The Witch in the Dead of Night

A decadently dark romantasy in which a hidden witch is unmasked and forced to become a living weapon for a vampiric king and his brooding brother

Finn Erramun hides a perilous secret. One of the last witches in the kingdom, she was cast out from her village and now works as a maid in the opulent court of the vampire King Mordric, under the cover of shadows and secrets.

But when King Mordric uncovers Finn’s talents, he offers her a chance for redemption: master her magic by the summer solstice, and she may earn a coveted seat on his council. Assigned to train her is Prince Enhart, the king’s captivatingly arrogant younger brother…

As Finn is drawn into a whirlwind of courtly intrigue, power plays, and dangerous temptation, she finds herself at a crossroads. To secure her place among the king’s elite, she must navigate a labyrinth of treachery – and the vampires of Valen may not crave blood, but their thirst for power is no less consuming…

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Hidden Power

Love Triangle

Training Arc

Touch Her and Die

Court Intrigue

Forced Proximity

Secrets & Betrayal

Telepathy

Charlotte Buckley's book 'The Witch in the Dead of Night' was a No.2 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2026-08-17.

Review

'For anyone torn between Stefan and Damon Salvatore … A dark, smouldering story that burns to a furious finish, The Witch in the Dead of Night is peak romantasy. Featuring courtly politics, slow-burn courtships, and a love triangle with bloodsucking brothers, this is a gloriously enjoyable start to a trilogy' ― Lissa Layland, author of Thunderstruck

‘A compelling exploration of power and intimacy that keeps the reader tethered to the electric dance between Finn and the Hellebore brothers. Bespelling, high-stakes, and rife with courtly intrigue, The Witch in the Dead of Night had me burning midnight oil and will, doubtless, inspire the same fervour in readers’ ―Shalini Abeysekara, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of This Monster of Mine and This Blade of Ours

'Seductive and richly imagined, The Witch in the Dead of Night is an outstanding debut. With a torturously steamy love triangle and razor-sharp intrigue, this is romantasy at its most addictive. Buckley has crafted an enthralling tale which drips with magic and shadows, and will stay with its reader long after the final page' ― Emily Cooper, author of Season of Fear

'Vampires, witches and a whole host of political intrigue: say less. Throw in a complicated love triangle, and you've got yourself a winner. A magical romantasy debut’ ―Ellis Hunter, author of Blood Bound

'Vampires, witches, and royal love triangles, oh my. Charlotte Buckley’s The Witch in the Dead of Night is a delightful epic romantasy debut that thrusts the reader into a world filled with political intrigue, dark vampires, and powerful magic. I was sucked into the story from the first page and can’t wait to find out what happens next' ―Elayna R. Gallea, author of Tethered

'An enthralling dive into a world of vampires, intrigue, and arcane magic. With its well-drawn characters and whirlwind plot, The Witch in the Dead of Night will sink its teeth into you and refuse to let go. Romantasy at its finest’ ―Samantha Bansil, author of Black Salt Queen

About the Author

Charlotte Buckley is an author who writes stubborn main characters, magical worlds, and tension-filled romance. Born and raised in New York, she now lives in Washington, DC with her partner and their cat, Pippin. When she’s not writing, she enjoys running, gaming, and spending time outside, preferably in the mountains. The Witch in the Dead of Night is her debut novel.