The Ravenous Fate takes place in the 1920's in Harlem and the vibes and setting are well thought out and written well. In this world, there are vampires, reapers, humans, gangs, and vampire hunters. The main characters Layla and Elise are opposites and have a complicated relationship as they are 2 different beings that normally shouldn't work together. The chemistry and tension between them was so good especially them working together to see what was happening to the vampires in their city. I liked how their relationship developed and I'm rooting for them so bad.

Initial reaction: I wanted to like this much more than I did, but alas. If you are coming through the gate boasting a YA sapphic, historical PNR, that is what I expect. The romance in this between leads is not strong (has moments, but ehhh) and the link to the Harlem Renaissance is so threadbare, I'm like "How apart from some very minimal references were we supposed to get that here?" I'm frankly disappointed in it for that, but what keeps me wanting to read on in this series is for some of the darker plot elements, character work, and wanting to know where it goes. 3 stars.

Full review:

I'm being generous giving this book 3 stars y'all - this will probably make my most disappointing reads list of 2025 and were not that far into the new year. (It released last year in 2024, but I'm getting to it a bit belated.) This is probably going to be more of a rant review, fair warning. I want the author to really step it up for improvement in the next book in this series, so I'm going to be blunt in this overarching review.

We need to talk about matters of "expectations" vs. "reality" when it comes to books and marketing. Granted, there were parts of "This Ravenous Fate" that intrigued me. I even liked pieces of the darker turns of story this offered. But if you're promising a YA sapphic romance set during the Harlem Renaissance, and you give me two leading characters that have far better chemistry with other people and a barely there backdrop to take from? (I agree with others that it probably would have been better set in a fantasy setting. We're going to have problems. And it's not that I mean this to sound pointed, but I can't tell you how disappointing it was to read this and feel not only like it was a slog to get through (despite good moments! Like the bare bones and intention of this tale wasn't bad!), but feel like it was weaker than the promise of what it was selling.

Even if you're promising a "enemies to lovers" focus, I would expect the characters to at least have chemistry that's believable but...we get this? A lot of back and forth over however many pages (480 pages in my galley copy, but I also listened to the 14 hour and some change audiobook, which had a meh narrator, unfortunately)? *sighs* Let's talk then.

"This Ravenous Fate" tells the story of two girls - Elise Saint and Layla Quinn - living during the Harlem Renaissance (1926) in New York. Elise is from a very prominent family that is trying to combat the reapers (vampires) overrunning the city. She's just returned from a long trip to Paris, and set to inherit the family empire (protecting humans from reapers) from her domineering, high expectations father. Layla used to be friends with Elise, but having become a reaper and having lost everything she loved, Layla has understandable bitterness towards Elise. But the girls end up being forced together in proximity again as Layla is accused of a crime and Layla can't remember the events of what actually happened. So the narrative toggles back and forth in the animosity between the girls as they try to discover the details surrounding the crime, and reapers becoming human again before they die. Also wondering if there's a possible cure for the vampirism overtaking the city. And there's a "romance" between Elise and Layla. That's the long and short of what this book is about.

Let me tell you what I liked in this first before I dig my nails into what I didn't: I liked Layla's character, least for backstory and key character moments. She was a Black girl who had every reason to feel as bitter as she did considering the things that happened to her. She's a reaper who had lost so much of what she loved, including her humanity, shunned by the family of the friend she used to know and love, tries to fit in with a coven with expectations set for her, tried to do her best to help those around her where she could. The moments where her anguish and rage were on the page were *chef's kiss*. It took a while getting there, but in the moments I felt it - felt for her - I *felt* it.

I liked the central idea of the novel for the conflict. You can tell that there are shady happenings happening in the background and when the reveals "drop", I at least appreciated with respect to where it wanted to go and attempted to do. I could get behind it for intent.

The dark pieces of this story were intriguing - when they landed, landed well. I especially liked how brutal it was when we came to the moments where that was played out on page. It might have taken a while getting there, but when they landed, I saw the potential where it was.

Now let me talk about all the bad parts because...whew. Elise and Layla's chemistry was very forced and threadbare. They were assumed to have a previous relationship, but there was barely any warmth and the moments we got were info dumped. Elise had greater chemistry with Sterling of all people over Layla. Like you can tell that there was antagonism in the relationship between him and Elise, but there was also the warmth. Where was that with her and Layla?

Elise was also so shallow and privileged that it was very hard to be able to see her perspective, longing and confliction on Layla without it feeling inauthentic. If you want me to believe in a strong sapphic relationship between these characters, make me - readers - feel it. Put it on the page, dig deep - the moments of hinted, vague lust and forced proximity were not it.

The lack of setting details really disappointed me. This is supposed to be during the Harlem Renaissance in New York of all places. The music, the culture, the immersion - that was all missing. If you're talking about the richness of Black culture during this time - dig as much as you want and play it out on page. Vague mentions of jazz and some of the clothing and no kind of detail for anything else made this feel underwhelming. Had the narrative been as long as it was and had that detail done well, I might've been more inclined to forgive it. But it felt even underwhelming on the worldbuilding. I agree with some perspectives that it would have almost been better to have it not set in a period and just gone in a fantasy world direction, but even the fantasy world would have needed better building up for this to work. Some parts were okay, but it needed more cohesively.

The withholding of information for the larger reveal of the conflict, which did feel like it was forecast before it landed also made the narrative feel more drawn out than it had to be. Some twists in this I didn't expect and I'll admit they provided decent conflict towards the end, for the set-up of the next installation in the series, but was this really a romance? Was there any thought to what Elise did in that last bit that she didn't think would have an impact on Layla (at least Layla was morally conflicted!)?

And the pacing in this was the last bit I'll say that didn't work for this novel. It was too long. Needed much more trimming and streamlining so it didn't feel like the characters were either bickering for too long or they spent too much time in a place. More polish could have helped this narrative a lot.

I think that's where I'll leave it. I wish it could have been a better experience. I am at least curious enough to read the sequel, but I want it to stick the landing more. The ideas are there. The execution was not.

Overall score: 3/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher, but I also listened to the audiobook.

This book was fantastic. I loved Elise and Layla as enemies to lovers. Or friends to enemies to lovers. The setting was so fun, I don't think I have read a lot of books in this period so it was great to read something different. I loved the mystery. I also really loved and hated the relationship between Elise and her Dad. Overall 5 out of 5 stars for me.

Summary: New York, 1926. Reapers - once-human vampires - stalk the shadows. Layla is a newly turned Reaper who has never forgotten that Elise Saint betrayed her. When Layla is framed for a brutal attack by a Reaper who appears human in death, Elise offers the chance for Layla to clear her name if she helps Elise get to the bottom of the real culprit of the attacks.

Review: I loved this book as much as I thought I would. This is the hardest review I've had to write because I don't think I can put into words how much I liked this book. The setting of 1920s New York is immersive with the jazz and the parties. The complicated relationship between Layla and Elise is so interesting to read about, and their journey from childhood best friends to enemies to lovers was so well done. The slow burn in this book is so good. If you want real slow burn and real palpable tension between the main characters, then this book is for you. The mystery part of this book was interesting as well, and despite Reapers being vampires who drink human blood, they're not the villain of this story, which I also really enjoyed. The side characters are also fun to read and stand well on their own, as well working to move the plot forward. This book had me hooked from start to finish, and I can't recommend it enough. If you've been following me for a while, then you'll know that I've been waiting for this book to come out for so long. I've followed Hayley Dennings since her Booktube days, and her recommendations were amazing, and now I've read her book. It was so great to watch her journey to becoming a published author, and I can't wait to see what else she writes in the future

It’s 1926 in Harlem. Eighteen-year-olds Layla Quinn and Elise Saint were once best friends, until Layla was turned into a reaper. Layla blames Elise’s family for her fate. Reapers, humans turned to vampires, have existed since the first enslaved person in the country. Terrifying and cruel experiments on Black slaves created the first reaper. Meanwhile, Elise’s dad leads the charge against reapers, never able to forgive them for the death of his eldest daughter and heir to the Saint legacy. But when a newly turned reaper dies, attacking people employed by the Saints, Layla and Elise will find themselves working together. How could a reaper turn back into a human after his death? At the same time, rumors arise about a cure that can change reapers back to humans. This is Layla’s greatest wish, but Elise fears her father is helping develop something much more sinister.

Elise lives a privileged life, and so faces harsh truths while working with Layla and seeing the gritty edges of Harlem. With each turn of the page, a dark, bloody, sapphic romance burns hotter. Marked by the tragedy that turned Elise and Layla into enemies, desire still beats in their hearts. Some of the murder investigation gets lost in the middle section as the evolving, angsty romance takes center stage. However, Dennings weaves the current (1920s) and flashback narratives expertly, highlighting moments before and after Layla’s transition while also deepening the girls’ characters. The first book in a young adult duology, This Ravenous Fate tackles the topic of racial injustice that’s existed in America since its founding, using the violence perpetrated on another race as the creation of a much worse affliction still plaguing the country. A vibrant, violent, and twisty urban fantasy tale.

Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society.org at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/this-ravenous-fate/

I unfortunately didn’t love This Ravenous Fate, despite being so hyped for it. I found the writing style to be intriguing, but unfortunately the characters felt disjointed, their motivations unclear and wishy-washy, and the romance was ultimately uninteresting and lacking in chemistry. I’ll be interested in seeing what comes next for Hayley Dennings, but this series is a no-go for me.

Such an interesting, fresh setting. I always enjoy the fashion and dynamics of women in fantasy set in the early 1900s. Interesting relationship dynamics and I liked the plot of this vampire world. Intrigued to read the next book!

This book did not live up to my expectations but it wasnt bad. The ending felt a bit rushed and there were some questionable characters decisions. We dont learn enough about the Originals and the experimentation. I will probably finished the duology but this was decent, good at best but not great

This was a really great frist novel. I found it easy to follow and fetll into the right era right away. But ultimately thats where the positives end. I was excited for the lesbian vampire and vampire hunter aspect and was hoping for it to be set up in a way that kept me engaged and intrigued but overall it fell short.
Elise wasn't the most likable character for me, which isn't always a deal breaker but with the romance falling short to what I hoped, this landed on just a 3 star for me.

I loved the premise and the historical setting. I also always love vampires. I liked the exploration of certain themes which is where this book really shined. This should have been a home run for me, but I found I struggled at times to get through it. I struggled a bit with the writing, but could see the bones of something good here. Overall, an interesting read and I look forward to seeing where the series and this author goes next.

An absolutely stunning 5 star read! I will be sending the author my therapy bill after this, thank you very much. Such brilliant, funny characters with poignant, moving prose. Everything I could ever have wanted in a book. I mean, black, lesbian vampires? Give me 14 more of 'em. I have never been so delighted to receive an arc! I eagerly await the sequel.

I loved everything about this!


Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and Haley Dennings for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

While the premise is excellent (enemies to loves jazz era harlem Black vampire/daughter of vampire hunters) the writing does not hold up to the potential.

Was very different and not what I expected. Wasn’t a bad read and was fun, however I found the story too jumpy and rushed at times especially the ending that just seemed to stop.

This book has some promise!
I'm sure it went through additional rounds of editing by now (I am slowly catching up on my reviews) so I'm hoping that is no longer an issue.

I did enjoy this book but it isn't something I would reach for again. It's good for a simple read but it isn't anything too complex and relating with the characters is something I hope for but didn't get in this book.

Maybe I am just not who this was targeted for but if you are all for friends to enemies to lovers with vampires and a 20's setting then give this a go!

Dennings is an author to watch! I'm stunned that this was a debut. It's a incredibly fun story that nods perfectly to vampires in novels of the past while feeling unique enough to stand on its own. I love that more sapphic stories at getting a chance in the publishing industry. It's long overdue.

I recorded a podcast episode as my review, which I have attached below. Brief thoughts: I really enjoyed the rich world and am very curious about what didn’t make it to the page. I’m excited for part two; I feel like this book did a great job pulling readers in and building a fraught dynamic between the two main characters that you wanted to see more of. I do wish it had been a bit longer, maybe it’s just me being indulgent. The writing was lovely, and I enjoyed the characters.

This Ravenous Fate was unfortunately a miss for me. The premise and the writing showed great promise as I loved the idea of the 1920s Jazz age setting with sapphic vampires. I enjoyed the writing style, but the execution fell a bit flat. I found myself often disinterested in the plot despite having interest in our two main characters. Sometimes a book just doesn’t work for you even when you really want it to which seems to be the case here for me. If you’re interested in this story, definitely give it a shot. I’d be interested to read more by this author but I will not be continuing on with this specific series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy to review, all opinions are my own.

"I want her dead, for what she did, she deserves death."
"I have no reason to trust you."
"A hopelessly yearning soul with nothing to pour her affection to."

Thank you to NetGalley, SourceBooks Fire for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this ya sci fi fantasy to an extent, the premise of the story captivated me and I was very curious with the plot and the characters. Elise and Layla's relationship and the dislike they shared for one another was written very well. This was truly a perfect example of enemies because their banter was refreshing in a way because as the reader the feeling of disdain and dislike was so evident and it was never a question of their dislike for one another. I like the setting of this fantasy that was filled with humans and vampires (reapers.) This addition to the story added more interests for me as I was reading that story. I loved how descriptive the author used words to describe the reapers when they bite someone and the effects it has on them as a reaper and the humans. The intense attraction and subtle shift of feelings between Layla and Elise was written very well.

I will say this book could have been a lot shorter, I feel like some scenes were not needed and that sometimes it felt like nothing was happening for a few chapters. The pacing of the book was not steady at all, it felt like some scenes were very slow and then some parts were sped up at the same time, but most of the time it was a slow pace. There were a few moments where I was planning to dnf it because I became bored at a lot of parts within the story.

The writing was stunning. Unfortunately, I felt no connection to either character & I found the mystery lacking. The atmosphere was so done well and I felt completely immersed into Harlem. I would’ve ate this up when I was younger, but now YA just isn’t for me.