What makes someone a monster: what they are, or the choices they make?

In this episode of Between The Lines, we're joined by debut author Lily Crozier on the publication day of her gothic vampire romance, Vow of Eternal Night.

The novel follows Clara Wagner, a young woman who has always known monsters are real. When she is abducted by the feared vampire Prince Rayleigh and forced into a betrothal, Clara is given an impossible choice: break his curse before the end of the year or become his bride for eternity.

Lily shares how she set out to write the vampire romance she wanted to read, filled with dangerous vampires, gothic castles, sweeping romance and atmospheric historical detail. But beneath the irresistible fantasy premise is a story about identity, autonomy and the choices people make when they hold power.

We discuss why the true monsters in the story are not always the vampires, and how human greed and cruelty can be far more frightening than anything supernatural. Lily also explains why it was important for Clara to remain an individual within the romance, and for Clara and Rayleigh's relationship to be built between two equals rather than one person losing themselves in the other.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Writing an atmospheric vampire romance with gothic, old-world influences
• The vampire folklore of Austria, Germany and Hungary
• Why Lily wrote the book she desperately wanted to read
• The difference between being seen as a monster and choosing to behave monstrously
• Power, trauma and personal responsibility
• Clara's journey towards self-identity and autonomy
• Creating a romance between two equal, fully realised individuals
• Why the book may appeal to readers who grew up loving Twilight but now want something richer and more empowering
• Lily's journey from unfinished manuscripts to publishing her debut novel

Vow of Eternal Night delivers the addictive pull and romantic tension readers love in vampire fiction, while offering a thoughtful exploration of identity, equality and what truly defines a person.