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Book: “A Waltz of Sinister Import” by Stephanie Burgis
Publishing Info: October 14, 2026
Where Did I Get this Book: from the author!
Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound
Book Description: When the notorious Lady Riven is summoned to Vienna to solve a supernatural mystery, her debonair vampiric husband insists on accompanying her. However, neither of them is prepared for the true scope of the danger lurking within the sprawling Hofburg Palace… and by the time they uncover the truth behind every glittering illusion, their relationship may change forever.
The third and final (for now!) sparkling installment of The Supernatural Adventures of Lady and Lord Riven contains copious amounts of delicious cake, a protective vampire husband, unexpected new friendships, and a waltz that might just sweep the whole continent into war unless Margaret is stubborn enough to prevent it.
Previously Reviewed: “A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience” and “A Honeymoon of Grave Consequence”
Review: I really enjoyed the first two novellas in this trilogy, so I was thrilled when the author reached out about a review for the final book in the series. The story picks up right where the second one left off, essentially, and immediately jumps back into the action.
It was easy to slip back into the world and rhythm of this story. There’s an ease to the storytelling, a perfect balance of coziness, mystery, and, of course, romance, all held together by the steady characterization of our leading lady. As I noted in my reviews for the first two books, Margaret is a familiar heroine, à la characters like Amelia Peabody and Emily Wilde. But in many ways, these notes of the familiar feel like friendly faces, not tired repeats. And, indeed, Margaret stands on her own with her unique blend of confidence and social wariness. Here, we see her once again thrust into the midst of high society, a place where she has only ever felt spurned and misunderstood. But this time she comes with renewed confidence from previous success, as well as the unwavering support of her vampire spouse.
Like in the first two books, other than the main character, my favorite part of this series is the use of less well-known magical creatures. Burgis clearly dives deeply into her fairytale folklore to find some of these beings, and while our delightful love interest may be a “common” vampire, the cast of supporting characters are often beings I’ve never heard of before and that then send me down my own research rabbit holes. Such was the case here, and I loved learning about some of these new (to me!) creatures.
I will say that this one felt a bit more uneven in its pacing than the previous books did. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there were bits that did seem to drag a bit, especially in the beginning as Margaret ran into wall after wall in her quest to uncover what was happening. On one hand, her frustration was palpable to the reader. On the other hand, that still left me, the reader, frustrated as well, which wasn’t always the best. I also feel like this entry was lighter on the romance and that Lord Riven took even more of a back seat than he has in the other two books. There were also a few moments where events that should have been challenging to solve or escape from were instead wrapped up in a bit too convenient of a manner.
Overall, however, I still very much enjoyed this book. I’m sad to hear that it’s currently the final book planned for the series, as I think there is a wealth of opportunity still left in this world and with these characters. But I still enjoyed all the time I spent with them and recommend it to readers who are looking for more bite-sized cozy fantasy options!
Rating 8: For those who may be missing Emily Wilde, this entire trilogy is sure to be a balm to the soul! Margaret and Lord Riven are a delight!
Reader’s Advisory:
“A Waltz of Sinister Import” isn’t on any Goodreads lists currently, but it should be on 12 Dancing Princesses.
