The Wicked and the Willing
by Lianyu Tan
2023 Lambda Literary Award Winner, LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction 2023 Golden Crown Literary Award Winner, Paranormal/Occult/Horror Love demands sacrifice. Her blood. Her body. Even her life. Singapore, 1927. Verity Edevane needs blood. And not just anyone's blood. She craves the sweet, salty rush from a young woman's veins, the heady swirl of desire mixed with fealty—such a rarity in this foreign colony. It’s a lot to ask. But doesn't she deserve the best? Gean Choo needs money. Mrs. Edevane makes her an offer Gean Choo can't refuse. But who is her strange, alluring new mistress? What is she? And what will Gean Choo sacrifice to earn her love? Po Lam needs absolution. After decades of faithfully serving Mrs. Edevane, Po Lam can no longer excuse a life of bondage and murder. She needs a fresh start. A clean conscience. More than anything, she needs to save Gean Choo from a love that will destroy them all. A destitute maidservant must choose whom to love: her vampire mistress, or the woman trying to save her life in The Wicked and the Willing, a sapphic historical gothic horror vampire novel. This novel contains two mutually exclusive endings, although most of the story is not interactive. Due to the mature content and dark themes, it is intended for adult readers only. It contains potentially disturbing scenes and an abusive romantic relationship between two women. Further content information is available from the author’s website and inside the book.
About This Book
The Wicked and the Willing is a fiction romance novel by Lianyu Tan, first published in 2022 by Shattered Scepter Press. It runs 486 pages. Readers can expect vampire/human.
At a glance
- Genre
- Fiction
- Trope
- Vampire/Human
- Published
- 2022
- Length
- 486 pages
Where to read or listen
Get The Wicked and the Willing by Lianyu Tan
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- In 1927 Singapore, a destitute maid must decide if she will succumb to the allure of her vampire mistress or trust the woman attempting to rescue her from a cycle of blood and bondage.
- Fans of sapphic gothic horror
- Readers of dark, high-stakes paranormal romance
- Dark
- Award-winning literary quality
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers seeking lighthearted or optimistic romance
- Intensely dark and potentially triggering themes
- Non-traditional structure with branching endings
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Sapphic/F/F
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Extreme power imbalance due to the mistress/servant dynamic and the supernatural/vampiric nature of the relationship.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
High angst.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Adult readers interested in speculative, dark fiction.
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Verity Edevane, a vampire living in 1927 Singapore, lures a maid named Gean Choo into her service with a life-altering offer. As Gean Choo falls under the sway of her mysterious mistress, a long-term servant named Po Lam, who has witnessed decades of violence, resolves to save the young maid before she is consumed by the dark bond. The novel explores themes of desire, sacrifice, and the struggle for agency within an abusive dynamic.
Central Conflict
The struggle for Gean Choo's soul and safety as she is pulled between her desire for her vampire mistress and Po Lam's attempt to liberate her from an abusive, lethal relationship.
Setting
Singapore, 1927
Strengths
- Award-winning literary quality
- Unique historical setting
- Strong atmospheric tension
Consider before reading
- Intensely dark and potentially triggering themes
- Non-traditional structure with branching endings
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- September 29, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Shattered Scepter Press
- Published
- 2022
- Length
- 486 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780648994831
- ISBN-10
- 064899483X
The Wicked and the Willing: quick answers
- Who wrote The Wicked and the Willing?
- The Wicked and the Willing was written by Lianyu Tan.
- When was The Wicked and the Willing published?
- The Wicked and the Willing was first published in 2022 by Shattered Scepter Press.
- What genre is The Wicked and the Willing?
- The Wicked and the Willing is a fiction romance novel, with vampire/human.
- How many pages is The Wicked and the Willing?
- The Wicked and the Willing is 486 pages long.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get The Wicked and the Willing by Lianyu Tan
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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