A Thrilling, Sapphic Spin on Vampire Lore – The Book of Blood and Roses Delivers Bite and Heart
The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee is a fierce, fresh twist on the vampire hunter trope, with serious Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes, a dark academia setting, and a sizzling sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance that will leave you breathless.
The story follows Rebecca, a low-ranking vampire hunter who’s suddenly thrust into an undercover mission at a prestigious vampire university. Her target? To locate the mysterious and deadly Book of Blood and Roses, a powerful text said to contain the ultimate weaknesses of vampire kind, one that could wipe them out for good.
Rebecca is tough, determined, and utterly devoted to her cause… until she meets Aliz. Cold, beautiful, and dangerously infamous, Aliz is the heir to the oldest vampire bloodline, and, as fate would have it, Rebecca’s new roommate. Their chemistry is electric, their tension palpable. What begins as deep-rooted hatred soon morphs into something more complicated, more forbidden, and far more enticing.
This book has everything: high-stakes secrets, heart-pounding action, crackling dialogue, and a romance that toes the line between real and deception. Is Aliz playing a game, or is she falling just as hard? Can Rebecca keep her mission in focus when her heart’s starting to betray her?
With its mysterious atmosphere, whip-smart pacing, and a cast of unforgettable characters, The Book of Blood and Roses is a must-read for fans of gothic fantasy, slow-burn sapphic tension, and stories where love might just be the most dangerous weapon of all.
Add it to your TBR now, this one drops January 27th, 2026, and you won’t want to miss it.

It's been awhile since I stayed up late to finish a book! Romantasy, dark academia and (lesbian) VAMPIRE, sign me up!
The story unfolds in an elite university where vampires and humans coexist, and our main character, Rebecca is tasked to locate the Book of Blood and Roses. Annie Summerlee's writing is intriguing, it captures my interest from page one. Amazing world building, introduction to the vampire's society and the hunter's origin. Definitely a promising debut!
Thank you for sharing eARC!

Unfortunately this book did not capture my attention. The writing felt awkward instead of immersive. I did have to DNF.

“This madness can't be mine alone.”

And I refuse to carry it alone, because The Book of Blood and Roses cracked open a door I didn’t expect to walk through—and now I’m standing in the hallway, wide-eyed, waiting for someone to hand me the next book. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and listen... I’m being so serious when I say I loved this.

Here’s the thing: dark academia and I do not usually get along. I’ve tried If We Were Villains and The Secret History, and both left me cold. Pretentious characters, meandering plots, a whole lot of brooding for no payoff. So I went into this a little wary, expecting more of the same.

But what Annie Summerlee did? She made it work. Really work. The dark academia vibes are there—mysterious schools, secret societies—but they’re grounded in something more vibrant. The world-building is rich and full of magic, steeped in centuries-old history and blood oaths, with fantasy elements that feel tangible instead of ornamental. The setting isn’t just aesthetic, it has teeth—sharp ones. And yes, there are vampires. And yes, I loved them.

I’ll be the first to admit vampires are usually low on my list of favorite paranormal creatures. They’re overdone, often cheesy, and rarely feel fresh. But here? They’re magnetic. Dangerous. Mysterious without being melodramatic. I found myself genuinely intrigued by their politics and powers. Summerlee breathes new life into them.

The characters are what really pulled me in. Julia, Elia, Aliz—each of them felt alive. Sharp personalities, complicated motivations, and subtle emotional undercurrents that made every interaction feel like it mattered. Julia, in particular, kept surprising me, and I’m dying to know what happens next with her. Elia had that perfect mix of elegance and ruthlessness. And Aliz? My god, I could write a whole separate review just on her.

The only weak link was, surprisingly, the protagonist. Rebecca wasn’t awful, but she didn’t stand out either. And sometimes her choices made me want to reach into the page and shake her. Like, girl, maybe don’t go asking literal vampire professors and classmates about a mysterious forbidden book like it's casual lunchtime conversation?? She made choices that had me side-eyeing the page more than once. Still, her connection with Aliz made up for a lot.

Speaking of that connection... whew. The romance? Was intense. From the moment they locked eyes, the tension was electric. [There’s a slow-burn quality that ramps up beautifully, and when things finally boil over—let’s just say the spice was well-earned. It didn’t feel gratuitous; it felt like a culmination of pages and pages of restraint, emotion, and heat. I was absolutely not in the room with them, but I felt like I was, and I was holding my breath the entire time.

And then there’s the Book of Blood and Roses itself—the titular mystery, the thing everyone is quietly (or not-so-quietly) hunting. It’s such a strong narrative anchor. I was fully hooked by the concept, and the reveals just kept coming. Plot twists layered over character twists layered over emotional gut-punches. Every time I thought I had a grip on the story, something shifted. I never felt safe—and I loved that.

The ending left me buzzing. Questions spiraling. Heart racing. What’s going to happen with Penny? With Julia and [ the Vassals? What even is the truth anymore?? I need answers and I need them yesterday.

So yeah. Was it perfect? No. Did I love it anyway? Absolutely. It gave me everything I didn’t know I wanted in a dark academia fantasy—with a queer romance that slapped, vampires that didn’t make me roll my eyes, and a world I can’t wait to return to. Sign me up for book two. I’m not leaving this madness behind.

i’m cured. my skin is clear. my crops are flourishing. nature is healing. lesbian vampires i love you!!!

this hit on everything i’d want to see when it comes to vampires — if you’re someone who’s still mourning the cancellation of first kill like i am, this hits that exact same sweet spot. the vampire x vampire hunter romance is just as delicious, and this one promises to actually deliver a second book to finish the story! i really loved the world building in this one — vampires have been done so many times that it can be hard to touch on something new, but i thought the concept of vampires’ abilities changing based on the cultural beliefs of their place of origin is such a cool concept. i hope to see that explored more in book 2, because it’s a fascinating idea! i also loved the intricacy of vampiric society, from the council to the callisto hunters and more. annie summerlee did a fantastic job carving out a unique spot in a heavily covered genre.

something small that means a lot to me is that both rebecca/cassie and aliz say that they’re lesbians on page. i still never take it for granted when i get to have that moment in any form of media, so to get that experience with three different characters in this book was amazing!! i sincerely recommend picking this up in the new year when it’s published!

Vampire hunter Rebecca attends a vampire university looking for an ancient book. She’s prepared to do whatever it takes, but she isn’t prepared for her roommate to be a vampire, and definitely isn’t prepared for Aliz Astra to be quite so enticing…

The scenic, dark setting of an ancient, tunnel-filled university is perfect. The details of Scottish culture were also really cool to read.

Our protagonist Rebecca is strong and likeable, but it’s the love interest Aliz who steals the show for me. She’s sexy, flirty, mean and kind of full of herself. We first meet her having lesbian sex in a library. She hisses at people. She’s iconic.

The balance of plot and romance is really well done—I wanted to know what was going to happen next with Rebecca’s main goal, but equally I was desperate for more Rebecca/Aliz interactions! Neither aspect of the novel overshadowed the other, and I cannot WAIT to see how everything is resolved in book 2!

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. Dark, delicious, and unapologetically sapphic, it’s the kind of story that sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go, not that I ever wanted it to. The whole hunter-falls-for-the-vampire setup is already irresistible, but what made it sing was the way it never backed away from tension, never flinched at desire. It leaned into it with this lush, aching kind of intensity that had me devouring every page. And the plot is smart, gripping, with just the right thread of mystery tying everything together. Undoubtedly, I am obsessed with this book and will definitely be recommending it.

This book is a gift to readers who want passion and complexity wrapped in a paranormal fantasy. I loved every moment and can’t wait to see what happens next.

I wanted to like this because hello, sapphic vampire romantasy, but unfortunately it was just okay. It was unserious but not enough so to be properly fun; instead it was just this awkward level that made it hard to buy into the story. (The main character had this special type of blood that made every vampire in her vicinity thirst after her.) I probably won't read book two.

This book is amazing!! From the second I started I was captivated into the story and the characters. I read this in 2 sittings and in between all I could think about was reading more! The story follows a vampire hunter, Rebecca, who is sent undercover at a vampire academy in Scotland (As a Scottish gal I loved this). She then finds out her roommate is a vampire, Astra, which causes it's problems, mostly the growing attraction for her. This is so easy to read and captivates from start to finish with twists and turns you won't see coming, everything you think you know... you don't!

I loved the concept of this book. It was something different than I’ve read in a while! The tension between the two main characters was something that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! It’s absolutely everything I look for in a fantasy novel, and I will absolutely be reading it again! I give it a five out of five stars!

4/4.5

This book was very entertaining. The story is well-written and well-paced. The characters are interesting. I would have loved to know more about some secondary characters, but maybe in book 2? I found the take on vampirism by the author quite interesting—a mix of old and new. We could have guessed a few of the outcomes from the beginning, but the plot still works. This book packs everything it needs to deliver a great romance story sprinkled with fantasy.

Pick it up if you like:
- University setting / Academia vibe
- Mystery / Uncovering the truth
- Vampire x Human
- Romance (open-door sapphic)

I will be picking up the next book, for sure, I just might need to wait a while...

I was blown away, this book had everything I wanted and craved, I couldn't put it down. Add this to your goodreads ASAP! you won't want to miss this one

This… was intense. I read it in a few hours- I have not put it down.
The way the world was built was amazing- I felt truly immersed in the journey. The character development- forced proximity, forbidden love, the found family aspect, the betrayal and the unexpected loyalty… this book was so incredible. I will likely be adding it to my physical shelf once it releases- I have never been so absorbed into a vampire book before!

Thank you to both the Author and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc and share my thoughts- my only complaint is that there isn’t more.

The Book of Blood and Roses is a dark academia vampire romance set in the misty Scottish Highlands. Vampire hunter Rebecca goes undercover at a supernatural university, only to be roomed with Aliz who is gorgeous, powerful, and very much a vampire.
The tension turns to attraction as a curse binds them together, forcing uneasy allies to become something more. There is mystery, danger, and sizzling chemistry, this is a must-read for fans of forbidden love and sapphic slow burns. Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC!