Overview

All curses made in blood must be broken with blood.

Dreadmist Harbor sleeps under a near-perpetual veil of coastal fog, home to mortals, vampires, and those somewhere in between. Already down-on-her-luck, mortal charwoman Elspeth finds herself the target of a rogue vampire, shattering the peaceful coexistence. Forced to seek help from a reclusive vampire coven, she barely makes it to their dreary seaside perch before she succumbs to the bite.

Morrigan and her coven are haunted by a bitter rivalry that has left them devastated and fractured. As their old feud is once again rekindled, she is inexorably tied to Elspeth, who now carries an ancient vampiric power within her. The two are quickly swept up into a tangle of bloodlust and sorcery after the fraught transformation—realizing that matters of the heart are complicated, especially in undeath.

While something sinister gathers in the shadows of their quiet town, they are pulled deeper into a world of curses and magic, dark dealings and betrayal. But Elspeth and Morrigan soon learn that all power must come with a price, for curses are not so easily broken.

ONCE UPON A DARK OCTOBER is an adult sapphic reimagining of Cinderella with a vampiric twist on other classic fairytale tropes. Perfect for fans of CARMILLA, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, and DRACULA.

TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNING:
Please be aware that this book is a gothic/horror romance so it does deal with some heavy themes and disturbing imagery.

Blood, vampiric blood-drinking, vampiric cannibalism, body horror, gore, allusions to sexual assault through a vampiric lens, depictions of murder, PTSD/trauma, suicide (mentioned, happens off-page), suicidal ideation, explicit sexual content, explicit violence, self-harm inflicted by magical violence/manipulation, discussions of death and grief, torture via magical means.

About Jessie Thomas

Jessie Thomas is a writer of young adult and new adult fiction from Buffalo, New York. An avid reader and history nerd at heart, she enjoys writing historical fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance with atmospheric settings and dark themes. When she isn't chasing her muses around, Jessie can be found playing with her snaggle-toothed cat named Graham.