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Falling for a Villainous Vampire: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 27 Oct 26The third standalone in Charlotte Stein's Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures series, featuring a blood-pumping enemies-to-lovers romance for the ages!
Marley Maples is sure she's finally evaded her vampire mortal enemy. Halsten has stalked her across oceans of time, and many, many lives. But now she's arrived at the age of thirty in Hollow Brook, with no sign of him. So she’s devastated when he suddenly shows and yet again tries to make her life hell. Until her two witchy best friends suggest a spell to make him forget all about her.
There’s just one he forgets his whole existence with it. All Halsten now remembers is being a big, hot, vampire Viking. And all he sees when he looks at Marley is his beloved little witch, his saviour, the light of his life. He goes from being a horror that haunts her nightmares, to a man who loves her and will protect her at all costs. And as much as she’s skeptical, she can’t help finding his fish-out-of-water, warrior ways and his desire to defend her endearing.
Maybe even a little sexy. In fact, it’s starting feel very sexy indeed.
And if she’s not careful, she’s going to lose herself to a man she swore to hate. A man who might return to her eternal enemy, at any moment.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
Marley Maples is sure she's finally evaded her vampire mortal enemy. Halsten has stalked her across oceans of time, and many, many lives. But now she's arrived at the age of thirty in Hollow Brook, with no sign of him. So she’s devastated when he suddenly shows and yet again tries to make her life hell. Until her two witchy best friends suggest a spell to make him forget all about her.
There’s just one he forgets his whole existence with it. All Halsten now remembers is being a big, hot, vampire Viking. And all he sees when he looks at Marley is his beloved little witch, his saviour, the light of his life. He goes from being a horror that haunts her nightmares, to a man who loves her and will protect her at all costs. And as much as she’s skeptical, she can’t help finding his fish-out-of-water, warrior ways and his desire to defend her endearing.
Maybe even a little sexy. In fact, it’s starting feel very sexy indeed.
And if she’s not careful, she’s going to lose herself to a man she swore to hate. A man who might return to her eternal enemy, at any moment.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
Audible Audio
Expected publication October 27, 2026
About the author
Charlotte Stein
112 books2,238 followersCharlotte Stein is the RT and DABWAHA nominated author of over fifty short stories, novellas and novels. When not writing deeply emotional and intensely sexy books, she can be found eating jelly turtles, watching terrible sitcoms and occasionally lusting after hunks. For more on Charlotte, visit: www.charlottestein.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Charlotte Stein never fails to deliver a yearny, down-bad, simp of a pathetic man mmc.
Her spice always hits. Her FMCs are always confident af. Her books are always a good time.
She is an autobuy author and her books are perfect to pick up when you need a fun, sexy, quick read.
I especially loved the MMC in this one. He might rival Beckett for top spot. He's just so pathetic, I loveeeeeee him.
I think Phone made such a fun side character!
The only thing I wished there was a bit more of was the FMCs/characters from the first books but thats just me being greedy for cameos.
Audio Narration: 5/5
Narrator: Yael Rizowy
Length: 8 hours 33 mins
Style: Single Narrator, single POV
Thoughts: Utterly enjoyable reading experience from start to finish! This narrator always delivers and this was no exception. Her voice variation is excellent and brings each unique character to life. I loved her voice for Phone! Pacing and pausing were perfection and overall this audiobook was an absolute win!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Her spice always hits. Her FMCs are always confident af. Her books are always a good time.
She is an autobuy author and her books are perfect to pick up when you need a fun, sexy, quick read.
I especially loved the MMC in this one. He might rival Beckett for top spot. He's just so pathetic, I loveeeeeee him.
I think Phone made such a fun side character!
The only thing I wished there was a bit more of was the FMCs/characters from the first books but thats just me being greedy for cameos.
Audio Narration: 5/5
Narrator: Yael Rizowy
Length: 8 hours 33 mins
Style: Single Narrator, single POV
Thoughts: Utterly enjoyable reading experience from start to finish! This narrator always delivers and this was no exception. Her voice variation is excellent and brings each unique character to life. I loved her voice for Phone! Pacing and pausing were perfection and overall this audiobook was an absolute win!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
May 7, 2026
Oh to be engulfed in intense paranormal yearning. 4.5 stars rounded up!
My feelings on this story changed a lot from start to finish!
Honestly, by the 30% mark- I wasn't expecting to totally love it. It starts out a little bit quirky and eccentric, which I think are fun qualities in a book, but not my favorite for vampire romances. So I really thought it was going to be "just okay".
But actually- no! I am happy to say I changed by mind!
Light, fun and quirky quickly became emotional, romantic and slightly intense sometimes.
I mean, we're talking about a vampire who is so OBSESSED with his sworn enemy, that he offers to find the very root of his vampirism and rip it from himself - if it would make her happy.
I mean... are we serious right now? Halsten is who Edward Cullen wishes he was.
Once the romance and the intensity of this picked up, I forgot the actual plot. What was this about again?
It doesn't matter. Now it's about yearning.
(I'm joking, the overall plot is also enjoyable! Just slightly overshadowed by the rest)
Overall, this didn't disappoint me. It really took a turn and ended up being one of the best things I've read in a while.
It reminds me of a lot of the more recent paranormal romance releases, like Jenna Lavine's vampire series. So, if you're into those I would absolutely recommend giving this one a go too.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press | St, Martin's Griffin and author Charlotte Stein, for providing me with the eARC of "Falling for a Villainous Vampire" in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 27, 2026
My feelings on this story changed a lot from start to finish!
Honestly, by the 30% mark- I wasn't expecting to totally love it. It starts out a little bit quirky and eccentric, which I think are fun qualities in a book, but not my favorite for vampire romances. So I really thought it was going to be "just okay".
But actually- no! I am happy to say I changed by mind!
Light, fun and quirky quickly became emotional, romantic and slightly intense sometimes.
I mean, we're talking about a vampire who is so OBSESSED with his sworn enemy, that he offers to find the very root of his vampirism and rip it from himself - if it would make her happy.
I mean... are we serious right now? Halsten is who Edward Cullen wishes he was.
Once the romance and the intensity of this picked up, I forgot the actual plot. What was this about again?
It doesn't matter. Now it's about yearning.
(I'm joking, the overall plot is also enjoyable! Just slightly overshadowed by the rest)
Overall, this didn't disappoint me. It really took a turn and ended up being one of the best things I've read in a while.
It reminds me of a lot of the more recent paranormal romance releases, like Jenna Lavine's vampire series. So, if you're into those I would absolutely recommend giving this one a go too.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press | St, Martin's Griffin and author Charlotte Stein, for providing me with the eARC of "Falling for a Villainous Vampire" in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: October 27, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🧛♂️🖤 Falling for a Villainous Vampire 🧙♀️🔥
This one is hands down my favorite book in the series! Or maybe fangs down… 🧛🏾♂️🩸✨
I honestly was not expecting to love this quite as much as I did! Halsten is the absolute definition of “if he wanted to, he would.” 🖤
He was willing to do anything for Marley, and I loved him so freaking much!
Their star crossed love story was everything ❤️🔥
And special shout out to Phone.... truly a loyal sidekick for Marley!
And the ending was perfect! No notes. 😭✨
⭐️ 5 stars!
What to Expect
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
🧛♂️ Vampire Viking MMC
🧙♀️ Witch FMC
🧠 Magical Amnesia
♾️ Past Lives
🛡️ Protective MMC
🤷🏾♀️ If He Wanted To, He Would
🩸 🖤 🧛♂️ ✨ 🩸 🖤 🧛♂️🩸 🖤 🧛♂️🩸 🖤 🧛♂️
🎧 Narration: Yael Rizowy
📅 Pub Date: October 27, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin’s, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced ebook and listening copies.
This one is hands down my favorite book in the series! Or maybe fangs down… 🧛🏾♂️🩸✨
I honestly was not expecting to love this quite as much as I did! Halsten is the absolute definition of “if he wanted to, he would.” 🖤
He was willing to do anything for Marley, and I loved him so freaking much!
Their star crossed love story was everything ❤️🔥
And special shout out to Phone.... truly a loyal sidekick for Marley!
And the ending was perfect! No notes. 😭✨
⭐️ 5 stars!
What to Expect
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
🧛♂️ Vampire Viking MMC
🧙♀️ Witch FMC
🧠 Magical Amnesia
♾️ Past Lives
🛡️ Protective MMC
🤷🏾♀️ If He Wanted To, He Would
🩸 🖤 🧛♂️ ✨ 🩸 🖤 🧛♂️🩸 🖤 🧛♂️🩸 🖤 🧛♂️
🎧 Narration: Yael Rizowy
📅 Pub Date: October 27, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin’s, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced ebook and listening copies.
September 14, 2026
I received this book as an audio ARC from NetGalley. Thanks to all involved.
I rated this book 3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
The audio book itself was well done. It has one narrator (Yael Rizowy) who I think does a great job. On all of the characters voices.
This an an Enemy to lovers paranormal romance between a witch and a vampire who follow each other through time and lives after one another. I enjoyed the premise of the book and the romance between the characters. I thought both Halsten and Marley were funny and I enjoyed the humor between them. I found the ending a little abrupt- like we didn’t get to the actual issue till almost the end and then boom it’s solved. It was a quick and enjoyable book but I was left wanting a little more in terms of back story and romance.
I rated this book 3 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
The audio book itself was well done. It has one narrator (Yael Rizowy) who I think does a great job. On all of the characters voices.
This an an Enemy to lovers paranormal romance between a witch and a vampire who follow each other through time and lives after one another. I enjoyed the premise of the book and the romance between the characters. I thought both Halsten and Marley were funny and I enjoyed the humor between them. I found the ending a little abrupt- like we didn’t get to the actual issue till almost the end and then boom it’s solved. It was a quick and enjoyable book but I was left wanting a little more in terms of back story and romance.
June 30, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like this book started out with quite a bit of promise. Had that cozy fantasy feel, humor, and an interesting premise. That being a witch is reborn again and again only to be hunted by a vampire who loathes her and chases her across time just to fill her. They are mortal enemies through time.
So when she’s finally had enough and decides to use her magic to protect herself, it has a small backfire. He doesn’t just forget her as she wants. He seems to forget everything. Add to this small complication that he seems to think she’s his savior and not the one who did this. What could go wrong?
Great premise, right? And it was fine until around the 60% mark and then seemed to kind of go sideways. The story zigged and should have zagged and it was not an improvement. Basically I was enjoying it but didn’t like how it decided to end along with the big climax moment.
It’s not a bad book. I just didn’t prefer the way it concluded. Three stars.
I feel like this book started out with quite a bit of promise. Had that cozy fantasy feel, humor, and an interesting premise. That being a witch is reborn again and again only to be hunted by a vampire who loathes her and chases her across time just to fill her. They are mortal enemies through time.
So when she’s finally had enough and decides to use her magic to protect herself, it has a small backfire. He doesn’t just forget her as she wants. He seems to forget everything. Add to this small complication that he seems to think she’s his savior and not the one who did this. What could go wrong?
Great premise, right? And it was fine until around the 60% mark and then seemed to kind of go sideways. The story zigged and should have zagged and it was not an improvement. Basically I was enjoying it but didn’t like how it decided to end along with the big climax moment.
It’s not a bad book. I just didn’t prefer the way it concluded. Three stars.
Did Not Finish
May 25, 2026DNF at 15%
This is my first book of the author’s and it unfortunately was not for me very quickly. Reading some other reviews it sounds like this is their ‘style’ so if you’re already a fan this will likely be for you, but unfortunately I’m opting not to continue.
The ‘enemies to lovers’ trope is represented in this book by the 2 MCs calling each other ‘butt face’ or ‘butt hole mc face’ for 2 full chapters. And also trying to physically assault each other without any other plot or explanation. But also his accent is soooooo hot though. I’m baffled by the over use of the word butt instead of ass but then the F word is every other word. Chapter 4 I think is also just them having a conversation about times they tried to kill each other. WHYYYYYYYYYYY? By chapter 4 I should have some sense of the characters and plot besides them being haters?
As an interconnected stand alone that I am assured can be read on its own, there should be world building. If I can read this without reading the others, why does this book assume I have read the others and provide 0 world building?
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2026
All you need to know about this book is that I sent my best friend a voice message while reading it in which I was sobbing so hard it hurt and I accused the author of being a witch who repeatedly peers into my soul and knocks the wind out of my lungs by saying the quiet bits out loud.
*Netgalley arc review*
*Netgalley arc review*
September 24, 2026
Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio, Netgalley, and the author for the ALC.
This book was so cute. I was laughing so hard in the beginning and I just felt so much whimsical magical vibes. The narrator told the story in a way that felt so calming and really drew you in. I thought the narration was done so well and really made it feel like a movie in my head. I could picture the characters and settings with so much ease.
I loved the enemies to lovers. Halsten and Marley are so cute. I love their relationship and how it changes over time. I felt like this was such a fun lighthearted way to tell an enemies to lovers story and perfect in time for Halloween. I loved the witches and the vampires. It was giving charmed and I could feel the spooky vibes radiating from this story while also being a true rom com.
The plot was silly and fun. However there was also a lot of depth to the characters. The silly plot was paired with lots of self growth. (Also by silly I mean just cute and adorable)
I definitely recommend this book and hope other readers find it as cute as I did!
This book was so cute. I was laughing so hard in the beginning and I just felt so much whimsical magical vibes. The narrator told the story in a way that felt so calming and really drew you in. I thought the narration was done so well and really made it feel like a movie in my head. I could picture the characters and settings with so much ease.
I loved the enemies to lovers. Halsten and Marley are so cute. I love their relationship and how it changes over time. I felt like this was such a fun lighthearted way to tell an enemies to lovers story and perfect in time for Halloween. I loved the witches and the vampires. It was giving charmed and I could feel the spooky vibes radiating from this story while also being a true rom com.
The plot was silly and fun. However there was also a lot of depth to the characters. The silly plot was paired with lots of self growth. (Also by silly I mean just cute and adorable)
I definitely recommend this book and hope other readers find it as cute as I did!
May 13, 2026
I really liked the concept of Falling for a Villainous Vampire. The idea of an apparent enemies-to-lovers romance between a vampire and a witch finding each other across multiple lifetimes and centuries was really interesting, and the premise seemed like a cool idea.
Unfortunately, the choppy and disjointed writing style made it difficult for me to fully get into the story and connect to the characters.
*Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Charlotte Stein for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, the choppy and disjointed writing style made it difficult for me to fully get into the story and connect to the characters.
*Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Charlotte Stein for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgally and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was very excited to receive an arc of this book because it sounded right up my alley: a hot vampire obsessed with a mouthy witch whom he has stalked from one generation to the next? SIGN ME UP.
Unfortunately, I couldn't feel even a little engaged to the storyline or its characters.
Overall, the writing style was not my favorite. It felt very much like the reader is being "told" what was happening, not being immersed in the female main character's world. In my opinion, a strong storyline will give you a visualization of the characters and their world. This, simply, didn't deliver.
I also struggled in finding any connection with either of the main characters. Again, I felt like I was simply being "told" about their lives and this made it very hard to feel any sort of love or hate towards them. I really struggled feeling any sort of admiration with the FMC from the very start.
From my understanding, this is an interconnected standalone that is a part of a series. I hesitate to label this as a standalone though. The very first page in the book thrusts you into a backstory on how the FMC has been stalked by the MMC for over a hundred years (again, the FMC told us, but didn't show us). I felt like I needed more of that origins story from the very start to both understand and feel any sort of connection with the characters.
Overall, I give this book a 2 out of 5 stars. I feel like the bones for a great story are there. If the author can go back in and write in a way that "shows, doesn't tell" (as our grade school English teachers would say), this could be a solid book.
I was very excited to receive an arc of this book because it sounded right up my alley: a hot vampire obsessed with a mouthy witch whom he has stalked from one generation to the next? SIGN ME UP.
Unfortunately, I couldn't feel even a little engaged to the storyline or its characters.
Overall, the writing style was not my favorite. It felt very much like the reader is being "told" what was happening, not being immersed in the female main character's world. In my opinion, a strong storyline will give you a visualization of the characters and their world. This, simply, didn't deliver.
I also struggled in finding any connection with either of the main characters. Again, I felt like I was simply being "told" about their lives and this made it very hard to feel any sort of love or hate towards them. I really struggled feeling any sort of admiration with the FMC from the very start.
From my understanding, this is an interconnected standalone that is a part of a series. I hesitate to label this as a standalone though. The very first page in the book thrusts you into a backstory on how the FMC has been stalked by the MMC for over a hundred years (again, the FMC told us, but didn't show us). I felt like I needed more of that origins story from the very start to both understand and feel any sort of connection with the characters.
Overall, I give this book a 2 out of 5 stars. I feel like the bones for a great story are there. If the author can go back in and write in a way that "shows, doesn't tell" (as our grade school English teachers would say), this could be a solid book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Falling for a Villainous Vampire is a single POV enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance. Marley is a witch who has been hunted across multiple lives by the vampire Halsten. Each time her soul is reborn, once she grows into her power, he’s suddenly there and she dies in violent, unexpected ways (was crushed to death by a filing cabinet really necessary?!). This time, though, she has friends in local witches Cassie and Nancy, and they help Marley cast a spell to make her enemy forget all about her. Unfortunately, it works TOO well and he forgets all about EVERYTHING. Now Marley has an amnesiac vampire on her hands, one who declares utter devotion to her, and she can’t help but be charmed by his wonder with the world while she tries to figure out how to fix her mistake without setting him on a course to kill her again!
I loved this one, a love the blend of humor, spice, and paranormal mystery. I still need to read the first in this series but enjoyed the glimpses of Jack and Nancy from book two. I loved Marley’s banter with “Evil Halsten” and her sweet but bewildered interactions with “Good Halsten” as he tries to adjust. I absolutely loved Halsten’s rants about Ross (the most evil of the Friends) and Xander (who brought misery on himself and others by inventing an imagined Zone of Friends to complain about) as he used TV as a way to learn about the world! 😹 Marley and Halsten together were absolutely perfect, adorable interactions and fantastic chemistry!
I loved this one, a love the blend of humor, spice, and paranormal mystery. I still need to read the first in this series but enjoyed the glimpses of Jack and Nancy from book two. I loved Marley’s banter with “Evil Halsten” and her sweet but bewildered interactions with “Good Halsten” as he tries to adjust. I absolutely loved Halsten’s rants about Ross (the most evil of the Friends) and Xander (who brought misery on himself and others by inventing an imagined Zone of Friends to complain about) as he used TV as a way to learn about the world! 😹 Marley and Halsten together were absolutely perfect, adorable interactions and fantastic chemistry!
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with a gifted ALC copy of Falling For a Villainous Vampire. All opinions are my own.
Narrator: Yael Rizowy
Time: 8 hours 33 minutes
Falling For a Villainous Vampire is the second book I’ve read in The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures world and it was such a fun paranormal romance. Give me a storyline with past lives and love over the centuries and I am hooked!
I loved the tension and attraction between Marley and Halsten and their history together was chef’s kiss! There’s some fun chaos with the couples from the other two books and their familiars that add a great found family vibe and some good old curse breaking.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Paranormal Romance
* Past Lives
* Witch & Vampire
* Enemies to Lovers
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️.5
If you’re looking for a fun, cozy paranormal romance for your spooky season TBR I definitely recommend Falling for a Villainous Vampire and it’s great as an audiobook listen.
Narrator: Yael Rizowy
Time: 8 hours 33 minutes
Falling For a Villainous Vampire is the second book I’ve read in The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures world and it was such a fun paranormal romance. Give me a storyline with past lives and love over the centuries and I am hooked!
I loved the tension and attraction between Marley and Halsten and their history together was chef’s kiss! There’s some fun chaos with the couples from the other two books and their familiars that add a great found family vibe and some good old curse breaking.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Paranormal Romance
* Past Lives
* Witch & Vampire
* Enemies to Lovers
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 🌶️.5
If you’re looking for a fun, cozy paranormal romance for your spooky season TBR I definitely recommend Falling for a Villainous Vampire and it’s great as an audiobook listen.
August 17, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Charlotte Stein for this ALC!
This one had me hooked from the moment I started it! When I read the blurb of this book and found out that he is her mortal enemy and has stalked her across her many lifetimes, I knew this one would be a blast!! It did not disappoint!
This one was fun, silly, steamy, and the yearning and tension is off the charts!! This one is a bit of a slow burn, but once the steamy scenes start, they sure do not stop.
Yael Rizowy did a great job at narrating our main characters and side characters!! The voices flowed very well together and I could tell who was who. The voice for phone, was not my favorite, but overall a very great job!!
Overall, I enjoyed this read! If you’re looking for a fun, slow burn, and all the tension you could ask for… this is your next read!
This one had me hooked from the moment I started it! When I read the blurb of this book and found out that he is her mortal enemy and has stalked her across her many lifetimes, I knew this one would be a blast!! It did not disappoint!
This one was fun, silly, steamy, and the yearning and tension is off the charts!! This one is a bit of a slow burn, but once the steamy scenes start, they sure do not stop.
Yael Rizowy did a great job at narrating our main characters and side characters!! The voices flowed very well together and I could tell who was who. The voice for phone, was not my favorite, but overall a very great job!!
Overall, I enjoyed this read! If you’re looking for a fun, slow burn, and all the tension you could ask for… this is your next read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Neither of us give a **ck we were once enemies" sums up this book. Neither the audiobook nor the listener give a **ck.
It seems like a pattern with cozy-ish fantasy romance; they start with a bang revealing plot, conflict, characters and the mystery. Then they slog slog slog till the final reveal as if that will be enough. The FMC's spell not only gives the vampire amnesia but gives her lobotomy as she thinks with her "needs" than brain or even her heart.
The only sensible character is the "sentient phone", kudos to AI advancement.
Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan audio for this advance reader copy. All reviews and opinions are my own
It seems like a pattern with cozy-ish fantasy romance; they start with a bang revealing plot, conflict, characters and the mystery. Then they slog slog slog till the final reveal as if that will be enough. The FMC's spell not only gives the vampire amnesia but gives her lobotomy as she thinks with her "needs" than brain or even her heart.
The only sensible character is the "sentient phone", kudos to AI advancement.
Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan audio for this advance reader copy. All reviews and opinions are my own
September 5, 2026
what if your nemesis who’s a vampire and has followed you in every life was actually the love of your life… this was really fun and quick read!! i do think the last like 30% of the book was a bit quick and over with and i wish we got to see a bit more of them after the reversing of the spell but i still had a good time nonetheless!!!
thank you netgalley for the arc!
thank you netgalley for the arc!
May 11, 2026
I loved this! I feel like there’s not enough amnesia books out there. It’s such an interesting storyline imo.
I love all the paranormal elements. The fmc is named Marley and she’s a witch. She keeps getting reincarnated life after life after getting killed.
The mmc is named Halsten and he’s a vampire. Hes the villain who keeps stalking her in every life just to end it.
To finally rid herself of him, Marley and her friends devise a plan to erase her from his memories. Then he can’t keep trying to kill her.
Things don’t exactly go the way Marley planned and Halsten gets complete amnesia. When he sees Marley again for the first time it’s definitely not hate he’s feeling!
This was so interesting and so much fun to read! I feel like I flew through it. I already want to reread it!
This book has some of my favorite troupes!
-enemies to lovers
-amnesia
-reincarnation
I love all the paranormal elements. The fmc is named Marley and she’s a witch. She keeps getting reincarnated life after life after getting killed.
The mmc is named Halsten and he’s a vampire. Hes the villain who keeps stalking her in every life just to end it.
To finally rid herself of him, Marley and her friends devise a plan to erase her from his memories. Then he can’t keep trying to kill her.
Things don’t exactly go the way Marley planned and Halsten gets complete amnesia. When he sees Marley again for the first time it’s definitely not hate he’s feeling!
This was so interesting and so much fun to read! I feel like I flew through it. I already want to reread it!
This book has some of my favorite troupes!
-enemies to lovers
-amnesia
-reincarnation
September 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s press for the eARC.
Such a fun paranormal romance. This was a quick and light hearted read just in time for fall. Marley is trying to evade a vampire who is out to get her. However when she casts a spell and the vampire becomes nice, more truths about her past come to light. Is the vampire really her true enemy?
Such a fun paranormal romance. This was a quick and light hearted read just in time for fall. Marley is trying to evade a vampire who is out to get her. However when she casts a spell and the vampire becomes nice, more truths about her past come to light. Is the vampire really her true enemy?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Don't mind me, I just wanna cry because this is the last in this series 🥺
I loved this just as much as Dealing With A Desperate Demon, and Charlotte Stein is absolutely going to be an author I follow (especially for more paranormal stories if more ever come out!).
The humor? Top notch.
The heat? Strap in.
The heart? Get ready for yours to break and ache and melt and flutter.
The AUDIO?!?!?! The ACCENT?!?!?!? Utter perfection.
I could NOT get enough of this. Marley and Sten are fabulously entertaining and complex characters. They both have this sort of dry humor, plus Sten's re-bodying, if you will, into his ancient Viking self is perhaps the most hilarious MMC I've read in a while, and I literally laughed at points. Add to that Marley's sentient Phone, literally called Phone, who is a little sassy all on her own!
I am kind of at a loss for words with what to say about this one because it was just such a fun time! The setup with Halsten and Marley in a constant, centuries-long, cat-and-mouse type of chase (with Halsten trying to kill her in every lifetime) was really interesting, and despite being able to have a pretty good idea of the romance underneath it all and how that connected to what was happening, I appreciated that I wasn't able to infer ALL of the 'why's' and 'how's', which made some of the reveals toward the ending more satisfying!
Even though both Marley and Sten are hilarious, they're also both quite layered. Naturally, being chased and targeted for murder in every lifetime will naturally traumatize a person, so I really felt for Marley, who both keeps people away to protect them yet desperately desires true love, connection, friendship, and a sense of belonging somewhere and with people permanently. 'Evil' Halsten is so dry and hilarious, seemingly cold, so it's such a whiplash in a thoroughly fun way when he becomes his ancient Viking self again. Still the same level of humor (if not more) because of his passion for protecting, revering, and adoring Marley - so much passion, in fact, that he's kind of absurd and ridiculous and silly (in the BEST way, it's not annoying). But as they get to know each other (again?), I liked seeing how, even though Sten comes right out of the gate professing his undying (literally) love for the 'beautiful sorceress' that is Marley, he truly has feelings for her because of her kind heart, and she comes to love him for the goodness that was always inside of him.
Following Sten and Marley as they work to get him to understand/navigate the modern world while also trying to figure out the intricacies of how the memory spell went wrong, if there's an underlying curse, and how right Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Friends does and/or doesn't reflect reality was an utter blast! Throw in some funny Twilight references, the talking Phone, some spice, and this story was perfect! Again, I was glad that there was still some mystery and questions surrounding why Halsten has been following her for centuries and if there was some more going on with the memory spell or an underlying curse. The way everything unfolded in the end, both in terms of the romance and that mystery, was PERFECT!
I really just can't gush on about this one enough, so I'll end it there. But I recommend this one to anyone who loves paranormal romance, romcoms, witches and vampires, or just purely wants a feel-good, funny story that also has heart and a good plotline to drive the story forward and keep you intrigued even beyond the romance!
Perfect for getting into the fall season, and I HIGHLY recommend the audio!
AUDIO NOTES:
NEW FAVORITE NARRATOR alert! The way Yael Rizowy captured not only the dryness of Marley's character, the humor and ACCENT of Sten, the robotic sass of Phone... it absolutely BROUGHT THIS TO LIFE! Excuse the caps lock, but this is just one of the best narrations I've listened to recently!
All the characters felt so real, the humor hit harder, the emotions were felt, the pacing was great! It flowed really well, and Rizowy's voice was perfect for Marley's character and the story as a whole, in my opinion.
I think this is a MUST on audio!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC, as well as to Macmillan Audio for the eALC. All opinions are my own.
I loved this just as much as Dealing With A Desperate Demon, and Charlotte Stein is absolutely going to be an author I follow (especially for more paranormal stories if more ever come out!).
The humor? Top notch.
The heat? Strap in.
The heart? Get ready for yours to break and ache and melt and flutter.
The AUDIO?!?!?! The ACCENT?!?!?!? Utter perfection.
I could NOT get enough of this. Marley and Sten are fabulously entertaining and complex characters. They both have this sort of dry humor, plus Sten's re-bodying, if you will, into his ancient Viking self is perhaps the most hilarious MMC I've read in a while, and I literally laughed at points. Add to that Marley's sentient Phone, literally called Phone, who is a little sassy all on her own!
I am kind of at a loss for words with what to say about this one because it was just such a fun time! The setup with Halsten and Marley in a constant, centuries-long, cat-and-mouse type of chase (with Halsten trying to kill her in every lifetime) was really interesting, and despite being able to have a pretty good idea of the romance underneath it all and how that connected to what was happening, I appreciated that I wasn't able to infer ALL of the 'why's' and 'how's', which made some of the reveals toward the ending more satisfying!
Even though both Marley and Sten are hilarious, they're also both quite layered. Naturally, being chased and targeted for murder in every lifetime will naturally traumatize a person, so I really felt for Marley, who both keeps people away to protect them yet desperately desires true love, connection, friendship, and a sense of belonging somewhere and with people permanently. 'Evil' Halsten is so dry and hilarious, seemingly cold, so it's such a whiplash in a thoroughly fun way when he becomes his ancient Viking self again. Still the same level of humor (if not more) because of his passion for protecting, revering, and adoring Marley - so much passion, in fact, that he's kind of absurd and ridiculous and silly (in the BEST way, it's not annoying). But as they get to know each other (again?), I liked seeing how, even though Sten comes right out of the gate professing his undying (literally) love for the 'beautiful sorceress' that is Marley, he truly has feelings for her because of her kind heart, and she comes to love him for the goodness that was always inside of him.
Following Sten and Marley as they work to get him to understand/navigate the modern world while also trying to figure out the intricacies of how the memory spell went wrong, if there's an underlying curse, and how right Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Friends does and/or doesn't reflect reality was an utter blast! Throw in some funny Twilight references, the talking Phone, some spice, and this story was perfect! Again, I was glad that there was still some mystery and questions surrounding why Halsten has been following her for centuries and if there was some more going on with the memory spell or an underlying curse. The way everything unfolded in the end, both in terms of the romance and that mystery, was PERFECT!
I really just can't gush on about this one enough, so I'll end it there. But I recommend this one to anyone who loves paranormal romance, romcoms, witches and vampires, or just purely wants a feel-good, funny story that also has heart and a good plotline to drive the story forward and keep you intrigued even beyond the romance!
Perfect for getting into the fall season, and I HIGHLY recommend the audio!
AUDIO NOTES:
NEW FAVORITE NARRATOR alert! The way Yael Rizowy captured not only the dryness of Marley's character, the humor and ACCENT of Sten, the robotic sass of Phone... it absolutely BROUGHT THIS TO LIFE! Excuse the caps lock, but this is just one of the best narrations I've listened to recently!
All the characters felt so real, the humor hit harder, the emotions were felt, the pacing was great! It flowed really well, and Rizowy's voice was perfect for Marley's character and the story as a whole, in my opinion.
I think this is a MUST on audio!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC, as well as to Macmillan Audio for the eALC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a digital ARC through Netgalley for my review.
TLDR: The story was predictable, but I enjoyed it.
I’ll start by suggesting if you’ve read one of Charlotte’s recent novels, you’ve read them all. I read this trilogy, as well as 2/3 of another ‘stand-alone’ trilogy (When Grumpy Met Sunshine, My Big Fat Fake Marriage) and you’ll find the following tropes in most of them:
** Grumpy & Sunshine
** Miscommunication + Stream of Conscious chatter from basically all the characters
** Plus-sized FMC who feels so tiny compared to the super-tall/large MMC
** Fake dating/marriage (this novel was the exception)
** Only one bed
** “Enemies” to Lovers
I use quotations on the enemies because for most of the above-mentioned novels, the FMC & MMC are not enemies. They’re making assumptions about how the other person feels based on their own trauma/insecurities and deciding the other person hates them, rather than having a grown-up conversation to clarify things.
TO BE CLEAR: This is not intended to be an attack on the author or the stories. I like some of these tropes so Charlotte’s novels are the literary equivalent of comfort food for me. I know what I’m getting when I pick them up and I love to get cozied up in a favorite reading spot with a cup of tea and read from cover to cover. When I get to the first flustered kiss, I squeal and kick my feet in the air like a teenager talking on the phone with her best friend.
I think one of the best qualities of the novels I’ve read by Charlotte is the lack of alpha-male mentality in the MMC. The MMC usually has some degree of emotional intelligence and actually tries to communicate…aside from when Big Feelings well up, he forgets how to speak, and he turns tail and runs (physically or mentally).
There are conversations about boundaries and consent; there are scenes with some after-care.
There are toxic characters in the book, but they’re used as a foil for the MMC and/or plot devices for conflict.
In terms of the romance, this was not a slow-burn at all. They do the horizontal boogaloo fairly early into the story and it’s basically a ‘fuck or die’ set-up (admittedly, I eat this up in fanfiction so I’m not complaining). After that, their character development is the sexual equivalent of impulse buying: indulgence,self-recrimination, repeat cycle. I was raised in America’s bible belt so this is basically my comfort zone.
My biggest complaint about this story is how frequently the word juicy is used to describe body parts. Juicy is the new moist; please use sparingly. I can only take so many flashbacks to the aughts when sweatpants with Juicy on the backside were trending (if they’re trending again, I don’t want to know).
Slight spoilers for this specific novel:
I cackled aloud when Halsten lifted a machete from behind the couch. Who is giving this man weapons? How much money, exactly, did he spend at that emporium?
TLDR: The story was predictable, but I enjoyed it.
I’ll start by suggesting if you’ve read one of Charlotte’s recent novels, you’ve read them all. I read this trilogy, as well as 2/3 of another ‘stand-alone’ trilogy (When Grumpy Met Sunshine, My Big Fat Fake Marriage) and you’ll find the following tropes in most of them:
** Grumpy & Sunshine
** Miscommunication + Stream of Conscious chatter from basically all the characters
** Plus-sized FMC who feels so tiny compared to the super-tall/large MMC
** Fake dating/marriage (this novel was the exception)
** Only one bed
** “Enemies” to Lovers
I use quotations on the enemies because for most of the above-mentioned novels, the FMC & MMC are not enemies. They’re making assumptions about how the other person feels based on their own trauma/insecurities and deciding the other person hates them, rather than having a grown-up conversation to clarify things.
TO BE CLEAR: This is not intended to be an attack on the author or the stories. I like some of these tropes so Charlotte’s novels are the literary equivalent of comfort food for me. I know what I’m getting when I pick them up and I love to get cozied up in a favorite reading spot with a cup of tea and read from cover to cover. When I get to the first flustered kiss, I squeal and kick my feet in the air like a teenager talking on the phone with her best friend.
I think one of the best qualities of the novels I’ve read by Charlotte is the lack of alpha-male mentality in the MMC. The MMC usually has some degree of emotional intelligence and actually tries to communicate…aside from when Big Feelings well up, he forgets how to speak, and he turns tail and runs (physically or mentally).
There are conversations about boundaries and consent; there are scenes with some after-care.
There are toxic characters in the book, but they’re used as a foil for the MMC and/or plot devices for conflict.
In terms of the romance, this was not a slow-burn at all. They do the horizontal boogaloo fairly early into the story and it’s basically a ‘fuck or die’ set-up (admittedly, I eat this up in fanfiction so I’m not complaining). After that, their character development is the sexual equivalent of impulse buying: indulgence,self-recrimination, repeat cycle. I was raised in America’s bible belt so this is basically my comfort zone.
My biggest complaint about this story is how frequently the word juicy is used to describe body parts. Juicy is the new moist; please use sparingly. I can only take so many flashbacks to the aughts when sweatpants with Juicy on the backside were trending (if they’re trending again, I don’t want to know).
Slight spoilers for this specific novel:
I cackled aloud when Halsten lifted a machete from behind the couch. Who is giving this man weapons? How much money, exactly, did he spend at that emporium?
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Charlotte Stein Keeps the Hits Coming
Marley Maples has lived so many lives and had everyone of those prior lives taken from her by the malicious ancient vampire Halsten. Marley does not know why he haunts her through every one of her eras but eventually Halsten shows up like he has on this day and as usual Marley fights against him with everything she has in her Witch armory. Though all these past lives Marley those she remembers and those she does not the one solitary factor has been to keep to herself and not allow anyone in to help as the human world neither accepts nor embraces magic or witchery. Marley wants to stay in this time and place so her goal becomes figuring out what Halsten’s issue with her is and how can she get this nightmare to end and let her live out this life. The upside to this particular life is Maryley has made not just friends but found two other witches who believe they can put an end to this nightmarish cycle. However, when that happens it turns Halsten not into a docile man about town, he becomes a man whose soul is bound to her which is worse than before, if you can imagine that.
Halsten’s has only one memory left after the witches cast their spell and it is his devoted desire is to make Marley love him as much as he feels love for her in ways neither completely understand. Marley calls him out to remember all the past lives she can recall and every awful way in which he killed her, to which Halsten insists it was not him. Being the amazing person that she is Marley cannot leave this shell of a man to fend for himself so doing the unbelievable she invites him into her home. Her familiar known affectionately Phone, because that is what it is tells her repeatedly that she is making a big mistake. Perhaps Marley is making a mistake but as it turns out it is not the one she feared but instead the one never expected, with her returning the feelings Halsten has for her. What is the heavenly ever after is going on here.
Marley and Halsten see each other for what they are and understand that this time and place may be where they both belong, potentially together. As Marley questions her existence from the beginning some memories become more clarifying and less about what Halsten might have done and more about what he saved her from. When the pictures of times and places start to unfold, she realizes that Halsten was her love not her enemy and those memories are blinding her with a truth she never thought possible. So what will happen when Halsten becomes his murderous self again? Will he stay with Marley or end another life and love between them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to Charlotte Stein, St. Martin’s Griffin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of Falling for a Villainous Vampire.
This book completely blindsided me—in the best way—because I really thought I was getting a fun, slightly chaotic paranormal romance and instead I ended up fully emotionally possessed by it. Marley is a witch who has spent lifetime after lifetime being hunted by the same vampire, Halsten. He’s relentless, obsessive, and has basically been a constant threat across her entire existence. So she finally tries to escape him the only way she can: a spell meant to erase him from her life completely. It does NOT go as planned. Instead of disappearing, Halsten loses all his memories—and wakes up as something entirely different. Suddenly the terrifying, centuries-old vampire becomes this confused, oddly soft Viking version of himself who still feels this inexplicable pull toward Marley. And that shift changes everything. Because now she’s stuck between two versions of him—the monster who has haunted her for lifetimes, and the man he becomes without his memories. And both somehow make things worse in completely different ways.
The chemistry? Unhinged.
The tension? Constant.
The yearning? Actually painful.
At a certain point I stopped pretending I was following the plot and just surrendered to the emotional chaos of these two characters ruining each other across time. The reincarnation and past-life elements made everything even heavier in the best way—every new detail added another layer of history, obsession, and tragedy that kept pulling everything tighter. And surprisingly, it’s also really funny in places. The tonal shifts, the banter, and Halsten trying to understand the modern world gave it this weird charm that shouldn’t have worked but absolutely did. This is technically book three in the Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures series, but it works perfectly as a standalone.
What to expect:
• Witch x vampire romance
• Amnesia trope done in the most chaotic way
• Reincarnation & past lives
• Morally gray MMC
• Obsession that spans lifetimes
• Found-family paranormal vibes
• Chaos, tension, and extreme yearning
By the end, I was fully hooked. The twists landed, the emotional payoff hit, and it wrapped up in a way that felt satisfying while still leaving me a little wrecked. If you like vampire romances where the MMC is completely, catastrophically down bad across centuries, this one delivers.
This book completely blindsided me—in the best way—because I really thought I was getting a fun, slightly chaotic paranormal romance and instead I ended up fully emotionally possessed by it. Marley is a witch who has spent lifetime after lifetime being hunted by the same vampire, Halsten. He’s relentless, obsessive, and has basically been a constant threat across her entire existence. So she finally tries to escape him the only way she can: a spell meant to erase him from her life completely. It does NOT go as planned. Instead of disappearing, Halsten loses all his memories—and wakes up as something entirely different. Suddenly the terrifying, centuries-old vampire becomes this confused, oddly soft Viking version of himself who still feels this inexplicable pull toward Marley. And that shift changes everything. Because now she’s stuck between two versions of him—the monster who has haunted her for lifetimes, and the man he becomes without his memories. And both somehow make things worse in completely different ways.
The chemistry? Unhinged.
The tension? Constant.
The yearning? Actually painful.
At a certain point I stopped pretending I was following the plot and just surrendered to the emotional chaos of these two characters ruining each other across time. The reincarnation and past-life elements made everything even heavier in the best way—every new detail added another layer of history, obsession, and tragedy that kept pulling everything tighter. And surprisingly, it’s also really funny in places. The tonal shifts, the banter, and Halsten trying to understand the modern world gave it this weird charm that shouldn’t have worked but absolutely did. This is technically book three in the Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures series, but it works perfectly as a standalone.
What to expect:
• Witch x vampire romance
• Amnesia trope done in the most chaotic way
• Reincarnation & past lives
• Morally gray MMC
• Obsession that spans lifetimes
• Found-family paranormal vibes
• Chaos, tension, and extreme yearning
By the end, I was fully hooked. The twists landed, the emotional payoff hit, and it wrapped up in a way that felt satisfying while still leaving me a little wrecked. If you like vampire romances where the MMC is completely, catastrophically down bad across centuries, this one delivers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoy Stein's writing and have found all of her books fun and relaxing reads. This book was no different. I was engrossed in her writing and how relatable her female characters are. Overall, The Sanctuary for Supernatural Creatures has been a fun and flirty journey. I was excited to read the final installment of the series.
I found Marley the most relatable of the series' protagonists, but overall, this book does not hit the same as the other books. It felt a little disjointed from the other books in the series. Seeing Cassy and Nancy interacting with Marley was fun. However, I didn't really believe the depth of their relationship. Maybe I've forgotten a huge part of one of the earlier books, but while I buy that Cassy and Nancy would want to protect Marley, I don't feel they were close enough to galavant around the world on little to no evidence.
I also didn't feel the chemistry between Marley and Halsten. It sort of felt like it came out of nowhere. I think that the fact it felt this way was because the story was mostly driven by the plot rather than feeling the characters had any agency at all. In many ways, the romance felt like a reiteration of a Greek Myth rather than a reinterpretation. Since it was so clear where the story was going, it became a little hard to be invested in the story. I will say one point in favor of the narrative was that it felt a bit like that episode of Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, where everyone loses their memory at a Thanksgiving party. So even though it was predictable, it was a fun time.
Another aspect of the story that felt a bit strange in the context of the series is Marley's magic. I understand that all three women have different magical strengths, but Marely's seemed much more complex and potentially a curse...I have to say the dynamics of things really didn't make a great deal of sense until the very end of the story.
Finally, I didn't enjoy Marley's familiar being her phone. That just felt weird and like it was trying to be comedic relief by C3-PO, but it fell flat.
This is an enjoyable read. I don't think that it does anything groundbreaking, but if you have been enjoying the series thus far, Marley's installment is a fun ride. Although there is a bit of depth missing from the story, it is full of humor and romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslightin
I found Marley the most relatable of the series' protagonists, but overall, this book does not hit the same as the other books. It felt a little disjointed from the other books in the series. Seeing Cassy and Nancy interacting with Marley was fun. However, I didn't really believe the depth of their relationship. Maybe I've forgotten a huge part of one of the earlier books, but while I buy that Cassy and Nancy would want to protect Marley, I don't feel they were close enough to galavant around the world on little to no evidence.
I also didn't feel the chemistry between Marley and Halsten. It sort of felt like it came out of nowhere. I think that the fact it felt this way was because the story was mostly driven by the plot rather than feeling the characters had any agency at all. In many ways, the romance felt like a reiteration of a Greek Myth rather than a reinterpretation. Since it was so clear where the story was going, it became a little hard to be invested in the story. I will say one point in favor of the narrative was that it felt a bit like that episode of Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, where everyone loses their memory at a Thanksgiving party. So even though it was predictable, it was a fun time.
Another aspect of the story that felt a bit strange in the context of the series is Marley's magic. I understand that all three women have different magical strengths, but Marely's seemed much more complex and potentially a curse...I have to say the dynamics of things really didn't make a great deal of sense until the very end of the story.
Finally, I didn't enjoy Marley's familiar being her phone. That just felt weird and like it was trying to be comedic relief by C3-PO, but it fell flat.
This is an enjoyable read. I don't think that it does anything groundbreaking, but if you have been enjoying the series thus far, Marley's installment is a fun ride. Although there is a bit of depth missing from the story, it is full of humor and romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslightin
May 8, 2026
Marley and Halsten have a long and troubled history. She's a witch who gets reincarnated every time he kills her, which has been happening eon after eon for longer than Marley can remember. But *why* does he keep trying to kill her, and how on earth could this lead to an HEA for either of them? Thankfully for them and for us, it definitely does! The author jumps right into the story with a lot of action, which I love. Marley has a delightfully snarky inner voice, and I really enjoyed their banter at the beginning (think Buffy and Spike enemies-to-lovers vibes). Definitely buckle up for the journey as the author carefully leads us through their present and into their past. The mystery of what's happening in the present and the how and the why of it kept me reading to the satisfying ending. Halsten was interesting, he went from awful and scary to soppy and puppy-eyed super fast. It's very swoony to have a devoted servant bound to your soul, but I definitely wondered if it was the magic spell or something about their shared history (we do eventually get the answer to that question). And the reader, along with Marley, worries about what happens when she lets her guard down and he very likely turns back to his old villainous ways, which definitely created another layer of tension. One of my favorite things about this author's books is the banter between the characters. That, and the longing and yearning and the "made for each other" energy, which was definitely front and center in this book. I think I would have liked a few more hints of their shared history earlier in the book. And as much as I loved Halsten as a devoted and protective soul mate, I really liked him better when he was a smart-ass vampire in the very beginning before he became magically besotted. Readers who enjoy open-door enemies-to-lovers soul mate/past-lives romance will love this book! This story was the last in a 3-part series, and it works fine as a standalone but characters do show up from the previous books and reading the other two books will only enhance your enjoyment of this one. I'm a bit sad to leave this book universe, but I'm excited to see what the author writes next! Publishes October 27, 2026, just in time for spooky season. This review is based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
I liked a lot of this. Immortal yearning between lovers separated across space time? Obvious yes. Cell phone as modern-day equivalent of scrying object/familiar? Led to a lot of cringe reference humor but I'll take it, the concept is very cool. Powerful AF FMC who is experienced with her magic? Yes PLEASE we love to watch a competent queen.
Unfortunately, there were things that I also didn't like. First and foremost, maybe it's the result of this being the third in a series and I haven't read the others, but the exposition was extremely choppy in the first, like, 25% of the book. I wouldn't necessarily mind this except that these ARE being marketed as interconnected standalones, and that being the case I think the early worldbuilding could have used a fresh set of beta readers just to double-check the relevant information was coming through neatly.
The other thing was the millennial humor. I can recognize that while I am technically a millennial I am a very young millennial, and a lot of this kind of humor does not gel with me the way it will do with an audience that's even just five years older. Still, the heavy reliance on almost exclusively reference humor from the 90s and early 2000s felt extremely cheap. I think there's a difference between what Stein and her contemporaries do, which is reference humor, and using allusion as a literary device. With very little exception reference humor is exclusively a wink to the audience, a signal to an in-group that you know the same things they do. Allusion does this as well, but with an extra layer in that the signal actually means something; in recognizing allusion a reader is expected to better parse the subtextual layers of the book, and not simply acknowledge the author's real-world affiliations. And actually, there was one moment (Sten's passionate monologue about Buffy the Vampire Slayer) where I think Stein DID manage to reach this deeper level with her references. I just wish that had been it.
Also don't think I didn't catch that cringe-ass June's Journey spon con, I'm onto y'all. If they aren't already the FCC and the FTC need to crack down on that bs pronto.
I liked a lot of this. Immortal yearning between lovers separated across space time? Obvious yes. Cell phone as modern-day equivalent of scrying object/familiar? Led to a lot of cringe reference humor but I'll take it, the concept is very cool. Powerful AF FMC who is experienced with her magic? Yes PLEASE we love to watch a competent queen.
Unfortunately, there were things that I also didn't like. First and foremost, maybe it's the result of this being the third in a series and I haven't read the others, but the exposition was extremely choppy in the first, like, 25% of the book. I wouldn't necessarily mind this except that these ARE being marketed as interconnected standalones, and that being the case I think the early worldbuilding could have used a fresh set of beta readers just to double-check the relevant information was coming through neatly.
The other thing was the millennial humor. I can recognize that while I am technically a millennial I am a very young millennial, and a lot of this kind of humor does not gel with me the way it will do with an audience that's even just five years older. Still, the heavy reliance on almost exclusively reference humor from the 90s and early 2000s felt extremely cheap. I think there's a difference between what Stein and her contemporaries do, which is reference humor, and using allusion as a literary device. With very little exception reference humor is exclusively a wink to the audience, a signal to an in-group that you know the same things they do. Allusion does this as well, but with an extra layer in that the signal actually means something; in recognizing allusion a reader is expected to better parse the subtextual layers of the book, and not simply acknowledge the author's real-world affiliations. And actually, there was one moment (Sten's passionate monologue about Buffy the Vampire Slayer) where I think Stein DID manage to reach this deeper level with her references. I just wish that had been it.
Also don't think I didn't catch that cringe-ass June's Journey spon con, I'm onto y'all. If they aren't already the FCC and the FTC need to crack down on that bs pronto.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Audio book review:
Story: Falling for a Villainous Vampire could have been an enemies to lovers story between a vampire and a witch. However, it turned into a bit more of a book about misunderstandings and miscommunication, over centuries. As this is the third book in a series (set the the same world, but unique main characters) there is context that I may be missing. But I don’t think context would have helped me to enjoy this story more. Unfortunately, it includes way too much internal monologue. Almost the entire book is Marley’s inner thoughts and it just didn’t work for me. The book needed more dialogue, conversation, different points of view - anything to keep us out of her head.
The premise is good; a bit Sookie Stackhouse + Erik Northman when he lost his memories. But this also includes sentient appliances and other magical beings, all living alongside one another in kind of a Stars Hollow. I bet the three book series is really good, as long as there is more action and conversation and less internal reflection and self-talk. It just got old really quickly. There is some good humor, good pop culture references, and fun modern slang that added to the story. I would have liked a chapter before the epilogue. I think I wanted more time with Marley and Halsten without his memory loss. I liked the big reveal and just wanted more time with them together.
Narration: The narration actually boosts the rating a bit. Good use of accents and different tones; she voices a sentient cell phone and the many emotions she evokes and it’s really good. I stayed engaged and clearly knew who was talking at all times. Of course, a lot of the ‘talking’ was inside Marley’s head, but I’ve already outlined how that was problematic. The narration is good, even if I think the story was lacking.
Audiobook Flow: It flows well. There aren’t distracting noises or sound effects. It’s clear when chapters change and which characters are talking. The audiobook was well-produced.
Recommendation: 3.5 stars
TW: murder threats, spice 4 / 5, memory loss / questions of autonomy, loneliness, trust issues
Story: Falling for a Villainous Vampire could have been an enemies to lovers story between a vampire and a witch. However, it turned into a bit more of a book about misunderstandings and miscommunication, over centuries. As this is the third book in a series (set the the same world, but unique main characters) there is context that I may be missing. But I don’t think context would have helped me to enjoy this story more. Unfortunately, it includes way too much internal monologue. Almost the entire book is Marley’s inner thoughts and it just didn’t work for me. The book needed more dialogue, conversation, different points of view - anything to keep us out of her head.
The premise is good; a bit Sookie Stackhouse + Erik Northman when he lost his memories. But this also includes sentient appliances and other magical beings, all living alongside one another in kind of a Stars Hollow. I bet the three book series is really good, as long as there is more action and conversation and less internal reflection and self-talk. It just got old really quickly. There is some good humor, good pop culture references, and fun modern slang that added to the story. I would have liked a chapter before the epilogue. I think I wanted more time with Marley and Halsten without his memory loss. I liked the big reveal and just wanted more time with them together.
Narration: The narration actually boosts the rating a bit. Good use of accents and different tones; she voices a sentient cell phone and the many emotions she evokes and it’s really good. I stayed engaged and clearly knew who was talking at all times. Of course, a lot of the ‘talking’ was inside Marley’s head, but I’ve already outlined how that was problematic. The narration is good, even if I think the story was lacking.
Audiobook Flow: It flows well. There aren’t distracting noises or sound effects. It’s clear when chapters change and which characters are talking. The audiobook was well-produced.
Recommendation: 3.5 stars
TW: murder threats, spice 4 / 5, memory loss / questions of autonomy, loneliness, trust issues
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Falling for a Villainous Vampire
Charlotte Stein
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Charlotte Stein for the ARC!
This book honestly caught me off guard in the best way because I was not expecting to get this attached to these characters.
At first, the tone felt a little quirky and chaotic compared to the darker vampire romances I usually pick up, so I thought this was going to be a fun but forgettable read. Instead, I ended up completely obsessed.
Marley is a witch who has spent lifetime after lifetime being hunted down by the same vampire, Halsten. After years of trying to escape him, a spell meant to erase her from his memory goes very wrong and leaves him with complete amnesia instead.
And somehow that made everything worse.
Because suddenly this terrifying, morally gray vampire who has spent centuries obsessed with her is confused, vulnerable, weirdly soft at times, and still drawn to her in a way he can’t explain.
The yearning in this book??? UNWELL.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped caring about the actual plot and became fully invested in these two emotionally wrecking each other. Their dynamic was messy, intense, funny, dramatic, and honestly kind of addictive.
I also loved the reincarnation aspect and slowly learning more about their history together across different lives. It added so much tension to the romance and made everything feel a little more tragic in the best way.
✨ What to Expect:
🩸 Vampire x witch romance
🔮 Reincarnation & past lives
🖤 Enemies to lovers vibes
💭 Amnesia
😮💨 Extreme yearning
🦇 Morally gray vampire MMC
🔥 Obsession
✨ Paranormal romance chaos
Overall, this ended up being such a fun and surprisingly emotional paranormal romance. If you love vampires who are completely down bad, chaotic chemistry, and romances fueled by obsession and longing, definitely give this one a try.
Charlotte Stein
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Charlotte Stein for the ARC!
This book honestly caught me off guard in the best way because I was not expecting to get this attached to these characters.
At first, the tone felt a little quirky and chaotic compared to the darker vampire romances I usually pick up, so I thought this was going to be a fun but forgettable read. Instead, I ended up completely obsessed.
Marley is a witch who has spent lifetime after lifetime being hunted down by the same vampire, Halsten. After years of trying to escape him, a spell meant to erase her from his memory goes very wrong and leaves him with complete amnesia instead.
And somehow that made everything worse.
Because suddenly this terrifying, morally gray vampire who has spent centuries obsessed with her is confused, vulnerable, weirdly soft at times, and still drawn to her in a way he can’t explain.
The yearning in this book??? UNWELL.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped caring about the actual plot and became fully invested in these two emotionally wrecking each other. Their dynamic was messy, intense, funny, dramatic, and honestly kind of addictive.
I also loved the reincarnation aspect and slowly learning more about their history together across different lives. It added so much tension to the romance and made everything feel a little more tragic in the best way.
✨ What to Expect:
🩸 Vampire x witch romance
🔮 Reincarnation & past lives
🖤 Enemies to lovers vibes
💭 Amnesia
😮💨 Extreme yearning
🦇 Morally gray vampire MMC
🔥 Obsession
✨ Paranormal romance chaos
Overall, this ended up being such a fun and surprisingly emotional paranormal romance. If you love vampires who are completely down bad, chaotic chemistry, and romances fueled by obsession and longing, definitely give this one a try.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wow, this was something. A very high-energy story, it kept me engaged and frustrated and wondering the entire time. This has the signature fever dream feeling all of the author's work seems to bring, but it worked phenomenally well here and aligned with the unending nightmare that is the FMC's many lives.
This book is a little referential, and it makes sense when the author shared that bits of this story have been rattling around in her head for two decades. This isn't a bad thing; the story is so interminably sad, in a way, that the levity is appreciated.
It's difficult to explain what this story was to me without spoilers, but it's safe to say that, while I went in a little sceptical and grew more so when we were thrust into action from the start, the structure of the story, quite particular and something that might not work for everyone it may be, was ultimately very well suited for accomplishing what this novel was. I felt off-kilter and strange, sure, but I found that to be thoroughly rewarded when everything that had gone on became apparent and sorted itself out. This story was absolutely delightful and a tough but heart wrenching read.
As for my more critical points...this book might have been five stars if it were just a little less frantic and a little more grounded in logic. The way things fall into place with the memory-wiped version of Halsten were a little lacking (though the revelations we get later really make that beautiful, a repeated experiment for two bonded souls). The worldbuilding here seemed weak, although I must confess I haven't read the other two books before this one. And one thing that really disproportionately bothered me is that she lied and sent her friends out of the country on a wild goose chase -- I mean, who the hell does that?
This book is a little referential, and it makes sense when the author shared that bits of this story have been rattling around in her head for two decades. This isn't a bad thing; the story is so interminably sad, in a way, that the levity is appreciated.
It's difficult to explain what this story was to me without spoilers, but it's safe to say that, while I went in a little sceptical and grew more so when we were thrust into action from the start, the structure of the story, quite particular and something that might not work for everyone it may be, was ultimately very well suited for accomplishing what this novel was. I felt off-kilter and strange, sure, but I found that to be thoroughly rewarded when everything that had gone on became apparent and sorted itself out. This story was absolutely delightful and a tough but heart wrenching read.
As for my more critical points...this book might have been five stars if it were just a little less frantic and a little more grounded in logic. The way things fall into place with the memory-wiped version of Halsten were a little lacking (though the revelations we get later really make that beautiful, a repeated experiment for two bonded souls). The worldbuilding here seemed weak, although I must confess I haven't read the other two books before this one. And one thing that really disproportionately bothered me is that she lied and sent her friends out of the country on a wild goose chase -- I mean, who the hell does that?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Did I expect so much yearning when it's a witch x ~her vampire archenemy who stalks her through time~, nope but it ached!
Marley has once again been found by Halsten, her vampire stalker that tracks her across her reincarnations and makes her life hell until she dies. But this life, she found other witch friends and they work together to cast a spell to make him forget her (why kill someone you don't know exists? perfect plan!). Marley just doesn't expect him to immediately save her, confess his adoration and pledge himself to her.
Now her enemy is like a lost puppy who's imprinted on her, and treats her well, makes her see the world as incredible and doesn't cover his incredible body. But she believes he's killed her for centuries and fears that version could reappear, but is the risk worth it?
The reveal wasn't a huge surprise, but I did wonder about pre-amnesia Halsten when Marley feared him so, for seemingly great reason. I wondered how they could be together and how Sten could've become a monster.
This felt like an epic love story through the ages with cool magic. I wished her friends were more involved, but understood plot-wise why the author focused on the couple.
I really liked the reincarnation angle, and her remembering so much, since with an ancient vampire, that could be quite an age gap and the reincarnation felt like a great fix.
Overall, it was a really cool story that kept me hooked and engrossed in the couple, which the author wrote aching yearning I felt!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read for: black cat/golden retriever energy, fate, witch x vampire, epic love story, he falls first, angst, yearning, ancient curses, soulmates, funny phones, reincarnation
4 stars
1.5 spice
Marley has once again been found by Halsten, her vampire stalker that tracks her across her reincarnations and makes her life hell until she dies. But this life, she found other witch friends and they work together to cast a spell to make him forget her (why kill someone you don't know exists? perfect plan!). Marley just doesn't expect him to immediately save her, confess his adoration and pledge himself to her.
Now her enemy is like a lost puppy who's imprinted on her, and treats her well, makes her see the world as incredible and doesn't cover his incredible body. But she believes he's killed her for centuries and fears that version could reappear, but is the risk worth it?
The reveal wasn't a huge surprise, but I did wonder about pre-amnesia Halsten when Marley feared him so, for seemingly great reason. I wondered how they could be together and how Sten could've become a monster.
This felt like an epic love story through the ages with cool magic. I wished her friends were more involved, but understood plot-wise why the author focused on the couple.
I really liked the reincarnation angle, and her remembering so much, since with an ancient vampire, that could be quite an age gap and the reincarnation felt like a great fix.
Overall, it was a really cool story that kept me hooked and engrossed in the couple, which the author wrote aching yearning I felt!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read for: black cat/golden retriever energy, fate, witch x vampire, epic love story, he falls first, angst, yearning, ancient curses, soulmates, funny phones, reincarnation
4 stars
1.5 spice
September 23, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
Possible triggers: Assault, Attempted Murder, Attempted Suicide, Bullying, Death, Emotional Abuse, Gore, Murder, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, Violence
Overall star rating (out of 5⭐️): 3.75
Spice level (out of 5🌶️): 3.5 (open door with a few explicit scenes)
Reading Format: Single (female)
Narrator review: I really liked Yael Rizowy voice as a narrator for the ‘normal’ voices she did. But the ‘robot voice’ and the ‘Swedish accent’ voices were definitely not my favourite. I don’t mind the same kind of voice for the entire story, rather than a narrator trying to imitate an accent and just being not good at it. 3 out of 5
Listening level: easy effort
***Disclaimer: spoiler free (not like my usual reviews) - free advanced audiobook copy from NetGallery***
Content review: Marley has been reborn over and over as a witch with great power. But also with an arch enemy. Halsten stalks Markey in every life and for some kind of twisted reason is trying to kill her every time. But this time everything is different, because Marley found this cute town with lots of other supernatural creatures and new friends. They are trying to help by taking Halstens‘ memories and now Marley finally has a chance at a ‘normal’ witch life, or does she?
This was a cute and somehow cozy story. I like the idea of the reincarnation and how they found each other again and again. I did think Halsten’s character was very intriguing in the beginning but then with the memory spell it kind of took away the interest a bit. He was just kind of a little cute puppy. Not so much the Viking vampire. But the ending was great and I enjoyed the small town vibes too. 🥰
Tags: cozy, fantasy, happy ending, magic, paranormal, reincarnation, romantasy, small town setting, vampires, witches
Tropes: enemies to lovers, lost memory
Possible triggers: Assault, Attempted Murder, Attempted Suicide, Bullying, Death, Emotional Abuse, Gore, Murder, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, Violence
Overall star rating (out of 5⭐️): 3.75
Spice level (out of 5🌶️): 3.5 (open door with a few explicit scenes)
Reading Format: Single (female)
Narrator review: I really liked Yael Rizowy voice as a narrator for the ‘normal’ voices she did. But the ‘robot voice’ and the ‘Swedish accent’ voices were definitely not my favourite. I don’t mind the same kind of voice for the entire story, rather than a narrator trying to imitate an accent and just being not good at it. 3 out of 5
Listening level: easy effort
***Disclaimer: spoiler free (not like my usual reviews) - free advanced audiobook copy from NetGallery***
Content review: Marley has been reborn over and over as a witch with great power. But also with an arch enemy. Halsten stalks Markey in every life and for some kind of twisted reason is trying to kill her every time. But this time everything is different, because Marley found this cute town with lots of other supernatural creatures and new friends. They are trying to help by taking Halstens‘ memories and now Marley finally has a chance at a ‘normal’ witch life, or does she?
This was a cute and somehow cozy story. I like the idea of the reincarnation and how they found each other again and again. I did think Halsten’s character was very intriguing in the beginning but then with the memory spell it kind of took away the interest a bit. He was just kind of a little cute puppy. Not so much the Viking vampire. But the ending was great and I enjoyed the small town vibes too. 🥰
Tags: cozy, fantasy, happy ending, magic, paranormal, reincarnation, romantasy, small town setting, vampires, witches
Tropes: enemies to lovers, lost memory
September 24, 2026
𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:
A supernaturally fun fall read. I’ll be honest, this one started out a little rough for me. The whole “MMC wants to kill her” thing wasn’t really my vibe, but with a little help from her friends, the story quickly started to shift. I loved watching Marley slowly lower her walls and take a chance on something she had spent centuries running from. Once I hit the turning point, I really started enjoying the story and loved seeing where Marley’s journey took her.
Releasing October 27th 👀 Perfect timing for your next spooky-season read!
𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
Marley has spent centuries running from Halsten, the vampire who seems determined to find her in every lifetime. When she and her two witchy best friends come up with a spell to make him forget her, things go very wrong—and instead of simply forgetting Marley, Halsten loses his entire memory.
Suddenly, this centuries-old vampire has to navigate a world he no longer recognizes, from modern vampire shows to everyday life, while believing Marley is his beloved little witch rather than his enemy. As Halsten’s feelings for Marley begin to change, she has to decide whether she can trust the vampire she spent centuries running from—or take a chance on the man he has become.
𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
⚠️ Quote is a bit of a spoiler ⚠️
“Because I’ve loved you for a thousand years. And I’ll love you for a thousand more,” I tell him. “I was just waiting to remember that. I was waiting for you to wake me up—and you did.”
𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱:
• Vampire Viking x Reincarnated Witch
• Enemies to Lovers — he literally tries to kill her
• Spell Gone Wrong — she gives him amnesia
• Obsessed MMC
• Tight-Knit Supernatural Bestie Group
• Small Town — Hollow Brook
• Single POV w/ Spice
🌙🧛🏻♂️🧙🏻♀️🪄💙🍁🌙🧛🏻♂️ 🧙🏻♀️🪄💙🍁🌙
https://www.instagram.com/p/DdsZDCAGb...
A supernaturally fun fall read. I’ll be honest, this one started out a little rough for me. The whole “MMC wants to kill her” thing wasn’t really my vibe, but with a little help from her friends, the story quickly started to shift. I loved watching Marley slowly lower her walls and take a chance on something she had spent centuries running from. Once I hit the turning point, I really started enjoying the story and loved seeing where Marley’s journey took her.
Releasing October 27th 👀 Perfect timing for your next spooky-season read!
𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
Marley has spent centuries running from Halsten, the vampire who seems determined to find her in every lifetime. When she and her two witchy best friends come up with a spell to make him forget her, things go very wrong—and instead of simply forgetting Marley, Halsten loses his entire memory.
Suddenly, this centuries-old vampire has to navigate a world he no longer recognizes, from modern vampire shows to everyday life, while believing Marley is his beloved little witch rather than his enemy. As Halsten’s feelings for Marley begin to change, she has to decide whether she can trust the vampire she spent centuries running from—or take a chance on the man he has become.
𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:
⚠️ Quote is a bit of a spoiler ⚠️
“Because I’ve loved you for a thousand years. And I’ll love you for a thousand more,” I tell him. “I was just waiting to remember that. I was waiting for you to wake me up—and you did.”
𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱:
• Vampire Viking x Reincarnated Witch
• Enemies to Lovers — he literally tries to kill her
• Spell Gone Wrong — she gives him amnesia
• Obsessed MMC
• Tight-Knit Supernatural Bestie Group
• Small Town — Hollow Brook
• Single POV w/ Spice
🌙🧛🏻♂️🧙🏻♀️🪄💙🍁🌙🧛🏻♂️ 🧙🏻♀️🪄💙🍁🌙
https://www.instagram.com/p/DdsZDCAGb...
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