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The Wanting House: A Gothic Historical Vampire Romance
341 pages, Paperback
Published August 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 8, 2026
I’ve read 40+ books this year and handed out maybe 3–4 five-star ratings. The Wanting House just earned one.
This book had a GRIP on me from Chapter 2.
Margot Wilder wastes absolutely no time building the lust and wanting between Broderick and Lillian. Their connection is there almost immediately, but somehow it never feels rushed or overdone. Instead, the tension just keeps building until you’re completely invested in these two.
And I was INVESTED.
I smiled.
I was tense.
I was mad.
I was kicking my feet.
And then I CRIED.
Like actual tears.
For context: this is only the second book I’ve read this year that has made me cry.
The best way I can describe The Wanting House is Twilight meets Romeo and Juliet in a Victorian-like era, forbidden love, vampires, impossible choices, obsession, sacrifice, and that desperate we should not be together but I cannot stay away from you kind of love.
Broderick and Lillian absolutely wrecked me.
And the biggest endorsement I can give it?
I read the entire book in TWO SITTINGS.
Seven hours.
That was it. My day belonged to Broderick and Lillian. 😂
I genuinely could not put it down, and by the end I went from “this is definitely going to be five stars” to staring at my book emotionally destroyed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of my very few five-star reads of 2026.
Margot Wilder, respectfully… what the hell did you do to me?
This book had a GRIP on me from Chapter 2.
Margot Wilder wastes absolutely no time building the lust and wanting between Broderick and Lillian. Their connection is there almost immediately, but somehow it never feels rushed or overdone. Instead, the tension just keeps building until you’re completely invested in these two.
And I was INVESTED.
I smiled.
I was tense.
I was mad.
I was kicking my feet.
And then I CRIED.
Like actual tears.
For context: this is only the second book I’ve read this year that has made me cry.
The best way I can describe The Wanting House is Twilight meets Romeo and Juliet in a Victorian-like era, forbidden love, vampires, impossible choices, obsession, sacrifice, and that desperate we should not be together but I cannot stay away from you kind of love.
Broderick and Lillian absolutely wrecked me.
And the biggest endorsement I can give it?
I read the entire book in TWO SITTINGS.
Seven hours.
That was it. My day belonged to Broderick and Lillian. 😂
I genuinely could not put it down, and by the end I went from “this is definitely going to be five stars” to staring at my book emotionally destroyed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of my very few five-star reads of 2026.
Margot Wilder, respectfully… what the hell did you do to me?
August 29, 2026
The Wanting House was one of the best books I’ve read this year. Dark, decadent, and utterly atmospheric, it felt less like reading a story and more like stepping through the doors of the Wanting House myself. Margot Wilder’s writing is incredibly evocative and cinematic. I could see the rooms, feel the shadows gathering in their corners, and sense that quiet thread of danger beneath even the most beautiful moments. She writes with such vivid detail that I could picture everything happening beyond the immediate scene, as though an entire world continued breathing at its edges, without ever pulling my attention away from the story unfolding before me.
I was surprised by how much tenderness existed within such a dark story. Despite the setting and the more provocative elements surrounding the Wanting House, the intimacy never felt cheap or included simply for shock value. The romance and spice were written with an unexpected beauty, weaving desire together with vulnerability, consent, and genuine emotional connection. Broderick’s protective, almost reverent devotion to Lillian was particularly endearing against the darker backdrop of the story.
The character development and world building were equally impressive. I loved watching the characters reveal themselves gradually rather than being handed everything at once, especially as the mystery tightened and the danger surrounding the house, and lurking beyond it, began to take shape. I felt a genuine connection to Lillian and understood her choices and thought processes throughout the story. Some of that came from recognizing pieces of myself in her, but much of it came from how skillfully Wilder brought her to life.
And the finale. It may be the best-executed ending I’ve read this year. It gave me actual goosebumps. The plot had already kept its claws in me, but the final stretch tightened them completely. Everything built toward an ending that felt deliberate, haunting, and incredibly satisfying while still leaving me desperate to read what comes next. The Wanting House is seductive, haunting, romantic, and beautifully written, with all the richness and atmosphere of a gothic film. I will absolutely be returning to Vermillion for book two.
I highly, highly recommend this book if you love:
❦ Gilded Age romance
✦ touch her and die
❦ alpha caregiver hero
✦ virgin heroine
❦ vampire blood bonds
✦ vampire brothel
❦ gothic vibes
✦ dark world
❦ consent
✦ obsessed hero
Thank you so so much to the author for allowing me to enter The Wanting House early.
I was surprised by how much tenderness existed within such a dark story. Despite the setting and the more provocative elements surrounding the Wanting House, the intimacy never felt cheap or included simply for shock value. The romance and spice were written with an unexpected beauty, weaving desire together with vulnerability, consent, and genuine emotional connection. Broderick’s protective, almost reverent devotion to Lillian was particularly endearing against the darker backdrop of the story.
The character development and world building were equally impressive. I loved watching the characters reveal themselves gradually rather than being handed everything at once, especially as the mystery tightened and the danger surrounding the house, and lurking beyond it, began to take shape. I felt a genuine connection to Lillian and understood her choices and thought processes throughout the story. Some of that came from recognizing pieces of myself in her, but much of it came from how skillfully Wilder brought her to life.
And the finale. It may be the best-executed ending I’ve read this year. It gave me actual goosebumps. The plot had already kept its claws in me, but the final stretch tightened them completely. Everything built toward an ending that felt deliberate, haunting, and incredibly satisfying while still leaving me desperate to read what comes next. The Wanting House is seductive, haunting, romantic, and beautifully written, with all the richness and atmosphere of a gothic film. I will absolutely be returning to Vermillion for book two.
I highly, highly recommend this book if you love:
❦ Gilded Age romance
✦ touch her and die
❦ alpha caregiver hero
✦ virgin heroine
❦ vampire blood bonds
✦ vampire brothel
❦ gothic vibes
✦ dark world
❦ consent
✦ obsessed hero
Thank you so so much to the author for allowing me to enter The Wanting House early.
September 6, 2026
** ARC Review Incoming **
Thank you to Margot Wilder and Cracked Pepper Books for allowing me to be part of the Arc Team and for giving me a free copy of this book.
I really enjoyed The Wanting House and I’m genuinely hoping Margot Wilder has plans to turn this into a series because I am not done with this world or these characters!
The writing was beautifully atmospheric, with just the right amount of description to pull you into the setting without slowing the story down. The characters were given enough depth to make me invested, but also left me wanting more — more backstory, more development, more books please!
The romance was intense and completely suited to the gothic feel of the story. I’m not normally a huge fan of historical settings, but it worked SO well here and really added to that classic vampire atmosphere. Although the stories are very different, there were moments where I got definite Bram Stoker’s Dracula vibes — dark, seductive, eerie and deliciously gothic.
A really enjoyable take on the classic vampire story and absolutely worth picking up if you love your vampires with atmosphere, intensity and a proper old-school gothic feel.
Thank you to Margot Wilder and Cracked Pepper Books for allowing me to be part of the Arc Team and for giving me a free copy of this book.
I really enjoyed The Wanting House and I’m genuinely hoping Margot Wilder has plans to turn this into a series because I am not done with this world or these characters!
The writing was beautifully atmospheric, with just the right amount of description to pull you into the setting without slowing the story down. The characters were given enough depth to make me invested, but also left me wanting more — more backstory, more development, more books please!
The romance was intense and completely suited to the gothic feel of the story. I’m not normally a huge fan of historical settings, but it worked SO well here and really added to that classic vampire atmosphere. Although the stories are very different, there were moments where I got definite Bram Stoker’s Dracula vibes — dark, seductive, eerie and deliciously gothic.
A really enjoyable take on the classic vampire story and absolutely worth picking up if you love your vampires with atmosphere, intensity and a proper old-school gothic feel.
September 11, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. There was something about the Wanting House, the dark atmosphere, the mystery, and Broderick that completely pulled me in. I was obsessed from the beginning and honestly did not want this book to end.
The deeper I got into the story, the more I needed to know what was happening, and that eerie feeling that something was lurking just beyond the threshold kept me completely hooked. Broderick was everything I wanted him to be, and the tension, darkness, and obsession made this such an addictive read.
I wanted more of everything. More of the house. More of the secrets. More of Broderick. More of that deliciously unsettling atmosphere.
That ending came way too soon because I genuinely could have stayed in this twisted little world for so much longer. This is exactly the kind of dark, gothic story I love getting completely lost in. I cannot wait for the next book!!!
The deeper I got into the story, the more I needed to know what was happening, and that eerie feeling that something was lurking just beyond the threshold kept me completely hooked. Broderick was everything I wanted him to be, and the tension, darkness, and obsession made this such an addictive read.
I wanted more of everything. More of the house. More of the secrets. More of Broderick. More of that deliciously unsettling atmosphere.
That ending came way too soon because I genuinely could have stayed in this twisted little world for so much longer. This is exactly the kind of dark, gothic story I love getting completely lost in. I cannot wait for the next book!!!
September 10, 2026
Do you feel dead inside? That was the advertisement in the back of Harper’s Bazaar. The one that caught Lillian’s attention.
And yes, yes she did.
I saw this book pop up on my feed and was immediately intrigued:
Vampires who abide by the laws of consent.
A female-pleasure-centered story.
The MMC is Scottish.
And DID I MENTION THIS VAMPIRE STORY IS SET IN THE OLD WEST?!?!
If you know me at all, you know I’m a sucker for a green-flag vampire—especially one who goes down bad, violently, the second he meets THE ONE. I cannot say enough good things about
And yes, yes she did.
I saw this book pop up on my feed and was immediately intrigued:
Vampires who abide by the laws of consent.
A female-pleasure-centered story.
The MMC is Scottish.
And DID I MENTION THIS VAMPIRE STORY IS SET IN THE OLD WEST?!?!
If you know me at all, you know I’m a sucker for a green-flag vampire—especially one who goes down bad, violently, the second he meets THE ONE. I cannot say enough good things about
September 5, 2026
This book was deliciously dark, and incredibly spicy 🥵. The world building and pacing had me hooked right from the start! It is packed full of gritty fantasy violence and adventure, mixed with the yearning of a bonded pair. I am also truly a sucker for found family, and Margot did not disappoint 🥰. It’s perfect for people who love twilight, true blood, or Buffy in my opinion!! I cannot wait for the next one 🤩
September 6, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed my reading of this book. The only thing that made this a 4.5 and not a 5 is because some parts of the books where repeated too much time for « no reason » and some parts where not explained enough leaving me guessing but besides this small point, I really liked the chemistry between the FMC & MMC. The setting and atmosphere was perfect and I had to force myself to stop reading at night when I had work in the morning 😅
A really good book for an automnal read 🖤🔥
I really enjoyed my reading of this book. The only thing that made this a 4.5 and not a 5 is because some parts of the books where repeated too much time for « no reason » and some parts where not explained enough leaving me guessing but besides this small point, I really liked the chemistry between the FMC & MMC. The setting and atmosphere was perfect and I had to force myself to stop reading at night when I had work in the morning 😅
A really good book for an automnal read 🖤🔥
September 10, 2026
This atmospheric and dark story quickly pulls you in and immerses you in both Lillian and Broderick’s story. The gothic world they are navigating makes you even more surprised how emotionally connected they become. There’s a tenderness and protectiveness from both of them to each other that warns your heart and thoroughly enjoyed this vampire story. Overall 4.5 stars.
September 6, 2026
This was absolutely gripping! I had trouble putting this one down! Immediate spice. A Vampire brothel?!? Whats not to love? Complete with an amazing love story that will make youre heart ache
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews