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My Darling Malady #1
Chateau Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst
A full-length Gothic Paranormal Romance sequel to the pilot novella, BEECHAM'S INFIRMARY FOR THE AFFLUENT AFFLICTED.
For fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic, S.T. Gibson's A Dowry of Blood, Yangsze Choo's The Night Tiger, and Penny Dreadful.
After a storm-ravaged voyage aboard the Hesper and a sleepless train ride into Paris, Jacques brings Annie and her grandmother to safety. He’s determined to prove his intentions remain honorable, even as his first days as a new vampire threaten to make a liar of him. But the hôtel particulier of his youth hides not the stain of opulence upon its walls, nor the hunger coiling beneath his skin.
As Annie makes the acquaintance of the ghosts of Jacques’s past, the Theatre across the street stirs quietly to life. When Amah’s curiosity draws them into its velvet-draped corridors, they discover Jacques isn’t the only one keeping secrets—and that the evil they’d left in London has no intention of staying behind. With the Comtesse’s autumn assembly fast approaching and esteemed expectations tightening around them, they embark for the secluded forest estate, where Jacques realizes he can no longer outrun the curse woven into his blood, or the burgeoning feelings for his quick-witted captive.
Navigating halls lined with watching portraits and the quivering quill of a notary who seems to record more than inheritance, Annie must decide where her trust belongs—and whether she dares claim a future that threatens to unmake everything she’s ever known.
For fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic, S.T. Gibson's A Dowry of Blood, Yangsze Choo's The Night Tiger, and Penny Dreadful.
After a storm-ravaged voyage aboard the Hesper and a sleepless train ride into Paris, Jacques brings Annie and her grandmother to safety. He’s determined to prove his intentions remain honorable, even as his first days as a new vampire threaten to make a liar of him. But the hôtel particulier of his youth hides not the stain of opulence upon its walls, nor the hunger coiling beneath his skin.
As Annie makes the acquaintance of the ghosts of Jacques’s past, the Theatre across the street stirs quietly to life. When Amah’s curiosity draws them into its velvet-draped corridors, they discover Jacques isn’t the only one keeping secrets—and that the evil they’d left in London has no intention of staying behind. With the Comtesse’s autumn assembly fast approaching and esteemed expectations tightening around them, they embark for the secluded forest estate, where Jacques realizes he can no longer outrun the curse woven into his blood, or the burgeoning feelings for his quick-witted captive.
Navigating halls lined with watching portraits and the quivering quill of a notary who seems to record more than inheritance, Annie must decide where her trust belongs—and whether she dares claim a future that threatens to unmake everything she’s ever known.
492 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Briar Somerset
9 books85 followersBriar Somerset writes stories for the erudite and uncanny. She is known for her audio- forward Vampire Romance-Gothic Mystery series, My Darling Malady, which traces a bloodthirsty private investigator and the seamstress he’s roped into his pursuits through the spectral margins of Victorian society—and her debut, the SOVAS award-nominated Dark Renaissance Fantasy series, A Lay of Ruinous Reign, set in 16th-century Bretagne.
When not drafting, she can be found at the oceanographic institute, a local museum, or with her nose in a book on floriography or vampires, non-ironically plotting ways to incorporate both into her next tale.
Born and raised in Hawai’i and a member of the Medieval Academy of America, Horror Writers Association, and Medievalists of Color, Somerset holds an ardent admiration for storytelling and all who pursue it, curating tales that examine identity and dread through a Southeast Asian diasporic lens.
When not drafting, she can be found at the oceanographic institute, a local museum, or with her nose in a book on floriography or vampires, non-ironically plotting ways to incorporate both into her next tale.
Born and raised in Hawai’i and a member of the Medieval Academy of America, Horror Writers Association, and Medievalists of Color, Somerset holds an ardent admiration for storytelling and all who pursue it, curating tales that examine identity and dread through a Southeast Asian diasporic lens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
July 17, 2026
I loved every single second of this book! The relationship progression, and the side characters absolutely steal the show. Amah and Charlie have my whole heart, and Mui Mui the attack hen 🖤 her.
That being said, Annabelle and Jacques remain my favourites. Annabelle and her stabbing tendencies keeping Jacques on his toes, and Jacques—with his Milo Thatch-coded look and yearning—completely melted me. It's a perfect read. Seriously, no notes!
That being said, Annabelle and Jacques remain my favourites. Annabelle and her stabbing tendencies keeping Jacques on his toes, and Jacques—with his Milo Thatch-coded look and yearning—completely melted me. It's a perfect read. Seriously, no notes!
September 15, 2026
Thank you, IRIS Influencer Society and the author for sending me a free copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst is book 1 in the My Darling Malady series and it is filled with dark secrets, mystery, and cursed bloodlines. I started with Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted and it set up the amazing series with the eerie gothic atmosphere and immersive setting. I love both books and was drawn in instantly. I loved experiencing the growth of the characters and the relationship between Jacques and Annie. With Jacques transformation will they learn to love each other, or will it push them farther apart? Such a great a story and it is written so beautifully. Even the side characters were amazing. There are so many twists and turns and it was really entertaining. I was not expecting the ending. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the roller-coaster ride it takes you on and I’m excited to see where the story takes us next.
If you love Victorian gothic paranormal romance, marriage of inconvenience, forced proximity, captive x captor, strangers to spouses, dark family secrets, atmospheric gothic setting, mystery, haunted estate, and cursed bloodlines then I recommend checking out this series.
Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst is book 1 in the My Darling Malady series and it is filled with dark secrets, mystery, and cursed bloodlines. I started with Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted and it set up the amazing series with the eerie gothic atmosphere and immersive setting. I love both books and was drawn in instantly. I loved experiencing the growth of the characters and the relationship between Jacques and Annie. With Jacques transformation will they learn to love each other, or will it push them farther apart? Such a great a story and it is written so beautifully. Even the side characters were amazing. There are so many twists and turns and it was really entertaining. I was not expecting the ending. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the roller-coaster ride it takes you on and I’m excited to see where the story takes us next.
If you love Victorian gothic paranormal romance, marriage of inconvenience, forced proximity, captive x captor, strangers to spouses, dark family secrets, atmospheric gothic setting, mystery, haunted estate, and cursed bloodlines then I recommend checking out this series.
September 6, 2026
Oh to have a wealthy, newly turned vampire pathetically yearn for you and do anything to ensure your comfort and happiness.
“She does belong; if not in London, then here. If not anywhere, then with me—for wherever the winds guide her, I will follow. Hapless ghoul, I am”
Book 2 of the My Darling Malady series made me laugh, giggle, feel frustrated, and cry a bit 🤣😭 You know it’s good when I get into my feelings. At first, I expected crazy Doctor Beecham to be the main concern after the events of book 1. But I soon realized, and later appreciated, that this book focuses on Annie and Jacques developing their relationship and his transformation. Like him, as he realizes the implications of what he has done on behalf of Annie and Amah Joy, I’ve also realized that it’s important to clarify and establish their relationship before moving on with the rest of the series. I love that the book also talks about Annie’s experience as a diaspora and her fear of believing in a happy and comfortable life with a man.
“Belonging exists on several layers when you’re a granddaughter off a foreign shore”
“You can live somewhere for years and feel like you’re only borrowing it for a time. As if you want it to want you with open arms, only to realise it’s waiting for you to leave or wouldn’t miss you if you did”
“All my life, I’ve watched women build their entire lives around the tides of a man’s work, only to be left stranded when it retreats”
He and Annie are both unhinged in their own ways and reading their journey was fun, frustrating, and so rewarding. I wanted to smack their heads together sometimes! The spice was also juicy, loved it! 🤣 I like the new things introduced to vampirism like 🪢
Anyway, Amah is the best. I would read a novella about her life and the creatures that find their way into her shop. She’s a badass, full of wisdom, and is so nonchalant about it.
“She does belong; if not in London, then here. If not anywhere, then with me—for wherever the winds guide her, I will follow. Hapless ghoul, I am”
Book 2 of the My Darling Malady series made me laugh, giggle, feel frustrated, and cry a bit 🤣😭 You know it’s good when I get into my feelings. At first, I expected crazy Doctor Beecham to be the main concern after the events of book 1. But I soon realized, and later appreciated, that this book focuses on Annie and Jacques developing their relationship and his transformation. Like him, as he realizes the implications of what he has done on behalf of Annie and Amah Joy, I’ve also realized that it’s important to clarify and establish their relationship before moving on with the rest of the series. I love that the book also talks about Annie’s experience as a diaspora and her fear of believing in a happy and comfortable life with a man.
“Belonging exists on several layers when you’re a granddaughter off a foreign shore”
“You can live somewhere for years and feel like you’re only borrowing it for a time. As if you want it to want you with open arms, only to realise it’s waiting for you to leave or wouldn’t miss you if you did”
“All my life, I’ve watched women build their entire lives around the tides of a man’s work, only to be left stranded when it retreats”
He and Annie are both unhinged in their own ways and reading their journey was fun, frustrating, and so rewarding. I wanted to smack their heads together sometimes! The spice was also juicy, loved it! 🤣 I like the new things introduced to vampirism like 🪢
Anyway, Amah is the best. I would read a novella about her life and the creatures that find their way into her shop. She’s a badass, full of wisdom, and is so nonchalant about it.
September 25, 2026
“Jacques is everything I fear wanting. Our upbringings could not be more different, not in class, gender, wealth, nor race, yet it’s his company I’ve come to need like air. Even worse, like rest.”
5/5 ⭐ ️ Brimming with yearning and desire, Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst is a gothic, vampire story that is seductive, enthralling, romantic but also provocative and dare I say, cerebral. Centering on the push and pull tension between a newly turned vampire and the Filipino-Chinese seamstress that he “kidnaps” in order to save her from the clutches of the evil Beecham, Jacques Valmont and Annie Castro-Tan’s relationship is defined by contrasts, resistance, and otherness. Yes, there is romance. Definitely, there is spice. But also, there is an embedded critique on social and economic hierarchy as well as a postcolonial examination on the treatment of the cultural Other. Jacques is born of nobility, a position that he resists the same way that his father did before him. A revolutionary, Jacques believes in the power of the people and that wealth should not be hoarded. Annie, on the other hand, is hyper aware of her position as a perpetual foreigner anywhere and everywhere, not quite belonging no matter the space and time. How both navigate their differences and embrace their thirst for each other signals the transformation and becoming of their relationship, especially when Jacques will do anything for Annie but Annie is no damsel in distress. If you like a morally gray but green flag MMC and a highly capable FMC that’s full of surprises, then you will like Jacques and Annie. If you like a spicy, gothic romance with a nerdy but seductive vampire, then Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst will be to your liking. But be aware, that this narrative is not just a gothic vampire story. Much like classic gothic tales, this novel takes the grotesque and makes it a site of transformation, of becoming, and of possibility. And how apropos that by the novel’s end, Annie is left in a state of undefined becoming in true Bakhtinian fashion. Absolutely one of my favorite vampire stories!
5/5 ⭐ ️ Brimming with yearning and desire, Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst is a gothic, vampire story that is seductive, enthralling, romantic but also provocative and dare I say, cerebral. Centering on the push and pull tension between a newly turned vampire and the Filipino-Chinese seamstress that he “kidnaps” in order to save her from the clutches of the evil Beecham, Jacques Valmont and Annie Castro-Tan’s relationship is defined by contrasts, resistance, and otherness. Yes, there is romance. Definitely, there is spice. But also, there is an embedded critique on social and economic hierarchy as well as a postcolonial examination on the treatment of the cultural Other. Jacques is born of nobility, a position that he resists the same way that his father did before him. A revolutionary, Jacques believes in the power of the people and that wealth should not be hoarded. Annie, on the other hand, is hyper aware of her position as a perpetual foreigner anywhere and everywhere, not quite belonging no matter the space and time. How both navigate their differences and embrace their thirst for each other signals the transformation and becoming of their relationship, especially when Jacques will do anything for Annie but Annie is no damsel in distress. If you like a morally gray but green flag MMC and a highly capable FMC that’s full of surprises, then you will like Jacques and Annie. If you like a spicy, gothic romance with a nerdy but seductive vampire, then Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst will be to your liking. But be aware, that this narrative is not just a gothic vampire story. Much like classic gothic tales, this novel takes the grotesque and makes it a site of transformation, of becoming, and of possibility. And how apropos that by the novel’s end, Annie is left in a state of undefined becoming in true Bakhtinian fashion. Absolutely one of my favorite vampire stories!
September 17, 2026
Imagine, if you will, your grandma wing-manning your kidnapping by a hot private investigator who was your one night stand before you helped him catch consumption to investigate a doctor and this one night stand suddenly is like drinking blood, ripping out throats, proposing and confessing his undying love to you while smuggling you out of the country all the while your grandma is SHOCKINGLY chill about all of it.
If you can imagine that, then you can imagine Annie Castro-Tan’s life in this.
She’s “stuck” with Jacques Valmont, like the absolute king of yearning. Their relationship is super spicy, and incredibly confusing in a very “it’s complicated” way.
Anyway, I love this series. I love Amah.
Thank you to NetGalley, Vellichor & Vein Press, and Briar Somerset for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
If you can imagine that, then you can imagine Annie Castro-Tan’s life in this.
She’s “stuck” with Jacques Valmont, like the absolute king of yearning. Their relationship is super spicy, and incredibly confusing in a very “it’s complicated” way.
Anyway, I love this series. I love Amah.
Thank you to NetGalley, Vellichor & Vein Press, and Briar Somerset for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2026
2.5⭐
Thank you Netgalley and vellichor and vein press for the arc.
As said before I really struggled with this book. I'm not sure how the first novel was so easy to read and this one didn't. I felt like I forgot a lot about the previous book when starting this one. Apart from that, the first novel focused more on the detective part which I really liked. This one is really relationship focused. The story felt like a constant push and pull between the MC's. There was little of the original mystery around Beckham left.
The author does give in-depth descriptions and a lot of character background. The storyline just didn't meet my expectations.
Thank you Netgalley and vellichor and vein press for the arc.
As said before I really struggled with this book. I'm not sure how the first novel was so easy to read and this one didn't. I felt like I forgot a lot about the previous book when starting this one. Apart from that, the first novel focused more on the detective part which I really liked. This one is really relationship focused. The story felt like a constant push and pull between the MC's. There was little of the original mystery around Beckham left.
The author does give in-depth descriptions and a lot of character background. The storyline just didn't meet my expectations.
August 22, 2026
Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst by Briar Somerset is a beautifully atmospheric read with a gothic feel that immediately pulled me in. The setting has an eerie, decadent quality that adds so much to the story, and I really enjoyed the sense of mystery surrounding the inheritance and Château Valmont itself.
The characters and relationships kept me invested, while the darker elements and underlying tension gave the story an intriguing edge. I especially appreciated the way the atmosphere and secrets unfolded gradually, creating a sense of anticipation as I read.
Overall, this was an engaging and memorable gothic read with an evocative setting, intriguing mysteries, and plenty of atmosphere. A solid four-star read that I’d recommend to readers who enjoy dark, mysterious stories with a touch of gothic decadence.
Thank you so much to Briar Somerset, Vellichor & Vein Press for the opportunity to receive this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The characters and relationships kept me invested, while the darker elements and underlying tension gave the story an intriguing edge. I especially appreciated the way the atmosphere and secrets unfolded gradually, creating a sense of anticipation as I read.
Overall, this was an engaging and memorable gothic read with an evocative setting, intriguing mysteries, and plenty of atmosphere. A solid four-star read that I’d recommend to readers who enjoy dark, mysterious stories with a touch of gothic decadence.
Thank you so much to Briar Somerset, Vellichor & Vein Press for the opportunity to receive this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 17, 2026
I was blessed to get both the ARC and ALC of this from IRIS. And I am in love. I feel like I got the best of both worlds. Reading and listening. What a joy. I was so immersed in this. So beautifully written. So perfectly narrated. Omgosh, this was just everything. I’m so thankful for IRIS and the author. I’ve enjoyed every read. This was no exception. The narrators brought this to life in the most awesome way. This is one of my favorite books and audio of this year.
September 15, 2026
Brilliant. And I am fairly certain there will be more books so I'm sitting here patiently until they are released. The wait will be worth it, I'm sure.
Full Review to come.
Full Review to come.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Did you ever wish Hercule Poirot was a vampire? And HOT?
(I know Jacques isn't Belgian, but let me have this giggle.)
Because apparently what I needed in my life was a morally questionable vampire detective, aristocratic family drama, dark secrets and a casual heart-chomping moment. And honestly? I’m not mad about it.
⭐5/5
🌶️4/5 – Annie’s back with her shears
Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst is the second instalment in the My Darling Malady series, and it is every bit as beautifully Gothic, macabre, mysterious and atmospheric as I'd hoped. Briar Somerset has written a love letter to Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Victor Hugo with a delicious paranormal twist. And I’m so here for it.
First things first: Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted is required reading. Book two begins immediately after the novella, following Jacques, Annie and Amah as they flee Victorian London for France after the shocking events at Beecham's Infirmary. I absolutely adored the novella (I rated it 5 ⭐’s), so consider this your excuse to go and read it before September. What are you waiting for?
Jacques is now a reluctant vampire, struggling with his new reality and the fear that he will become the monster he believes himself to be. His transformation is a genuine internal conflict rather than simply a way to create a mysterious and attractive MMC (although it definitely succeeds there too). We explore Jacques’ childhood home, his heritage and why he and his father rejected the expectations of aristocracy.
Set during France's Second Republic, the novel doesn't simply use history as decoration. Colonialism, class inequality and the realities faced by migrants become meaningful parts of the story, making the world feel richer and more authentic. Annie and Jacques come from very different backgrounds, and watching those perspectives collide and evolve made the setting feel incredibly immersive. I genuinely feel like I learned so much while reading this book.
Unlike most dual-POV romances, the story spends much more time in Jacques' perspective than Annie's. Whilst initially jarring, I quickly grew to love the choice. It allows us to experience Jacques' struggle with his new vampiric nature, his grief and his obsession with Annie in a way that feels incredibly intimate.
Speaking of Jacques... what a character. A private investigator, estranged French aristocrat and newly made vampire who is so hopelessly, spectacularly down bad for Annie. I have an embarrassing number of highlighted passages waiting for publication day, when I can finally share my favourite quotes knowing the text is final.
Annie Castro-Tan is a fantastic FMC. She is strong, independent and absolutely takes no shit. Watching Annie realise she can love someone while still remaining completely and unapologetically herself was a beautiful part of her character arc. I would have loved a little more time inside Annie’s head, especially as the story is primarily told from Jacques’ perspective, but his POV is so compelling that it never became a major issue. Annie sees Jacques as different rather than something to fear, while still acknowledging the danger of what he has become.
Their relationship begins from such a complicated place. Jacques maybe-sort-of-definitely kidnapped Annie in the first book, and I appreciated that the impact of this was acknowledged rather than brushed aside. Annie’s trust had to be rebuilt, Jacques took accountability, and their relationship developed naturally from there.
I appreciated that the slower pace of this book gave their romance room to develop. The novella had to prioritise its mystery, so while the initial chemistry was always there, this sequel allows the emotional connection and romantic tension to flourish alongside the Gothic horror. Their romance feels wonderfully balanced; despite Jacques’ ties to nobility and his social position, Annie is his equal. She makes her own choices, challenges him and even rescues him when he needs it.
The spicy scenes were a fantastic addition and felt like a natural continuation of their relationship. Annie still has her dressmaking shears, I have nothing else to say on the matter.
And then there's Amah.
THE ICON.
She provides emotional support, wisdom, challenges Jacques when he needs it and has some of the funniest moments in the book. Between stealing fancy teacups, attending questionable establishments and casually handling a firearm, I wish she was real so I could adopt her as my grandmother.
The reveals were shocking and satisfying without feeling impossible, although there are still plenty of questions that I desperately need answers to. I’d do just about anything to get my grubby little paws on the next book right now.
Tropes
Gothic paranormal romance
Historical fiction
Supernatural mystery
Private investigator MMC
Reluctant vampire
Independent FMC
Forced proximity
Diverse romance
30+ year-old protagonists
Slow-burn romance
Found family
Knotting?!?
Content Warnings
Graphic violence
Blood and gore
Body horror
Murder
Medical experimentation
Emetophobia
Death and grief
Emotional abuse
Consensual and non-consensual bloodletting between romantic partners
Discussions of infertility and pregnancy
Discrimination
I will absolutely be recommending this book to my friends and family. If you can stomach the content warnings, save the date and pick up Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst on 15 September 2026.
Thank you to Vellichor & Vein Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
(I know Jacques isn't Belgian, but let me have this giggle.)
Because apparently what I needed in my life was a morally questionable vampire detective, aristocratic family drama, dark secrets and a casual heart-chomping moment. And honestly? I’m not mad about it.
⭐5/5
🌶️4/5 – Annie’s back with her shears
Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst is the second instalment in the My Darling Malady series, and it is every bit as beautifully Gothic, macabre, mysterious and atmospheric as I'd hoped. Briar Somerset has written a love letter to Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Victor Hugo with a delicious paranormal twist. And I’m so here for it.
First things first: Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted is required reading. Book two begins immediately after the novella, following Jacques, Annie and Amah as they flee Victorian London for France after the shocking events at Beecham's Infirmary. I absolutely adored the novella (I rated it 5 ⭐’s), so consider this your excuse to go and read it before September. What are you waiting for?
Jacques is now a reluctant vampire, struggling with his new reality and the fear that he will become the monster he believes himself to be. His transformation is a genuine internal conflict rather than simply a way to create a mysterious and attractive MMC (although it definitely succeeds there too). We explore Jacques’ childhood home, his heritage and why he and his father rejected the expectations of aristocracy.
Set during France's Second Republic, the novel doesn't simply use history as decoration. Colonialism, class inequality and the realities faced by migrants become meaningful parts of the story, making the world feel richer and more authentic. Annie and Jacques come from very different backgrounds, and watching those perspectives collide and evolve made the setting feel incredibly immersive. I genuinely feel like I learned so much while reading this book.
Unlike most dual-POV romances, the story spends much more time in Jacques' perspective than Annie's. Whilst initially jarring, I quickly grew to love the choice. It allows us to experience Jacques' struggle with his new vampiric nature, his grief and his obsession with Annie in a way that feels incredibly intimate.
Speaking of Jacques... what a character. A private investigator, estranged French aristocrat and newly made vampire who is so hopelessly, spectacularly down bad for Annie. I have an embarrassing number of highlighted passages waiting for publication day, when I can finally share my favourite quotes knowing the text is final.
Annie Castro-Tan is a fantastic FMC. She is strong, independent and absolutely takes no shit. Watching Annie realise she can love someone while still remaining completely and unapologetically herself was a beautiful part of her character arc. I would have loved a little more time inside Annie’s head, especially as the story is primarily told from Jacques’ perspective, but his POV is so compelling that it never became a major issue. Annie sees Jacques as different rather than something to fear, while still acknowledging the danger of what he has become.
Their relationship begins from such a complicated place. Jacques maybe-sort-of-definitely kidnapped Annie in the first book, and I appreciated that the impact of this was acknowledged rather than brushed aside. Annie’s trust had to be rebuilt, Jacques took accountability, and their relationship developed naturally from there.
I appreciated that the slower pace of this book gave their romance room to develop. The novella had to prioritise its mystery, so while the initial chemistry was always there, this sequel allows the emotional connection and romantic tension to flourish alongside the Gothic horror. Their romance feels wonderfully balanced; despite Jacques’ ties to nobility and his social position, Annie is his equal. She makes her own choices, challenges him and even rescues him when he needs it.
The spicy scenes were a fantastic addition and felt like a natural continuation of their relationship. Annie still has her dressmaking shears, I have nothing else to say on the matter.
And then there's Amah.
THE ICON.
She provides emotional support, wisdom, challenges Jacques when he needs it and has some of the funniest moments in the book. Between stealing fancy teacups, attending questionable establishments and casually handling a firearm, I wish she was real so I could adopt her as my grandmother.
The reveals were shocking and satisfying without feeling impossible, although there are still plenty of questions that I desperately need answers to. I’d do just about anything to get my grubby little paws on the next book right now.
Tropes
Gothic paranormal romance
Historical fiction
Supernatural mystery
Private investigator MMC
Reluctant vampire
Independent FMC
Forced proximity
Diverse romance
30+ year-old protagonists
Slow-burn romance
Found family
Knotting?!?
Content Warnings
Graphic violence
Blood and gore
Body horror
Murder
Medical experimentation
Emetophobia
Death and grief
Emotional abuse
Consensual and non-consensual bloodletting between romantic partners
Discussions of infertility and pregnancy
Discrimination
I will absolutely be recommending this book to my friends and family. If you can stomach the content warnings, save the date and pick up Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst on 15 September 2026.
Thank you to Vellichor & Vein Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Chateau Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst, the full length novel following Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted is a dark, gothic, paranormal romance set in 1849 Paris.
This novel picked up where the novella left off. We find Annie, Jacques, and Amah en route to Paris to escape Beecham. Jacques is still coming to terms with his transformation and trying to understand what it means. Annie is furious at being transported against her will.
I really enjoyed Jacques' journey in this book. Torn between remaining tethered to his old life and embracing his new reality, his internal struggle was palpable. I really enjoyed the "touch her and die" protectiveness he feels for Annie. His blossoming friendship with Amah was my favorite relationship in the book.
Annie is an incredibly fierce FMC. I adored her stubbornness and her independence. She knows her worth but it is stifled by the world in which she lives. She knows she deserves more than she has, and that she's earned it, but being a minority resulted in marginalized beliefs and societal exclusion. She challenges Jacques at every turn and her scissor-wielding altercations made me love her even more!
Amah is the star of the show for me. Visiting questionable establishments, stealing teacups, and always giving the impression she knows more than she lets on - she's a really well-developed secondary character. Her friendship with Jacques and mentor-like role was perfection.
The Cantonese and Filipino theming is beautifully woven into this novel. It plays an important part, especially in Annie's character development. It is clear how important it is to Briar to incorporate her roots into her stories.
The spice is VERY spicy in this one!
Check it out if you love....
✔️ Touch Her And 💀
✔️ Victorian-Era Vampires
✔️ Filipino/Cantonese Folklore
✔️ Spice 🥵
✔️ 🩸 Play
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Feminine Rage
Thank you, Briar Somerset, for welcoming me onto your Street Team and providing me of a copy of your book.
This novel picked up where the novella left off. We find Annie, Jacques, and Amah en route to Paris to escape Beecham. Jacques is still coming to terms with his transformation and trying to understand what it means. Annie is furious at being transported against her will.
I really enjoyed Jacques' journey in this book. Torn between remaining tethered to his old life and embracing his new reality, his internal struggle was palpable. I really enjoyed the "touch her and die" protectiveness he feels for Annie. His blossoming friendship with Amah was my favorite relationship in the book.
Annie is an incredibly fierce FMC. I adored her stubbornness and her independence. She knows her worth but it is stifled by the world in which she lives. She knows she deserves more than she has, and that she's earned it, but being a minority resulted in marginalized beliefs and societal exclusion. She challenges Jacques at every turn and her scissor-wielding altercations made me love her even more!
Amah is the star of the show for me. Visiting questionable establishments, stealing teacups, and always giving the impression she knows more than she lets on - she's a really well-developed secondary character. Her friendship with Jacques and mentor-like role was perfection.
The Cantonese and Filipino theming is beautifully woven into this novel. It plays an important part, especially in Annie's character development. It is clear how important it is to Briar to incorporate her roots into her stories.
The spice is VERY spicy in this one!
Check it out if you love....
✔️ Touch Her And 💀
✔️ Victorian-Era Vampires
✔️ Filipino/Cantonese Folklore
✔️ Spice 🥵
✔️ 🩸 Play
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Feminine Rage
Thank you, Briar Somerset, for welcoming me onto your Street Team and providing me of a copy of your book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Briar Somerset has done it again! As the second book in the My Darling Malady series (following the novella Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted), Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst expands the story in the most atmospheric way possible. Somerset’s prose is beautifully descriptive, I felt completely immersed in 1849 France, walking the foggy, rain-swept cobblestones of Paris right alongside the characters.
After a chaotic escape from Victorian London to evade corrupt medical authorities, newly transformed vampiric investigator Jacques Valmont flees across the English Channel aboard a merchant brigantine alongside seamstress Annabelle (Annie) Castro-Tan and her apothecary grandmother, Amah Joy. Taking refuge at Jacques’s dusty ancestral manor in Paris (Number 29 Rue des Saints-Pères), the trio must navigate Second Republic political turmoil, dark bio-medical conspiracies, and ancient Eastern apothecary lore. All the while, Jacques battles his new predatory instincts while trying to protect, and worship, the woman who holds his heart.
The vampire lore in this book is top-tier. I loved Jacques’s transformation journey and watching him struggle with his newly forced Day-Walker physiology while balancing his chivalrous instincts with his dark hunger.
Annie definitely tested my patience at times with her stubbornness, but I realized that’s just who she is: a fiercely resilient, independent heroine who refuses to back down or rely on a man.
And let me just say… the spice was SPICING! The romantic tension, yearning, fanged mechanics, and explicit chemistry between Jacques and Annie were intense and amazingly written.
The supporting cast completely stole my heart, too! Amah Joy, Mui-Mui the pet hen, and the contraband smuggler crew brought so much warmth, humor, and charm to a dark Gothic mystery.
A fantastic 4-star read for anyone who loves dark paranormal historical romance!
Briar Somerset has done it again! As the second book in the My Darling Malady series (following the novella Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted), Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst expands the story in the most atmospheric way possible. Somerset’s prose is beautifully descriptive, I felt completely immersed in 1849 France, walking the foggy, rain-swept cobblestones of Paris right alongside the characters.
After a chaotic escape from Victorian London to evade corrupt medical authorities, newly transformed vampiric investigator Jacques Valmont flees across the English Channel aboard a merchant brigantine alongside seamstress Annabelle (Annie) Castro-Tan and her apothecary grandmother, Amah Joy. Taking refuge at Jacques’s dusty ancestral manor in Paris (Number 29 Rue des Saints-Pères), the trio must navigate Second Republic political turmoil, dark bio-medical conspiracies, and ancient Eastern apothecary lore. All the while, Jacques battles his new predatory instincts while trying to protect, and worship, the woman who holds his heart.
The vampire lore in this book is top-tier. I loved Jacques’s transformation journey and watching him struggle with his newly forced Day-Walker physiology while balancing his chivalrous instincts with his dark hunger.
Annie definitely tested my patience at times with her stubbornness, but I realized that’s just who she is: a fiercely resilient, independent heroine who refuses to back down or rely on a man.
And let me just say… the spice was SPICING! The romantic tension, yearning, fanged mechanics, and explicit chemistry between Jacques and Annie were intense and amazingly written.
The supporting cast completely stole my heart, too! Amah Joy, Mui-Mui the pet hen, and the contraband smuggler crew brought so much warmth, humor, and charm to a dark Gothic mystery.
A fantastic 4-star read for anyone who loves dark paranormal historical romance!
September 16, 2026
Thank you to IRIS Influencer Society and Briar Somerset for this eARC!
After reading *Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted*, I knew I wanted more of Jacques and Annie. What I didn't expect was to become completely captivated by Jacques' perspective.
I was hanging onto every word this man had to say...
Jacques is the definition of yearning. He's thoughtful, caring, devoted, and knows exactly what he wants. His love for Annie shines through in every interaction, and I found myself completely swept up in his devotion to her.
I was so happy to see Jacques and Annie's relationship take centre stage in this installment. While Beecham remained at the back of my mind, I was completely wrapped up in Jacques and Annie's story. At the same time, there was always that little voice wondering when everything was going to come crashing down.
I also really enjoyed this take on vampires. It felt unique and different from anything I've read before. I wasn't entirely sure how I would feel about it at first, but I ended up loving the direction Briar Somerset took. The Revolutionary-era setting added so much charm and atmosphere, while the characters and themes still felt surprisingly modern and relatable.
QUOTES:
"I'd like to kiss her. Trail my hands along her curves, discovering and re-exploring to her content - willingly hanging myself upon the precipice of destiny and doom, hovering along the tantalising hollow of her throat, savouring her there."
"Ring on her hand, her shears in my chest - there are no bounds to how I will have her."
"This is the one thing Annie wants. To be desired on her ground, her terms - the freedom to be pursued beyond the tyranny of propriety. Very well, then. I shall not be so monstrous as to deny her."
This book gave me everything I wanted from Jacques and Annie's story while leaving me desperate to learn more about the mysteries still lurking beneath the surface. I can't wait to see where this series goes next.
After reading *Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted*, I knew I wanted more of Jacques and Annie. What I didn't expect was to become completely captivated by Jacques' perspective.
I was hanging onto every word this man had to say...
Jacques is the definition of yearning. He's thoughtful, caring, devoted, and knows exactly what he wants. His love for Annie shines through in every interaction, and I found myself completely swept up in his devotion to her.
I was so happy to see Jacques and Annie's relationship take centre stage in this installment. While Beecham remained at the back of my mind, I was completely wrapped up in Jacques and Annie's story. At the same time, there was always that little voice wondering when everything was going to come crashing down.
I also really enjoyed this take on vampires. It felt unique and different from anything I've read before. I wasn't entirely sure how I would feel about it at first, but I ended up loving the direction Briar Somerset took. The Revolutionary-era setting added so much charm and atmosphere, while the characters and themes still felt surprisingly modern and relatable.
QUOTES:
"I'd like to kiss her. Trail my hands along her curves, discovering and re-exploring to her content - willingly hanging myself upon the precipice of destiny and doom, hovering along the tantalising hollow of her throat, savouring her there."
"Ring on her hand, her shears in my chest - there are no bounds to how I will have her."
"This is the one thing Annie wants. To be desired on her ground, her terms - the freedom to be pursued beyond the tyranny of propriety. Very well, then. I shall not be so monstrous as to deny her."
This book gave me everything I wanted from Jacques and Annie's story while leaving me desperate to learn more about the mysteries still lurking beneath the surface. I can't wait to see where this series goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of this book, and am providing my honest review.
If you haven’t read Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted, I highly recommend it. It’s a short read and a solid introduction to how the characters end up in their present predicament where the story picks up again.
Firstly, this story is primarily told from the perspective of the MMC Jacques. I don’t typically enjoy books from the MMC perspective and most of the romances I read are from the FMC perspective with some MMC POV chapters. While the POV may not be my favorite, that doesn’t stop this from being a highly compelling story and world with enjoyable complex characters. I ended up devouring this book quite quickly after starting.
Kind of Spoilers? for Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted: In the prequel, Jacques is a private investigator from France who is brought in to investigate Beecham’s suspicious infirmary to find a couple’s missing daughter. He starts in the prequel as a human, but as this book opens up he is newly transformed into a vampire, and adjusting to all the instincts and impulses that come with the condition.
Annie is a talented seamstress from London who is independent, loyal, and sharp (whether or not she’s armed with scissors). Annie’s POV chapters were by far my favorite.
Annie and Jacques have a tumultuous start to their relationship (kidnapping/being on the run can do that) and while I sometimes felt their arguments were repetitive, they earned the progress they made in their relationship where this book ends. They have to navigate their society, conspiracies, themselves, and vampirism on top of it all.
Amah is an absolute treasure, and if anything happens to her (or Mui Mui) I will riot.
September 3, 2026
I really wanted to love this book and I can’t say what didn’t do it for me.
I was really excited to read “Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst”, especially after getting such a nice first taste with the first book of the series, “Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted” which I did listen to as an audiobook.
Maybe it was the fact that I read this book in a different media but something just didn’t quite catch me this time.
The plot of this book was interesting but something just… didn’t really pull me in?
Looking back to my reading experience with the first part, I enjoyed the investigation part a lot, so the lack of any direct research and investigation, despite this being Jacques’ job, also came as a bit of disappointment.
Maybe it also has to do with my little historical knowledge about that time in France. While the book stated that you don’t need to know too much about it and it will provide all the info you’ll need, I still felt a bit left out from time to time and couldn’t always follow.
Some of the reveals taking place in the book felt like they should be a really big plot point but I just caught myself reading and thinking “oh yeah…. Cool. I guess?”
However, the part of the book that I enjoyed the most was definitely the banter between the characters. Especially Jacques and Annie, of course, but I also enjoyed every scene that had Amah in it.
Annie is definitely my favorite character of the set. I love what a passionate woman she is!
I’ve already heard that the audiobook is in production so I will definitely get it and listen to it once it’s available, hoping that I might be caught easier that way.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.
I was really excited to read “Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst”, especially after getting such a nice first taste with the first book of the series, “Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted” which I did listen to as an audiobook.
Maybe it was the fact that I read this book in a different media but something just didn’t quite catch me this time.
The plot of this book was interesting but something just… didn’t really pull me in?
Looking back to my reading experience with the first part, I enjoyed the investigation part a lot, so the lack of any direct research and investigation, despite this being Jacques’ job, also came as a bit of disappointment.
Maybe it also has to do with my little historical knowledge about that time in France. While the book stated that you don’t need to know too much about it and it will provide all the info you’ll need, I still felt a bit left out from time to time and couldn’t always follow.
Some of the reveals taking place in the book felt like they should be a really big plot point but I just caught myself reading and thinking “oh yeah…. Cool. I guess?”
However, the part of the book that I enjoyed the most was definitely the banter between the characters. Especially Jacques and Annie, of course, but I also enjoyed every scene that had Amah in it.
Annie is definitely my favorite character of the set. I love what a passionate woman she is!
I’ve already heard that the audiobook is in production so I will definitely get it and listen to it once it’s available, hoping that I might be caught easier that way.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.
September 16, 2026
Jacques & Annie 💜
Review of Advanced Copy received from the author
Jacques Valmont found more questions than answers while investigating a missing person’s case in London. Now returning to his home in Paris with a not so willing Annie, and her grandmother, he must prove he can keep them safe while making peace with his newly turned vampire status.
I fell in love with Jacques and Annie and their quick chemistry in Beecham’s Infirmary and their dynamic change in this book added so much more to their connection. Their banter was everything to me while Annie stubbornly kept him at arm’s length while learning to trust and learn more about who he is. She needed the time to grasp her bearings in a new place and he made sure to always prove he was there for whenever she needed.
A down bad man is my favorite kind of man and Jacques plays this role beautifully! Even while faced with his new existence as a vampire, his main concern always lies with Annie’s safety and happiness. Even when she was pushing him away, he was right where he wanted to be! As much as she tried to deny it, Annie and Jacques naturally were drawn together. They found home in each other and I loved seeing her trust in happiness by his side.
Their family of three are so sweet and Amah is easily one of my favorite people. I loved how easily she took Jacques under her wing and was helping him with his transition. They are such a funny duo together and I’m excited to learn more from Amah!
I can’t wait to see how they take on the looming threat Beecham poses. I need more of them all immediately and will be longing for more of Annie and Jacques together!
Review of Advanced Copy received from the author
Jacques Valmont found more questions than answers while investigating a missing person’s case in London. Now returning to his home in Paris with a not so willing Annie, and her grandmother, he must prove he can keep them safe while making peace with his newly turned vampire status.
I fell in love with Jacques and Annie and their quick chemistry in Beecham’s Infirmary and their dynamic change in this book added so much more to their connection. Their banter was everything to me while Annie stubbornly kept him at arm’s length while learning to trust and learn more about who he is. She needed the time to grasp her bearings in a new place and he made sure to always prove he was there for whenever she needed.
A down bad man is my favorite kind of man and Jacques plays this role beautifully! Even while faced with his new existence as a vampire, his main concern always lies with Annie’s safety and happiness. Even when she was pushing him away, he was right where he wanted to be! As much as she tried to deny it, Annie and Jacques naturally were drawn together. They found home in each other and I loved seeing her trust in happiness by his side.
Their family of three are so sweet and Amah is easily one of my favorite people. I loved how easily she took Jacques under her wing and was helping him with his transition. They are such a funny duo together and I’m excited to learn more from Amah!
I can’t wait to see how they take on the looming threat Beecham poses. I need more of them all immediately and will be longing for more of Annie and Jacques together!
October 3, 2026
I loved this book so much! It picked up right where Beecham’s Infirmary left off. Jacques is a newly turned vampire and has kidnapped Annie and Amah (her grandmother), bringing them to his home in Paris. The setting is dark, gothic, and totally romantic.
I really loved the relationship that bloomed between Jacques and Annie. It started off really rough between them but Jacques kept doing whatever he could to prove to Annie that he just wanted what’s best for her and wanted her safe. The man is a huge yearner, he’s caring, thoughtful, and oozes sex appeal. I loved him! Annie was my favorite character because she is so fierce. She is strong, speaks her mind, independent, and despite the horrible discrimination she faces for being Chinese-Filipina she handles herself with such class. Also, she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty for her man. Top notch FMC for me!
I was expecting the story itself to be primarily focused on events from book one, and of course it did have a focus on those events, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was more of a love story. It was beautifully written and I loved the plot! The banter between the two MC’s was perfect, the spice was delicious, and Amah, omg I love her! Amah is Annie’s grandma and though my heart hurt for how much she’s struggled and how much loss she’s experienced, she is also a very strong independent woman.
I highly recommend this book, and book one, Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted. Both are out now. You will get angry at the discrimination, you will laugh at the banter, you will sweat over the spice, and you will smile because of the love. I cannot wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gothic, macabre, atmospheric and absolutely unputdownable. Briar Somerset has done it again and I am not okay.
This is book two in the My Darling Malady series and it picks up immediately after the events of Beecham's Infirmary, whisking Jacques, Annie, and the incomparable Amah out of Victorian London and straight into France. If you have not read the novella yet, stop everything and go read it first. You have no excuse.
Jacques is now a reluctant vampire, and his internal struggle with what he is becoming feels genuinely compelling rather than just a convenient excuse to make the MMC brooding and attractive. Though it absolutely succeeds there too. Watching him wrestle with his heritage, his grief, and his completely spectacular obsession with Annie is a privilege. This man is so hopelessly down bad it should be studied.
Annie is sharp, independent, and takes absolutely no nonsense from anyone, including a lovesick vampire aristocrat. Their relationship starts from a complicated place because yes, he maybe sort of definitely kidnapped her in book one, and the story does not brush past that. Trust is rebuilt slowly and earned completely, making their romance feel wonderfully real.
And Amah. Stealing teacups, frequenting questionable establishments, casually handling firearms. An absolute icon who I would adopt as my grandmother without a single hesitation.
The spice was a fantastic addition. Annie still has her dressmaking shears. That is all I will say.
Read the novella. Then read this. Then suffer alongside the rest of us waiting for book three.
This is book two in the My Darling Malady series and it picks up immediately after the events of Beecham's Infirmary, whisking Jacques, Annie, and the incomparable Amah out of Victorian London and straight into France. If you have not read the novella yet, stop everything and go read it first. You have no excuse.
Jacques is now a reluctant vampire, and his internal struggle with what he is becoming feels genuinely compelling rather than just a convenient excuse to make the MMC brooding and attractive. Though it absolutely succeeds there too. Watching him wrestle with his heritage, his grief, and his completely spectacular obsession with Annie is a privilege. This man is so hopelessly down bad it should be studied.
Annie is sharp, independent, and takes absolutely no nonsense from anyone, including a lovesick vampire aristocrat. Their relationship starts from a complicated place because yes, he maybe sort of definitely kidnapped her in book one, and the story does not brush past that. Trust is rebuilt slowly and earned completely, making their romance feel wonderfully real.
And Amah. Stealing teacups, frequenting questionable establishments, casually handling firearms. An absolute icon who I would adopt as my grandmother without a single hesitation.
The spice was a fantastic addition. Annie still has her dressmaking shears. That is all I will say.
Read the novella. Then read this. Then suffer alongside the rest of us waiting for book three.
August 20, 2026
A Gothic Sequel That Completely Delivered
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
🔥🔥🔥 (3/5)
Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst was more than a satisfying continuation. While Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted took a little time to pull me in, this one captivated me from the beginning.
Jacques is such a lovable MMC because his good and bad sides mesh together so well. He has darkness to him, but it never takes away from the parts of him that make you care about him. Annie was just as strong for me. She is a badass FMC who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Their chemistry deepened beautifully in this book. The connection between them felt natural and realistic, and I loved watching it continue to grow. The spice fits their relationship and the tone of the story without ever becoming the main focus.
The dark, atmospheric feeling from the first book is absolutely maintained here. The setting fits the story perfectly, and the descriptions give you enough to really picture everything without ever feeling like the author is rambling or slowing the story down.
The book is medium-paced, with the darker mystery elements remaining central to the premise. There are also parts of the vampire storyline I absolutely loved, but saying much more would venture into spoiler territory.
The ending left me completely satisfied while still making me want more of Jacques and Annie. And Amah? I love that woman.
Read if you enjoy:
* Gaslamp fantasy
* Vampires
* Mystery
* Touch her and die
* Possessive MMCs
* Deep, realistic chemistry
I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
🔥🔥🔥 (3/5)
Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst was more than a satisfying continuation. While Beecham’s Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted took a little time to pull me in, this one captivated me from the beginning.
Jacques is such a lovable MMC because his good and bad sides mesh together so well. He has darkness to him, but it never takes away from the parts of him that make you care about him. Annie was just as strong for me. She is a badass FMC who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Their chemistry deepened beautifully in this book. The connection between them felt natural and realistic, and I loved watching it continue to grow. The spice fits their relationship and the tone of the story without ever becoming the main focus.
The dark, atmospheric feeling from the first book is absolutely maintained here. The setting fits the story perfectly, and the descriptions give you enough to really picture everything without ever feeling like the author is rambling or slowing the story down.
The book is medium-paced, with the darker mystery elements remaining central to the premise. There are also parts of the vampire storyline I absolutely loved, but saying much more would venture into spoiler territory.
The ending left me completely satisfied while still making me want more of Jacques and Annie. And Amah? I love that woman.
Read if you enjoy:
* Gaslamp fantasy
* Vampires
* Mystery
* Touch her and die
* Possessive MMCs
* Deep, realistic chemistry
I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘝𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯. This book was marked as Request on NetGalley and I'm so glad that I was able to read this book at the correct time. This review includes running notes. Some points may be repeated.
────────────────────────────────
This book is the sequel to Beecham's Infirmary For The Affluent Afflicted and it continues right off from there. After the events in London, Jacques, Annie and Amah board the Hesper to France where Jacques's resides in his manor. The duo couple are trying to make sense of their new life and several other issues pop out forcing them to make difficult decisions.
────────────────────────────────
Character list:
𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬?:
- Extremely slow paced and slow burn.
- An MMC and FMC from two different countries and are attracted to each other.
- Dark, gothic and mentions of blood, sex and nudity.
- Hunter x prey dynamic (much later in the book).
- An MMC who is a patient listener and an FMC who feels the need to talk about it.
- Where sex feels like art and the MMC is like a love sick puppy for the FMC. Restraint is a BIG BIG problem in this one.
- A house with too many rooms but the inhabitants are only one.
- Mentions of French Revolution, classism and racism.
- An MMC who is a private investigator and obsessed with the FMC, a seamstress— in body, mind and soul. He tries and tries his best in understanding her and her problems.
- An MMC trying to figure out who he is after the events of the past and trying his best to fit in.
- chapter headings that describe what's going to happen in the story in short.
- A grandmother who has a trunk load of sarcasm and a sharp tongue whenever she feels like using it.
- A story which seems gothic and menacing but is a lot more deeper and is connected to social issues many of us will try to relate to.
- Yearning so great that my head is in my hands.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥:
- The story continues right where we left off and there is a whole new world and journey that we readers get to see.
- I loved the way Annie and Jacques fight. He wants to lay the world at her feet and she thinks that him doing that is just so that he can
-
- I felt the small comedic moment a where the
- The use of Chinese and French words in the story was something new and never heard before.
- Like the prequel, the chapter headings are very unique. It's like a short explanation of what will happen in the story and what yo expect.
- The dark and gothic atmosphere of the story mixed with a racial romance was something I haven't read before.
- Etienne was my favourite character of everyone. He was like the lighthouse and Jacques looked up to him like some hero figure. He
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦:
- The slow pace of the story was a bit of a problem because the prequel took off like a running train. I was expecting the same from the sequel. I think the use of politics and the French Revolution.
- Up to 70% or may be 71% of the book, nothing THAT big or that major happens that keeps the story going forward. I felt there had to be more momentum and more unease given this is a vampire gothic novel and has very few chapters. I was hoping for some drama or action when the Jacques and Annabelle reached his grandmother's manor but that was cut short. There was so much potential in creating tension or adding a bit more depth to that story.
- I felt that the last 80% of the story was a bit rushed. 95% of this story was written with a slow pace and to have that shattered at the very end was kind of out of character. If the quick page was kept there would be a rhythm that was felt towards the 80% mark of the book.
────────────────────────────────
This book is the sequel to Beecham's Infirmary For The Affluent Afflicted and it continues right off from there. After the events in London, Jacques, Annie and Amah board the Hesper to France where Jacques's resides in his manor. The duo couple are trying to make sense of their new life and several other issues pop out forcing them to make difficult decisions.
────────────────────────────────
Character list:
𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬?:
- Extremely slow paced and slow burn.
- An MMC and FMC from two different countries and are attracted to each other.
- Dark, gothic and mentions of blood, sex and nudity.
- Hunter x prey dynamic (much later in the book).
- An MMC who is a patient listener and an FMC who feels the need to talk about it.
- Where sex feels like art and the MMC is like a love sick puppy for the FMC. Restraint is a BIG BIG problem in this one.
- A house with too many rooms but the inhabitants are only one.
- Mentions of French Revolution, classism and racism.
- An MMC who is a private investigator and obsessed with the FMC, a seamstress— in body, mind and soul. He tries and tries his best in understanding her and her problems.
- An MMC trying to figure out who he is after the events of the past and trying his best to fit in.
- chapter headings that describe what's going to happen in the story in short.
- A grandmother who has a trunk load of sarcasm and a sharp tongue whenever she feels like using it.
- A story which seems gothic and menacing but is a lot more deeper and is connected to social issues many of us will try to relate to.
- Yearning so great that my head is in my hands.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥:
- The story continues right where we left off and there is a whole new world and journey that we readers get to see.
- I loved the way Annie and Jacques fight. He wants to lay the world at her feet and she thinks that him doing that is just so that he can
-
- I felt the small comedic moment a where the
- The use of Chinese and French words in the story was something new and never heard before.
- Like the prequel, the chapter headings are very unique. It's like a short explanation of what will happen in the story and what yo expect.
- The dark and gothic atmosphere of the story mixed with a racial romance was something I haven't read before.
- Etienne was my favourite character of everyone. He was like the lighthouse and Jacques looked up to him like some hero figure. He
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦:
- The slow pace of the story was a bit of a problem because the prequel took off like a running train. I was expecting the same from the sequel. I think the use of politics and the French Revolution.
- Up to 70% or may be 71% of the book, nothing THAT big or that major happens that keeps the story going forward. I felt there had to be more momentum and more unease given this is a vampire gothic novel and has very few chapters. I was hoping for some drama or action when the Jacques and Annabelle reached his grandmother's manor but that was cut short. There was so much potential in creating tension or adding a bit more depth to that story.
- I felt that the last 80% of the story was a bit rushed. 95% of this story was written with a slow pace and to have that shattered at the very end was kind of out of character. If the quick page was kept there would be a rhythm that was felt towards the 80% mark of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First id like to say thank you to the author for allowing me to ARC read this book prior to the release date.
Secondly I'd like to say, if you're debating this series, just go start it because IT'S WORTH IT.
Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst is book two in the My Darling Malady series.
“Jacques is everything I fear wanting.”
We pick up right where we left off with Beecham’s Infirmary. Jacques, Annie, and Amah travel to London, where Jacques hopes to keep them safe, safe from the couches of a mad physician.
Jacques, the man that you are. He remains as honorable and gentlemanly as he can, but how can he when the object of his every desire is staying in the room down the hall from him 🥵 filthy thoughts monsieur.
“For wherever the winds guide her, I will follow. Hapless ghoul, I am.”
Jacques has it down BAD for Annie. While Annie wrestles with her feelings, not only with Jacques and uprooting her life to London, but also with the prospect that she is allowed to want more than what she believes she can.
Jacques learns shocking truths about his family.
Annie learns that it's okay to want your own dreams.
Secondly I'd like to say, if you're debating this series, just go start it because IT'S WORTH IT.
Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst is book two in the My Darling Malady series.
“Jacques is everything I fear wanting.”
We pick up right where we left off with Beecham’s Infirmary. Jacques, Annie, and Amah travel to London, where Jacques hopes to keep them safe, safe from the couches of a mad physician.
Jacques, the man that you are. He remains as honorable and gentlemanly as he can, but how can he when the object of his every desire is staying in the room down the hall from him 🥵 filthy thoughts monsieur.
“For wherever the winds guide her, I will follow. Hapless ghoul, I am.”
Jacques has it down BAD for Annie. While Annie wrestles with her feelings, not only with Jacques and uprooting her life to London, but also with the prospect that she is allowed to want more than what she believes she can.
Jacques learns shocking truths about his family.
Annie learns that it's okay to want your own dreams.
September 16, 2026
Château Valmont and An Inheritance of Thirst by Briar Somerset was such a moody, dark, and total gothic dream of a read! I enjoyed this story with a FMC who is so sharp-witted, a newly turned vampire hero struggling with his hunger, and great slow-burn tension. Annie and her grandmother are brought to Paris by Jacques to stay at his family's old estate, leading to a perfect marriage of inconvenience setup where the lines between professional safety and personal attraction blur immediately.
I liked reading about Annie holding her ground and uncovering the secrets of Jacques's past, especially once they get drawn into a creepy theater across the street. The forced proximity at the secluded forest estate made the chemistry between them so intense as Jacques tries to fight his burgeoning feelings. The whole vibe is atmospheric and filled with ghosts, watching portraits, and old vampire lore that keeps you hooked. It has a steady, slow-build pacing that lets the mystery breathe, but the dark family drama keeps you turning pages. If you want a historical paranormal romance with a gothic setting and a possessive hero, you need to pick this up!
I liked reading about Annie holding her ground and uncovering the secrets of Jacques's past, especially once they get drawn into a creepy theater across the street. The forced proximity at the secluded forest estate made the chemistry between them so intense as Jacques tries to fight his burgeoning feelings. The whole vibe is atmospheric and filled with ghosts, watching portraits, and old vampire lore that keeps you hooked. It has a steady, slow-build pacing that lets the mystery breathe, but the dark family drama keeps you turning pages. If you want a historical paranormal romance with a gothic setting and a possessive hero, you need to pick this up!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“You can live somewhere for years and feel like you’re only borrowing it for a time. As if you want it to want you with open arms, only to realise it’s waiting for you to leave, or wouldn’t miss you if you did."
If you haven't already read Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted, I would highly recommend it (especially the audio) because this book? Perfection.
Jacques, the private investigator and new vampire and Annie, the seamstress, are some of my favourite characters. Why? Because they are so down bad for each other but the way they grow, learn and change for each other is honestly refreshing. I feel like the hard things are not just brushed under the rug and you feel everything these two are feeling. Plus, I love Amah with my whole heart.
As always, check the tropes and content warnings before jumping in and definitely read Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted before jumping into this.
Thank you so much to the author for providing me a eARC for my honest thoughts.
If you haven't already read Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted, I would highly recommend it (especially the audio) because this book? Perfection.
Jacques, the private investigator and new vampire and Annie, the seamstress, are some of my favourite characters. Why? Because they are so down bad for each other but the way they grow, learn and change for each other is honestly refreshing. I feel like the hard things are not just brushed under the rug and you feel everything these two are feeling. Plus, I love Amah with my whole heart.
As always, check the tropes and content warnings before jumping in and definitely read Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted before jumping into this.
Thank you so much to the author for providing me a eARC for my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🩸Victorian Gothic Vamprie Era anyone???🧛♂️
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (available on netgalley)
I love you @authorbriarsomerset !!!
Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst was EVERYTHING I wanted and more. I’m honestly struggling to put into words how much I loved this one. The atmosphere, the characters, the tension, the secrets… I was completely obsessed.
It had me hooked from the start and I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. There’s just something about a dark, decadent gothic setting mixed with romance and vampires that gets me every single time. 🖤🥀
I know we’re only supposed to give 5 stars, but this one absolutely earned its 6th star from me. I’m already missing Château Valmont and I need more immediately. 😭
If you love gothic romance, vampires, dark secrets and a story that completely pulls you in, please add this to your TBR! 🧛🏻♀️🩸✨
#gothicromance #gothic #vampire #briarsomerset #indieauthor
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (available on netgalley)
I love you @authorbriarsomerset !!!
Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst was EVERYTHING I wanted and more. I’m honestly struggling to put into words how much I loved this one. The atmosphere, the characters, the tension, the secrets… I was completely obsessed.
It had me hooked from the start and I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. There’s just something about a dark, decadent gothic setting mixed with romance and vampires that gets me every single time. 🖤🥀
I know we’re only supposed to give 5 stars, but this one absolutely earned its 6th star from me. I’m already missing Château Valmont and I need more immediately. 😭
If you love gothic romance, vampires, dark secrets and a story that completely pulls you in, please add this to your TBR! 🧛🏻♀️🩸✨
#gothicromance #gothic #vampire #briarsomerset #indieauthor
Review of advance copy received from Author
Briar’s writing is so atmospheric and beautiful.
There’s something about the way she builds these dark, decadent settings that makes you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a Gothic fever dream, and I was completely here for it.
Jacques and Annie are such layered characters, and I really loved watching their relationship continue to develop.
There’s tension, uncertainty, secrets, and so much left simmering beneath the surface.
Their progression feels natural, and I’m very invested in seeing where it goes from here.
The mystery was another highlight for me. There are secrets tucked into every shadow, and the deeper we get into this world, the more questions I have.
Between the haunting atmosphere, beautiful prose, intriguing mystery, and characters who clearly have a lot more to reveal, this was an immersive read that left me wanting more.
Four stars, and I absolutely cannot wait to see where Briar takes this world next.
There’s something about the way she builds these dark, decadent settings that makes you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a Gothic fever dream, and I was completely here for it.
Jacques and Annie are such layered characters, and I really loved watching their relationship continue to develop.
There’s tension, uncertainty, secrets, and so much left simmering beneath the surface.
Their progression feels natural, and I’m very invested in seeing where it goes from here.
The mystery was another highlight for me. There are secrets tucked into every shadow, and the deeper we get into this world, the more questions I have.
Between the haunting atmosphere, beautiful prose, intriguing mystery, and characters who clearly have a lot more to reveal, this was an immersive read that left me wanting more.
Four stars, and I absolutely cannot wait to see where Briar takes this world next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
* Thank you NetGalley and Briar Somerset | Vellichor & Vein Press for the ARC and my honest review *
YYYYAAAAASSSSSS!!!
Unexpectedly, I found the audiobook for "Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted" and fell in love with Jacques, Annie, and Amah. When the second book popped up, I needed to review it immediately.
This book picks up right where "Affluent Afflicted" left off so it's best to read/listen to that one prior to diving into this one. We're taken out of London into Paris as we try to find a safe distance from the infamous infirmary. Shadows creep inwards and a theater holds secrets that keep the reader and the main cast on their toes. Briar maintains the characters' wittiness and charm that you fell in love with. The intimate scenes are chef's kiss. The storyline is steady. We never really get to feel comfort, and it's so well described in this book.
I pre-ordered this book as well purchasing the first one signed. I will impatiently wait for the others to follow.
YYYYAAAAASSSSSS!!!
Unexpectedly, I found the audiobook for "Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted" and fell in love with Jacques, Annie, and Amah. When the second book popped up, I needed to review it immediately.
This book picks up right where "Affluent Afflicted" left off so it's best to read/listen to that one prior to diving into this one. We're taken out of London into Paris as we try to find a safe distance from the infamous infirmary. Shadows creep inwards and a theater holds secrets that keep the reader and the main cast on their toes. Briar maintains the characters' wittiness and charm that you fell in love with. The intimate scenes are chef's kiss. The storyline is steady. We never really get to feel comfort, and it's so well described in this book.
I pre-ordered this book as well purchasing the first one signed. I will impatiently wait for the others to follow.
September 17, 2026
New Obsession
Definitely check out book one, Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted, first!
This book picks up with Jacques, Annie, and Amah traveling, or more accurately, fleeing to France by boat. Jacques is dealing with his recent affliction, while Annie is struggling to come to terms with what her life is going to look like in a new city. As if that isn't enough, the fear of Beecham still lingers, along with a new mystery.
I fell so deeply into this book. I couldn't wait to get more of Jacques, and he had me kicking my feet and giggling at some points. Somehow, I became even more obsessed with Annie, and the two of them together had me blushing!
I also loved getting pulled deeper into the past. It was wonderful getting more backstory on everyone, including Amah. I'm a huge history nerd, so I especially loved seeing how much work Briar put into the historical details. It made the world and characters feel incredibly real.
Definitely check out book one, Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted, first!
This book picks up with Jacques, Annie, and Amah traveling, or more accurately, fleeing to France by boat. Jacques is dealing with his recent affliction, while Annie is struggling to come to terms with what her life is going to look like in a new city. As if that isn't enough, the fear of Beecham still lingers, along with a new mystery.
I fell so deeply into this book. I couldn't wait to get more of Jacques, and he had me kicking my feet and giggling at some points. Somehow, I became even more obsessed with Annie, and the two of them together had me blushing!
I also loved getting pulled deeper into the past. It was wonderful getting more backstory on everyone, including Amah. I'm a huge history nerd, so I especially loved seeing how much work Briar put into the historical details. It made the world and characters feel incredibly real.
September 24, 2026
More often than I care to admit, I think about the chicken...
I want to preface this review by saying that my review is based off of my reading of an advanced copy, so I have rated accordingly based off of my first read and also being invested in the success of Annie and Jacques (and Amah, most importantly). This is a fun installment for the tour de force that is Beecham's Infirmary novella. Briar Somerset's writing is consistent, with each character feeling wholly their own and well-developed. If you are entering into your Gothic Lit era or ready to grow your reading list, I can't recommend Somerset's works enough. Château has it all with so much depth and sociocultural conversations. Jacques makes me roll my eyes compared to the kind of vampire I like, but I would absolutely adore him if I were Annie and not a reader. A solid 4-5 out of 5, depending on the mood.
Now that we've entered autumn, now is the time to get acquainted with Annie, Jacques, and the star of the show... Amah.
I want to preface this review by saying that my review is based off of my reading of an advanced copy, so I have rated accordingly based off of my first read and also being invested in the success of Annie and Jacques (and Amah, most importantly). This is a fun installment for the tour de force that is Beecham's Infirmary novella. Briar Somerset's writing is consistent, with each character feeling wholly their own and well-developed. If you are entering into your Gothic Lit era or ready to grow your reading list, I can't recommend Somerset's works enough. Château has it all with so much depth and sociocultural conversations. Jacques makes me roll my eyes compared to the kind of vampire I like, but I would absolutely adore him if I were Annie and not a reader. A solid 4-5 out of 5, depending on the mood.
Now that we've entered autumn, now is the time to get acquainted with Annie, Jacques, and the star of the show... Amah.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Château Valmont and an Inheritance of Thirst was an absolute delight! Not-so-poor, good-natured, new vampire Jacques just can't catch a break; every time you think things might finally go his way, fate has other plans. It makes him impossible not to root for. Then there's Annie, who is an absolute force to be reckoned with. She steals every scene she's in with her determination, wit, and refusal to let anyone stand in her way, especially Jacques.
The story races along at a fantastic pace, blending historical fiction with gothic vibes in the streets and shadows of Paris. Between the atmospheric setting, vampire antics, and memorable characters, I found myself flying through the story.
If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced gothic adventure with plenty of charm, this one delivers. I loved it and can't wait to see what they get up to next!
Thank you to the author for the ARC ❤️
The story races along at a fantastic pace, blending historical fiction with gothic vibes in the streets and shadows of Paris. Between the atmospheric setting, vampire antics, and memorable characters, I found myself flying through the story.
If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced gothic adventure with plenty of charm, this one delivers. I loved it and can't wait to see what they get up to next!
Thank you to the author for the ARC ❤️
August 21, 2026
I got got this book as a ARC copy. I loved this book! Jacques and Annie’s story was beautifully written. The book draws you in from the get go. I do recommend reading the prequel before it that sets the scene. Set in France among gas lamps and beautiful silk dresses. As the story unfolds you can’t help but fall more in love with Jacques and Annie the characters that Briar wrote have depth and are very complex and layered. The world building is rich in descriptions. It makes you want to sit along the river and eat a fresh croissant and drink tea or coffee. Briar’s writing makes you want to go back and visit that world again and again.
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