Till Death is a YA vampire romance centering on Howard (a teenage boy) and George (an eternally 18 year old Vampire).

As a huge fan of LGBTQ+ YA novels (specifically those with a bit of horror or the paranormal) and a general lover of vampires, I went into this with high expectations. Unfortunately it felt very disjointed throughout; with too much focus on too many plot points. There was massive amounts of info-dumping, with very little attempt to weave these points coherently into the storyline. It mainly just left me confused, and I think some of the political points are unfortunately lost because of this.

Lastly, the relationship between George and Howard is pretty toxic (even for a vampire romance), so that didn’t make me want to keep reading despite the poor pacing and plot holes.

All this said, there are several important themes and messages here that I wish could have been more coherently presented. I think I’d file this one in a “not for me” category, but someone else (who doesn’t primarily read fantasy romance) would like it.

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! I was hoping for a bit more and it fell just a little short for me.

Unfortunately this was a miss for me.

I actually really liked the concept of a queer vampire staying with his aging human lover, a source of so much gay history, the tension between being completely out and on the margins of society versus the lover who married, had a family, lived to the world as a straight man until his 60s and all of his differences in those two experiences. The story touches on it a bit—the missing out on community but also lack of understanding of some struggles. The conflict with the homophobic daughter of the lover and the struggles of never being legally married clearly parallel the struggle of queer people without the right to marry historically.

However. The addition of a teenage lover, the development of that relationship amidst the (apparently very short) mourning period, the high camp YA feel of the second half complete with The Heathers references and murder sprees… I did not like the teen romance at all. I think a campy teenage vampire murder spree book could also have been fun if the entire book developed that storyline better, ideally making the teenagers more three dimensional, but it felt like it didn’t go far enough to make that enjoyable.

This felt like two totally different books, with the plotline from one really hurting my enjoyment of the plotline for the other.

This book gave a way more realistic explanation about what it would be like to be a teenage vampire in my opinion. George doesn’t have investments, identification or his life together, and now he has to face that reality and figure out his next steps. When he meets Howard, they connect immediately as two old souls. Howard is only 18 and mortal, but he loves volunteering at a retirement home and is passionate about history. Together they grow close as they share their troubles and try to figure out their next steps in life. I flew through this book because both of their voices were so real and easy to read. Definitely recommend you check out this book when it comes out on March 18th.

Gay vampires? Loved this book. I loved the Twilight books when they came out and I always wanted a book about gay vampires and its finally here.

What I Liked: This book opens up by sharing both George and Howard’s point of view before they encounter each other at Meadows. The relationship between George and James is beautiful and has you unable to put the book down even when you know that James is nearing his time. Throughout the book you can’t help but hope that there is a different ending for James so that he has more time with his grandson, Sue, or with George, or so he can develop some sort of relationship with Howard before George and Howard become a thing. While the story doesn’t center around James, he is a big portion of the story because many of George’s future actions are because of his past with James and the people that were in James’s life who impacted him negatively.

At first the relationship between George and Howard seems a bit quick paced and unnatural. The age gap between them is quite apparent when James is around or when George is bringing up things from the past. The only times in which the age difference doesn’t seem apparent is when they are on their own or when we are reminded that George was turned into a vampire when he was a teenager so visibly, he hasn’t aged.

There is a lot of complexity within this book, and I have mixed feelings about it because of the inherit age gap in the relationship between George and Howard. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but the ending of this book leaves you with a lot to think on. Along with this closing you also begin to recognize that while so many years have passed and George has experienced a lot in the world, his mentality hasn’t grown beyond one of a teenager and that is shown in his actions. Regardless of the mixed feelings between George and Howard, this book is an important read as it provides a lot of commentary regarding the queer community.

This book provides a lot of commentary on what it’s like for queer people now and how some of that is similar to the ways in which queer people lived in the past. Something else that makes you pause while reading the book is the commentary regarding how people’s hatred has indirectly caused many queer people’s deaths and how some of that hatred also directly causes queer people’s death, and where someone’s place is in all of that when given the opportunity to right those wrongs.

Final Verdict: Till Death is a chilling vampire book that tackles important topics such as death, queerness through the years, family, and friends. This book has a romantic plot that ties everything together and explains many of the character’s actions, but it isn’t the main point of this story. This book is perfect for young adults grappling with who they are and the choices they have to make or young adults who are finding themselves and struggling with what being queer means to them and for them.

So so interest!!!!! The characters were well fleshed out and the writing style was very easy to get through. I’m always a sucker for vampire romances…especially if you make it M/M. I’m so happy I was given the chance to read this!!!!

I really, really wanted to love it so much but the experience was tumultuous to say the least. Till Death follows Howard, a gay high school student who’s friend group is immersed in school politics, and their fight for acceptance in the hallways against the usual brand of PTA bigotry. Howard and his friends represent a fight very much on-going, but somehow a lot of the writing around it rang false. It felt more like checking a box than an exploration.

George is a vampire who’s mortal love is entering the final stages of life. Checked into a senior facility by his family who don’t know George exists, James is beginning to lose himself, and George must find a way to go on without him. This is partially because he’s been living in James’ house and has little means to meet basic needs once James passes away and his family takes over. He comes across Howard, a volunteer at the facility, and the two begin to spend time together, perhaps finding something more. While George is very much grieving the end of his relationship with James, James encourages him toward Howard. This gives George the permission he needs narratively, but it feels a little empty.

The juxtaposition of a high school student dealing with very normal teenage things and a vampire confronted with his immortality and the death of a longtime love feel like different stories entirely. The novel waivers under the job of keeping these two premises in the air–the innocent, supernatural romcom and the deeper, poignant drama laced with grief and regret. Because of this, the novel can never fully commit to either James or Howard.

Part of that trouble is George himself. George is a confusing character, in moments expected to be a boy hiding from James’ family in a closet (and somehow with no savings or means of his own at his age); in other moments, he’s stereotypically old when it comes to texting or understanding text speak from Howard. Far from the first vampire to date a highschool student, Till Death can’t seem to decide if George is Howard’s contemporary, or a man who graduated high school in the 60s and thus would be over 80 at present day. The two sides are almost separate personalities, and George never quite makes sense.

In the end, Till Death read like it couldn’t decide what exactly it wanted to be. There were plenty of elements that were interesting, but it was more frustrating than anything.

WOW this book's style changed SO Much throughout. and i'm not just talking about the tonal shifts thruought. it read, at points, like it was being written by ten different people. which might have been intentional, cause George is a vampire and maybe it's him switching vibes/talking styles.... but it didn't work for me. also, some of the plot was really open-ended. Came for the classic vampire romance (A+), but the ending didn't leave me fulfilled in any way. 3 stars. tysm for the arc.

I read the “Twilight” books when they came out. Saw all the movies in theaters. Still love them at 30. I have loved vampire literature ever since. So much so I took a vampire literature course in college. So when I saw YA queer vampires I was like sign me up. The writing really surprised me with how much I liked it. That being said the subject matter is what tripped me up in enjoying this book fully. Don’t get me wrong, LGTBQ issues are so wildly important, especially now. However when I read a book I’m looking for an escape from the world burning down and I was hoping for a queer vampire romance to swoon over. The heavy handed topics brought the story to a halt in places.

This one sounded so good, but I honestly just could not get into it, and as much as I despise DNF’ing a book, I unfortunately had to with this one. Thank you to the publisher for giving me a chance to read!

Okay WOW this was dramatic, extreme, and off-the-rails in honestly the best way. I can certainly see how this book might have a very specific audience, and how your average reader might not find it digestible (pun intended).

A lot of this book is very much intentionally uncomfortable. It doesn’t hold back, either with its tragic references or cold-blooded revenge. It’s tragic and complicated and doesn’t have a pretty ending because it isn’t supposed to.
I thought this was such a cool exploration of both the vampire genre and ALSO of Queer history (wild sentence but true!!).
The writing was certainly clunky at times. Some dialogue was hard to follow. However I honestly still ate this up and at every point I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

This is messy, ridiculous, sad, and somehow very very fun. I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to experience this unique story as an arc reader. I can’t wait to see what others think of it!

Also the cover is GORGEOUS.

this was such a wild ride with two spooky gay boys that you just want to see make it until the end. So much fun here

DNF at 40%

I will say, I loved some of the themes touched on in this book. Seeing important issues touched on in books is something I really appreciate being included in stories.

Unfortunately, the story and characters just aren't working for me. There's a pacing issue where I keep getting bored and wanting to put down the book and do something else, and the insta-love attraction that seems to be a lot of tell and little show isn't helping pull me in either. Rather, it's pushing me farther away. Then, lastly, George's immaturity is creating a level of annoyance that builds an irritated feeling in me while reading. So overall, this isn't worth me continueing.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC.

I don't know what I was expecting, still not sure to be honest. I think my biggest problem is I didn't love the writing style. I think the themes were solid, but there were pacing issues and character issues for me as well.

This book just didn't end up working for me.

Thank you Netgalley and MTV books for the arc.

Till Death follows Howard, a teenage boy, and George, a vampire stuck looking like he’s 18, as they navigate falling in love, grief, and prejudice.
Howard is a gay boy struggling with his place in life and fighting for LGBTQ+ individuals to feel safe. Then he meets George and begins to fall in love for the first time. George watches helpless as his first love dies slowly in front of him from old age that will never touch him. Meeting Howard renews something within George and makes him look forward to the future. With prejudice still prevalent and affecting their love and lives, they decide to take things in their own hands.

I liked how original Howard was and true to his age. A teenager obsessed with anything vintage, but troubled about his place in his friend group, college, and wanting to be treated like a human being. I also love the reality ofJames’ struggle after being turned into a vampire. There’s no riches or ease, as we see in media, but his struggle with finding resources and not setting roots. I also really liked his life story throughout the decades. And the story tackled very important topics, such as misgendering, unisex bathrooms, sensitivity training, etc.

Which is why I’m disappointed I didn’t like this book! I liked Howard and George individually and would have liked them together if there was more development instead of the insta, tell-not-show love that happened between them. I was not invested in their relationship, and the end made it even worse considering how immature George still is. I stayed for the story thinking the climax would be satisfying with them taking justice in their own hands and it’ll be similar to the movie God Bless America, but obviously with more consideration and character development considering this is a YA book. However, I was let down again, but what I did like was the opposite of what I was anticipating/wanting as George talks about control and what is right. The pacing also needs to worked on as it started slow until the 87% mark where I felt things were rushing to finish. And again, even with the slow pacing the relationship development was lacking because we were told that things were easy between them and that they were important to each other. Having his first love in the picture as George falls in love again was an odd adjustment for me too, which I think will be the case for many others.

Overall, if you want an MM twilight, where real topics are tackled and the vampire doesn’t sparkle, isn’t wealthy and perfect, and drinks human blood, then gives this a try.

was very intrigued with the plot and of course, vampires! I really wanted to like this, but didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. It was heavy on social justice (which is great don't get me wrong) and felt slower paced despite being a pretty fast/easy read. I suppose I was expecting more fantasy topics. I think for the target audience YA and lgbtq+ this will hit closer to home with the main topics of focus. I really love the cover art though! I didn't enjoy the overall story line as much, but appreciate the opportunity to read this in advance thanks to netgalley.

70/100 or 3.50 stars

There are plenty of things I enjoyed about this, and there are a few things that I didn't enjoy.

Some of the things I didn't like were because the messgaes are heavy handed in here, but considering the target auidence, it makes sense. There are some plot points that don't really resolve in a realistic way (despite this world having vampires).
I did like a lot of what the story was doing and saying, so overall I wanted to round up to 3.50 stars.

Absolutely adored this book! Had me hooked from the very beginning and I couldn’t imagine a better ending for my boys Howard and George <3

I devoured this so fast. I loved everything about it and was hooked from the beginning. The cover is absolutely breathtaking.