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Thicker than Water: A Sapphic Tale of Shadows and Light
The Human Defence League sharpens its stakes, and vampire factions claw for acceptance in a world where monsters are far from fiction. Caught between them is Delilah.
She never asked to be turned — but when Magnus, the enigmatic vampire leader determined to lead his kind out of the shadows and Into the Light, made her his second, immortality fit far too well. Yet, the light exposes as much as it saves.
Then comes Max — the government-appointed professor tasked with humanizing Magnus' message. Brilliant, unyielding, and forbidden, Max should be Delilah's enemy. Torn between her sire, her cause, and the love she was never meant to claim. Delilah's every choice threatens the fragile peace she swore to protect — and a sapphic bond burning quietly beneath the chaos might be her undoing.
Blood is power. Desire is treachery. And Delilah is done hiding her fangs.
She never asked to be turned — but when Magnus, the enigmatic vampire leader determined to lead his kind out of the shadows and Into the Light, made her his second, immortality fit far too well. Yet, the light exposes as much as it saves.
Then comes Max — the government-appointed professor tasked with humanizing Magnus' message. Brilliant, unyielding, and forbidden, Max should be Delilah's enemy. Torn between her sire, her cause, and the love she was never meant to claim. Delilah's every choice threatens the fragile peace she swore to protect — and a sapphic bond burning quietly beneath the chaos might be her undoing.
Blood is power. Desire is treachery. And Delilah is done hiding her fangs.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2025
3 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Elvie Grace
2 books13 followersElvie is a UK-based romantasy and urban fantasy author who loves writing emotionally rich, character-driven stories with grit, magic, and heart. Her debut novel, To Save the Few, blends brutal worldbuilding, slow-burn romance, and powerful themes of sisterhood, survival, and the blurred lines between good and evil. When she's not crafting worlds where fae and mortals clash or vampires stalk the streets, she's working in events at a university, wrangling spreadsheets by day and plot twists by night.
Outside of writing, Elvie lives in a happily chaotic home with her puppy, three mischievous cats, and an extremely zen tank of fish. She’s autistic, proudly neurodivergent, and passionate about creating stories where outsiders find belonging, power, and love—often in the most unexpected places.
You can usually find her daydreaming about her next book, sipping too much tea, or whispering sweet nothings to her plot bunnies.
Outside of writing, Elvie lives in a happily chaotic home with her puppy, three mischievous cats, and an extremely zen tank of fish. She’s autistic, proudly neurodivergent, and passionate about creating stories where outsiders find belonging, power, and love—often in the most unexpected places.
You can usually find her daydreaming about her next book, sipping too much tea, or whispering sweet nothings to her plot bunnies.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 14, 2025
͡ *-ARC review-*ʼ
A slow burn sapphic romance with mystery intrigue friendship betrayals plot twists and lots of humour.
A story of humans and vampires, witches and weres trying to coexist in a prejudiced world.
I found Max to be perfectly adorable and Delilah caring and sweet but was impetuous, overthinks everything with feelings of forbidden yearnings.
If you love romantasies of this sort, I'm certain you'll love Thicker Than Water :)
I received a free copy from the author as exchange for a review.
A slow burn sapphic romance with mystery intrigue friendship betrayals plot twists and lots of humour.
A story of humans and vampires, witches and weres trying to coexist in a prejudiced world.
I found Max to be perfectly adorable and Delilah caring and sweet but was impetuous, overthinks everything with feelings of forbidden yearnings.
If you love romantasies of this sort, I'm certain you'll love Thicker Than Water :)
I received a free copy from the author as exchange for a review.
November 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐
Thicker than Water is a vampire romance that delves into the intricate politics of vampire-human relations, offering a fresh perspective on the genre. Delilah joins forces with her friend Magnus to be a vampire spokesperson, teaching humans the real deal about their species. Dr. Maxine jumps in to swap research and document vampire life, and their teamwork is super compelling.
This book’s got a research-project vibe that sets it apart from typical vampire stories, and I was totally into it! I’m not a politics fan, but watching humans get schooled on their vampire myths was so much fun. The plot takes center stage, with the romance as a sweet subplot, so it might not hit the mark for hardcore romance lovers though.
Max’s autism representation is so touching, showing her quirks and perspective in a way that feels real and relatable. Delilah’s humor had me giggling, and I adored how she slowly opens her heart to Max, becoming a softie by the end. Their slow-burn romance, though not the main focus, is pure magic, moving from tension to trust to love in a way that feels so natural. The author handles their emotional and physical connection beautifully, keeping it unrushed and believable.
The writing’s lyrical and funny, though the pacing slows in a few places before picking up again. The dialogue is warm and engaging, though! But as a romance lover, I wished the love story had more spotlight, and the political intrigue wasn’t totally my thing, but this book’s cozy vibe and unique premise made it such a delightful, memorable read!
If you’re up for a vampire novel with brains and heart, grab this one! Btw, heartfelt thanks to Elvie for the ARC copy.
Thicker than Water is a vampire romance that delves into the intricate politics of vampire-human relations, offering a fresh perspective on the genre. Delilah joins forces with her friend Magnus to be a vampire spokesperson, teaching humans the real deal about their species. Dr. Maxine jumps in to swap research and document vampire life, and their teamwork is super compelling.
This book’s got a research-project vibe that sets it apart from typical vampire stories, and I was totally into it! I’m not a politics fan, but watching humans get schooled on their vampire myths was so much fun. The plot takes center stage, with the romance as a sweet subplot, so it might not hit the mark for hardcore romance lovers though.
Max’s autism representation is so touching, showing her quirks and perspective in a way that feels real and relatable. Delilah’s humor had me giggling, and I adored how she slowly opens her heart to Max, becoming a softie by the end. Their slow-burn romance, though not the main focus, is pure magic, moving from tension to trust to love in a way that feels so natural. The author handles their emotional and physical connection beautifully, keeping it unrushed and believable.
The writing’s lyrical and funny, though the pacing slows in a few places before picking up again. The dialogue is warm and engaging, though! But as a romance lover, I wished the love story had more spotlight, and the political intrigue wasn’t totally my thing, but this book’s cozy vibe and unique premise made it such a delightful, memorable read!
If you’re up for a vampire novel with brains and heart, grab this one! Btw, heartfelt thanks to Elvie for the ARC copy.
November 20, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of Thicker Than Water! As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily.
4.5 stars rounded up
✨ Adult Sapphic Paranormal Fantasy
✨ First-person, Single POV
✨ 2.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: autistic MC (not narrator)
I recommend if you enjoy…
- Vampires
- Urban Fantasy setting
- Slowburn with tons of tension
- Autistic rep
Content warnings after review.
General thoughts…
I love a vampire novel, tbh. Probably one of the first fantasy genres I really got into. This book is set in a world where vampires have recently become known to humans. The main character is second of the head political figure (Magnus) for the Vamps. Witches and Weres had already integrated into society, so the Vamps are the new supernatural being on the block. Part urban, part political, and part mystery, this paranormal fantasy has a lot of elements that felt fresh and exciting. I had trouble putting it down at points because I wanted to know what happened next.
Some things I loved…
- This book definitely stood out among paranormal fantasy books. I loved the mystery aspect as well as the setting and world-building. The politics were interesting and I liked learning about the background leading up to Magnus’ campaign.
- Max was such an interesting character to me. There were times I found myself relating to her a lot. I loved seeing her through Delilah’s eyes and how Delilah’s perception of Max changed over time. I really appreciated the autistic representation.
- The tension between Delilah and Max was absolutely delicious. I felt like I could sink my teeth into it. Despite not having Max’s POV, the writing made it clear how she was feeling during key scenes.
- I loved the poking fun at Twilight. As someone who, admittedly, was part of the big Twilight craze as a pre-teen/teen, it felt nostalgic for me. (And made me giggle more than once.)
Some things to consider…
- This is a slowww burn. It burns so good, and I loved the build up. But it isn’t hot and heavy early on.
- There were a couple times where I felt the gap between humans and vampires felt forced. Like Max apparently not knowing some very well-known vampire lore, and Delilah’s apparent lack of knowledge on humans despite being over 300 years old. I was able to overlook these little moments, but it made the narrative feel a touch forced at times and seemed a bit out of character.
Final thoughts…
Genuinely loved this! It was such an enjoyable read, and I barely wanted to put it down. From the autistic rep to the political aspects, this book stands out, and I highly recommend giving it a read.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
blood, biting, feeding, kidnapping, violence, m*rder, death, sensory overload, s*xually explicit content, threats
4.5 stars rounded up
✨ Adult Sapphic Paranormal Fantasy
✨ First-person, Single POV
✨ 2.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Standalone
✨ Rep: autistic MC (not narrator)
I recommend if you enjoy…
- Vampires
- Urban Fantasy setting
- Slowburn with tons of tension
- Autistic rep
Content warnings after review.
General thoughts…
I love a vampire novel, tbh. Probably one of the first fantasy genres I really got into. This book is set in a world where vampires have recently become known to humans. The main character is second of the head political figure (Magnus) for the Vamps. Witches and Weres had already integrated into society, so the Vamps are the new supernatural being on the block. Part urban, part political, and part mystery, this paranormal fantasy has a lot of elements that felt fresh and exciting. I had trouble putting it down at points because I wanted to know what happened next.
Some things I loved…
- This book definitely stood out among paranormal fantasy books. I loved the mystery aspect as well as the setting and world-building. The politics were interesting and I liked learning about the background leading up to Magnus’ campaign.
- Max was such an interesting character to me. There were times I found myself relating to her a lot. I loved seeing her through Delilah’s eyes and how Delilah’s perception of Max changed over time. I really appreciated the autistic representation.
- The tension between Delilah and Max was absolutely delicious. I felt like I could sink my teeth into it. Despite not having Max’s POV, the writing made it clear how she was feeling during key scenes.
- I loved the poking fun at Twilight. As someone who, admittedly, was part of the big Twilight craze as a pre-teen/teen, it felt nostalgic for me. (And made me giggle more than once.)
Some things to consider…
- This is a slowww burn. It burns so good, and I loved the build up. But it isn’t hot and heavy early on.
- There were a couple times where I felt the gap between humans and vampires felt forced. Like Max apparently not knowing some very well-known vampire lore, and Delilah’s apparent lack of knowledge on humans despite being over 300 years old. I was able to overlook these little moments, but it made the narrative feel a touch forced at times and seemed a bit out of character.
Final thoughts…
Genuinely loved this! It was such an enjoyable read, and I barely wanted to put it down. From the autistic rep to the political aspects, this book stands out, and I highly recommend giving it a read.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
blood, biting, feeding, kidnapping, violence, m*rder, death, sensory overload, s*xually explicit content, threats
November 8, 2025
Arc review out 14th November
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Blood is power. Desire is treachery. And Delilah is done hiding her fangs.
The Vamps have created a new pill that allows them out in the day and suppresses their urges and they want nothing more than to integrate fully with the Human and Were communities. Delilah is sent to look through all depictions of vampires through history and what she uncovers is much more than she ever imagined she would. Also she didn’t think about working alongside human Dr Max who should be her enemy but is anything but…
I really enjoyed the concept of this book and the fact that vampires are just trying to live normal lives but are under constant scrutiny based on the pre-conceived idea that everyone has of them. I really liked how it explored different depiction of vampires in literature and the “they made us sparkle” really made me laugh out loud.
The romance is very secondary in this book and Delilah doesn’t even realise how she is falling for Max until it is too late. I also love how Max is neurodiverse and think it is handled really well. There is an awful lot of politics in this book which had me a bit confided at times as I wasn’t sure who was on each side but I feel like that was intentional. Delilah often has to really think about who she can trust.
The romance is super slow burn and has you grinning to yourself, especially with all the shopping 🥰 honestly Delilah has it bad.
Thank you so much for this advanced reader copy Elvie ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Blood is power. Desire is treachery. And Delilah is done hiding her fangs.
The Vamps have created a new pill that allows them out in the day and suppresses their urges and they want nothing more than to integrate fully with the Human and Were communities. Delilah is sent to look through all depictions of vampires through history and what she uncovers is much more than she ever imagined she would. Also she didn’t think about working alongside human Dr Max who should be her enemy but is anything but…
I really enjoyed the concept of this book and the fact that vampires are just trying to live normal lives but are under constant scrutiny based on the pre-conceived idea that everyone has of them. I really liked how it explored different depiction of vampires in literature and the “they made us sparkle” really made me laugh out loud.
The romance is very secondary in this book and Delilah doesn’t even realise how she is falling for Max until it is too late. I also love how Max is neurodiverse and think it is handled really well. There is an awful lot of politics in this book which had me a bit confided at times as I wasn’t sure who was on each side but I feel like that was intentional. Delilah often has to really think about who she can trust.
The romance is super slow burn and has you grinning to yourself, especially with all the shopping 🥰 honestly Delilah has it bad.
Thank you so much for this advanced reader copy Elvie ❤️
November 29, 2025
mwah. nothing short of perfection
November 15, 2025
A will-they-or-won’t-they love story, a well crafted world of human/monster politics, and well written neurodivergent representation all intersect in Thicker Than Water.
The story opens in a modern day city and timeline, with one major difference: Humans now are aware of and living amongst vampires, witches, and werewolves. Humans are skeptical of Vamps, some downright hating or targeting them.
Our main protagonist, Delilah, is second to a powerful vampire politician. He has tasked her with the important job of poring over literature written about vampires (by humans) to discover popular opinion and, through lots of marketing and collaboration with her human colleague, improve public relations.
She is assigned to work with a mysterious young Doctor Maxine, and the two annoy each other almost immediately. Max’s sunshiney demeanor confuses our vampire friend, as do her chaotic organization system and powerful human emotions.
The stakes get higher as the public opinion of Vamps becomes more negative, and Max becomes a target.
Through hours of reading, awkward lunch dates, and a shared apartment (!), Max and Delilah become closer, as Max wrestles with her feelings and her desire to protect the human doctor.
I won’t spoil anything else, but there is **definitely** some open door spice and – well, if blood makes you squeamish you probably aren’t the right target for vampire novels 😅
The genuine representation of an Autistic doctor was refreshing. Max was by far my favorite character, not stuck into an “Autistics don’t understand feelings” box or stereotyped, but real and happy and human.
I would have loved to learn more about Magnus (the politician,) and Calliope, Delilah’s best friend (who happens to be a non-practicing witch.) While Max and Delilah were fleshed out quite well, I found myself wondering about the other characters’ motivations and lives.
Delilah’s lack of memories of being a human, centuries before, made me giggle, as did her frequent annoyed references to Twilight.
Also, cats named Renfield and Purrsival.
If you like vampires, sapphic love stories, and cats, this is a must-read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Elvie Grace for the Advance Readers Copy.
See more of my reviews at: http://midnightreview.movie.blog
The story opens in a modern day city and timeline, with one major difference: Humans now are aware of and living amongst vampires, witches, and werewolves. Humans are skeptical of Vamps, some downright hating or targeting them.
Our main protagonist, Delilah, is second to a powerful vampire politician. He has tasked her with the important job of poring over literature written about vampires (by humans) to discover popular opinion and, through lots of marketing and collaboration with her human colleague, improve public relations.
She is assigned to work with a mysterious young Doctor Maxine, and the two annoy each other almost immediately. Max’s sunshiney demeanor confuses our vampire friend, as do her chaotic organization system and powerful human emotions.
The stakes get higher as the public opinion of Vamps becomes more negative, and Max becomes a target.
Through hours of reading, awkward lunch dates, and a shared apartment (!), Max and Delilah become closer, as Max wrestles with her feelings and her desire to protect the human doctor.
I won’t spoil anything else, but there is **definitely** some open door spice and – well, if blood makes you squeamish you probably aren’t the right target for vampire novels 😅
The genuine representation of an Autistic doctor was refreshing. Max was by far my favorite character, not stuck into an “Autistics don’t understand feelings” box or stereotyped, but real and happy and human.
I would have loved to learn more about Magnus (the politician,) and Calliope, Delilah’s best friend (who happens to be a non-practicing witch.) While Max and Delilah were fleshed out quite well, I found myself wondering about the other characters’ motivations and lives.
Delilah’s lack of memories of being a human, centuries before, made me giggle, as did her frequent annoyed references to Twilight.
Also, cats named Renfield and Purrsival.
If you like vampires, sapphic love stories, and cats, this is a must-read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you Elvie Grace for the Advance Readers Copy.
See more of my reviews at: http://midnightreview.movie.blog
November 13, 2025
I love original vampire tales. I love supporting independent authors. So this book was an absolute treat! There’s a whodunnit-style mystery, gently satirical pokes at current politics (specifically discrimination), and a slow-burn love story. So much to appreciate!
The heart of the book for me was Delilah as a 300+ vampire finding her place in the modern world. Her anecdotes were a joy, and her gradual connection to such everyday tasks as grocery shopping, human social interaction (mansplaining!) and certain aspects of modern technology made this so much fun.
Delilah’s work-partner Max is a great contrast, taking the common Odd Couple trope and making it human. Her neurodiversity is also written very well, and both women came to life easily on the pages, finding their voices beyond any literary cliches.
I was even pleasantly surprised by Magnus, the Head Vampire who is - for the first time that I can recall - actually one of the Good Guys. So often these figures are the Big Bad, but from the first chapters with two ancient beings laughing and joking in a club, we see how such beings would survive and thrive. There’s no gothic brooding here, and it was honestly refreshing.
There are shades of ‘True Blood’ with the politics of vampires coming out into the community, ‘Forever Knight’ in the social and historic asides, as well as comedic nods to ‘Twilight’ (“They made us sparkle!”) - but Elvie Grace clearly adores all of the media that has come before, and has been inspired by it to create her own unique world.
This is clearly a first novel but it’s a fine one and I’m absolutely here to see what Elvie writes next.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
The heart of the book for me was Delilah as a 300+ vampire finding her place in the modern world. Her anecdotes were a joy, and her gradual connection to such everyday tasks as grocery shopping, human social interaction (mansplaining!) and certain aspects of modern technology made this so much fun.
Delilah’s work-partner Max is a great contrast, taking the common Odd Couple trope and making it human. Her neurodiversity is also written very well, and both women came to life easily on the pages, finding their voices beyond any literary cliches.
I was even pleasantly surprised by Magnus, the Head Vampire who is - for the first time that I can recall - actually one of the Good Guys. So often these figures are the Big Bad, but from the first chapters with two ancient beings laughing and joking in a club, we see how such beings would survive and thrive. There’s no gothic brooding here, and it was honestly refreshing.
There are shades of ‘True Blood’ with the politics of vampires coming out into the community, ‘Forever Knight’ in the social and historic asides, as well as comedic nods to ‘Twilight’ (“They made us sparkle!”) - but Elvie Grace clearly adores all of the media that has come before, and has been inspired by it to create her own unique world.
This is clearly a first novel but it’s a fine one and I’m absolutely here to see what Elvie writes next.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
November 8, 2025
Thank you to Elvie for the ARC!
This was my first experience of reading a sapphic romance, and boy, did it live up to the hype!
The story focuses on Delilah, a Turned vampire (as opposed to a Born - this is important!), and Max(ine), an autistic academic focused on human-written vampire lore. Delilah is tasked with helping Max with her research to improve the image of vampires, now that they are trying to integrate with humans. But then Max starts receiving threats and ends up moving into Delilah's apartment for safety.
I was so impressed with how realistic and TOTALLY AWKWARD the romantic plot was in this - it made me cringe and smile in equal measure. I loved the slow burn, and the fact that Delilah keeps trying to pretend she isn't into Max even though she obviously totally is.
The various platonic relationships were also really realistically written, and I particularly enjoyed Callie the former witch.
I found the non-romance plot a little confusing, but honestly, it didn't make much difference to the reading experience (and it's probably because my ADHD brain got distracted while I was reading), and the climax was still understandable and nicely tense despite me being a bit thick! I did, however, really like how Elvie brought the supernatural (vamps, werewolves, and witches) into the modern day and made them contemporary, which you don't see enough in books imo.
I loved the HEA ending too, which wrapped the story up nicely without being too twee.
I'm definitely going to be reading more of Elvie's books in future, as well as more LGBTQ+ romances!
This was my first experience of reading a sapphic romance, and boy, did it live up to the hype!
The story focuses on Delilah, a Turned vampire (as opposed to a Born - this is important!), and Max(ine), an autistic academic focused on human-written vampire lore. Delilah is tasked with helping Max with her research to improve the image of vampires, now that they are trying to integrate with humans. But then Max starts receiving threats and ends up moving into Delilah's apartment for safety.
I was so impressed with how realistic and TOTALLY AWKWARD the romantic plot was in this - it made me cringe and smile in equal measure. I loved the slow burn, and the fact that Delilah keeps trying to pretend she isn't into Max even though she obviously totally is.
The various platonic relationships were also really realistically written, and I particularly enjoyed Callie the former witch.
I found the non-romance plot a little confusing, but honestly, it didn't make much difference to the reading experience (and it's probably because my ADHD brain got distracted while I was reading), and the climax was still understandable and nicely tense despite me being a bit thick! I did, however, really like how Elvie brought the supernatural (vamps, werewolves, and witches) into the modern day and made them contemporary, which you don't see enough in books imo.
I loved the HEA ending too, which wrapped the story up nicely without being too twee.
I'm definitely going to be reading more of Elvie's books in future, as well as more LGBTQ+ romances!
November 23, 2025
A world where the paranormal has integrated with human society is never going to be smooth sailing…that’s where we start in Thicker Than Water.
Delilah is a centuries-old Vampire. Her leader is responsible for the technology that allows their kind to be around humans (and sunlight) safely. But that is only half the battle - now they need to win the PR war.
That’s where Delilah comes in. She is assigned to work with Dr Maxine - Max - to help shape their message. But with tensions rising between factions and species, their focus quickly shifts to identifying potential threats…and when the threats move closer to home, Delilah is forced to confront her growing feelings for the eccentric professor.
With some forced proximity, cat antics and a crash course in “how to keep your human alive”, this sapphic PNR is a fun read. It’s the beginning of a new series and I suspect we’re only just dipping our toes into the world. There’s lots of history between the paranormal characters to explore and old grudges and betrayals die hard.
I really liked the autistic rep in this book. Max and Delilah have a sunshine/grumpy thing happening, and they definitely get the slow burn going. The romance is open door and mostly happens towards the end of the book. The story deals with classism, sexism and racism. I think fans of PNR will enjoy this story and the world it is set in.
Delilah is a centuries-old Vampire. Her leader is responsible for the technology that allows their kind to be around humans (and sunlight) safely. But that is only half the battle - now they need to win the PR war.
That’s where Delilah comes in. She is assigned to work with Dr Maxine - Max - to help shape their message. But with tensions rising between factions and species, their focus quickly shifts to identifying potential threats…and when the threats move closer to home, Delilah is forced to confront her growing feelings for the eccentric professor.
With some forced proximity, cat antics and a crash course in “how to keep your human alive”, this sapphic PNR is a fun read. It’s the beginning of a new series and I suspect we’re only just dipping our toes into the world. There’s lots of history between the paranormal characters to explore and old grudges and betrayals die hard.
I really liked the autistic rep in this book. Max and Delilah have a sunshine/grumpy thing happening, and they definitely get the slow burn going. The romance is open door and mostly happens towards the end of the book. The story deals with classism, sexism and racism. I think fans of PNR will enjoy this story and the world it is set in.
November 14, 2025
ARC Review - 3.5/5 ⭐
Thicker Than Water was such a fun surprise. It’s a cozy vampire romance with this really unique research-project vibe, following Delilah and Magnus as they try to teach humans what vampires are actually like. The mix of supernatural politics and human nonsense was way more entertaining than I expected, and honestly, watching humans get corrected on their wild vampire myths was so fun.
Max’s autism rep was one of my favourite parts. It felt genuine and thoughtful, and her dynamic with Delilah is just soo good. Delilah’s humour, Max’s quiet honesty, the slow build between them, it all felt so natural!
The romance definitely sits in the background, but the little moments between them are so soft and sweet.
A few parts dragged a bit, but overall the cozy vibe, warm dialogue, and fresh premise made this such an easy, enjoyable read. It’s cute, not spicy, more plot than romance, but if you like supernatural stories with heart and great character moments, this one’s worth picking up.
Thank you so much to the author Elvie Grace for an ARC in exchange for an honest review 💕✨
Thicker Than Water was such a fun surprise. It’s a cozy vampire romance with this really unique research-project vibe, following Delilah and Magnus as they try to teach humans what vampires are actually like. The mix of supernatural politics and human nonsense was way more entertaining than I expected, and honestly, watching humans get corrected on their wild vampire myths was so fun.
Max’s autism rep was one of my favourite parts. It felt genuine and thoughtful, and her dynamic with Delilah is just soo good. Delilah’s humour, Max’s quiet honesty, the slow build between them, it all felt so natural!
The romance definitely sits in the background, but the little moments between them are so soft and sweet.
A few parts dragged a bit, but overall the cozy vibe, warm dialogue, and fresh premise made this such an easy, enjoyable read. It’s cute, not spicy, more plot than romance, but if you like supernatural stories with heart and great character moments, this one’s worth picking up.
Thank you so much to the author Elvie Grace for an ARC in exchange for an honest review 💕✨
November 17, 2025
This novel's about vampires who were all trying to live normally and wanting to be accepted into a society but were facing resistance due to some of the misconceptions and ideas of humans about them. It's a serious political matter in this book but, what I did not expect was how much I would be laughing and giggling at some of the encounters, comments, and references made about vampires and the lore behind it all.
Reading this book was sooooo much fun!!! It had great banters and amazing friendships that I feel as a reader, I wanted to have. And, there was the autism representation which was beautifully written and cared for. Then, we have relationships that flowed naturally and romance was not even the main thing in here - it was not cringe, very innocent and wholesome until... 🤭😅 but yeah, it was the sloooooowest burn you can get and yet, the tension and the yearning were still there, how it realistically transformed into something more was done incredibly.
I got a good feeling, I do love me a good vampire story, and I truly enjoyed this narrative so much plus, I liked how it ended. Recommended! ✨️
Reading this book was sooooo much fun!!! It had great banters and amazing friendships that I feel as a reader, I wanted to have. And, there was the autism representation which was beautifully written and cared for. Then, we have relationships that flowed naturally and romance was not even the main thing in here - it was not cringe, very innocent and wholesome until... 🤭😅 but yeah, it was the sloooooowest burn you can get and yet, the tension and the yearning were still there, how it realistically transformed into something more was done incredibly.
I got a good feeling, I do love me a good vampire story, and I truly enjoyed this narrative so much plus, I liked how it ended. Recommended! ✨️
November 18, 2025
This story has Pinging with a capital P! Charming story that is a lovely strangers to friends to lovers thread through this book. Also, the neurodivergent representation was really tastefully done. Delilah is an antisocial Vampire that is forced to work with Dr. Maxine to help her friend and maker, Magnus' hard hard-launch his 'Into the Light' campaign, announcing vampires' existence to human society. The slow trickling of information to unravel the mystery of who is working against Magnus and the Vampires was a real page turner.
Exciting though it was to follow the twists and turns of this novel, there were some points that didn't quite hit with me. While there is a happy ending, I knocked a star off because the slow burn is so slow that you literally don't get any hope of them actually getting together until the last chapter. And that is a specific thing that grinds my gears in romance, but especially in sapphic romance. But that is my personal pet peeve; I enjoyed the story in spite of that, though.
Exciting though it was to follow the twists and turns of this novel, there were some points that didn't quite hit with me. While there is a happy ending, I knocked a star off because the slow burn is so slow that you literally don't get any hope of them actually getting together until the last chapter. And that is a specific thing that grinds my gears in romance, but especially in sapphic romance. But that is my personal pet peeve; I enjoyed the story in spite of that, though.
November 24, 2025
Thanks to Elvie Grace for sending me an ARC, these thoughts are my own and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
Okay, so, I really liked this book but it wasn't exactly what i expected.
After seeing it advertised, I expected more of a fun spicy romance with political subplots, but instead I found a deeply political story with a romantic subplot.
But I really liked the romance subplot. Seeing them work together and seeing how two very different women used to being on their own fall in love was believable and made it feel cozy against the higher-stakes plot. The autism representation in Max was great, and it made Max my favourite character in the book. I appreciated the cats haha. The romence doesn't have much spice, so if you aren't looking for much spice it's perfect (I actually tend to prefer it that way).
The political plot was also well executed although I felt lost at times, but that was probably me (my mental health was making my brain feel dense). It had something I've found I like in paranormal fantasy books: vampire discrimination. The political story with the factions and the high stakes provided tension, betrayals and high emotion moments for the romantic subplot to flourish.
The ending was satisfying, though i would have loved some more build up.
And i wish i had seen a bit more of the romance, because i really liked Del and Max's relationship.
Okay, so, I really liked this book but it wasn't exactly what i expected.
After seeing it advertised, I expected more of a fun spicy romance with political subplots, but instead I found a deeply political story with a romantic subplot.
But I really liked the romance subplot. Seeing them work together and seeing how two very different women used to being on their own fall in love was believable and made it feel cozy against the higher-stakes plot. The autism representation in Max was great, and it made Max my favourite character in the book. I appreciated the cats haha. The romence doesn't have much spice, so if you aren't looking for much spice it's perfect (I actually tend to prefer it that way).
The political plot was also well executed although I felt lost at times, but that was probably me (my mental health was making my brain feel dense). It had something I've found I like in paranormal fantasy books: vampire discrimination. The political story with the factions and the high stakes provided tension, betrayals and high emotion moments for the romantic subplot to flourish.
The ending was satisfying, though i would have loved some more build up.
And i wish i had seen a bit more of the romance, because i really liked Del and Max's relationship.
November 7, 2025
I had the pleasure of Beta reading and receiving this book as an ARC, and oh my WORD is it phenomenal!
The characters, the tension, the WORLDBUILDING! Every single aspect of this novel is top-notch. It brings humor, lust, and a hint of majesty to the age-old question of belonging, and it navigates the dramas of vampire (and human!) politics in a delightfully unique way.
I loved the neurospicy representation throughout the story, and I truly enjoyed the slow build up of trust and tension in Max and Del's relationship.
If your favorite parts of the Twilight series were the interactions with the Volturi (and Twilight is DEFINITELY mentioned at least a few times in this book! lol), and you love a good slow-burn, sapphic romance with intense yearning, found family, and political intrigue, this one's for you.
The characters, the tension, the WORLDBUILDING! Every single aspect of this novel is top-notch. It brings humor, lust, and a hint of majesty to the age-old question of belonging, and it navigates the dramas of vampire (and human!) politics in a delightfully unique way.
I loved the neurospicy representation throughout the story, and I truly enjoyed the slow build up of trust and tension in Max and Del's relationship.
If your favorite parts of the Twilight series were the interactions with the Volturi (and Twilight is DEFINITELY mentioned at least a few times in this book! lol), and you love a good slow-burn, sapphic romance with intense yearning, found family, and political intrigue, this one's for you.
December 7, 2025
I have never been so mad that I have to function as a human and can’t just spend all my time reading.
This book. Oh this book. I am in love with the way the author writes, a wonderful blend of wit, sarcasm, and quiet observations. The entire dynamic, waiting and yearning, was frustrating but oh so perfect. And the way mundane tasks and necessities became little morsels of humour and concern? I don’t think I could ever get enough of these two.
I also loved that the author had an extremely engaging plot beyond the relationship, there was so much depth to the characters and the world, so many small hints working toward a much bigger picture! I LOVED THIS BOOK. True perfection in every way to me.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy, all thoughts are my own.
This book. Oh this book. I am in love with the way the author writes, a wonderful blend of wit, sarcasm, and quiet observations. The entire dynamic, waiting and yearning, was frustrating but oh so perfect. And the way mundane tasks and necessities became little morsels of humour and concern? I don’t think I could ever get enough of these two.
I also loved that the author had an extremely engaging plot beyond the relationship, there was so much depth to the characters and the world, so many small hints working toward a much bigger picture! I LOVED THIS BOOK. True perfection in every way to me.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy, all thoughts are my own.
November 12, 2025
I had such a good time with Thicker Than Water! It’s such a refreshing twist on the vampire romance genre, more brains and heart than I expected, with a lovely balance of humour and supernatural drama. I loved watching Delilah and Max’s relationship slowly unfold; their chemistry felt natural and
I really appreciated how Max’s neurodivergence was written with care and authenticity.
It’s not all romance (there’s a good dose of politics and social themes), but it worked for me because it made the story feel layered and meaningful. I hope Callie gets her own spin off! Huge thanks to Elvie for the ARC!
I really appreciated how Max’s neurodivergence was written with care and authenticity.
It’s not all romance (there’s a good dose of politics and social themes), but it worked for me because it made the story feel layered and meaningful. I hope Callie gets her own spin off! Huge thanks to Elvie for the ARC!
October 30, 2025
I was lucky enough to get an arc of this (many thanks to the author!) and it did not disappoint. The dialogue and banter between the MCs was some of the best I’ve read lately and had me laughing out loud. These two had chemistry in spades and I was Here. For. It. The slow burn was slowww burning but if you’re into that vibe you’ll love this.
The world building, found family, and hilarious dry humor throughout was amazingly entertaining and made this book hard to put down. This was my first Elvie Grace book, but it certainly won’t be my last!
The world building, found family, and hilarious dry humor throughout was amazingly entertaining and made this book hard to put down. This was my first Elvie Grace book, but it certainly won’t be my last!
November 2, 2025
I love a good vampire story! This one I received as an advanced reader - the review is completely based on my own opinions. The story is interesting with a good dose of supernatural politics & human politics combining. It was cute though not very spicy; a nice warm & cozy tale. Personally there were some parts that dragged on and a couple of minor spelling issues (every book no matter how wonderfully edited will have a few uncaught ones) but not anywhere near to distracting or taking away from the story itself. All in all a 4/5!
November 4, 2025
Thicker Than Water is a book i was incredibly lucky to be an arc reader for. Between the beautiful love story of Delilah and Max, the storyline of Vamps attempting to come Into the Light, and the messiness surrounding it all, this is one of my favorite books. The Vamps were written in a way that feels like an allegory for trans people (and not the way you might expect!) which is something i definitely loved. I hope we’re able to see more stories from this world, I would love to see more of these characters and/or this setting
December 21, 2025
I finally managed to finish Thicker than water by @elviegracewrites (real life was in the way for a while). I had the privilege to be an ARC reader and I am truly grateful. The book is wonderful. I love vampires, in every way and form (but not twilight 🤣) and she managed to write a whole new point of view on them. I would have loved to have more lore of the species, but that's just the TTRPG player in me. I identified a lot with the FMC and her Coprotagonist won me over immediately. If you like fantasy politics, slow burn, and a realistic point of view of a creature who is centuries old, you will love this book. The writing is creative but not too difficult to understand for non native speakers like myself. So what are you waiting for? It's really worth it
November 1, 2025
I admit to being a little unsure to start with but I quickly got stuck in. The characters have enough depth to keep you interested, without useless fluff bulking it out, and it was nice to see neurodivergance represented well.
A lovely read and perfect for the spooky season.
A lovely read and perfect for the spooky season.
November 18, 2025
lesbian vampires what more can i say?
read it.
read it.
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