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Lavender Blue
LOVE MAKES THEM STRONG...AND WEAK.
Astrophel
As the next vampire king burdened with maintaining peace between his kind and humanity, Astrophel believes he understands the precarious balance of love and survival.
When he rescues a mysterious woman from a terrible fate in the slums, however, he learns that he has gravely underestimated the power of love as he finds himself growing weaker in her presence.
With an ancient enemy lurking in the shadows, Astrophel knows he must let the woman go, for he needs all his strength to fight.
But he can’t deny his growing affection for her.
In the end, he must choose to protect peace or save his heart.
Delora
Resigned to her fate in the slums, Delora discovers newfound hope when a gentleman saves her life.
Despite recognizing his vampiric nature, she senses a humanity within him that defies his monstrous reputation.
As she becomes entwined in his world as a maid to a young princess, Delora finds herself irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic vampire.
Their budding romance is threatened when they face a formidable adversary, forcing Delora to confront a harrowing choice—save herself or leave her vampire lord.
Set against the backdrop of Regency England and Ireland, this suspenseful gothic tale of unlikely love and peril will captivate readers seeking dark romance without explicit content.
Astrophel
As the next vampire king burdened with maintaining peace between his kind and humanity, Astrophel believes he understands the precarious balance of love and survival.
When he rescues a mysterious woman from a terrible fate in the slums, however, he learns that he has gravely underestimated the power of love as he finds himself growing weaker in her presence.
With an ancient enemy lurking in the shadows, Astrophel knows he must let the woman go, for he needs all his strength to fight.
But he can’t deny his growing affection for her.
In the end, he must choose to protect peace or save his heart.
Delora
Resigned to her fate in the slums, Delora discovers newfound hope when a gentleman saves her life.
Despite recognizing his vampiric nature, she senses a humanity within him that defies his monstrous reputation.
As she becomes entwined in his world as a maid to a young princess, Delora finds herself irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic vampire.
Their budding romance is threatened when they face a formidable adversary, forcing Delora to confront a harrowing choice—save herself or leave her vampire lord.
Set against the backdrop of Regency England and Ireland, this suspenseful gothic tale of unlikely love and peril will captivate readers seeking dark romance without explicit content.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2022
About the author
Amber Lei
15 books9 followersAmber Lei is an avid lover of mythical creatures and all things beautiful with a dash of spookiness. Blending her passion for myths with the allure of melancholy romance, she crafts spine-tingling stories without explicit content. When she’s not writing, Amber enjoys singing in the shower, binge-watching shows, or taking bizarre personality quizzes.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 22, 2022
Meet Astrophel, future king of the vampires and close friend of the ailing King George the Third. This alternate historical novel blends in a measure of fantasy, since among his many talents, Astrophel can literally leap tall buildings.
He's also a vampire with a conscience. Not for him the indiscriminate waylaying, and blood sucking, of unfortunate mortals. He's very careful about how he feeds his deepest craving.
Into his ordered, disciplined life comes Delora, with her unusual, and stunning, looks. The two could not be more opposite in personality and life situation, which is what makes this debut fantasy romance so intriguing. Set in early 19th century England and Ireland, I enjoyed reading how the relationship between the unlikely protagonists evolved.
All is not sunshine (he's a vampire, after all) and there's tragedy along the way. But I won't spoil the story. A worthy first outing that should appeal to fans of alternate history novels, especially those spiced with a touch of fantasy.
He's also a vampire with a conscience. Not for him the indiscriminate waylaying, and blood sucking, of unfortunate mortals. He's very careful about how he feeds his deepest craving.
Into his ordered, disciplined life comes Delora, with her unusual, and stunning, looks. The two could not be more opposite in personality and life situation, which is what makes this debut fantasy romance so intriguing. Set in early 19th century England and Ireland, I enjoyed reading how the relationship between the unlikely protagonists evolved.
All is not sunshine (he's a vampire, after all) and there's tragedy along the way. But I won't spoil the story. A worthy first outing that should appeal to fans of alternate history novels, especially those spiced with a touch of fantasy.
October 28, 2022
Great Debut
Luna Rugova's gothic brilliance shines in a romantic love between two unlikely people with this beautiful, devastating, and profoundly haunting masterpiece. A vampire heir and a human outcast steal the story in this genteel sweet slow-burn historical romance that parallel the life events of Princess Charlotte of Wales. I had heard of Princess Charlotte, but this book made me research her some more, and I found the author stayed true to the historical events of her life which made it even more fascinating. And still true to gothic fiction, Rugova weaves a dramatic tale in Lavender Blue ripe with death and loss but also triumphant, bittersweet love. A dark twist at the end is the cherry on top of this suspenseful debut. Can't wait for Book II. Highly recommend it if you like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights with a vampiric, supernatural twist.
Luna Rugova's gothic brilliance shines in a romantic love between two unlikely people with this beautiful, devastating, and profoundly haunting masterpiece. A vampire heir and a human outcast steal the story in this genteel sweet slow-burn historical romance that parallel the life events of Princess Charlotte of Wales. I had heard of Princess Charlotte, but this book made me research her some more, and I found the author stayed true to the historical events of her life which made it even more fascinating. And still true to gothic fiction, Rugova weaves a dramatic tale in Lavender Blue ripe with death and loss but also triumphant, bittersweet love. A dark twist at the end is the cherry on top of this suspenseful debut. Can't wait for Book II. Highly recommend it if you like Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights with a vampiric, supernatural twist.
October 24, 2022
A dark, steamy vampire romance
A luscious dark fantasy novel that I enjoyed reading. You know the feeling: I promise to sleep after I finish this chapter... or maybe the next one.
These vampires aren’t neither glittery nor lurking creatures that sleep on cemeteries, they are smart, sophisticated, and they surely know how to use their powers.
A steamy love story with slow burn and passionate lovers.
Highly recommended if you´re a fan of dark, historical fantasy and vampires. I´m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
You can read the full review at: https://steampunkcowunicorn.wordpress...
A luscious dark fantasy novel that I enjoyed reading. You know the feeling: I promise to sleep after I finish this chapter... or maybe the next one.
These vampires aren’t neither glittery nor lurking creatures that sleep on cemeteries, they are smart, sophisticated, and they surely know how to use their powers.
A steamy love story with slow burn and passionate lovers.
Highly recommended if you´re a fan of dark, historical fantasy and vampires. I´m looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
You can read the full review at: https://steampunkcowunicorn.wordpress...
October 23, 2022
Loved it!
A wonderful, romantic, regal, and intriguing story about royalty and vampires. I couldn't put the book down. I recommend this book!
A wonderful, romantic, regal, and intriguing story about royalty and vampires. I couldn't put the book down. I recommend this book!
November 20, 2022
Dark, emotive, and gothic
This was an eclectic mix of dark gothic fantasy romance. The main characters were all endearing and likeable, the setting authentic, and the villain switched and changed as the story progressed. This novel kept me on my toes! I’d have it worked out, then I wouldn’t! A very memorable story that I’ll remember for a long time—especially the tragic ending.
This was an eclectic mix of dark gothic fantasy romance. The main characters were all endearing and likeable, the setting authentic, and the villain switched and changed as the story progressed. This novel kept me on my toes! I’d have it worked out, then I wouldn’t! A very memorable story that I’ll remember for a long time—especially the tragic ending.
October 29, 2022
A true romance
Most romances of today are all about carnal flesh. Not this one.
This story was sweet and endearing that made your heart flutter, swoon and melt at the right moment.
Truly a masterpiece in its own right.
Most romances of today are all about carnal flesh. Not this one.
This story was sweet and endearing that made your heart flutter, swoon and melt at the right moment.
Truly a masterpiece in its own right.
February 27, 2026
1.5 stars, This review isn’t meant to tear the author down. I really liked the concept, which is why the execution disappointed me.
This book promises a gothic vampire romance, yet somehow forgets both the gothic and the romance. The vibe never quite settles into that dark gothic mood you expect. I even found myself forgetting that Astrophel is a vampire and only remembering when I saw 'vampire' next to his name. Until halfway through, it barely matters.
And the romance? It is strangely absent. There is very little that convincingly builds toward Delora and Astrophel falling in love. Whenever a scene introduces any type of intimacy, the chapter abruptly ends, followed by a time skip of several months. Are we meant to believe nothing meaningful happened in those months? The supposed highlights of their love story that do make the book are not particularly high. Their relationship feels more implied than experienced.
In fact, I often wondered whether the story was actually about Princess Charlotte instead. We learn far more about her than about Delora, who is supposed to be the protagonist. The amount of information about Charlotte would not have felt excessive if Delora had been given equal depth and focus. Right now, the balance between main character and side character feels off.
Chapter XXV, in particular, feels overly dramatic considering the shallow foundation of the relationship. The emotional payoff does not land because the buildup was too weak. I never truly felt invested in them.
Astrophel being the vampire king also leads nowhere substantial. He repeatedly leaves for his “duties,” yet we are never shown what those duties entail. It becomes a cycle: he leaves, he returns, he leaves again. Beyond Charlotte’s storyline, very little happens in his personal world. Who is Astrophel as an individual? What defines him and what does it mean for him to be the next vampire king? His title felt like it had no meaning.
Despite the time skips that technically stretch their relationship over a longer period, the pacing feels rushed. Many chapters read like summaries: a brief present moment followed by “this happened, then that happened.”
The twist arrives completely out of nowhere. There is no backstory, no foreshadowing, no gradual tension leading up to it. It feels random. It is like telling a story about a grandmother who takes a stroll in the park, only for her grandson to suddenly drown her because she is rich and he envies her wealth. Except we were never told she was rich. We were never told he envied her. The shock exists, but for all the wrong reasons. Without buildup, it feels hollow.
The final battle is also anticlimactic. It lasts mere seconds. Two vampires against an entire house, and it is over almost instantly? It is hard to believe and even harder to care.
The constant rush of sudden deaths and abrupt turns creates narrative whiplash. “He’s dead.” “She’s dead.” But to what end? None of it feels earned. None of it deepens the story in a meaningful way.
I feel like staying true to princess Charlottes real story got in the way of this work of fiction.
In the end, it did not make me feel anything. And for a gothic vampire romance, that may be the greatest disappointment of all.
That said, I do appreciate the author’s writing style. She clearly has a way with words. There is real potential here, and I hope she continues to grow into it.
This book promises a gothic vampire romance, yet somehow forgets both the gothic and the romance. The vibe never quite settles into that dark gothic mood you expect. I even found myself forgetting that Astrophel is a vampire and only remembering when I saw 'vampire' next to his name. Until halfway through, it barely matters.
And the romance? It is strangely absent. There is very little that convincingly builds toward Delora and Astrophel falling in love. Whenever a scene introduces any type of intimacy, the chapter abruptly ends, followed by a time skip of several months. Are we meant to believe nothing meaningful happened in those months? The supposed highlights of their love story that do make the book are not particularly high. Their relationship feels more implied than experienced.
In fact, I often wondered whether the story was actually about Princess Charlotte instead. We learn far more about her than about Delora, who is supposed to be the protagonist. The amount of information about Charlotte would not have felt excessive if Delora had been given equal depth and focus. Right now, the balance between main character and side character feels off.
Chapter XXV, in particular, feels overly dramatic considering the shallow foundation of the relationship. The emotional payoff does not land because the buildup was too weak. I never truly felt invested in them.
Astrophel being the vampire king also leads nowhere substantial. He repeatedly leaves for his “duties,” yet we are never shown what those duties entail. It becomes a cycle: he leaves, he returns, he leaves again. Beyond Charlotte’s storyline, very little happens in his personal world. Who is Astrophel as an individual? What defines him and what does it mean for him to be the next vampire king? His title felt like it had no meaning.
Despite the time skips that technically stretch their relationship over a longer period, the pacing feels rushed. Many chapters read like summaries: a brief present moment followed by “this happened, then that happened.”
The twist arrives completely out of nowhere. There is no backstory, no foreshadowing, no gradual tension leading up to it. It feels random. It is like telling a story about a grandmother who takes a stroll in the park, only for her grandson to suddenly drown her because she is rich and he envies her wealth. Except we were never told she was rich. We were never told he envied her. The shock exists, but for all the wrong reasons. Without buildup, it feels hollow.
The final battle is also anticlimactic. It lasts mere seconds. Two vampires against an entire house, and it is over almost instantly? It is hard to believe and even harder to care.
The constant rush of sudden deaths and abrupt turns creates narrative whiplash. “He’s dead.” “She’s dead.” But to what end? None of it feels earned. None of it deepens the story in a meaningful way.
I feel like staying true to princess Charlottes real story got in the way of this work of fiction.
In the end, it did not make me feel anything. And for a gothic vampire romance, that may be the greatest disappointment of all.
That said, I do appreciate the author’s writing style. She clearly has a way with words. There is real potential here, and I hope she continues to grow into it.
May 30, 2024
Good story! I wouldn't consider it neither a Gothic nor a Romance though.
The story was interesting and had a good plot, but the romance was not explored too much, which, in my opinion, also lacked the majority of motif that make a text a gothic novel. Personally, I think this novel needs good editing, as I did not understand many things about the world-building and the vampire society in this story. I felt that I did not learn who the main characters were as individuals, and their romance felt flat, which is sad as I really liked the idea of combining regency society with Gothic features.
ALSO...THIS WAS WAY TOO CLEAN...LIKE TOO CLEAN
Tags:
Paranormal MMC👻🧚🏼♂️🧙🏼♂️
Vampire/Human🧛 💕 ⌛
Historical-Monster Romance⚔️🏰🐲
Friends to lovers🤤😳 🥰
Mitual pinning ❤️🩹💔
Clean/ Fade to black romance 👼🏻👼🏻👼🏻
Parental death(mentioned)
Blood 🩸🩸🩸 🪔🩸💔
Character deaths💀🪔⚰️
Standalone👤🤩 🥳
The story was interesting and had a good plot, but the romance was not explored too much, which, in my opinion, also lacked the majority of motif that make a text a gothic novel. Personally, I think this novel needs good editing, as I did not understand many things about the world-building and the vampire society in this story. I felt that I did not learn who the main characters were as individuals, and their romance felt flat, which is sad as I really liked the idea of combining regency society with Gothic features.
Tags:
Paranormal MMC👻🧚🏼♂️🧙🏼♂️
Vampire/Human🧛 💕 ⌛
Historical-Monster Romance⚔️🏰🐲
Friends to lovers🤤😳 🥰
Mitual pinning ❤️🩹💔
Clean/ Fade to black romance 👼🏻👼🏻👼🏻
Parental death(mentioned)
Blood 🩸🩸🩸 🪔🩸💔
Character deaths💀🪔⚰️
Standalone👤🤩 🥳
July 16, 2024
A regency romance between a vampire and an albino sounds like an interesting combination, but I felt that some of the romantic tension and chemistry was lacking. The story takes place over many years, so you never feel that sense of urgency to be together. Even though the MMC seems to have those thoughts, he never acts on them, and it’s up to the FMC to make all the moves, which is unexpected for the setting and kind of unsatisfying. The sudden betrayal in the end should’ve been signaled better throughout, because it comes out of nowhere and the events following seem dreadfully sad for no real reason.
January 26, 2023
I just want to read a historical vampire romance that's well written, paced, and plotted. Is that so much to ask? This author was so hellbent on sticking to the details of Princess Charlotte's real life that they forgot to actually write the romance part of "A Regeny Gothic Vampire Romance". Apparently, the couple fell in love over the several years that the book took place, but we'd never know because we only see the smallest glimpses of them actually interacting in a meaningful way on page. Not for me, thanks.
On to the next one!
On to the next one!
September 16, 2024
beautifully crafted tale of love, healing, and self-discovery. Set in a world rich with emotion, the story follows complex characters navigating pain and loss while finding hope in the smallest moments. Rugova's lyrical prose and vivid imagery create a deeply immersive reading experience, blending heartache with warmth in a delicate balance that resonates long after the book ends.
June 5, 2023
Ok
Super quick read. This is definitely not what I would call a gothic romance. Its more like teen rated historical romance. All in all, I think it would be more palatable to a young audience, but it was ok to read.
Super quick read. This is definitely not what I would call a gothic romance. Its more like teen rated historical romance. All in all, I think it would be more palatable to a young audience, but it was ok to read.
September 3, 2024
It’s a cute story but predictable
I like the banter of the characters and the descriptions of each. But something telling me I’ve heard the story a few times over the years and it failed to impress me.
The book was fine just predictable .
I like the banter of the characters and the descriptions of each. But something telling me I’ve heard the story a few times over the years and it failed to impress me.
The book was fine just predictable .
Want to Read
October 28, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/27/2022)! 🎁
October 29, 2022
a tragedy with hope
What a wonderful vampire romance set as prices Charlotte comes of age. I look forward to the next book in the series.
What a wonderful vampire romance set as prices Charlotte comes of age. I look forward to the next book in the series.
September 2, 2023
This book was okay very slow it really didn’t start to pick up until the end of the book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews