You know when you start a book and instantly realize your weekend plans are now canceled? That was me, 50 pages into The Lightslayer. It’s vampires, political chaos, and found family all wrapped in a gothic fever dream, and I was hooked!

Jack Townson (yes, the author named the vampire after himself, bold move) is the kind of main character who’s equal parts broody and dramatic. One second he’s slicing through enemies, the next he’s being emotionally constipated about friendship. I rolled my eyes at him more than once, but also… yeah, I’d die for him. He gives “immortal sad boy with a dark past” in the best possible way.

The world of Draconia is intense. Much blood, many shadows, very everything-is-a-metaphor. Sometimes it leans a little heavy on the gothic descriptions (I now know 14 different ways to say “blood”), but the atmosphere is top tier. You really feel like you’re wandering through cursed ruins with a sword and emotional damage.

What really got me was the team dynamics. The “Degenerates” are a hot mess of loyalty, trauma, and chaos. It’s found family but make it stabby. The emotional moments between them hit hard, even in between the fights, betrayal, and occasional magical nightmare.

The pacing’s solid, the vibes are strong, and yes, the spice is definitely there. Not overly gratuitous, but it’s not shy either. Just be warned: this book doesn’t tiptoe around the dark stuff. There’s violence, death, and some heavy themes, so check the trigger warnings first!!

I went out of my comfort zone with this book and boy oh boy am I glad I did because I loved it!

I've dabbled with vampire books recently and when this book crossed my path, I couldn't say no.

This story grabs you by the collar immediately. I was drawn in by Jack and his degenerates. I absolutely loved all the characters, and not just the main ones. The side characters are all brilliant. I enjoyed Vaidrin's struggle to encompass his newly found immortality and the struggles that ensue in his father/son/mentor relationship with Jack. Jack is something else. I love how he has banded together a group of misfits and found such a wonderful family. He is fiercely protective and I liked getting to know different characters through his interactions with them.

The plot is fast paced, so much happens in each chapter and I think that's what kept me so engrossed in the story. I haven't read any of the other books in this universe but I didn't feel like I was at a disadvantage with this. I quickly understood that there were many side characters there who have come from the other books (if anything it makes me want to read all the others).

The story line is so good. When Jack and Vaidrin meet and things really take off. The simmering tensions between the realms hit boiling point as do tensions in the relationships of the characters. The fights and battles are well written. There's lots of blood and gore.

The magic in this book is so interesting and a vast array of vampires, witches, goblins, gargoyles, humans, beasts and lots of otherworldly creatures see to it that this world is as intriguing and entertaining as any other!

I loved how some really difficult subjects are tackled in this book, and how it's offset with lots of lighthearted humour. It's packed full of emotions and Jack doesn't shy away from showing his emotions to everyone around him.

There is so much entertainment packed into this book and I enjoyed every minute of his wild ride. Action, adventure, spice & found family. I really hope there is more to come from Draconia as I'm sad to leave!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jack Townson, and Xpresso Book Tours for the arc. This is my honest review of the book.

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Across The Veil Books for allowing me the chance to read this ARC for my honest opinion. I really appreciate it. I'm sorry to say I DNF this novel at 11%. I was really looking forward to reading this cause I am a fan of the author (and TikToker Jack Townson). I read the previous novel in this series and it wasn't my favorite, but I managed to finish it. Barely. This novel is written in a similar fashion where the author describes the main character way too much and in more detail than is needed. I don't need to be constantly reminded about what color VJT's hair is or that it is curly. Nor do you have to keep mentioning that his body is well defined and his lips are luscious and his orbs are crimson. It has nothing to do with the story line. The other thing that bothered me about what I read was how many times the author referred to blood as 'vitae'. He did this in his previous book and it was unsettling in my honest opinion. From what I did read, the story itself had major promise. I would have loved to delve more into the world and VJT's kingdom. It was intriguing, but I just couldn't get into it.

I was hooked from the cover and description and so glad I was able to get into this dark fantasy novel. The overall concept was what I was looking for and enjoyed the feel of this world. It was a great start to the Everdusk series and how it was used in this universe. Jack Townson has a strong writing style and was glad I read this.

A Thrilling, Bite-Sized Masterpiece of Dark Fantasy!

The Lightslayer by Jack Townson is a wickedly delicious plunge into a world where shadow reigns, monsters rule, and every choice might be your last. I was completely hooked from the first page to the last, swept away by the dazzling blend of dark fantasy, vampire politics, razor-sharp banter, and romance that simmers hot beneath the surface.

Welcome to Draconia—a world that oozes atmosphere and danger. Townson paints this supernatural realm with such vivid, moody brilliance that it feels like stepping into a gothic fever dream. The Manor of Mystery? Instantly iconic. The Degenerates? A delightfully chaotic and lovable crew of misfits who had me laughing, crying, and fist-pumping my way through every twist and betrayal.

Jack Townson (both author and Vampire Lord!) delivers a pitch-perfect antihero—brooding yet vulnerable, ruthless yet loyal, seductive yet haunted. The political tension? Knife-sharp. The magical battles? Pulse-pounding. And that dark, forbidden romance? Chef’s kiss. Satisfyingly spicy without overshadowing the emotional stakes.

Townson has crafted something that feels like Sarah J. Maas and Jay Kristoff had a lovechild raised by Anne Rice. It’s clever. It’s sexy. It’s brutal in all the right ways. The twists had my jaw on the floor, and the emotional moments hit like a stake to the heart.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jack Townson for the chance to read this brilliant, twisted gem in exchange for an honest review. The Lightslayer is an unforgettable ride—and I am absolutely starving for the next installment. Bring on more blood, more secrets, and more Draconian chaos!

I received an E-Arc from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Thank you!

Well now..this was a different story. I stumbled down into a realm of fantasy, action and adventure with magic and all various beings coming into play. Energetic story with so many things happening was a ride of fantasy. One thing after another. It just kept going and going with secrets popping out and I have a hunch more will come about.

This was a long story to read but I was fascinated and wanted to know what was going to happen.

What I noticed is a theme of belonging. I felt like almost everyone who was at Jack's home wanted to belong somewhere. A place where others got along, kindness was involved and acceptance was there. That was the vibe that I got from Jack's home. Some characters got along and while others bickered at each other. The joys of families!

There were all kinds of characters. A few characteristics of those characters fell into the category of being scary, sneaky, mischievous, and sweet. Of course there were ones that drew you into the dark side of seduction. I also felt like it was a combination of dungeon and dragons and a bit of modern day vibes. Some characters from the story I enjoyed while others I was not a fan of.

The main character Jack goes on an adventure as he gets thrown off guard by so many things. One thing after another! Along the way he learns more about himself. His journey seems to go up and down and where does he fall? Does he fall to the light or to the dark?

Does his family and friends follow the same path or do they learn a different lesson? Will some of his family and friends stay the same or be forever changed?

Warning : there is fighting and a few spicy bits in this story. If that is not your jam, then do not read it.

I am curious what will happen next. I dare wonder if we will get a bit more backstory of how Jack came to be who he is in this realm. I have a few ideas but then again my imagination could be totally wrong. I am curious of a few side characters and where their journey came go to.

And by the way, no... I have not read Jack Townson first book of how he came to be a vampire.

Everdusk, The Lightslayer was beyond amazing. The way Jack writes his scenes with such detail, I can literally see it happening. I have always loved vampire books and especially a good vampire series. This is the second book in Jack’s growing series, but the first book of Draconia. If you have read Fame Has It’s Price and loved it, you are gonna really love Everdusk.

The book starts out action packed and just continues to spiral down the world of Draconia. You meet soo many amazing new characters and get a little preview of their lives as you go on this journey with Jack and his Degenerates. You will fall in love with characters and some you will hate. But I promise you, the book will leave you wanting more. There is love, heartache, loss, spice, betrayal and found family. This is going to be the best new vampire series to date.

Jack Townson is an exquisite writer. From the action scenes, to the scenes of Gothic romance and the dialogue of ever-compelling characters, the story draws you in and keeps you at the edge of your seat! An absolute must-read for anyone who loves the night and all her beloved creatures, who craves action and themes of drama and found family in abundance. I cannot wait to see what comes next from the mind of such a rich and talented minded man like our beloved Jack Townson.

And the cherry on top: the cover art as well as the end of the book. Such love and passion for those who collaborate everyday to make this beautiful world a reality...

To my bestest friend, my Sire, and the stepfather I never had: I will never stop being your loyal Messenger. I cannot wait to see how far you soar, and I want to be there alongside you when you do.

Forever yours in Draconia and beyond; The Messenger of Death, aka Alisibeth Townson.

Never have I been more sad to DNF a book. I was enthralled by the first Jack Townson novel, finishing it in three days - but the smooth, engaging writing just isn't present here.

The story is a good one, and I'm definitely keen for more of Jack's adventures. Unfortunately the book starts with a giant gulf of no information: we last saw Jack as a battered fledgling vampire on the streets of New York. Now he's a powerful Vampire King in a fantasy realm... with no real explanation of what happened inbetween. I was concerned that we were heading into fanfiction-Mary-Sue territory, rather than the very real and human Jack I'd got to know before.

We do get a massive exposition-dump in the early chapters, but surely Jack's mentor would have explained the history, geography etc of the world before this? It's very confusing.

The difference in writing between this and the first book is stark. While I love the purple, dramatically-gothic prose, the constant deluge of adjectives can be overwhelming; they also conflict within paragraphs and even sentences. We go from 'growling' to 'whining', determined to chaotic, and it's hard to get a sense of the atmosphere as a result. Also some of the verbosity makes descriptions confusing, and I found myself having to reread sections to understand just what was going on. Boots don't walk on their own, eyes don't run down faces - 'he strode' or 'she cried' would be just fine. Also I found myself having a mental drinking game every time there was mention of talons/claws or descriptions of hair. I'd be dead pretty quickly!

There's glimpses of the old style, such as Jack's kindness to little vampire Maharet (got the reference there!), and I wish the natural vibe of that scene extended into the rest of the story.

I can only presume that this is a draft version of the book while it's still undergoing edits, but it feels as if it's been rushed to NetGalley too soon. This edit certainly doesn't do justice to the previous tale. I'll keep an eye for the final copy in the hope that the issues are fixed, and hopefully my return to Jack's adventures won't be as frustrating by then.

Great new grim urban fantasy full of monster and romance goodness. Great characters and atmosphere. Dark, grim, but oddly comforting.