Vow of Eternal Night: A Standalone, Gothic Paranormal Romance

by Lily Crozier

Clara Wagner has always known that monsters are real, and the worst of them is Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg. But when he decides it’s time to marry, Clara inadvertently finds herself at the center of his attention.

Forced to accept Raleigh’s proposal, Clara would do anything to escape her fate. So when the prince provides an ultimatum—lift his vampiric curse before the end of the year, or become his bride for eternity—Clara knows what she must do.

Heal the prince. Stay alive. Try not to fall in love.

Vow of Eternal Night is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers, gothic romantasy about the lengths people will go to for love, and the many faces monsters can wear.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Vampires, Paranormal, Retellings, Audiobook

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 4, 2026

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 would write again

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an interesting story, and I did like the ending, but the romance felt like it was missing something. Where are the conversations where the characters actually get to know each other? Where are the small moments that relationships are built on? Yes, the FMC realizes the MMC isn’t actually a jerk, but what does he do specifically for her? He gives her a dress and some dictionaries (which, honestly, he needed more than she did), and that’s it? Because of that, her love feels like it came out of nowhere. Still, it was a fun read overall, and the best thing about the book is that it’s a standalone.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vow of Eternal Night transported me straight back to that feeling I had as a kid discovering fairytales for the first time. It’s whimsical, dark, and deeply romantic, with a slow burn so delicious that it’s almost painful.

While the inspiration from Beauty and the Beast is unmistakable, this story never feels derivative. Instead, it takes those familiar bones and reshapes them into something uniquely its own - a beautiful, moody, and enchanting interpretation that honors the classic while creating an entirely new story. The world-building leans into classic vampire lore but introduces fresh twists that make the setting feel alive rather than borrowed.

The characters are where the book truly shines. They’re wonderfully complex in ways that feel real. Flawed, layered, and just the right amount of chaotic. We love a soft, bisexual king!! The MMC was kinda goofy and I loved that about him. Both main characters were incredibly endearing. And because the story is told entirely through the FMC’s perspective, the reader is left to gobble up crumbs and read between the lines. I was invested from the first lingering look. We love a man that YEARNS!!

And the best part? It’s a COMPLETE STANDALONE. No cliffhangers, no waiting years for the next book. Instead a completely immersive story that begins and ends exactly where it should.

I can’t wait for more from Lily!

Final rating: 4⭐️ 1🌶️
Thank you Penguin for the ARC.

[Emily’s Fully Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a bingeable read and an impressive debut. I loved the gothic vibes and storytelling. I think this reads a little more YA than I was expecting based off the marketing.
I still enjoyed the characters and the pacing, but feel like the romance aspect could have been added to some more.
A worthwhile stand alone vampire read 🧛

[ThianeJansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moving Castle inspired Beauty and the Beast retelling… but make it vampires?
Lily really said let’s combine three of my favorite things and expected me not to immediately INHALE this book.

Clara is stolen from her home and fiancé by the infamous Prince Raleigh of Rostenburg and taken to his looming gothic castle in the mountains. Rumor in the town below says Raleigh is no ordinary prince… but something far darker.

Forced to live in the castle under his watch, Clara begins to see Raleigh for who he truly is while uncovering secrets not only about the castle but about her own family and home.

Tropes & Vibes
🩸 Vampires
🏰 Gothic castle setting
💍 Arranged marriage
🌑 Beauty & the Beast retelling
✨ Court intrigue & town secrets
😤 Grumpy MMC × grumpy FMC

This was such a bingeable read. The atmosphere is the real standout here with moody castles, dying towns, and that delicious gothic tension running underneath everything. It was giving Dracula aesthetic with Howl’s castle.

For a standalone, this story packs in a lot without feeling rushed. The character dynamics were especially fun to watch unfold, particularly Raleigh, who is rumored to be this terrifying vampire prince but is actually just a hopeless, softie of a man having to put masks on. I absolutely loved Moira and might even argue she was my favorite character.

I also loved that this sticks fairly close to classic vampire lore while still adding a few fresh twists. And honestly? The fact that this is a fantasy standalone made it so satisfying to inhale quickly.

My main gripe is that the pacing can feel slow in places, and despite being marketed as romantasy, the romance itself is pretty light. I personally would have loved more yearning, tension, and stolen glances between the main characters. A few plot points also resolve a little too easily.

Call me weird but all the ‘fight’ scenes played out in my head peak Twilight Volturi style and I ate it up, okay.

Still, this was a moody, atmospheric, gothic romantasy that really scratched my vampire itch and I had a great time with it. If you are in the right mood for something slow and atmospheric you should reach for this

[lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

vampires are BACK!!!

[BookishlyMorgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun standalone!! It felt nostalgic and had all the elements of a good vampire romance!! There was love, loss, deception, battle and so much more.

It was predictable, but thoroughly enjoyable :)

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, Lily—you’ve absolutely smashed this out of the park.
This book was immersive, addictive, and completely impossible to put down. The atmosphere was chef’s kiss—dark, gothic, and dripping with vibes.

And the characters… I genuinely can’t put into words how much I adored Clara and Raleigh. They owned my whole heart.

A heads up: don’t go in expecting spicy scenes every few chapters—and honestly, that’s what made it even better. Instead of relying on constant heat, this delivers a slow-burn romance that’s beautifully woven into a rich, compelling story. The focus on world-building, tension, and mood made it stand out in the best way.

If you love your romantasy atmospheric, brooding, and story-driven, this one is a must 🖤📖

[Tamina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I reallllllllly wanted to love this book but I honestly was just a lil bored throughout it. The beauty and the beast retelling really was a RETELLING and felt like I knew everything that was going to happen next. By the end of it I just wasn’t invested. Also I think it’s reads a lot more YA than marketed. That being said, it was still great writing I would read another book by Author, just don’t think this one was for me

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Easily a 5 star read!

I’ve followed Lily’s bookstagram for a while now and was excited when she announced this book but hesitant as I hadn’t read many vampire novels since the Twilight days but the Beauty and the Beast retelling hooked me in and I am so glad I read this book. It was phenomenal!

Despite being a retelling, this story felt really unique and I loved reading a fantasy standalone. The world building is excellent and the storytelling was perfect!

I loved the character development of both Clara and Raleigh and the found family elements that developed with wonderful side characters.

I hope that Lily writes more so I can lose myself in another of her fantasy worlds.

[Lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I can’t wait for people to lose their minds over this

This was so compelling!! A fantastic blend of traditional vampire myths, Beauty and the Beast, and the magic of Howl’s Moving Castle (plus a cheeky nod to the Van Helsing film which I LOVE), I devoured this (haha) in about two sittings.

Move aside poorly written vampire romantasy, there’s a new sire in town and she’s kicking your ass

Go Lily!

[sam]

I haven’t read much romantasy, but I’ve been in a very vampire mood recently so when the ARC arrived at my workplace I picked this up so fast. I’m so happy I did because I’ve been having trouble getting through books recently but couldn’t put this one down till I had to everytime I’ve picked it up!!!

I adore Clara as a main character, she reacted to things in such a relatable way to me. I loved going through her whirlwind of emotions throughout with her. Since I was so invested, whenever she felt something was unexplainable I felt the same way and so learning about the world through her experiences felt all the more rewarding.

I can’t wait for it to be out so I can gush about everything more and bring it up whenever someone asks for a fantasy recommendation!! (and so I can send it to all my vampire loving friends.)

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

At what point can we as a society admit that we’ve reached the limit for beauty and the beast retellings. We’re at the point where they’re becoming less original and you can virtually predict the entire book because of how close it stays to the original.

In general this 1000000% should have been a young adult novel. The writing is very young and the story were predictable to an adult might still feel fresh and exciting to a younger audience. There’s only one sex scene which very easily could’ve been omitted and then the rest of the book would’ve been perfect for a 14 year old.

Romantic buildup between the characters was severely lacking and even out an ancient vampire felt extremely young. So without that and a super predictable plot it was pretty meh.

Really a massive shame because I think this book would’ve been a fun injection into the vampire young adult space especially for those teens who are newer to fantasy, since the retelling aspect would’ve kept it familiar but instead it’s landed in an adult fantasy where it’s extremely forgettable.

Also bros name is stupid as fuck

[maddie's reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Entangled Amara and NetGalley for the arc!

10/10 I had a great time

full rtc!

[Katie Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow wow wow.. i loved this so much

[caiseeᡣ᭡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

now this, was a bloody good book. hehe get it? cause it's about vampires. 😅🦇
*****ARC*****

[Awesome_Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The best of life makes the worst worth living.”

I think I’m officially in my dark fairy-tale retelling era and I am not mad about it 🖤

There are strong Beauty and the Beast vibes running through this story, but without the classic grumpy × sunshine dynamic. Instead, we get politics, subterfuge, betrayals, and layers within layers of intrigue. It was clever, atmospheric, and honestly really impressed me.

And what do you mean it’s a standalone?! In 2026?! Absolute fist-pump moment. I love a complete story that knows exactly what it wants to be and delivers it in one beautifully contained package.

The gothic tone throughout gave me strong throwback energy to those classic 90s vampire romances — minimal spice, more tension and atmosphere, and that slightly haunting emotional distance that lets the story breathe. I absolutely loved that vibe.

I also really appreciated the way the story explored family expectations and identity — especially the idea that family isn’t always what you think it is. The events at the end landed so well and pulled everything together in a really satisfying way. The back and forth! So. Good.

Honestly, this was just a total vibe read for me. Dark fairytale atmosphere, layered politics, unexpected turns, and a refreshingly classic-feeling romance.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily’s debut is a marvellous gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. She balances classic expectations of vampires alongside newer elements that work to create a dynamic and shifting relationship between captive and captor.

I adored the supporting cast as well as the underlying commentary on women’s body autonomy. This was a clever and fun novel that I shall recommend profusely.

[Emma Wilks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pls write more books this was amazing!!!

[sev · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘He’s not the devil. If he were the devil he’d be a lot more charming.’

[Coz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! And I really want a krapfen! 🤭

Vow of Eternal Night, inspired by beauty and the beast, is a gothic romantasy story that follows Clara, who is abducted and forced into a betrothal with Prince Raleigh von Rostenburg, a vampire who has treated his people like livestock for years.

I think (please correct me if I’m wrong) this is a standalone book and I found the pacing to be perfect. I loved that it ebbed and flowed and that it packed such a punch at several times throughout the book.

I absolutely adore the characters! Clara is brave, gutsy, strong and determined.
Raleigh is a monster. But is he really? He would rather people think he’s a monster than see Clara hurt at the hands of real monsters.
Yann, I really didn’t like for most of the book but I think he was done very well. Moira and Enrique… I absolutely adored them! Moira is a badass.

The world building was done really well. I was able to visualise and create the world in my head quite easily and I really love when a book does this. Being a creative person, I really need a book adequately world building and VoEN had no issue doing that!

We have enemies to lovers AND WE HAVE A SLOW BURN. We actually have a standalone romantasy with a delicious slow burn. If that alone doesn’t tempt you to read this book, then I don’t know what will.

I think the only thing I would have liked is a little more history on Raleigh’s side. I think Clara’s life, upbringing and discoveries really create a clear picture of a lot of her life, whereas Raleigh, I feel I wanted to know more history to really solidify that connection.

Overall, this is an amazing debut novel by Lily and I’m super excited for this to be out in the open.

Thank you to Rebekah at @penguinbooksaus and Lily for the gorgeous PR box and the chance to read early.

[Michelle Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this in 24 hours! I’ve encouraged my teen to read this over Twilight. Particularly love the slow burn and wonderfully paced tension, the visual imagery (love to see this book get optioned) and the warranted attention dedicated to the ending - pet peeve is a rushed chapter tying up loose ends and this one did not disappoint in the slightest. Fab debut.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so fun but I’m also slightly disappointed. The storytelling was fantastic, I have so many quotes from this book that I love. But where was the romance? I didn’t feel the chemistry between Clara and Raleigh whatsoever. When she touched his d*ck the first time I was like ‘WOAH warn a girl first’. There was such good world-building, but where were the slow scenes that get us invested in the love story? There were no small touches or moments of insight that made us pine alongside them, we just kinda went from ‘I hate him’ to ‘actually I think I love him’ like what?

ALSO sooooo mad that we spent the whole bloody book trying to find a cure, and then we end up with both of them as vampires…. No.

ALSO PT. 2 Since I can't add my fave quotes manually since I read a physical copy, I'm just gonna paste them below for future reference haha


~ pg. 1 | I was ten years old and hadn't yet learned what it is to grieve. By the time I turned twelve, I was numb to it.

~ pg. 32 | "You must be my rival, then."
"I'm her fiancé," Yann said.
"See, I actually have a funny story about that."

~ "Do you think me a fool?" I asked.
"I didn't before, but you're certainly encouraging me to change my mind."

~ "What about love?" I asked.
"I hope that too will come in time," Raleigh said, "given the chance." He spoke with a softness I hadn't expected.

~ "Can a monster feel love?"
The question made him flinch.

~ pg. 52 | "I love you, too," I whispered into the darkness. But the only soul who might have heard me was the reason she never would.

~ "You want to kill me."
"Don't be dramatic," I said. "I'd be perfectly happy for you to drop dead of your own accord."

~ Vampires I could handle. Spiders were capable of crawling into your clothes and tickling you, which was too horrific for words.

~ "He's never touched me, if that's what you're implying."
"I'm struggling to understand what else he'd want from you."
That stung. "Is that really what you think? If you were in Raleigh's shoes, do I have nothing else to offer?"
His silence was damning.

~ "He's the devil, Clara. You can't let him take you."
"He's not the devil. If he were the devil, he'd be a lot more charming."
"I am charming."

~ pg. 142 | "This bolt is made of silver," he explained. "Every moment it's in there it's poisoning my body."
"How can you tell?"
"Because it fucking hurts, Clara!"

~ "I know I broke off my engagement with Yann, but please don't take that as a sign I've fallen for you."
"Don't worry, I'm not that deluded."

~ pg. 167 | "I mean this in the nicest way possible," she said as she approached, "but what the hell happened in Orlfen?"
"Clara chose me over the baker's boy," Raleigh said happily.
I ducked my head so they couldn't see me flush. "He's oversimplifying it."
"Of course, you're always right. I also got shot."
Moira pinched the bridge of her nose. "Actually, I know enough."

~ pg. 228 | What kind of pain lets a mother look her daughter in the eye and choose death?

~ "I feel safer with you here."
"Even now?"
I met his eye. "I didn't push you away for my sake. I wasn't the one who didn't want it."

~ pg. 268 | This, Raleigh explained, was not a coffin. It was simply a padded chest he lay in as a safety precaution to protect himself from any fleeting glimpses of sunlight that might shine through the curtain. He then reiterated that it was not a coffin and made it clear that if I didn't stop laughing I would be left behind.
It was a coffin.

~ pg. 285 | Raleigh turned to face me and was replaced by a startled deer who didn't know where to look.

~ "Is that really how you would greet the love of your life?"
"The love of my life is standing in front of me, but it isn't you, Your Majesty."

[Amelia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 12%

The very juvenile writing style was a big turn-off and I couldn't continue.

[caity ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best vampire books and debuts I have read in a long long time, I devoured this book in almost one sitting.

The writing and world building were lucid and atmospheric, I loved how considered every element was from the setting to its history to the political and historical events happening around it, because of that the world in this story felt so alive.

The characters were also refreshingly well fleshed out. Clara and Raleigh were both compelling as characters because of their strengths and their flaws which Crozier carefully wove into their actions, motivations, desires, and mistakes. I also loved Crozier's take on vampirism.

This book gave me the same magical feeling as Howl's Moving Castle, the Emily Wilde series, and of course Beauty and the Beast but was also original enough that it stood on its own. If you like any of those books and movies though this book is absolutely perfect!

Overall, this was an incredibly impressive debut and I can't wait more of what Crozier writes, she is an immensely talented writer!

Thank you Penguin Books Australia for sending an ARC copy!

[yas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up

FUNNNN i really enjoyed this little world and i grew to love our characters

raleigh was a gentle vampire, definitely not your classic villainous vampire - arguably he doesn’t have a bad bone in his body. he so sweet and kind, and had me giggling a few times. however dare i say, he wasn’t that interesting??

definitely can see the inspo coming from beauty and the beast and acotar. it left a few plot points very predictable, but added to the story regardless. raleigh’s whole backstory with the queen constantina was very much rhys-coded

clara was a fairly enjoyable FMC. i didn’t find her insufferable, and i could understand her decisions for the most part. did she lowkey forgive and fall in love with her captor hella fast? maybe. but it’s a standalone so i’ll accept the speedy romance

in saying that though, as much as the romance was cute to follow along with, the build up was lacklustre. we had a lot of time jumps where i would’ve liked to see conversations of them bonding and getting to know one another more. it felt like it stuck quite true to the beauty and the beast pacing of the story where we only saw key events (eg the library scene) but none of the in between. it works for beauty and the beast coz it’s a shorter, children’s movie/book, but for a novel, i would’ve liked to see a lot more

i am also a lover girl, so seeing relationships grow with the smaller interactions always means a lot to me and i need to have those to really buy into a relationship

anyway! moving into the side characters a little - moira and enrique <3 I WANTED THEM TO KISSSS, was hoping for a cheeky little scandalous moment with them butttt that didn’t reallllly happen. wish i could’ve been a fly on the wall when they were in the hotel room

our dad - look, he pissed me off i can’t lie. his little redemption wasn’t really a redemption for me. i understand he’s her dad blah blah, but he made his whole village starve with no hesitation and sold us to a vampire who could’ve sucked us dry that same day for all he knew. no redemption from me!

yann, i felt bad for but also he was such a boring character. was never a gaston girly growing up, so he did not appeal to me. i do appreciate that he came in clutch at the end, whereas gaston could NEVERRRR.

overall, the atmosphere was pretty chill, nothing too crazy or fleshed out, and it was a really easy bingeable read. perfect escapism, and exactly what i needed. also a fun one to buddy read with your friends, i had a good time giggling with sev and banu

can’t really go wrong with a vampire romance tbh

[Jessica Maddison · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I absolutely ADORED this book. Start to finish, it captivated me the entire time. As someone who grew up watching Disney and favourite princess was Belle, this was the perfect read for me. Gothic, Vampires, Beauty and the Beast - YES YES YES. I cannot believe it is Lilys first book, she nailed it. I absolutely will be reading her books in future. I was in a bit of a reading slump and this pulled me out by my hair. You have to read it!! 😍❤️

[Dee Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book at 7am and 10 hours later, with my eyes bugging out of my skull, I finished it. One hit, no breaks!

What a gorgeous read and so well written and researched too. I found the book so gentle, so sweet. Here I am, a fully grown, sensible 47 year old woman… in love with a vampire for god’s sake!! 🤭 Pls read it, it’s so lovely.

Lily I can’t wait for another book, so hurry up already.

[nihaarika · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars (rounded up to 5)

vampires are SOOO back😮‍💨

an actual enemies to lovers dynamic, great world building, interesting plot, and an utterly delicious romance?? yup, vow of eternal night was exactly my type of read. i adored this and i cannot wait to read more from lily crozier!!!

longer rtc!

[Cassie Sylvan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this!! It was exactly what I needed - a romance without being a full blown romantasy. Despite being a Beauty and the Beast retelling (with a vampire), it didn’t feel too reductive and had enough changes to make it feel new and original. I was intrigued from the start and just wanted to keep reading the whole way through, so very happy with this one!