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The Flamebearer Trilogy #1
The Witch in the Dead of Night
A decadently dark romantasy in which a hidden witch is unmasked and forced to become a living weapon for a vampiric king and his brooding brother
Finn Erramun hides a perilous secret. One of the last witches in the kingdom, she was cast out from her village, leaving whispers of an unleashed otherworldly terror in her wake. Now a maid in the opulent court of the vampire King Mordric, Finn conceals her arcane powers, dreading the day they might be uncovered.
But destiny has other plans. When Mordric uncovers Finn’s talents, he offers her a chance for master her magic by the summer solstice, and she may earn a coveted seat on his council. Assigned to guide her is Prince Enhart, the king’s captivatingly arrogant younger brother and one of the rare souls with the skill to train her. As Finn is drawn into a whirlwind of courtly intrigue, power plays, and dangerous temptation, she finds herself at a crossroads. To secure her place among the king’s elite – and perhaps win his heart – she must navigate a labyrinth of treachery and unearth a centuries’-old conspiracy.
The vampires of Valen may not crave blood, but their thirst for power is no less consuming. As Finn delves deeper into their seductive and perilous realm, she will need every ounce of her strength and cunning to survive – and to uncover the true nature of her heart’s desires.
Finn Erramun hides a perilous secret. One of the last witches in the kingdom, she was cast out from her village, leaving whispers of an unleashed otherworldly terror in her wake. Now a maid in the opulent court of the vampire King Mordric, Finn conceals her arcane powers, dreading the day they might be uncovered.
But destiny has other plans. When Mordric uncovers Finn’s talents, he offers her a chance for master her magic by the summer solstice, and she may earn a coveted seat on his council. Assigned to guide her is Prince Enhart, the king’s captivatingly arrogant younger brother and one of the rare souls with the skill to train her. As Finn is drawn into a whirlwind of courtly intrigue, power plays, and dangerous temptation, she finds herself at a crossroads. To secure her place among the king’s elite – and perhaps win his heart – she must navigate a labyrinth of treachery and unearth a centuries’-old conspiracy.
The vampires of Valen may not crave blood, but their thirst for power is no less consuming. As Finn delves deeper into their seductive and perilous realm, she will need every ounce of her strength and cunning to survive – and to uncover the true nature of her heart’s desires.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2026
About the author
Charlotte Buckley
2 books40 followersCharlotte Buckley is a fantasy author. She writes stubborn main characters, magical worlds, and tension-filled romance. She was born and raised in New York and now lives in Washington, DC with her partner and their cat, Pippin.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys running, gaming, and spending time outside, preferably in the mountains. She is represented by the talented Kurestin Armada at Root Literary.
THE WITCH IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT is her debut novel.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys running, gaming, and spending time outside, preferably in the mountains. She is represented by the talented Kurestin Armada at Root Literary.
THE WITCH IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
September 3, 2026
I would be lying if I said I didn’t pick this up because it reminded me of The Vampire Diaries. A love triangle with vampire brothers?! I was immediately sold. 😂
Unfortunately, I think I got my hopes up a little too much. There were definitely moments that had me kicking my feet with excitement, but they didn’t last. The King’s insta-love made it hard for me to really like him, and while there were some cute moments with the Prince, I kept hoping for more chemistry, flirting, I don’t know something!!!
And that ending?! It felt so rushed that I got whiplash. Although I read it, I couldn’t tell you what happened at the end. 🤷♀️
-pre read-
I just receive this beautiful edition from Fairyloot.... ummm excuse me, two vampire brothers and a witch! Say no more, ditching my current TBR and picking this one up, stay tuned guys!
Unfortunately, I think I got my hopes up a little too much. There were definitely moments that had me kicking my feet with excitement, but they didn’t last. The King’s insta-love made it hard for me to really like him, and while there were some cute moments with the Prince, I kept hoping for more chemistry, flirting, I don’t know something!!!
And that ending?! It felt so rushed that I got whiplash. Although I read it, I couldn’t tell you what happened at the end. 🤷♀️
-pre read-
I just receive this beautiful edition from Fairyloot.... ummm excuse me, two vampire brothers and a witch! Say no more, ditching my current TBR and picking this one up, stay tuned guys!
September 16, 2026
3 🌟
well if you know me you know i’m a whore for a love triangle (this one is with vampire brothers and a witch mhm 🙂↕️🤏🏻) so i had to pick it up ASAP duh.
we have magic, court intrigue, training, vampires and witches. now the plot was okay. maybe my expectations were too high but i was a little bored at time. the pacing is slower which made it hard for me to get into but lemme tell you that last 20% had me completely locked in!! will def be reading book 2 when it comes out 📖✨
well if you know me you know i’m a whore for a love triangle (this one is with vampire brothers and a witch mhm 🙂↕️🤏🏻) so i had to pick it up ASAP duh.
we have magic, court intrigue, training, vampires and witches. now the plot was okay. maybe my expectations were too high but i was a little bored at time. the pacing is slower which made it hard for me to get into but lemme tell you that last 20% had me completely locked in!! will def be reading book 2 when it comes out 📖✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to HarperCollins for always accepting my eARC requests on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I was super excited to read this book, and it starts out really strong. In the first 25% of the book, I was CONVINCED it would be at least a 4-star read. Unfortunately, around that point, the book quickly falls off. The majority of the book is spent "training" the FMC in the arcane art of magic, and the plot doesn't advance until around 80%. In the end, everything happens too quickly and is thus underexplained and underdeveloped.
My biggest gripe with the book is the FMC. If I counted how many times she says "I don't know." "What?" "I didn't know that." "Huh?" "Can you explain that?" etc... I would be rich!!! And because the book is written from 1st POV, this kind of writing makes me, as the reader, feel dumbed down. You, as the author, don't need to explain everything through the main character's eyes to us, the readers! Ideally, readers possess some form of "reading comprehension". The second problem I have with the main character is that she lets everything in her life get decided by MEN!!! And when she has the opportunity to work together with women, she DOUBTS them, QUESTIONS them or is WEARY of them. Like what??? This book reads like it was written by a misogynistic man, unfortunately.
And all of that is really sad because the book has great concepts: I loved the premise of a witch secretly serving in the court of a vampire king. But there was no intrigue or politics going on, besides the vampire king trying to hold on to his power. The plot of the mysterious disappearances of women was underdeveloped as well, although I had hoped it would be a major plot device. It was big in the beginning and end of the book, but in between the FMC was quieted by the MMC saying "don't worry, I'll look into it" and she just trusts him??? Throughout reading this book, I got major Vampire Diaries vibes, and I had hoped that this would be kind of like a good fanfiction of that (there are a lot of concepts borrowed), but in the end, the naivety of the FMC threw me off.
Also, the love triangle was insufferable. The insta love at the beginning of the book already had me doubting the romance of this book, but then his brother (shocking*) comes into the picture and (does this remind us of anything *cough cough* no?). This was just one trope after another, and I'm so tired of reading the same "romances" over and over again.
*satire
I was super excited to read this book, and it starts out really strong. In the first 25% of the book, I was CONVINCED it would be at least a 4-star read. Unfortunately, around that point, the book quickly falls off. The majority of the book is spent "training" the FMC in the arcane art of magic, and the plot doesn't advance until around 80%. In the end, everything happens too quickly and is thus underexplained and underdeveloped.
My biggest gripe with the book is the FMC. If I counted how many times she says "I don't know." "What?" "I didn't know that." "Huh?" "Can you explain that?" etc... I would be rich!!! And because the book is written from 1st POV, this kind of writing makes me, as the reader, feel dumbed down. You, as the author, don't need to explain everything through the main character's eyes to us, the readers! Ideally, readers possess some form of "reading comprehension". The second problem I have with the main character is that she lets everything in her life get decided by MEN!!! And when she has the opportunity to work together with women, she DOUBTS them, QUESTIONS them or is WEARY of them. Like what??? This book reads like it was written by a misogynistic man, unfortunately.
And all of that is really sad because the book has great concepts: I loved the premise of a witch secretly serving in the court of a vampire king. But there was no intrigue or politics going on, besides the vampire king trying to hold on to his power. The plot of the mysterious disappearances of women was underdeveloped as well, although I had hoped it would be a major plot device. It was big in the beginning and end of the book, but in between the FMC was quieted by the MMC saying "don't worry, I'll look into it" and she just trusts him??? Throughout reading this book, I got major Vampire Diaries vibes, and I had hoped that this would be kind of like a good fanfiction of that (there are a lot of concepts borrowed), but in the end, the naivety of the FMC threw me off.
Also, the love triangle was insufferable. The insta love at the beginning of the book already had me doubting the romance of this book, but then his brother (shocking*) comes into the picture and (does this remind us of anything *cough cough* no?). This was just one trope after another, and I'm so tired of reading the same "romances" over and over again.
*satire
September 30, 2026
I wanted to love this. Unfortunately, it was half-baked. A book of almosts and not quites.
There's too many time jumps and not enough significant interactions to bridge them so the relationships between the characters all seem hollow and manufactured. I don't believe in a single one of them. There are plot points that become entirely pointless. Moments that could have developed depth and emotion were totally brushed over. Finn's long-term friend (who she's been sleeping with for a while) attacks her in highly suspicious circumstances and dies violently during the attack in front of her. Finn barely bats an eye or wrestles with his death.
The characters aren't true to themselves. There's a vast difference between who we're told they are and who the characters show us they are. Our FMC Finn is 26, she's not sheltered or naive, she's had a hard life and suffered more than one trauma and tragedy. She's brash and snarky and has no problem telling everyone off (almost to the point of being catty). When it actually counts though her grit disappears and her backbone folds like wet cardboard. She's easily manipulated, happy to be led by everyone (the men) around her and she takes almost everything at face value. Her favourite response when she's told information is a completely unironic "how fascinating"/"how strange" and there's zero critical thinking beyond that.
She acts like a lovesick teenager with the King (and what in the questionable power dynamics?! He holds her entire future in his hands and she even acknowledges she's indebted to him). They have two on-page conversations before they kiss and then there's talk of it being LOVE. Of her being QUEEN. WHAT?! How did she go from world-wise and jaded to this?!
Honestly it's a shame, because there's huge potential here. The premise is interesting. Enhart, who i'm certain is the *real* love interest in the most interesting character. And there's definitely more chemistry between him and Finn than there is with the (slimy) King. Considering where this leaves off book two could be much stronger. There's just nothing substantial here. No meat on the bones of the story to sink your teeth into and an FMC I didn't particularly care for.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the earc.
There's too many time jumps and not enough significant interactions to bridge them so the relationships between the characters all seem hollow and manufactured. I don't believe in a single one of them. There are plot points that become entirely pointless. Moments that could have developed depth and emotion were totally brushed over. Finn's long-term friend (who she's been sleeping with for a while) attacks her in highly suspicious circumstances and dies violently during the attack in front of her. Finn barely bats an eye or wrestles with his death.
The characters aren't true to themselves. There's a vast difference between who we're told they are and who the characters show us they are. Our FMC Finn is 26, she's not sheltered or naive, she's had a hard life and suffered more than one trauma and tragedy. She's brash and snarky and has no problem telling everyone off (almost to the point of being catty). When it actually counts though her grit disappears and her backbone folds like wet cardboard. She's easily manipulated, happy to be led by everyone (the men) around her and she takes almost everything at face value. Her favourite response when she's told information is a completely unironic "how fascinating"/"how strange" and there's zero critical thinking beyond that.
She acts like a lovesick teenager with the King (and what in the questionable power dynamics?! He holds her entire future in his hands and she even acknowledges she's indebted to him). They have two on-page conversations before they kiss and then there's talk of it being LOVE. Of her being QUEEN. WHAT?! How did she go from world-wise and jaded to this?!
Honestly it's a shame, because there's huge potential here. The premise is interesting. Enhart, who i'm certain is the *real* love interest in the most interesting character. And there's definitely more chemistry between him and Finn than there is with the (slimy) King. Considering where this leaves off book two could be much stronger. There's just nothing substantial here. No meat on the bones of the story to sink your teeth into and an FMC I didn't particularly care for.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the earc.
August 24, 2026
This didn’t blow me away but I will more than likely read the second one when it releases. It’s the first book in a trilogy and is set in a kingdom where humans and vampires coexist together all under the reign of a vampire king. Our girl Finn is a chambermaid at Valnar Castle. Finn fled the Outlands after an incident where she exposed her powers to her village. She has now been at King Mordric’s court for the past three years working as a servant. Keeping her witch status on the down-low from all but her best friend.
When Finn manages to out herself to none other than the king himself her life changes in every way imaginable. Elevated out of the servant ranks Finn is offered a spot on the council. But with limited experience she needs training. This is where Prince Valen comes in younger brother to the king it falls to him to help Finn develop her Witch powers. From day one the two clash he is a lot of an asshole to her the complete opposite of how Mordric treats her. But Finn needs Enhart’s assistance especially if she truly wants to grow into her full strength. Witches are scarce so her options are limited. At the same time, Finn is also growing closer to the king.
So this was well written and easy to absorb but it was quite slow-paced. The part I was probably most interested in was the mystery of the missing girls, but it is never fully explored instead, we focus on Finn and her witch training. I would have much preferred more of the former as it did begin to feel a bit rinse-repeat. It was the same witch training just different moments in time and I think this added to the slow pace.
As for the romance this was not a major draw for me it was mega obvious what was going to happen here at least I thought so. There is also a developing love triangle which is not my favourite trope. As for the romance itself, it all felt very insta and underdeveloped. In fact, a lot of the characters felt this way to me bar maybe Finn and Enhart who did appear to be more fleshed out than the rest. I could also never get on board with Mordric as a love interest either as I just felt completely disconnected from him mostly I think because of him feeling undeveloped and me not knowing that much about him other than surface information. This then contributed to Finn and Mordric’s lack of chemistry whilst Finn and Enhart seemed more of a fit. This hence then made it completely obvious to me where this was heading as we only had two fully fleshed out individuals in the whole book.
I sound like I'm hating on this but for the most part this was enjoyable just a very surface-level enjoyable. I unfortunately did not feel attached or invested in the world or the characters. The story itself was imaginative I just think it may have needed more meat. I also think it had some pacing issues the beginning and end were actually good especially the end which was done well but the middle was where this let itself down. Overall if you're just starting in this genre this one may be a good choice it was easy to absorb and kept it simplistic so there are no big info dumps just be aware this does read quite YA even with the age of the characters and certain scenarios. Overall, though this was a decent debut and though I did have some issues the quality of the writing here was good. Maybe I'm just getting much more picky as I have read so much in this genre.
When Finn manages to out herself to none other than the king himself her life changes in every way imaginable. Elevated out of the servant ranks Finn is offered a spot on the council. But with limited experience she needs training. This is where Prince Valen comes in younger brother to the king it falls to him to help Finn develop her Witch powers. From day one the two clash he is a lot of an asshole to her the complete opposite of how Mordric treats her. But Finn needs Enhart’s assistance especially if she truly wants to grow into her full strength. Witches are scarce so her options are limited. At the same time, Finn is also growing closer to the king.
So this was well written and easy to absorb but it was quite slow-paced. The part I was probably most interested in was the mystery of the missing girls, but it is never fully explored instead, we focus on Finn and her witch training. I would have much preferred more of the former as it did begin to feel a bit rinse-repeat. It was the same witch training just different moments in time and I think this added to the slow pace.
As for the romance this was not a major draw for me it was mega obvious what was going to happen here at least I thought so. There is also a developing love triangle which is not my favourite trope. As for the romance itself, it all felt very insta and underdeveloped. In fact, a lot of the characters felt this way to me bar maybe Finn and Enhart who did appear to be more fleshed out than the rest. I could also never get on board with Mordric as a love interest either as I just felt completely disconnected from him mostly I think because of him feeling undeveloped and me not knowing that much about him other than surface information. This then contributed to Finn and Mordric’s lack of chemistry whilst Finn and Enhart seemed more of a fit. This hence then made it completely obvious to me where this was heading as we only had two fully fleshed out individuals in the whole book.
I sound like I'm hating on this but for the most part this was enjoyable just a very surface-level enjoyable. I unfortunately did not feel attached or invested in the world or the characters. The story itself was imaginative I just think it may have needed more meat. I also think it had some pacing issues the beginning and end were actually good especially the end which was done well but the middle was where this let itself down. Overall if you're just starting in this genre this one may be a good choice it was easy to absorb and kept it simplistic so there are no big info dumps just be aware this does read quite YA even with the age of the characters and certain scenarios. Overall, though this was a decent debut and though I did have some issues the quality of the writing here was good. Maybe I'm just getting much more picky as I have read so much in this genre.
July 21, 2026
4 ⭐️ I would really recommend everyone grab a copy as soon as this comes out!!!! This initially gave me the impression that it was a bog standard romantasy, but then I was proven very wrong. I had so much fun reading this, and now am incredibly frustrated that I have to wait until the next book 😭
September 9, 2026
The Witch in The Dead of Night is a fun and fast romantasy thats a page turner, but definitely lacks in areas.
In this novel we follow palace maid Finn. First shes caught using her witch magic and then she is attacked and saved, by the king no less. He sweeps her up into a world of vampires, court politics, fancy soirees, and romance. He decides to appoint her as part of his court under the condition she train to learn to use her witch magic under his handsome but frustrating brother, Prince Enhart.
I enjoyed this novel, but it's lacking any sort of depth. The romance could have been more of a slow burn, the friendships could have been more in-depth, and the politics weren't quite politicking but still, I got through this quicker than any book in recent memory so I guess that means I really enjoyed it, right?
This novel wont be memorable or rock your world, but it's a solid romantasy book to pass the time with.
In this novel we follow palace maid Finn. First shes caught using her witch magic and then she is attacked and saved, by the king no less. He sweeps her up into a world of vampires, court politics, fancy soirees, and romance. He decides to appoint her as part of his court under the condition she train to learn to use her witch magic under his handsome but frustrating brother, Prince Enhart.
I enjoyed this novel, but it's lacking any sort of depth. The romance could have been more of a slow burn, the friendships could have been more in-depth, and the politics weren't quite politicking but still, I got through this quicker than any book in recent memory so I guess that means I really enjoyed it, right?
This novel wont be memorable or rock your world, but it's a solid romantasy book to pass the time with.
August 25, 2026
This was a nice dark witchy read! Def fun for the spooky season tbr!
September 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and Charlotte Buckley for the ARC of The Witch in the Dead of Night.
This is currently available via ebook or audiobook in the US. The physical book is only currently available in the UK.
This story follows Finn, one of the last witches in the kingdom, who has been living in hiding after being cast out from her village. Now working as a maid in the court of the vampire King Mordric, Finn does everything she can to conceal her magic and pass as human. But when Mordric discovers her using magic, keeping her abilities hidden is no longer an option.
Instead, Mordric offers Finn a chance to master her powers, and she could earn a seat on his council. To help her control and develop her magic, she is assigned to train with the king’s younger brother, Prince Enhart.
As Finn becomes more involved in the vampire court, she quickly finds herself caught up in political intrigue, power struggles, dangerous secrets, and uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy.
Finn also finds herself drawn into a complicated dynamic with both Mordric and Enhart. While Mordric is charming and seductive, Enhart is much more brooding and arrogant, and I really enjoyed watching Finn's relationship with him develop as he became her mentor and someone she could rely on.
If you're looking for a witch x vampire romantasy with unique magic, court intrigue, dangerous secrets, forced proximity, a training arc, and the possibility of a love triangle, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try!
If you liked books like The Assassin's Way or We Who Will Die, I would highly recommend adding The Witch in the Dead of Night to your TBR!
This is currently available via ebook or audiobook in the US. The physical book is only currently available in the UK.
This story follows Finn, one of the last witches in the kingdom, who has been living in hiding after being cast out from her village. Now working as a maid in the court of the vampire King Mordric, Finn does everything she can to conceal her magic and pass as human. But when Mordric discovers her using magic, keeping her abilities hidden is no longer an option.
Instead, Mordric offers Finn a chance to master her powers, and she could earn a seat on his council. To help her control and develop her magic, she is assigned to train with the king’s younger brother, Prince Enhart.
As Finn becomes more involved in the vampire court, she quickly finds herself caught up in political intrigue, power struggles, dangerous secrets, and uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy.
Finn also finds herself drawn into a complicated dynamic with both Mordric and Enhart. While Mordric is charming and seductive, Enhart is much more brooding and arrogant, and I really enjoyed watching Finn's relationship with him develop as he became her mentor and someone she could rely on.
If you're looking for a witch x vampire romantasy with unique magic, court intrigue, dangerous secrets, forced proximity, a training arc, and the possibility of a love triangle, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try!
If you liked books like The Assassin's Way or We Who Will Die, I would highly recommend adding The Witch in the Dead of Night to your TBR!
September 17, 2026
"I fear you will be my undoing."
Never in my life did I think I would read a book about a witch in training being in a love triangle with two royal vampire brothers that was BORING, but here we are!
Finn is one of the last witches in the entire kingdom, and while they are not outlawed, they are not exactly welcomed. Finn is just a maid within the vampire court until King Mordric discovers her abilities and offers her a chance to become a part of his council if she can master her abilities by the solstice. The only issue is she can only be taught by the king's younger brother, the not-so-nice playboy, Prince Enhart.
My Fairyloot copy of this book came in the mail, and I was FLOORED. Everything about this book is beautiful, and the synopsis grabbed me so much that I was unable to think of anything else but starting this book. Unfortunately, this book has a solid frame, but the foundation is lacking. There is a good book within this story! Even the ending was pretty good, but the majority of this book just didn't capture my attention.
With the romance, I was bored. Finn gets with one of the brothers QUICKLY in this story, and it's so insta-love and annoying. I truly don't understand how this book was so boring. The romance with the other brother is promising, but even then I didn't feel much chemistry until the end. There's a turning point within their (herself and the prince) relationship that felt like an odd shift. The immediate personality switch was as if you poured ice water all over my face.
With all those complaints, I still had a decent time. The book is quick to get through and I have high hopes for the sequel.
August 24, 2026
📖 The Witch in the Dead of Night by Charlotte Buckley 🌙🧙♀️
3.5 stars 🌟
I really enjoyed this one! I especially loved the dynamic between the two brothers, although one definitely won me over WAY quicker than the other… Enhart, obviously. 👀
The world was really interesting, with vampires and humans coexisting while witches are a rare breed. And our FMC? I have a serious love/hate relationship with her. 😂 Sometimes I really liked her and other times she absolutely annoyed me — but honestly, it’s rare for me to actually love an FMC, so take my opinion with a pinch of salt!
One of my favourite parts was definitely the banter between Enhart and Fin during their training scenes. Their dynamic had me thoroughly entertained. 😂
Overall, this was a really fun read and I definitely enjoyed my time with it! 🖤
✨ What to expect:
🧛 Vampires
🧙♀️ Witches
👬 Two brothers
🔥 Spice
🏠 Forced proximity
3.5 stars 🌟
I really enjoyed this one! I especially loved the dynamic between the two brothers, although one definitely won me over WAY quicker than the other… Enhart, obviously. 👀
The world was really interesting, with vampires and humans coexisting while witches are a rare breed. And our FMC? I have a serious love/hate relationship with her. 😂 Sometimes I really liked her and other times she absolutely annoyed me — but honestly, it’s rare for me to actually love an FMC, so take my opinion with a pinch of salt!
One of my favourite parts was definitely the banter between Enhart and Fin during their training scenes. Their dynamic had me thoroughly entertained. 😂
Overall, this was a really fun read and I definitely enjoyed my time with it! 🖤
✨ What to expect:
🧛 Vampires
🧙♀️ Witches
👬 Two brothers
🔥 Spice
🏠 Forced proximity
September 4, 2026
DNF 23% I tried, but it is very bland and boring. I give up.
August 26, 2026
1.5⭐️ I see what the author was doing but hated the execution. The romance plots were so insta love. We didn’t even get any scenes before they were already in bed together. And the other one…ugh. For the majority of this book I was severely bored because she was just being trained and there was no build on the plot. We had two plots that we could have developed but they both fell so flat. There was also no political intrigue? Like I wanted to know why I care about this story.
The fmc also had no depth and just followed whatever the men in her life were telling her to do. I personally prefer a fmc with a backbone.
So disappointed I had high hopes.
The fmc also had no depth and just followed whatever the men in her life were telling her to do. I personally prefer a fmc with a backbone.
So disappointed I had high hopes.
August 27, 2026
I need to stop my book subscription boxes
June 30, 2026
An entertaining debut for this trilogy!
Some parts are a bit slow paced but the last 20% are definitely worth the ride! There is a bit of a love triangle, vampire dynamics, lots of magic and intrigues (our real MMC is definitely scheming in the background…). And I’m eager to see how things will unravel in the sequel!
Some parts are a bit slow paced but the last 20% are definitely worth the ride! There is a bit of a love triangle, vampire dynamics, lots of magic and intrigues (our real MMC is definitely scheming in the background…). And I’m eager to see how things will unravel in the sequel!
August 23, 2026
The Witch in the Dead of Night is set in a kingdom ruled by a vampire king, in a world with very little witches left. Finn happens to be one of the few witches. She works as a maid and one night the King, Mordric, discovers what she is. He saves her from an attack and asks her to be a part of his council. But she has to master her magic before the summer solstice and the person selected to help is Mordric's handsome, brooding younger brother, Enhart.
I really enjoyed so much about this book. Vampires have evolved, they can be in the sun but prefer to live in the night, so much of the kingdom has also taken on this way of living. Vampires still drink blood but only as pleasure. They can live off food like humans.
There are three forms of magic and each witch has a special talent as well. We get to see what Finn's is but I can't wait to learn more about it.
I loved the love/hate relationship Finn and Enhart have. Enhart is definitely the better brother. Mordric is shady AF and I totally knew it from the start! I also absolutely love Vesper, the vampire friend Finn makes.
I do agree with others that there are times when the story drags. There was a lot of repeated training scenes but I thought the action was well worth the slower parts. And there were a few parts I didn't see coming.
I will definitely be reading book two. Also thank you to the author for the copy. I won a giveaway on Instagram and an so honored to be one of the few in the US with a physical copy already!
I really enjoyed so much about this book. Vampires have evolved, they can be in the sun but prefer to live in the night, so much of the kingdom has also taken on this way of living. Vampires still drink blood but only as pleasure. They can live off food like humans.
There are three forms of magic and each witch has a special talent as well. We get to see what Finn's is but I can't wait to learn more about it.
I loved the love/hate relationship Finn and Enhart have. Enhart is definitely the better brother. Mordric is shady AF and I totally knew it from the start! I also absolutely love Vesper, the vampire friend Finn makes.
I do agree with others that there are times when the story drags. There was a lot of repeated training scenes but I thought the action was well worth the slower parts. And there were a few parts I didn't see coming.
I will definitely be reading book two. Also thank you to the author for the copy. I won a giveaway on Instagram and an so honored to be one of the few in the US with a physical copy already!
August 29, 2026
Hexenblut
Die junge Finn ist als Zimmermädchen im Schloß des Königreichs Valen beschäftigt. Die Vampire und die Menschen haben es geschafft zu kooperieren. Ob es noch Hexen gibt ist fraglich. Finn verrät nicht, dass sie Magie wirken kann. Allerdings wird sie von König Mordric entdeckt. Er macht ihr das Angebot, dass sie in den königlichen Rat aufgenommen wird, wenn sie es bis zur Sommersonnenwende schafft, ihre Fähigkeiten zu beherrschen. Verlockend, vom unbedeutenden Zimmermädchen in den königlichen Rat. Der König stellt ihr einen Lehrer an die Seite: Den Bruder des Königs Prinz Ernhart, ein arroganter Schönling. Eiskalt im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes.
Dieser Roman ist der erste Band einer Trilogie. Wie so oft im Leben fängt es ganz harmlos an. Ein kleiner Dienst, der für Finn fast in einer Katastrophe endet. Und aus der BeinaheKatastrophe wird das Angebot. Nur können sich Finn und ihrer Lehrmeister nicht leiden. Ihm ist seine Zeit eigentlich zu schade und wer lässt sich schon gerne so herablassend behandeln. Angenehmer ist es, die Zeit mit dem König zu verbringen. Doch die Zeit ist knapp und Finn stürzt sich in die Übungen. Als bekannt wird, dass im nahegelegenen Ort mehrere junge Frauen verschwunden sind, will Finn herausfinden, was geschehen ist.
Ein erster Band einer Reihe, der gefällt. Menschen, Vampire, Hexen und andere fremdartige und nicht immer gutartige Wesen tummeln sich hier. Das Zimmermädchen, welches aus der Masse herausragt, wird vom König in eine neue Position gehoben. Da werden Hoffnungen und Phantasien geweckt. Und wenn man nach und nach dahinter kommt, dass hier noch ganz andere Intrigen gesponnen werden, dann wird es noch richtig spannend. Zum Schluss hin gibt es ein paar Überraschungen, die das Konstrukt, das man durch eigene Vermutungen zusammengefügt hat, wird nochmal ordentlich durcheinander gewirbelt. Die Spur Richtung Band zwei ist vielversprechend. Dieses Romandebüt vermag wirklich zu gefallen und gut zu unterhalten.
Die Umschlaggestaltung des Buches erscheint sogar beim eBook als so liebevoll und detailliert, dass es sich sicher lohnt, auch das Printexemplar mal in Augenschein zu nehmen.
Die junge Finn ist als Zimmermädchen im Schloß des Königreichs Valen beschäftigt. Die Vampire und die Menschen haben es geschafft zu kooperieren. Ob es noch Hexen gibt ist fraglich. Finn verrät nicht, dass sie Magie wirken kann. Allerdings wird sie von König Mordric entdeckt. Er macht ihr das Angebot, dass sie in den königlichen Rat aufgenommen wird, wenn sie es bis zur Sommersonnenwende schafft, ihre Fähigkeiten zu beherrschen. Verlockend, vom unbedeutenden Zimmermädchen in den königlichen Rat. Der König stellt ihr einen Lehrer an die Seite: Den Bruder des Königs Prinz Ernhart, ein arroganter Schönling. Eiskalt im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes.
Dieser Roman ist der erste Band einer Trilogie. Wie so oft im Leben fängt es ganz harmlos an. Ein kleiner Dienst, der für Finn fast in einer Katastrophe endet. Und aus der BeinaheKatastrophe wird das Angebot. Nur können sich Finn und ihrer Lehrmeister nicht leiden. Ihm ist seine Zeit eigentlich zu schade und wer lässt sich schon gerne so herablassend behandeln. Angenehmer ist es, die Zeit mit dem König zu verbringen. Doch die Zeit ist knapp und Finn stürzt sich in die Übungen. Als bekannt wird, dass im nahegelegenen Ort mehrere junge Frauen verschwunden sind, will Finn herausfinden, was geschehen ist.
Ein erster Band einer Reihe, der gefällt. Menschen, Vampire, Hexen und andere fremdartige und nicht immer gutartige Wesen tummeln sich hier. Das Zimmermädchen, welches aus der Masse herausragt, wird vom König in eine neue Position gehoben. Da werden Hoffnungen und Phantasien geweckt. Und wenn man nach und nach dahinter kommt, dass hier noch ganz andere Intrigen gesponnen werden, dann wird es noch richtig spannend. Zum Schluss hin gibt es ein paar Überraschungen, die das Konstrukt, das man durch eigene Vermutungen zusammengefügt hat, wird nochmal ordentlich durcheinander gewirbelt. Die Spur Richtung Band zwei ist vielversprechend. Dieses Romandebüt vermag wirklich zu gefallen und gut zu unterhalten.
Die Umschlaggestaltung des Buches erscheint sogar beim eBook als so liebevoll und detailliert, dass es sich sicher lohnt, auch das Printexemplar mal in Augenschein zu nehmen.
July 18, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction, Magpie and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of The Witch in the Dead of Night in exchange for an honest review.
Not only is this book 1 in a new Romantasy trilogy (The Flamebearer Trilogy), but it’s the author’s debut?! 👏👏
Finn is a chambermaid in Valnar castle, fighting to stay under the radar so her secret isn’t discovered. She’s a witch, one of the last left in the kingdom, and was driven out of her home when her power was discovered years earlier.
When King Mordric discovers the truth, he can’t draw himself away from Finn. And she’s just as enchanted with him, after all he is an ethereally beautiful vampire. Mordric offers Finn an opportunity to join his council once she masters her powers, and wouldn’t you know he has just the man in mind to guide her - his aloof, arrogant younger brother, Prince Enhart.
Ok, vampire & witch centred Romantasy? Yes yes yes, I will drain every drop of blood from this delicious premise! I absolutely LOVE a vampire laced world, and I had so much fun with this.
Character motivations were as deliciously conniving as you would hope from a world ruled by vampires, and there were plenty of twists and turns in this to keep the story engaging and entertaining. I did find the majority of the twists predictable, but that didn’t make the reading experience any less enjoyable for me.
I’m so intrigued to see where this story goes, plenty of threads left to weave together over the rest of this trilogy. I hope we get to learn more about this world outside of the city of Valnar 🤞
I don’t want to say too much about the characters or plot as I don’t want to spoil, but just know there is so much scheming and court/political (not heavy political!) intrigue. The dynamics at play are very fun, and I’m excited for this all to unfold. This series has great potential and I will def be picking up book two!
Not only is this book 1 in a new Romantasy trilogy (The Flamebearer Trilogy), but it’s the author’s debut?! 👏👏
Finn is a chambermaid in Valnar castle, fighting to stay under the radar so her secret isn’t discovered. She’s a witch, one of the last left in the kingdom, and was driven out of her home when her power was discovered years earlier.
When King Mordric discovers the truth, he can’t draw himself away from Finn. And she’s just as enchanted with him, after all he is an ethereally beautiful vampire. Mordric offers Finn an opportunity to join his council once she masters her powers, and wouldn’t you know he has just the man in mind to guide her - his aloof, arrogant younger brother, Prince Enhart.
Ok, vampire & witch centred Romantasy? Yes yes yes, I will drain every drop of blood from this delicious premise! I absolutely LOVE a vampire laced world, and I had so much fun with this.
Character motivations were as deliciously conniving as you would hope from a world ruled by vampires, and there were plenty of twists and turns in this to keep the story engaging and entertaining. I did find the majority of the twists predictable, but that didn’t make the reading experience any less enjoyable for me.
I’m so intrigued to see where this story goes, plenty of threads left to weave together over the rest of this trilogy. I hope we get to learn more about this world outside of the city of Valnar 🤞
I don’t want to say too much about the characters or plot as I don’t want to spoil, but just know there is so much scheming and court/political (not heavy political!) intrigue. The dynamics at play are very fun, and I’m excited for this all to unfold. This series has great potential and I will def be picking up book two!
September 8, 2026
4.25 stars ⭐️
i enjoyed it a lot and will pick up the second book when it comes out!
i enjoyed it a lot and will pick up the second book when it comes out!
Did Not Finish
September 13, 2026I could keep reading this and give it somewhere in the ballpark of 2-3 stars.
However, one of my biggest turnoffs is insta love/lust!
I was intrigued at the start for the first 20% but then I got my first red flag after they kiss 100 pages in quickly followed by doing the deed 30 pages later…
It would be one thing if they had some sort of history with each other, but their interactions have been so minimal. I just can’t…
The audiobook is narrated by one of my favorite narrators and I also have the stunning fairyloot edition. Ugh so disappointing!! 😭😭
However, one of my biggest turnoffs is insta love/lust!
I was intrigued at the start for the first 20% but then I got my first red flag after they kiss 100 pages in quickly followed by doing the deed 30 pages later…
It would be one thing if they had some sort of history with each other, but their interactions have been so minimal. I just can’t…
The audiobook is narrated by one of my favorite narrators and I also have the stunning fairyloot edition. Ugh so disappointing!! 😭😭
September 5, 2026
The synopsis sounded so good but it just wasn’t for me. I struggled to feel any connection to the characters and I was honestly not connected to the story. It just felt like nothing was happening and I was bored
August 7, 2026
This book hooked me from the very first chapter. Charlotte Buckley’s writing style was engaging and easy to sink into, and I genuinely enjoyed it. I also really liked the FMC… at least until she met the first potential love interest.
Then came one of my biggest fantasy romance pet peeves - instalust. I was honestly ready to DNF right there 🫣
The only reason I kept going was because the plot had me curious. The murder mystery kept pulling me in, and the court politics hinted at something much bigger. When the second potential MMC entered the story, I was convinced this was heading toward a why choose romance. Thankfully, it didn’t. It never became a full love triangle either, but it often felt like the FMC couldn’t decide which man she was more attracted to.
The FMC herself also became a little frustrating. She often came across as more submissive than strong - she talked back, but when it came to actually standing her ground, she usually fell in line without much resistance.
The story takes us through a bit of traveling, a touch of an academia setting, kidnapping, monster fights, and then… more traveling. It wasn’t until the kidnapping that I finally felt like the main stakes became clear.
The second half dragged a little, though that’s also where the second MMC slowly started warming up to the FMC. He’s very reserved, so most of the emotional development is shown through her perspective.
While the romance wasn’t for me, the mystery and the overall plot were interesting enough to keep me turning the pages. The ending definitely caught me by surprise, though it also felt a bit abrupt.
Overall, this was an easy, entertaining read. It wasn’t a standout favorite, but I don’t regret picking it up, and I’m curious enough to see where the sequel takes the story.
Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction and Magpie, for approving my ARC request, and giving me the opportunity to read and review it early!
Then came one of my biggest fantasy romance pet peeves - instalust. I was honestly ready to DNF right there 🫣
The only reason I kept going was because the plot had me curious. The murder mystery kept pulling me in, and the court politics hinted at something much bigger. When the second potential MMC entered the story, I was convinced this was heading toward a why choose romance. Thankfully, it didn’t. It never became a full love triangle either, but it often felt like the FMC couldn’t decide which man she was more attracted to.
The FMC herself also became a little frustrating. She often came across as more submissive than strong - she talked back, but when it came to actually standing her ground, she usually fell in line without much resistance.
The story takes us through a bit of traveling, a touch of an academia setting, kidnapping, monster fights, and then… more traveling. It wasn’t until the kidnapping that I finally felt like the main stakes became clear.
The second half dragged a little, though that’s also where the second MMC slowly started warming up to the FMC. He’s very reserved, so most of the emotional development is shown through her perspective.
While the romance wasn’t for me, the mystery and the overall plot were interesting enough to keep me turning the pages. The ending definitely caught me by surprise, though it also felt a bit abrupt.
Overall, this was an easy, entertaining read. It wasn’t a standout favorite, but I don’t regret picking it up, and I’m curious enough to see where the sequel takes the story.
Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction and Magpie, for approving my ARC request, and giving me the opportunity to read and review it early!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to Read
January 3, 2026Book 1 in a 3 book series. "[F]ollows Finn, a chambermaid in the court of the vampire king and one of the last witches in the realm. When King Mordric discover her using magic, she must navigate a labyrinth of courtly intrigue, brewing power plays, and dangerous temptation as she attempts to earn a place among his elite - and perhaps win his heart."
August 15, 2026
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher & the author for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review: You know it’s a good book when you finish it at 2am… The Witch in the Dead of Night starts off like your classic romantasy starter pack: a hidden witch, a very handsome vampire king who becomes interested in her approximately 0.2 seconds after discovering she has magic, and a whole lot of court intrigue. Finn is one of the last remaining witches and, after her powers are discovered by the king, she’s given the chance to learn how to control them and earn herself a place in the king’s council.
But who gets the delightful task of teaching her magic? The king’s younger brother, Prince Enhart. Dark. Broody. Arrogant. Irritating. Finn hates him. Obviously Finn is going to fall for him. Obviously, because from here on we get banter, training scenes, tension and a whole lot of Enhart taking care of her while pretending he absolutely does not care. Like… I see through you, book. I KNOW where this is going.
And then Finn heads off to the academy to learn more about her magic and, I’ll be honest, this is where things slowed down a little too much for me. I was still enjoying myself, but my motivation to pick the book back up definitely took a little nosedive. The magic and world-building were interesting, but I found myself waiting for the story to get moving again…
BUT THEN… the final 20% of the book. I finished it in ONE SITTING. At 2AM. Because who needs sleep when a romantasy decides to throw every possible plot development at you at once?? Not this girl. We got ourselves a bit of a Tamlin situation and then perhaps even a little Hans of the Southern Isles situation, and while I really should have seen at least some of it coming, I was simply too invested in our actual MMC to notice the trainwreck speeding towards me. I was sitting there happily enjoying the banter and the tension while the book was quietly setting up its villain origin story in the background 🤭
And honestly, that’s probably what I enjoyed most about this book. Yes, it starts with plenty of familiar romantasy ingredients, but I had such a good time with the characters and the relationship between Finn and Enhart that I simply didn’t care. Apparently I am still falling for the same fictional man archetype over and over again expecting shit to change, the definition of insanity.
Despite the slower section in the middle, I thoroughly enjoyed The Witch in the Dead of Night and that ending definitely bumped this one up for me. We left things on such a high note that I am now highly anticipating the sequel!!
But who gets the delightful task of teaching her magic? The king’s younger brother, Prince Enhart. Dark. Broody. Arrogant. Irritating. Finn hates him. Obviously Finn is going to fall for him. Obviously, because from here on we get banter, training scenes, tension and a whole lot of Enhart taking care of her while pretending he absolutely does not care. Like… I see through you, book. I KNOW where this is going.
And then Finn heads off to the academy to learn more about her magic and, I’ll be honest, this is where things slowed down a little too much for me. I was still enjoying myself, but my motivation to pick the book back up definitely took a little nosedive. The magic and world-building were interesting, but I found myself waiting for the story to get moving again…
BUT THEN… the final 20% of the book. I finished it in ONE SITTING. At 2AM. Because who needs sleep when a romantasy decides to throw every possible plot development at you at once?? Not this girl. We got ourselves a bit of a Tamlin situation and then perhaps even a little Hans of the Southern Isles situation, and while I really should have seen at least some of it coming, I was simply too invested in our actual MMC to notice the trainwreck speeding towards me. I was sitting there happily enjoying the banter and the tension while the book was quietly setting up its villain origin story in the background 🤭
And honestly, that’s probably what I enjoyed most about this book. Yes, it starts with plenty of familiar romantasy ingredients, but I had such a good time with the characters and the relationship between Finn and Enhart that I simply didn’t care. Apparently I am still falling for the same fictional man archetype over and over again expecting shit to change, the definition of insanity.
Despite the slower section in the middle, I thoroughly enjoyed The Witch in the Dead of Night and that ending definitely bumped this one up for me. We left things on such a high note that I am now highly anticipating the sequel!!
September 25, 2026
Such a good time!
Finn Erramun, a chambermaid in the Valnar Castle, gets offered by King of Valnar (Mordric) to join his council as his Advisor to the Arcane Arts. Mordric saw her secretly using her powers. He figured she's a witch. He appoints his little brother, Prince Enhart to train her.. this book was a wild ride, and I had a blast getting to know all the characters. I am so enamored with Enhart! I cannot wait to see what happens in book 2 <3
Finn Erramun, a chambermaid in the Valnar Castle, gets offered by King of Valnar (Mordric) to join his council as his Advisor to the Arcane Arts. Mordric saw her secretly using her powers. He figured she's a witch. He appoints his little brother, Prince Enhart to train her.. this book was a wild ride, and I had a blast getting to know all the characters. I am so enamored with Enhart! I cannot wait to see what happens in book 2 <3
August 30, 2026
This was a wild and fun ride. And now I am desperately wanting to know what happens in Enhart's home😳😏
September 25, 2026
Ummm Stefan? Damon?
That you?
That you?
August 28, 2026
Ich hab die Liebesgeschichte gar nicht gefühlt. 💔
Ich dachte, passend zu meinem imaginären Herbstanfang schlage ich mir ein Buch mit Hexen um die Ohren. 🧙♀️
Das war allerdings echt enttäuschend. Ich weiß nicht woran es liegt, dass mich Bücher aktuell SCHWER abholen, aber diese Geschichte war 0815 und nicht so ganz stimmig.
Wir lesen hier nur aus einer POV (unserer Protagonistin), wobei die Kapitellänge wirklich klar geht.
Unsere Protagonistin fand ich naiv und anstrengend. Mensch Meier Reiß dich mal am Riemen. Du bist ne mächtige Hexe und tust aber auf frommes Lamm. No girl! Das machen wir nicht mehr! ⛔️
Die ganze Storyline war irgendwie weird. Wie sie soll vom Zimmermädchen auf einmal zum Rat vom König gehören und das nur, weil er sie gerettet hat? Jung bin ich falsch abgebogen im Leben? 🥹
Und diese Love-Story, wobei (ACHTUNG SPOILER!) dann ein Love-Triangle reinkommt, was unpassend ist. No thank you. 🙃
Nichts für mich, aber ganz bestimmt für Fans von einer nicht allzu komplexen und intensiven Geschichte. 🧙♀️
Ich dachte, passend zu meinem imaginären Herbstanfang schlage ich mir ein Buch mit Hexen um die Ohren. 🧙♀️
Das war allerdings echt enttäuschend. Ich weiß nicht woran es liegt, dass mich Bücher aktuell SCHWER abholen, aber diese Geschichte war 0815 und nicht so ganz stimmig.
Wir lesen hier nur aus einer POV (unserer Protagonistin), wobei die Kapitellänge wirklich klar geht.
Unsere Protagonistin fand ich naiv und anstrengend. Mensch Meier Reiß dich mal am Riemen. Du bist ne mächtige Hexe und tust aber auf frommes Lamm. No girl! Das machen wir nicht mehr! ⛔️
Die ganze Storyline war irgendwie weird. Wie sie soll vom Zimmermädchen auf einmal zum Rat vom König gehören und das nur, weil er sie gerettet hat? Jung bin ich falsch abgebogen im Leben? 🥹
Und diese Love-Story, wobei (ACHTUNG SPOILER!) dann ein Love-Triangle reinkommt, was unpassend ist. No thank you. 🙃
Nichts für mich, aber ganz bestimmt für Fans von einer nicht allzu komplexen und intensiven Geschichte. 🧙♀️
September 2, 2026
3.5 Sterne
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