Madness of the Elder Vampire

Elder Madness #1

by Darby Vernon

All Elder vampires go mad. All, save one.

Adrian Rowe survived homeless on Los Angeles streets by trusting no one. That was before he met Garrick, an Elder vampire who offered a home and a pair of deadly fangs. All he needed in return was his loyalty, and his love.

Forty years and one murder later, Adrian and Garrick flee LA to serve a new hotblooded Elder. But San Francisco is haunted by a hunter on a mission, and a rival vampire with powers beyond his years. One wants Adrian's heart. The other, his life. Garrick promised protection. Instead, he does nothing—even as the silver bullet closes in. Adrian must decide: without Garrick, he has nothing. With Garrick, he's nothing.

Trapped between Garrick’s heart and fangs, is loyalty worth the price of Madness?

For fans of Interview with the Vampire who want contemporary stakes and brutal consequences.

Genres: Vampires

346 pages, Hardcover

First published December 9, 2025

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters were well written, and even though there were so tons of different side characters, you could keep track of all of them. The plot was fresh and extremely interesting. Would definitely recommend it.

[Lauren Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a strong and promising launch to a new vampire saga, one I’m genuinely excited to continue. Firmly rooted in the urban fantasy genre, the story unfolds primarily in modern-day San Francisco, grounding its supernatural elements in a familiar, gritty setting. Vampire lore has been explored countless times and from every imaginable angle, but Vernon’s concept of elder madness feels refreshingly original. It introduces a sense of inevitability and finality to an otherwise immortal existence, where survival depends only on avoiding sunlight, stakes, and decapitation. The character dynamics are equally well handled. Romance is present but subtle, never overpowering the story, while action and intrigue, both vampiric and entirely human, keep the narrative engaging. At times, I found myself thinking that if you stripped away the supernatural elements, this would still stand as a solid crime novel, complete with rival factions, power plays, betrayals, and ambition. That said, the vampirism never feels tacked on; instead, it’s seamlessly and cleverly woven into every layer of the plot, making it just as essential as the more grounded conflicts. The only issue I really have with the whole book is the title. It doesn’t quite reflect the depth and quality of what’s inside. Seeing it, I expected something lighter and less substantial than what the story actually delivers. While the madness of elder vampires is central to the plot, I can’t help but feel a more evocative or poetic title could better capture the novel’s strengths. Still, this is a minor gripe in an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable read, and I’m very much looking forward to what comes next in the series.

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice adult urban fantasy with an interesting cast of vampire characters. The vibes are gloomy and eerie and they fit the story quite well. The plot is full of mysteries and is well-developed. The pace is steady and the writing is not too shallow not too much for the story, I did like it quite a lot. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start and an entertaining horror. Loved it
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

[Leigh Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa, who is this person? Where did they come from? This book rules! Just goes to show you can't trust Goodreads reviews to steer you right (currently sitting at 3.69 stars). This book is a promising beginning to a new vampire saga that I'm looking forward to continuing on. It definitely lands in the "urban fantasy" world, taking place mostly in San Francisco in modern times. Dozens of authors have approached the vampire lore from as many directions with wildly varying results; Vernon's idea of elder madness feels new but I don't hate it. It lends a finality to an existence that is otherwise endless as long as they stay out of the sun and nondecapitated/unstaked.
The interplay between characters is well done as well: there is romance but it's understated. There is action and intrigue, both vampiric and non-vampiric in nature. I kept thinking to myself that if you took out the vampire stuff, this would make for a fairly good crime fiction novel: rival gangs, toppling the leader to take their place, double crossings, etc. But that being said, the vampirism does not feel carelessly inserted; rather it is insidiously intertwined with these more mundane plot points and as central to the story as anything else.
My one and only gripe, and I hate even bringing it up: I don't love the title. I feel like it betrays how good the book is. I see the title and expect something without as much substance as I delightfully found in this book. Yes, the Madness of the Elder Vampire is central to the plot of the book, but surely a more poetic title could be found. Regardless, I enjoyed this book a lot and I'm looking forward to subsequent installments in the series!
Thanks to Star Strix and NetGalley for the eARC!

[Flora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Fantasy Book is for you if:
- Love vampires
- Love Multiple POVs
- Friends to Enemies
- Light themes of Romance
- Based on the overall California landscape

Oh, where do I begin with this book? The book started off strong and ended with a heartbreaking cliffhanger that I want to read the second book right away, as this is only the first book! Throughout the book, I felt like I was hooked on every single event, emotion, and tension that was building up throughout the story. There is even at one point that I was so swayed and naive based on one character’s opinion that I strongly felt that this person was going to be the antagonist, but to my surprise, it wasn’t.

I could feel myself being in each of the characters’ shoes and living in the universe that the world was set in so vividly. I could also feel empathy for each character and felt as though I was that character, and some empathy changed after some twists and turns evolved through the book. No one is able to survive by themselves in this world, but being a part of a group is a lot more complicated and twisted than it seems on the surface.

I would love to read the next book in this series and more works of Darby Vernon. Thank you to NetGalley and Star Strix/IBPA for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars

This world in this book feels taken for granted. It’s clear the author has a vision in their mind, it’s just not a vision that comes across in text. The magic system for vampires and their powers is the primary focus, with characters feeling unfinished and their relationships assumed, as if they’ve been previously established. But this isn’t book four or seven of a series, it’s book one. Rather than introduce me to the world and the people in it, it feels like the author mostly wants to show off how vampires work.

Overall, I felt indifferent to this book. The world building is missing, the characters aren’t strong enough to hold my attention, the plot feels meandering, and the pace is choppy, with long pauses for info dumps on how vampire powers work. It’s a very uneven read, and while the blurb states that it’s a look at power and loyalty, I didn’t see that.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Gerald Wallner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an invited to review an advanced reader copy (ARC). I had been itching for something new in the vampire genre and this book really scratched that itch! I really liked the elements of espionage and infiltration combined with elements of magic not generally explored in vampire stories and lore. The blend of action, interpersonal politics, and drama associated with the vampire underworld explore traditional dynamics with new generational twists that make those interactions refreshing. There is opportunity for a wide breadth of age groups and interests for most everyone to find themselves a character they can identify with even in non-vampiric characters with unique personalities and quirks. The book layout and flow made for excellent reading in what I would liken to an episode like style that made completion of a chapter easy to achieve giving the reader a sense of milestones as they progress through the book. I’m already eagerly anticipating the sequel!

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.75 rounded up

I was pleasantly surprised by how well done this was. The author did a good job of creating a well developed history and world that this story takes place in. The premise was plausible and the characters interactions where believable. There is definitely a lot going on in the story making it more dense then a streamlined read.

We have vampire politics in a contemporary setting with a whole lot of moral complexity which does not make for a cozy read with a blooming romance. In fact this is a darker and bloodier tale so if you are a romantic or classic vampire reader this may not be for you. But if you like a new and fresh take on vampires with an urban gangland feel with a a gritty, tense atmosphere, this will be just what you need.

Overall this was a fast and interesting read that I did enjoy. I look forward to book 2.

[Tim Musgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Head and shoulders above all those lightweight YA vampire romps that are out there, this novel deals with serious, adult issues and concepts, and does so with aplomb.

Both the writing and the "vampire logic" are airtight all the way through. The author has excellent pacing in multiple dimensions, whereby layers (and sometimes lairs) of the urban fantasy world are revealed one at a time, as the plot and characters unfold in tandem.

The author's narrative stream of consciousness (exhibited across different characters) is compelling and easily "immersible" while being not overdone. I especially like how we have the same chapter retold from a different characters' POV, yielding a perspectival engagement in the various themes.

Madness of the Elder Vampire stands up as an overall work of urban fantasy, and I recommend it whether it will be your twelfth vampire novel or your first.

[Pages_Of_TheGrimRaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not your traditional vampire story or one blooming with romance, it is dark, gloomy and gritty.

I liked this fresh approach of an urban vampire fantasy with it's gang like style and politics. Throw in some action here and there and various emotional battles from previous mortal lives to the immortal life.
The world was built well and though there is history, I would've liked more lore.

I'm not used to reading books involving many characters, it took me a moment to get to grips with them but once I did I had no trouble keeping up.

× × ✞ × ×

I enjoyed this read and I'm intrigued to what book 2 brings to the table!

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very unique plot, interesting characters and an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this book. It was very different and it had several interesting characters. As a huge Anne Rice fan and other vampire series, this story was fresh and captivating. There is intrigue, magic, lore, and drama. It shows a vampires in a different light ( pun intended) and in a more day to day basis. Yes, they also have regular problems like mortals. The pacing is perfect and the characters are likeable and relatable, even the non-vampire ones. Overall a great and unique vampire fantasy read!
Thank you Netgalley and Star Strix LLC for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Kristie Kieffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book totally surprised me. It’s dark, eerie, and emotional in all the right ways. Darby Vernon really captures that old-school gothic vampire vibe but makes it feel fresh and personal. You can feel the centuries of loneliness and madness in every page — it’s creepy but also kind of heartbreaking.

The writing is beautiful and atmospheric, and the story pulls you in right from the start. If you like vampire stories that are more about emotion, regret, and obsession than just action or romance, this one’s a must-read.

Definitely one of those books that sticks with you after you finish it.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising debut featuring ‌great world building and solid character work. It reminded me of some franchise fiction I’ve read, or of games like Vampire: The Masquerade. What I’d like to see in the future is a tad more depth in the writing. The prose had a slight ‘and then’ feel to it, which left little room for reflective moments and for those characters to really shine. Still, it was an entertaining read, and I’m sure fans of vampire fiction will get a kick out of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Lura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read! Madness of the Elder Vampire sank its teeth into me, pulling me into the world of Adrian, a hugely sympathetic vampire struggling with issues from his past and trying to make sense of a world not unlike typical crime families, with everybody vying for power. Val was my favorite, though. She is a strong female character who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to do what it takes to get it.

This is a must-read for anyone who loves urban fantasy with depth, style, and a perfectly executed finale.

[Angelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. Strong start for this debut, but the narrative and lore got a bit jumbled and the plot felt too chaotic in the second half. Far too many characters to keep track of and the motivations mostly seemed like everyone was just having a tantrum. By the end I still didn’t really get the Elder Madness (mostly because everyone kinda seemed “mad” and kinda dickish the whole novel). Interesting world and set up, so hoping the narrative gets a bit tighter in the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mutated Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I was immediately drawn to not only because of the cover but because I honestly love stories about vampires. I was not disappointed. Addicted from the moment I started it, I devoured it in just over a day, and I honestly can't wait to read more from this series. If you see it, grab it, and that's an order not a suggestion.

Check out my full review here! Posted December 9th 2025.

https://mutatedlibrary.wordpress.com/...

[Shayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me some toxic vampires
It was super fast-paced and full of action and different relationship-dynamics. I loved Garret's, Adrian's and Val's weird little group and was rooting for them. I thin polyamory would have solved some of their problems. It was clear they cared for each other, as much they were capable of.
The ending felt like a rollercoaster and it get me excited for a sequel. I also would love a prequel, to read about the 40 years Adrian and Garret spent together.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 🙂/3
Source: #netgalley
Review: Action and fight scene packed. Like if Blade was a book. Lots of characters and political sides so a little challenging to keep track of everyone. Not really for me but might be good for those who like action packed or might be better on audio.

Format: 👩🏻‍💻

[elysian · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 leaning towards 4.
My my… I have mixed feelings… but I’m too tired to write right now, I’ll write my review tomorrow…