I never expected a vampire novel to reignite my love of writing, and I certainly didn’t expect it to renew my trust in God.
My jaw nearly hit the floor when I discovered an Instagram reel promoting The Curse He Chose, a new Catholic vampire novel written by one of the Daughters of St. Paul.
Yep, you read that right.
Sister Allison Regina Gliot, FSP, was officially my new hero—and that was before I even read her book.
I couldn’t resist the temptation to pre-order the book, and when it was finally released, I devoured it like a bloodthirsty vampire. It far exceeded my high expectations. The Curse He Chose is a fascinating blend of fast-paced adventure, mythical monsters, and authentic Catholicism that made me rethink everything I thought I knew about faith-based fiction.
A Dramatic Read
Far from being shallow or cheesy, The Curse He Chose is filled with genuine turmoil. The heroine, Elizabeth, loses her mother before the story even begins. After high school graduation, her friends take off for college, leaving Elizabeth to work for another year before she can afford college tuition.
Elizabeth’s lonely life grows complicated when she meets Christopher, a troubled vampire. Before she knows it, she is caught in the middle of a full-fledged vampire dispute, kept alive only by Christopher’s protection. Forced into hiding and afraid for her life, Elizabeth takes on the daunting task of befriending and evangelizing a morally tormented vampire.
Cozy, right?
This gritty yet enjoyable story explores the messiness of suffering, redemption, and what it means to trust God in full, complete surrender. Elizabeth faces tough situations and life-changing decisions with fierce faithfulness, even as she navigates her own distrust of God’s plans for her.
The Struggle to Surrender
In a moment of great anger and frustration, Elizabeth hears God say, “It’s okay to love me and hate me at the same time, Elizabeth. Nothing could make me leave you. Not even your temper” (p. 242). This powerful reminder of His faithfulness and protection, even when we, His children, fail to abandon ourselves to His care, resonated with me deeply.
As someone who struggles with anxiety and control, I related to Elizabeth’s struggle to trust God and surrender Christopher into His care.
“‘He’s yours,’ I whispered tiredly to my Lord. But it wasn’t out of defeat. It was in relief. If Christopher was going to be in anyone’s hands, I wanted them to be God’s” (p. 242).
How many times have I surrendered, both out of defeat and out of relief? How many times have I failed to surrender at all?
Too many to count.
It was refreshing to glimpse a heroine fully in touch with her flawed humanity, worn out by loneliness and reaching for God with the last of her strength.
Finding Faith in Fiction
One of the novel’s most powerful aspects is its unashamed portrayal of Catholicism. Every chapter begins with a Scripture verse, giving the reader a glimpse of the events yet to transpire. Elizabeth is a devout Catholic, and her prayers are a powerful weapon in fighting Christopher’s enemies. The Sacraments also play a central role throughout the novel, and the heroine has an admirable relationship with her spiritual director.
At the same time, it’s a treat for fiction and mythology fans, as it includes all the hallmarks of a classic vampire story—compulsion, blood, and repulsion by holy objects—paired with a handy guide at the back of the book to help readers discern myth from truth. Spoiler alert—the Eucharist actually is the Body and Blood of Christ!
As the first installment in the In Aeternum trilogy, The Curse He Chose naturally guides the reader to reflect on eternity and the reach of God’s mercy. Christopher has done unspeakable things as a vampire, but Elizabeth still believes that God will extend His mercy, even to the undead.
As a writer, I have been squirreling away my scratchings of creative fiction for years, but reading The Curse He Chose was the nudge from God I needed to dive back into writing. Young people desperately need faithful Catholic fiction that delivers an experience of God through an imagined reality.
“Fiction is about everything human and we are made out of dust, and if you scorn getting yourself dusty, then you shouldn’t try to write fiction,” wrote Catholic author Flannery O’Connor in The Nature and Aim of Fiction. “It’s not a grand enough job for you.”
Sister Allison Regina’s novel faces themes of darkness—suicide, mortal sin, murder, and even death (or undeath, as it were)—head on, balancing them with the overwhelming goodness and love of God. This balance is precisely why the book is so effective. As O’Connor reminds us, we are made out of dust. Humanity is messy, and the fiction we consume should reflect our flawed nature, as it’s only then that we will come closer to approaching truth.
When she’s not working on her novel or hiding from its characters, Mina Hunt can be found experimenting in her kitchen and trying not to kill her sourdough starter. She finds joy in sunshine, music, and the beauty of God’s marvelous creation. She’s a proud Purdue alumna and enjoys learning about her heritage as a member of the Cherokee Nation.
