I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Are you ready for a wild, bloodthirsty adventure filled with friendship, surprises, and lots of blood-sucking? If so, this book is definitely the one for you. For all my fellow vampire lovers, I’m happy to report that not only does Harrison take a familiar trope and make it her own, but she also makes it a whole hell of a lot of fun. This is one wild ride from start to finish.

This time around, we follow Sloane Parker, a 30-something-year-old woman who feels stuck in a rut as she approaches another birthday. Things aren’t great at home, but Sloane’s life is comfortable, and she is willing to ignore things wrong in her marriage to keep the peace – even if she’s not happy about it. But when her husband surprises her with a fully paid weekend getaway with her rebellious best friend, Naomi, things take a turn for the unexpected. What starts as a quaint girls’ weekend at a beautiful, upscale resort soon spirals into a night of chaos when Naomi decides to shake things up by accepting an invitation to a party from a mysterious stranger she meets at a bar.

What follows is a night of seduction, passion, and ultimately, a near-death experience that changes both women forever – literally. As Sloane and Naomi navigate the aftermath of their fateful evening, they find themselves confronted with a series of choices that will change their lives in ways they never could have imagined.

Harrison’s writing is sharp, witty, and unapologetic. She weaves a narrative that is equal parts heart-pounding thriller and introspective drama, keeping readers on the edge of their seats while delving deep into the complexities of adulthood, friendships, betrayal, and self-acceptance.

One of the things that makes this book work so well is the layered relationship between our two leading women. Sloane and Naomi’s bond is at the heart of the story, and it’s nice to see two women taking center stage in a genre often dominated by male protagonists. Their dynamic is raw, honest, and relatable, making their journey all the more compelling. Typically, females take a supporting role in vampire stories, and they end up being seduced by and then at the mercy of the male vampire. While this story teeters on that familiar trope, Sloane and Naomi aren’t easily pulled into it. Sloane especially resists the pull, and I loved exploring her backstory and why she was so hesitant to fall into the open arms of her fangy male wannabe savior.

One complaint I had was that the group of vampires that the two women befriend and then attempt to leave behind were fun but felt a little too cliche. Harrison does a great job of putting her own spin on this familiar genre in several ways, but I felt this is where the novel could have used a little polishing. I felt like I’d already met them, and they didn’t bring many surprises. I especially thought Henry was dull, a little too brooding and predictable. If I had been Sloane, I would have been really bummed that this was the best I could do when it came to finding a fangy boy toy. That said, I did appreciate the different forms of vampirism introduced in the novel, with the older woman in the abandoned town being especially creepy. My only other complaint was the abrupt and overly tidy ending. I liked it, but I felt something was missing.

If you’re a fan of Harrison’s past work, you’ll definitely want to get your hands on this one. I found it to be a thrilling, fast-paced read that left me wanting more, even though the ending felt a little abrupt and too tidy. That wasn’t enough to ruin the read, though, and I would highly recommend adding this one to your fall TBR.