What do you think?
Rate this book
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
6 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Cat Rector
7 books242 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 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 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!!
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
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.
Read
December 1, 2025RTC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews