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Abiding Blood
A human with no one left. An ancient vampire running out of reasons to live. The end of the world might be exactly what brings them home.
When a deadly pandemic brings civilization to its knees, Julian retreats to his family's remote mountain cabin, hoping to wait out the worst of it. Instead, he finds himself alone in a world growing quieter by the day.
Until Vincent finds him.
Ancient, powerful, and decidedly not human, Vincent has survived centuries by keeping others at a distance. But as the world collapses around them, protecting Julian gives him something he hasn't had in a very long time: a reason to keep going.
Forced to shelter together through a brutal winter, the unlikely pair settle into a fragile routine. Julian has food, warmth, and the protection of a vampire strong enough to tear apart anything that threatens him. Vincent has companionship—and the one thing he needs to survive.
Julian's blood.
What begins as necessity soon becomes something neither man expected. But falling in love may be the easy part. Vincent is starving, other vampires are hunting the remaining humans, and the more Julian comes to mean to him, the more dangerous Vincent fears he might become.
To survive the end of the world, they'll have to decide what they're willing to risk for each other—and what makes a life worth living when everything else is gone.
Abiding Blood is a post-apocalyptic MM vampire romance featuring forced proximity, survival, hurt/comfort, an ancient vampire with a very protective streak, a human who refuses to let anyone make his choices for him, intimate blood-feeding, found family, and an HEA spanning a human lifetime.
When a deadly pandemic brings civilization to its knees, Julian retreats to his family's remote mountain cabin, hoping to wait out the worst of it. Instead, he finds himself alone in a world growing quieter by the day.
Until Vincent finds him.
Ancient, powerful, and decidedly not human, Vincent has survived centuries by keeping others at a distance. But as the world collapses around them, protecting Julian gives him something he hasn't had in a very long time: a reason to keep going.
Forced to shelter together through a brutal winter, the unlikely pair settle into a fragile routine. Julian has food, warmth, and the protection of a vampire strong enough to tear apart anything that threatens him. Vincent has companionship—and the one thing he needs to survive.
Julian's blood.
What begins as necessity soon becomes something neither man expected. But falling in love may be the easy part. Vincent is starving, other vampires are hunting the remaining humans, and the more Julian comes to mean to him, the more dangerous Vincent fears he might become.
To survive the end of the world, they'll have to decide what they're willing to risk for each other—and what makes a life worth living when everything else is gone.
Abiding Blood is a post-apocalyptic MM vampire romance featuring forced proximity, survival, hurt/comfort, an ancient vampire with a very protective streak, a human who refuses to let anyone make his choices for him, intimate blood-feeding, found family, and an HEA spanning a human lifetime.
- GenresM M Romance
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2026
About the author
A.R. Abbott
8 books12 followersA.R. Abbott is the author of The House of Ward series, a sweeping paranormal fantasy saga where vampires, witches, and shifters navigate treachery, passion, and ancient power. Known for her lush, character-driven storytelling, Abbott delves into themes of found family, desire, and the dangerous bargains of magic. A designer and illustrator as well as a writer, she draws on her love of folklore and paranormal romance to craft immersive worlds. She has lived across the globe with her diplomat husband and now calls Northern Virginia home.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
This was highly entertaining after the halfway mark. I strongly preferred the second half over the first. I was actually quite bored until that point but I stayed reading because I was curious. This was a solid post apocalyptic vampire romance and definitely unique.
This was highly entertaining after the halfway mark. I strongly preferred the second half over the first. I was actually quite bored until that point but I stayed reading because I was curious. This was a solid post apocalyptic vampire romance and definitely unique.
September 10, 2026
3.75⭐️
A virus is quickly taking over, killing humans and exhausting the food supply for vampires. Julian is a human who fled to a cabin just in time to be saved. Vincent is a vampire who is kind of stuck in his own ways, and doesn’t go with the vampire flow. This is a story of apocalyptic survival and romance between the two.
You’re going to get:
-lots of plot and world building
-forced proximity / reliance on each other
-vampire / human
-virus-induced apocalypse
-lots of death
This book was a mixed bag for me, but what I really enjoyed was the plot and setting. This is definitely plot heavy and with a slow start to the romance aspect. Like the MCs done even interact until 45% in kind of thing. If you’re down with that, you’re probably going to find yourself totally immersed in this story. Mixing an apocalypse with vampires and other paranormal beings was such a cool concept, and it really kept me engaged, even when there were parts where the plot or character actions didn’t 100% make sense. 😅 the prologue and epilogue definitely made a huge difference for me, and impacted the story very positively.
The only thing for me was that I found the writing to be a little soulless? Like the romance didn’t feel super passionate, and the characters seemed to arbitrarily care or not care about significant aspects of the story. The romance & characters didn’t particularly wow me.
If you like a unique story and are in it for a cool world with more of a side of MM romance, then this is going to be a treat for you! It definitely deserves more love!
However I want to list a couple TWs just in case: SPOILER ALERT. THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SENSITIVE READERS AND NEED TO KNOW!
-there’s a happy ending, but both characters die in the epilogue after a long, happy life
-the cat dies (that PMO for real it was so unnecessary)
Hope that may have saved a couple people 🙏
But if you can handle that, definitely worth a read for the cool plot!
A virus is quickly taking over, killing humans and exhausting the food supply for vampires. Julian is a human who fled to a cabin just in time to be saved. Vincent is a vampire who is kind of stuck in his own ways, and doesn’t go with the vampire flow. This is a story of apocalyptic survival and romance between the two.
You’re going to get:
-lots of plot and world building
-forced proximity / reliance on each other
-vampire / human
-virus-induced apocalypse
-lots of death
This book was a mixed bag for me, but what I really enjoyed was the plot and setting. This is definitely plot heavy and with a slow start to the romance aspect. Like the MCs done even interact until 45% in kind of thing. If you’re down with that, you’re probably going to find yourself totally immersed in this story. Mixing an apocalypse with vampires and other paranormal beings was such a cool concept, and it really kept me engaged, even when there were parts where the plot or character actions didn’t 100% make sense. 😅 the prologue and epilogue definitely made a huge difference for me, and impacted the story very positively.
The only thing for me was that I found the writing to be a little soulless? Like the romance didn’t feel super passionate, and the characters seemed to arbitrarily care or not care about significant aspects of the story. The romance & characters didn’t particularly wow me.
If you like a unique story and are in it for a cool world with more of a side of MM romance, then this is going to be a treat for you! It definitely deserves more love!
However I want to list a couple TWs just in case: SPOILER ALERT. THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SENSITIVE READERS AND NEED TO KNOW!
-there’s a happy ending, but both characters die in the epilogue after a long, happy life
-the cat dies (that PMO for real it was so unnecessary)
Hope that may have saved a couple people 🙏
But if you can handle that, definitely worth a read for the cool plot!
September 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ JULIAN AND VICTOR
Abiding Blood by A.R. Abbott was such an emotional little read—in the best way. This post-apocalyptic MM romance had a really interesting premise that I genuinely enjoyed.
I loved the idea of a virus that wiped out not only humans, but vampires too, because the vampires were feeding on infected humans. It added such an interesting twist to the post-apocalyptic world and made the story feel different from what I usually read.
I also really liked how the story opened in the present before taking us back through the events that led them there. It made me curious about what had happened and kept me invested in their story. The chemistry between the main characters was another highlight for me, and their connection brought a lot of emotion to the story.
This is a short read, but thankfully it never felt rushed. And that ending? Beautiful and poetic. It was such a fitting way to wrap everything up.
If you’re looking for a short, emotional, post-apocalyptic MM romance with an interesting twist, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Abiding Blood by A.R. Abbott was such an emotional little read—in the best way. This post-apocalyptic MM romance had a really interesting premise that I genuinely enjoyed.
I loved the idea of a virus that wiped out not only humans, but vampires too, because the vampires were feeding on infected humans. It added such an interesting twist to the post-apocalyptic world and made the story feel different from what I usually read.
I also really liked how the story opened in the present before taking us back through the events that led them there. It made me curious about what had happened and kept me invested in their story. The chemistry between the main characters was another highlight for me, and their connection brought a lot of emotion to the story.
This is a short read, but thankfully it never felt rushed. And that ending? Beautiful and poetic. It was such a fitting way to wrap everything up.
If you’re looking for a short, emotional, post-apocalyptic MM romance with an interesting twist, this one is definitely worth picking up.
gay-romance
August 27, 2026A truly wonderful and emotional ride, it was well worth picking up and trying for yourself!
This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I wasn’t sure at first how I’d feel about their style, but I quickly grew to love it. I’ll admit the prologue, set in the future rather than the current timeline, did confuse me at first—I thought I might have missed something—but that may have been more of a me issue than the author’s.
Initially, I wondered if the story would turn out to be a standard romance in an apocalyptic setting, but it soon proved to have much more depth. It drew me in with its compelling characters, their personal struggles, and the challenges they faced as survivors.
By the end, I had grown to love both characters and was surprised by how much I cared about their fate. The ending left me in tears—happy, sad, or maybe somewhere in between—I’m not quite sure, but it felt like the right conclusion for the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I wasn’t sure at first how I’d feel about their style, but I quickly grew to love it. I’ll admit the prologue, set in the future rather than the current timeline, did confuse me at first—I thought I might have missed something—but that may have been more of a me issue than the author’s.
Initially, I wondered if the story would turn out to be a standard romance in an apocalyptic setting, but it soon proved to have much more depth. It drew me in with its compelling characters, their personal struggles, and the challenges they faced as survivors.
By the end, I had grown to love both characters and was surprised by how much I cared about their fate. The ending left me in tears—happy, sad, or maybe somewhere in between—I’m not quite sure, but it felt like the right conclusion for the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 8, 2026
After an infectious apocalypse, Vincent, a vampire and Julian, a human find each other and agree to a protected relationship. Along the way, they fall in love. It's full of danger, violence, angst, and feeling with all the cool vampire stuff to give it that special touch. It also is romantic with an ending that had to be. I received a copy of this through BookSirens and this is my voluntary opinion.
September 8, 2026
I love a vampire MM story, and this one was quite good.
I did not expect that epilogue though, even if I had an inkling about it.
I received an ARC from Book Sirens for my honest review.
I did not expect that epilogue though, even if I had an inkling about it.
I received an ARC from Book Sirens for my honest review.
August 31, 2026
Tender. Heartbreaking. Thrilling. This one completely got me.
Full disclosure: A.R. Abbott is one of my favourite authors. I adore the House of Ward series, so I was very curious to see what they would do with something quite different. And although Abiding Blood is a departure from that series, I absolutely loved it.
It does start slowly. Initially, I wondered whether this was going to be a fairly standard romance transplanted into a post-apocalyptic setting. Then, somewhere along the way, it quietly got its claws into me - and by the final quarter, I was completely in its chokehold.
At the centre of the story are Julian, a human trying to survive a pandemic that has devastated the world, and Vincent, an ancient vampire who has spent centuries keeping others at a distance. Forced together through a brutal winter, what begins as survival gradually becomes something much more intimate.
I’m not normally a huge fan of insta-love, and while I wouldn’t quite describe this that way, Julian and Vincent’s relationship does develop quickly. But here it worked for me. When the world has essentially ended and tomorrow is anything but guaranteed, making the most of every moment suddenly feels entirely believable.
And underneath the vampires, blood-feeding and apocalypse, this is such a tender story. It’s about loneliness, companionship, choice, grief and finding a reason to keep going when almost everything else has disappeared. I grew so attached to Julian and Vincent that I was genuinely surprised by just how desperately I wanted things to be okay for them.
I actually caught myself thinking about my rating while I was reading. I knew I loved it, but did I LOVE it enough for five stars?
Then came that final quarter.
Yep. Five stars. No question. 😭
The ending absolutely destroyed me. Were they happy tears? Sad tears? Somewhere painfully in between? I’m still not entirely sure. But it felt right - and I think that made it hit even harder.
If you love vampire romance, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, protective vampires and star-crossed soulmates, put Abiding Blood very near the top of your TBR.
Just keep the tissues nearby.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Please check the content warnings before reading.
Full disclosure: A.R. Abbott is one of my favourite authors. I adore the House of Ward series, so I was very curious to see what they would do with something quite different. And although Abiding Blood is a departure from that series, I absolutely loved it.
It does start slowly. Initially, I wondered whether this was going to be a fairly standard romance transplanted into a post-apocalyptic setting. Then, somewhere along the way, it quietly got its claws into me - and by the final quarter, I was completely in its chokehold.
At the centre of the story are Julian, a human trying to survive a pandemic that has devastated the world, and Vincent, an ancient vampire who has spent centuries keeping others at a distance. Forced together through a brutal winter, what begins as survival gradually becomes something much more intimate.
I’m not normally a huge fan of insta-love, and while I wouldn’t quite describe this that way, Julian and Vincent’s relationship does develop quickly. But here it worked for me. When the world has essentially ended and tomorrow is anything but guaranteed, making the most of every moment suddenly feels entirely believable.
And underneath the vampires, blood-feeding and apocalypse, this is such a tender story. It’s about loneliness, companionship, choice, grief and finding a reason to keep going when almost everything else has disappeared. I grew so attached to Julian and Vincent that I was genuinely surprised by just how desperately I wanted things to be okay for them.
I actually caught myself thinking about my rating while I was reading. I knew I loved it, but did I LOVE it enough for five stars?
Then came that final quarter.
Yep. Five stars. No question. 😭
The ending absolutely destroyed me. Were they happy tears? Sad tears? Somewhere painfully in between? I’m still not entirely sure. But it felt right - and I think that made it hit even harder.
If you love vampire romance, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, protective vampires and star-crossed soulmates, put Abiding Blood very near the top of your TBR.
Just keep the tissues nearby.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Please check the content warnings before reading.
Read
September 1, 2026This was a new Author and a new venture into a Genre I am not familiar with.
I enjoyed the storyline, and the characters were fun to get to know and learn their way of life.
I am not sure on the Genre but, I enjoyed this read, and the world was built up enough that I could follow the storyline with ease. Not too much outside 'glutter' for me to be distracted by.
I would recommend as a read, especially if the Genre is something you are normally reading.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed the storyline, and the characters were fun to get to know and learn their way of life.
I am not sure on the Genre but, I enjoyed this read, and the world was built up enough that I could follow the storyline with ease. Not too much outside 'glutter' for me to be distracted by.
I would recommend as a read, especially if the Genre is something you are normally reading.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2026
This was an emotional ride and I loved every second of it, even if some scene made me want to cry and punch a vampire.
This book is about vampires, interspecies romance, and is very much an LGBTQ book.
This was a brilliant paranormal romance and I really enjoyed the book and if you like LGBTQ paranormal romances this book would definitely be one that you will want to read.
This book is about vampires, interspecies romance, and is very much an LGBTQ book.
This was a brilliant paranormal romance and I really enjoyed the book and if you like LGBTQ paranormal romances this book would definitely be one that you will want to read.
September 8, 2026
Loved it.
October 6, 2026
The world-building and setup really painted the picture for this post-apocalyptic MM paranormal romance. It was an emotional ride that truly felt like a unique story that hasn't been rehashed many times over. I love a good love story riddled with the struggles of survival and different worlds colliding. I especially enjoyed this because of the paranormal characters and the added challenges that came about from a vampire and human falling in love in this broken world.
The gradual build-up really made me feel like a part of this world as the story really picks up between the MMCs. I completely ate up their instant connection and romace in this broken world they form this bond to not only survive but find something meaningful to live for.
This story is one that left me feeling all kinds of emotions in the end. It's a beautiful story that made my heart ache in the best of ways for Julian and Vincent.
Tropes:
Post apocalyptic
MM Paranormal
Vampire + Human
Shifters
Forced proximity
Blood feeding
Slow-burn
Hurt/Comfort
Dual POV
Check TW
Thank you, BookSirens and A.R. Abbott, for the opportunity to read this book.
The gradual build-up really made me feel like a part of this world as the story really picks up between the MMCs. I completely ate up their instant connection and romace in this broken world they form this bond to not only survive but find something meaningful to live for.
This story is one that left me feeling all kinds of emotions in the end. It's a beautiful story that made my heart ache in the best of ways for Julian and Vincent.
Tropes:
Post apocalyptic
MM Paranormal
Vampire + Human
Shifters
Forced proximity
Blood feeding
Slow-burn
Hurt/Comfort
Dual POV
Check TW
Thank you, BookSirens and A.R. Abbott, for the opportunity to read this book.
September 21, 2026
The world is changing, humans are dying of a flu like disease & Vincent being a vampire, is having a hard time feeding. His own kind has taken to donors or bagged blood but Julian lives for the hunt. He doesn't kill, only takes what he needs. Julian a human has broken up with his boyfriend & is out with a friend when he encounters Vincent from afar. Thinking Vincent has the same pull Vincent is pulled by another human & chooses him instead. With the pandemic getting worse the healthy are fleeing, Vampires are kidnapping healthy humans. Alone in a cabin Julian is accosted by 2 vampires & Vincent comes to his rescue. They form an alliance, Vincent can feed off Julian & he will protect him. They still feel that pull from months ago & a romance ensues. There is low angst, vampires are still on the hunt, humans are still dying to this virus. For me there could've been a little more "gore & action" but the ending leaves you so full the want for more left me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Unforgettable.
If you are a fan of vampire romance, put this at the very top of your to-read list—just make sure you have a box of tissues nearby.
This book completely destroyed me in the absolute best way possible. At its core, it is a deeply emotional M/M romance centered on a fated love that feels larger than life itself. The connection between the two main characters is agonizingly tender, intense. and written with so much soul that you feel every ounce of their devotion, grief, and longing right in your chest.
It is a gorgeous, slow-burn emotional rollercoaster that will wring you out and patch you back together again.
A unforgettable 5-star read. If you love star-crossed soulmates, deep vulnerability, and eternal bonds, you will fall completely in love with this book.
If you are a fan of vampire romance, put this at the very top of your to-read list—just make sure you have a box of tissues nearby.
This book completely destroyed me in the absolute best way possible. At its core, it is a deeply emotional M/M romance centered on a fated love that feels larger than life itself. The connection between the two main characters is agonizingly tender, intense. and written with so much soul that you feel every ounce of their devotion, grief, and longing right in your chest.
It is a gorgeous, slow-burn emotional rollercoaster that will wring you out and patch you back together again.
A unforgettable 5-star read. If you love star-crossed soulmates, deep vulnerability, and eternal bonds, you will fall completely in love with this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When the world is falling apart, two will find they can not live with out one another.
Vincent has lived many years, but on night he meets a gentlemen that catches his and more.
Juliane has just left a relationship and was out for night cap with a friend and nothing more. In walks a beautiful man.
Soon, Julian will meet Vincent and their lives will change forever.
The world is under a crisis with a virus taking more than just humans. Julian heads out of town to his family's cabin to hold out for what was to be a short while. Soon there are more expected at his door.
Vincent is there to protect Julian, only Julian has other ideas. This is where I will leave you, as you need to pick up the book yourself to discover how it all goes down.
Vincent has lived many years, but on night he meets a gentlemen that catches his and more.
Juliane has just left a relationship and was out for night cap with a friend and nothing more. In walks a beautiful man.
Soon, Julian will meet Vincent and their lives will change forever.
The world is under a crisis with a virus taking more than just humans. Julian heads out of town to his family's cabin to hold out for what was to be a short while. Soon there are more expected at his door.
Vincent is there to protect Julian, only Julian has other ideas. This is where I will leave you, as you need to pick up the book yourself to discover how it all goes down.
October 14, 2026
This was a unique read that I enjoyed a lot! Julian and Vincent were such interesting characters to get to follow and I loved getting to watch their relationship develop throughout this story. The side characters felt fairly well fleshed out as well, which was a welcome change from some other romances I’ve read that clearly didn’t care about side characters all that much. I will admit that the first half of this story was a bit slow for my liking. It was good, just ended up being a bit boring for me at times. The second half, however, was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you’re looking for a solid apocalyptic vampire romance, check this one out! I received a free ARC of this, and I’m choosing to leave an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one gripped me until the end. The emotions that this book will have you feeling for a standalone is astounding. I liked how the ending and the beginning tie together and everything comes full circle. My favorite I think is Julian and especially Samson. These vampires are like the old school ones that they have to sleep during the day and can't go in sunlight. Vampires like Shifters do mate in this universe which I loved. The only thing I am still curious about by the end is if the butler Karl made it out alive with his family and if Julian's friend Emily made it out. I know we won't ever know and maybe they didn't but I'm curious.
Review of advance copy
Received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What a beautiful ending, had tears in my eyes. Couldn’t put the book down finished in 1 sitting, absolutely loved Vincent and Julian together 4/5 stars.
What a beautiful ending, had tears in my eyes. Couldn’t put the book down finished in 1 sitting, absolutely loved Vincent and Julian together 4/5 stars.
October 15, 2026
What a great take on a vampire romance! It had real feelings, hot sex, adventure, dystopian feels and such good cry moments. Really, all the things I could possibly ask for. Amazing book! It was well written and had a believable storyline. I loved it so much!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this read! I agree that the lead up felt a little long, but I really enjoyed the book overall. Pretty vamp mans and his man ❤️
September 15, 2026
Book was a little slow in the middle but to be expected with a dystopian world where they don’t know if anyone else is alive. Still loved the story and the last 10% was very action packed!
October 17, 2026
This was not for me. I was so bored and for some reason just kept reading.
October 21, 2026
I loved this!!!
got me all teary-eyed at the end 🥹🥺
got me all teary-eyed at the end 🥹🥺
September 23, 2026
This was an interesting take on a pre apocalyptic/post apocalyptic world. We get to see how Vincent and Julian live their normal lives for a bit until the sickness spreads across civilization and wipes out a large portion of the world. Then we get to see a world in which vampires have an ever dwindling food supply and it goes about as well as you’d expect.
I enjoyed the writing and the characters as well. Besides Nathaniel. I already have a prejudice against that name and I was sadly justified after reading this. Nathaniel did my boy Samson dirty and that’s just unforgivable.
The ending is a sweet HEA. The epilogue is a bittersweet HEA. Overall a good read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the writing and the characters as well. Besides Nathaniel. I already have a prejudice against that name and I was sadly justified after reading this. Nathaniel did my boy Samson dirty and that’s just unforgivable.
The ending is a sweet HEA. The epilogue is a bittersweet HEA. Overall a good read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews