I really wanted to like this book. The concept was interesting. I liked the setting. The genre is what I gravitate towards. And yet, this wasn't for me.

Thank you, Net Galley, for the ARC!
***
Based loosely on the 1947 murder dubbed "The Black Dahlia", this riveting story blends history, romance, and crime deliciously. I loved how Halle changed some of the traditional vampire lore to give her characters a fresh twist! Vampire stories can get predictable, but this one kept me guessing. The romance was *chef's kiss*. Steamy, primal, soul-bending, while not sacrificing the plot. For a standalone fantasy, this was fantastic!
***
Review posted on Goodreads & Tiktok

Thank you for the opportunity to read Nocturne. Unfortunately it was a really hard book for me to get into and therefore I ended up not finishing the book.

However this book may not be for me for it clearly is for other people. I wish you all the success in this publication.

Out of everything I’ve read so far, her paranormal titles stand out as my personal favorites, though I’ve enjoyed quite a few of her contemporary romances as well.

This particular story works as a kind of spin-off from her other paranormal novels, with familiar faces making appearances here and there. It’s not technically part of a series, but I wouldn’t complain if she decided to give us more stories with these characters they definitely have the depth for it. A word of caution, though: this one is extremely spicy. Some scenes could almost edge into erotica, though it isn’t especially heavy on kink. On the flip side, there’s also a significant amount of violence, and certain moments get downright bloody. It’s dark, gritty, and unapologetically intense absolutely not for anyone under 18. If you’re a fan of paranormal horror, or you gravitate toward paranormal romance that isn’t afraid to go to darker, more visceral places, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try. It’s the kind of book that lingers with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

I loved the concept of this
gruesome sudden murder that was lena's best friend. And when Victor starts investigating the story changes its angle from the research and investigation into this world of vampires, seedy deeds and discovering that noone is who they say they are. I dont feel the relationship between lena and Victor made sense it felt forced. While the plot was predictable and didnt keep going in that ripper world I kept expecting to come back it was a unique take on the Black dahlia murder.
I would have loved this more if it was shorter as it was drawn out for no reason.

i didnt realise this was based on the true case of the black dahlia murders. i feel quite uncomfortable with the recent commodification of real peoples stories: those had families and loved ones who, in many cases, are still in mourning or feelings the intergenerational effects of these losses. as such, i find true crime and fictional stories explicitly based on true crime events unethical. for those who enjoy those types of stories, and for those who meet the intersection of true crime and dark romance, this would enjoy this novel. however, this was not for me.

Unfortunately I have to DNF this title. I have liked books from Karina Halle before but this one I am just not invested in like I want to be.

I am sure that there is an audience for this but I am not that audience. Thank you so much for the ARC NetGalley!

I am not going to be rating this book, but for the purposes of this review I will have to submit a star rating which is the only reason it will be a 1 star. But I would like to reiterate that I have not actually finished this book.

✨ Overall Rating 5/5
📈 Plot 5/5
🖊️ Writing 5/5
👤 Characters 5/5
⚖️ Interpersonal Relationships 4.5/5
🗺️ World Building 5/5
🔥 Spice 3/5
😭 Emotional Damage 2/5
🤩 Entertainment 5/5


I have yet to read a book by Karina Halle that I do not absolutely love!


Thank you so much to Netgalley and Karina Halle for the e-book 🖤

Unfortunately, this book did not grab me.

I really wanted to enjoy it and the premise was super intriguing as I love a good vampire book but this just didn't hit it for me.

DNF'ed at 35%

I went into this book really excited, especially since it plays on the backdrop of the Black Dahlia case. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me the way I hoped. While I normally love Karina Halle’s writing and have really enjoyed other books from her, this story fell flat and didn’t keep me entertained.

The premise was interesting, but I found myself struggling to stay engaged. It lacked the spark I’ve come to expect from her work, which was disappointing.

That said, I know other readers may connect with this one more than I did, especially if they’re drawn to the true-crime-inspired angle. For me personally, it was a miss.

⭐️⭐️

Sadly this book just didn’t grab as much as I hoped it would. I put it down and picked it up multiple times but I just couldn’t connect with it. Super bummed.

Vampire meets true crime?! Karina Halle absolutely nailed it. Thrilling, dark, and completely unputdownable—highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

This is a great Black Dahlia retelling. The interweaving of facts has been nicely done for a story that has been retold numerous times before.

Once again, Karina can do no wrong!

I always love a good story with vampires and this was no exception. The dark noir vibes and the murder mystery kept me on my toes. This was definitely more plot driven than character driven, but in saying that, I did love the mmcs, as well as the supporting characters.

The romance was a tad insta-lusty, but considering the mystery plot needed space to move and this is a standalone, I can forgive the romance moving faster. Even though I’ve read and watched many versions of vampires, this one definitely stands as unique, and I loved the nod to the real life Black Dahlia murder case.

Overall, definitely need to continue picking up more books from this author!

This book had me hooked from the get-go! Perfect blend of contemporary fantasy and thriller intrigue, as we see another side to the Black Dahlia mystery. And that's before the absolutely enthralling romance between Lena and Callahan!

i loved this a lot. the black dahlia was always something that intrigued me a lot, and i always wanted to know more about it because, well, it was so heartbreaking. i was a little nervous that this might have been insensitive to it, but wow. it was so great, but then again... i love vampires, so it just made sense that this would be right up my alley!

Hmmmmmm not my favorite Karina Halle book I’ve ever read, but also not my least favorite. I thought it was fast, fun, and solidly okay!

What a fun read! A story full of mystery and twists and some paranormal romance? Sign me up! Karina creates a really interesting gothic/noir setting with well developed characters, and intriguing plot and steamy romance. It kept me hooked from beginning to end!

The way I LOVED this book!! I’m a true crime junkie, so the black dahlia reimagining was everything to me. Absolutely adore the 1940’s time period and LA vibes as well. And vampires!! Basically this book was written just for me. A+ on the romance and spice too!

The twists, turns, mystery and the swift way that this book is written made me not put it down. I absolutely loved how I felt on edge and craved the darkness within. The atmosphere was beautifully written and the characters. Loved every second!