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This Fever Called Living : A Horror Novella
A dark retelling/mashup of Carmilla and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Palermo, Sicily 1999.
Juliette suffers from a rare illness that keeps her hidden from the sun. Her winter days at Villa Astrid are filled with isolation and gnawing hunger, haunted by fragmented memories of a summer she can't quite piece together.
Then Elenoire arrives.
Mysterious and magnetic, Elenoire captivates Juliette in a way that's both thrilling and terrifying. There's something dangerous about her, something Juliette can't name. She knows she should keep her distance, yet all she can think about is kissing her.
Meanwhile, young women are turning up dead across Palermo. Whispers of a serial killer spread through the city, but Juliette suspects that something darker is at play. Something not entirely human.
Palermo, Sicily 1999.
Juliette suffers from a rare illness that keeps her hidden from the sun. Her winter days at Villa Astrid are filled with isolation and gnawing hunger, haunted by fragmented memories of a summer she can't quite piece together.
Then Elenoire arrives.
Mysterious and magnetic, Elenoire captivates Juliette in a way that's both thrilling and terrifying. There's something dangerous about her, something Juliette can't name. She knows she should keep her distance, yet all she can think about is kissing her.
Meanwhile, young women are turning up dead across Palermo. Whispers of a serial killer spread through the city, but Juliette suspects that something darker is at play. Something not entirely human.
103 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2026
3 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Azzurra Nox
27 books203 followersBorn in Catania, Sicily, she has led a nomadic life since birth. She has lived in various European cities and Cuba, and currently resides in the Los Angeles area. Always an avid reader and writer from a young age, she loved entertaining her friends with ghost stories. She loves horror movies, cats, and a good rock show. She dislikes Mondays and chick-flicks. CUT HERE, her debut paranormal urban fantasy was inspired by a nightmare the writer had a few years ago. Some of her favourite authors include Anne Rice, Oscar Wilde, Chuck Palahniuk, and Isabella Santacroce.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 9, 2026
A shot of pure horror.
My heart is still thudding as I write this review and MY GOD DO I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK. I can't believe that a mere hundred pages can make me ABSOLUTELY FERALoops is it too soon 😳 for a book.
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
Insatiable hunger, that's all Juliette can feel after an unfateful night last summer. As we unravel her past with its intricacies we gorge in the present terrors.
Elianore is the new tenant. And Juliette is immediately drawn to her like a magnet. But within her lies a secret she thinks she might share.
‧˚꒰🍷꒱༘‧—𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤
The writing had an eerie atmosphere and as we ping pong between the past and the present, we are drawn closer to what really happened. The cut-offs in Juliette's memory sprinkle the narrative and we are left to complete the intricate jigsaw, while convincing ourselves that the horrors aren't what we think they are %s>when they are exactly what we think they are
▬ι𓆃Overall
Overall it's a hooking read, GO READ IT ASAP GOSH IT'S AMAZING 100 PAGES OF PURE UNADULTERATED HEART-THUDDINGLY BEAUTIFUL BLISS.
4.6-i-could-kill-for-a-mean-burger-rn-(oops-too-soon?)/5
𝓒𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓼
I would like to thank Netgalley, Azzura Nox and Twisted Wing Production for the eARC of the book.
My heart is still thudding as I write this review and MY GOD DO I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK. I can't believe that a mere hundred pages can make me ABSOLUTELY FERAL
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
Insatiable hunger, that's all Juliette can feel after an unfateful night last summer. As we unravel her past with its intricacies we gorge in the present terrors.
Elianore is the new tenant. And Juliette is immediately drawn to her like a magnet. But within her lies a secret she thinks she might share.
‧˚꒰🍷꒱༘‧—𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤
The writing had an eerie atmosphere and as we ping pong between the past and the present, we are drawn closer to what really happened. The cut-offs in Juliette's memory sprinkle the narrative and we are left to complete the intricate jigsaw, while convincing ourselves that the horrors aren't what we think they are %s>when they are exactly what we think they are
▬ι𓆃Overall
Overall it's a hooking read, GO READ IT ASAP GOSH IT'S AMAZING 100 PAGES OF PURE UNADULTERATED HEART-THUDDINGLY BEAUTIFUL BLISS.
4.6-i-could-kill-for-a-mean-burger-rn-(oops-too-soon?)/5
𝓒𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓽𝓼
I would like to thank Netgalley, Azzura Nox and Twisted Wing Production for the eARC of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book has a nightmare-like quality. The kind where it’s not quite a full-fledged nightmare yet, but you can feel that something's off, lurking just beneath the surface. It’s disorienting in the most compelling way.
The atmosphere and mood are perfect. It's an immersive experience, rich and deliberate. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it breathes alongside its characters. A decaying Palermo villa, salt-thick air, gothic yearning, oppressive humidity, girls circling each other like they might kiss or ruin each other’s lives, or maybe that’s the same thing here.
I loved the writing style. It’s poetic without being florid, swinging between feverish beauty and the occasional awkward sentence that makes you blink and go, “Wait, what?” When it works, it really works. It’s all velvet and rot and sun-bleached decay. When it doesn’t, it briefly pulls you out of the trance, just long enough to notice the seams.
Our main character Juliette has a condition that causes extreme UV sensitivity, so she can only go out at night. It's a great twist on the classic vampire story.
Juliette and Elenoire's interactions are magnetic. There's desire tangled with danger, intimacy tinged with something predatory. They’re toxic together, and every scene feels like it could end in a kiss or a crime scene.
The pacing leaves a little to be desired. This is a short novella, and it shows. Emotional revelations drop like dramatic fainting spells, but before we can fully process them, we’re already moving on. I wanted to linger longer in the obsession and delicious dread; instead, the story sometimes speed-runs its own descent into madness.
And the 1999 setting is so good. Gothic girls with late-90s technology? Perfect. But occasionally, the modern touches clash so jarringly with the crumbling old-world aesthetic that it’s like that scene in Game of Thrones when someone forgot a Starbucks cup and it's a bit embarrassing.
I had a really good time. This isn’t scream-in-terror horror; it’s a melancholic, yearning sort of horror. It’s seductive, pulling you toward something dangerous and intoxicating. It’s not flawless, but it’s determined to drag you into its fever
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
The atmosphere and mood are perfect. It's an immersive experience, rich and deliberate. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it breathes alongside its characters. A decaying Palermo villa, salt-thick air, gothic yearning, oppressive humidity, girls circling each other like they might kiss or ruin each other’s lives, or maybe that’s the same thing here.
I loved the writing style. It’s poetic without being florid, swinging between feverish beauty and the occasional awkward sentence that makes you blink and go, “Wait, what?” When it works, it really works. It’s all velvet and rot and sun-bleached decay. When it doesn’t, it briefly pulls you out of the trance, just long enough to notice the seams.
Our main character Juliette has a condition that causes extreme UV sensitivity, so she can only go out at night. It's a great twist on the classic vampire story.
Juliette and Elenoire's interactions are magnetic. There's desire tangled with danger, intimacy tinged with something predatory. They’re toxic together, and every scene feels like it could end in a kiss or a crime scene.
The pacing leaves a little to be desired. This is a short novella, and it shows. Emotional revelations drop like dramatic fainting spells, but before we can fully process them, we’re already moving on. I wanted to linger longer in the obsession and delicious dread; instead, the story sometimes speed-runs its own descent into madness.
And the 1999 setting is so good. Gothic girls with late-90s technology? Perfect. But occasionally, the modern touches clash so jarringly with the crumbling old-world aesthetic that it’s like that scene in Game of Thrones when someone forgot a Starbucks cup and it's a bit embarrassing.
I had a really good time. This isn’t scream-in-terror horror; it’s a melancholic, yearning sort of horror. It’s seductive, pulling you toward something dangerous and intoxicating. It’s not flawless, but it’s determined to drag you into its fever
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
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March 4, 2026
Special thanks to Netgalley for this book
Okay first of all, the gore ??!! Omgggggg 😱😱😱
This is the darkest book I've ever read till now
We follow a girl named Juliette (the name just reminded me so much of the Shatter Me series but this girl is like totally different)
And she has some sort of illness that makes her blister out in the sun so she follows a nocturnal routine which is really interesting (I'm so dumb I didn't figure out what that indirectly signified 😭)
And she's always so hungry like deep feral vicious hunger which was kinda very concerning
But yea- we later on find why that is the case (won't spoil it tho hehe)
Just one thing I didn't really like about this book and the reason I cut one star from the rating is that the sexual references were kinda unnecessary imo. Like it could've been avoided the lust and everything cuz didn't really impact the story in any way. It was just there idk for what reason and may or may not have disgusted me a bit since I'm not really used to it :)
Overall, twas a short horrifying gothic read which i devoured in a single sitting. I'm glad I found this book thanks to Izzy. Love ya <3
Okay first of all, the gore ??!! Omgggggg 😱😱😱
This is the darkest book I've ever read till now
We follow a girl named Juliette (the name just reminded me so much of the Shatter Me series but this girl is like totally different)
And she has some sort of illness that makes her blister out in the sun so she follows a nocturnal routine which is really interesting (I'm so dumb I didn't figure out what that indirectly signified 😭)
And she's always so hungry like deep feral vicious hunger which was kinda very concerning
But yea- we later on find why that is the case (won't spoil it tho hehe)
Just one thing I didn't really like about this book and the reason I cut one star from the rating is that the sexual references were kinda unnecessary imo. Like it could've been avoided the lust and everything cuz didn't really impact the story in any way. It was just there idk for what reason and may or may not have disgusted me a bit since I'm not really used to it :)
Overall, twas a short horrifying gothic read which i devoured in a single sitting. I'm glad I found this book thanks to Izzy. Love ya <3
February 20, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this novella.
Carmilla and The Fall of the House of Usher are two classics I have read and enjoyed so I was very excited to read this novella. I think that the appreciation and inspiration for both these books is very clear as the story moves on.
I genuinely didn’t want to give a low rating to this book but I have to be honest and share with you why I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. Firstly, the writing style was clunky and wattpad-esque. There is a lot of repetition such as the taste of pennies and reiterating just how big their estate. As well as this, there were 3 Wicked/Wizard of Oz references which took me out of the story completely as they felt very out of place.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when an author tells us someone is wealthy by name dropping luxury brands. It feels lazy and I would rather be shown through characterisation rather than being told that the main character is wearing a Versace robe more than once. This happens quite frequently throughout.
The only aspects of this that feel like horror to me are the descriptions of blood and even then it isn’t particularly gory. I don’t feel there is any building of tension, the dialogue feels unnatural and the plot was very predictable. It’s very hard to follow how time is passing, things feel like they are moving very fast but also very slowly all at once. On one hand, you think that this must be taking course over a period of weeks because there are sudden leaps in the relationships but then I think we are told it has only been a few days and I once again find myself confused.
Lastly, this issue feels even to myself like I am being nitpicky but little details like the use of the phrase “Middle East” being used in a scene during 1793, even though the term wasn’t coined until the 1850s feels careless.
Overall, I think there was promise in the idea for this retelling but the execution was severely lacking.
Carmilla and The Fall of the House of Usher are two classics I have read and enjoyed so I was very excited to read this novella. I think that the appreciation and inspiration for both these books is very clear as the story moves on.
I genuinely didn’t want to give a low rating to this book but I have to be honest and share with you why I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. Firstly, the writing style was clunky and wattpad-esque. There is a lot of repetition such as the taste of pennies and reiterating just how big their estate. As well as this, there were 3 Wicked/Wizard of Oz references which took me out of the story completely as they felt very out of place.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when an author tells us someone is wealthy by name dropping luxury brands. It feels lazy and I would rather be shown through characterisation rather than being told that the main character is wearing a Versace robe more than once. This happens quite frequently throughout.
The only aspects of this that feel like horror to me are the descriptions of blood and even then it isn’t particularly gory. I don’t feel there is any building of tension, the dialogue feels unnatural and the plot was very predictable. It’s very hard to follow how time is passing, things feel like they are moving very fast but also very slowly all at once. On one hand, you think that this must be taking course over a period of weeks because there are sudden leaps in the relationships but then I think we are told it has only been a few days and I once again find myself confused.
Lastly, this issue feels even to myself like I am being nitpicky but little details like the use of the phrase “Middle East” being used in a scene during 1793, even though the term wasn’t coined until the 1850s feels careless.
Overall, I think there was promise in the idea for this retelling but the execution was severely lacking.
February 16, 2026
The undead in an entirely new way, filled with beautiful prose. A rare disease caused by an unbelievable tragedy, something Juliette can barely recount, but suffers from each day that passes unseen. Thankfully supported by her loving twin, her nights are a little less lonely. A friend and a new lodger both arrive, providing distractions from her sadness, and when things turn deadly, her life becomes a whirlwind of blood and flesh.
I know this is fast paced, and reminiscent of classics we all know and love, but it was well written and there's just enough flesh on the bone to really dig in. I'll be looking for more from Nox in the future. Solid 5/5
I know this is fast paced, and reminiscent of classics we all know and love, but it was well written and there's just enough flesh on the bone to really dig in. I'll be looking for more from Nox in the future. Solid 5/5
March 4, 2026
This Fever Called Living is a retelling of Carmilla and The Fall of the House of Usher that follows Juliette, a recently orphaned twin who is being plagued by a mysterious illness. She had an incident happen to her last summer that she cannot remember, and her brother Jason is unwilling to fill in the blanks for her. She also finds herself dreaming about a woman with red hair that she feels strangely connected to, but can't remember how.
While this was a very quick read, unfortunately, I feel like that was to the detriment of this book. There were a whole lot of plot elements going on that would have benefitted a lot from more time spent exploring each of them and how they interconnect, but there simply wasn't enough pages to fully commit to any one of them. As a result of this, the beginning of the book immediately was somewhat off-putting to me due to the massive amounts of information being told to me right off the bat. I would have liked to see Juliette and Jason's backstory slowly revealed as Juliette's condition worsened and she made discoveries about herself and the mysterious woman.
The writing was also clunky and repetitive at times, and would go back and forth between lyrical, more gothic-style prose to modern slang. It was jarring and I found it difficult to get my footing in terms of immersion because of it.
The atmosphere was nice and very haunting, and fit the story well. I liked the setting of Palermo and the descriptors of it, but I didn't feel like the characters were necessarily integrated into the setting.
I think this book had a lot of potential, but it needed more time to find its voice and unspool all the different threads to the story to make something truly satisfying and fleshed out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Twisted Wing Productions for this ARC!! 🖤
While this was a very quick read, unfortunately, I feel like that was to the detriment of this book. There were a whole lot of plot elements going on that would have benefitted a lot from more time spent exploring each of them and how they interconnect, but there simply wasn't enough pages to fully commit to any one of them. As a result of this, the beginning of the book immediately was somewhat off-putting to me due to the massive amounts of information being told to me right off the bat. I would have liked to see Juliette and Jason's backstory slowly revealed as Juliette's condition worsened and she made discoveries about herself and the mysterious woman.
The writing was also clunky and repetitive at times, and would go back and forth between lyrical, more gothic-style prose to modern slang. It was jarring and I found it difficult to get my footing in terms of immersion because of it.
The atmosphere was nice and very haunting, and fit the story well. I liked the setting of Palermo and the descriptors of it, but I didn't feel like the characters were necessarily integrated into the setting.
I think this book had a lot of potential, but it needed more time to find its voice and unspool all the different threads to the story to make something truly satisfying and fleshed out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Twisted Wing Productions for this ARC!! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A dark gory novella with vampires, yes please! I really enjoyed this book. I do wish that we got just a little more in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and Twisted Wing Productions for this eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Twisted Wing Productions for this eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3,5 ⭐️
Another arc from NetGalley! Thank you so much. I’ve read Carmilla, but not The Fall of the House of Usher, so I can’t fully judge how the second inspiration was represented. Still, the Carmilla influences were easy to recognize and beautifully woven into the story. It felt like a loving echo rather than a copy, which I really appreciated.
Toward the end, however, the story lost a bit of its tension for me. Everything began to move a little too quickly; proof that short books don’t have to feel rushed. Yet, the final moments managed to restore what was briefly lost.
Overall, this novella was a pleasant and fast-paced read. If you’re looking for a vampire story with sapphic elements and a dark atmosphere, you can read on one sitting, this book might be exactly what you’re searching for.
Another arc from NetGalley! Thank you so much. I’ve read Carmilla, but not The Fall of the House of Usher, so I can’t fully judge how the second inspiration was represented. Still, the Carmilla influences were easy to recognize and beautifully woven into the story. It felt like a loving echo rather than a copy, which I really appreciated.
Toward the end, however, the story lost a bit of its tension for me. Everything began to move a little too quickly; proof that short books don’t have to feel rushed. Yet, the final moments managed to restore what was briefly lost.
Overall, this novella was a pleasant and fast-paced read. If you’re looking for a vampire story with sapphic elements and a dark atmosphere, you can read on one sitting, this book might be exactly what you’re searching for.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
1.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!
Our story started with Juliette, unsure about this mysterious illness afflicting her, meets a woman, Elenoire, whom her brother is allowing to stay at their estate for six months. A strange string of murders in Sicily follows her arrival and Juliette feels an inexplicable draw to Elenoire.
Now I admit, I've never read Carmilla or the Fall of the House of Usher, but that does not exclude me from finding this novella shitty. The grammar was terrible in places and the author's writing generally reminded me of an edgy fifteen-year-old's. There were many mentions of the passage of time and yet all of the book's events seemed to happen right on top of each other. There is no sense of forward movement and while that would've been an interesting stylistic choice, in this case it appears to be unintentional to me.
In addition to this, I found the plot extremely predictable and it's themes derivative. I believe that Juliette's rampage at the end of the work is supposed to represent vampirism as a metaphor for feminine rage and rage towards homophobia, but it generally doesn't come across well becsuse the writing is so stilted and very "She did this. And then this happened."
As mentioned above, there was very little build up of tension or suspense to many of the major plot points of the novella. The main character, Juliette, often seemed like she was doing things randomly, without any logical motivations. Her best friend, Liv, was barely a character and served little to no purpose in my opinion; her brother's entire personality was being gone from the scene until the very end when he explained Juliette's previous summer in Sicily. All of these characters are very flat and one-dimensional -- I'd go so far as to say they only have one personality trait each.
Overall I don't find this work very enjoyable, even with it's quick readability.
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!
Our story started with Juliette, unsure about this mysterious illness afflicting her, meets a woman, Elenoire, whom her brother is allowing to stay at their estate for six months. A strange string of murders in Sicily follows her arrival and Juliette feels an inexplicable draw to Elenoire.
Now I admit, I've never read Carmilla or the Fall of the House of Usher, but that does not exclude me from finding this novella shitty. The grammar was terrible in places and the author's writing generally reminded me of an edgy fifteen-year-old's. There were many mentions of the passage of time and yet all of the book's events seemed to happen right on top of each other. There is no sense of forward movement and while that would've been an interesting stylistic choice, in this case it appears to be unintentional to me.
In addition to this, I found the plot extremely predictable and it's themes derivative. I believe that Juliette's rampage at the end of the work is supposed to represent vampirism as a metaphor for feminine rage and rage towards homophobia, but it generally doesn't come across well becsuse the writing is so stilted and very "She did this. And then this happened."
As mentioned above, there was very little build up of tension or suspense to many of the major plot points of the novella. The main character, Juliette, often seemed like she was doing things randomly, without any logical motivations. Her best friend, Liv, was barely a character and served little to no purpose in my opinion; her brother's entire personality was being gone from the scene until the very end when he explained Juliette's previous summer in Sicily. All of these characters are very flat and one-dimensional -- I'd go so far as to say they only have one personality trait each.
Overall I don't find this work very enjoyable, even with it's quick readability.
February 28, 2026
Not gonna lie, the cover initially enticed me and then when I saw it was a sapphic, vampire tale, I said, "yes please". I received this ARC from Netgalley.
After the tragic death of her parents, Juliette suffers from xeroderma pigmentosa, a rare disease in which she cannot go out in the sunlight and must adapt to a life of the night (sounds familiar doesn't it?). When a mysterious, but oddly familiar, stranger rents a room at Villa Astrid, Juliette uncovers the truth behind her illness.
I'll admit, I'm not HUGE in vampire stuff but this novella was a nice take on the genre and I highly enjoyed it. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys vampires and sapphic horror.
After the tragic death of her parents, Juliette suffers from xeroderma pigmentosa, a rare disease in which she cannot go out in the sunlight and must adapt to a life of the night (sounds familiar doesn't it?). When a mysterious, but oddly familiar, stranger rents a room at Villa Astrid, Juliette uncovers the truth behind her illness.
I'll admit, I'm not HUGE in vampire stuff but this novella was a nice take on the genre and I highly enjoyed it. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys vampires and sapphic horror.
March 14, 2026
Gothic horror is special to me because, while slashers chase and cosmic horror crushes, it can be so moody and evocative. It envelops. It turns setting into character and dread into something beautiful.
This Fever Called Living oozes those vibes from page one. Azzurra Nox’s novella—a reimagining of Carmilla by way of The Fall of the House of Usher—drops us into Palermo, Sicily in 1999, where Juliette is trapped by a rare illness that keeps her hidden from the sun. Elenoire arrives: mysterious and magnetic in a way Juliette can’t put her finger on. Meanwhile, young women are turning up dead across Palermo, which may or may not have something to do with Elenoire (spoiler: it does).
This is a propulsive read—easily devoured in a sitting. Nox writes with a stark, clean urgency. She doesn’t waste words, and yet she’s able to keep a poetic nature about what she writes. I’d previously read her poetry collection Panico!: Marie Antoinette’s Journey During the Reign of Terror, and that book showed real beauty in her prose. That talent is just as present here.
If there’s one drawback, it’s that the speed occasionally works against the story’s most potent moments. This is a novella, yes, but I found myself wishing the obsession and emotionally charged moments in the story were a few pages longer. Especially when it really gets going, and we have some great moments between Juliette and Elenoire. But this is really minor overall.
This Fever Called Living is, ultimately, a really good book—atmospheric and emotionally alive in the way the best gothic fiction always is. Check it out on Amazon!
This Fever Called Living oozes those vibes from page one. Azzurra Nox’s novella—a reimagining of Carmilla by way of The Fall of the House of Usher—drops us into Palermo, Sicily in 1999, where Juliette is trapped by a rare illness that keeps her hidden from the sun. Elenoire arrives: mysterious and magnetic in a way Juliette can’t put her finger on. Meanwhile, young women are turning up dead across Palermo, which may or may not have something to do with Elenoire (spoiler: it does).
This is a propulsive read—easily devoured in a sitting. Nox writes with a stark, clean urgency. She doesn’t waste words, and yet she’s able to keep a poetic nature about what she writes. I’d previously read her poetry collection Panico!: Marie Antoinette’s Journey During the Reign of Terror, and that book showed real beauty in her prose. That talent is just as present here.
If there’s one drawback, it’s that the speed occasionally works against the story’s most potent moments. This is a novella, yes, but I found myself wishing the obsession and emotionally charged moments in the story were a few pages longer. Especially when it really gets going, and we have some great moments between Juliette and Elenoire. But this is really minor overall.
This Fever Called Living is, ultimately, a really good book—atmospheric and emotionally alive in the way the best gothic fiction always is. Check it out on Amazon!
March 14, 2026
{3.5 stars}
Thanks to Twisted Wing Productions for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below are my own.
I love a good gothic vampire story. And this one is an homage to Carmilla and The Fall of the House of Usher. Great bones; and that I think is the best part of this particular story. The setting of Palermo is perfect for the type of story. Lots of old world, ideas and superstition. It does a good job at easing into the supernatural element. Also for a novella, I thought the pacing was perfect. There is a slow creep towards madness, and then everything violent and glory happens quite quickly.
That said I think it needed one more edit. Some of the descriptions were repetitive, this type of horror really does perfect when it plays on your senses. There was an attempt at that here, but it felt a bit too juvenile. One more strong polish of the text and I feel like this would be up there with T Kingfisher.
Thanks to Twisted Wing Productions for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below are my own.
I love a good gothic vampire story. And this one is an homage to Carmilla and The Fall of the House of Usher. Great bones; and that I think is the best part of this particular story. The setting of Palermo is perfect for the type of story. Lots of old world, ideas and superstition. It does a good job at easing into the supernatural element. Also for a novella, I thought the pacing was perfect. There is a slow creep towards madness, and then everything violent and glory happens quite quickly.
That said I think it needed one more edit. Some of the descriptions were repetitive, this type of horror really does perfect when it plays on your senses. There was an attempt at that here, but it felt a bit too juvenile. One more strong polish of the text and I feel like this would be up there with T Kingfisher.
March 4, 2026
Thanks NetGalley for the Arc! 3 stars rounded up to 3.75
In this atmospheric and chilling novella, an unknown illness is plaguing our FMC. Her brother is being cagey about things she can't remember. Women in their town are ending up dead. A mysterious woman rents a room from them so they can make some extra cash. Nightmares haunting the FMC as she sleeps.
Honestly, I was really enjoying this but since it was a novella, I feel like there was so much missing and would've genuinely loved a full length book with these characters and storyline. It felt really rushed and the ending was unsatisfying. Though I really enjoyed the chemistry and Carmilla inspired relationship between Juliet and Elenoire.
This was a fun, fast paced read you can devour in one sitting.
In this atmospheric and chilling novella, an unknown illness is plaguing our FMC. Her brother is being cagey about things she can't remember. Women in their town are ending up dead. A mysterious woman rents a room from them so they can make some extra cash. Nightmares haunting the FMC as she sleeps.
Honestly, I was really enjoying this but since it was a novella, I feel like there was so much missing and would've genuinely loved a full length book with these characters and storyline. It felt really rushed and the ending was unsatisfying. Though I really enjoyed the chemistry and Carmilla inspired relationship between Juliet and Elenoire.
This was a fun, fast paced read you can devour in one sitting.
March 15, 2026
Title: This Fever Called Living
Author: Azzurra Nox
Genre: horror
Format: eARC from Netgalley
Series: NA
Star Rating: 5 stars
tw: parental loss, chronic illness, murder, blood, vomit, assault, gruesome injury, suicide, homophobia
A special thank you goes to Netgalley and Twisted Wing Productions for providing me with a copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.
I am without a shadow of a doubt obsessed with this book! I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book, and I was living for it. Everything about it was so perfect. The writing was beautiful. The pacing was well done. The body horror and gore weren’t too much, but just enough. Everything about it was so entirely well done. This book will forever live rent free in my head.
Juliette was such a great main character. I loved every single thing about her. She was so feral most of the time, and I was living for it. I also loved the relationship she had with her brother. While she was at her worst and most feral, she still was all about her brother and making sure he was okay in the end. That is something I can get behind absolutely.
The plot and the writing were so interesting. I know that this is kind of a retelling of Carmilla and The Fall of the House of Usher. I haven’t read either of them, so I am unsure of how well they followed the stories, but I do know that reading this book makes me want to read both of them. Especially, they are going to be as beautiful and haunting in this book.
Overall, as you might have been able to guess, I loved this book. It’s my second five-star read of the year. I can’t wait to read more books by this author. They certainly know how to write. Everything about this book was so perfect. It’s a book I highly recommend.
Author: Azzurra Nox
Genre: horror
Format: eARC from Netgalley
Series: NA
Star Rating: 5 stars
tw: parental loss, chronic illness, murder, blood, vomit, assault, gruesome injury, suicide, homophobia
A special thank you goes to Netgalley and Twisted Wing Productions for providing me with a copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.
I am without a shadow of a doubt obsessed with this book! I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book, and I was living for it. Everything about it was so perfect. The writing was beautiful. The pacing was well done. The body horror and gore weren’t too much, but just enough. Everything about it was so entirely well done. This book will forever live rent free in my head.
Juliette was such a great main character. I loved every single thing about her. She was so feral most of the time, and I was living for it. I also loved the relationship she had with her brother. While she was at her worst and most feral, she still was all about her brother and making sure he was okay in the end. That is something I can get behind absolutely.
The plot and the writing were so interesting. I know that this is kind of a retelling of Carmilla and The Fall of the House of Usher. I haven’t read either of them, so I am unsure of how well they followed the stories, but I do know that reading this book makes me want to read both of them. Especially, they are going to be as beautiful and haunting in this book.
Overall, as you might have been able to guess, I loved this book. It’s my second five-star read of the year. I can’t wait to read more books by this author. They certainly know how to write. Everything about this book was so perfect. It’s a book I highly recommend.
March 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I agree with the many other reviewers that said this needs to be fleshed out more. It feels a little slow in the beginning, only to then have everything happen at once at the end. The atmosphere builds up slowly, and it's incredibly well done, really giving you a creepy, uncomfortable feeling, to then explode at the end. I feel like if this had been a full-length novel, this would have been great. There was so much potential, in Juliette, in Jason, in Elenoire, Liv, Lara... A lot of characters were taken up, having their own motivations and secrets, and somehow none of it actually gets resolved (except for through murder). That was a pity.
I agree with the many other reviewers that said this needs to be fleshed out more. It feels a little slow in the beginning, only to then have everything happen at once at the end. The atmosphere builds up slowly, and it's incredibly well done, really giving you a creepy, uncomfortable feeling, to then explode at the end. I feel like if this had been a full-length novel, this would have been great. There was so much potential, in Juliette, in Jason, in Elenoire, Liv, Lara... A lot of characters were taken up, having their own motivations and secrets, and somehow none of it actually gets resolved (except for through murder). That was a pity.
March 27, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Twisted Wing Productions for providing this advanced digital book! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a good example of great cover, ok story. The writing could use some tightening up. The writing style occasionally changes, the language feels too stiff for a younger modern (for the time) person. Sentences were clunky. No reasoning given for the guest’s arrival and stay – if they are so wealthy, why do they let out their guest room?
The timelines are unclear, past and present at times clashed and I wasn’t sure if FMC was in the present or a memory. Also, POV switched pointlessly. The writing, while at times lazy, took itself overly serious. The dialogue felt unnatural for the characters, sometimes too aristocratic and antiquated, while the next scene felt too modern and they didn’t match well.
With some editing and structure work, I can see this being part of a short story collection, not its own publication. The gothic theme and the gore will benefit a horror collection well.
2/5 stars
This is a good example of great cover, ok story. The writing could use some tightening up. The writing style occasionally changes, the language feels too stiff for a younger modern (for the time) person. Sentences were clunky. No reasoning given for the guest’s arrival and stay – if they are so wealthy, why do they let out their guest room?
The timelines are unclear, past and present at times clashed and I wasn’t sure if FMC was in the present or a memory. Also, POV switched pointlessly. The writing, while at times lazy, took itself overly serious. The dialogue felt unnatural for the characters, sometimes too aristocratic and antiquated, while the next scene felt too modern and they didn’t match well.
With some editing and structure work, I can see this being part of a short story collection, not its own publication. The gothic theme and the gore will benefit a horror collection well.
2/5 stars
March 1, 2026
This one was a bit bland to me. I’m a fan of vampire stories in general, so it was enjoyable enough to finish reading, but I didn’t feel like there was anything unique or fresh about this take. The horror wasn’t really there for me either, except for maybe the bloody scenes.
I think those that are first getting into horror leaning vampire stories would enjoy this, but for seasoned readers this is probably a skip.
Thank you to NetGalley and Twisted Wing Production for the arc!
I think those that are first getting into horror leaning vampire stories would enjoy this, but for seasoned readers this is probably a skip.
Thank you to NetGalley and Twisted Wing Production for the arc!
March 4, 2026
Synopsis:
Juliette is diagnosed with xeroderma pigmentosum, a rare condition in adults that restricts her from going into the sun. It all began after one summer night—still blurred in her memory and one her twin brother, Jason, refuses to speak about. As they both struggle with the grief of losing their parents, Jason wants his sister to return to who she once was. But can Juliette ever go back to the life she left behind?
Review:
"This Fever Called Living" by Azzura Nox is a dark, eerie, and twisty horror novella set against the haunting backdrop of Palermo.
The story is told mostly through Juliette’s perspective, capturing the psychological toll of her isolation and forced life away from sunlight. The setting of Villa Astrid feels unsettling, especially as Juliette begins to blur the lines between dreams and reality. When the mysterious girl from her dreams, Elenoire, appears at her door, and young girls start dying across Palermo, the tension intensifies.
Amid all the strange occurrences, Jason remains her constant—loyal, protective, and unwavering, even when Juliette herself may seem dangerous. Their sibling bond truly stands out.
Though short, the novella builds atmosphere beautifully, keeping suspicion and dread lingering throughout. While I wished the final reveal had been more shocking, the story remains an engaging, one-sitting, eerie read perfect for horror lovers.
Juliette is diagnosed with xeroderma pigmentosum, a rare condition in adults that restricts her from going into the sun. It all began after one summer night—still blurred in her memory and one her twin brother, Jason, refuses to speak about. As they both struggle with the grief of losing their parents, Jason wants his sister to return to who she once was. But can Juliette ever go back to the life she left behind?
Review:
"This Fever Called Living" by Azzura Nox is a dark, eerie, and twisty horror novella set against the haunting backdrop of Palermo.
The story is told mostly through Juliette’s perspective, capturing the psychological toll of her isolation and forced life away from sunlight. The setting of Villa Astrid feels unsettling, especially as Juliette begins to blur the lines between dreams and reality. When the mysterious girl from her dreams, Elenoire, appears at her door, and young girls start dying across Palermo, the tension intensifies.
Amid all the strange occurrences, Jason remains her constant—loyal, protective, and unwavering, even when Juliette herself may seem dangerous. Their sibling bond truly stands out.
Though short, the novella builds atmosphere beautifully, keeping suspicion and dread lingering throughout. While I wished the final reveal had been more shocking, the story remains an engaging, one-sitting, eerie read perfect for horror lovers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of Advance Copy received from NetGalley
This book was an enjoyable enough read, but it’s got some big issues.
The plot is predictable and everything feels derivative. While I get it’s a retelling, the real problem lies with how easy it is to predict every single plot point. It sticks way too close to the classics of the genre for the reader to be surprised at any point.
The book is at its strongest when the author writes the scenes where Juliette is out of control. She gives a great sense of urgency. As someone with adhd, I could recognise the way I feel when my thoughts run faster than I can catch them, and I appreciated that a lot.
But most of the issues could have been resolved with better editing. There’s a lot of passages where I wondered how it was possible that an editor didn’t intervene.
These are a few glaring examples:
I hope the author decides to rework and republish the story in the future with a few changes, because the potential is definitely there.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing this advance copy in exchange for an honest review
This book was an enjoyable enough read, but it’s got some big issues.
The plot is predictable and everything feels derivative. While I get it’s a retelling, the real problem lies with how easy it is to predict every single plot point. It sticks way too close to the classics of the genre for the reader to be surprised at any point.
The book is at its strongest when the author writes the scenes where Juliette is out of control. She gives a great sense of urgency. As someone with adhd, I could recognise the way I feel when my thoughts run faster than I can catch them, and I appreciated that a lot.
But most of the issues could have been resolved with better editing. There’s a lot of passages where I wondered how it was possible that an editor didn’t intervene.
These are a few glaring examples:
I hope the author decides to rework and republish the story in the future with a few changes, because the potential is definitely there.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing this advance copy in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the story of Juliette, a very sick woman living in her family’s Sicilian villa in 1999. Following the death of her parents, she and her twin brother are simply trying to hold their lives together when she suddenly develops a rare allergic reaction to sunlight. This is accompanied by significant gaps in her memory that seem to occur with more and more frequency, and often result in Juliette waking up covered in dirt and blood. Enter Elenoire: the mysterious new roommate that Juliette is inexplicably drawn toward. As Juliette’s condition worsens, it becomes increasingly obvious that Elenoire is keeping a very dark secret that may reveal more than Juliette is willing to accept about who - or what - she has become.
It was very easy to see how the inspirations behind this story helped shape it into its final form - Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher and Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla are two timeless works of literature, and their echoes are felt throughout the book. I really, really wish I loved this book. I adore a classic retelling, and I will admit that the descriptions of Juliette’s nightmares and terrifying memories elicited visceral reactions several times. Although I have some qualms with the writing style, I do think that the author brilliantly linked the two stories and made them entirely new, which was refreshing. However, the narrative skipped around in a way that felt more jumbled than “girl is losing her mind and sense of reality.” Additionally, the flip-flopping between first- and third-person narration makes it feel inconsistent. What was most disappointing to me was the characterization of the main characters, as this is such a character-driven story. It was a bit jarring for Juliette to be so opposed to Elenoire’s presence in her home while her brother chides her for being an ungracious host, and for them both to seemingly swap feelings after the pool scene. Suddenly, Juliette feels the need to cradle Elenoire close to her in front of her brother, her friend, and the staff, and is captivated by her for the rest of the book. Meanwhile, Jason is now wary of Elenoire, partially as a result of her sharing the awful secret of the torture that led to the loss of her leg. The interactions between characters felt a little unrealistic due to how dramatically they reacted to everything occurring.
At the end of the day, I did enjoy the story and look forward to reading more of Azzurra Nox’ other works of gothic fiction. My sincere thanks to Twisted Wing Productions for providing this ebook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
It was very easy to see how the inspirations behind this story helped shape it into its final form - Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher and Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla are two timeless works of literature, and their echoes are felt throughout the book. I really, really wish I loved this book. I adore a classic retelling, and I will admit that the descriptions of Juliette’s nightmares and terrifying memories elicited visceral reactions several times. Although I have some qualms with the writing style, I do think that the author brilliantly linked the two stories and made them entirely new, which was refreshing. However, the narrative skipped around in a way that felt more jumbled than “girl is losing her mind and sense of reality.” Additionally, the flip-flopping between first- and third-person narration makes it feel inconsistent. What was most disappointing to me was the characterization of the main characters, as this is such a character-driven story. It was a bit jarring for Juliette to be so opposed to Elenoire’s presence in her home while her brother chides her for being an ungracious host, and for them both to seemingly swap feelings after the pool scene. Suddenly, Juliette feels the need to cradle Elenoire close to her in front of her brother, her friend, and the staff, and is captivated by her for the rest of the book. Meanwhile, Jason is now wary of Elenoire, partially as a result of her sharing the awful secret of the torture that led to the loss of her leg. The interactions between characters felt a little unrealistic due to how dramatically they reacted to everything occurring.
At the end of the day, I did enjoy the story and look forward to reading more of Azzurra Nox’ other works of gothic fiction. My sincere thanks to Twisted Wing Productions for providing this ebook for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
I was rather enthusiastic going into this novella, especially since it references The Fall of the House of Usher and is inspired by Carmilla, which I like. The most obvious similarities were seen in Carmilla: the strong, alluring bond between two young ladies, the lazy sickness, and the nagging feeling that something predatory lurks beneath desire. I liked that it felt more like an homage than a retelling. There are undoubtedly remnants of the gothic inspiration.
This book's atmosphere is undoubtedly its best feature. There are shadows, dimly lit rooms, wistful looks, and the gradual disintegration of memory, all of which contribute to the gothic atmosphere of the late 1990s. The richness that the Palermo environment brings complements the story's themes of constraint and loneliness. The text really comes alive when it embraces the macabre, particularly in the more graphic, violent passages. In the nicest manner possible, the portrayal of hunger and metamorphosis is unnerving.
Nevertheless, I had the unavoidable impression that the novella format did more harm than good to the narrative. Grief, parental loss, homophobia, chronic sickness, shattered memories, sibling interactions, friendship disputes, previous relationships, Elenoire's past, and the main sapphic romance are all happening in such a short amount of time. While each of these components is interesting on its own, when combined, they make the story seem crowded. The emphasis falters and certain emotional beats don't have the impact they could have, which prevents Juliette's metamorphosis and her bond with Elenoire from being completely explored.
Although it can be read in one sitting due to its rapid pacing, there are moments when it feels erratic. While some scenes, especially those that seem crucial, go by too fast, others drag on with a lot of repetition. Additionally, I noticed that some of the wording was repetitious, which occasionally caused me to lose my focus. There would have been a visible change with a little more polish and tightness.
I did like how daring the conclusion was. I appreciate that it takes a chance. Even though I wasn't as heartbroken as I had wanted, I appreciated the dedication to a less cosy, darker ending.
This is a dark, gloomy, gothic novella with intense atmosphere and moments of visceral genius. I can definitely see the potential here, but for me, the vibes outweighed the emotional reward. I'd like to read more from the author, particularly in a longer style that gives the plot more space to develop.
I was rather enthusiastic going into this novella, especially since it references The Fall of the House of Usher and is inspired by Carmilla, which I like. The most obvious similarities were seen in Carmilla: the strong, alluring bond between two young ladies, the lazy sickness, and the nagging feeling that something predatory lurks beneath desire. I liked that it felt more like an homage than a retelling. There are undoubtedly remnants of the gothic inspiration.
This book's atmosphere is undoubtedly its best feature. There are shadows, dimly lit rooms, wistful looks, and the gradual disintegration of memory, all of which contribute to the gothic atmosphere of the late 1990s. The richness that the Palermo environment brings complements the story's themes of constraint and loneliness. The text really comes alive when it embraces the macabre, particularly in the more graphic, violent passages. In the nicest manner possible, the portrayal of hunger and metamorphosis is unnerving.
Nevertheless, I had the unavoidable impression that the novella format did more harm than good to the narrative. Grief, parental loss, homophobia, chronic sickness, shattered memories, sibling interactions, friendship disputes, previous relationships, Elenoire's past, and the main sapphic romance are all happening in such a short amount of time. While each of these components is interesting on its own, when combined, they make the story seem crowded. The emphasis falters and certain emotional beats don't have the impact they could have, which prevents Juliette's metamorphosis and her bond with Elenoire from being completely explored.
Although it can be read in one sitting due to its rapid pacing, there are moments when it feels erratic. While some scenes, especially those that seem crucial, go by too fast, others drag on with a lot of repetition. Additionally, I noticed that some of the wording was repetitious, which occasionally caused me to lose my focus. There would have been a visible change with a little more polish and tightness.
I did like how daring the conclusion was. I appreciate that it takes a chance. Even though I wasn't as heartbroken as I had wanted, I appreciated the dedication to a less cosy, darker ending.
This is a dark, gloomy, gothic novella with intense atmosphere and moments of visceral genius. I can definitely see the potential here, but for me, the vibes outweighed the emotional reward. I'd like to read more from the author, particularly in a longer style that gives the plot more space to develop.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I jumped into this without knowing much, but I was thrilled when I clocked the vampirism and the Carmilla-esque aspects of it. I wanted to love this so bad, but this novella left me barely satisfied.
Since this is a novella, we already have quite a short time to spend, and I can’t say it was entirely well used. The pacing is quick and sharp, but it meanders at times, either saying too much or expanding on things that weren’t all necessary for the story.
Instead of fleshing out more of Juliette and her strange relationship with our mysterious woman, the book tries to be everywhere all at once, and it doesn’t connect well. We explore the trauma of losing parents, grief, homophobia, the illness that suddenly strikes Juliette, her lack of memories from last summer, her previous relationship with Lara, the backstory of Elenoire, the friendship (and conflicts) with Liv, the fraternal bond between the twins… It’s just too much, and the end result doesn’t land with full force. Unfortunately, I feel like it compromised both character and plot development.
Besides, there was a lot of repetition done here — not only of phrase structures and metaphors (“the taste of pennies” was really starting to bother me), but also of a word repeated in the same sentence. This left me feeling like the text wasn’t polished or properly edited.
Speaking of narrative choices, there was a bit of a jump between point of views that was quite jarring, especially when our main character, Juliette, was our first person narrator for most chapters. When the author needed, they simply switched the POV’s instead of trying to work it in the already established voice.
To finish my thoughts on the writing itself, the violence and gore were my favourite parts. I feel like the author shines when blood is involved, no questions asked. The grotesque reality of becoming a vampire and the urge to feed from even those you love most is shown in a very powerful way, and I can say it was the most impactful part of the novella for me.
I also liked the ending of this book! I think it was the best way to finish it all, and I also quite enjoyed the daring choice the author took in the final chapters.
Overall, I think this would be a great story if it had more polish and, perhaps, a little shift in focus. I can see the potential in this, and I’d definitely like to read more horror from Nox.
Since this is a novella, we already have quite a short time to spend, and I can’t say it was entirely well used. The pacing is quick and sharp, but it meanders at times, either saying too much or expanding on things that weren’t all necessary for the story.
Instead of fleshing out more of Juliette and her strange relationship with our mysterious woman, the book tries to be everywhere all at once, and it doesn’t connect well. We explore the trauma of losing parents, grief, homophobia, the illness that suddenly strikes Juliette, her lack of memories from last summer, her previous relationship with Lara, the backstory of Elenoire, the friendship (and conflicts) with Liv, the fraternal bond between the twins… It’s just too much, and the end result doesn’t land with full force. Unfortunately, I feel like it compromised both character and plot development.
Besides, there was a lot of repetition done here — not only of phrase structures and metaphors (“the taste of pennies” was really starting to bother me), but also of a word repeated in the same sentence. This left me feeling like the text wasn’t polished or properly edited.
Speaking of narrative choices, there was a bit of a jump between point of views that was quite jarring, especially when our main character, Juliette, was our first person narrator for most chapters. When the author needed, they simply switched the POV’s instead of trying to work it in the already established voice.
To finish my thoughts on the writing itself, the violence and gore were my favourite parts. I feel like the author shines when blood is involved, no questions asked. The grotesque reality of becoming a vampire and the urge to feed from even those you love most is shown in a very powerful way, and I can say it was the most impactful part of the novella for me.
I also liked the ending of this book! I think it was the best way to finish it all, and I also quite enjoyed the daring choice the author took in the final chapters.
Overall, I think this would be a great story if it had more polish and, perhaps, a little shift in focus. I can see the potential in this, and I’d definitely like to read more horror from Nox.
February 15, 2026
** 2.5 stars rounded up **
This Fever Called Living is a gothic novella that reimagines Carmilla and carries the decaying echoes and sibling bonds of The Fall of the House of Usher. Having already read both classics, I was especially excited to see how this reimagining would reinterpret such iconic gothic foundations. The promise of sapphic vampirism and crumbling-house dread intrigued me. Also, the cover art is beautiful and immediately pulled me to the blurb.
Set in Palermo in 1999, Juliette — fragile, sun-starved, and haunted by a half-remembered summer — is a compelling narrator. When Elenoire arrives, their connection pulses with desire and curiosity, and the visceral portrayal of vampiric hunger becomes the novella’s strongest element.
However, the writing style didn’t quite deliver the eerie gothic tension I was hoping for. I wanted to feel more unsettled and genuinely frightened, but the prose leans more introspective than menacing, softening the horror rather than intensifying it. Because of this, and with the limited page count, I also struggled to feel fully connected to the characters. The emotional stakes were clear, but I didn’t always feel them as deeply as I wanted to.
For a novella, the focus felt too scattered. The narrative juggles grief, parental loss, homophobia, illness, memory gaps, past relationships, friendship conflicts, sibling bonds, and Elenoire’s backstory — all within a short page count. Instead of fully developing Juliette’s central relationship and transformation, the story spreads itself thin, which weakens some of the emotional impact. Repetition in phrasing and a few abrupt point-of-view shifts also made the writing feel slightly unpolished.
The moments of violence towards the end added a needed sense of tension. While I appreciated the bold choices in the conclusion of Juliette’s character, the final chapter didn’t entirely feel necessary, as the emotional climax seemed to arrive just before it.
Overall, This Fever Called Living was full of potential. Its atmosphere and visceral horror stand out, but its crowded focus, lack of sustained creepiness, and limited emotional connection kept it from fully delivering on its promise.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This Fever Called Living is a gothic novella that reimagines Carmilla and carries the decaying echoes and sibling bonds of The Fall of the House of Usher. Having already read both classics, I was especially excited to see how this reimagining would reinterpret such iconic gothic foundations. The promise of sapphic vampirism and crumbling-house dread intrigued me. Also, the cover art is beautiful and immediately pulled me to the blurb.
Set in Palermo in 1999, Juliette — fragile, sun-starved, and haunted by a half-remembered summer — is a compelling narrator. When Elenoire arrives, their connection pulses with desire and curiosity, and the visceral portrayal of vampiric hunger becomes the novella’s strongest element.
However, the writing style didn’t quite deliver the eerie gothic tension I was hoping for. I wanted to feel more unsettled and genuinely frightened, but the prose leans more introspective than menacing, softening the horror rather than intensifying it. Because of this, and with the limited page count, I also struggled to feel fully connected to the characters. The emotional stakes were clear, but I didn’t always feel them as deeply as I wanted to.
For a novella, the focus felt too scattered. The narrative juggles grief, parental loss, homophobia, illness, memory gaps, past relationships, friendship conflicts, sibling bonds, and Elenoire’s backstory — all within a short page count. Instead of fully developing Juliette’s central relationship and transformation, the story spreads itself thin, which weakens some of the emotional impact. Repetition in phrasing and a few abrupt point-of-view shifts also made the writing feel slightly unpolished.
The moments of violence towards the end added a needed sense of tension. While I appreciated the bold choices in the conclusion of Juliette’s character, the final chapter didn’t entirely feel necessary, as the emotional climax seemed to arrive just before it.
Overall, This Fever Called Living was full of potential. Its atmosphere and visceral horror stand out, but its crowded focus, lack of sustained creepiness, and limited emotional connection kept it from fully delivering on its promise.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley.
“This Fever Called Living: A Horror Novella” has such a stunning cover, I absolutely had to get my hands on it. 10/10 for the cover setting the tone from first glance, and 3.75 stars rounded up to 4 for the overall novella.
This was a great blend of concepts and plots of some of my favourites. Anything with Carmilla vibes is always something I look forward to digging into. Due to the length of the novella it was a quick and fun horror read.
The writing itself very much felt like a nod to its inspiration. Old, gothic, horror vibes are always high on my list of favourite prose. I do have to admit that I was almost pulled out any time 90’s references were used because Azzura Nox’s writing just sets such a beautiful tone of old school horror (which I absolutely adore). I think that works well to some degree with the novella, but also mildly hindered the immersion part. The concept of vampires, monsters etc have been a human fascination for a very long time, and blending an old school writing style with a more modern setting was a reminder that humanities fascination with these tales is very much still alive and well. Alternatively, it also felt a bit jarring when those references were used because it almost felt like a tone/time shift at times.
There was definitely some repetitive imagery, which I didn’t love, nor dislike. In general, I think cyclical imagery or repetition can be done well, but often more when tying a reader into some sort of sensation that gets tweaked over the course of a novella or scene to become completely consuming. Sure, there could have been alternate wordings used to describe the gore, or vastness of the villa since it didn’t evolve or root the reader into a moment or evolve, but I wouldn’t say that it took me out of the plot by any means.
I think that what the author did really well was root me into the horror/gothic tone. The confusion, affliction and slow revelation of the MC’s backstory lent really well to the general tone. I really adored the prose and commitment to that general vibe I was hoping to encounter.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
“This Fever Called Living: A Horror Novella” has such a stunning cover, I absolutely had to get my hands on it. 10/10 for the cover setting the tone from first glance, and 3.75 stars rounded up to 4 for the overall novella.
This was a great blend of concepts and plots of some of my favourites. Anything with Carmilla vibes is always something I look forward to digging into. Due to the length of the novella it was a quick and fun horror read.
The writing itself very much felt like a nod to its inspiration. Old, gothic, horror vibes are always high on my list of favourite prose. I do have to admit that I was almost pulled out any time 90’s references were used because Azzura Nox’s writing just sets such a beautiful tone of old school horror (which I absolutely adore). I think that works well to some degree with the novella, but also mildly hindered the immersion part. The concept of vampires, monsters etc have been a human fascination for a very long time, and blending an old school writing style with a more modern setting was a reminder that humanities fascination with these tales is very much still alive and well. Alternatively, it also felt a bit jarring when those references were used because it almost felt like a tone/time shift at times.
There was definitely some repetitive imagery, which I didn’t love, nor dislike. In general, I think cyclical imagery or repetition can be done well, but often more when tying a reader into some sort of sensation that gets tweaked over the course of a novella or scene to become completely consuming. Sure, there could have been alternate wordings used to describe the gore, or vastness of the villa since it didn’t evolve or root the reader into a moment or evolve, but I wouldn’t say that it took me out of the plot by any means.
I think that what the author did really well was root me into the horror/gothic tone. The confusion, affliction and slow revelation of the MC’s backstory lent really well to the general tone. I really adored the prose and commitment to that general vibe I was hoping to encounter.
Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Note for fellow horror readers: The Closet Door Rating System
Because I read mostly horror and psychological thrillers, my dark walk-in closet has become part of my review system. If a book is disturbing enough that I have to shut the closet door before bed so I’m not staring into the void during a midnight bathroom trip, it earns a 5/5 Closet Door rating. The lower the score, the safer I felt leaving it open… even if my husband “accidentally” did.
Closet Door Rating: 2/5 — Book Rating: 4/5
This Fever Called Living is a novella which brings us Juliette, orphaned twin to Jason, at a pivotal turn in her life. Experiencing the sudden, late onslaught of a skin disorder that necessitates her spending her “days” during nightfall, she struggles both with the recent repercussions in their small Sicilian villa of a same-sex romance as well as lingering health problems that leave her ill and confused. A lodger, Elenoire, brings with her both new questions and new understanding as she reveals she is more like Juliette than she first imagined.
A reimagining of Camila and The Fall of the House of Usher, gothic vibes announce themselves from page one. Stark and quick, this novella has a mad pace and is easily devoured in short time. While some found transitions could be a little more artfully done, I in fact found chapter and setting transitions having an abruptness that lends to the confusion of the main character, heightening instead of hindering the story.
The language can be clunky and I tend to be in agreement with some other readers that the mention of some name brands could be smoothed over, and some other repetitive phrases leave some of the brush strokes visible. Overall, however, I don’t find either a compelling deterrent from this quick, imaginative read.
Because I read mostly horror and psychological thrillers, my dark walk-in closet has become part of my review system. If a book is disturbing enough that I have to shut the closet door before bed so I’m not staring into the void during a midnight bathroom trip, it earns a 5/5 Closet Door rating. The lower the score, the safer I felt leaving it open… even if my husband “accidentally” did.
Closet Door Rating: 2/5 — Book Rating: 4/5
This Fever Called Living is a novella which brings us Juliette, orphaned twin to Jason, at a pivotal turn in her life. Experiencing the sudden, late onslaught of a skin disorder that necessitates her spending her “days” during nightfall, she struggles both with the recent repercussions in their small Sicilian villa of a same-sex romance as well as lingering health problems that leave her ill and confused. A lodger, Elenoire, brings with her both new questions and new understanding as she reveals she is more like Juliette than she first imagined.
A reimagining of Camila and The Fall of the House of Usher, gothic vibes announce themselves from page one. Stark and quick, this novella has a mad pace and is easily devoured in short time. While some found transitions could be a little more artfully done, I in fact found chapter and setting transitions having an abruptness that lends to the confusion of the main character, heightening instead of hindering the story.
The language can be clunky and I tend to be in agreement with some other readers that the mention of some name brands could be smoothed over, and some other repetitive phrases leave some of the brush strokes visible. Overall, however, I don’t find either a compelling deterrent from this quick, imaginative read.
March 9, 2026
this was honestly so disappointing because it had so much potential 😩
The author writes gory, bloody scenes incredibly well, those moments were vivid and intense. But the rest of the writing felt very all over the place. I did enjoy the sapphic romance and kept hoping we’d get more of it, but that never really happened. A lot of elements in the story just needed to be more fleshed out, the things that were discussed at lengths at the beginning could easily have been used to do this. I just wanted more character/personality from Jason the brother, Liv and even Elenoire, they had so much potential and I felt like we were just teased and it was snatched away.
One thing that completely threw me off was the POV change. Most of the book is written in first person, and then near the end it suddenly switches to third person with absolutely no indication. I only realised because I got confused while reading and had to figure it out myself.
There were definitely parts I enjoyed, but a lot of the book became off-putting. Certain phrases were repeated over and over again—especially “tasted like pennies.” By the time I saw it for the tenth time, it had completely lost its impact and just annoyed me.
Another thing that pulled me out of the story was the language. Parts of the book are set in the 17th and 19th centuries, but the slang and wording often didn’t feel like they matched the time period. I’m usually not someone who nitpicks details like that, but it was noticeable enough that it made me feel disconnected from the story.
Overall, this felt very unedited to me. I’m sure the author is talented, because there were moments that were genuinely good, but this book just didn’t come together the way I hoped. And I hate saying that because I went into it expecting to love it.
March 24, 2026
This Fever Called Living is a lush, unsettling reimagining that doesn’t simply borrow from Carmilla and The Fall of the House of Usher — it communes with them.
Set against the shadowed beauty of Palermo in 1999, the novella drips with atmosphere from its opening pages. Villa Astrid feels less like a home and more like a mausoleum of memory, and Juliette — fragile, sun-starved, and haunted by a summer she cannot fully remember — is an arresting narrator. Her isolation is palpable. So is her hunger.
When Elenoire arrives, the temperature shifts.
Their connection hums with the kind of tension that makes gothic fiction endure: desire braided with dread, intimacy edged with danger. The sapphic longing here is not ornamental — it is the engine of the story, intimate and electric, pushing Juliette toward something both awakening and annihilating.
What makes this novella especially compelling is how seamlessly it fuses homage with originality. The Carmilla echoes are present — reverent but never derivative — while the Usher influence lingers in the architecture of decay, in the sense that something long buried is rotting its way back to the surface. And all the while, Palermo whispers with rumors of dead girls and something monstrous moving just out of sight.
At just over a hundred pages, this is a swift read, but it never feels hollow. The pacing tightens toward the end, yes — but the final moments land with striking clarity and emotional force. Juliette’s evolution feels earned, her rage almost incandescent.
This Fever Called Living is gothic horror at its most intimate: sensuous, mournful, and edged with blood. A story about hunger — for sunlight, for memory, for touch — and what happens when that hunger is finally allowed to speak.
Dark, magnetic, and beautifully fevered.
Set against the shadowed beauty of Palermo in 1999, the novella drips with atmosphere from its opening pages. Villa Astrid feels less like a home and more like a mausoleum of memory, and Juliette — fragile, sun-starved, and haunted by a summer she cannot fully remember — is an arresting narrator. Her isolation is palpable. So is her hunger.
When Elenoire arrives, the temperature shifts.
Their connection hums with the kind of tension that makes gothic fiction endure: desire braided with dread, intimacy edged with danger. The sapphic longing here is not ornamental — it is the engine of the story, intimate and electric, pushing Juliette toward something both awakening and annihilating.
What makes this novella especially compelling is how seamlessly it fuses homage with originality. The Carmilla echoes are present — reverent but never derivative — while the Usher influence lingers in the architecture of decay, in the sense that something long buried is rotting its way back to the surface. And all the while, Palermo whispers with rumors of dead girls and something monstrous moving just out of sight.
At just over a hundred pages, this is a swift read, but it never feels hollow. The pacing tightens toward the end, yes — but the final moments land with striking clarity and emotional force. Juliette’s evolution feels earned, her rage almost incandescent.
This Fever Called Living is gothic horror at its most intimate: sensuous, mournful, and edged with blood. A story about hunger — for sunlight, for memory, for touch — and what happens when that hunger is finally allowed to speak.
Dark, magnetic, and beautifully fevered.
March 3, 2026
There is an unsatiated hunger that seeps through every page of this novel. Not just desire, not just grief, but something feral and aching and impossible to ignore. It lingers beneath the unrequited love for Lara, pulses through every unanswered question, and coils itself tightly around the mysterious Elenoire. With her red hair, long black skirts, and prosthetic leg. Where did she come from? What happened to her? Why does she feel so intimately familiar, like a memory Juliette almost remembers but can’t quite touch?
That tension, that constant almost, kept me devouring pages.
Juliette and her twin brother Jason, born in Boston but transplanted to Palermo, Sicily, after tragedy rips their world apart, are such haunting characters. Orphaned after their parents’ deaths, they’re already navigating grief when Juliette’s life is further complicated by Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP)a rare condition that forces her to live only after 6 p.m.
Bodies begin appearing around town. Brutal. Disturbing. Is it a serial killer? Drug violence? Something darker? The story doesn’t hand you answers. The gore is sharp and unflinching, but it never feels gratuitous. And the sapphic tension? Exquisite. Tender and desperate and laced with longing. The prose is lush and lyrical, sometimes feverish.
There’s a dreamlike quality that blurs memory and reality, making you question what is trauma, what is desire, and what might be something more supernatural. It’s gothic, it’s sensual, it’s tragic.
Gory. Sapphic. Beautifully written. Haunting in a way that lingers.
Absolutely recommend if you love dark, atmospheric stories with teeth. 5 stars
Thank you Netgalley, for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
That tension, that constant almost, kept me devouring pages.
Juliette and her twin brother Jason, born in Boston but transplanted to Palermo, Sicily, after tragedy rips their world apart, are such haunting characters. Orphaned after their parents’ deaths, they’re already navigating grief when Juliette’s life is further complicated by Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP)a rare condition that forces her to live only after 6 p.m.
Bodies begin appearing around town. Brutal. Disturbing. Is it a serial killer? Drug violence? Something darker? The story doesn’t hand you answers. The gore is sharp and unflinching, but it never feels gratuitous. And the sapphic tension? Exquisite. Tender and desperate and laced with longing. The prose is lush and lyrical, sometimes feverish.
There’s a dreamlike quality that blurs memory and reality, making you question what is trauma, what is desire, and what might be something more supernatural. It’s gothic, it’s sensual, it’s tragic.
Gory. Sapphic. Beautifully written. Haunting in a way that lingers.
Absolutely recommend if you love dark, atmospheric stories with teeth. 5 stars
Thank you Netgalley, for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Twisted Wing Productions for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I immediately saw the elements of Carmilla within this, which ramped my excitement immensely; though I have yet to read The Fall of the House of Usher so I cannot speak of elements pertaining to that. Despite that, I loved the sound of this concept and was so excited to jump into it.
Immediately, I found the beginning as that of an infodump, and struggled to connect to Juliette properly. She spoke of her life too clinically for me, listing everything that had happened to her thus far as a list, exposition that read as something she wished to just get over with and never speak of again. I felt it could’ve been better woven within the story itself, and that would’ve also assisted with the pacing considerably.
I loved Elenoire’s backstory, as well as the few journal entries we were given, and would loved to have seen more of them both. Nox’s take on vampirism and their traits was wonderful—I always enjoy seeing different takes on vampires and their formation and behaviour.
Overall, I do believe this would have benefitted from being a full-length novel, with enough space to properly introduce information, personality, and relationships, because this felt like it was missing a lot of the connective tissue required to make me truly feel immersed. I do also believe this could’ve done with a tad more editing to fix a lot of the repetition.
However, the bleak finale really pulled this story together for me, and I think the bravery within that choice is a valuable quality of the entire work. I will be checking out more of the author's work!
I immediately saw the elements of Carmilla within this, which ramped my excitement immensely; though I have yet to read The Fall of the House of Usher so I cannot speak of elements pertaining to that. Despite that, I loved the sound of this concept and was so excited to jump into it.
Immediately, I found the beginning as that of an infodump, and struggled to connect to Juliette properly. She spoke of her life too clinically for me, listing everything that had happened to her thus far as a list, exposition that read as something she wished to just get over with and never speak of again. I felt it could’ve been better woven within the story itself, and that would’ve also assisted with the pacing considerably.
I loved Elenoire’s backstory, as well as the few journal entries we were given, and would loved to have seen more of them both. Nox’s take on vampirism and their traits was wonderful—I always enjoy seeing different takes on vampires and their formation and behaviour.
Overall, I do believe this would have benefitted from being a full-length novel, with enough space to properly introduce information, personality, and relationships, because this felt like it was missing a lot of the connective tissue required to make me truly feel immersed. I do also believe this could’ve done with a tad more editing to fix a lot of the repetition.
However, the bleak finale really pulled this story together for me, and I think the bravery within that choice is a valuable quality of the entire work. I will be checking out more of the author's work!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A vampy read with all the painful and tortured vibes. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.
I enjoyed this for the most part.
It is mellow and depressing! but exactly in the way that I would expect it to be. I tend to really enjoy a darker, atmospheric vampire theme- and that is basically all that is going on here. So I was able to enjoy that aspect quite a bit.
It is also a very short and quick, at just over 100 pages. An easy single-sitting read.
I personally think the length worked well here. It is very fast-paced, but I think we got all of the necessary background information, and a fair amount of action by the end.
I didn’t really notice any plot holes, nor did I have that feeling of “expecting more” (which I often have with shorter stories).
My single critique is that I really wish this hadn’t been as modern as it was!
The plot was good nonetheless, but I think this kind of story is always best written in the past.
Reading about emails, phone calls and Versace- kind of threw me off a little bit, not going to lie.
It’s not a huge deal in the end, and it doesn’t effect much. I think it just didn’t really match the overall vibe.
In all, I think it’s a nice story.
I’m not picky about vampire books in general- so I was satisfied!
It isn’t my favorite one ever, but given the short amount of time it took me to read it- I would say it was worth it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Twisted Wing Productions and author Azzurra Nox for providing me with the eARC of “This Fever Called Living”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 03, 2026
I enjoyed this for the most part.
It is mellow and depressing! but exactly in the way that I would expect it to be. I tend to really enjoy a darker, atmospheric vampire theme- and that is basically all that is going on here. So I was able to enjoy that aspect quite a bit.
It is also a very short and quick, at just over 100 pages. An easy single-sitting read.
I personally think the length worked well here. It is very fast-paced, but I think we got all of the necessary background information, and a fair amount of action by the end.
I didn’t really notice any plot holes, nor did I have that feeling of “expecting more” (which I often have with shorter stories).
My single critique is that I really wish this hadn’t been as modern as it was!
The plot was good nonetheless, but I think this kind of story is always best written in the past.
Reading about emails, phone calls and Versace- kind of threw me off a little bit, not going to lie.
It’s not a huge deal in the end, and it doesn’t effect much. I think it just didn’t really match the overall vibe.
In all, I think it’s a nice story.
I’m not picky about vampire books in general- so I was satisfied!
It isn’t my favorite one ever, but given the short amount of time it took me to read it- I would say it was worth it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Twisted Wing Productions and author Azzurra Nox for providing me with the eARC of “This Fever Called Living”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 03, 2026
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