The night after her twenty-ninth birthday, Edrea awakens in her San Francisco studio as a bloodthirsty vampire with no memory of her death. Now undead and with newfound immortal powers, she fights to hold onto her humanity in the face of great darkness. In a seemingly interconnected reality, her guilt-stricken mortal sister, Rena, embarks on a dangerous quest in search of Edrea, whom is believed is merely “missing.” As they follow their individual roads through life and the un-death, Edrea and Rena learn not only that their sisterly bond is stronger than they thought, but also that their family shares a dark secret that connects both of them to a mysterious quantum world. This not-so-ordinary vampire tale will draw you into a journey of love, loss and self-discovery, and intrigue you with a scientific and philosophical theme that will keep you wondering until the end ... and maybe even after that. "Reise delivers a horror filled with satisfying moments of drama and suspense, as well as a sisterly bond that elevates the story to another level ... the truth found in the relationship between the two sisters, a sanctuary from the darkness that surrounds them and a glimpse of the beauty that we find in trust, in acceptance, in each other." --IndieReader "Poetic and melancholic, the novel is a cross between True Blood and Interview with the Vampire. This is a coming-of-age vampire tale complete with mystery, romance and suspense that will surely entertain fans of the genre." --The US Review Of Books "From the dank and rugged northern California coastline to the vibrant San Francisco club scene, Leah Reise has created a vibrant and surrealistic world and populated it with relatable characters. Her rookie novel features a sisterly love story, darkly passionate vampires, and rivalries between ancient blood thirsty factions. Freshly undead, Edrea is smart, sexy, and fiercely protective of her baby sister, a girl who looks for and finds trouble behind every iron gate." --City To Country Magazine "What I love about this story, first, is the author's ability with description. Reise has a gift for painting the scene without over-telling, and still offering enough detail to allow for vivid imagery. ... second ... that much of it takes place in Sonoma County locations. Reise doesn't disappoint, taking her characters to Bodega Bay and Santa Rosa, though much of the story is set in San Francisco. ... third ... how large a role family plays in The Beauty in Darkness. There are definite themes that take place from both Edrea's old and new life, which I'll let you find out on your own to avoid any spoilers. All in all, I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys supernatural and vampire fantasy." --The Press Democrat Thank you for taking an interest in my debut! It truly means the world. The story is very special to me, because at first, I was writing it only for me. One day, I simply decided to sit down and bring to life the story that had been spinning in my head. I always enjoyed writing, both fiction and non-fiction. Writing can be quite therapeutic, and also a way to escape the real world. Well, in a way, I brought the real world into one of fantasy! Even though it is a vampire story, much of it is based on real people and events, and even dreams I've had. Of course, many of the characters were born from pure imagination, and they were just as intriguing to write about. So, if you love vampire stories, and also have a love for science, philosophy, and the wonders of the universe, this may just be the story for you! Also, if you enjoy the story and wish to embark on the next journey, Book 2, The Beauty in Darkness: A New Race is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback format, and Book 3 is in the making! For any news and updates, you can follow me on my Twitter page under @LeahReise, or my Instagram page under LeahReise. You can also Like the trilogy page,  The Beauty in Darkness , or visit my website, leahreise.com. Leah Reise was born in Brooklyn in 1979, and moved out west with family when she was two years old. As a young girl, she found there was a liberation in expressing oneself through writing. It took her to a place of wonder, and also gave her a voice. Her first article, "Open Letter to the People of Sonoma County," about social justice, was published in the Sonoma County Peace Press in August of 2000. In 2002 she earned her BA in Spanish, emphasizing Spanish literature and poetry, and then completed undergraduate studies in anthropology. Social and biological sciences were a great influence in her writing. "The Beauty in Darkness" was her first novel, a vampire story, published in July of 2016. When not writing novels and short stories, Leah enjoys relaxing at home in her cottage in the forest, snuggled up on the couch.