KEEP IT IN THE DARK

A vampire prince goes to boarding school.

Perpetually 17-year-old Casper was adopted by the Belamys after being found newly turned and abandoned. Now he’s part of the wealthy and powerful “royal vampiric family of the American East.” He’s been promised a trip to Europe to see the way other vampires live—if he can spend one year at Mockingbird Prep without revealing his true nature. Senior Rowan Young is the campus golden boy, football quarterback, fencing team captain, and son of the headmaster. This is his year to shine and uphold his family legacy—until Casper becomes his roommate, and everything falls apart. Rowan is frustrated by Casper’s rudeness and weird habits, like running barefoot in the woods and sleeping in a wardrobe. Casper isn’t ready to be in such close quarters with mortals, particularly Rowan, who smells delicious. Trying to avoid each other while sharing space is difficult, and Rowan can’t help but notice how beautiful he finds Casper. Despite being filled with popular romance and vampire tropes, the novel lacks nuance and the characters are underdeveloped. The uneven pacing contributes to the confusing timelines and a mystery that lacks tension. Even though the cute moments between the leads are promising, they can’t overcome the inconsistencies in the plotting. Both main characters are cued white.

A disappointing vampire romance with no bite.