Book: Vow of Eternal Night by Lily Crozier
Reviewed by Michelles_Cosy_Booknook
Rating: 4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Vow of Eternal Night is a historical gothic romantasy featuring a slow-burn romance, with forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers tension, and classic vampire lore.
The story follows Clara, the 25-year-old daughter of the village mayor. Despite her generous dowry, she's become something of a social outcast with no marriage prospects among the European nobility... or so she thinks.
As it turns out, there is one suitor.
The terrifying, reclusive vampire prince who resides in the castle overlooking the cliffs.
From the opening chapters, I was completely sold on the eerie, atmospheric gothic setting. It gave me the same hauntingly romantic feeling I get from Bram Stoker's Dracula, and I couldn't wait to see where the story would take me.
As the plot unfolded, it became clear that there were echoes of Beauty and the Beast, but rather than feeling like a retelling, those familiar elements simply provided a foundation for Lily Crozier to build something that felt very much her own.
The pacing was one of the book's strengths. It never felt rushed, allowing the world, mystery, and romance to develop naturally, while still keeping me turning the pages.
Characters
Clara was easily my favourite character. Despite being shunned by almost everyone around her, she continues to see the good in others. She's compassionate without being weak, fiercely independent, wonderfully sarcastic at times, and although she's occasionally a little too trusting, that only made her feel more human.
Raleigh, the centuries-old vampire prince and ruler of the village, certainly has the mystery and intimidating presence you'd expect. However, I struggled to connect with him as deeply as I did Clara. I wanted a little more insight into his personality, as I didn't quite feel convinced by the emotional progression of the romance between them.
If you love classic vampire mythology, atmospheric gothic settings, slow-burn romance, and fairy-tale-inspired fantasy, Vow of Eternal Night is well worth picking up.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
Will I be keeping an eye out for Lily Crozier's future releases? Without a doubt.