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Vampires of Coal Dust #2
Learning To Bleed
Not yet published
Expected 18 Mar 26You can take the girl out of Penny Harbour, but you can’t take the monster out of the girl.
When Spencer and Laurel left Penny Harbour after her death, he promised she could learn to control her hunger. Once she stops being a danger to the people she loves, he can bring her home. His centuries as a vampire should have prepared him to guide her, but every night, he cleans the blood from her hands and hides the corpses she’s made. No amount of careful planning stops the inevitable, and Spencer can’t figure out why.
Laurel is lying. The monster that took root in her veins never left. It whispers to her, robs her of reason, and twists the truth. Out in the big, broad world for the first time, she’s overwhelmed by cities, her own queer reckoning, and the monsters waging war inside her. Terrified of what will happen if she tells Spencer, Laurel has decided to push through in isolation. Things were supposed to get easier, after all. With practice, she should have been in control by now.
Will Laurel be able to overcome the rage long enough to take advantage of her new freedom, or will the violence destroy everything she’s fought so hard to get?
----
This book is the second part of a queer Gothic horror series with romantic themes and handles heavy, complicated topics such as generational trauma, spousal abuse, and grief. A full list of trigger warnings can be found on Cat’s website.
When Spencer and Laurel left Penny Harbour after her death, he promised she could learn to control her hunger. Once she stops being a danger to the people she loves, he can bring her home. His centuries as a vampire should have prepared him to guide her, but every night, he cleans the blood from her hands and hides the corpses she’s made. No amount of careful planning stops the inevitable, and Spencer can’t figure out why.
Laurel is lying. The monster that took root in her veins never left. It whispers to her, robs her of reason, and twists the truth. Out in the big, broad world for the first time, she’s overwhelmed by cities, her own queer reckoning, and the monsters waging war inside her. Terrified of what will happen if she tells Spencer, Laurel has decided to push through in isolation. Things were supposed to get easier, after all. With practice, she should have been in control by now.
Will Laurel be able to overcome the rage long enough to take advantage of her new freedom, or will the violence destroy everything she’s fought so hard to get?
----
This book is the second part of a queer Gothic horror series with romantic themes and handles heavy, complicated topics such as generational trauma, spousal abuse, and grief. A full list of trigger warnings can be found on Cat’s website.
400 pages, ebook
Expected publication March 18, 2026
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Cat Rector
7 books241 followersAbout the Author
Cat Rector grew up in a small Nova Scotian town and could often be found simultaneously reading a book and fighting off muskrats while walking home from school. She devours stories in all their forms, loves messy, morally grey characters, and writes about the horrors that we inflict on each other. After spending nearly a decade living abroad, she returned to Canada to resume her war against the muskrats. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing video games, spending time with loved ones, or staring at her To Be Read pile like it's going to read itself.
Find her on social media or visit her website, CatRector.com
Cat Rector grew up in a small Nova Scotian town and could often be found simultaneously reading a book and fighting off muskrats while walking home from school. She devours stories in all their forms, loves messy, morally grey characters, and writes about the horrors that we inflict on each other. After spending nearly a decade living abroad, she returned to Canada to resume her war against the muskrats. When she’s not writing, you can find her playing video games, spending time with loved ones, or staring at her To Be Read pile like it's going to read itself.
Find her on social media or visit her website, CatRector.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 1, 2025
Obligatory Author Review
More info, including Trigger Warnings: https://www.catrector.com/coalgetsiny...
This book, like the first in the series, means a lot to me. While the first was a novel focused solely on life inside a deeply traumatized community, this one is in large part focused on what happens after you take the first step to break cycles. Laurel and Spencer have left Penny Harbour and are on their way to something better, but does that mean Laurel will be magically healed now? If she only knows how to exist under Greg's thumb, how does she adjust to someone who doesn't scare her?
Out in the wide world, contending with her mistakes, her future, her old wounds, and her tip-toeing into queerness, how does Laurel cope with so much change?
This book is for people who have been in the middle of their healing journey screaming THIS SUCKSSSS. But it's also for people who love vampires and bites and betrayals. It's for people who are looking for explorations of late-blooming queerness, spicy delights, vampire roller coaster puns, trips across Canada, monstrous decisions, and exciting new characters.
I'm really excited to share this book with you soon, and the next book after that.
More info, including Trigger Warnings: https://www.catrector.com/coalgetsiny...
This book, like the first in the series, means a lot to me. While the first was a novel focused solely on life inside a deeply traumatized community, this one is in large part focused on what happens after you take the first step to break cycles. Laurel and Spencer have left Penny Harbour and are on their way to something better, but does that mean Laurel will be magically healed now? If she only knows how to exist under Greg's thumb, how does she adjust to someone who doesn't scare her?
Out in the wide world, contending with her mistakes, her future, her old wounds, and her tip-toeing into queerness, how does Laurel cope with so much change?
This book is for people who have been in the middle of their healing journey screaming THIS SUCKSSSS. But it's also for people who love vampires and bites and betrayals. It's for people who are looking for explorations of late-blooming queerness, spicy delights, vampire roller coaster puns, trips across Canada, monstrous decisions, and exciting new characters.
I'm really excited to share this book with you soon, and the next book after that.
Read
November 30, 2025As I seem to be writing the first review for this book, I decided not to rate it! I think normally it’d be a DNF for me (which I don’t typically rate), but I pushed through since I had an ARC. Or rather I mostly pushed through. I got to ~50% and then skipped to ~85% and skimmed to the end.
I really enjoyed book 1, and I thought the continuation of the series would be other couples in the same world. Getting more of Spencer and Laurel was a surprise but not unwelcome. Unfortunately, how this book played out did not work for me at all.
Fully half of this book (and more, I assume, since I skipped a chunk) is a repetitive cycle of Laurel being too vicious and hungry. She’s out of control every time she attempts to hunt, and Spencer is increasingly frustrated, confused, and worried. The reader knows that Laurel still has the coal monster in her head, and that’s clearly related to her difficulties. But Laurel is refusing to tell Spencer about it. The same thoughts and conversations happen again and again, so I was really tired of it.
It’s not unreasonable to think Laurel would hide this important information - I didn’t necessarily take issue with this cycle of behavior believably happening. As the reader of a story, though, it was just too much of the same thing. I needed a time jump or something so we could get to a part when the story changes. It may have been better as a novella than a full novel.
I wish the turn the story took in this second volume involved more vampire society and wasn’t so isolated, but I also respect what Rector is doing here. What I would enjoy is not the story she’s trying to tell.
I don’t know if I would try a book 3 or not! Would depend on the synopsis maybe.
I really enjoyed book 1, and I thought the continuation of the series would be other couples in the same world. Getting more of Spencer and Laurel was a surprise but not unwelcome. Unfortunately, how this book played out did not work for me at all.
Fully half of this book (and more, I assume, since I skipped a chunk) is a repetitive cycle of Laurel being too vicious and hungry. She’s out of control every time she attempts to hunt, and Spencer is increasingly frustrated, confused, and worried. The reader knows that Laurel still has the coal monster in her head, and that’s clearly related to her difficulties. But Laurel is refusing to tell Spencer about it. The same thoughts and conversations happen again and again, so I was really tired of it.
It’s not unreasonable to think Laurel would hide this important information - I didn’t necessarily take issue with this cycle of behavior believably happening. As the reader of a story, though, it was just too much of the same thing. I needed a time jump or something so we could get to a part when the story changes. It may have been better as a novella than a full novel.
I wish the turn the story took in this second volume involved more vampire society and wasn’t so isolated, but I also respect what Rector is doing here. What I would enjoy is not the story she’s trying to tell.
I don’t know if I would try a book 3 or not! Would depend on the synopsis maybe.
December 14, 2025
Learning to Bleed continues the contemporary vampire story of Spencer and Laurel, which started in Coal Gets in Your Veins. At the end of the first book, Laurel was dying, and her only way to survive was for Spencer to make her into a vampire. Learning to Bleed shows her new life as a feral newborn vampire.
Laurel has been forced to flee her beloved Penny Harbour and leave behind all family and friends while experienced vampire, Spencer, tries to teach her how to control her bloodlust. He can’t understand why it’s taking weeks for her to be able to get herself under control, but he isn’t a party to all the information – Laurel has been keeping secrets from him. She didn’t leave behind every bad thing she meant to in Penny Harbour. Learning to Bleed is a story of monstrous possession, vampirism, finding your true nature – Laurel is also bicurious, and overcoming the negative voices in your head. The incontrovertible power of supportive love is also a theme.
Laurel and Spencer’s romantic relationship is severely put to the test as they travel across Canada from Nova Scotia through Quebec and Montreal and on to Toronto, leaving a barely concealed bloody trail of corpses along the way. Life avoiding the sun would be difficult enough, but Laurel constantly waking up ravenous and needing a source of blood leads to more risk-taking than Spencer is comfortable with. He tries so hard to keep his beloved Laurel safe, but with the trail of destruction she leaves in her wake, it can only be a matter of time before mercenaries catch up with them.
The episodes where Laurel was hungry and uncontrollable felt somewhat repetitive, but the story as a whole is highly enjoyable, and Spencer’s protective love for Laurel is adorable. Finding out more about centuries-old Spencer’s previous life in this book was really interesting and helped fill in some gaps in his backstory. Traveling across Canada wth these two characters was fun for me, since I have visited Quebec, Montreal, and Toronto, so I was able to easily visualize the places described.
The encounter with Dis and Abigail upped the stakes (!) for Laurel and Spencer and made for a gripping ending to the novel, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the four of them in book 3. I’m also very intrigued by the person Spencer thought he recognized in Toronto’s underworld archives. Could it have been Violet? I hope so, as this would add a further layer of intrigue to the overall story. I’m looking forward to finding out!
Learning to Bleed continues in the same format as Coal Gets in Your Veins, with extraordinary stories from the ordinary citizens of Penny Harbour interspersed at the end of the chapters about Laurel and Spencer. I believe some or most of these are true stories collected by the author from people she knows or has heard about.
I was given a complimentary advanced review copy of Learning to Bleed by the author. My review is honest, and my opinions are my own. Learning to Bleed is due to be published independently on March 18th, 2026.
Laurel has been forced to flee her beloved Penny Harbour and leave behind all family and friends while experienced vampire, Spencer, tries to teach her how to control her bloodlust. He can’t understand why it’s taking weeks for her to be able to get herself under control, but he isn’t a party to all the information – Laurel has been keeping secrets from him. She didn’t leave behind every bad thing she meant to in Penny Harbour. Learning to Bleed is a story of monstrous possession, vampirism, finding your true nature – Laurel is also bicurious, and overcoming the negative voices in your head. The incontrovertible power of supportive love is also a theme.
Laurel and Spencer’s romantic relationship is severely put to the test as they travel across Canada from Nova Scotia through Quebec and Montreal and on to Toronto, leaving a barely concealed bloody trail of corpses along the way. Life avoiding the sun would be difficult enough, but Laurel constantly waking up ravenous and needing a source of blood leads to more risk-taking than Spencer is comfortable with. He tries so hard to keep his beloved Laurel safe, but with the trail of destruction she leaves in her wake, it can only be a matter of time before mercenaries catch up with them.
The episodes where Laurel was hungry and uncontrollable felt somewhat repetitive, but the story as a whole is highly enjoyable, and Spencer’s protective love for Laurel is adorable. Finding out more about centuries-old Spencer’s previous life in this book was really interesting and helped fill in some gaps in his backstory. Traveling across Canada wth these two characters was fun for me, since I have visited Quebec, Montreal, and Toronto, so I was able to easily visualize the places described.
The encounter with Dis and Abigail upped the stakes (!) for Laurel and Spencer and made for a gripping ending to the novel, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the four of them in book 3. I’m also very intrigued by the person Spencer thought he recognized in Toronto’s underworld archives. Could it have been Violet? I hope so, as this would add a further layer of intrigue to the overall story. I’m looking forward to finding out!
Learning to Bleed continues in the same format as Coal Gets in Your Veins, with extraordinary stories from the ordinary citizens of Penny Harbour interspersed at the end of the chapters about Laurel and Spencer. I believe some or most of these are true stories collected by the author from people she knows or has heard about.
I was given a complimentary advanced review copy of Learning to Bleed by the author. My review is honest, and my opinions are my own. Learning to Bleed is due to be published independently on March 18th, 2026.
December 5, 2025
This book has all I’ve been thinking about the moment I started it and I’m so ready for the next one😭
Everything in here was just incredible, I rarely cry when reading but this book had me sobbing like crazy!
The characters were just amazing, the emotions, the struggles and even after all of that their love for each other its something anyone could only ever dream of having! The characters were both so freaking strong dealing with all of that and I admire them so much! I truly hope thell have a good ending😭
The writing was absolutely beautiful you really felt what they felt and I was sucked in instantly I loved reading this book and I’m absolutely recommending it to everyone!!
Everything in here was just incredible, I rarely cry when reading but this book had me sobbing like crazy!
The characters were just amazing, the emotions, the struggles and even after all of that their love for each other its something anyone could only ever dream of having! The characters were both so freaking strong dealing with all of that and I admire them so much! I truly hope thell have a good ending😭
The writing was absolutely beautiful you really felt what they felt and I was sucked in instantly I loved reading this book and I’m absolutely recommending it to everyone!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4 stars
This is very different from what I expected. I thought I was getting all the answers, and all I got are more questions, and I AM LOVING IT!!! But now it's time to wait again...
This review will be all over the place because how do I even talk about this book???
Again, be sure to check trigger warnings before reading this book!
The setting moved away from the small town, and that made it even more of a character. It is very hard to explain and put into words, especially since I understand what is happening even less now side eye to the author... I really enjoyed how the difference between a small town and a big city was shown, but also how the experience is different for vampires and humans, AND old and new vampires. I love the details of all that vampires have to be careful of in everyday life. The supernatural world of this book got bigger, but the information given is minimal, and it's making me crazy. I NEED ANSWERS!!!
Good 2/3 of this book are very repetitive, and that can get a bit annoying at times, but I feel like that is the whole point! It shows how hard it is to get away and heal from trauma. That it takes time, and that sometimes, not even time would be enough. The last third of the book made up for the lack of plot because WTF!? I do like the multiple POVs and the fact that the town still has its own POV, but it didn't hit as hard as it did in book 1. It actually messed up the flow of the story a bit for me (but just a tiny bit). I love that we got a bit of Spencer's past. That might be my favorite part of this book, and I want more because I have predictions, and I need to know if they are right!
I adore Cat Rector's writing style. At this point I'd read her shopping list and love it, heh.
I didn't think it was possible to give more depth to these characters, but here we are. While book 1 made it very easy to choose who to love or hate, here we got shown that everyone has flaws, and how one character's choices will affect the others.
Laurel made me go crazy in this book. She'd annoy me, and then I would feel sorry for being annoyed. She'd make me angry, and then I would feel sorry for being angry. She really took me for a ride on an emotional roller coaster, haha. Reading about her dealing with all of the chaos that was happening and failing was really something else. I have no idea how she will develop more, and I am terrified. Also, love her self-discovery journey, and the fact that it's shown how hard it can be.
I love Spencer with my whole heart, and I really enjoyed seeing different sides to him. Him being more of a vampire and little moments of thriving in the bigger city made me obsessed. Him losing control and being, well, human, ugh, sooo good!!!
Now I do have to say, this book made me question their relationship a bit. While I was all for it in book 1, now I am not as sure,...
I still love Emma and MJ (even though they were a very small part of this book), but I am so intrigued by Dis and Abby!!! I can't wait to see more of them, and learn their story!
CONCLUSION
This is an amazing continuation of the series that is pretty much a set up for what is to come.
While it is repetitive, by the end of this book I saw that that was the whole point! I will always be in awe of Cat Rector's ideas, realization of those ideas, and writing!
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
___________________________________
Coal Gets In Your Veins
Learning To Bleed
This is very different from what I expected. I thought I was getting all the answers, and all I got are more questions, and I AM LOVING IT!!! But now it's time to wait again...
This review will be all over the place because how do I even talk about this book???
Again, be sure to check trigger warnings before reading this book!
The setting moved away from the small town, and that made it even more of a character. It is very hard to explain and put into words, especially since I understand what is happening even less now side eye to the author... I really enjoyed how the difference between a small town and a big city was shown, but also how the experience is different for vampires and humans, AND old and new vampires. I love the details of all that vampires have to be careful of in everyday life. The supernatural world of this book got bigger, but the information given is minimal, and it's making me crazy. I NEED ANSWERS!!!
Good 2/3 of this book are very repetitive, and that can get a bit annoying at times, but I feel like that is the whole point! It shows how hard it is to get away and heal from trauma. That it takes time, and that sometimes, not even time would be enough. The last third of the book made up for the lack of plot because WTF!? I do like the multiple POVs and the fact that the town still has its own POV, but it didn't hit as hard as it did in book 1. It actually messed up the flow of the story a bit for me (but just a tiny bit). I love that we got a bit of Spencer's past. That might be my favorite part of this book, and I want more because I have predictions, and I need to know if they are right!
I adore Cat Rector's writing style. At this point I'd read her shopping list and love it, heh.
I didn't think it was possible to give more depth to these characters, but here we are. While book 1 made it very easy to choose who to love or hate, here we got shown that everyone has flaws, and how one character's choices will affect the others.
Laurel made me go crazy in this book. She'd annoy me, and then I would feel sorry for being annoyed. She'd make me angry, and then I would feel sorry for being angry. She really took me for a ride on an emotional roller coaster, haha. Reading about her dealing with all of the chaos that was happening and failing was really something else. I have no idea how she will develop more, and I am terrified. Also, love her self-discovery journey, and the fact that it's shown how hard it can be.
I love Spencer with my whole heart, and I really enjoyed seeing different sides to him. Him being more of a vampire and little moments of thriving in the bigger city made me obsessed. Him losing control and being, well, human, ugh, sooo good!!!
Now I do have to say, this book made me question their relationship a bit. While I was all for it in book 1, now I am not as sure,...
I still love Emma and MJ (even though they were a very small part of this book), but I am so intrigued by Dis and Abby!!! I can't wait to see more of them, and learn their story!
CONCLUSION
This is an amazing continuation of the series that is pretty much a set up for what is to come.
While it is repetitive, by the end of this book I saw that that was the whole point! I will always be in awe of Cat Rector's ideas, realization of those ideas, and writing!
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
___________________________________
Coal Gets In Your Veins
Learning To Bleed
December 3, 2025
This second book of the anti-Twilight you never knew you needed takes our characters on a much slower, bloodier, and more brutal emotional roller-coaster than you can imagine. If we're going to compare apples and oranges, this is the angst of New Moon but for reasons that are more than just about who to love. It's about how to love; their existence, each other, themselves, take your pick.
I will say I didn't think it as strong a plot and character arc as Coal Gets In Your Veins. That was a tightly woven narrative; small in scope but big on addressing the underlying issues. This one goes about things in a more meandering route as Laurel tries to learn some very hard lessons about her new life, be it the paranormal or the personal aspect.
The repetition of Laurel's failures and refusal to share could get frustrating at times, but this ain't no prettily conveniently timed piece of vampire fluff. This is where peoples' pasts refuse to leave them be, and where we see the ugly side of love even in a positive relationship. There's no domestic abuser Greg in this book; Spencer is the kind of guy romantasy should be full of, but he's not perfect. He struggles too as we get to see from him POV. Even "Good Guys" can have fears and doubts when times are tough.
Could we have skipped a few of those repeat occurances to move the story on a little faster? Probably. The parts in between, where the two try to reconnect without the heavy issues weighing them down made it worth reading through.
There's also plenty of opportunity for queer representation to be explored now that Laurel and Spencer can hide in big cities.
I loved the nods back to the characters we met in the asides about Penny Harbour. Some are learning to move on, others are uncovering things they never could have imagined, and all of it comes from that rural conservative society's effect on those who don't fit the mold. Like Laurel's story there are small wins, but angst is never far away.
The plot takes a bit of a turn as we find out more about the paranormal and meet some new faces. The emotional breakdown and personal discoveries might be the main themes, but there's some interesting ideas being brought in to flesh out the underworld of dangerous beings. I was especially curious about how vampire un-life seem like being caught between sensory overload and taming addiction.
Overall, a mid series book that builds well on the themes and characters from the first book while taking them on a long, painful transformational journey. They might not have gotten from Point A to Point B yet, but with that ending, the road ahead is wide open.
I received a free ARC of this e-book from the author. This does not influence my review
I will say I didn't think it as strong a plot and character arc as Coal Gets In Your Veins. That was a tightly woven narrative; small in scope but big on addressing the underlying issues. This one goes about things in a more meandering route as Laurel tries to learn some very hard lessons about her new life, be it the paranormal or the personal aspect.
The repetition of Laurel's failures and refusal to share could get frustrating at times, but this ain't no prettily conveniently timed piece of vampire fluff. This is where peoples' pasts refuse to leave them be, and where we see the ugly side of love even in a positive relationship. There's no domestic abuser Greg in this book; Spencer is the kind of guy romantasy should be full of, but he's not perfect. He struggles too as we get to see from him POV. Even "Good Guys" can have fears and doubts when times are tough.
Could we have skipped a few of those repeat occurances to move the story on a little faster? Probably. The parts in between, where the two try to reconnect without the heavy issues weighing them down made it worth reading through.
There's also plenty of opportunity for queer representation to be explored now that Laurel and Spencer can hide in big cities.
I loved the nods back to the characters we met in the asides about Penny Harbour. Some are learning to move on, others are uncovering things they never could have imagined, and all of it comes from that rural conservative society's effect on those who don't fit the mold. Like Laurel's story there are small wins, but angst is never far away.
The plot takes a bit of a turn as we find out more about the paranormal and meet some new faces. The emotional breakdown and personal discoveries might be the main themes, but there's some interesting ideas being brought in to flesh out the underworld of dangerous beings. I was especially curious about how vampire un-life seem like being caught between sensory overload and taming addiction.
Overall, a mid series book that builds well on the themes and characters from the first book while taking them on a long, painful transformational journey. They might not have gotten from Point A to Point B yet, but with that ending, the road ahead is wide open.
I received a free ARC of this e-book from the author. This does not influence my review
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recieved an advance reader copy from the author, my opinion is my own.
Learning to Bleed was a very enjoyable read for me, I read it for 2 days straight & when it ended I wanted more! I was pleasantly surprised since I did not enjoy book 1 Coal Gets in Your Veins very much and it hadn't hooked me on its own. Book 2 really finds its rhythm for this story, and it was exciting to see Spencer fleshed out to show us not only more of his backstory but to have a full range of emotion when it comes to Laurel.
Speaking of Laurel our leading protagonist, her story and struggles were numerous (and bloody), and the author did an excellent job balancing between her vampiric struggles, her first-time-away-from-home struggles, and her inner demons both coal and non-coal related that impact her new life & relationship with Spencer.
Pacing was good, the various POV & points in time were communicated clearly & were not confusing. The new characters towards the end were a delight & I look forward to their new dynamic with our main cast! Every character felt more fleshed out, and the romance was Peak. It is no small task to write realistic relationships in a way that is both honest and entertaining and Cat is extremely skilled when it comes to writing relationship dynamics, both its messy & its sweet parts.
The reason for 4 out of 5 stars is there is still the remaining question that neither this book nor its predecessor answered that I was hoping it would by now; Why is Laurel so special above every other coal-beast infested person that she alone is being obsessed over by the ancient coal demon for her potential?
The citizens of Penny Harbor get mini vignettes to show how they too know pain and hurt and anger, all ripe for the manipulating, and all equally filled with coal dust. But there is still no answer as to what makes Laurel more special than everyone else, other than the Doylist answer that she is The Protagonist.
If the coal monster's obsession with Laurel started in Book 2 once she became a vampire, it would be self-explanatory why her potential is greater than her mortal counterparts. But this Thing has been narrow-mindedly focused on Laurel since Book 1, so it stands to reason there is something about her that demands this attention.
I fear the answer will never come, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised again, since I did not expect to enjoy Learning to Bleed and yet I devoured it almost as quick as our favorite vampire couple devours their victims. I curiously await the next installment.
Learning to Bleed was a very enjoyable read for me, I read it for 2 days straight & when it ended I wanted more! I was pleasantly surprised since I did not enjoy book 1 Coal Gets in Your Veins very much and it hadn't hooked me on its own. Book 2 really finds its rhythm for this story, and it was exciting to see Spencer fleshed out to show us not only more of his backstory but to have a full range of emotion when it comes to Laurel.
Speaking of Laurel our leading protagonist, her story and struggles were numerous (and bloody), and the author did an excellent job balancing between her vampiric struggles, her first-time-away-from-home struggles, and her inner demons both coal and non-coal related that impact her new life & relationship with Spencer.
Pacing was good, the various POV & points in time were communicated clearly & were not confusing. The new characters towards the end were a delight & I look forward to their new dynamic with our main cast! Every character felt more fleshed out, and the romance was Peak. It is no small task to write realistic relationships in a way that is both honest and entertaining and Cat is extremely skilled when it comes to writing relationship dynamics, both its messy & its sweet parts.
The reason for 4 out of 5 stars is there is still the remaining question that neither this book nor its predecessor answered that I was hoping it would by now; Why is Laurel so special above every other coal-beast infested person that she alone is being obsessed over by the ancient coal demon for her potential?
The citizens of Penny Harbor get mini vignettes to show how they too know pain and hurt and anger, all ripe for the manipulating, and all equally filled with coal dust. But there is still no answer as to what makes Laurel more special than everyone else, other than the Doylist answer that she is The Protagonist.
If the coal monster's obsession with Laurel started in Book 2 once she became a vampire, it would be self-explanatory why her potential is greater than her mortal counterparts. But this Thing has been narrow-mindedly focused on Laurel since Book 1, so it stands to reason there is something about her that demands this attention.
I fear the answer will never come, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised again, since I did not expect to enjoy Learning to Bleed and yet I devoured it almost as quick as our favorite vampire couple devours their victims. I curiously await the next installment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2025
“Learning to Bleed” by Cat Rector
⭐⭐⭐
SUMMARY: Leaving everything she knew behind in Penny Harbour, Laurel hopes she can control her new vampire urges and move on. Helping her through her transition is her new partner, Spencer. However, it seems something is still within Laurel, making her change into a vampire much harder, and bloodier.
THOUGHTS: This is an ARC for the novel, which I believe is coming out in March 2026. Thank you again to the author; appreciate being given the opportunity to read this book. It’s mentioned in the copy I received, that the book is still needing final edits, so please be aware of this while reading this review.
I enjoyed the first book. I liked the dynamic between Laurel and Spencer, and how their relationship slowly developed, and Laurel realising she deserves to be treated better.
I love Spencer, and if I am completely honest, I would devour a whole book (or a wee novella) just about him, and how he handled his change, and sexuality. The audience does get little moments of Spencer recalling his life, but that made me realise I just want to read about him. I find him interesting, and his parts of the book, I found myself enjoying more.
Laurel is dealing with a lot. She is learning how to live, and express what she needs. There is a small thing which bothered me a lot in this but annoyingly I completely understand why she won’t voice what is going on with her. It was still frustrating to read. I also wish we got more of what happens nearer the end; I think if that got introduced earlier in the book, and that was their main antagonist, it might have made the story flow a little better.
The author knows how to craft a story; they know what they want to tell with this, and aren’t shy with showing the harsher side of healing from trauma. They put a lot of trigger warnings at the start of the book, which I always appreciate.
Again, grateful to the author for the ARC, and can’t wait to see the final product. Wish them the best.
⭐⭐⭐
SUMMARY: Leaving everything she knew behind in Penny Harbour, Laurel hopes she can control her new vampire urges and move on. Helping her through her transition is her new partner, Spencer. However, it seems something is still within Laurel, making her change into a vampire much harder, and bloodier.
THOUGHTS: This is an ARC for the novel, which I believe is coming out in March 2026. Thank you again to the author; appreciate being given the opportunity to read this book. It’s mentioned in the copy I received, that the book is still needing final edits, so please be aware of this while reading this review.
I enjoyed the first book. I liked the dynamic between Laurel and Spencer, and how their relationship slowly developed, and Laurel realising she deserves to be treated better.
I love Spencer, and if I am completely honest, I would devour a whole book (or a wee novella) just about him, and how he handled his change, and sexuality. The audience does get little moments of Spencer recalling his life, but that made me realise I just want to read about him. I find him interesting, and his parts of the book, I found myself enjoying more.
Laurel is dealing with a lot. She is learning how to live, and express what she needs. There is a small thing which bothered me a lot in this but annoyingly I completely understand why she won’t voice what is going on with her. It was still frustrating to read. I also wish we got more of what happens nearer the end; I think if that got introduced earlier in the book, and that was their main antagonist, it might have made the story flow a little better.
The author knows how to craft a story; they know what they want to tell with this, and aren’t shy with showing the harsher side of healing from trauma. They put a lot of trigger warnings at the start of the book, which I always appreciate.
Again, grateful to the author for the ARC, and can’t wait to see the final product. Wish them the best.
December 15, 2025
I am very thankful to the author for this ARC, which is why I’m so sad that it did not end up being for me.
At its core Learning To Bleed is about healing, that its a slow and often painful process, both individually and to those we love. It explores how trauma can change us permanently, how we cannot always go back to what we were, instead we must become something new. Interwoven with exploration of self discovery, and identity. I found the horror to take more of a backseat in this instalment, focusing heavily on our MCs grief & anger instead, it’s a heavy read.
Learning To Bleed felt like reading a slasher movie, the bodies kept piling up and the blood kept flowing. There are some really banger lines in here that made my heart ache. We are also rewarded for making it through book one’s slow burn with significantly more smutty fun times. The new characters teased were intriguing and I can see the vision for where we are heading.
My problem is the journey we are taking towards this destination. What made the first book so special for me was peaking into the lives of the towns other victims. The regular interjection of these vignettes led to a slow build of dread which intensified the mystery. The plot was mostly linear and really tight. In contrast, book two is much more loose, sprawling across both time and space. There’s continuations of some of the residents stories, but incredibly spaced out and lacking the same punch. We get to see more of the realities of vampirism in a modern world which is neat, but the interesting lore seemed to be shoved in only at the end. As a result the bulk of the plot felt rather empty, lots of miscommunication (which is a trope that I cannot stand in large doses) & repetition.
Ultimately I think Learning To Bleed suffers from middle book in a trilogy syndrome. I’ll be back for the conclusion with my fingers crossed.
At its core Learning To Bleed is about healing, that its a slow and often painful process, both individually and to those we love. It explores how trauma can change us permanently, how we cannot always go back to what we were, instead we must become something new. Interwoven with exploration of self discovery, and identity. I found the horror to take more of a backseat in this instalment, focusing heavily on our MCs grief & anger instead, it’s a heavy read.
Learning To Bleed felt like reading a slasher movie, the bodies kept piling up and the blood kept flowing. There are some really banger lines in here that made my heart ache. We are also rewarded for making it through book one’s slow burn with significantly more smutty fun times. The new characters teased were intriguing and I can see the vision for where we are heading.
My problem is the journey we are taking towards this destination. What made the first book so special for me was peaking into the lives of the towns other victims. The regular interjection of these vignettes led to a slow build of dread which intensified the mystery. The plot was mostly linear and really tight. In contrast, book two is much more loose, sprawling across both time and space. There’s continuations of some of the residents stories, but incredibly spaced out and lacking the same punch. We get to see more of the realities of vampirism in a modern world which is neat, but the interesting lore seemed to be shoved in only at the end. As a result the bulk of the plot felt rather empty, lots of miscommunication (which is a trope that I cannot stand in large doses) & repetition.
Ultimately I think Learning To Bleed suffers from middle book in a trilogy syndrome. I’ll be back for the conclusion with my fingers crossed.
December 5, 2025
"Learning to Bleed" is a solid and intense continuation of this queer Gothic horror series, proving that Cat Rector is willing to unflinchingly examine the darkest corners of its characters' psyches. The story focuses on Laurel’s struggle to control the "monster" that now lives within her, a hunger she promised her partner, Spencer, she could manage.
The core tension is deeply compelling. As Laurel faces the world for the first time, she is overwhelmed not just by new environments and her own queer awakening, but by the relentless, internal war she is losing. Her inability to gain control—and the subsequent deception she maintains with the centuries-old Spencer—creates a palpable sense of dread. The book handles Laurel's isolation and self-destructive tendencies with maturity, making her journey a difficult but necessary watch.
This is a story that goes far beyond standard vampire fare. It bravely confronts heavy and complex topics, notably weaving generational trauma, spousal abuse, and profound grief into the fabric of Laurel’s monstrous new existence. While the narrative is often dark and unsettling, the thematic depth elevates the reading experience.
"Learning to Bleed" is a strong, character-driven sequel that doesn't offer easy answers. It is a worthwhile read for those invested in Laurel’s dark trajectory and the series' romantic elements, setting up high stakes for the future of her relationship and her soul.
The core tension is deeply compelling. As Laurel faces the world for the first time, she is overwhelmed not just by new environments and her own queer awakening, but by the relentless, internal war she is losing. Her inability to gain control—and the subsequent deception she maintains with the centuries-old Spencer—creates a palpable sense of dread. The book handles Laurel's isolation and self-destructive tendencies with maturity, making her journey a difficult but necessary watch.
This is a story that goes far beyond standard vampire fare. It bravely confronts heavy and complex topics, notably weaving generational trauma, spousal abuse, and profound grief into the fabric of Laurel’s monstrous new existence. While the narrative is often dark and unsettling, the thematic depth elevates the reading experience.
"Learning to Bleed" is a strong, character-driven sequel that doesn't offer easy answers. It is a worthwhile read for those invested in Laurel’s dark trajectory and the series' romantic elements, setting up high stakes for the future of her relationship and her soul.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 Stars
First of all, thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy!
Learning to Bleed picks up right where the first book left off, centering on Spencer and Laurel as Laurel adjusts to her new vampiric afterlife. I really enjoyed how Laurel figuring herself out as a vampire and figuring herself out as a queer woman outside of Greg's control were interwoven together; overall this book was a great journey of self discovery for her! I also once again enjoyed the little vignettes of the residents of Penny Harbour--Jacqueline's chapter, in particular, really got me. One of Rector's strengths I'd say is getting me to care about these characters in such a short amount of time.
One thing I will say is the plot tended to meander a bit towards the middle, and felt a bit repetitive as other reviewers have also pointed out. Thankfully it picked up as it approached the third act, though the introduction of the two new characters felt a bit abrupt. It'll be interesting to see where the story goes from there!
First of all, thank you to the author for the advanced reader copy!
Learning to Bleed picks up right where the first book left off, centering on Spencer and Laurel as Laurel adjusts to her new vampiric afterlife. I really enjoyed how Laurel figuring herself out as a vampire and figuring herself out as a queer woman outside of Greg's control were interwoven together; overall this book was a great journey of self discovery for her! I also once again enjoyed the little vignettes of the residents of Penny Harbour--Jacqueline's chapter, in particular, really got me. One of Rector's strengths I'd say is getting me to care about these characters in such a short amount of time.
One thing I will say is the plot tended to meander a bit towards the middle, and felt a bit repetitive as other reviewers have also pointed out. Thankfully it picked up as it approached the third act, though the introduction of the two new characters felt a bit abrupt. It'll be interesting to see where the story goes from there!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much for the advance reader copy!
Overall, I have to agree with some of the other readers here; this book definitely suffers from "second book in a trilogy / series" syndrome, and features some of my most dreaded tropes. The biggest one that almost made me dnf it was miscommunication / lack of communication; and this drags on until the last 25% of the book. Laurel is struggling with the creature that was the main antagonist of the first book, and surprise, turning into a vampire doesn't help to solve that issue. But instead of trust Spencer, who has been desperately seeking for an answer to help her at every turn, she just continues to fuck up and apologize repeatedly for almost 300 pages. She doesn't even come clean in the end- he finds out what's wrong the hard way.
the last 25% of the book was INCREDIBLE, though- I feel like had those characters been brought in earlier, it would have made for a much more enjoyable read. Overall I AM looking forward to the next book, despite the lull this one has.
Overall, I have to agree with some of the other readers here; this book definitely suffers from "second book in a trilogy / series" syndrome, and features some of my most dreaded tropes. The biggest one that almost made me dnf it was miscommunication / lack of communication; and this drags on until the last 25% of the book. Laurel is struggling with the creature that was the main antagonist of the first book, and surprise, turning into a vampire doesn't help to solve that issue. But instead of trust Spencer, who has been desperately seeking for an answer to help her at every turn, she just continues to fuck up and apologize repeatedly for almost 300 pages. She doesn't even come clean in the end- he finds out what's wrong the hard way.
the last 25% of the book was INCREDIBLE, though- I feel like had those characters been brought in earlier, it would have made for a much more enjoyable read. Overall I AM looking forward to the next book, despite the lull this one has.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I liked this even more than the first part of the series. Watching Laurel navigate her ravenous hunger and struggle to trust Spencer was very interesting and understandable, after what she went through, though not fair towards Spencer. I was afraid he would just go along with everything, which would make his character more flat, but was glad to see him get angry every once in a while. The conflict between them felt believable.
I finished the book really quickly and can't wait to see where the story goes next!
(I received an arc from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily)
I finished the book really quickly and can't wait to see where the story goes next!
(I received an arc from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily)
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December 1, 2025RTC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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