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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
About the author
Azzurra Nox
27 books204 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 132 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
April 14, 2026
arc provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
what a mess.
somebody make a drinking game based on how many times the size of the estate is mentioned in this novel - we’ll be undead too! the book basically whacks you over the head with the info that the twins are rich, have a huuuuuuuge estate and that she has a versace robe (which is a very important detail that’s mentioned a bunch of times for no apparent reason). everything felt very sloppy, from the writing, to the characters and even the plot. i can see where the “carmilla” influence comes in, but i think it tried to do too much and took itself a bit too seriously for it to work out.
the writing style is very juvenile and it definitely needed more edits, as it randomly jumps from flowery metaphors to slang, which is very off-putting. i’ve honestly read fanfiction with better writing, so idk what really happened here. the dialogue was flat and awkward at times, the characters’ personalities changed from one scene to another, the action felt disjuncted - we’re just jumping from one scene to another, the random journal excerpts added absolutely nothing to the story because we don’t spend enough time with a certain character to care about her past. the relationships were also terribly forced and inconsistent - one second the mc hated a character, then they’re all buddy-buddy, they she kills them without a second thought.
i kept reading 5 star reviews that kept mentioning how good the gore was and i was wondering if i read the wrong book or something? there was barely any gore in it - just the typical amount for a vampire novel, if you ask me. there weren’t any amazingly written metaphors or stomach churning scenes, just basic descriptions of vampires ripping out hearts and all that.
there were too many plot points added in a very short amount of pages, so everything is rushed. the relationships between the characters aren’t developed at all, we’re just being told, instead of being shown. most of the choices the characters make aren’t explained at all - why do they let a random person live with them if they’re so insanely wealthy? a few chapters are written from other characters’ pov and if they weren’t name-dropped on the first page, i wouldn’t have noticed that the voice changed, because they were all essentially the same.
overall, this isn’t a book i’d recommend and i do think it needed more polishing, because the potential is there. maybe it would’ve worked better as a full novel instead of a novella, as it’s entirely too short for all the plot points it tries to touch on.
what a mess.
somebody make a drinking game based on how many times the size of the estate is mentioned in this novel - we’ll be undead too! the book basically whacks you over the head with the info that the twins are rich, have a huuuuuuuge estate and that she has a versace robe (which is a very important detail that’s mentioned a bunch of times for no apparent reason). everything felt very sloppy, from the writing, to the characters and even the plot. i can see where the “carmilla” influence comes in, but i think it tried to do too much and took itself a bit too seriously for it to work out.
the writing style is very juvenile and it definitely needed more edits, as it randomly jumps from flowery metaphors to slang, which is very off-putting. i’ve honestly read fanfiction with better writing, so idk what really happened here. the dialogue was flat and awkward at times, the characters’ personalities changed from one scene to another, the action felt disjuncted - we’re just jumping from one scene to another, the random journal excerpts added absolutely nothing to the story because we don’t spend enough time with a certain character to care about her past. the relationships were also terribly forced and inconsistent - one second the mc hated a character, then they’re all buddy-buddy, they she kills them without a second thought.
i kept reading 5 star reviews that kept mentioning how good the gore was and i was wondering if i read the wrong book or something? there was barely any gore in it - just the typical amount for a vampire novel, if you ask me. there weren’t any amazingly written metaphors or stomach churning scenes, just basic descriptions of vampires ripping out hearts and all that.
there were too many plot points added in a very short amount of pages, so everything is rushed. the relationships between the characters aren’t developed at all, we’re just being told, instead of being shown. most of the choices the characters make aren’t explained at all - why do they let a random person live with them if they’re so insanely wealthy? a few chapters are written from other characters’ pov and if they weren’t name-dropped on the first page, i wouldn’t have noticed that the voice changed, because they were all essentially the same.
overall, this isn’t a book i’d recommend and i do think it needed more polishing, because the potential is there. maybe it would’ve worked better as a full novel instead of a novella, as it’s entirely too short for all the plot points it tries to touch on.
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.
April 5, 2026
Another sapphic vampire story… what’s not to love? That alone had me hooked. Still, I have to admit the pacing felt off. Everything moved so quickly that it never fully had time to breathe.
I was also a bit thrown by the time period… why set it in the 1990s when you have a woman running around in historical dresses? It created a strange disconnect I couldn’t quite get past.
I was also a bit thrown by the time period… why set it in the 1990s when you have a woman running around in historical dresses? It created a strange disconnect I couldn’t quite get past.
April 23, 2026
i think this really would have benefited from being a little longer and a little more fleshed-out. there were a lot of cool ideas but they all just felt very half-baked, same goes for the characters. i also wasn't a big fan of the writing, which read very juvenile and wattpad-esque, plus the pacing and random time jumps confused the hell out of me. and arguably one of my biggest pet peeves ever: why would you set your story in the late 1990s (a time period i love very much) and then do NOTHING with it except namedrop tlc a bunch of times. the potential was right there 💔
big thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! all thoughts are my own.
big thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! all thoughts are my own.
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.
April 7, 2026
1.5 stars. There honestly weren't a lot of redeeming qualities in this book other than the idea, which itself isn't entirely original as it's a re-telling. The characters fell incredibly flat, and despite strong relationships being a focus of this novella, there was very little evidence in the writing to demonstrate that. Nothing actually happened on page to establish our characters' feelings towards one another. The 90s/early 2000s references were wildly out of place and seemed to serve purely as a reminder of the time period, because everything else in the book made it seem much less modern. SO much happened but none of it was actually written into the plot. Everything was just told to us, almost as an afterthought. The writing was a passive tense mess and felt incredibly unedited and unrefined.
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!
April 23, 2026
I really loved it. I feel like this story taught me what it means to call a read “hauntingly beautiful”
This Fever Called Living is an almost poetic exploration of humanity, female rage, and queerness across time, class, and culture. It was really enchanting to read, even as the elements of gore and horror slowly consumed the story.
tysm NetGalley for the chance to read this and offer my honest feedback 🖤
This Fever Called Living is an almost poetic exploration of humanity, female rage, and queerness across time, class, and culture. It was really enchanting to read, even as the elements of gore and horror slowly consumed the story.
tysm NetGalley for the chance to read this and offer my honest feedback 🖤
May 15, 2026
This Fever Called Living by Azzurra Nox reads like every other "vampire with amnesia" story; a quick and uneventful read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
April 26, 2026
I was really excited going into this one! Overall I enjoyed this novella. The atmosphere and creepy elements were exactly the vibes I was looking for. The pacing did feel a little off at times. Some parts moved really quickly while others slowed down more than I expected, but it didn’t take away too much from the overall experience. My biggest complaint is that it felt like it ended too quickly, I wanted more!!
Thank you so much for my ARC!
Thank you so much for my 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.
May 13, 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.
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.
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.
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