★★★★★

Like many queer boys, I’ve always had a hunger for vampires. And the idea of a world with a diverse undead society fascinates me just as much. Sure, there are a few monstrous predators running blood farms from distant islands, but some blood-suckers are way more invested in civic engagement and public infrastructure.

With The Taste of You, debut author Sam Silberberg sinks his fangs into high fantasy and delivers an appetizing love story set in a richly imagined world that’s ripe for devouring. Even better, Silberberg crafts an entirely queernormative backdrop—the characters face lethal stakes, ancient pacts, and broken loyalties, but their queerness simply is.

The romance carries a sharp, satisfying bite. I love a brooding hero, and Haleth doesn’t disappoint. Pairing a grumpy, grief-hardened sun elf POV with the sunshine warmth of the very vampire he’s sent to execute flips a familiar trope on its head in the best way.

The story moves at a brisk pace, leaving several tantalizing threads and character leaps to the reader’s imagination on a sprint toward the climax. There were plenty of ingredients to make this a much larger meal, but, as they say, always leave them wanting more. Now that I’ve got a taste for what Silberberg delivers, I can’t wait for what’s next on the menu.

The Taste of You is a delightful indie debut. For romantasy readers craving accessible queer fantasy with a distinctly vampiric flavor, this story makes for a satisfying main course.