Raychel le Fay

Sketchbook dump 😊🤗

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 3.5-Star Book Review: *Soucouyant* by Delani Monroe

I was honored to received an ARC from the Author.

What I Loved:
♥️ The romance in *Soucouyant* had a warm, cozy feel, reminiscent of a story set in a grand castle. **Karmin** was a beautifully written character whose growth from insecurity to standing in her own power was relatable and touching. **Adrian** showed great emotional maturity, accepting the consequences of his actions and demonstrating real character development. Their love story was engaging, and that kept me invested. The banter back and forth was so adorable. I felt like I was there watching them fall in love. 🔥

What Could Have Been Better:
🌸 I would have enjoyed spending more time getting to know both characters on a deeper level. Seeing them gradually fall back in love, with more emotional buildup, would have added more tension to the story. **Adrian** was interesting but could have benefited from more complexity as a vampire—something that would make him feel more dynamic and give readers a reason to be drawn to him, beyond his relationship with Karmin.

For **Karmin**, I would have loved to see more of her in her element, perhaps making an archeological discovery, which would help showcase her passions and give us more connection to her beyond the romance.

The villain was an interesting choice, but I would have loved to see a more original antagonist, especially on an island setting that could have opened the door to creative world-building. There was so much potential for unique vampire lore or covens, and exploring that further could have added even more intrigue to the plot.

Lastly, as someone familiar with the traditional **Soucouyant** lore, the use of the term felt a bit misleading, as the Soucouyant in this story felt more like a typical vampire, than an actual Soucouyant.

Overall:
I enjoyed the book for the Vampire Romance, and past life trope. The writing was easy, and beautifully done. I finished it in a few days, and also did a little illustration of Karmin. I will have another one up once I am complete. So proud of her.

Xoxo Josie