e-ALC, 09:41:52
Narrated by: Ashley J. Hobbs
Release Date: March 3, 2026
Published by: Macmillan Audio
Read from: March 6-8, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: Google Play (I received this ALC free from the publisher and Google Play. This did nothing to influence my review!)
Content Warning: Cursing, Death, Racism
For Readers Interested In: 2sLGBTQ+, Audio, Fantasy, Sparkly Covers, Most Anticipated, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Black/ African), Stand-alone, Vampires, YAFor fans of Sinners and Immortal Dark, a teen girl must uncover her family’s deadly secrets in order to save her best friend and her island in this heart-pounding YA debut.
Addae has spent her whole life on the Golden Isle, a private island off the coast of South Carolina that has been in her family for centuries. Island residents don’t really fraternize with mainlanders, and for good reason. Golden Isle was founded by the Kinfolk, descendants—including Addae and her Nana Ama, the island matriarch—of escaped enslaved Black people.
But the Isle and the Kinfolk have secrets that must be protected from the outside world. Secrets of spirituality, mythology that are deeply rooted in their West African culture, beliefs, and traditions. The Kin are bound to protect the Golden Isle and, in turn, it protects them.
When Addae’s best friend Naria goes missing and one of the Kin turns up drained of blood, Addae’s way of life is threatened. It looks like the work of the Adze, West African supernatural beings that drink human blood in order to survive—also known as vampires.
Believing Naira is alive, Addae travels to the mainland. But as Addae gets closer to finding Naria, she uncovers deep secrets about Nana Ama’s past, and about her own… secrets that could change how she feels about the Golden Isle and her lineage.
Torn between two worlds, Addae will have to decide how far she is willing to go—and who she is willing to cross—to save her best friend, and even herself.
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was a slow burn that almost got me, but I’m so happy that I stayed the course. I have a weird relationship with vampire books… I once read too many of them when everyone was in the paranormal romance craze and then I just got burnt out. But give me a Black vampire, and I will ALWAYS take it. So yeah, I didn’t hesitate to grab this one.
Ok so the main thing that I liked about this was the folklore. I had read a book with adze before, but it was a MG book that didn’t go in-depth on what they are. So this gave me a lot more insight. Like the firefly thing. I was interested in what happens to them when the opposite happens. I liked learning about them so much, I went and did some more research. (It was said that they were used as a way to explain malaria) That’s how much I was into it. I haven’t read a lot of West African lore, so this was a welcome treat.
The thing that bothered me most was the pacing tho. It was like so slow in the beginning. I kept rewinding and having to start over because I found myself drifting. And that was unfortunate because girl, yo friend is missing! But then by the festival, I was like ok maybe this is getting better, but then when I finally got into it and found myself really enjoying it, it was the end. The new character was introduced at the end and that’s when things got really crazy. But it was too close to the end and then it was over.
The romance was meh. I don’t think it needed to be there, but that’s just me. I think I could have done without it, but I do understand that there may be others who can’t lol I didn’t fall into it like I thought I would have, so that was disappointing. The only reason I don’t think it should have been done away, is because it was a sapphic romance. I will always root for anything that’s non-straight lol
This was good. I liked so many aspects of this. It definitely wasn’t your typical vampire novel and I loved that. I hope there’s more West African lore to come from this author. This was a wild ride and I can’t lie, I’m hoping for more!
Overall, I give this
