearing the dark—and herself. She is afraid of the shadows, breath and her reality which hangs on a thin string.
Enter Sebastian: vampire, apex predator, infiltrator. His goal? Unify the species. Stop the slaughter. But to do that, he has to get close to the hunter’s daughter.
And he does it by courting her.
Charlotte isn’t just conflicted, she’s unraveling. Her whole life has been a lie built on fear, and now the very thing she was raised to hate might be the only person who sees her clearly. He doesn’t just want her body. He wants to show her who she is.
When she finally breaks? It’s not fear. It’s power.
👁️ Gothic slow-burn
🦇 Paranormal romance
⚔️enemies-to-lovers
💀 Vampires, secrets, betrayal, and blood
🥀 The most delicious slow burn that will grab you by your neck and lightly graze a sharp fang down your throat.
When that bite hit? I knelt.
October 29, 2025
The description of Kilthorne says it’s “Vampire Diaries meets The Exorcist with a touch of Jane Austen,” and I honestly thought that was an exaggeration—but it absolutely lives up to that promise.
The story follows Charlotte, who is being haunted by a demon and is on her way to becoming a vampire hunter, and Sebastian, her father’s new right-hand man who just so happens to be a vampire hiding his true nature. Then there’s the supposed demon—who I can’t help but like in the weirdest way. I felt bad for him at times… but also didn’t.
I would’ve loved to dig a little deeper into the two male characters, but even so, this was an amazing debut. The banter between characters had me laughing out loud, which was such a welcome balance to the darkness of the story.
While I did feel the pacing was a bit fast and could’ve allowed for more buildup with the supporting characters, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. Kilthorne is dark, romantic, eerie, and surprisingly funny in all the right moments.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy — I received this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story follows Charlotte, who is being haunted by a demon and is on her way to becoming a vampire hunter, and Sebastian, her father’s new right-hand man who just so happens to be a vampire hiding his true nature. Then there’s the supposed demon—who I can’t help but like in the weirdest way. I felt bad for him at times… but also didn’t.
I would’ve loved to dig a little deeper into the two male characters, but even so, this was an amazing debut. The banter between characters had me laughing out loud, which was such a welcome balance to the darkness of the story.
While I did feel the pacing was a bit fast and could’ve allowed for more buildup with the supporting characters, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. Kilthorne is dark, romantic, eerie, and surprisingly funny in all the right moments.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy — I received this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 5, 2025
ARC Review -
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️
Kilthorne was a good read; I found it really entertaining, with the plot keeping me engaged and eager to read for the majority of the book. Our main characters were fleshed out and surprisingly relatable. I felt real hate for some of the characters, which is a good sign in my books.
There was one scene, no spoilers, that was perfectly written, it had me absolutely horrified and at the edge of my seat!
The author managed to create, at least to me, a different take on vampires that I really appreciated.
While I did enjoy Kilthorne, I did have a few issues. The plot was a bit hard to follow in places, with the timeline not being clear enough. There were parts that I felt didn't really support the narrative that created slow spots for me. I really liked the villain and his origin story, I do wish there had been at least one sexyish scene between him and the main character - the tension was there!!
Otherwise, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by Elizabeth Vaunt!
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️
Kilthorne was a good read; I found it really entertaining, with the plot keeping me engaged and eager to read for the majority of the book. Our main characters were fleshed out and surprisingly relatable. I felt real hate for some of the characters, which is a good sign in my books.
There was one scene, no spoilers, that was perfectly written, it had me absolutely horrified and at the edge of my seat!
The author managed to create, at least to me, a different take on vampires that I really appreciated.
While I did enjoy Kilthorne, I did have a few issues. The plot was a bit hard to follow in places, with the timeline not being clear enough. There were parts that I felt didn't really support the narrative that created slow spots for me. I really liked the villain and his origin story, I do wish there had been at least one sexyish scene between him and the main character - the tension was there!!
Otherwise, I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by Elizabeth Vaunt!
October 8, 2025
An Electric Slow Burn or A Gothic Romance with Teeth
Charlotte Windsor is already marked by misfortune; her father is the leader of a Vampire Hunting Society, and her final suitor, Sebastian, is a vampire. This high-stakes forbidden love drives a magnetic, enemy-to-lover romance.
The chemistry between Charlotte and Sebastian is electric, driven by a powerful slow burn and a thrilling predator-prey dynamic. Their witty banter and deep connection elevate the classic gothic trope.
Beyond the main romance, the villain is a standout triumph of character writing. The author gives him a surprising level of emotional depth and pain, making his misguided motives relatable. This complexity, reminiscent of Damian from The Vampire Diaries but with a dark Nosferatu flair, adds an essential, nuanced layer to the betrayal and love within the story.
A compelling tale of transformation, secrets, and betrayal, wrapped in a rich gothic atmosphere. This book is a must-read for fans of intense character development and deeply felt romance.
Charlotte Windsor is already marked by misfortune; her father is the leader of a Vampire Hunting Society, and her final suitor, Sebastian, is a vampire. This high-stakes forbidden love drives a magnetic, enemy-to-lover romance.
The chemistry between Charlotte and Sebastian is electric, driven by a powerful slow burn and a thrilling predator-prey dynamic. Their witty banter and deep connection elevate the classic gothic trope.
Beyond the main romance, the villain is a standout triumph of character writing. The author gives him a surprising level of emotional depth and pain, making his misguided motives relatable. This complexity, reminiscent of Damian from The Vampire Diaries but with a dark Nosferatu flair, adds an essential, nuanced layer to the betrayal and love within the story.
A compelling tale of transformation, secrets, and betrayal, wrapped in a rich gothic atmosphere. This book is a must-read for fans of intense character development and deeply felt romance.
November 23, 2025
Charlotte is haunted by demons and gone through two exorcisms, plagued with unusual haunting looks, pale white skin colorless grey hair and eyes and she’s expected to find a husband in a select group of men from the killthorne vampire hunting society. Enter Sebastian Dracov, a giant with a silken dangerous voice that seems to be fixated on charlotte and he has a secret. This was a quick paced book with everything coming to in the first 6 chapters and then expanding to so much more as you continue to read. throw in a bit of surprise about who is really haunting Charlotte and you have an amazing read. Sebastian quickly became my favorite suitor and I hoped that charlotte will pick him. I want and need more of the killthorne vampire hunting society. But I also want less Alric throughout this book… give or take some surprises and bam this proves the villain doesn’t always get the girl or do they? What a twist it was in the last few chapters my mind was blown.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
October 15, 2025
My first ARC ever… and lemme tell you… it was so worth it. It was such an amazing story, characters and world as a whole. At first glance I wasn’t sure what to expect from the story, i don’t typically go for the fantasy side, but boy am I glad I took the leap. The world building was reminiscent of the blood and ash series (and we all know how amazing that series is). The characters are incredibly well-written and felt so relatable and understanding. Felt like I could easily empathize with the main character and truly feel her pain and struggle. Every twist and turn and surprise truly came as a shock and I had no idea what was coming with each turn of the page. Even though the book technically ends, and in such a delightfully wild way, it has the potential to become an amazing series if Elizabeth decides to do so. I can’t wait to see what this author grows into and I hope she gets all the success she deserves.
October 17, 2025
Atmospheric, gothic setting
Vampire x human
Fake dating
Slow-burn
Forbidden love
Vampire lore
Witty banter
Angst / tension between main characters
Loss and betrayal
Thank you to the author and BookSirens! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and with my own thoughts.
Kilthorne is a great gothic-esque and atmospheric read in the midst of spooky season. With this read, you get vampire lore and some tense paranormal activity along with a vampire x human fake courting/relationship. Overall, a great read and I was engaged the entire time! The witty banter and tension between the main characters was delicious; that is always a 10/10 in my book. I want them to YEARN and yearn they did.
I was sad to say goodbye to Charlotte and Sebastian. I loved seeing the character development in Charlotte! She deserves world and more. I had to remind myself this is her debut because of how well it was written.
Vampire x human
Fake dating
Slow-burn
Forbidden love
Vampire lore
Witty banter
Angst / tension between main characters
Loss and betrayal
Thank you to the author and BookSirens! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and with my own thoughts.
Kilthorne is a great gothic-esque and atmospheric read in the midst of spooky season. With this read, you get vampire lore and some tense paranormal activity along with a vampire x human fake courting/relationship. Overall, a great read and I was engaged the entire time! The witty banter and tension between the main characters was delicious; that is always a 10/10 in my book. I want them to YEARN and yearn they did.
I was sad to say goodbye to Charlotte and Sebastian. I loved seeing the character development in Charlotte! She deserves world and more. I had to remind myself this is her debut because of how well it was written.
October 25, 2025
Advanced reader copy provided for an honest review.
Well, I found this book just delightful. It was a historical romance mixed with vampires, reminiscent of The Poisoner book but with very different vibes. It has vampires, witches, trauma, and yearning.
I think what would have made this 5 stars would be focusing on the main relationship more. I'd like to see it developed more. It definitely feels like the MMC is written by a woman, except for how physical he is with her, but his words, especially when he confesses his feelings, are very flowery. If he's yearning, show more stolen moments and lingering looks. I did like Sebastian's possessiveness.
If I were to describe this in a quick snapshot: a traumatized young woman finds herself and saves her country from a monster, but not the one you expect.
Tropes: love triangle, touch her and die, enemies to allies to lovers, yearning, forced proximity, one bed/horse, fake relationship, secret identity,
Well, I found this book just delightful. It was a historical romance mixed with vampires, reminiscent of The Poisoner book but with very different vibes. It has vampires, witches, trauma, and yearning.
I think what would have made this 5 stars would be focusing on the main relationship more. I'd like to see it developed more. It definitely feels like the MMC is written by a woman, except for how physical he is with her, but his words, especially when he confesses his feelings, are very flowery. If he's yearning, show more stolen moments and lingering looks. I did like Sebastian's possessiveness.
If I were to describe this in a quick snapshot: a traumatized young woman finds herself and saves her country from a monster, but not the one you expect.
Tropes: love triangle, touch her and die, enemies to allies to lovers, yearning, forced proximity, one bed/horse, fake relationship, secret identity,
November 8, 2025
Genre: Fantasy | Romance
Spice: 🌶🌶
What an absolutely fantastic standalone that wraps up so nicely. It was the exact thing my life was missing, and I'm setting up for an immediate re-read 🤩
FMC, Charlotte, is from a prominent family; her father is the head of a vampire hunting society. She's always been a little different, so when the hauntings start, it's not long before she's forced into not 1, but 2 exorcisms.
Life's about to get a whole lot different, though when she meets her fathers knew number 2, Sebastian. You're going to want to meet him!
As the story progresses, Charlotte has all these crazy confused feelings about vampires, and I'm totally on the same unhinged page as her! There's a specific scene that ends in a library that is very... 🥵 Predator - pray kink unlocked!
Highlights for me:
Absolutely beautiful writing
1st person POV
Gothic atmosphere
Vampires vs. Humans
Only one horse
Only one bed
He falls first
Love triangle
Nicely spiced
All the feels - I'm not crying, you are
Twists & betrayals
A swoon worthy HEA
I NEED a trophy copy for my little indie shelf 🫶
And, also - guess what! This is Elizabeth Vaunt's debut novel...erm what?!!?! This is going to be huge. I recommend picking it up immediately!!
Spice: 🌶🌶
What an absolutely fantastic standalone that wraps up so nicely. It was the exact thing my life was missing, and I'm setting up for an immediate re-read 🤩
FMC, Charlotte, is from a prominent family; her father is the head of a vampire hunting society. She's always been a little different, so when the hauntings start, it's not long before she's forced into not 1, but 2 exorcisms.
Life's about to get a whole lot different, though when she meets her fathers knew number 2, Sebastian. You're going to want to meet him!
As the story progresses, Charlotte has all these crazy confused feelings about vampires, and I'm totally on the same unhinged page as her! There's a specific scene that ends in a library that is very... 🥵 Predator - pray kink unlocked!
Highlights for me:
Absolutely beautiful writing
1st person POV
Gothic atmosphere
Vampires vs. Humans
Only one horse
Only one bed
He falls first
Love triangle
Nicely spiced
All the feels - I'm not crying, you are
Twists & betrayals
A swoon worthy HEA
I NEED a trophy copy for my little indie shelf 🫶
And, also - guess what! This is Elizabeth Vaunt's debut novel...erm what?!!?! This is going to be huge. I recommend picking it up immediately!!
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