REVIEW BY LAURA

Here’s the thing…. I don’t like books about vampires. Or movies. ..or TV shows… I know, I know, I’m the worst. I’ve tried for years to get on board with vampire stories, but always seem to find myself uninterested. I have never really been able to pinpoint why this particular fantasy creature has failed to draw me in, either. So when the author of Lightfall, Ed Crocker, reached out to me offering an eARC of his novel about “a world with no humans,” I was a bit nervous.

Lightfall is the first book of The Everlands series and focuses on a world of immortals (vampires, werewolves, sorcerers) who live in a hierarchical system and speak of mortality as a myth. Sam, a lower class vampire known as a “Worn,” is determined to upset the system which destroyed her family and limits her immortality, but when the vampire high Lord Azzuri’s son is killed, Sam finds herself involved in something far greater and unexpected.

To say that this book is engaging is a huge understatement. I found myself immediately drawn into the world and longing to know more about the Everlands, its history, and the various beings there. Crocker’s worldbuilding and its depth add so much to the story and I think this will pay off really well later on in the series. I was fascinated by the unique ways that societal systems and politics were portrayed in Lightfall and felt that the author handled themes of morality and the privileges, as well as the obligations of the elite with care and cleverness. 

The character work in Lightfall is excellent. Even the most dastardly individual or minor character was a delight to read. The novel switches up the POV, and I found myself connecting easily to the main character, Sam, and the cult leader, Sage Bailey, who was incredibly fun and cleverly written. The mystery of Lightfall unfolds at a really great pace and I found myself looking forward to getting more answers as I was reading. Crocker works plot twists into the lore quite well, and doesn’t sacrifice the humor and heart in his writing along the way. 

I would highly recommend Lightfall to other readers. The start of The Everlands series is a smart, engaging story of humanity in the most unexpected of places: a world of non-humans. My biggest issue with Lightfall? I’m hooked and now I have to wait for the sequel. 

So…I guess I like vampires now?

-Laura

Many thanks to Ed Crocker for the eARC of Lightfall! All opinions are my own.