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Sanctuary: A Noire Immortals Story

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Young love lost.
Two hearts in limbo.
An unbreakable bond.
A love story for the ages.

71 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2020

391 people are currently reading
755 people want to read

About the author

Alexandria House

44 books4,087 followers
About the author
A true southern girl, Alexandria House has an affinity for a good banana pudding, Neo Soul music, and tall black men in suits. When this music-loving fashionista is not shopping, she's writing steamy stories about real black love.

Verve Romance: @msalexhouse

Instagram: @msalexhouse

TikTok: @msalexhouse

Facebook: Alexandria House

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5 stars
740 (47%)
4 stars
431 (27%)
3 stars
301 (19%)
2 stars
78 (4%)
1 star
20 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
Profile Image for Bookishrealm.
3,241 reviews6,424 followers
October 31, 2020
This was different but in a good way!

I definitely admire the creativity that House put into writing this one. It wasn't like any paranormal romance that I've read before and j enjoyed learning about the world and the characters. I also enjoyed the fact that this was faded mates. That's definitely a trope that I haven't encountered before and it was well done. I really feel like my main criticism is that it just didn't click completely for me. I loved that it was a rekindling of the characters romance but I just didn't feel completely engaged. It was missing an emotional connection for me as a reader. Its not anything necessarily wrong on the authors end but I struggled a lot trying to feel and enjoy the romance between the two characters. I know that this was meant to be short but I also feel like some length would have made for an even better story. There could have been more world building which I already loved and more time for me to become invested in the characters. Overall, this was good and I'm looking forward to seeing how House explores paranormal romance in the future.
Profile Image for Crystal's Bookish Life.
1,027 reviews1,784 followers
February 8, 2022
Sam and Temple were high school sweethearts who were separated the night after a fateful prom. 20 years later Sam has tracked Temple down determined to convince her that he is her destiny.

This was a really unique concept, and I feel like it had a lot of potential. Very little characterization, not much of a plot, and TW for attempted suicide that was tossed out in conversation way too casually. I can see the appeal here, but I needed the concept and characters to be more fleshed out.
Profile Image for Dahyana.
695 reviews86 followers
July 28, 2023
Um, this was different. This was my first time reading a paranormal story. Though I didn't necessarily dislike this story, I'm not sure I loved it either. Temple and Sam's love was kismet. It was written in the stars. They reunited after 20 yrs for their inevitable second chance at love. 
I've never really been a fan of supernatural stories, but AH is such a genius, I wanted to indulge, and I love that I was able to experience this genre by her for the first time.
Profile Image for Shades N Pages .
1,002 reviews26 followers
October 14, 2020
Ms House has ventured over to the paranormal lane and I can tell you this, after reading this book, there should be no doubt, as a Black person, that we are royalty. Sam and Temple were high school lovers who lost contact on the night of their prom due to Sam disappearing and moving away. You guessed right, he ghosted her. Devastated, Temple attempts MULTIPLE times to move on, yet never shakes the feelings she developed for Sam as a teenager.

I can admit it, I didn’t expect this story. I expected two paranormal beings giving me the nastiest sex of 2020. I mean I deserve that LOL and IT IS Alex House. I mean, we got sex but that wasn’t the highlight for me. This book spoke to the paranormal lover and the Blackness in me. From the beginning I was invested in the storyline, the characters and the Nation of Bilowga. House pulled me in deeper with history of the nation, the Asili people and Sam’s duty as Baba aka Chief. Also, we find out why Sam and Temple has that deep, intense, soul searching love.

I know I say this all time but I wish this wasn’t a short( this is a compliment- don’t cuss me out Lol)because I wanted to see more. I wanted to see a scared and unsure Sam’s journey as he transformed to fulfill his prophesy and I wanted to see Temple gain the confidence to sit at his side as his queen. That would have been the icing on the cake for me. Overall, I am loving the author’s journey to the dark side and I can’t stop myself from thinking that this will eventually become a series. Please be a series. Kuddos to Ms House on her paranormal debut.
Profile Image for Jess Brady.
Author 1 book166 followers
June 27, 2023
The creativity and history that Alexandria House put into this story really shows her skillset as an author. I can't wait for more from this beautiful world she has just created.

Temple and Sampson's story starts off immediately. There is no hesitation before we are thrown into the story of two past lovers who have both had their hearts broken. Temple because she never knew the reason why and Sampson for the longing.

We get pieces of their love in the past in flashbacks and there is no denying the love these two shared, but Sampson's calling was too great to ignore. He knew he wasn't ready for Temple then, but he is now, and she isn't getting away so easily this time.

J. Shani Michaels and Winston James brought both characters to life in such a way I wasn't ready for this book to end when it did.

If I have one complaint it is that I wanted more. There were so much to their story that wasn't told, and I am hoping if Alexandria House continues on with this series we will get more of their story in other books. The possibilities really are endless in a story like this.
Profile Image for Annette Williams.
1,194 reviews413 followers
November 7, 2020
She’s baaaaaaaaack! Alexandria House came roaring back with a beautiful paranormal love story. Which, is something we don’t normally see from her. Temple and Sampson have a love that is spiritual, deep, and beautiful. I love how the author wove their past with the present. The descriptions of Sampson’s home country, the foliage, and the animals were so vivid it felt like I was transported to Bilowga. I got so sucked in when Sampson was explaining the history of Bilowga and the Asili tribe to Temple that I had to Google some of the information to see if it was a real nation of Africa. That’s how invested I was in this story. We also find out why Sam and Temple’s connection goes much deeper than she realized. Sanctuary a great read about black love and royalty. I hope to see more paranormal stories from Ms. House.
Profile Image for Kameel.
1,065 reviews294 followers
June 11, 2022
Sam & Temple….a second chance at love….Once Temple understood her position, she accepted her fate and embraced love with the love of her life.
Profile Image for Rashawnda.
1,391 reviews1,120 followers
August 15, 2022
Mkay Ms. House!!! This was an unexpected surprise! I really enjoyed Sam and Temple’s second chance at love! Sam and Temple were high school sweethearts and after giving up the goods on prom night, Sam up and left without a trace…. Now 20 years later he’s back to explain why. This was different and totally unexpected… sis said the peen was like an antibiotic…. 😅🤭Well then!!! That good ole immortal African peen had sis climbing the walls and transporting through dimensions! It was a short read and definitely left me satisfied while wanting more at the same time!
Profile Image for Poetic Diva504.
478 reviews86 followers
November 22, 2023
This story was different for me. The changes in POV every other sentence was too much for me. I couldn’t get invested in the characters. Maybe I’m just not a fan of omniscient POV, but I encourage you to read and make your own judgements.
Profile Image for BOOKLOVER_81.
2,325 reviews86 followers
April 27, 2024
Short and sweet.. young loves who find each other again. Narration 🤤🤤🤤 I love this author, but this book felt like a 3.5 rating. Nothing too special.

**Second chance
**Immortal
**Soulmates
**Chemistry 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Libby listen 🎶
Profile Image for Jessie.
220 reviews19 followers
November 12, 2020
Sanctuary was an excellent quick dip into Alexandria’s writing. She pulls you into the story with ease, prompting you to devour this novella without a second thought. Incredibly descriptive, her words unfold naturally and beautifully in your mind.

Temple and Sampson were high school sweethearts who ended in a cliche that every girl is warned of. But it’s not what she thinks. At all. When Sampson pops up in her life years later, after every other relationship of Temple’s has failed to deliver, the mutual chemistry is still so strong that they can’t deny it. These two were and are forever irreparably intertwined. Temple just didn’t realize just how true that rings and how much Sampson has changed.

The paranormal twist is intriguing and definitely something I want to read more of! Alex has a good thing going with the Noire Immortals, laying down a solid foundation for an epic new world and I hope to see this turn into a series. Overall Sanctuary is a fun, seductive read that will certainly satisfy your craving for something different!
Profile Image for Just A Girl With Spirit.
1,403 reviews13.3k followers
October 25, 2020
Dang I needed more! This was short and oh so sexy. Paranormal romance between two African gods—yes please. I love the second chance romance between these two, a high school romance that ended rather abruptly for reasons that you find out in the story.

I can’t wait for more from this author!!
Profile Image for Katrina (Catching up on Reviews).
668 reviews21 followers
October 21, 2025
Sanctuary: A Noir Immortals Story by Alexandria House is a gripping story that I really enjoyed, especially in audiobook form. The “immortal” aspect mentioned in the title wasn’t really my thing, so I knocked off a star, but overall it was very good. 4 stars.
Profile Image for Frida.
665 reviews27 followers
June 5, 2025
2.5⭐️ (I'm to mad to round it up, might change when I'm calmer).

I genuinely loved the premise of this novella. Like, grab-my-heart-and-tell-me-a-story loved it. Sampson and Temple, once high school sweethearts, torn apart after prom night only to be pulled back together twenty years later? Yes. Give me that ache, that weight of years, that fated spark reignited. And Sampson — the baba of the Asii people — held so much magnetic, myth-soaked promise I could practically taste the lore.

But here’s where it all slips through the cracks.

The romance — the soul of the story — felt far more like a flicker than a flame. Sampson’s reasoning for ghosting Temple after prom? Sure, valid in theory. But after the third repetition and zero follow-through across two decades, it stops sounding selfless and starts feeling suspicious. Baba doesn’t fail to mention (with almost performative pride) that Temple is the one... his one (!) and still, he made a conscious decision to stay away. Not once. Not twice. Over and over again.

And if you're going to pull the “I had all the time in the world, I had to understand me before I could do...” card, maybe don’t spend that time bedding a rotation of others while the so-called love of your life suffers in silence. AND DON'T FUCKING MENTION IT FIRST THING YOU TALK ABOUT THE FATEFUL NIGHT!!! That’s not eternal love. That’s eternal ego.

I wanted a real chase. I wanted devotion that burns through centuries. What I got was a man who saw her as inevitable and treated her like she’d be waiting until he was ready.

So yes, the bones of this story are alluring. The world is lush and dripping with mystery, and Temple deserves her own book of storms and second chances. But Sampson? His character arc was frustrating.

An enigma, yes. Dangerous? A little. Alluring? Sure....but only until you start listening too closely.
Profile Image for Keeping.Volumes.Harris.
273 reviews5 followers
December 28, 2025
This felt so different from what I’m used to coming from A. House, and I really enjoyed that. It gave me Black Panther/Wakanda vibes, which was fun and exciting. I loved the idea that they were meant to be together—it felt sweet and meaningful. I just wish it had been longer because I was enjoying it so much and didn’t want it to end.
Profile Image for DeWanna.
300 reviews9 followers
October 27, 2020
This is the first paranormal story that I completed and enjoyed. The writer's use of explaining the images and connecting them to the characters emotions was awesome. It was a nice pace read and an overall enjoyable story. Temple possesses a power that she does not realize. Sam gracefully grows into his position and patiently waits to be reconnected with his one true love.
Profile Image for Leonie.
272 reviews21 followers
April 6, 2021
This is one of the best novellas I have ever read and I did not expect it at all, what an incredibly pleasant surprise!

I loved how unique this was. I was so interested in learning about the paranormal aspect and the background of it all. The two main characters were really well-realized, as well. An immortal king with magical powers who calls his heroine love and worships the ground she walks on? Yes, please. If this had been a little longer and we had gotten more time to explore the world and the couple, this could have easily been a 5 star. Unfortunately, it was only 80 pages and I really wanted more time with this story...
Profile Image for Tiffany.
Author 4 books65 followers
November 26, 2020
This is my first book by House, but it won’t be my last. As a huge fan of mythology, immortals, and love - this story covered all the bases!

The character development and world building was phenomenal.

I would recommend this book to fans of Mythos and romance novels.
Profile Image for Mariam,.
674 reviews563 followers
February 11, 2021
1.5 Stars

This sucked.

The writing sucked cheese. The characters made no damn sense. Sex scenes were god awful. Cringey, corny and it made me wince because WOW I didn't know you could shudder in actual horror.

The only thing I liked in this book was when the hero called her Love. Damn me because I'm a sucker for that.
Profile Image for Kayla.
46 reviews6 followers
February 1, 2024
A quick read that was wayyy too short for my taste.

I enjoyed this too much and am craving more.
Profile Image for Kendra.
68 reviews2 followers
October 28, 2020
Great!

I loved it, wished it was longer!!! But I loved it! I have read all of this authors books an she has never let me down!
Profile Image for Natoi.
215 reviews
October 13, 2020
Safe Haven.

This book was sexy & short beautiful and funny. Sampson was beautiful and this love story was needed Black love & Royalty .Temple knew she was searching for something and it seemed so out of reach no matter how she tried until lost love became found love. Just beautiful
Profile Image for Q. Moore.
966 reviews38 followers
January 2, 2022
Any genre!

It doesn't matter what genre Ms. House writes she always brings the truth. She has once again written a great read. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Temple deserved to be completely loved by Sampson especially after two failed marriages. It was ironic that she met the love of her life as a teenager and finally realized it 20 years later.

I most definitely recommend this book. You will not be disappointed so download, enjoy, and read.
Profile Image for T. Meaux.
Author 11 books47 followers
December 30, 2020
True love

I really enjoyed this book and love that Alexandria House tried something different. The concept was a good idea and you could feel the love Temple and Sam had for one another. Alexandria House never disappoints.
Profile Image for wndrwtch_.
191 reviews7 followers
June 7, 2023
This book somehow managed to be both too short and too long, I can’t explain it better than that. It also felt too familiar, almost as if I’ve read it somewhere else before.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews

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