I was so excited to receive an ARC of The Darkness Bites Back courtesy of NetGalley and I practically binge read the whole thing. A queer vampiric story inspired by Romeo and Juliet? Absolutely fantastic. Review ( with spoilers) will be cross posted to my Goodreads !)

I really loved the third person POV and thought the writing was genuinely strong throughout. Tobias, our vengeance thirsty boy, has spent his life years trying to destroy the all powerful vampire clan, the Damianos, after being turned against his will. His empathy towards humans really helped ground his character emotionally and made him incredibly easy to root for.

Alexander is exactly the kind of love interest I adore. Possessive, arrogant, charming, and completely obsessed. Normally I hate insta love, but the vampire premise made it work so well here and I absolutely ate it up. Beneath all the arrogance he genuinely wants to help people and uses his privilege to do so, which made his devotion to Tobias even better. Both characters are incredibly lovable despite how dark their pasts are.

I also really loved the academic setting. Tobias being a librarian and Alexander being a professor worked SO well for the academia atmosphere and honestly made the romance even more enjoyable for me. I do think there could have been a little more risk involved though, maybe more interaction with students or more tension surrounding their positions, because I think it would have pushed the forbidden romance vibes even further.

I do wish the whole bait and trap dynamic between them had lasted a little longer because I think it would have built the tension even more and worked really well with Tobias’ trauma and distrust. Honestly though, I just wanted the entire book to be longer. HOWEVER, I honestly did not mind that much. These are immortal vampires after all, and honestly it kind of works with the possessive vampire traits. I would not have minded these two being just a little bit more inhuman. 😉

My favourite scenes were the moments where the emotional connection between Tobias and Alexander really deepened. I thought the exploration of grief, guilt, and devotion throughout the story was genuinely really well written, and I loved how completely gone Alexander already was for him.

The smut scenes were enjoyable, but definitely shorter and sweeter than I expected. Maybe this is just me being a complete vampire smut enthusiast, but I would have loved more build up and a few scenes that leaned a little less vanilla. Not that certain locations involved could exactly be called vanilla. A few extra pages there absolutely would not have gone unappreciated.

I also loved the banter and little bits of humour throughout. The Twilight and Fallen mentions? Ate them up. Tobias being a vengeance seeking monster who also enjoys supernatural fiction and smut in his spare time is peak librarian behaviour.

The dark academia atmosphere was also really fun and I honestly could have spent another hundred pages just existing in this world with these characters. I genuinely just wanted more story.

Overall this was such a fun and engaging read. I loved it, I just wanted more. More tension, more trauma exploration, more possessive vampire insanity, and definitely more smut.

A fun and sexy new paranormal vampire romance that is perfect for fans of BRIDE and Clio Evans! This new MM romance was such a fun read and I can't wait to read more!

The Darkness Bites Back by Laura R. Samotin; Ben Alderson

I have to start this review by saying that I adored The Darkness Bites Back by Laura R. Samotin and Ben Alderson. The Romeo and Juliet retelling set in modern-day Oxford, Alexander and Tobias are great characters and they have brilliant chemistry. The dialogue is really well written and the interplay between them is great. There is angst and romance and angstyromance .If you liked Interview with a Vampire then I highly recommend trying this book.

I cannot be more excited receiving this ARC!

This is a great palette cleanser book, following Tobias’ twist and turn as he plan to get his revenge.
I binge read this in one sitting, and every chapter had me at the edge of my seat!

Love the dark academia Oxford setting and the concept of a dangerous vampire coven.

A refreshing vampire romance. I really like how this felt like something completely new compared to any other vampire books I’ve read before. The auras aspect was so interesting to me and I would’ve loved to see more of that!

Alexander and Tobias were such complicated but loveable characters and I would’ve liked to have seen more of their dynamic.

I liked the ending however it did feel rushed and there was certain aspects still left open ended but overall I enjoyed this book.

Unbury your gays and a completely original spin on Romeo and Juliet that will have readers running the whole rollercoaster of emotions.

From the moment that I first heard about this book (roughly 18 months ago but who is counting 🤣), I knew that I was going to absolutely love it. I am certified connoisseur of vampires and absolutely devoured The Actor and His Secret, also by this writing duo. Despite being incredibly excited for this book and the bar being through the roof, this book still managed to absolutely blow all expectations that I had completely out of the water! From the very first line of this book, I was undeniably hooked on this delicious story of cat and mouse with "if enemy, why fuckable shaped?" characters. Both Tobias and Alexander are really intriguing characters who feel very complex as they both has some kind of moral code but it doesn't necessarily look like something that we might align ourselves with.

As someone who has read A LOT of vampire stories, I have seen a lot of variations to vampiric lore but Samotin and Alderson have managed to write something completely new to me but also feels as though it has nods to some more common lore as well as a sprinkling of something fans of the more modern iterations of vampires might recommend. It felt refreshing to feel a little on the back foot not knowing exactly where the obstacles for our vampires would come from and what would be the characters' undoing.

I was additionally pleasantly surprised by the balance that was struck with this book being a vampiric twist on Romeo and Juliet. There was real joy in moments and lines that were clearly little Easter eggs towards the classic story but the similarities really lay in some very specific story beats that were just absolutely delightfully executed. This is a book that very much stands on its own two feet and I just utterly adored it. Also, I definitely appreciate the comp to Saltburn 👀

It was just such a pleasure to read this book and I can't wait to return to it many times in the future 💖

This was so fun and addictive!!!
I really enjoyed the two main characters: Alexander, for being so pathetically in love with Tobias, and Tobias, for carrying so much pain for such a long time. They were perfect for each other, and Tobias’s enemies-to-lovers arc felt completely understandable. Even though I was screaming at him to stop being angry at Alexander, I couldn’t really be mad at him because his motivations made so much sense.

The only thing I hope a bit more editing will improve is the ending. For me, it felt a little all over the place, and even though everything was wrapped up, it also felt somewhat rushed. I hope this will be polished in the final published edition.

Very suspenseful. I don't love miscommunication related tropes and I feel like everyone held onto their secrets slightly too long.

*The Darkness Bites Back* was such a fun and addictive read that I practically binged the entire thing. The mix of queer romance, vampires, and dark academia atmosphere worked perfectly for me, and I loved the emotional depth beneath all the obsession and tension. Tobias was incredibly easy to root for, while Alexander had that possessive, arrogant charm that made their dynamic so entertaining to read. The banter, grief, devotion, and little bits of humor gave the story a lot of heart, though I honestly just wanted more of everything—more tension, more messy vampire insanity, and more time with these characters and their world.

I loved this book! I was lucky enough to recieve an ARC of this and I can honestly say it was the best I have read in a while.
I loved the relationship dynamic between Alexander and Tobias, both of their characters were likeable the whole way through. I loved the concept of the whole book it felt very original. I liked that there wasn't much smut as i think this helped to feel the characters togther more.
I think that the side characters were written well but they didn't get in the way of the story between the main MMC's.
I did feel that the ending was a little rushed and the last couple chapters could have been lengthened so that it built a bit more suspense.

Honestly I don't really have much for words other than I truly enjoyed what the authors did with this vampiric spin on Romeo and Juliet.

Little deer 💜

Urgh i loved this book so much.
I was just hooked from the start.
I felt the connection between Tobias & Alexander, this is why i go to Ben Alderson books, not only is he my fave author but his characters- i feel connected to them & i can feel the love between them.
He knows how to write a book with humour & 9 times out of 10 he will make me cry with his writing too.
And this book had me laughing & crying.

Can't wait for it to come out 💜

If Anne Rice had written "A Discovery of Witches", it would be this book! This dark romantasy has all the Romeo/Juliet feels about two men from different vampire clans who fall in love even if it was never meant to be. From the details of Oxford and the Bodleian Library to the Dracula-esque leader of the Damianos clan, this book will have every vampire lover hooked! Everything you could ever want in a dark vampire love story has been achieved. I did not want this book to end!

thank you to netgalley, Laura R. Samotin & Ben Alderson, and Angry Robot for allowing me to review this book early!

firstly i was surprised when i got this arc because i wished for it and didn't think i would receive it! so when i got the email for it, i was super excited! so thank you so much for granting my wish lol!

onto the review; my favorite type of books are books about vampires! i'm a HUGE sucker(pun intended) for them so this is no surprise about me liking this book! tobias' character was so fascinating and i enjoyed reading about his passion for revenge but then upon meeting and getting to know alexander, that passion started to fade! it was so cute watch their love blossom and how super protective they both were about each other! all i wanted to do the whole book was hug them both and protect them from that vile man that doesn't even deserve to be called alexander's father! i will say the ending felt a tiny bit rushed but then again the whole book was kinda fast paced so just be prepared for that! other than that, i liked this book a lot and will definitely be rereading this during the spooky season!

thank you again for allowing me to read and review this book!

I loved this. So many twists and amazing characters. The romance was beautiful and I could hardly put the book down

This book was a little cleanser for it, it was a perfect little form of a retelling for Romeo and Juliet to me.

Alexander and Tobias, to me at least, their relationship was a lot more on the complicated side, B U T. They were able to make it through and I truly did enjoy this book.

4.5/5 Stars.

A highly entertaining and fast-paced dark fantasy book that keeps you hooked from the very beginning!

The authors do a wonderful job of building a spooky and atmospheric world filled with magic, danger, and complex relationships. The characters feel deeply human with their flaws and motivations, making it very easy to care about what happens to them. The plot moves quickly and is packed with exciting twists that make the book hard to put down.

While some parts of the magical system could have been explained a bit more clearly, the overall story is incredibly satisfying. It is a perfect read for anyone who loves dark magic, strong character development, and tense, emotional stories.

Thank you very much for the arc

The Darkness Bites Back was definitely not my first vampire romance read, nor will it be my last, but it definitely holds a place up there in one of the most enjoyable, easy to read, and fast paced vampire stories I’ve read so far.

The two main characters Alexander and Tobias were so interesting to read from, I honestly couldn’t pick a favourite between them. I loved their relationship throughout the story and its changes. The dialogue between the two was very fun and I think the favourite part of my read.

The pacing of this book was mostly good, I do think that the last few chapters could have been longer. I just think that we should have sat with certain decisions and emotions for a little longer, the speed at which characters get over big reveals and plot points seems a little unrealistic. But up until the end the pacing was good. I also found a few plot holes, mostly with the lore of the vampires, not to spoil anything here. These holes however, we’re not severe enough to take away from my enjoyment reading this book or to really take me out of the story.

The Darkness Bites Back is overall a very fun read with very interesting characters set in an atmospheric backdrop, it is one I will be recommending to my vampire loving friends when it is published.

wow. this was intense as all hell.

i really am starting to get the hang of how books are promoted, between reading this book and the last, and it's that they mislead you a lot. this was not a romeo and juliet adaptation at all; it didn't even read to be loosely inspired by it. the only r&j thing about it is that there's two people in love and it's vaguely about a family. i can't say more; this is the issue with reading arcs. i am a horrible person so i always drop spoilers in my reviews but with arcs, i have the dignity to not do that. so you, the reader, will remain in the dark(ness bites back. haha.)

what to say. it's about vampires and vampires aren't really my favorite mythical creature, but i think this was a fun read. it wasn't super duper moving, but i had a fun time reading it ! i know i said i don't spoil with arcs, but man, i wish romance books let themselves be a little tragic and focused on that. tragedy does strike in this book, but it's brushed off like it's no big deal.

bottom line, not terrible. fun read. the romance was rushed, but it's not the flaw of the writing but rather, people in real life also get into quick ass relationships and start being like wow, you're the love of my life ❤️ one more similarity to r&j at least.

Gay Romeo & Juliet meets Hannibal meets Succession and oh god did I love every second of it. The Darkness Bites Back is lush, captivating, and sensual, and it drags you right into its atmospheric Oxford underbelly.

The world building is the most incredible dark academia vibe, aided by the wardrobes, the vocabulary, the references, it's all incredible, no notes. The best part though is by far the perfect sweet angel baby (monsters and mass murderers) Tobias and Alexander. These authors can clearly write yearning—the romance in this is probably one of the best I have read in a LONG time. Their characters are built out and brought to life so well that I was actively feeling Tobias' fear and Alexander's protectiveness at each scene, and I sobbed throughout the last fifteen percent of the book.

There is one major, major way that the authors have deviated from the original R&J, and I truly cannot thank them enough for that (IYKYK). I was pleasantly surprised by how many similarities between the two works I caught (and it was fun to spot the differences) and the very meta inner monologue pertaining to R&J in Alexander's point of view made me giggle.

If I had to posit one complaint about this book, it would be that the dialogue sometimes just doesn't make sense? And perhaps this will be worked out in the final rounds of editing, but sometimes they would be having almost two different discussions, or whatever answer was given to a question would just be effectively gibberish.

Thank you so so much to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

This book reminded me that I need more vampire novels in my life. I also loved the non traditional elements or lore. Really enjoyed!

I really was intrigued by the premise of this book. The writing at times I felt was a little forced. I ended up DNF’d at 25%. I wasn’t connecting with the world as much as I hoped I would to keep going

the darkness bites back was an enjoyable queer romantic fantasy. i very much enjoyed the exploration of vampires in modern day oxford, the discussion around grief, guilt and the drive for revenge, and the exploration of the influence of love.

tobias and alexander were both interesting characters in their own lights. tobias' desire for revenge against the damianos' was very well written, and i think he was an incredibly consistent character - we see various instances where his 'humanity' overrides his more bloodthirsty side (pun not intended),

i will note that i went into reading this with some different expectations. the description makes it seem like alexander would be pro-human in the way that he acts, an active protector, but throughout the book he is shown to be mostly apathetic towards humans. i do also think that labelling this as a romeo and juliet retelling was not the best, because it lacked the tragedy that i expected to see from a romeo and juliet story. the only person that had a real personal feud in the plot was tobias, and the ending lacked any real level of devastation.

all in all i did enjoy this as a book, i just think it would have benefited from being marketed differently as i went into the reading experience expecting something that i was not really given.

Ooooh, this was SO up my alley from the moment I saw the cover and description because MM dark academia + paranormal + vampires is basically a combination of all my favorite things in one book. And wow, I think they really nailed it. The prose was genuinely gorgeous and the writing was so vivid and rich with detail that I could picture everything so clearly. This honestly feels like something that could easily become a movie or TV series.

I have never read anything from these authors before, but this book completely wowed me and now I absolutely want to read more from them. The bait and trap dynamic between Tobias and Alexander was fantastic, and the chemistry between them was searing. I loved the cat and mouse tension so much, especially with the whole enemies to lovers Romeo and Juliet vampire retelling aspect. I was honestly nervous this would destroy me emotionally because of the inspiration behind it, so I appreciated that it did not end horribly.

My one real complaint is that I think this would have benefited so much from dual first person POVs instead of third person. I wanted even more access to their thoughts and inner conflict during all the manipulation, longing, and tension between them. Especially with two authors writing it, having one POV for each character could have been incredible. The ending also felt a little abrupt to me, but maybe this is because there will be another book? I would hope so.

But overall, I enjoyed this immensely. Moody, atmospheric, romantic, dangerous, and full of tension in the best way and a really good story but two authors I discovered and will be reading more of!

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura R. Samotin, Ben Alderson, and Angry Robot for the eARC of this book.

I absolutely loved this book. Everything from the setting to the development of the characters was amazing. The prose was captivating and made it feel like we were in Oxford. One thing I surprisingly enjoyed was the development of the relationship, yes it was rushed on one part, but the way it is explained and developed makes it worth it. I couldn't put the book down, but I do think that somethings are left unexplained creating a bit of a plot hole, and the ending was a bit predictable and, specially rushed. I would have loved to see it a bit more in depth and slightly lengthened so it would have had the same vibes as the rest of the book. But overall, I really enjoyed this collab between Laura R. Samotin and Ben Alderson and I would love to read more from them. Can't wait till the book comes out so I can get my own copy

2.5/5 rounded up to 3 - This was a very quick and light read, about a turned vampire named Tobias who's out for revenge. But it doesn't go as planned as he gets to know Alexander, the son of the vampire he wants to kill.

I had to adjust my expectations as I read this. I was expecting it to be dark and gothic. Yet it was more an insta-lust vampiric meet cute with a thin plot. Alexander is a sad soft boi who *just wants to live life* with humans and to run from his daddy issues. Tobias could use some therapy for his own damage, and is just as equally attracted to Alexander. The story is very much character driven, smutty, and not truly enemies to lovers.

I have questions about how things work in this world. You're telling me no one could tell Tobias was a vampire? His plan also felt half cooked, for someone trying to go against "the head of Britain's most powerful vampire clan." How about some training and some real planning? I also have questions about vampire rules and mechanics.

Alexander and Tobias are cute enough to carry the story, because there's not much else going on. I think there's a lot of potential here, because their chemistry was fun. This story could have been fleshed out further, it left me wanting. Read for their banter and the smut, that's pretty much it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Angry Robot for the ARC.

A Romeo and Juliet retelling but make it MM and vampires what more could you want
I thought this book was really good, well written and a fun read
Will definitely recommend

It's been a while since I read some more traditional vampire fiction, so I was looking forward to The Darkness Bites Back, and overall it did not disappoint. The revenge tale was nothing new, but it worked well here and gave a good setup for the action. Tobias and Alexander were both great characters, and we saw both of them develop over the course of the story, perhaps Tobias most of all. I was rooting for their relationship from the start; however, the only slight misgiving I had was how quickly they fell for each other. This was a fairly short read, and I perhaps might have liked to have seen the story extended a little longer to give them more time to come to care, as it was verging a bit on insta-love. It would have also allowed a little more time to develop side characters like Maria and Kate, to increase their impact. I also would have liked to have seen a couple of plot points tied up that were left hanging when the book ended, and perhaps a better explanation of why what happened in the finale worked in the way it did, as that came a bit out of nowhere. Nonetheless, it was still an entertaining read with an action-packed finale, so it is sure to appeal to fans of MM romance and vampires. I am giving it 4 stars. I enjoyed it, there were just those few small things, especially at the conclusion, which stopped me moving from liking to loving.

Alright let's philosophize because who if not overly mentally developed vampires gets you to hold lengthy arguments with the flawless listening entity that is the wall.

I feel like every vampire book now has to be a Shakespearean retelling because what else will make it feel ever so macabre, the noir love of a fatalistic story (which does arguably go perfectly with these vampires). And the authors made sure to fit the image of the vampire here into the enigmatic and seductive romanticism that automatically comes with vampirism. Which, pretty goddamn cool. I just wish there was more of that... physical mess that comes with having a blood-sucking lover, you know? I think it is safe to say this is the fiction people come to when in need of some blood play, yeah? I'd assume so. Not much of a mess depicted, but there were some hot moments here and there that I enjoyed, even if they were terribly humane for how blood-sucking they were. And there was joy in Oxford too, they chose the best damn city for this, best setting for that Shakespearean, dark academia vibe, wasn't it?

It was difficult to see these vampires complain about lost morality (well, mostly Tobias, as we know from the premise) when the narrative offers little evidence to support that. If anything, these characters appear stubbornly human in their emotional (and even physical) lives. They are not granted the luxury of an emotional detachment switch like other pieces of media, so where did that morality go, my loves? But I appreciate the lust that comes with this made-up notion, though. Go imagine being immoral, if feeling immoral is what you need.

The premise of these two's dynamic at first was very archetypal, but I feel like the roles might have been reversed, actually. Like Tobias with his extremely good (might be pathological) lying and S class acting, with a dark past and his lil’ dark secret, whilst Alexander bearing the name of the greatest king, with a personality like Dorian Gray and libido like Oscar Wilde. Tell me it doesn’t feel like Tobias is the big bad vampire here, whilst Alexander disrupts the expectations of his character that he is supposed to be. Speaking of which, Alexander is so fucking hot, you guys. Alexander Damianos had me enamored from the first moments I caught him reminiscing about his past in his class whilst starving to bits. This man is just naturally... seductive? (I suppose deliberate seduction does define many classical depictions of vampirism... but he is different, okay?!) Would make anyone hypersexual (me, definitely me) the moment this man is in the room with them; he is the Dorian Gray of vampirism and you know what, that's maybe why I loved him so much from the very beginning. Vampires in general are seen as sexually empowered characters, mostly because of the elegance and the power of seduction that comes with these creatures who regard themselves so highly and have the ability to explore such things for centuries. And Alexander (and consequentially, Tobias) are obviously figures of the past, and evidently desirable beings. It was written very well in that aspect, to emphasize this contrast between the saint and the vampire, between purity and corruption, but with a very dark indie vibe that comes with a Romeo and Juliet retelling. Listen. Unrepressed sexual lust is one of the best things that comes with vampires so hell yeah, I'm glad these freaks of nature found me.

Other than that, the ending was a tad abrupt. Where's the rest of it? Gimme it. There are matters left to attend, so I feel a bit neglected, deprived of these matters. I was actually looking forward to those matters. Agh, what a shame.

Another wonderful literary duet by Samotin and Alderson I got the joy of reading early. The Darkness Bites Back was pleasure directly projected into my eyes.

Alderson and Samotin can do no wrong, and this vampire filled enemies to lovers just highlights how epic they are.

The dual pov between Tobias and Alexander is amazing. I loved seeing Alexander quickly fall head over heels for Tobias, acting as a demonic 'I will rip your heart out if you touch him' protector. Tobias slowly trying to come to terms with his feelings for his enemies son, while hiding who and what he truelly is, is oddly endearing.

Also I whooped at the casual St Andrews uni mention and just imagine the exact places Tobias would have been stalking Alexander.

3.5 rounded up because this was a super easy read (complementary) and I liked the ending. This is for people who wish they liked contemporary romances more bc they need some horror/supernatural stuff going on.

There are some areas of the book that I feel could have been fleshed out more; for example, Tobias stalking/seducing Alexander, and specifically that I didn’t really get the impression that Tobias hated him ever. I was left wanting more explanation around the idea of made vs born vampires, but overall thought the take on vampires in this world was interesting and unique.

This book is dramatic. Capital D dramatic.

The fantasy/horror elements feel intense right from the beginning, but what kept me invested was how emotionally charged all the relationships are underneath the action. Everyone feels like they’re carrying around some combination of grief, rage, or desire at all times.

Very moody. Very sharp-teeth energy.

Very enjoyable gay vampire enemy-to-lovers Romeo and Juliet retelling set in modern-day Oxford.

The characters were great and I liked both Tobias and Alexander. Their competing searches for vengeance and freedom, while entering this messy passion and love infused paring made for great internal struggles between lust, love and their other loyalties.

One of the more smut heavy books that I’ve read. If gay vampires are your thing, you should definitely give this book a try.

3.5 / 5 stars


Thank you NetGalley and Angry Robot Publishers for providing me with a free ARC.

Revenge is hard when the enemy’s son is boyfriend shaped

This was delicious! Gime me vampires and family drama and I’ll be in the first row. But also, look at this cover!

Ok so, Tobias is a vampire who has spent half a century plotting vengeance and then got distracted by a pretty man.
It is a little dark, but it managed to be romantic and sweet as well. Oh, and hot 👌🏼

If “Romeo and Juliet vibes but with gay vampires” doesn’t convince you to read this, then nothing I say will.
One thing I must add, though: Alexander spent the entire book being catastrophically down bad for our homeboy Tobias and, understandable, I can relate.

“How strange, that so much love could spring from such deep hate.”

Your honor, please consider:
- graveyard spice
- picking him up bridal style
- “I’d burn the world down for him” energy
- Oxford setting

**Thank you NetGalley and AgryRobot for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

So... I read this book from beginning to end in one day. I thought both MCs were interesting characters on their own and enjoyed how their relationship developed. As the copy I read was an ARC, I understand there are going to be things that are confusing or not fully explained. Without going into spoiler-y details, the timeline of events felt a bit rushed, and it seemed there were a few gaps in how vampirism works in this world.

Overall, it was a fun read and just the type of book I was looking for to get me out of a reading slump! Definitely would recommend this book to my fellow vampire fans!

If you like guys that are down bad, this book is written for you. Alexander is so obsessed with Tobias from the second they meet. 
I'm not usually that into insta-love, but for centuries-old vampires it kinda just makes sense. 
Knowing that this book is a Romeo and Juliet retelling had me terrified all throughout the book.
The things we do for love and the things we do for revenge, and where do we find ourselves when these two things bite each other? 
I think I like Alexander's character a bit more, mostly because he's just more relatable to me. Tobias felt a little inconsistent and was too wrapped up in revenge most of the time. Overall, this book was written really well and if you don't mind a bit of the vampire cliches this is a perfect read!


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fairly solid, dramatic, dark romance between a vampire heir and the spawn trying to take down the heir's father, only shit, they actually fall in love along the way. Good sex scenes, good plot, fun ride.

I flew through this one! Managed to read it in one day. This was so easy to read. I loved Alexander and Tobias. They had great banter and chemistry. The academic setting was fun. I liked the professor and smut loving librarian setup!

The pacing felt a bit off. It felt fast but the ending still felt rushed. I wish there had been one or maybe two more chapters to see the aftermath of what happens.

This was a quick, entertaining read. I didn’t realize how much I’d like a queer, vampiric story inspired by Romeo and Juliet! Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for my early copy!

I was thrilled when I found out that Ben Alderson was penning another vampire character, so I was very pleased to get an ARC on Netgalley. The Darkness Bites back is co-authored with Laura R. Samotin and is the first book in the “Shadows Have Teeth” series.

Tobias is a vampire who was made in a violent and terrifying massacre at the hands of Vladimir Damianos. Tobias has spent centuries plotting his revenge, carving a path to Vladimir so he can kill him and thus destroy every vampire the creature has created.


Tobias has a plan. He will seduce Vladimir’s heir. If he can entwine Alexander Damianos in his web this will give him access to the family mansion and his sworn enemy.

I’m not familiar with Laura Samotin’s writing, but Ben Alderson is one of my favourite authors. This book was just as engaging, spicy and yes… traumatizing as Ben’s other novels. Don’t be mistaken, all of that is good!

The characters are what propels this story. Tobias is driven by revenge, scarred and traumatized by his transition. When his long-planned mission finally comes to fruition however, he wavers slightly. Alexander Damianos isn’t the man his father is, in fact, on the surface he seems quite different.

Alexander may be troubled beneath his slickly, charming exterior but those still waters are deep and complicated. He has his own issues with his family and Vladimir but lacks the strength to take out his own maker.

I loved that there was so much chemistry between the two vampires despite their secrets, and the fact that they should be enemies. Despite himself, Tobias is drawn in by Alexander, amused by him, perhaps even a little enthralled. It’s not how things were supposed to go and Tobias is faced with unexpected possibilities and impossible decisions.

In a way, this book is enemies to lovers even though Alexander doesn’t know that Tobias harbours so much animosity toward him and considers him a foe.

This is a well-written tale, slightly reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet. The characters are all fully developed and interesting. The final chapter leaves open the path forward for the series. I look forward to what the future may hold for Alexander and Tobias.

Thank you Angry Robot for the ARC!

If Laura and/or Ben write it, I'm going to read it.

And I'm going to love it, because I sure do love reading their broken little characters.

This was shockingly less dark than both of them usually write, which was really surprising--but it worked really well for the story being told.

Both Tobias and Alexander are broken due to the actions of one man--Alexander's dad. And they both want revenge in their own way. The twist? Neither of them knows the other feels that way, and Alexander has no idea Tobias plans to use him to get what he wants. But, you know, everyone is hot and horny so things don't exactly go according to plan.

This was a fast burn romance, so if you're looking for some long drawn out yearning BEFORE the spice kicks in, look elsewhere. But let me tell you, the yearning is still there, and it's on both sides. Dracula's obsession with Lucy looks like child's play compared to what's going on here.

This story was so fun and absolutely insane, and the way it ends has me laughing so hard because what do you mean we're just not going to acknowledge [redacted for spoilers]?? But honestly, I loved that and think it was a really fitting end for two people who fought the world to finally be free to live the life they wanted.

If you're wanting to read anything by Ben and Laura (or just want a fun, unhinged, vampire standalone), this is a GREAT book to read. Arguably my favorite book of both of them and exactly what I was wanting it to be.

Queer Romeo and Juliet with vampires…. Brilliant. I absolutely adored the journey this book took me on. The whole Romeo and Juliet thing made a bit on edge because tragedy, and I really just wanted them to be happy in love. This book follows Tobias as he carries out a plan centuries in the making and Alexander, the heir to the most powerful vampire clan. It is fun and steamy and I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. I was so happy to have the opportunity to read this one early. I mean, just look at that cover.

Between The Darkness Bites Back, Interview with the Vampire and the mountains of fanfic I am always reading it really is gonna be a gay vampire summer!

Another campy classic, but this time bloodsoaked. It’s a litte bit horror, a little bit dark academia and a whole lot of romance! I’m not usually one for instalove, but when it is done right it hits, especially when the person the character is falling in love with is someone they realllly shouldn’t, and have been harbouring a centuries long vendetta against. When there is enough external conflict happening, maybe the realtionship doesn’t need any extra.

I didn’t read what this story was about before I requested it, I saw the word vampire and that cover and that was really all the encouragement I needed, but it is a Romeo and Juliet re-telling! It is pretty loose, but in my humble opinion almost every story is better with vampires.

Lost a star for a few pacing issues, and under developed secondry characters (and a couple of unexplained plot holes) BUT not enough to make me like it any less, still worth a read, and generally just a bloody good time. It’s also very spicey and on theme (graveyard fun!!!). Out Septmber 26th`

An engaging, dark tale of manslaughter, obsession and revenge. A 500 year old vampire, finally reaching the point in his extensive revenge plan in which he infiltrates the family of his unwanted, disgusting sire, taking out competition for an administrative position at Oxford university to connect to the son of said sire. An Oxford professor, under his father's thumb but morally distant from him, is the perfect target, queer and horny and sympathetic to humanity. Their relationship is quick to develop, real feelings form fast, obsession taking root... However, it is completely built on secrets and lies. The son is charged with solving the vampire attacks his new 'human' librarian boyfriend is responsible for, his sister slowly getting to the root of the entire plot.

The ending is a dramatic, Romeo and Juliet style sacrifice, following an unravelling of everything, a gathering of vampires, the truth coming out, and a bond formed. It is engaging, dark and violent in the best way. The only faults in this book? The MCs plan took 500 years to form, stalking the son, spying on properties, yet he seems incredibly unprepared, he engraves his victims name on the stake he keeps in his house, his intel is wholly lacking, none of the confrontations go well? 500 years??? For plan seduce son, get invited to house and stab the dad ending the entire family line? Incredibly flawed... But still a fun read. Might have made more sense if he was a younger vampire...?

An enjoyable, fast-paced, action-packed story, with a satisfying end and engaging romance.

Romeo and Juliet meets deadly vampires. Tobias has been hunting the vampire who turned him for hundreds of years binding his time to make the perfect move. Alexander the son and heir is the perfect target to get invited into the lions den. Pretend he is a weak human and slip into the sons life and become integral. All good untill real feelings start to show.

This pair have so many secrets and lies that it takes over everything they are trying to build. Making the tension grown throughout and the danger of what they both doing becomes real. Messy family and vampire politics really muddy the waters and drag both characters kicking and screaming to the end.

There is nothing nice about these kinds of vampires and the blood and carnage is given out where needed. Shame the story is only stand alone as I think the political struggle of a vampire clan could be quite interesting.

The dates and sweet simple moments really give you a sweet tender love between the pair that helps guide the story. Making you believe in their love for each other and how far it may go.

3.75⭐️

the tagline for this book is a queer vampire romeo and juliet retelling, so of course i requested it. the retelling aspect is quite loose, though the story does follow a few of the classic shakespearean plot points which make for a lot of suspense and anticipation when reading the book

this was really fast-paced, and i basically read it in two sittings. the writing is really easy to read, and there’s a lot of action which kept me hooked. i did think that the pacing was a bit off, as the third act conflict felt a bit rushed and so did the ending. i didn’t love the ending, but it was a nice conclusion for the story!

tobias and alexander gave everything they needed to give: sassy, queer vampires who work at oxford university. their banter was great, and it was very entertaining to read about them and their relationship. the romance was pretty insta-love/lust, but that comes with the nature of a romeo and juliet retelling, and the fact that this book was/felt pretty short.

overall, i really liked this and was thoroughly entertained the whole way through. i would have liked a bit more exploration into the vampires and their lore, as well as the side characters, but the main characters were fun to read about and had well-developed motivations that kept the story going!

I really liked this book. I loved the main characters and their relationship. I thought that Tobias and Alexander worked well together and that they were like able the entire time. I also liked the side characters, they were interesting and funny. I enjoyed the concept of the book and thought that it was interesting as it is something I do not read often. I liked the writing and how there was not a lot of smut. I liked the small amount of it and I think that this helped the characters come together more and feel more like a real relationship.

The only thing I did not really like was the ending since it felt rushed. I think that there could have been a few more chapters, just so it could be longer and the ending would have more weight to it.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy via NetGalley.

HOLYYYYY this was amazing. Ben Alderson and Laura R. Samotin, yall are phenomenal writing together!!

This modern “retelling” (/loosely inspired) of Romeo & Juliet, that includes a MM vampire romance, was in one word: brilliant. Ben Alderson is my favourite MM fantasy romance author, and he didn’t disappoint in this one! This was also the first book I’ve read by Laura R. Samotin, but from what this one was like, it’s safe to say I’ll be reading their other works!!

I loved everything about this book. At first, you think the heir to one of the families is going to be a stuck up prick, but reading about him from the other MCs POV as he learns more about him was SO good. The villain was also a really well written character, because yeah he is bad, but to find out what he DOES that makes him bad? I loved it.

If yall are looking for an Achillean Romeo & Juliet inspired story, look no further than The Darkness Bites Back!!!

The Darkness Bites Back had me at queer vampire Romeo and Juliet retelling, because obviously I was going to request that immediately. Give me vampires, family drama, revenge plots, Oxford vibes, and a cover this pretty, and I am fully seated. Tobias and Alexander were such a fun pair to follow, with great banter, strong chemistry, and very much “I’ll burn the world down for him” energy.

The romance definitely leans more insta-lust to insta-love than slowburn enemies to lovers, but honestly, that kind of tracks for a Romeo and Juliet inspired story. Tobias especially had a solid arc, and both main characters felt vivid and distinct. I just would have loved a little more time with the side characters, the vampire lore, and some of the emotional beats, because a few moments felt like they could have hit harder if the story had slowed down and let them breathe.

Overall, this was fast paced, dark, romantic, a little spicy, and just a really entertaining read. Some parts, especially near the ending, felt a bit rushed and I wanted a few more threads tied up, but I still had a great time. If queer vampires, revenge, messy immortal family drama, and graveyard spice are your thing, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read an early copy via NetGalley!



I’m not normally one for Romeo and Juliette but the premise for this sounded amazing and it turns out that R&J was just missing blood sucking vampires for me to really enjoy it…

I loved the contrast of how Alexander fell so hard and fast for Tobias and was a real eager beaver from the first time they met… to how Tobias really struggled to accept his feelings and constantly battled with following his heart but also wanting revenge on the person who ruined his life… fair play to the man for considering throwing away hundreds of years worth of planning and work for the absolute traumatised angel that is Alexander 🥲

It was quite emotional at times which added a lot of depth to the story, it’s very revenge driven so without all that emotion it could have easily fell flat… but both Alexander and Tobias’ pain, although very different, came across so clearly that I had no choice but to invest in their relationship. And I was more than happy to be there.

The authors really know how to keep you in suspense too, for a while there I was unsure how this was going to turn out, I liked that it kept me on my toes!

Overall, an exciting, angsty, emotional filled romance that I found absolutely delightful.