A warm, slow-burn gay vampire romance, set against a lush gothic backdrop.Takes place in late Regency era England on the North York Moors!Volumes 1, 2, & 3 are now out and available to download for free; Volume 4 is forthcoming!All volumes will eventually be available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover formats.Mailing list is available here! Sign up to be notified with updates and subsequent volume releases.⚜️ TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE OR PURCHASE VOLUMES, SEE THE LINKS BELOW ⚜️

• ⚜️ Free Download Links (ePUB and PDF) ⚜️
• ⚜️ Orders and Preorders ⚜️
• Merch shop
• Historical Context & Refs
• Content Warnings
• Covers & Blurbs
• Official Art
• Characters
• Help share the novel!
• FAQ
• Contact Me
• Copyright Guidelines
• Mailing List Archive

Remember: all ebook purchases are optional! If you want the free versions, which are identical, sign up for the mailing list and you'll get an email when they're out, or check back here.Physical copies: Copies are widely available through many places; the lists of online shops below are not exhaustive! You can also probably order them through your local bookshop, too.Print Colours: Note that Amazon's paperback printing is slightly different than the others! If you want a matching set, make sure to order all from either Amazon or non-Amazon sites.

YE OLDE MAILING LIST ARCHIVE

These are all the emails sent to the mailing list since 2023!
Keep in mind, a lot of the logistical info (release dates, technical info, and old links) may now be outdated.They are listed from new to old.

2026May 19, 2026: Vampire Novel: Merch preorders OPEN & more! 🦇March 10, 2026: Vampire Novel: Merch Interest Check, Hardcover, and Paperback! 🦇Feb 14, 2026: Vampire Novel: Volume III OUT NOW! (Feb 14, 2026)Jan 21, 2026: Vampire Novel: VOL. 4 COVER REVEAL + Vol. 3 release soon! 🦇2025Oct 9, 2025: Vampire Novel: HAPPY OCTOBER + Mini-updates! 🦇Sep 12, 2025: Vampire Novel: Vol 2 Paperback OUT! + Typo Fixes + BIG UPDATES & MOREAug 8, 2025: Vampire Novel: Volume II OUT NOW!Jul 22, 2025: Vampire Novel - Vol 1 Paperback OUT! + Fanart & Fan-Memes + Updates, RVJun 25, 2025: Vol 1 Release Week UpdateJun 20, 2025: Volume 1 ReleaseJun 15, 2025: Volume 1 - Releasing soon!2024Oct 28, 2024: Volume 3 Cover Reveal + OPTIONAL PREORDERS OPEN!Mar 14, 2024: Upcoming Vampire Novel - Cover 2 Reveal!2023Nov 7, 2023: Upcoming Vampire Novel - Vol. 1 Cover Reveal!

WELCOME TO THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT SECTION!

General Articles:

• Historical Outfits: What would they wear?
• Playlist: Music mentioned in the novel

Character Spotlights:

• Alistair de Beaumont

HOW TO HELP THE NOVEL GROW!

This is a self-published project, so I'm doing my best to help it find its audience!
If you enjoy the novel and want more folks to read it, here are some things you can do to expand its reach:1. Leave a review on a book-related websiteIf you have time, you can do this for each volume - but if not, Vol. 1 is a great option!

• Goodreads
• Storygraph
• Fable
• Amazon

2. Post about it on your favorite social media platformThings like your general thoughts, non-spoiler quotes you like, pictures of the paperback, or any kind of fanworks are always lovely! Sharing one of my posts also helps a ton; here are some links to places you can find me.

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3. Tell your friends!Got any vampirically-inclined pals??? All are welcome!4. Recommend your favorite book/media reviewerDo you or anyone you admire have a presence on booktok, bookstagram, booktube, or any other media-reviewing circles? I have a few review copies to send out; you can submit their info here so I reach out to them, or you can suggest the books to them directly!5. Add a tip through my Ko-fiThis helps me have more flexibility with art commissions, advertising funds, keeping the mailing list & carrd running, and more. Never feel obligated to give money, even if you've downloaded free copies; free is free, and I can fund most of this on my own!6. Tell me if you have any ideas I haven't thought of!And, finally...7. YOU CAN ALSO JUST ENJOY THE BOOK AND NOT WORRYThe novel has already found an lovely group of people - I couldn't ask for better readers! Never feel any pressure to share or interact; if you want to keep it something special just for you, then by all means do.THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THUS FAR, IT MEANS THE WORLD!!!!

CONTACT ME

There are lots of ways to reach me; feel free to write to me for any reason, no matter how trivial (I am very bored)1. EmailReach me at [email protected]2. Social MediaSend me a DM on any of the following platforms:

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3. Anonymous Comment BoxSubmit your comments through this form or send me a message via strawpage! I can reply to you by any method you choose, usually twitter/bsky post.4. Physical MailI'll try to write back via physical mail as well, time permitting!

Faun V. Hartley
744 South Street #915
Philadelphia, PA 19147
United States

OFFICIAL MERCHANDISE

All official merchandise is available via Etsy, and can ship anywhere USPS is available!

• Official Merch Shop

Info for Preorders ending June 3rd- Preorders will close on June 3rd, and my orders usually take about a month, so I’d imagine I’ll be shipping these around July-August- Shipping will be a flat rate: $10 inside the US (3-5 days), $16 for Canada (1-3 weeks), and $20 for international! (1-3 weeks)- Prices are on the listings; I tried to keep them low on this first round so as many people as possible can get them,- Each package will include extra goodies ;)- These items WILL be available in stock in the shop again after I get this initial wave out, probably later in the year

CHARACTER SPOTLIGHT:
Count Alistair de Beaumont

“I am Alistair de Beaumont, fifth Count of Lerin, of the peerage of Spain. Lerin was in Navarre, which in turn was subject to the crown of Castile; but whether any of this yet holds true, or whether my title still exists at all, I don’t know for certain.”

The Beginning

Alistair was born in the kingdom of Navarre on June 23, 1556. To place this among popularly known events: it’s a few decades after the beginning of Martin Luther’s Reformation, right around when Copernicus published that the earth went around the sun, and a few decades before Shakespeare put on his first plays. In the context of Europe, it’s the Renaissance Era; in the context of England, it’s the Tudor era, specifically just before Queen Elizabeth I takes the throne.Though Alistair is often described as the son of a Spanish count, the history is slightly more complex: Navarre was a region ruled by other kingdoms over its long history, including France, until it was taken over by the Crown of Castile in 1552. Soon after, it was essentially joined with Aragon to form what we would recognize as Spain. However, Navarre remained somewhat separate within this union, so Alistair is really Navarreese!Specifically, Alistair’s father was the Count of Lerín. This is the reason that Alistair has a French last name; Lerín is in Navarre, and borders France. In fact, there was a real lineage of Beaumonts who once held this title! Today, Lerín is a small, fairly remote town in Northern Spain with some awesome medieval landmarks.

_{A view of Lerin. Image source}

Below is the real crest of the Count of Lerin! This is not the same symbol as the crest on Alistair’s ring, which was a family sigil.Technically, since Alistair was presumed dead, he no longer holds the title which was bestowed to him upon his father’s death—but he keeps using it out of jest and convenience, knowing no Spanish official will realistically ever care or find out. He is therefore, jokingly, the Count of Amaranth Moor alone.As Henry states in the first chapter, there are no English counts; the equivalent rank is Earl, so anyone would immediately recognize a count as being foreign. This magnifies the irony of his jesting title: he is forever a foreigner to the world, even on his own land.

“Indeed, that was the lie. I am Count Alistair de Beaumont, fifth—” Then, he paused and smiled. “…fifteenth Count of Lerin.”

_{Above: The Crest of the Count of Lerin. Image source}

_{Below: Portrait of King Felipe II. of Spain and his second spouse Queen Maria I. of England, painted by Hans Eworth. Image source}

“Do you recall who reigned over England then?”“Why…oh, that must have been Queen Mary.” All at once, I lifted my head and cried out: “I see—and she married Philip of Spain!”

The Move to England

Alistair is brought to England soon his birth, ostensibly because his father wanted to take advantage of the political situation for his economic gain. At this time, Mary I, the daughter of Henry VIII (yes, the Henry with all the wives!) marries Philip II of Spain, hoping to make an heir and turn England back to Catholicism. If it had produced an heir, this marriage would have unified England with Spain, forming one of the most powerful Catholic kingdoms in Europe. However, Mary I died by 1558 and Elizabeth I succeeded her, changing course back to Protestantism. This is a fascinating period of history, and I recommend the movie Elizabeth (1998) to anyone interested!Northern England remained a fertile ground for Catholic insurgency against the queen, and tensions with Spain continued to rise, making the Beaumont’s family’s situation rather tenuous. However, unbeknownst to Alistair, returning to Spain would have been complicated.

_{Above: Sephardic Art from the Sarajevo Haggadah. Image source}

_{Below: Alhambra Palace, Spain. Image source}

The Family Secret

Alistair knows little about his mother and her family except that they were “marranos,” Sephardic Jews practicing in secret after a false conversion in Spain. The context here is the ultimatum of expulsion or conversion for all Jews and Muslims during the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. Once the inquisition comes to Navarre, and Alistair mother senses that her family’s situation is growing risky, she takes the offered chance to marry and and go to England. However, she struggles with the move and eventually grows deeply depressed, ultimately unable to pass any of her heritage on.Before 1492, a large part of the Iberian Peninsula was beneath Muslim rule, adding another layer to the eclectic cultural legacy of Spain. This area, known as Al-Andalus, was slowly taken over by Catholics in the centuries-long campaign known as the “Reconquista.” The Muslim population in the area, sometimes known historically as the “Moors,” contributed substantially to the architecture, knowledge, and music of Spain as we know it—as well as the language! Ever heard someone say “ojalá” in Spanish?This is the reason that Alistair is several times confused by others to be half “Moorish,” including by Sir Colden.

"He knew your Moorish lineage, and fancied having a reconquista of his own."
Alistair was dryly astonished. "I was never Moorish."

_{Don Quixote, Illustrated by Gustav Dore. Image source}

Alistair managed one final whisper, with which he recited a favourite quote:
"I doubt that there ever were, nor are there now, knights errant endowed with so many virtues."

Knights

From an early age, Alistair is fascinated by knights. His father shows him the stories of El Cid, the real knight mythologized in Spain’s most famous epic poem. “Cid” is an epithet derived from sayyed, meaning “Master” in Arabic. His legends take place during a tumultuous period of the Reconquista; acting as a mercenary, he is described to have fought on the side of both Christian and Muslim groups at different times.Alistair’s favorite legendary knight ends up being Gawain, though he loves all sorts of knights and seeks out their stories as much as he can during his childhood. By Alistair’s time, the knight is already mostly obsolete, and significant mostly as the object of popular historical nostalgia. Don Quixote, the famous Spanish satirical novel about a man driven mad by chivalric tales, is published after Alistair becomes a vampire. Being written in Alistair’s contemporary Spanish, it’s one of the first books that gives him genuine familiarity and amusement after he’s turned, and becomes one of his favorites.

_{St. Mary Magdalene's Church, East Moors Image source}

“With one breath you condemn Rome, and with another you give it your sympathies. Where does your favour truly lie?”To this, he gave a coy look. “A wolf in one land—or, indeed, one time—is a dog in another. I tend to side with nobody; but if I must place my sympathies somewhere, it will be with the dog.”“But which doctrine?”“The one which would also spare the dog,” Alistair replied, “Which, as of now, has proved to be neither.”

Identity

Due to his messy origin and the continuous trouble he faces from the clash of his lineages, Alistair has a profound disinterest in assuming any true ethnic or religious identity for himself, and maintains a strong cynicism towards most of them as human inventions. This is why he reacts with irritation towards Father Darby, the priest who builds a secretly Catholic parish on his land, and yet chides Avery for suggesting bonfire toffee on Guy Fawkes night, a holiday with anti-Catholic history. He considers his affiliation to lie with vampirekind alone.During the English Civil War, wanting to evade being mistaken for a Catholic sympathizer by the anti-catholic Roundheads, he decides to hibernate instead.

“I have no loyalties, but my lineage is unquestionably Spanish; I knew that if my manor were overrun by the roundheads, and I were interrogated and mistaken for a Catholic, I would have faced trouble. Wiser to sleep through it all.”

_{Prise du Trocadéro par le duc d'Angoulême, Paul Delaroche Image source}

News from Spain

In 1823, during the events of the novel, Spain—after an uprising and three years of liberal, constitutional rule—is invaded by French monarch Louis XVIII , who aims to restore his fellow member of the House of Bourbon, Ferdinand VII, to the Spanish throne. In a larger sense, this represents growing tension in Europe between liberal ideals inspired by the French Revolution and the long shadow of absolutist monarchy.Alistair claims not to care much, emphasizing that all human efforts towards progress are doomed anyway, and yet he can’t help but seem interested.

"Quite interesting for you in particular,” I said, following along behind him. “Some trouble brewing in your old land. Soon, you may find yourself at war alongside the French.”“As I have told you, I am never at war with anyone,” he replied, as we entered our little garret. […] “Besides, who am I meant to be loyal to? That Bourbon despot?”“If not to him, then to the brave souls who seek to ride themselves of him!”“Who were always doomed to fail,” Alistair replied, skimming the page. “As others failed in France.”I cast him a doubtful look. “For someone so certain of their downfall, you certainly seem interested in reading about their efforts. Why waste your time?”“Why does anyone go to the theatre to watch a tragedy?”

Dido and Aeneas

Opera as we know it is invented shortly after Alistair becomes in a vampire in the late 16th century. On the rare occasions that his manor is used for a gathering, he witnesses versions of it, and on one occasion is privy to a performance of Dido and Aeneas.Dido and Aeneas, composed in the late 17th century by Henry Purcell, was originally intended to be an opera sung by children, and is therefore a relatively simple performance. However, the final aria—When I am Laid in Earth, now popularly known as “Dido’s Lament”—ends up holding a special place in Alistair’s mind.The story is a tragedy drawn from the the Aeneid, a Latin poem by Virgil. It concerns Dido, the legendary founder and Queen of Carthage, and her doomed love affair with the Trojan hero Aeneas; when he leaves her for his duty to found a city in Italy, she commits suicide.Though the story is a myth, Carthage itself was a real major ancient Mediterranean civilization, once a fierce rival of Rome. It weakened over the course of the Punic Wars fought against the Roman Republic; near the end of these, despite no longer posing a threat, it was subject to calls for its destruction, which were used by Roman politicians to foster unity and gain political power. The now-famous phrase Carthago delenda est—“Carthage must be destroyed”—was reportedly repeated often in the Roman Senate, until the city was finally sacked and destroyed forever in the 2nd century. Almost none of Carthage’s primary sources survive, and most of what we know about them comes from other places.As a witness to the fading of his own world, Alistair has a reason to feel kinship with long-lost civilizations.But does Alistair have another reason for his interest in Queen Dido?

_{Dido and Aeneas by Rutilio Manetti Image source}