After reading Rin Chupeco’s Bone Witch Trilogy, I was eager to read their Castlevania-inspired adult series. Silver Under Nightfall’s gorgeous cover caught my eye at the library and I snapped it up!

Remy is nothing but a body trained to defend his kingdom from vampires. He’ll do whatever he has to for a combative edge; for any investigative leads. When a new Rot seems to be infecting the kingdom and all suspicions point to vampires, he’s on high alert. What he finds doesn’t make sense though. The luminous, vampiric Xiaodan Song and her sword-wielding fiancé Zidan Malekh are fighting the same strange contagion. They ask for his help, treat him with kindness, and even…why is his heart beating so fast y’all

I LOVED THIS. Again, Chupeco gifts us with an expansive world, with many courts and nations. Unlike in the Bone Witch though, I never got lost in the building of the world, and the narrative paces itself on the inter- and intra- court politics. The mystery was great and kept me guessing until the end. Fight scenes were vivid and easy to follow, which is especially impressive considering Remy’s massive weapon. The characters and their arcs were mwah! Witnessing Remy’s blossoming was a special treat. 

If you like vampires in love, you’ll love Silver Under Nightfall. If you like the Lore & Lust series, but want more serious mystery and action, you’ll love Silver Under Nightfall (and the reverse–if you want a modern romance with lighter plot, themes of cultural exchange, and heavier character work: check out Lore and Lust). If you liked the Castlevania TV series and wanted that OT3 ending, you’ll love Silver Under Nightfall. I’m glad the sequel is already here.