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The Scarlet Ball
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26From USA Today bestselling author Nghi Vo, this all-consuming tale of ballrooms and bloodshed weds The Gilded Age with the Gothic vision of Guillermo del Toro.
Pick a face, pick a fate.
Judith Ban, former convent girl, courtesan, and failed thief, is on the lookout for her next identity. The daughter of a Vietnamese adventuress and a French naval officer, she’s no stranger to risk, but she’s unprepared for the secrets of New York’s legendary Four Hundred, or for the women who build their power at the city’s heart through blood-soaked, gold-etched rituals of demonic marriage.
In exchange for enough wealth to outrun her past, Judith strikes a deal with the matriarch of the powerful Howard family: she will stand in for the missing Howard granddaughter, who was poised to make her debut when she disappeared. With Miss Iphigenia Marshall’s face stitched over her own, Judith is white, rich, and about to risk body and soul in the deadly games that determine which girls will find a match—and which will be devoured. If she can keep her wits and her life, her reward will be a husband with undreamt-of power who will be hers to command... so long as she can keep his infinite hungers fed. But to survive the season, Judith will have to seduce a storm in the shape of a man, before the night to which everything has been leading—the Scarlet Ball where the demons choose their brides.
A razor-sharp subversion of romance tropes and nightmare of manners, Vo's fusion of history and fantasy does for Edith Wharton what her acclaimed debut The Chosen and the Beautiful did for F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Pick a face, pick a fate.
Judith Ban, former convent girl, courtesan, and failed thief, is on the lookout for her next identity. The daughter of a Vietnamese adventuress and a French naval officer, she’s no stranger to risk, but she’s unprepared for the secrets of New York’s legendary Four Hundred, or for the women who build their power at the city’s heart through blood-soaked, gold-etched rituals of demonic marriage.
In exchange for enough wealth to outrun her past, Judith strikes a deal with the matriarch of the powerful Howard family: she will stand in for the missing Howard granddaughter, who was poised to make her debut when she disappeared. With Miss Iphigenia Marshall’s face stitched over her own, Judith is white, rich, and about to risk body and soul in the deadly games that determine which girls will find a match—and which will be devoured. If she can keep her wits and her life, her reward will be a husband with undreamt-of power who will be hers to command... so long as she can keep his infinite hungers fed. But to survive the season, Judith will have to seduce a storm in the shape of a man, before the night to which everything has been leading—the Scarlet Ball where the demons choose their brides.
A razor-sharp subversion of romance tropes and nightmare of manners, Vo's fusion of history and fantasy does for Edith Wharton what her acclaimed debut The Chosen and the Beautiful did for F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Nghi Vo
44 books4,581 followersNghi Vo is the author of the acclaimed novellas The Empress of Salt and Fortune and When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain. Born in Illinois, she now lives on the shores of Lake Michigan. She believes in the ritual of lipstick, the power of stories, and the right to change your mind. The Chosen and the Beautiful is her debut novel.
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April 12, 2026I couldn't be more thrilled to share the blurb I wrote for this beauty with you all!
“After reading The Scarlet Ball, one has to wonder whether Vo is a witch herself, perhaps married not to a flood or wildfire but a demon of stories and genius. The Scarlet Ball is so utterly original, so spellbinding, so effortlessly plotted and so gorgeously written, it's hard to believe a mere mortal could write it, and yet she did, and I stand in awe of it and her."
“After reading The Scarlet Ball, one has to wonder whether Vo is a witch herself, perhaps married not to a flood or wildfire but a demon of stories and genius. The Scarlet Ball is so utterly original, so spellbinding, so effortlessly plotted and so gorgeously written, it's hard to believe a mere mortal could write it, and yet she did, and I stand in awe of it and her."
Want to Read
March 7, 2026(me 🤝🏻 everything Nghi Vo writes)
Definitely one of my most anticipated releases of 2026!
Definitely one of my most anticipated releases of 2026!
Want to Read
March 18, 2026bro you know i'll read whatever she writes but the plague of bad covers is killing me. what is this.
Want to Read
July 11, 2026I GOT AN ARC LET'S GOOOOOOO
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oh my god is this going to be in the vein of siren queen (aka my favorite favorite nghi vo book)? GIVE IT TO MEEEEE
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oh my god is this going to be in the vein of siren queen (aka my favorite favorite nghi vo book)? GIVE IT TO MEEEEE
June 22, 2026
I really wish I'd read this in autumn! It's suuuuper atmospheric and Gothic, but instead of your typical waif-ish blonde heroine, we have a kickass former courtesan/thief who's trying to escape her old life, and will stop at nothing to get what she deserves. That's probably my favourite aspect of the book. She never reacts how you expect her to react, and it's just COOL. Judith is the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons.
I also think the characters are so well thought out, so savage yet poised in the best way. There's such a clever undertone throughout of being right on the edge, ready to tip one way at any point. The relationships between the girls and the men are so tense and you just can't predict what's going to happen next. The historical setting is perfect for this, at a time where society would forgive anything as long as you stick to the rules of hierarchy. It's a great background to this story.
The reasons I didn't give it 5 stars is because the book feels longer than it is. It's quite dense, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think it needs more moments of light vs the shade for relief. The fantasy element also feels a little bit clunky in places. There's no overt explanation on how this alternate world works, and you learn it through osmosis, which is fine but sometimes random elements just completely took me out of it. Like, some people seem to be able to do something magic, or they own magical things, but how? Are they somehow harnessing the lords' weather based powers but how would that enable someone to put a bird down someone's throat and change their voice? I fully get that there's a brutality to the things these girls do to themselves to appease the lords, but there's just no base level of understanding. I thought I'd got it and then suddenly a random magic thing happens which doesn't match anything else that's already happened. I'm missing knowledge of limitations and possibilities.
That being said, this is a beautifully crafted story and the characters are three dimensional and well thought out, so it's a 4 stars from me. Thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray for the free review eArc.
I also think the characters are so well thought out, so savage yet poised in the best way. There's such a clever undertone throughout of being right on the edge, ready to tip one way at any point. The relationships between the girls and the men are so tense and you just can't predict what's going to happen next. The historical setting is perfect for this, at a time where society would forgive anything as long as you stick to the rules of hierarchy. It's a great background to this story.
The reasons I didn't give it 5 stars is because the book feels longer than it is. It's quite dense, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think it needs more moments of light vs the shade for relief. The fantasy element also feels a little bit clunky in places. There's no overt explanation on how this alternate world works, and you learn it through osmosis, which is fine but sometimes random elements just completely took me out of it. Like, some people seem to be able to do something magic, or they own magical things, but how? Are they somehow harnessing the lords' weather based powers but how would that enable someone to put a bird down someone's throat and change their voice? I fully get that there's a brutality to the things these girls do to themselves to appease the lords, but there's just no base level of understanding. I thought I'd got it and then suddenly a random magic thing happens which doesn't match anything else that's already happened. I'm missing knowledge of limitations and possibilities.
That being said, this is a beautifully crafted story and the characters are three dimensional and well thought out, so it's a 4 stars from me. Thanks to Netgalley and Del Ray for the free review eArc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's a book for monster fuckers, but if the monster you want to fuck is a wildfire or a forest or a mudslide or a storm.
This is already on track to be my favourite new book of the year. It's brilliant: fun and weird and sexy and full of ideas about the cruelty of the world and what it takes to survive. Most of the time when I read a book that has romantic elements like this one does, I have a rough sense of where it's going, what the end-goal is, and I simply never did here. It kept me on my toes, kept me laughing, kept me wondering at the beauty of the prose and the delight of the ideas.
I have complained previously about Vo's books that they leave me wanting more: I find her Singing Hills novellas a little bit plot-light for me, and while The City in Glass was excellent, it left me wanting just a little bit more character development and a little bit more time with the world. The Scarlet Ball leaves me fully sated. All the core cast of characters (and plenty of the bit players) are painted beautifully, fleshed out and understandable even if they are inhuman and incomprehensible. I have held up American Elsewhere as an exemplar of making the unknowable extradimensional Lovecraftian horrors relatable and understandable, and The Scarlet Ball does that as well; it's weird, the way The Library at Mount Char or a China Mieville novel is weird, full of cruel and beautiful magic and the sense that the world is wider than can be contained within the pages of a single book.
In Twilight, Stephanie Meyer asked what it would be like for a mortal woman to become the target of affection for a beautiful, powerful, immortal man, and then went on to mostly use it as a wish fulfillment fantasy and not examine it any more deeply. Vo, on the other hand, takes the time to look at the way that any woman being pursued by a man, even a human one, needs to manage the threat of violence and a societal power disparity, and the text makes it clear that our protagonist being aware of the danger to her life from interacting with a man is not something that is a new experience simply because that man is a literal demon. It's a great exploration of the idea of women exerting power in the world through their husbands, and it does that thing I love so much about speculative fiction where it makes a metaphor literal, in this case the yoking of a man to one's will and the trading of one's body for power. It's worth remembering that that sort of arrangement can only work until it doesn't, and that playing those games and winning for a while still requires living in a world where those sorts of power structures exist and do people harm. There's also examination of racial tokenisation and the experience of interacting with a caricature of oneself, as our narrator is an outsider again and again.
For all that thematic meat, it's worth noting that this is a book which is a whole hell of a lot of fun. We get to have our cake and eat it too: getting a critique of a world of opulence doesn't stop us from getting the wish fulfillment fantasy of living in that world of opulence, with beautiful houses and clothes and food abounding. Getting a critique of upper crust relationship dynamics, the sort of thing that Natalie Wynn calls Default Heterosexual Sado-Masochism, doesn't stop this from delighting the reader with a genuinely steamy romance. If you like proper fantasy world-building, if you like fairy-tale romance, if you like a thrill to your novels, you'll find it all here. I had a huge amount of fun reading this book, and I'm sure that I'm going to re-read it some time soon.
This is already on track to be my favourite new book of the year. It's brilliant: fun and weird and sexy and full of ideas about the cruelty of the world and what it takes to survive. Most of the time when I read a book that has romantic elements like this one does, I have a rough sense of where it's going, what the end-goal is, and I simply never did here. It kept me on my toes, kept me laughing, kept me wondering at the beauty of the prose and the delight of the ideas.
I have complained previously about Vo's books that they leave me wanting more: I find her Singing Hills novellas a little bit plot-light for me, and while The City in Glass was excellent, it left me wanting just a little bit more character development and a little bit more time with the world. The Scarlet Ball leaves me fully sated. All the core cast of characters (and plenty of the bit players) are painted beautifully, fleshed out and understandable even if they are inhuman and incomprehensible. I have held up American Elsewhere as an exemplar of making the unknowable extradimensional Lovecraftian horrors relatable and understandable, and The Scarlet Ball does that as well; it's weird, the way The Library at Mount Char or a China Mieville novel is weird, full of cruel and beautiful magic and the sense that the world is wider than can be contained within the pages of a single book.
In Twilight, Stephanie Meyer asked what it would be like for a mortal woman to become the target of affection for a beautiful, powerful, immortal man, and then went on to mostly use it as a wish fulfillment fantasy and not examine it any more deeply. Vo, on the other hand, takes the time to look at the way that any woman being pursued by a man, even a human one, needs to manage the threat of violence and a societal power disparity, and the text makes it clear that our protagonist being aware of the danger to her life from interacting with a man is not something that is a new experience simply because that man is a literal demon. It's a great exploration of the idea of women exerting power in the world through their husbands, and it does that thing I love so much about speculative fiction where it makes a metaphor literal, in this case the yoking of a man to one's will and the trading of one's body for power. It's worth remembering that that sort of arrangement can only work until it doesn't, and that playing those games and winning for a while still requires living in a world where those sorts of power structures exist and do people harm. There's also examination of racial tokenisation and the experience of interacting with a caricature of oneself, as our narrator is an outsider again and again.
For all that thematic meat, it's worth noting that this is a book which is a whole hell of a lot of fun. We get to have our cake and eat it too: getting a critique of a world of opulence doesn't stop us from getting the wish fulfillment fantasy of living in that world of opulence, with beautiful houses and clothes and food abounding. Getting a critique of upper crust relationship dynamics, the sort of thing that Natalie Wynn calls Default Heterosexual Sado-Masochism, doesn't stop this from delighting the reader with a genuinely steamy romance. If you like proper fantasy world-building, if you like fairy-tale romance, if you like a thrill to your novels, you'll find it all here. I had a huge amount of fun reading this book, and I'm sure that I'm going to re-read it some time soon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow wow wow wow wow. 😮 This is possibly my first dabble into this type of novel but absolutely NOT my last! I absolutely devoured this book over a few hours. Utterly stunning!
Let’s highlight a few things from the blurb…
Judith Ban – convent girl, courtesan, and failed thief – is looking for her next identity. She’s no stranger to wealth or danger, but the glitter of New York’s Gilded Age hides a darkness even she has never imagined. Here, the city’s elite maintain their grip through opulent balls, whispered rituals, and marriages with demons hungry for human devotion.
When she crosses paths with the formidable matriarch of the Howard family, Judith is offered an irresistible bargain: to take the place of a missing debutante in the coming season. With Miss Iphigenia Marshall’s face stitched over her own, Judith becomes white, rich, and ready to risk it all.If she can hold onto her charm, her wits, and her life, her reward will be a husband with undreamt-of power.
Did you see those parts in bold? Super significant to the brilliance of this novel. Falling in love with powerful demons with powers that can cause destruction, death and dismay? I didn’t think I’d be there for it but I SO was.
Judith LITERALLY has the face of a white girl stitched over her own dark skin in order to pass as the granddaughter of the powerful Howard family. In their granddaughters absence they NEED someone to take her place to attend a serious of debutante balls like no other. They need her to be a chosen one. Chosen by a dark one. Married to a powerful demon which ironically brings great status to the family.
This book just sucked me in. Dark moments, tense scenes, descriptive language, beauty and ugliness often on the same page. Love or hate the situation it’s freaking exciting. With dark magic at play and romance that is other worldly kind this book is pure escapism. I didn’t not think I’d like this style of book but I was proven wrong.
This is not soppy romance, far from it. Some scenes are graphic and dark and come at you from nowhere. Some scenes make you question just why? Then others just take your breath away as the Author transports you into other realms, imagery and scenes that I pictured as clearly as if I was watching a movie.
It tackles issues of class and social standing, skin colour, prejudices, family heritage and the burning need to keep the family name at the top of society. Judith’s journey, transformation and choices are fascinating. Her reasons for agreeing to do this understandable. I loved her grit, courage and sassy personality.
This is more leaning towards gothic horror than anything traditional, but even that doesn’t describe it fully. It’s darkly seductive, fantastical, magical and so much more.
The actual balls that the ladies attend in the hope to be chosen are spectacularly descriptive and not your usual sort of ball whatever. Expect a lot of shocking and thrilling moments to hit when you don’t expect them. I was definitely tense at times! I absolutely LOVED the ending! There could well be a sequel but if not it’s awesome as a standalone. I am keen to read more from this Author now.
I am not doing it justice. It’s got so much more than what I can e press here. Was I rooting for a passionate yet bizarre union between a human and a powerful dark being? Yep. I definitely was. Whether this is your type of genre OR like me you are willing to go in open minded I highly recommend this one. If you need to escape your everyday life this is a great book to pick up. Get this on your ready to read list upon publication!
Many thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Del Rey for my ARC via NetGalley.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
Let’s highlight a few things from the blurb…
Judith Ban – convent girl, courtesan, and failed thief – is looking for her next identity. She’s no stranger to wealth or danger, but the glitter of New York’s Gilded Age hides a darkness even she has never imagined. Here, the city’s elite maintain their grip through opulent balls, whispered rituals, and marriages with demons hungry for human devotion.
When she crosses paths with the formidable matriarch of the Howard family, Judith is offered an irresistible bargain: to take the place of a missing debutante in the coming season. With Miss Iphigenia Marshall’s face stitched over her own, Judith becomes white, rich, and ready to risk it all.If she can hold onto her charm, her wits, and her life, her reward will be a husband with undreamt-of power.
Did you see those parts in bold? Super significant to the brilliance of this novel. Falling in love with powerful demons with powers that can cause destruction, death and dismay? I didn’t think I’d be there for it but I SO was.
Judith LITERALLY has the face of a white girl stitched over her own dark skin in order to pass as the granddaughter of the powerful Howard family. In their granddaughters absence they NEED someone to take her place to attend a serious of debutante balls like no other. They need her to be a chosen one. Chosen by a dark one. Married to a powerful demon which ironically brings great status to the family.
This book just sucked me in. Dark moments, tense scenes, descriptive language, beauty and ugliness often on the same page. Love or hate the situation it’s freaking exciting. With dark magic at play and romance that is other worldly kind this book is pure escapism. I didn’t not think I’d like this style of book but I was proven wrong.
This is not soppy romance, far from it. Some scenes are graphic and dark and come at you from nowhere. Some scenes make you question just why? Then others just take your breath away as the Author transports you into other realms, imagery and scenes that I pictured as clearly as if I was watching a movie.
It tackles issues of class and social standing, skin colour, prejudices, family heritage and the burning need to keep the family name at the top of society. Judith’s journey, transformation and choices are fascinating. Her reasons for agreeing to do this understandable. I loved her grit, courage and sassy personality.
This is more leaning towards gothic horror than anything traditional, but even that doesn’t describe it fully. It’s darkly seductive, fantastical, magical and so much more.
The actual balls that the ladies attend in the hope to be chosen are spectacularly descriptive and not your usual sort of ball whatever. Expect a lot of shocking and thrilling moments to hit when you don’t expect them. I was definitely tense at times! I absolutely LOVED the ending! There could well be a sequel but if not it’s awesome as a standalone. I am keen to read more from this Author now.
I am not doing it justice. It’s got so much more than what I can e press here. Was I rooting for a passionate yet bizarre union between a human and a powerful dark being? Yep. I definitely was. Whether this is your type of genre OR like me you are willing to go in open minded I highly recommend this one. If you need to escape your everyday life this is a great book to pick up. Get this on your ready to read list upon publication!
Many thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Del Rey for my ARC via NetGalley.
Thanks so much for taking a little time to read my review. Your likes and comments mean a lot to me. 😻 Feel free to add me as a friend or follow me for more book reviews.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Scarlet Ball by Nghi Vo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
First of all, thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read The Scarlet Ball.
Nghi Vo has crafted one of the most atmospheric and beautifully written fantasy novels I've read this year. Dark, gothic, lush, and haunting, this story pulled me into its strange world from the very beginning and never quite let me go.
Set in an alternate historical New York where powerful demon lords rule through storms and bargains, the story follows Judith, a former courtesan and thief determined to escape the life she's always known. She was such a refreshing protagonist—clever, resourceful, morally complex, and always several steps ahead of everyone around her. I loved that she never reacted the way I expected, constantly keeping both the characters and the reader guessing.
One of the biggest strengths of this novel is its atmosphere. The prose is stunning, creating a dreamlike quality where beauty and horror exist side by side. Lavish gowns, glittering balls, ancient magic, and unsettling creatures all combine to create a world that feels rich, dangerous, and utterly immersive. Reading this during the fall would be absolutely perfect.
Beyond the gorgeous writing, there is so much depth beneath the surface. The novel explores power, class, race, identity, gender, and the ways women navigate systems built against them. Rather than feeling heavy-handed, these themes are woven naturally into Judith's journey and the relationships she forms throughout the story.
The romance is intriguing, layered, and unlike what I expected. I appreciated that it never felt predictable, and the relationships throughout the novel remain filled with tension and uncertainty until the very end.
My only small criticism is that the magic system can occasionally feel elusive. The world intentionally reveals itself through context rather than explanation, which usually worked well, but there were moments where I found myself wanting a clearer understanding of the rules and limitations behind some of the magical abilities.
Overall, it's an enchanting blend of gothic fantasy, historical fiction, political intrigue, romance, and dark magic. If you enjoy lyrical prose, morally gray characters, atmospheric worlds, and fantasy that trusts the reader to piece its mysteries together, this is absolutely worth picking up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
First of all, thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read The Scarlet Ball.
Nghi Vo has crafted one of the most atmospheric and beautifully written fantasy novels I've read this year. Dark, gothic, lush, and haunting, this story pulled me into its strange world from the very beginning and never quite let me go.
Set in an alternate historical New York where powerful demon lords rule through storms and bargains, the story follows Judith, a former courtesan and thief determined to escape the life she's always known. She was such a refreshing protagonist—clever, resourceful, morally complex, and always several steps ahead of everyone around her. I loved that she never reacted the way I expected, constantly keeping both the characters and the reader guessing.
One of the biggest strengths of this novel is its atmosphere. The prose is stunning, creating a dreamlike quality where beauty and horror exist side by side. Lavish gowns, glittering balls, ancient magic, and unsettling creatures all combine to create a world that feels rich, dangerous, and utterly immersive. Reading this during the fall would be absolutely perfect.
Beyond the gorgeous writing, there is so much depth beneath the surface. The novel explores power, class, race, identity, gender, and the ways women navigate systems built against them. Rather than feeling heavy-handed, these themes are woven naturally into Judith's journey and the relationships she forms throughout the story.
The romance is intriguing, layered, and unlike what I expected. I appreciated that it never felt predictable, and the relationships throughout the novel remain filled with tension and uncertainty until the very end.
My only small criticism is that the magic system can occasionally feel elusive. The world intentionally reveals itself through context rather than explanation, which usually worked well, but there were moments where I found myself wanting a clearer understanding of the rules and limitations behind some of the magical abilities.
Overall, it's an enchanting blend of gothic fantasy, historical fiction, political intrigue, romance, and dark magic. If you enjoy lyrical prose, morally gray characters, atmospheric worlds, and fantasy that trusts the reader to piece its mysteries together, this is absolutely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
Nghi Vo wastes no time in introducing us to the otherworldly aspects of The Scarlet Ball's New York. Despite the quick introduction of eerie and magical elements, and Judith's rapid involvement with the Howards, the beginning of the book felt like a slow burn. The stage was set, and I was certainly intrigued, but it took me some time to feel a stronger connection to the characters and to understand the stakes that Judith is up against. Once Judith starts putting pieces together then we are really off running, and I couldn’t help but devour the rest of the story.
There is an almost dream-like quality to Vo’s writing, flowing easily between the uncanny and the real. Gore and beauty alike are well described, with lush details around Judith’s ball gowns and the environments she finds herself in. I love the complexity of Judith’s character, the gradual reveal of her past, and the way her previous lives inform how she handles the bizarre entanglements of demons, dancing, and debutantes. Despite this story being centered around young women being matched with demon men, there is a queer element threaded throughout as well, and I found myself particularly drawn in by those moments.
Outside of the glitz and glam, we also get Judith’s sharp observations of the inequality prevalent at this time. Shop girls underpaid and mistreated by cruel mistresses, the danger and tension still present despite moving towards desegregation, and the dark contrast of fetishization and identity are all intermingled with magic and ritual. Vo balances such a heavy variety of topics well, and nothing feels forced or out of place.
Taken all together, The Scarlet Ball is a whirlwind of mysteries and dangers, with a main character passionate enough to rival the worst storms. I highly recommend it to readers fond of dark magic, period piece dramas, and unique and complicated characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the digital ARC!
Nghi Vo wastes no time in introducing us to the otherworldly aspects of The Scarlet Ball's New York. Despite the quick introduction of eerie and magical elements, and Judith's rapid involvement with the Howards, the beginning of the book felt like a slow burn. The stage was set, and I was certainly intrigued, but it took me some time to feel a stronger connection to the characters and to understand the stakes that Judith is up against. Once Judith starts putting pieces together then we are really off running, and I couldn’t help but devour the rest of the story.
There is an almost dream-like quality to Vo’s writing, flowing easily between the uncanny and the real. Gore and beauty alike are well described, with lush details around Judith’s ball gowns and the environments she finds herself in. I love the complexity of Judith’s character, the gradual reveal of her past, and the way her previous lives inform how she handles the bizarre entanglements of demons, dancing, and debutantes. Despite this story being centered around young women being matched with demon men, there is a queer element threaded throughout as well, and I found myself particularly drawn in by those moments.
Outside of the glitz and glam, we also get Judith’s sharp observations of the inequality prevalent at this time. Shop girls underpaid and mistreated by cruel mistresses, the danger and tension still present despite moving towards desegregation, and the dark contrast of fetishization and identity are all intermingled with magic and ritual. Vo balances such a heavy variety of topics well, and nothing feels forced or out of place.
Taken all together, The Scarlet Ball is a whirlwind of mysteries and dangers, with a main character passionate enough to rival the worst storms. I highly recommend it to readers fond of dark magic, period piece dramas, and unique and complicated characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the digital ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve never read a book by Nghi Vo before, but I’ve heard great things about her, so I had slightly high expectations going into this. Needless to say, they were definitely met. You’re immediately dropped off in a gothic, more dangerous version of New York, with our main character, Judith, making a delivery. She finds herself making a deal with Mrs. Howard, a very powerful woman, who sews her granddaughter’s face over Judith’s and places her in a position where she must participate in games where she must fight and win a powerful husband, or lose and be devoured.
From start to finish, the story was so atmospheric that I was (immaturely) bothered by the fact that I was reading it during the summer rather than spooky season. It was enchanting in a dark sort of way; it was eerie, and there’s also this underlying feeling of something dangerous and mysterious lurking. There were times I felt like the story was a little explanation-heavy, which made certain events unnecessarily prolonged. I also felt the magic system was confusing at times, and I found myself having to reread the page I was on to try and better understand what was happening.
One aspect I found really interesting was Judith’s transformation from being a Vietnamese woman to then having the face of a white woman sewn over her features. Both the reader and Judith could distinguish the difference in treatment she received after experiencing such a drastic change. It’s one of those things that’s a little uncomfortable in its own way because of how stark the contrast is.
The romance element was also something a tad bit unexpected to me. Yes, it’s there, just not exactly in the way you would expect. I also don’t feel like it took away from the story in any way; it was beautifully woven with all the darker elements and extremely entertaining. Needless to say, for this being my first book by Vo, I really enjoyed myself!
From start to finish, the story was so atmospheric that I was (immaturely) bothered by the fact that I was reading it during the summer rather than spooky season. It was enchanting in a dark sort of way; it was eerie, and there’s also this underlying feeling of something dangerous and mysterious lurking. There were times I felt like the story was a little explanation-heavy, which made certain events unnecessarily prolonged. I also felt the magic system was confusing at times, and I found myself having to reread the page I was on to try and better understand what was happening.
One aspect I found really interesting was Judith’s transformation from being a Vietnamese woman to then having the face of a white woman sewn over her features. Both the reader and Judith could distinguish the difference in treatment she received after experiencing such a drastic change. It’s one of those things that’s a little uncomfortable in its own way because of how stark the contrast is.
The romance element was also something a tad bit unexpected to me. Yes, it’s there, just not exactly in the way you would expect. I also don’t feel like it took away from the story in any way; it was beautifully woven with all the darker elements and extremely entertaining. Needless to say, for this being my first book by Vo, I really enjoyed myself!
May 23, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerhouse for a review copy of this book. I have to say I really didn’t realise there was a horror fantasy genre and it wouldn’t ordinarily be my first choice, but there is something about Nghi Vo’s creative and skilled writing that captured my attention and had me entering the bizarre and strange world she wove into the Gilded Age of New York’s socialites. In some ways you could see it as a social commentary with actual monsters and stitched on masks/faces for those who make up its elites.
Judith Ban, a woman of indeterminate Asian heritage is a seamstress with a few dubious previous identities, is delivering a gown to the address of one of the social elites of the city when she’s caught up in a web of deception that forces her to pose as the granddaughter of the household, to attend critical social events to secure one of the available powerful men as a husband. To convince the socialites that she is indeed Iphegenia, the grandmother stitches a copy of her face onto Judith’s as well as extensive training in all the social niceties and behaviour as Judith learns that selection of men from which she is meant to obtain a husband are not actually human, but monstrous powerful forces of nature like fire and water. Judith realises the game is deadlier than she first thought and that though there may be an ultimate prize for her or Iphegenia, she wonders at the cost.
The novel is clever, twisted and compelling in a horrifying way and Judith is the perfect creation to weather the path she’s chosen, or in some ways forced to choose. The underlying symbolism is in some ways part of the horror that is actually enacted on the page. This book has some points that are horror filled, but also drive home so much more and give the reader an absorbing and really compelling read.
Judith Ban, a woman of indeterminate Asian heritage is a seamstress with a few dubious previous identities, is delivering a gown to the address of one of the social elites of the city when she’s caught up in a web of deception that forces her to pose as the granddaughter of the household, to attend critical social events to secure one of the available powerful men as a husband. To convince the socialites that she is indeed Iphegenia, the grandmother stitches a copy of her face onto Judith’s as well as extensive training in all the social niceties and behaviour as Judith learns that selection of men from which she is meant to obtain a husband are not actually human, but monstrous powerful forces of nature like fire and water. Judith realises the game is deadlier than she first thought and that though there may be an ultimate prize for her or Iphegenia, she wonders at the cost.
The novel is clever, twisted and compelling in a horrifying way and Judith is the perfect creation to weather the path she’s chosen, or in some ways forced to choose. The underlying symbolism is in some ways part of the horror that is actually enacted on the page. This book has some points that are horror filled, but also drive home so much more and give the reader an absorbing and really compelling read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Okayyyyy, this was an incredible standalone.
A dark and gothic fantasy set in Gilded Age New York with vampirism demons.
Judith is a failed thief and courtesan who strikes a deal with the elite Howard family to assume the identity of their missing debutante granddaughter.
This is an exploration of power, identity, wealth, and control. Judith has the missing debutante’s face physically stitched over her own. She swaps the danger of being an Oriental, French lone girl that gets used to a white young woman with respectful opportunities (if you count demons courting you as respectful).
When you tell a story about something that happens to you, you flatten it. Instead of memory—hot, cutting, strong enough to fetch you a blow that will put you on your back for a week—it becomes words. The words are a bag that help you to carry it.
Nghi Vo makes the metaphor literal: trading a woman’s body, her blood, for a man’s protection. It’s constantly a give even as you win - women exerting power in the world through their husbands.
I have found Nghi Vo’s earlier works lacking in depth, engagement and connection. Here, you truly get into the desperate and arrogant kind of Judith.
The atmosphere is gritty and glamorous, quite like the reality of Gilded age New York.
This was almost five stars, but I wish there was a bit more depth to the supporting cast. This is very internal and I wish we got more from the characters around Judith.
Arc gifted by Penguin Random House, Cornerstone.
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A dark and gothic fantasy set in Gilded Age New York with vampirism demons.
Judith is a failed thief and courtesan who strikes a deal with the elite Howard family to assume the identity of their missing debutante granddaughter.
This is an exploration of power, identity, wealth, and control. Judith has the missing debutante’s face physically stitched over her own. She swaps the danger of being an Oriental, French lone girl that gets used to a white young woman with respectful opportunities (if you count demons courting you as respectful).
When you tell a story about something that happens to you, you flatten it. Instead of memory—hot, cutting, strong enough to fetch you a blow that will put you on your back for a week—it becomes words. The words are a bag that help you to carry it.
Nghi Vo makes the metaphor literal: trading a woman’s body, her blood, for a man’s protection. It’s constantly a give even as you win - women exerting power in the world through their husbands.
I have found Nghi Vo’s earlier works lacking in depth, engagement and connection. Here, you truly get into the desperate and arrogant kind of Judith.
The atmosphere is gritty and glamorous, quite like the reality of Gilded age New York.
This was almost five stars, but I wish there was a bit more depth to the supporting cast. This is very internal and I wish we got more from the characters around Judith.
Arc gifted by Penguin Random House, Cornerstone.
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July 12, 2026
I honestly don’t even know how to review this because my brain is still trying to process everything that happened.
For at least the first half of this book I was sat there thinking, “I have absolutely no idea what’s going on” and yet I could not stop reading. Every chapter made me more curious, and once everything started coming together and I was completely hooked.
The writing is phenomenal. I’ve read quite a few ARCs recently, and this is easily some of the strongest scene setting I’ve come across. Every location felt vivid and alive, and the atmosphere was unlike anything I’ve read in a long time.
I also loved how much meaning was hidden beneath the surface. The commentary on beauty standards, privilege, race, status and the pressure to literally change yourself to be accepted was fascinating. The idea of wearing another person’s face initially felt bizarre, but as the story unfolded it became such a powerful symbol for everything the book was trying to say.
And then there’s Sebastian 😮💨
Without giving too much away, I adored him. His relationship with the FMC developed in ways I wasn’t expecting, and despite all the danger surrounding him, some of the quiet moments between them completely stole the show. Their chemistry was excellent.
This is not a book that hands you all the answers immediately. It expects you to trust the process and I’m so glad I did because the payoff was incredible.
The ending genuinely left me staring at the wall wondering what I’d just read. In the best way possible.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For at least the first half of this book I was sat there thinking, “I have absolutely no idea what’s going on” and yet I could not stop reading. Every chapter made me more curious, and once everything started coming together and I was completely hooked.
The writing is phenomenal. I’ve read quite a few ARCs recently, and this is easily some of the strongest scene setting I’ve come across. Every location felt vivid and alive, and the atmosphere was unlike anything I’ve read in a long time.
I also loved how much meaning was hidden beneath the surface. The commentary on beauty standards, privilege, race, status and the pressure to literally change yourself to be accepted was fascinating. The idea of wearing another person’s face initially felt bizarre, but as the story unfolded it became such a powerful symbol for everything the book was trying to say.
And then there’s Sebastian 😮💨
Without giving too much away, I adored him. His relationship with the FMC developed in ways I wasn’t expecting, and despite all the danger surrounding him, some of the quiet moments between them completely stole the show. Their chemistry was excellent.
This is not a book that hands you all the answers immediately. It expects you to trust the process and I’m so glad I did because the payoff was incredible.
The ending genuinely left me staring at the wall wondering what I’d just read. In the best way possible.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
In turns incisive, vulnerable, vindictive, and sensual, The Scarlet Ball is a feast for every sense, and especially for fear. Vo presents a scathing criticism of the cannibalistic nature of the ruling class and simultaneously a toothsome exploration of the pursuit of power.
Judith is an endlessly fascinating main character: a girl on the run from her past, a skilled worker struggling to make ends meet, an immigrant woman who must wear any number of masks to survive (and conquer) the hegemonic hostility of historic New York. As complex as Judith is, Sebastian is equivalently hollow. He is more of a concept and an urge than a character, and this very much seems to be the point.
At every step of this book, Judith's actions must answer questions about what she is willing to sacrifice and whether she is pursuing survival or dominance. Each answer tells us more about who she is becoming, and that richness, wine-like, complexifies as it goes on.
If you come to this book looking for a bone-chilling exploration of hunger and a dash of paranormal romance, you are in the right place. I was riveted.
Judith is an endlessly fascinating main character: a girl on the run from her past, a skilled worker struggling to make ends meet, an immigrant woman who must wear any number of masks to survive (and conquer) the hegemonic hostility of historic New York. As complex as Judith is, Sebastian is equivalently hollow. He is more of a concept and an urge than a character, and this very much seems to be the point.
At every step of this book, Judith's actions must answer questions about what she is willing to sacrifice and whether she is pursuing survival or dominance. Each answer tells us more about who she is becoming, and that richness, wine-like, complexifies as it goes on.
If you come to this book looking for a bone-chilling exploration of hunger and a dash of paranormal romance, you are in the right place. I was riveted.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating – 4.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC!
This one really surprised me. When I first started reading, I wasn’t entirely sure it was going to be for me—the tone felt quite horror-leaning, and I wasn’t immediately drawn in. But the story quickly became very captivating and ended up pulling me in much more than I expected.
I really appreciated the depth of the characters, and especially the way the book explores moral grey areas and power structures, and how those lines can blur or be twisted. It felt thoughtful, unusual, and genuinely quite thought-provoking in a way that stayed with me after finishing.
The plot was also very unpredictable, which made it even more engaging as it went on. Overall, a really strong and memorable read that completely won me over by the end. Definitely one I’d recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC!
This one really surprised me. When I first started reading, I wasn’t entirely sure it was going to be for me—the tone felt quite horror-leaning, and I wasn’t immediately drawn in. But the story quickly became very captivating and ended up pulling me in much more than I expected.
I really appreciated the depth of the characters, and especially the way the book explores moral grey areas and power structures, and how those lines can blur or be twisted. It felt thoughtful, unusual, and genuinely quite thought-provoking in a way that stayed with me after finishing.
The plot was also very unpredictable, which made it even more engaging as it went on. Overall, a really strong and memorable read that completely won me over by the end. Definitely one I’d recommend!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
The premise of this book sounded excellent, however I was left rather disappointed by the execution. Our main character, Judith, is selected by a wealthy matriarch to stand in for her missing granddaughter. The author nailed the spooky, gothic atmosphere and there were some intriguing magical elements (e.g demons representing certain things). That being said, the overall magic system seemed illogical and there were several large plot holes. Further, I found Judith to be an extremely unlikeable character, which in itself is not an issue, however I assume the author wanted the character to resonate positively with readers which unfortunately was not the case for me. On a more positive note, the pacing was good and the book was enjoyable overall.
The premise of this book sounded excellent, however I was left rather disappointed by the execution. Our main character, Judith, is selected by a wealthy matriarch to stand in for her missing granddaughter. The author nailed the spooky, gothic atmosphere and there were some intriguing magical elements (e.g demons representing certain things). That being said, the overall magic system seemed illogical and there were several large plot holes. Further, I found Judith to be an extremely unlikeable character, which in itself is not an issue, however I assume the author wanted the character to resonate positively with readers which unfortunately was not the case for me. On a more positive note, the pacing was good and the book was enjoyable overall.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I want to preface this by saying that this book is NOT for me. But, even still, the writing pulled me in and was so beautiful (if a bit repetitive toward the last quarter of the book). I was nervous about DNFing in the beginning as the prose was much more dense than I expected but either I got used to it or the author found a better rhythm.
Also didn't realize that many of the reveals are spoiled by the summary which is a wild choice to make when the reveals are so dramatically done in the book itself.
Loved the nods to queerdom even in this extremely hetero romance book (yes, bisexuality exists and is valid but the lead never qualifies her own sexuality for better or worse).
Now, how do I fuck a storm?
Also didn't realize that many of the reveals are spoiled by the summary which is a wild choice to make when the reveals are so dramatically done in the book itself.
Loved the nods to queerdom even in this extremely hetero romance book (yes, bisexuality exists and is valid but the lead never qualifies her own sexuality for better or worse).
Now, how do I fuck a storm?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Knowing this authors writing, I went in expecting that it wouldn't be a 'romantasy' or even very romantic - and in my opinion, it isn't - but I do wish for the author's sake that the cover didn't try to represent those themes as much.
The prose, as always, is beautiful and immersive. My biggest issue is clarity (to be fair I've had this issue with Vo's writing before) where some things are glossed over or mentioned and then forgotten. The novel starts slow, but it did keep me intrigued and hooked until the end. I wished for more focus on characters rather than dress and aesthetic descriptions, but at least the writing was pretty throughout.
The prose, as always, is beautiful and immersive. My biggest issue is clarity (to be fair I've had this issue with Vo's writing before) where some things are glossed over or mentioned and then forgotten. The novel starts slow, but it did keep me intrigued and hooked until the end. I wished for more focus on characters rather than dress and aesthetic descriptions, but at least the writing was pretty throughout.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Not for me, I'm afraid.
The prose was lush (but with no substance to back it up), the pacing good and the plot, such as it was, was reasonable.
However, the characters were beyond two dimensional, many aspects of the "magic" were illogical, and, unlike the publisher's blurb, there wasn't a subversion of trope in sight. I rather took exception to the fact that this was marketed as some overthrow of the social mores of the Gilded Age, some great and harrowing examination of class and gender, when in fact it was merely a slightly better than average YA novel. Disappointing.
My thanks to Edelweiss for the Arc, all opinions are my own.
The prose was lush (but with no substance to back it up), the pacing good and the plot, such as it was, was reasonable.
However, the characters were beyond two dimensional, many aspects of the "magic" were illogical, and, unlike the publisher's blurb, there wasn't a subversion of trope in sight. I rather took exception to the fact that this was marketed as some overthrow of the social mores of the Gilded Age, some great and harrowing examination of class and gender, when in fact it was merely a slightly better than average YA novel. Disappointing.
My thanks to Edelweiss for the Arc, all opinions are my own.
July 23, 2026
3.5⭐️
This was a unique read and honestly was not what I was expecting, but in a good way. The story took a much dark and grittier turn than I anticipated, and the final quarter of the book had me really hooked.
I found the pacing to be on the slower side, mainly towards the first quarter of the novel, but this did allow me to really take in all of the horrendous things that were happening to and around our FMC, and to soak up the gothic atmosphere.
If you’re looking for a book that drips with gothic ambience, opulence and gore, I’d recommend giving this a go. It’ll be an ideal read for autumn and winter time.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book.
This was a unique read and honestly was not what I was expecting, but in a good way. The story took a much dark and grittier turn than I anticipated, and the final quarter of the book had me really hooked.
I found the pacing to be on the slower side, mainly towards the first quarter of the novel, but this did allow me to really take in all of the horrendous things that were happening to and around our FMC, and to soak up the gothic atmosphere.
If you’re looking for a book that drips with gothic ambience, opulence and gore, I’d recommend giving this a go. It’ll be an ideal read for autumn and winter time.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Holy shit.
I received this as an eARC via Netgalley.
This is just a stunning work. The Gilded Age meets the most horrific version of Labyrinth's ballroom scene that you can imagine. Vo's worldbuilding is beautiful, horrific, meticulous and without parallel; everything conveys meaning, and everything moves the story along. You will find yourself rooting for Judith Ban as she navigates a world she never asked to enter, full of people who constantly focus on "more" and will do everything in their power to keep it, including sacrificing anyone who is handy.
What a triumph.
I received this as an eARC via Netgalley.
This is just a stunning work. The Gilded Age meets the most horrific version of Labyrinth's ballroom scene that you can imagine. Vo's worldbuilding is beautiful, horrific, meticulous and without parallel; everything conveys meaning, and everything moves the story along. You will find yourself rooting for Judith Ban as she navigates a world she never asked to enter, full of people who constantly focus on "more" and will do everything in their power to keep it, including sacrificing anyone who is handy.
What a triumph.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the ARC opportunity!
This was my first read from Vo and I absolutely loved it. It was hauntingly beautiful with incredible storytelling, a riveting plot, and characters that had so much range that had me rooting for some and hating the others.
I quite enjoyed the author's writing style and how they described scenes and characters and I adored the Gothic and macabre vibe of this novel. A definite must read for fans!
This was my first read from Vo and I absolutely loved it. It was hauntingly beautiful with incredible storytelling, a riveting plot, and characters that had so much range that had me rooting for some and hating the others.
I quite enjoyed the author's writing style and how they described scenes and characters and I adored the Gothic and macabre vibe of this novel. A definite must read for fans!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Nghi Vo writes the most lush and evocative books and this is no different. Here, the magic and demons are seamlessly incorporated into the Gilded Age where the demonic marriages are made to the haves. Judith has reinvented herself numerous times, across continents, and here, she is looking to survive as a substitute in a demonic family. The politics and blood drawn and demons must be fed.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed Vo's novellas before but this full-length novel absolutely blew me away. It's a lush and original period fantasy with a truly fascinating and formidable main character in Judith Ban. It began quite slowly, but for me the beautiful descriptive writing and atmosphere was enough to carry the narrative until it picked up momentum. It handles the issues of power, social class, identity and race in a clever and interesting way. There is some romance but this is definitely not a romantasy - it fact it subverts many of the tropes - and the horror elements are more of the Gothic than gory variety.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Move over shadowdaddies and faerie lords; in 2026, we're getting seduced by wildfires and floods and storms.
Nghi Vo writes fairy tales for adults, and I, for one, couldn't be more delighted by them. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
Nghi Vo writes fairy tales for adults, and I, for one, couldn't be more delighted by them. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
May 15, 2026
Aw man, this one didn’t quite land for me. I liked the concept, but I wasn’t a fan of the main character at all. I also felt like there were a few plot holes and some things that never got properly explained.
Read
April 4, 2026well yes
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An engaging and entertaining read.
Review of advance copy
Wow, what a thrilling ride from start to finish. At some point I thought I had figured out what was going to happen and I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
BREATHTAKING. Nghi Vo never misses.
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