The Curse He Chose: In Aeternum Book 1

Kate Taliaferro and her teenage daughter review a Catholic vampire novel by Sister Allison Regina Gliot, FSP.

The Curse He Chose (In Aeternum, Book 1)

By Sister Allison Regina Gliot, FSP

Published by Pauline Books & Media

The Curse He Chose by Sister Allison Gliot, FSP is the first book in a vampire series. I think that’s probably good to say straight up front because it seems to be one of those genres that can be a little polarizing. Some people (including a character in the book actually), really get into vampire stories. There are so many legends, tales, and lore around these fantasy creatures. For others, however, the idea of sucking someone’s blood, the bat-like qualities, the association in many stories with evil and violence, leads them to seek other kinds of fiction.

Whichever camp you are in, there’s no getting around the fact that this is indeed a vampire book. And whichever camp you are in, I hope you don’t stop reading at this paragraph, because this book is more than just a vampire book. 

A Catholic Vampire Book  

The Curse He Chose is also a Catholic book. And I do mean, front and center, a Catholic book. Elizabeth, whose perspective and thoughts we the readers are privy to, is an 18-year-old girl who works at a bookshop after high school because she cannot afford college, is also a catechist at her parish. She has a strong relationship with her parish priest and a great devotion to many common Catholic practices including the Rosary, Adoration, and praying with Scripture. When she is scared, she recites the Apostle’s Creed or the Hail Mary. She knows her sister’s favorite psalm and is able to describe in detail a variety of parables from the Gospel as well as their meaning. She also has a deep devotion to the Eucharist which really becomes the crux that the whole book hinges upon. 

Suspense and Violence 

The Curse He Chose has elements of suspense and violence, as one would expect from a vampire story. There is blood, sometimes quite a bit, though not in a way I found excessive or beyond expectation. There is more than one vampire character and there are more than two, but less than five, major vampire violence/fight sequences. There are points where the book is an absolute page-turner so be ready for a late night if you find yourself in a suspenseful part at bedtime. This not the pace of the whole book, however, which I really appreciated. 

After I finished reading, I talked with my 13-year-old daughter about it. She participates in a local Dungeons and Dragons club as well as reads a wide range of both fantasy and historical fiction. She was interested enough to give the book a go and finished quickly. She enjoyed the story and is interested in reading the second installment in the series when it is published. I asked about the level of violence and she said, based on what she experiences in D&D, as well as a book series she enjoys called The Ranger’s Apprentice, it was comparable and she was not bothered. She also said, “You told me it was about vampires. Of course there was going to be blood.” You can also imagine her eye roll here.  

Overall Review 

I did enjoy this book. I also read a wide range of fantasy, and I appreciated the balance this story had between suspense, storytelling, character development, and overall positive message. The book concludes in a way that both leaves you feeling satisfied but also curious about what could happen next. I think this book could be a good conversation starter about the role of faith in daily life, especially for teenagers who already enjoy the fantasy genre.  

It would also be a good introduction for anyone who hasn’t delved into the vampire sub-genre. Sr. Allison includes a section at the end of the book called “Fact or Fiction.” There, she explains:

The Curse He Chose blends real Catholic beliefs with a myriad of fictional legends about vampires and the author’s own creative license. However, even fiction carries seeds of truth.

The author then explores a variety of vampire legends and how they formed, as well as a few of the primary Catholic truths she highlights and their role in our life.  

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Copyright 2025 Kate Taliaferro
Images: (top) detail from cover