The Taste of You

by Sam Silberberg

The day his human partner died was the day Haleth Maerenthros became a monster hunter.

Nearly three centuries later, Haleth is apathetic, loveless, and haunted by the memories of his long dead partner. For years, his sole purpose has been destroying vampires, but even that is beginning to lose its appeal as Haleth wishes more and more to fade into nothingness.

When the master of the Monster Hunter Guild himself assigns Haleth a job he can’t turn down, he journeys to the far north hunting for a vampire that could threaten the safety of every mortal in Karrador. Only, when Haleth finally reaches his mark, he finds himself staring into the reddened eyes of his long dead partner. Grappling with his morals pitted against a deep well of love as their spark reignites, Haleth must decide where his loyalties lie, and if loving on borrowed time is worth facing the Monster Hunter Guild's deadly retribution.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Vampires

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 17, 2026

About the author

Sam Silberberg writes high fantasy and romantasy set in queer normative worlds with character driven narratives.

Reviews

[Talli Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this. THE TASTE OF YOU is so many things I adore: a rich epic fantasy, a heart-wrenching romance, and of course, a vampire book. Come for the second-chance romance AND YEARNING, stay for the rich fantasy world. It’s expertly plotted -- once I had a sense of where this was going, I was kicking my feet and grinning evilly -- and I especially loved the worldbuilding. If you’re looking for a page-turner fantasy with a gorgeous romance, look no further.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Halith lost Lhysander, his human mate, 280 years ago. Since then, he's been a monster hunter specializing in vampires and his newest assignment takes him to the monster city itself. He’s supposed to kill a nameless vampire council member. But the man isn’t a stranger; he’s Lhysander.

❤️ MM Fantasy Romance
🧡 Vampire x Vampire Hunter
💛 Second Chance
💚 Slow Burn
💙 Grief and Yearning
💜 Grumpy x Sunshine

Highlights:
- Halith realizing what a monster really is
- Magical World Building
- Love in so many forms
- A lifetime together

Recommend?
Yes!!! This book is absolutely beautiful. The romance, the grief, and the slow build had me hooked immediately.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

"The Taste of You" by Sam Silberberg is an MM fantasy romance set in a world where monsters are commonplace and a guild of monster hunters takes it upon themselves to keep humans safe.

Halith specializes in hunting vampires and is shocked to learn that his newest target is the mate he though he lost 280 years ago.

Ratings:
Overall: 5/5 Hearts - It's rare that a book has me crying at the end due to the beauty of the story and out of happiness and love for what I just read. This book did that for me.

Spice Quantity: 1/5 Peppers - There is just a touch of spice, less than 2% of the page count.

Spice Quality: 3/5 - That tiny touch of spice is fine. It's not explicit and sexy; it's more of an emotional climax (hehehe). I wouldn't come into this book expecting spice, come for an epic love story that just happens to have the tiniest dash of spice.

Plot: 5/5 -
- Storyline: I frickin' loved this story. When I read high fantasy, I expect adventure and long journeys and dragon battles. But this book is different. It's still high fantasy, but with more of a romance storyline. It's a little slower, softer, more character driven than I expected.

And while that could have ended up feeling slow, Sam does an amazing job of maintaining a steady pace throughout the book that will keep you addicted through a murder plot AND a dialogue heavy dinner date.

- Characters: I can't say enough about Halith and Lhysander. Honestly, give me some time and I could do a full 10 page, MLA formatted character study to make your English teacher weep.

Halith is a long lived elf that believes he's lost his human mate. He's grief stricken (even 300 years later), passively su!c*dal and so lonely I could feel it in my bones. The entire story is told from his POV and that was a perfect choice. It allowed for the reader to really connect with him and see firsthand, how complicated his emotions are about finding Lhysander again as a vampire. The way he grows and changes throughout the book is gorgeous.

Lhysander isn't a POV character but HOT DAMN does his personality still shine. I felt like I really knew him through Halith and his own behaviors/dialogue. Super well done.

- Writing Style: The writing was great. It was gripping and flowy, and I really enjoyed it. There were a few typos/weird areas, but I also received the ARC about 2 months prior to release and I'm sure it's still being polished. But even with the little hiccups, the writing shines.

Conclusion: This is a great fantasy slow burn MM romance. There is so much literary irony, soft storytelling, and beautifully romantic moments. It's just gorgeous.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

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[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, it is hot if your vampire lover kisses you while their mouth is full of your blood, and I won't apologize for that

Pros:
- I really love a fantasy world that feels fleshed out, and with all the different types of elves and the hints of noble houses and ancient history, this really felt expansive. We're largely locked into Shavoah's Breath, but it still feels like you get to see a large swath of the world that Silberberg has built
- Haleth! I really liked him and his internal conflict, and I do love how much of it came from him realizing how numb he had been for centuries and just kind of going through the motions without ever questioning what he was being told. I also relate a little too much with a character who is trying to overcome bias and perhaps letting people get away with *too* much in service of that
- I already touched on worldbuilding, but I do want to shoutout the descriptions of Shavoah's Breath because it just seemed so beautiful and wonderful
- hehe biting as a form of affection
- "I will fight gods and death to come back to you"
- I let myself get this far down for the bullet point everyone knew was coming, but vampires <333
- actually, let's pause there for a moment, because I really appreciated that this wasn't a "oooh we're only going to look at the sexy parts of being a vampire" but we did get to see Lhysander missing the sun and knowing what he looks like, and a number of other things which was very lovely
- it's old man yaoi and I won't apologize for calling it that either
- monster city monster city (and, relatedly, all the infrastructure and diversity of inhabitants that that would entail)
- tattoos as a way of reclaiming your body <3333

Cons:
- this is my habitual complaint for books I enjoy, but I wanted it to be longer. There were things that felt a little unresolved, and the ending came so close after the climax it didn't give you a moment to breathe
- I also lightly disagree with one of the things that happened at the ending, but such is life
- this isn't really a con because I do think that the pacing was appropriate, but you spend a little under a third of the book with Haleth not knowing who his target really is, even though it's revealed in the synopsis. I think this is really an extension of con #1, in that this wouldn't be an issue if the book was longer, but as you're waiting for Lhys to appear and seeing the page count tick down you're sitting there going "no, that's less time for them to have together!!!"

Overall:
I was excited for this and it absolutely did not disappoint! Sad men are my favorite, especially when they get love that doesn't hinge on them making their sadness go away, but that accepts them as they are, fangs and all <3 Thank you to the author for the ARC!

[⁺₊☽⋆Shayla⋆☾⁺₊ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Taste of You by Sam Silberberg Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5 stars)

Vampire hunter falls in love with the vampire he was supposed to hunt? Yeah, you had me immediately.

The Taste of You is a beautifully queer vampire romance set within a fantasy world that feels much larger than the story we're given. The world-building was easily one of my favourite parts. There is so much history, magic, culture, and lore woven throughout that makes the world feel genuinely lived in rather than simply existing as a backdrop for the romance.

And listen, if you're an Astarion girlie, I think you need to hear me out. There were moments where Lhysander gave me serious Astarion energy, and the dynamic between him and Haleth had me thinking about my own Baldur's Gate 3 run where I played Gale romancing Astarion. Throw in some very Dungeons & Dragons-esque fantasy vibes and apparently this book knew exactly which part of my brain to target.

The romance itself is tender, emotional, and paced well, especially with the history between Haleth and Lhysander. I also loved the underlying question of what actually makes someone a monster. When the supposed monster can choose compassion and the supposedly righteous can choose cruelty, that line becomes a lot less comfortable.

My biggest issue is simply that I wanted more. More of their history. More time together. More exploration of who they were before everything changed. Most importantly, I wanted more ANGST. Haleth is falling back in love with the very thing he has spent centuries hunting and destroying. Give me the guilt. Give me the self-loathing. Give me the existential crisis. I wanted that internal conflict to hurt.

What's here is genuinely good, but I was left craving the emotional depth that the premise was perfectly positioned to deliver. A longer book with more room to explore their past and Haleth's conflicting loyalties could have easily pushed this into 4-star territory for me.

TL;DR: Beautiful queer vampires, immersive fantasy world-building, second-chance romance, monster hunter x monster, and some serious Astarion energy. I enjoyed what I got. I just wanted more history, more emotional conflict, and significantly more suffering, respectfully.

I received an ARC of this book. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Eiji Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

In exchange for an honest review i got to read A Taste of You by Sam Silberberg, by the author.

What would you do if you had to spend over 200 years grieving your loved one that suddenly one day just dissapeard and most likely is dead.

Haleth is an Sun elf that hunts monsters specially Vampires is what he is good at as he work for the Hunt guild. He's deep in his grief of the loss of his beloved Lhysander that dissapeard over 200 years prior to the start of the book, Haleath struggle to move on and every person that reminds him of his beloved makes the wound just rip open everytime.

When the Guild send Haleath north to kill the new Vampire that has become Council member of the city called Shavoah's Breach a dangerous and dark city filled to the brim with monsters and vampires that is almost a certain death sentence for a hunter like Haleath. What he does not think were possible how the monsters co exist with both vampires and humans when he arrives and meet some of them as he look for the suddenly famous Council member he is sendt to kill. Deep in his grief Haleath is worried he will not return to the Guild again as escaping vampires that hunt someone is hard and Haleath knows the dangers of trying to kill an Vampire.

But who he finds takes him off his feet by a surprise!

This is a love story unlike anything I have read in a while also the debute story of the author, this book got slow burning spice and beautiful descriptive scenes that makes this book so good! I cant wait to read more from this author in the future!

Pre-order the book here: https://a.co/d/0cLc1D49

Highly recommended! 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

[Marian · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I received an eARC from the author and this review is honest and freely given as a thank you. This book is a romance in the middle of a dungeons and dragons campaign. I loved the diversity of races and different creatures, the different gods and cultures. Very interesting and very easy to follow. Honestly it should have been a bit longer since the world the autor has created was so rich in diversity. The city where most of the book happens is also described beautifully(nights full of lights and color), I would really want fanart of this because it would be amazing.

The story took me a while to get into but not because the book is bad, quite the contrary. The author manages to pour emotion into the book and you feel what the main character feels. Our mmc Haleth at the beginning of the book is suffering due to the loss of his human lover Lhys . Despite having been 280 years since this event we still feel his pain and how this loss has shaped his life. The author does an awesome (and devastating) study on grief and it hit way too close to home for me. I lost the person who I loved most 10 years ago and it’s a wound that will never heal, so I identified way too much with Haleth’s pain and I suffered a bit . Anyways bravo to the author for this portrayal on grief, it’s masterfully done and while it hurts reading it it’s necessary for the healing and growth Haleth is going to go through the rest of the book.
So Haleth, who is the guild’s vampire hunter, is given the mission to kill a vampire on the only monster/human city. Once he arrives there he finds out this target is his past lover Lhysander who has been bitten by a vampire and granted eternal life . And now they both have to relearn to love each other. I loved how black cat Haleth was and how it contrasted with Lhys who is such a golden retriever character. Also Lhys despite being a vampire he is no warrior, he believes vampirism is a curse instead of a gift (I really liked this take on vampirism) and wants the city to be a haven for everyone monster and human. I loved how the book shows that monsters are not always evil and that the bad guys can look normal instead of monstrous.

The book ends in a HEA but the last 15% was a bit too rushed . I also didn’t like euterian abandoning Haleth , while it’s something I understand it made me feel very sad. I also wanted a HEA for the healer elf , I hope we get to see him in another book? Who knows! Overall the story was rich , the tone sad and the romance healing, I really hope the author keeps writing since he has a knack for both world building and transmitting emotions through the characters . Thou if I may ask maybe next book a bit less sad.

[Angelique · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Received this book as an ARC for an honest review**

“Well,” Lhysander says. “What is grief? I mean, what is it really?” I look at him blankly. My eyes are burning, and my throat feels thick. When I don’t answer, he reaches out his fingertips to my wrist and says, “It’s love. That’s all it is. It’s just love.”

How do I possibly write a review to make you understand how much I love this book?

Let's start with our one MC, Haleth, who is a monster hunter, similar to the Witcher vibes, where he gets sent to towns or cities where there is some kind of monster disturbance, whether it's a vampire, a humanoid, or some other creature. His mission is to hunt down and kill them and try his best not to get killed himself.

Until he is given a job to go far north for the potential threat of a vampire that is gaining a position of power and could be a threat for the whole continent.

The journey is treacherous and long, and once he finally arrives, he expects chaos and constant threats, but he is met with a peaceful city where harmony reigns.

What stops him in his tracks is that the monster he is sent to kill is not some unknown creature but the man he loved and believed to have died more than 280 years ago.
The man who now has blood-red eyes, immortality, and a thirst for blood.

The more time he spends with Lhysander, the more he questions what a monster really is, and he slowly starts having hope again despite the potential threat of the Monster Hunter's Guild.

What you can expect is high fantasy with a vampire x monster hunter couple, a fun little splash of flirty banter, and a love that still lives despite the centuries that have passed since they last saw each other.

I felt a strong character development, a sense of belonging somewhere again after being lost for years, and the realization that sometimes what you thought you knew of the world isn't always the way it truly is.

It's a story of hope and love and a little bit of fangs.

[Lissa Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚔️ ARC Review ⚔️

What makes something a monster?

After almost three centuries apart, Haleth is finally given a second chance at romance with his long-lost love, Lhysander. This cozy, yet often emotional, vampire X monster hunter romance offers an exploration of grief in a D&D-style fantasy setting.


This is billed as Paladin’s Grace X BG3 X The Witcher, and while I have yet to read Paladin’s Grace, I can absolutely attest that fans of BG3 - particularly if you, too, love staying up far too late reading BG3 fic will love this book!! I thoroughly enjoyed the introspection on grief in high-fantasy and how different fantasy races experience the passage of time and grief when there is such difference in life spans, it also reminded me a little of Frieren in places.

The focus of the book is much more on the emotional journey of the characters and their relationship, rather than wider plot lines, which I found really interesting and refreshing, though I would love to see more of the world as it was evident that a lot of thought had gone in to the world-building process. I did find the final few chapters to feel a little rushed with how rapidly things were resolved, and would’ve liked to have seen how things played out a bit more and to have spent more time with the characters, but this is not that type of book and I think it works well.

Sam’s writing style is gorgeous, the book reads with such ease, I absolutely flew through it in just a couple of days, with the only thing stopping me from reading it all in one go being work. I fell in love with Hal and Lhys’ story, and they have taken over my brain. I highly recommend this as a light(ish) fantasy romance read for some cozy yet sad vibes, and I can’t wait to read more of Sam’s work. Thank you for the ARC! 🍄💚

[Owen Lach · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Like many queer boys, I’ve always had a hunger for vampires. And the idea of a world with a diverse undead society fascinates me just as much. Sure, there are a few monstrous predators running blood farms from distant islands, but some blood-suckers are way more invested in civic engagement and public infrastructure.

With The Taste of You, debut author Sam Silberberg sinks his fangs into high fantasy and delivers an appetizing love story set in a richly imagined world that’s ripe for devouring. Even better, Silberberg crafts an entirely queernormative backdrop—the characters face lethal stakes, ancient pacts, and broken loyalties, but their queerness simply is.

The romance carries a sharp, satisfying bite. I love a brooding hero, and Haleth doesn’t disappoint. Pairing a grumpy, grief-hardened sun elf POV with the sunshine warmth of the very vampire he's sent to execute flips a familiar trope on its head in the best way.

The story moves at a brisk pace, leaving several tantalizing threads and character leaps to the reader's imagination on a sprint toward the climax. There were plenty of ingredients to make this a much larger meal, but, as they say, always leave them wanting more. Now that I’ve got a taste for what Silberberg delivers, I can’t wait for what’s next on the menu.

The Taste of You is a delightful indie debut. For romantasy readers craving accessible queer fantasy with a distinctly vampiric flavor, this story makes for a satisfying main course.

[Siobhan MW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 4/5

The Taste of You is a story of love, grief, and second chances. When I came across the author’s page, I was immediately intrigued by this book’s concept. And it did not disappoint!

First off, the buildup to Haleth’s reunion with Lhysander was fantastic. Over the course of the first part of the book, I grew to learn Haleth well, including how deeply his grief over Lhysander still affected him. This set-up never felt drawn out, but only heightened my excitement for their reunion.

And what an emotional reunion it was! I immensely enjoyed reading about Haleth and Lhysander getting to know each other again after so many years apart. Haleth’s internal conflict about Lhysander being a vampire was very strong, as was Lhysander’s conflict, despite the fact that we never read his POV. Both characters have immense depth to them, and it was heartwarming to read them caring so much for each other while struggling to find out how their relationship would work. There were so many beautiful lines about love and grief, which truly made their romance for me.

Overall, The Taste of You was a fun and heartwarming read. It’s not a lighthearted romance by any means, so be prepared to feel a range of emotions.

[K.V. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I saw that this book is about a monster hunter tasked with hunting down a vampire he later realizes was once the human he'd been in love with and thought long gone ... I just *had* to read it. I was not disappointed.

The protagonist and storyteller, Haleth, is a sun elf. His love interest, Lhysander, is a human-turned-vampire. Their second-chance romance in this vibrant high fantasy setting is incredibly well done. The characters are relatable and lovable, and even though there's a grumpy/sunshine dynamic between them, there's a softness to the monster hunter Haleth that gives him such a unique and alluring personality. As for Lhysander, he is a sweet yet saucy one.

I enjoyed the concept of an entire city dedicated towards monsters and non-monsters living in harmony and finding ways to keep their dark sides at bay. The various side characters are heartwarming (some not so heartwarming) and the interactions between them are entertaining. Definitely a found family trope in this story, which is one of my favourites.

This book is being marketed for lovers of Asterion from Baldur's Gate III and of Geralt x Yennefer from the Witcher, and I can say after reading this that that's very accurate. Can't wait to read more about these two!

[Evie_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚ARC READ📚

Man, I just knew this was gonna be angsty just from the blurb. And it truly was in so many aspects. At first, it made me sad upon the realization of what Haleth was sent to do. Then you would think when Lhysander found out, it would turn into a whole misunderstanding trope… but it didn’t, and I greatly appreciate that, my heart would hate for them to be separated again. Then it gets angsty again when Haleth had to leave to take care of business and wtf is even chapter 43?? Had me thinking the worst of the worst😭 Genuinely playing with my feelings (but I loved it).

Otherwise, this was an amazing read. I love when a character has this realization moment where everything they ever did and stood for, may not be what it seems, and they spiral into a moral dilemma. After battling with themselves internally, they are open to a new perspective and become a much better person, that’s what happened to Haleth and I love it.

Also loved how Lhysander knew his worth despite the love of his life coming back. I think it takes a lot of courage to tell someone you love to leave if they cannot accept what you are. I also loved that it forced Haleth into an uncomfortable situation to face his prejudice about monsters.

[Verity Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this e-arc from the author in return for a fair and honest review.

First off I really loved this book. I read it very quickly in less than a day. I was pretty much hooked from the first few chapters.

Haleth and Lhysander’s story of loss, reunion and learning to love each other again was really touching and moving. The world of Hyreth that Sam Silberberg has created is gorgeous and o could easily envision it through the descriptive writing. I’m a sucker for romance that is soft and gentle, and I think this book really delivers on that. It’s the ultimate paradox-being a monster hunter who’s in love with a monster, but I think Sam does a really good job navigating these struggles to the characters while also showing us how selfless and completely the characters love each other. I also really found the themes of “ what makes a monster a monster” and if a human can choose to do evil can monsters choose to do good” interesting to chew on while I was reading the book.


I think this book is perfect for people who like soft romance, high fantasy worlds and queer normative stories. 💜💜💜

[Evelina Block · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC copy.

This is a fantasy that's more concerned with the characters and their emotional journey than anything else. But that doesn't mean we don't get an immersive world that would be worhty of any epic tale. We're just very honed in on our two leads and their reconnecting. I did miss the pov of our second male lead though. I think that could have added a lot.

I actually really loved the world building. There are different cities mentioned and referenced that makes me wanna revisit this world, and I can definitely see more stories being told here. But I digress.

What we get is a second-chance romance that is heavy on the dialogue (as promised by the author) and a complex exploration of grief and longing that's really interesting when you put it through the lenses of characters that are either extremely long-lived or even immortal. Like, that changes things.

"How much suffering do you contain?" is asked at the beginning of the story, and I say, plenty more after finishing this read! But also hope and affirmation that things can get better. You just gotta find your counterweight.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"How much suffering do you contain?"

I adored this story of Haleth and Lhysander being given a second chance at life (or undeath) together. The grief and suffering from them being apart (and assumed dead), the magic of the reunion itself and learning to love the people they are now (while remembering the person they fell in love with all those centuries ago). This is what makes up the core of the book and I think it is handled greatly, making me really invested in their relationship. This tale is full of many emotional highs and lows, and I was loving every page of it.

I also loved the exploration into what makes a monster and Haleth arc regarding this throughout. The side cast was also interesting and I thought the world building was solid (I am keen to see this be further built on and explored in future books in this world).

Overall I had a great time with this story of loss, love and letting go of the past (while remembering it still ok to be a little sad). Sam has become a day 1 author for me and I am keen to see what future stories they bring us.

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩸 ARC Review 🗡️

What an amazing, immersive read “The Taste of You” was!

This was the first time I have been an ARC reader. When I read the premise alongside the descriptors of cosy, queer normative fantasy with inspirations from Baldur’s Gate 3 and Witcher, I knew I had to sign up and I’m extremely glad I did!

I’m really impressed how much world building and characterisation fit into one novel. Everything felt incredibly alive and all the characters, no matter how small their part, felt super personable and made me want to know more about them.

Haleth and Lhysander’s relationship was also so beautifully written. When they met again, I read it over and over again, you could tell how much hurt yet love there was between them. Plus I really enjoyed their flirty banter, it had me smiling for pages.

The darker themes like grief and prejudice were also very well written and had lots of nuance to offer that is very applicable to real life.

The only criticism I have is that I wish I had more content to read, I was not ready for the book to end!

But honestly Sam did such a great job with his debut novel and I can’t wait to read his other upcoming books!

[The Apron Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Sam Silberberg for this opportunity! All thoughts and opinions are my own:

A heartwarming romance between a vampire and a vampire hunter. I really enjoyed the romantic relationship between the MMC’s: I felt the connection and definitely the chemistry, both are such loveable characters! Especially Lhysander and his charisma and sarcastic comebacks!

The prose of the MMC’s being in a romantic relationship before Lhys turned brought a lot to the characters: grief, sadness, etc that was explored really well. For only being 329 pages, it packed a lot of world building, character pasts, and history. At some points, it did seem paced really fast and found myself wanting to be able to get used to the MMC or learn more about the past relationship of the MMC before they were departed.

Overall, i really enjoyed this book! If you’re looking for broody MMC x charismatic MMC, a heartwarming romance with some magical elements, this is the book for you!

[Rennae Kletzel-Gilham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had my eye on this book for a long time and was delighted when I was chosen to get an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sam Silberberg has written longing and grief so masterfully in this book that it’s highlighted in every interaction from the first page to the last. It’s not just a surface telling of two characters who long for the safety of each other in a world that can be devastatingly cruel. It’s the kind of writing that buries deep into your heart until you feel the weight of what’s happening right alongside the characters you’re rooting for.

I adore a good love story, but I appreciate that this book explores themes beyond love as well. What does it mean to be human? What constitutes being a monster? Can people go through horrendous events in their lives and retain the core of who they are? Should we expect them to? These are all questions explored in The Taste of You, and it adds to the depth of the story.

If you love fantasy, romance, angst, longing and a love that spans across the centuries, you won’t be disappointed.

[Tanya Hadzic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of getting to read this book before its release! Thank you Sam for trusting me with your work and letting me read it early!

Yall this one is so so good. It has all the cozy fantasy feelings with deep explorations on grief and a second chance at love. The atmosphere and the world the story takes place in is built so well, I found myself visualizing it easily and feeling all the little sensory details woven in along the way.

This book also does one of my favorite things with vampire characters which is really exploring morality and what immortality will look like.

The two main characters are also so deeply complex with so many layers to them that you forget they are a book character sometimes! The side characters are also so fun to read! I love Elyria myself!

I overall just had a really good time with this book, and also walked away having experienced a full circle of emotions from the journey I went on with these characters. Highly, highly recommend. 🙌

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for providing me with an arc of this book!

I love this book. It's equal parts bittersweet, sad, hopeful, cozy, and romantic all in an intriguing and fleshed out fantasy world. As a fantasy girly, I wanna know more about the world and the races and everything! If you're a fan of epic fantasy but wish the story was centered more on romance beats, and if you want a world that's queer normative and, though filled with monsters (literally Haleth is a monster hunter) but still feels like a place you want to stay, you will love this book.

Haleth and Lhysander's love story is so sweet. They both struggle, they both have trauma, but they can get past it together. Like they say in the book, "It's okay to be sad sometimes."

The only thing missing? a Lhysander POV! That would be the icing on top of this beautiful and heart-wrenching story.

I can't wait to read more in this world.

[katapolt13 · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️.5/5

Holy freaking yearning that I ended up feeling physically, deep inside of me. Right from the very first page, I connected to Haleth. It felt I could feel his emotions and I was utterly devastated. I really felt like I was along for the journey, the writing was a masterpiece. There are so many things that I loved about this book. I love the fact that things were not drug out, the pacing was so good and I loved that.

Haleth lost the love of his life nearly 3 centuries ago, but the time does not make it any easier. Feeling like a shell of himself, he does the one thing he knows, he hunts. He learned that making connections only leads to heartache and he has enough of that. When he is given a mission that will surely lead to his death, he finds that won’t be the worst thing.

✨ What to Expect ✨
🧛 Romantasy
👨🏻‍🤝‍👨🏽MM Romance
🔁 Second Chance
❤️‍🩹 Grief
🤭 Banter
⚔️ Hunter x Vampire

[Pepper_Mind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited for a year to read this book after seeng the author pitching it on social media, and wasn't disappointed.

It felt like Haleth was telling the story in real time and I was sucked so quickly while he travelled, meeting odd creatures along the way. Before I knew it I had read half the book.

The prose was clear, pragmatic and easy to read. Even a bit cold at the start which fit with the character's situation. It seemed to shift as Haleth developed and changed.

The worldbuilding was something else entirely and what I loved the most. Beyond that, I can't even pin point what it was, but I was hooked! I was trapped within Haleth's feelings, his conflicting thoughts, his doubts and his love for Lhysander.

I guess it was exactly that. The author did an amazing job writing feelings and hooking the reader. Just another chapter, and I was already done with it.

Can't wait to see what the author will do next.

[Autummskies · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I think the author did a fantastic job conveying grief as Haleth’s emotions really got to me. I also just loved the concept of learning to love your partner again after such a long time a part. Haleth and Lhysander went through so much, and learning how to be with one another again made this book really rewarding. Haleth in particular I found to be a fantastic character and I loved reading from his point of view. I also thought it was a fully fleshed out world with all of the elf types and lore, and I hope the author expands on this universe in potential future books!

I only wish the book was longer. I felt that there may have been some lulls in the middle, and I wished there was more after the end!

Overall, a really great standalone romance that I would recommend!!

Thanks to the author for an ARC! All thoughts are my own.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Read
Haleth is a sun elf in the throes of grief for his lost lover. He is also a renowned vampire hunter, so being given another assignment, despite it being outside the jurisdiction of the guild, is just another day. Things get far more complicated when his target is none other than his lost partner.
The world is a little hard to get your head around at the beginning, you’re thrown a lot of names, but once you do it’s great! There’s all manner of creatures, and despite it being a bit predictable I was so here for it! I also love Autariel she’s so sweet. It’s a journey in grief, unlearning prejudice, and of course love. There’s really heartwarming moments, yearning, and it might just be me but cosy vibes? I was so tense during those last chapters, I just needed a bit more as it felt a tad rushed.

[Elian · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you so much, Sam, for the opportunity to ARC read this book!

This book was a lovely read. The author truly delivered on their promise of cozy, sweet, *and* sad. I felt the emotions from the first page.

The world building is excellent and I felt truly immersed. It felt a tad rushed in some places and drawn out in others, but I never felt the desire to walk away from the book—I read the whole thing in one day because I didn’t want to put it down.

The MCs are lovable, and the side characters are fantastic. Autariel quickly became one of my favorites and I would gladly read an entire book about her (please?).

If you need to feel some feels, cry a little, and then smile with your whole face, this is the book for you.

[K.K. Salathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advance Copy Received from Author

This book had me hooked from the first page. You feel the emotions of the the characters, especially the MMC Haleth, so deeply. The writing is done incredibly well, and I was immediately sucked in and captured by the characters' journeys and world building.
Once I started reading, I did not stop until I was finished. I typically don't read novels that involve vampires as a MC, but I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book.
The author builds a world that is both exciting and easy to understand, and I never felt overwhelmed by information/lore.

This was one of my favorite reads of 2026, and should immediately go on your TBR.

[Zoe Slaughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the privilege of ARC reading this book and Haleth and Lhysander truly captured my heart ❤️ I read this in about two days.

The dynamic of love and grief between these two characters is beautifully written. The love scenes are well written and not heavy-handed on the spice.

The world is well captured, despite the primary focus on the conflict between monsters and humanoids, the setting feels focused, grounded and real.

This story will appeal to lovers of fantasy, second chance romance and queer normative stories.

I look forward to seeing what Sam Silberg has for us next

[A. Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from the author.

A cozy tale with sharp fangs, The Taste of You was a perfect read for the start of the fall season! I loved the characters, the effortlessly woven in worldbuilding, and the D&Desque feel to this story.

A monster hunter and a monster, second chance romance that is gentle and deep, and intriguing complex questions around grief, immortality, and “monsters” I had so much fun reading this one!

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grateful to have ARC read this one! 
This story definitely puts you through the wringer as I fell in love with Haleth and Lhysander right from the start.
It starts off slow with a build up around the relationship and the complex nature of the world they live in, to a fast paced roller coaster of emotions by the end.
This is a must read for fans of high fantasy, second chance romance, queer normative worlds, and morally complex stories.

[Hazel · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I hope there will be more novels in this world, and we get more time with Haleth and Lhysander. The pacing for the first half of the novel was fantastic, but I do wish the second half had slowed down just a little bit. I am glad there was a happy ending, though.