Category: Vampires - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

A Succulent Vampire Meal

10/9/2025

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

"In the end, we are always our hunger."

Atl has lost her family - and her safety along with them - and needs to get out of Mexico City before a rival vampire clan catches up to her. She doesn't need a human slowing her down, but Domingo - a garbage collector - is difficult to shake. He's too young, too naive, too damn sweet. But perhaps he may be of use to her... before she drains him dry. It's inevitable. Escape, however, is not.

This novel completely captivated me - and that's in no small part due to the incredible setting (it was practically tangible!) and Moreno-Garcia's confident (but not overdone) world-building. Every single character fascinated me. How I wish there was another book set in this world because I would happily return in an instant. Originally published in 2016, Certain Dark Things definitely deserved its 2021 resurrection.

A Lack of Tea

15/5/2024

A Tempest of Tea (Blood and Tea #1)
by Hafsah Faizal

Arthie Casimir runs a tearoom that morphs into a bloodhouse for vampires at night, but the main currency she deals in is secrets. A little bit of pressure gets her what she wants. This time, though, her tearoom is in enough trouble that a few secrets won't help her. She has to pull off a heist inside a vampiric lair and take down a ruler. In order to do all that, she needs a team. Trust is secondary.

I was excited to pick this book up from the library, since the tearoom-and-heist concept was right up my alley. Except there wasn't much of the tearoom or much of a heist. A lot of other things were going on instead. Disappointment quickly set in, though I was able to enjoy Faizal's beautiful phrasing and liked some of the characters (so full of hopes and flaws). I especially liked the hint about how revealing a secret can actually cover a bigger secret, since I guessed Arthie's secret early on... but I did not see the other reveal coming. I'm cautiously interested in book 2 (but I will hold the excitement for now...).

The End.

4/10/2022

The Highwayman's Bite (Scandals with Bite #6)
by Brooklyn Ann

After challenging a handsy member of society to a duel, Vivian Stratford is sent to cool her heels at her great-uncle's estate. Her journey is interrupted by a handsome highwayman - Rhys Berwyn, who is in fact a vampire and trying desperately to help his family keep their farm. When he discovers that Vivian is his enemy's kin, he hatches a ransom plot - but he never expected to fall for his captive.

I need to stop saying things like "this might be my favourite of the series" too early, because inevitably I'll get to the last book in the series (ahem, case in point - this book) and realise that my favourite was waiting for me to reach it all along. I loved The Highwayman's Bite so much I had dreams about it and I felt utterly bereft when I flicked away from the last page on my Kobo. Alas, the series is also over. What do I do with myself now?

Regency/Vampire/Road Trip/Awesome

3/10/2022

Wynter's Byte (Scandals with Bite #5)
by Brooklyn Ann

Justus de Wynter became a rogue vampire after he lost his love, but now he knows where she is - an asylum, where she has been locked up for 8 years, for claiming that her suitor was a vampire. Bethany Mead is happy to escape with Justus, but it's a case of frying pan to fire - rogue vampires are killed on sight and Justus needs permission to Change her. Can they possibly make a life together?

This might actually be my favourite book of the series, though it was entirely different from the usual blueprint and shouldn't have worked. But it did! Justus is such a great character - not only is he a reformed rake, but he's a reformed villain as well. I admittedly found him more interesting than the hero in the previous entry. I adored this Regency/vampire/road trip (lol) romance.

Once Bitten Twice Shy

3/10/2022

His Ruthless Bite (Scandals with Bite #4)
by Brooklyn Ann

Lenore Graves owes the Lord Vampire of Rochester a favour and now he's decided it's time to collect. Gavin Drake, Baron of Darkwood, needs a wife to fend off overzealous mortal mothers and he desires a vampire who is loyal and won't cause him too much trouble for the fifty years of their marital arrangement. Lenore wants a marriage in name only. But Gavin may just change her mind...

I was pleased to see that the author decided to change things up a bit with this book (i.e. not another vampire/mortal romance) and I had actually hoped to see more of Lenore, since I became quite attached to her in the previous entry. Still an excellent romance, but a tad wobbly in some areas (including editing). Presumably a side effect of the shift into indie publishing.

The Doctor and the Vampire

1/10/2022

Bite at First Sight (Scandals with Bite #3)
by Brooklyn Ann

Cassandra Burton, widowed countess and would-be doctor, has been excluded from obtaining a medical education due to her sex and must resort to grave robbing. But this lands her in the the path of Don Rafe Villar, who reveals himself as a vampire. She soon finds herself his prisoner - which gives her a fantastic opportunity to study his kind and hone her skills. And perhaps...indulge a little.

An immensely satisfying Regency/vampire romance, as with the others in the series. But this one contained a significant amount of action and excitement, which made me enjoy it all the more. Who'd have thought that I would ever find myself enjoying vampire politics? Ann has created a wonderful world of paranormal alt-history and I'm probably going to devour all the titles in the series.

A Regency Romance with Bite

1/10/2022

Bite Me, Your Grace (Scandals with Bite #1)
by Brooklyn Ann

Ian Ashton, Duke of Burnrath, is not enjoying the sudden obsession with vampires that an author has sparked. Because the close scrutiny may reveal the truth of his "skin condition". The perfect solution may very well have presented itself: Angelica Winthrop, who broke into his house because she needed writing inspiration. She wants to be ruined...but he has other plans for her.

I am loving this series so far. A Regency/vampire romance mashup? Yes, please! What I really enjoyed about this book was the use of historical figures and how seamlessly they fit into the narrative. And of course, the romance itself was delicious (ha!). Angelica is a great heroine and is given the opportunity to truly shine. Looking forward to sinking my teeth into the next one (#3, because I've read #2 already).

Vampires and Superheroes oh my

16/1/2021

The Labyrinth Index (The Laundry Files #9)
by Charles Stross

The United Kingdom is currently being run by an elder god, but it seems things are worse across the pond because most people there have forgotten the President exists. Enter Mhari, a vampire(?) who is being sent with a bunch of her colleagues to see if they can't help out the stricken US of A. Very weird things happen. Cthulu is involved.

I never, in my life, expected to stumble across a book that was a chaotic merging of Doctor Who, James Bond and Lovecraft. But it's definitely the most entertaining book to have emerged from that bargain box I bought last year. I did find it a little too choppy though, since the scenes were all arranged out of order (which can be a fun literary device, but I am so very tired and that state of being isn't likely to change soon). Jim and Mhari were a delight. This whole thing felt like a fever dream. I do think I liked it, however.