Alma Vampires

The Icarus University #1

by Elena Armas

An unsuspecting heiress with a target on her back must enlist the protection of a vampire whose wealth and secrets rival her own, in a brand new paranormal romance series from New York Times bestselling author Elena Armas.

Valle Cepeda's life changes drastically over the course of a winter break, when she goes from being an Ivy League scholarship student one day to inheriting a fortune from the mother she’s never met by the next. The fate of Alma, a coveted fashion empire, is now in Val's hands.

Hadrian Cruz presents himself as a calculating, self-serving player in the game of who takes over Alma, but that isn't his true aim. A blood debt that chains him to a hundred-year-old wound is finally being collected, and it involves Val. 

Furious at everyone who would try to manipulate her, Val returns to Icarus University, only to see her world has changed shape dramatically and Hadrian is now at the center of it. She doesn’t trust him, but there are things only Hadrian can protection, and the way to satiate a longing she craves more than fears.

Plagued by nightmares, can Val decipher the secrets of her legacy? And can she accept that what she feels for Hadrian runs deeper than attraction? Answers always come at a cost, and these could shatter her heart… Or bind her soul to the monster she desires the most.

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

496 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 17, 2026

About the author

Elena is a Spanish writer, a self confessed hopeless romantic and a proud book hoarder. Now, she's also the author of International bestseller and soon to be adapted to film The Spanish Love Deception; and instant New York Times bestsellers The American Roommate Experiment and The Long Game. Her books are being translated to over 30 languages–which is bananas, if you ask her.

She hopes her stories make your heart skip a beat or two, your palms a little sweaty, and your cheeks flush in that rosy pink that makes other people want to peek at the page you are reading.

Reviews

[Salma · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to read this again and again and again and again

[Noi (in & out)]

I'm just looking, respectfully

[alana ☁️]

Elena, time to prove TSLD wasn’t a fluke 😭

[maddy ❤️‍🔥🗡️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley / Berkley for an honest review. Full review to come during release week!

[Taylor ౨ৎ (ia for the summer)]

this cover is screaming, READ ME READ ME I PROMISE TO EXCEED YOUR HIGHEST EXPECTATIONS AND HAUNT YOUR WAKING DAYS AND DREAMS

*instantly adds to tbr without checking to see what it's about until it's actually in my hands...

[Kristina Nichole]

Saw this on IG today.....

SOOOOO EXCITED

[Carla]

I've only read the first chapter of this masterpiece. My thoughts:

Yes. Stone cold sober. And raw.

Next question.

[catherinereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️⭐️

A literal masterpiece with the perfect blend of tension, yearning, secrets, spice, and paranormal goodness🥀✨

Alma Vampires is my new favorite Elena book and I cannot believe I’m saying this, but I think Hadrian has dethroned the one and only Aaron Blackford for me😭 No one writes yearning men like Elena, but Hadrian was on a whole other level😩😩😩 this man gave the term “down bad” a whole new meaning like this vampire was OBSESSED🥵 I was genuinely kicking my feet and giggling every time this man opened his mouth, like it’s truly that serious, I NEED HIM BAD😩 the chemistry and banter was GOD TIERRRR🥵 And don’t even get me started on Valle, I am actually obsessed with her. Even though I have not experienced exactly what she has, Elena made her so easy to relate to and I saw pieces of myself in her. I just wanted to hug her constantly and I loved seeing her grow into this strong, unapologetic version of herself as the story goes on🥹 And Hadrian and Valle together? ✨soulmates✨ Genuinely there’s no other word for the way these two love each other, they made me feel every single emotions and I just love them so much😭

Now for the plot, because my god I was so invested and it was just so well done! It complemented the romance so well without one overshadowing the other, and my jaw is still on the FLOOR from some of the twists. And the way Elena set the scene and the places she takes us to were just so fun, I truly felt like I was discovering all of the secrets with them. It’s gothic and mysterious and just the perfect spooky season read🤭

And I would be failing you if I didn’t share that I genuinely think this is Elena’s best spice yet🥵 I will be thinking about some of the things this man said and did on my deathbed, like “altered my brain chemistry” doesn’t even come close to what this man did to me😩 I had to go touch grass after some of these scenes I was so unwell. All I’ll say is Hadrian is the best of both worlds because he loves to beg but he also loves to command🙂‍↕️ and I’ll never look at art galleries the same again🤤

If you couldn’t tell, this book exceeded every single one of my insanely high expectations and as soon as I finished it, I wanted to go straight back to page one because ✨IT WAS THAT GOOD✨ I fell in love with these characters from the minute we met them and they just kept getting better and better the more I read🥹 i genuinely could not have asked for anything more, THIS IS WHAT MY ROMANCE BOOK DREAMS ARE MADE OF😭

Thank you Elena and Berkley Romance for allowing me to read an early copy! I can’t wait till this book is in everyone’s hands 🤭🥀🤍✨

[Lid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alma Vampires es la primera novela paranormal de la autora y, si no la has leído, te aviso que esto no es un romance universitario paranormal al uso. A Elena le gusta empezar más pausado y crearte el yearning más desesperadamente delicioso.

La historia empieza con bastante fuerza, aunque tardan bastante en meterse en el terreno paranormal (quitando los capítulos esporádicos de Hadrian, no se reconoce el mundo hasta más de medio libro).

Me gustó mucho la presentación de ambos personajes. Valle es una chica introvertida y solitaria, mientras que Hadrian se presenta como un vampiro bad boy que acaba siendo el más obsesionado 🛐✨

Su relación es lenta, pero cuando se juntan la sentí rápida. Si bien me gusta la idea de los personajes, ese yearning y todo el feeling de almas gemelas que consigue, siento que los presentan poquito. Su pasado se menciona de pasada y eso ha hecho que se me quedaran algo planos.

Valle tiene dos relaciones previas al libro que son más bien sequillas. Roy tiene poco protagonismo y de Kiki te dicen que se llevan mal, pero no se ve. Solo se ve cómo después se forma una amistad extraña, que he de decir que me ha gustado mucho.

Pasa algo similar con Hadrian y Baz. Tenemos realmente cinco personajes en todo el libro y me hubiera gustado saber más de ellos y su pasado, vivirlo, no solo el presente.

En general, el libro tiene unas vibes muy Crepúsculo, pero REAL. Tiene ese mismo sentimiento, intensidad y color

La parte paranormal no sabría describirla. Por una parte es como soft-Crepusculera y, por otra, siento que me ha desubicado un poco. Me ha faltado saber sobre las normas de este mundo y un poco más de sorpresa, pues la reacción de Valle al descubrir que Hadrian es un vampiro es como de una joven madura a la que le tratan un tema adulto.

A su vez, las normas de los vampiros, lo que es el mate aquí, los lobos... siento que el elemento paranormal se ha usado más de ambientación ligera. Eso sí, el final es un no parar, vaya subidón.

Alma Vampires es una historia que siento que no cogí en el momento adecuado (verano y saturación) y creo que eso ha hecho que me costara un poco más. Sin embargo, considero que es una historia perfecta para los fans de Crepúsculo de su época que ahora busquen un estilo un poco más maduro pero con ese yearning bueno.
¡Ah! Y bueno, el segundo tiene pintaza. Me encantaron esos personajes (más que estos) y tiene mi paranormal favorito ✨🌚

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reignited my love for vampire romances! When I say I was obsessed with Hadrian and Valle, I mean I started this book and finished it within 24hrs. My soul was consumed by them.

“Vampires don’t bow to anyone.”
“Except for you, Valle. I’ve been bowing to you since I first saw you.”

The mystery was really refreshing and I loved how everything played out. I was left guessing and puzzling out the clues right along with the leads.

“You hold all the power, Valle.” His voice lowers to a soft murmur. “You always did.”

Hadrian was an absolute blood - sucking - dreamboat! This man LONGED for her even before he could comprehend the word ‘love’. I couldn’t have loved this man more. I mean, he literally checks both the ‘hot professor’ box AND the “he drives a motorcycle’ box! ❤️‍🔥🤭

“She doesn’t just feel like the sun when I can feel her warmth and life coursing through me. When I have her coursing through me, burning me from the inside. She feels like my reckoning and my saving grace all at once.”

Valle was a great FMC, she is so used to living off of crumbs of happiness. She grew up in foster care until a kind family took her in, but even that was over too soon. My heart broke for her and I was rooting for her to finally find her ‘home’.

“Unleash a monster,” Hadrian says in a strange whisper. “And get yourself chased.”

This was a SLOW burn but it felt perfect for Hadrian and Val’s story. (When the spice did enter the scene, it was BOILING IN PASSION!) 🥵🔥

“You got something wrong. I don’t just need you. You are my sun. You’re at the center of my godforsaken universe. You want to save me? Burn me instead, Valle. Burn me until I drop from the sky. Until there’s nothing left of me.“

I am so curious about this world Elena has created and I can’t wait to get more in the next book! (I’m not going to spoil who it’s about, but you’ll find out at the end of this one!) 🫶🏼💖

If you are ready to enter your vampire phase again, you have to read Alma Vampires!

Tropes:
📚 College Romance
❤️‍🔥 Longing, Yearning, & Pining
✨ Vampires, Shifters & Magic
💰 Billionaires
👀 Secrets & Lies
🩸 Blood Debt
🐺 Monster On The Loose

[Melissa (bookishmelissa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’m calling it right now; this book is for the girlies who had to get their hands on every single paranormal vampire romance they could in the 2010s be it books, tv shows, or movies. The nostalgia I felt while reading this book! It seems 2026 is the year for a paranormal romance resurgence because I swear I’m seeing them published left and right and I am here for it.

Alma Vampires not only has the most beautiful, slow burn, yearning filled, and angsty romance with a mysterious possibly morally grey stranger who isn’t exactly human, but it also has everything an incredible paranormal romance needs beyond that which is many dangerous secrets, magic galore, and a prophecy and family history that need unraveling. It is definitely a roller coaster of a ride.

However, this one is also a slow burn plot wise at the beginning and my only point of contention is that while not a lot was happening at first when something did happen it was confusing. If I’m being honest, it felt messy before it finally all started coming together. Did this deter me though? No it didn’t. I adore Elena’s characters and I was invested. Plus, when the plot really got going it was so good!

Also, I just really loved Valle and Hadrian. I’ll think about them forever. I need novellas!

I won’t say much else since this review is really early, but just know if you enjoy paranormal romances you’ll love this. I for one will be waiting with bated breath for the second book.

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vampire who yearns and is bound to protect the woman who just found out she's the heiress to a fashion empire????? SOLD. GIVE IT TO ME. WHERE DO I SIGN MY SOUL AWAY?

Thank you, Berkley, for providing the e-arc on Edelweiss for booksellers. Alma Vampires releases on November 17th!!!!!!

Elena has been one of my auto-read/buy authors since I first read The Spanish Love Deception back in 2022. Her writing is one I don't think I can ever get over. Alma Vampires is Elena's first book in a non-Contemporary setting. It is a Dark Academia Paranormal Vampire Romance that had me hooked from the moment she announced her deal with Berkley.

In all of Elena's work she includes angst, yearning, and so much tension that one struggles to think of anything but the characters. I have never cried and felt so DEEPLY the way I have with Hadrian and Valle's love. Their continuous devotion to one another is one I will cherish forever.

I am so sad that I can't say much more so I avoid spoiling anything until at least closer to release date!

But I leave you with the knowledge that I ended up with 404 highlights in a 384-page book. And I left a changed woman after meeting Hadrian-obsessed with Valle, kneels for her, begs for her, wears rings, has an earring, constantly says the most nauseating obsessive things-Cruz, the new love of my life!

Full review to come closer to release date on November 17th! <3

[Natalie Intihar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alma Vampires, Elena Armas’s latest book, had everything I could ever want in a romance and fantasy book and then more! The dynamic between Valle and Hadrian is incredible and powerful and electric all at once. I adored the character of Valle and her own journey through discovering her familial identity as well as her current status in the world, and the absolute crush I immediately developed on Hadrian was the perfect addition.

From the moment this book begins, I was hooked on the story as well as the romantic arc between Valle and Hadrian. Alma Vampires combines the romance and the fantasy aspects of this book perfectly to create incredible tension and suspense on both levels. I’m completely obsessed with the characters and this world and and I consider myself unbelievably lucky to have read and enjoyed this book early!!!

The way that Elena Armas reveals details about Valle’s history and the word of Alma Vampires at large is brilliantly done. The twists and turns throughout this book had me completely invested and unable to put it down. I need more of Valle and Hadrian and their friends and enemies alike ASAP!!!!!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Tabitha Beach]

Elena… girrlllllll!! What is this magic you created?! I am absolutely in love with this story and already want to read it all over again. I LOOOOVED it. 😭

I was excited the moment Elena announced she was writing this because I’m obsessed with everything she writes(auto-buy author). But a paranormal romance?! I was SAT. I’ve been foaming at the mouth waiting to get my hands on this, and it literally exceeded every expectation I had.

I absolutely adored every aspect of this book. It was the perfect blend of paranormal romance and everything I already love about Elena’s writing. I loved the characters, the world, the history, the romance… all of it. I seriously cannot wait for more.

There was so much yearning. So much tension. And I just need everyone to know that I am absolutely obsessed with Hadrian’s slutty little earring. It deserved its own fan club. That’s really all I have to say. 😂

[Lorena]

this cover >>>>>>>>>>>>> GAG

[Ashley Holle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ummmm….WOW!!! Full review coming but you DO NOT Want to miss this book!!!

[tanvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 🌟 (rounded up)

RTC

[colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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