After side-eyeing but ultimately enjoying Lore and Lust, I was eager to read the rest of the series. And I’m happy to report that The Vanishing polishes what was good in the first book and vastly improves the parts that made me uncomfortable.

After unexpectedly bonding, Nino and Haruka are taking strides to settle into a life together. Those great plans are rudely interrupted when a bigoted pureblood vampire visits and demands a copy of Haruka’s family research. Haruka and Nino refuse. That refusal shakes when Nino begins vanishing before their eyes. It’s time to call the calvary: Nino’s brother Giovanni and best friend Cellina, who will hopefully deal with their sexual tension in time to stage a rescue.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, what adorable romances! Haruka and Nino’s relationship picks up right where the last book left off, and the boys grow so wonderfully together. Cellina and Giovanni’s story follows a more traditional romance novel plot, and it is HOT. The dual plotlines are beautifully structured into five acts, and the climax had me laughing and punching the air. Excellent use of the lore and character. Unusually, each arc is given equal weight and page count, which worked well for the novel and its themes. Nikole’s focus on diversity, multiculturalism, and cultural blending are discussed with more maturity and nuance than the previous book. Elders’ blood purity takes a partial back seat to their cultural role in vampire society, thank goodness. Anti-colonialism messaging makes me smile every time. My one quibble is over the in-universe Lore and Lust book. Its assemblage featured so prominently previously, but in The Vanishing the research project is quietly sidelined and completed off screen. Haruka’s reluctance to publish is at odds with the emphasis on sharing knowledge and culture. Knowledge is power, ignorance kills, and letting people know about their bodies is a universal good.

The Awakening promises to focus on a third couple, and I’m about vibrating to see where this series goes.

My review of Book 1: Lore and Lust: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/4c6ba413-fdb2-4cb6-9062-c1162d57044b

My review of Book 3: The Awakening: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/de544367-cc2e-4ec5-a3f6-ca70b1b6b989