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Perfection; I savored this book. The prose is beautiful, evocative and fitting for a centuries-old vampire while managing to be unpretentious and modern. The story unfolds carefully but with enough tension that I couldn't wait to see what came next. The author weaves fantasy with realistic, distinctive characters in a way that makes it fully immersive, even without knowing the source material of Dracula. The second-person narration is so unique, too, and it fit this book perfectly. Not to mention the casual queer relationships (of multiple kinds) and the VERY spicy smut... I think it did everything incredibly well, and I am so glad I followed a friend's recommendation to pick it up.

I appreciated the content warnings on the first page and felt they were appropriate for the book. I am very squeamish with injuries and didn't feel they were gratuitous at all.

Lastly, I rarely read previews of something when they are included at the end of what I've just read, but I had to know how this story continues. The first few pages of book #2 have a totally different narration style, main character, and voice, yet it already feels so seamless. I am excited to read it and anything else the author does - what a talent.

Used for 2022 r/Fantasy Bingo (award finalist but not winner, hard mode); also fits for non-human protagonist, author uses initials, anti-hero, mental health, and maybe urban fantasy (hard mode).