Black Silk

by Letizia Firmani

Bound by duty, torn by desire—her greatest enemy may be her only salvation.

Talulla Popescu was born into a legendary line of vampire hunters and trained from childhood to kill. But all she wants now is to finish her master’s degree in history and forge a path of her own.

Her father has other plans. When he cuts off her education funding in protest, Talulla turns to underground fighting to stay afloat.

Everything changes when werewolves start dying suspiciously, and a mysterious, captivating vampire shows up on campus. Flynn Lancaster is everything Talulla was raised to destroy. Cold. Deadly. Inhuman. And yet, she can’t seem to stay away from him—and he’s clearly not trying to stay away from her, either.

Is Flynn behind the killings? Or is something darker at work? As Talulla digs deeper, the truth grows murkier, and the line between monster and man begins to blur.

Black Silk is a dual-POV spicy urban fantasy dark romance about forbidden love, identity, and learning to choose your own path—no matter what you were born to be. Grab your copy now!

Genres: Vampires, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal Romance, Ebooks

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2024

About the author

Letizia Firmani is an Italian author with an incurable obsession for anything fantasy or romance-related. Her first approach to writing was through music, and she actually dreamed of becoming a songwriter for most of her life. After majoring in Photography while consuming a very healthy amount of fan fictions, Firmani finally decided to give novel writing a go when the world shut down. Letizia spends most of her time daydreaming about fictional characters, putting hot sauce on things that definitely don’t need it, and crafting your next favorite book boyfriend. She splits her time between Italy and Canada with her partner and an ever-growing number of cats who may or may not be plotting world domination.

Reviews

[Coralie’s library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy Letizia decided to give Flynn & Talulla a full length novel 🥹 I LOVED them in Red Ruby and the little novella wasn’t nearly enough 🥰I’m so glad we got to know how they met !

The banter between them was just pure perfection 😮‍💨 I also loved how Flynn wouldn’t stop flirting with Talulla as soon as he met her! That man fell hard 🤭

I loved the plot!! The ending was a little bit predictable but I loved it nonetheless.

Thank you soooo much Letizia for the Arc♥️ you really outdid yourself!! This was sooo good 🫶🏼

Read this if you like :

Vampire mmc x Vampire Hunter Fmc
Spicyyyy 🌶️🌶️🌶️
She falls hard, he falls harder 🤭
He falls first
Insta love/obsession
Fated mates
Touch her & 💀

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to get selected and got an ARC copy and oh boy I’m so glad I did. I couldn’t put it down. As soon as I started reading, I was hooked and wanted to do nothing else. Read this book in one sitting. Was a “stay up and finish before sleeping” read.
Daddy issues. Mortal enemies. Vampires. Murder mystery. Dom/sub (yum). Spice. Possessive MMC. Mates. All delicious things one could want from a spicy romance. If you’re not convinced yet, I have just one quote:

“Such a good girl. You take me so well” 🥵

[♡Shelthebookaddict♡ Shelbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I can't believe I read this in a day! I love vampire romances, and it's hard to find good ones. If you're the same, then you will love this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like seriously. It had amazing banter that had me smiling to myself while reading. And Flynn is so swoon worthy 😍 ugh I can't get enough of him. The murder mystery was amazing, and it gave me Buffy vibes since the fmc is a vampire hunter. The book didn't feel like it was dragging, and the editing was fantastic!

[noémie - goldenliterature · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️

“i do like the sound of my name on your lips, little hunter.”

“there won’t be any other man, talulla. and when i’m done with you, the moon won’t be the satellite circling around you. i will be.”

“i crave you like i crave air. you are the most addictive drug, and you’re mine.”

review:

i was lucky enough to work on this book as the editor, so my review might a be a bit biased, but i'm confident everyone will love talulla and flynn just as much as i do. this couple was introduced in the novella red ruby, but this is a prequel to that story. so i'd recommend starting with this book if you haven't read the novella yet. letizia writes stories from the heart and knows how to create complex characters who you can't help but root for. this book is funny, emotional, spicy, and mysterious. if you love the tv shows the vampire diaries and buffy, this one is for you!

read this book if you like:

- vampire hunter FMC x vampire MMC
- paranormal/urban fantasy
- college setting
- destined to be enemies
- forbidden love
- touch her and die
- he would let her stake him for a chance to be close to her
- a man (vampire) obsessed
- found family
- witches and werewolves
- dual POV

[Bella Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolutely captivating blend of urban fantasy and romance. Letizia Firmani masterfully weaves a tale of forbidden love between a complex vampire and a fierce vampire hunter, delivering intense chemistry and deep emotional healing. The dual perspectives immerse you into both characters' struggles, making their journey toward acceptance and love all the more gripping. With its rich world-building and high stakes, this story kept me hooked from beginning to end. A must-read for fans of dark, passionate fantasy romance!

4.5⭐️
3🌶 (there aren't a LOT of 🌶 scenes, but they're 👌🏻)

Black Silk by Letizia Firmani
Release day 22 October 2024

[Léa MICHEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the chance to be an ARC reader for this one and truly... WOW !

I am Extra-in love with the characters 🫶🏻

I cannot let this book down it was this good !

The plot was good and well write but what truly made me love it was Flynn ❤️ he got my heart

[EmMegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy i got a ARC, I love love love this couple, Flynn with be my ride or die stg ❤️‍🩹 The banter between these two had me kicking my feet and giggling. Also can we talk about the plot and the spice??? perfection, I love this world and i love these characters and i would highly recommend to my girlies, i promise you won’t be disappointed 💕

[Tahjanee Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was beyond excited when I got selected to be an ARC for this book and for my first time getting this opportunity I never want to go back. I started it today and finished it today.
It was funny, there was spice and romance, I’m really glad I didn’t read the novella first because now I can’t wait to find out how the story continues! I’m trying to avoid putting any spoilers here so just go read it!! You won’t be disappointed!

[Karina Santos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Black Silk just wasn’t for me. I had to power through most of it and only found it slightly better near the end. The premise is really cool as it follows a vampire and a vampire hunter who fall in love while working with friends to solve mysterious werewolf deaths on campus. I was expecting a Buffy and Spike vibe, but it didn’t turn out like that. They were enemies for maybe three chapters, then suddenly all over each other. The conversations felt short and robotic, and the characters lacked depth. The romance had no real build up either.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got to read an ARC of this book and devoured it in two days!

This is a fun, action-packed, fast-paced and VERY sexy vampire hunter meets forbidden vampire fated mates situation. I loved the pacing, the steam, the instant attraction. The dual POV was fun and it blended different types of magic with ease.

While this is an interconnected standalone, I hadn’t read the previous story so it felt like there was missing context at points. Definitely suggest reading Red Ruby first!

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have received an ARC of this book.

This is a prequel to the Red Ruby novella which I also reviewed as an ARC. I was attracted to the story not just because it was a vampire romance but especially because I share a surname with Talulla and thought it was really cool to share my married surname with a book heroine.

After reading Red Ruby, I was left wanting more of Flynn and Talulla and wondering how they got together. Black Silk absolutely delivered on that, it was exactly the story I needed and I absolutely loved it.

Also, like Red Ruby, the book made want to know more about the wonderful array of side characters. My mind was left full of potential more beautiful stories about Cassandra, Asmodeus, Kaden and most of all the lovely baddie Monica Lazar. [I liked Monica a lot, however must admit I am biased on this point as through a funny set of circumstances, I had the honor of the author naming her after me - my maiden name is Monica Lazar. 😊 I would most definitely like to see an HEA for baddie Monica as well, some day ]

The author developed Flynn and Talulla’s characters so beautifully, it was so great to get to know them and their background stories better. I enjoyed their banter and chemistry so much and the spice was great.

Talulla is so strong and competent as a vampire hunter, but she feels like she was pushed by her father into that life. Her father only seems to value her when she does his bidding, but all Talulla wants is to follow her passion for history and live a life as normal as possible for her.

Flynn is tired of the vampire existence that was forced upon him. He wants to feel again and he’s got his plan on how to achieve that. As irony would have it, Talulla crosses his path and all his plans go sideways, but she definitely makes him feel again.

A notorious vampire hunter and an old powerful vampire should not make sense but they are perfect together and give each other exactly what they need.

I enjoyed this read thoroughly and was so happy to see at the end that Red Ruby will be made into a full length novel as I definitely want more.

[Indi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Black Silk, and I have to say, this vampire romance was such a fun read! Talulla, the main character, is stuck in a life as a Vampire Hunter—a path she never wanted. But in an act of rebellion (or maybe just sheer determination), she enrolls in college to carve out her own future, despite her father's objections. I loved how intelligent and kind Talulla is, even if she's also a total badass who can kill just about anyone. And with her close-knit group of witchy friends, they tackle some supernatural mysteries while juggling college life.

Now, let’s talk about Flynn—aka the vampire who catches Talulla’s eye across the courtyard. Their chemistry is electric, and the banter between them had me grinning like a fool. The push-and-pull dynamic of Talulla’s forbidden attraction to Flynn made for some addictive reading.

The plot’s mystery aspect was definitely a highlight as the friends work together to uncover the truth behind the deaths of supernatural beings in their town. However, I found myself craving a bit more depth when it came to the supernatural lore—I wanted to dive a little deeper into what being “supernatural” really means for the characters.

And oh, the spice! It was definitely there and didn’t disappoint. Watching Talulla grow not just in her relationship with Flynn, but also in her journey of self-acceptance, was so heartwarming. She learns to step out of her father's shadow and embrace who she truly is, and that was a beautiful touch to the story.

Overall, Black Silk had me hooked, and I’d definitely recommend it if you’re into vampire romance with a touch of magic and mystery.

[Mil · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨

Witches, werewolves, vampires, and vampire hunters galore in an academic setting.. need I say more?

Follow Tallulah (part of the renowned Popescu vampire hunter family) navigate completing her final year at university when out of nowhere a werewolf murderer is on the loose, just as mysterious and captivating Vampire, Flynn Lancaster shows up. Can the age-old enemies work together to find the killer? and can Tallulah fight this magnetic pull between the unlikely pair?

A vampire falls hard and fast for a vampire hunter? Sign me up!! The unlikely duo hooked me SO quickly! There is so much whit and banter. The back and forth between them was so fun to read and really was my favourite part of the book.

It’s a fast-paced, action packed romantasy with a little murder mystery thrown in. There’s a mix of enemies (all from her part) to lovers, and insta love (definitely from him).

Flynn is the embodiment of touch her and die which I love! And I also love Tallulah doesn’t need any protecting, she’s confident and totally bad-ass. Oh and let’s not forget the nicknames. They get me every time!!

Occasionally I did feel the story jumped around a little, which I understand is easily done when creating a fast paced fantasy with a lot going on. I feel just adding a little more detail in certain areas would make the story flow a little better.

However, it doesn’t take away from how fun this story is and how great the main characters are individually and especially, together.

I’m looking forward to Red Ruby to see what future has to offer Tallulah and Flynn

Thank you so much, Letizia for this arc!

[Ash Coyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arc Review Black Silk - Letizia Firmani  

If your vibe is a mix of Twilight meets The Vampire Diaries with a side of spice, then this is the book for you!
First, I want to extend my gratitude to Letizia for kindly sending me a copy of Tallula and Flynn's story.

University is a stressful time for anyone, but for Talulla Popescu, who comes from an elite family of vampire hunters, it’s even more complicated. Between being a teaching assistant to a very demanding professor, dealing with werewolves dropping dead from the “flu,” and the one creature she was raised to kill deciding that she is his, welcome to Bear Creek University!

I absolutely love the banter in this book, particularly from our FMC’s best friend, Asmodeus. His one-liners had me laughing out loud! In true vampire fashion, our MMC, Flynn Lancaster, is swoon-worthy with his protective nature and way with words. The chemistry between the two main characters is palpable, especially in those spicy scenes.
There is so much to keep you hooked throughout the story—from Talulla’s internal struggle between wanting to forge her own path and adhering to the beliefs she has been taught her whole life, to the mystery surrounding the supernatural creatures.

That said, there were moments in the book that left me feeling somewhat disconnected from the story. One issue was the pacing; at times, certain scenes felt like they had been spliced together, leaving me confused as if I had missed a key line or moment, prompting me to go back and reread. Additionally, around the 45-50% mark, I figured out the twist coming at the end.

Despite this , Firmani had compelled me enough 😉to keep reading, and overall, I enjoyed Black Silk. I look forward to reading Ruby Red when it's released as a full-length nove

[bookish_things_by_k.a_a · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Massive thanks to Letizia Firmani for an ARC for this book.

This book was fantastic!

Black Silk is the latest book by Letizia Firmani, a prequel to Red Ruby and soon to be the first in a series focusing on Vampire Hunter Tallula and Vampire Flynn.

It is an Urban Dark Paranormal Romance Murder Mystery fun fest. There's a lot going on but it works together so well to create a brilliant story that really pulls you in.

The main characters are an amazing couple. Talulla, our FMC, is a Vampire Hunter trying to build a normal life for herself and finish her Masters in History, while Flynn, the MMC, is a vampire with money and possessions to burn, money he'll gladly use to make all Talulla's dreams come true. The both of them are desperate to have control over a life neither of them chose, and find kindred spirits in each other.

The relationship between the MC's is gorgeous. The two of them are made for each other; the snark, the banter, the spice, it's all amazing and gives you a couple you'd go to war for - I already have my conscription papers!

The story itself is brilliantly written. As I said earlier, you have a lot of elements to the story. You have the romantic/spice, you have the mystery, you have the action, you have the paranormal. There's so many facets to this diamond of a story, and it all feels so cohesive. This is genuinely a great story.

Overall, a gem of a story that, for me, gives strong Spicy Buffy x Spike vibes, and I am forever here for it (Spike was so much better than Angel, IYKYK).

[Brittany |planted.library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one!

I tend to love any stories with vampires, and even more if its an enemies to lovers type of situation. Flynn is dreamy and swoony, and he's definitely the type of vampire that I would have fallen in love with as well.

I really enjoyed that Talullah was a a history nerd, and a vampire hunter. I was getting some Buffy the vampire slayer vibes with her wit and her humour.

I did find the communication a little excessive, like a little too good at communicating with each other, but otherwise I really enjoyed it. The spice was spicing, and the banter between the FMC and MMC had me kicking my feet.

[Alyssa Waltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
🌶🌶🌶

♡ Vampire/Vampire Hunter
♡ Forbidden Romance
♡ College Setting
♡ Found Family
♡ Mysterious D€@ths
♡ Delicious Banter

"I'm going to k!ll you."
"Do you always flirt this much with people you've just met?"

Flynn and Tallula may just be one of my new favorite couples. Did I read their novella last year? Yes. But in this full-length prequel, we really get to know these characters, their backstory, and what makes them into the people that they are.

First off, if you are looking for Spike and Buffy vibes (but he gets the girl) look no further because this is absolutely it. The back and forth snarky remarks, the flirty banter, the tension! Chef's kiss. 🤌💋

"I thought you wanted to play, little hunter. Let's play."

This story is gritty, sexy, but with a whole lot of heart. Tallula has heaps of familial expectations, and Flynn just wants to feel alive again. These two meet in a collision of passion, hope, and need. I ate up every bit of it.

"Tallula is my life. A chance for a new beginning. One where we both are each other's salvation."

Thank you, Letizia, for gifting me an advanced copy! I can't wait for the rerelease of Red Ruby!

[Erena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forbidden love? Tick. Smut? Tick. Badass FMC? Tick. MMC who would burn the world down for the FMC? Tick. This book was a joy to read, I loved how well developed Talulla was as a character & how strong her convictions were about forging her own path in life, despite her father’s wishes. Flynn is everything you want in a MMC, tall, protective, dominant & he has an English accent which just adds to his appeal, but he also gives Talulla the space to be who she wants to be & do what she thinks is right without going full alpha hole on her. Highly recommend!

[Jordan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

was a lucky lady to receive an ARC copy of black silk and I loved it! It was easy to read and really grabs your attention! The MMC in this reminds of why I prefer the men in books than real life not that I needed another bookish boyfriend! This book is a spicy fantasy romance and I couldn’t get enough of it! It’s also a dual POV! I highly recommend this book if your a vampire lover and in your romantasy era

[Katie Beeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ ugh I loved this, I love the community Talulla has, and the growth of those around her. I think I finally figured out who our villain was at the 65% point but I love how this came together. I’m excited to see where these two go

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced, action packed, spicy vampiric love story that hits the spot. It gave me many Dramione vibe and I was living for it!!

Looking forward to what’s to come in red ruby.

[Ingríð Älva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was somehow a lot different than I expected. ☺️ In a good way!

[Coolkidfrances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. I love a forbidden romance/enemies to lovers. It’s fast paced but you still fall for the romance. Vampires, werewolves, witches and vampire hunters ❤️

[G K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A exciting and fun read!

[KEMW · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC no spoiler review✨

To me this was an interesting read with strong Buffy meets twilight vibes. The storyline was captivating, the world/supernatural were good and with the murder mystery elements I enjoyed it. I would definitely read more from this author 😊

Release date: 22 October 2024

Themes/tropes included:
✨vampire MMC & vampire hunter FMC
✨he falls first
✨murder mystery
✨daddy issues
✨touch her and die

[Breanna Daubert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave cozy mystery vibes but with Buffy the Vampire Slayer cheese. University, witches, vampires, werewolves, vampire hunters, Fight Club… it had a bit of everything.

I did have some issues with how choppy the story was. It did jump around a little bit and there were some details missing that would have made the story flow better.

However if you can look past that and just enjoy the story it’s not so bad.

It has spice and it is a little quirky- it may not be for everyone but whatever floats your boat.

If this sounds like something you may enjoy I would give Bear Creek University a try!

[Tiffany Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book! I read it all within a day. The FMC isn’t overly obnoxious, stubborn, or strong headed. A part of the ending wasn’t a surprise, but there was so much else going on that it really was okay I guessed it. The pull between the two main characters feels natural, like I could picture that between my friends and I. I definitely recommend giving this book a chance! 🖤

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

By page three I was obsessed and that obsession continued for the rest of the 293 pages. Oh my goodness! Think Buffy meets Twilight (but much better) with a sprinkle of The Vampire Diaries. The prodigal vampire hunter who doesn't want to hunt and the vampire who can't stop thinking about her. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me.

The premise of vampire/vampire hunter sounded so good to me, but the actual book was so choppy, one second we were doing something and then it jumped to a completely different time/place/task sometimes within what felt like the same sentence, there were so many plot lines and side arcs that were mentioned and then disappeared without a trace, very light world building which left a lot of things unclear and left for the imagination to fill in the gaps and the insta love just felt too insta-lovey for me? 😭

However, if you love some spice, vampire x vampire hunter relationships and some funky quirky side characters (Cassandra and Asmodeus definitely stole the show for me), this is a light, easy read that was perfect for the current spooky season!

Thank you to Letizia for allowing me to read and review early!

[jdvm_92 · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC reader. This means I got the book from the author. Nothing was required and I am reviewing the book because I chose to do so, so this doesn't affect the rating at all.

Summary

This is a mix of Buffy x The Vampire Diaries with spice, featuring a retired vampire hunter tyring to earn her master's degree and a really old, extremely good-looking. British-accented and wealthy vampire who is tired of living a life he didn't choose.

First part

I read the first 30% ish in one sitting and it felt really light and easy to read. the banter was great, characters were witty and interesting, there were "references" to TVD (daylight rings, for example). This part was great, and I don't really have any complaints beyond the worldbuilding being "light" and leaving you to assume stuff.

Plot

From this point on, a lot of plots are on and sometimes it feels like things have been cut since they jump around from one thing to the next and don't really dig that much for a "coven of detective witches". Things like "hey I have discovered something, but talk to you tomorrow" (so you can put a spicy scene here between arcs) felt a bit odd.

Some of the plots are finished abruptly, and a specific and very important one is simply forgotten, which feels strange, almost as if the ending was rushed and things were left unresolved for the next book, but without a proper explanation.

The murder mystery part is fairly easy to guess and if more attention had been given to it, the book would have improved greatly. Still, it was nice to see how everything "made sense" by the end.

Spice

Talking about spice, the duration of the scenes is fine, they don't do crazy stuff or push the boundaries of physics and it is "hot" enough to make your cheeks flush. I am not super experienced with spicy books but I would say it was pretty good, although more variety of situations would have helped. Surprisingly, you can feel how the relationship between the characters evolve from one encounter to the next.

Characters

The characters are ok in general, but I felt like some of the secondary ones were a bit plain. Cassandra seemed like a super cool character but came across more like an "assistant" than a supportive friend, and I didn't really like how she was written. Asmodeus was funny, but didn't go much deeper beyond the one-liners. I would have loved to see more of Monica tho. The werewolves were completely forgettable.

The main characters have amazing chemistry and complement each other really well.
Sometimes Talulla feels a bit younger than she is supposed to be, and her POV can come across as shallow, making it hard to see where the "retired hunter" stuff comes from. "She is not that deep".
Flynn is the typical stalker-ish, cheeky, possessive MMC wrapped in a six-pack and a pretty face that you usually find in this kind of book, laced with a British accent and a gentle side that grows as the chapters progress.

Worldbuilding

Regarding the worldbuilding, it would have been nice to know upfront how certain things worked (vampires, werewolves, witches, vampire hunters, mates, etc.) so there weren’t so many "Deus Ex Machina" moments. It was a bit frustrating not knowing what to expect from a witch or how a vampire’s abilities worked (speed, strength, etc.).

Conclusion

Despite the issues I have pointed out, I really liked the book. It is clearly focused on the spice, so if you are here for the romance, the couple's development and their spicy scenes are fantastic. But if you are more into fantasy or vampires, you might find the story a bit lacking at times. A bit more attention to worldbuilding and the murder mystery would have done wonders for this book, so I hope the second one dives deeper and fills in some of the gaps.

➡️ Dual POV
➡️ Touch her and 💀
➡️ Who did this to you?
➡️ Fated mates
➡️ He falls first
➡️ Murder Mystery

3.5 ⭐
3 🌶️