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American Queen / New Camelot #1

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Lights Out

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  From the first chapter, Lights Out had me captivated. Nevassa’s writing style has a personal touch, and the story just flows effortlessly. It has everything you’d want in a dark romance—twisted characters, sharp banter, sizzling chemistry, and a storyline that pulls you in from page one. And let’s not forget, this story isn’t just about a stalker romance—it’s got depth, humor, and even an unbeatable cat dad! Meet Josh: Hacker, masked thirst-trap, and sociopath. Josh, our morally gray hero, is trying to live life in the shadows. He’s a hacker genius and a near-carbon copy of his psychopathic (serial killer) father, though he’s hell-bent on proving to himself he’s different. By day, he hides from the world; by night, he transforms into a faceless masked figure who anonymously posts thirst-trap videos, relishing in the anonymity and the admiration of his fans. He’s intense, complex, and completely unhinged in the best way. And then there’s Aly, a trauma nurse with a twist. Aly spend...

Vicious Prince / RinaVerse #6 / Royal Elite #5

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Black Knight / RinaVerse #5 / Royal Elite #4

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  Black Knight stands out from the rest of the Royal Elite series. Xander isn’t the possessive, unhinged psycho like Aiden or Levi. Instead, he’s a golden boy with his own self-destructive demons—dark, troubled, and carrying way more pain than he lets on. This book dives into some seriously heavy stuff, making it dark in a very different way, but it’s every bit as gripping. Let’s start with a heads-up: Black Knight doesn’t hold back on the dark themes. We’re talking mental health issues, eating disorders, depression, fat-shaming, alcohol abuse, fighting, suicidal thoughts and self-harm. This book is honest and raw, so if any of that feels too heavy, just be aware going in. Kim’s journey is intense and heart-wrenching, but it’s also beautifully handled and adds so much depth to her character. I’ve been curious about Kim since book one, and her story here hit me right in the feels. She’s dealing with a controlling yet absent mom, battling depression, eating disorders and her own self...

Twisted Kingdom / RinaVerse #4 / Royal Elite #3

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  Twisted Kingdom is a fitting, intense end to Aiden and Elsa’s wild, twisted journey. If you’ve followed them through the first two books, get ready, because this one takes a slightly different turn. It’s still as unhinged as ever, with Aiden’s psychopathic tendencies and Elsa’s blind stubbornness in full force, but this time, the story dives even deeper, becoming more emotional and—dare I say it—heartbreaking. In Twisted Kingdom, the revelations about Aiden and Elsa’s past hit hard. Watching them confront the darkest parts of their histories was surprisingly gut-wrenching, and it added layers of emotion I didn’t expect. While Aiden is still the headstrong little psycho we know and love, Elsa starts to grow in new ways, finally coming to terms with her place by Aiden’s side. This book is more about closure and self-acceptance than just their toxic chemistry, and seeing Elsa finally accept her fate—knowing it’s always been with Aiden—was incredibly satisfying. Unlike the previous b...

Steel Princess / RinaVerse #3 / Royal Elite #2

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 If you thought Deviant King was intense, buckle up—this takes the unhinged factor up a notch. This book dives deeper into Aiden and Elsa’s dark, twisted romance, peeling back layers of secrets and trauma, all set in the deliciously dark world of dark academia, billionaires, and ruthless bullies. It’s the kind of story that has you questioning your own sanity for enjoying it, but honestly? I’m here for every crazy minute of it. This book FINALLY gives us a glimpse into the unhinged mind of Aiden King, and it’s exactly what you’d expect—dark, chaotic, and completely devoid of boundaries. Aiden is unapologetically evil, a dangerous psychopath who hides behind a perfect facade. His possessiveness over Elsa goes beyond toxic; it’s downright terrifying. His character feels even more unhinged, and I couldn’t get enough of it. The few moments we get in his POV are worth every page turn, giving us insight into a man who’ll stop at nothing to keep Elsa by his side, no matter how hard she tr...

Deviant King / RinaVerse #2 / Royal Elite #1

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 This book dives headfirst into the unhinged mind of Aiden King—a man with zero boundaries, no sense of morality, and a possessiveness that is downright terrifying. It’s the kind of dark academia romance that will have you questioning your own sanity for enjoying it—and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m here for every crazy minute of it. Aiden King is everything you’d expect from a dark romance anti-hero. He’s arrogant, dangerous, and a complete psychopath hiding behind the perfect mask of a star football player. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself, and he makes that clear from the get-go. Aiden’s possessiveness is toxic and more often than not, far from charming—he’s the kind of guy that, if you met in real life, you’d probably want to avoid at all costs. Those grey eyes would be enough to make me want to play dead if I ever crossed his path. Try run, and he’ll chase. But in the safety of the pages? I couldn’t get enough of his twisted mind. Or maybe I just need therapy. Aide...

Cruel King / RinaVerse #1 / Royal Elite #0

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I’m going to start by saying this: Cruel King is a cornerstone of the “RinaVerse” and an unapologetic guilty pleasure of mine. Yes, I’ve read it more than once, and despite all the hate this series gets, I’ll never be among the critics. This is a dark romance, and for those who love the genre, it delivers exactly what it promises: a whole lot of angst, intensity, and some serious emotional rollercoasters. Let’s talk about Levi King, shall we? He’s a bully. He’s crazy. He’s a total dick most of the time. He demands that everyone bow, break, and bend the knee before him, and he expects no less. But honestly, what do you expect from a dark romance “hero”? You don’t get sunshine and roses here—you get rain, thorns, and all the twisted emotions that come with them. Levi King is ruthless, and that’s part of why I love him. I’ll join him to enjoy the rain any day, thank you very much. He’s one of those morally dark heroes who sticks with you. Sure, his methods are unhinged, but I love every m...

Nocticadia

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 Nocticadia had a slow start for me, but once the secret societies and Devryk made their appearance, I was completely hooked. What began as a book I wasn’t sure I’d going to like, turned into a captivating, dark academia read with twists, secrets, and a world I couldn’t pull myself away from. This book alternates between two very different POV, and let me tell you, they are worlds apart. On one side, we have Lilia, a schoolgirl whose personality is… well, pretty bland for about half the book. She’s sweet, but her chapters didn’t have much excitement going on, and it was just dragging. But then there’s Devryk. The moment this brutal professor, nicknamed Doctor Death, enters the story, things take a sharp turn. His dark past, his bloody hands, and his questionable morals make him the far more intriguing of the two. Every time the narrative shifted back to him, I found myself craving more. I couldn’t wait to dive back into his mind and learn more about the secrets he was keeping. Lili...

Death’s Obsession

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  Not gonna lie, it grabbed me tight at the dedication:  “To the girls who think that the grim reaper will fuck like a god.” It also started off pretty interesting, I was intrigued with the secret messages and Death himself stalking his chosen one. He was possessive, mysterious, and undeniably hot—just enough to pull me in. But my excitement didn’t last long. The plot quickly became repetitive: work, sleep, fuss over her dysfunctional relationship, get presents from the “faceless man,” miss him, and then repeat. It started to feel monotonous. Despite being hyped as a spicy dark romance, it fell short. For such a “spicy” book, there were only a couple of steamy scenes, and they lacked the usual spark. Aside from Death’s “giant-sized soul,” there wasn’t much to get excited about. I had high hopes for this one—the concept had great potential and the story could’ve been a hit, but it just didn’t deliver. By the end, I was left feeling nothing but disappointment. It fell flat and l...

Carving for Cara

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TRIGGERS:  Violence, gore, explicit language, knife play, consensual non-consensual sex, sexual assault, restriction, stalking, mutilation and death of a side character, praise, mention of addiction, marijuana use, gagging, excessive force, choking, and explicit sex scenes If you're looking for something deliciously dark and spicy to satisfy your Halloween cravings, this bite-sized novella delivers in all the right ways. For such a short read, the author manages to dive deep into the mundane tasks of life, but don’t worry—there’s plenty to keep you hooked beyond that. Enter Rhett, a morally dark, tattooed pretty boy with a possessive streak that’ll make you question all your moral compass settings. He's not just possessive; he’s a hacker with a talent for stalking, and let’s just say he's not afraid to get his hands dirty. Rhett is the kind of guy who will take your breath away (in more than one way). Our leading lady, Cara, is the perfect spooky season heroine. She’s a tat...

Sicko by Amo Jones

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  Before I dive into this review, a word of caution: Sicko is not for the faint of heart. It's gritty, brutal, and mentally taxing, so be mindful of your triggers before picking it up. Sicko is a double POV, but the majority of the story unfolds through the eyes of Jade, our FMC. And what a journey it is. Jade's life? Unfair doesn’t even begin to cover it. From the moment she was abandoned by her birth parents, adopted into a wealthy family, and then inseparable from her adoptive brother, Royce—until he disappears—her life is a rollercoaster of emotions, highs, and extreme lows. What starts off bad, quickly enough turns to an absolute nightmare. And just when she’s trying to move on, Royce reappears, and with him, even more chaos. I have to say, I was glued to the pages from start to finish. Jade’s path is bloody, brutal, and filled with secrets that unravel in the most agonizing way. There were moments where I had knots in my stomach, tears in my eyes, and honestly, I needed ...

Leather and Lark

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  If you’re anything like me and adored the first book, B&B, then you're in for a treat with Brynne's second installment, Leather and Lark. It’s a refreshing blend of humor, chaos, and just the right amount of gore that keeps you on your toes from start to finish. Leather and Lark doesn't just follow in the footsteps of B&B; it sprints off in its own wacky direction while keeping the essence we fell in love with. Brynne has perfected the art of making you question whether to laugh or cringe, with less gore this time but just as many moments that make you go, “Wait, did that really just happen?” The absurdity is dialed up to eleven, and it works brilliantly. Let’s talk chemistry. The sparks between the main characters are so intense, you could roast marshmallows. The slow burn romance is exquisitely torturous, building up tension until you’re practically begging for a resolution. Sure, their initial deal felt a bit rushed, but once the plot thickens, it smooths out i...

Marrow

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  Blurb Forensic anthropologist Dr. Jack Sorensen is the perfect serial killer. In the bright lights of his public persona he’s a respected, methodical scientist, a leader in the field of human decomposition. But in his shadowed secret life he’s a ruthless and elusive killer, unseen by the authorities who have failed to follow his faint trail of destruction. Cold, brilliant and cruel, Jack wants nothing more than to keep his life captured in his vise-like grip of control. And Jack Sorensen never makes mistakes… …until he underestimates Dr. Kyrie Roth. Wildlife biologist Kyrie is the enemy Jack never noticed, another murderer in his midst. In his territory.  A killer with cunning and stealth, and she knows all his darkest secrets, even the pieces of a past he might have forgotten. Kyrie has created the perfect habitat for her favourite research subject, but she’s finally had enough of being ignored by the beast that lives at Jack’s core. Pushed past her breaking point, Kyrie ha...

Captured

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My Review   When I picked up Captured by Lauren Biel, I knew I was in for a rough ride. Having read her previous works, I’m familiar with her penchant for delving into the dark recesses of human nature. But this book hit a different, and much darker, note. Before diving in, I glanced at the trigger warnings. It’s a necessary precaution with Biel’s books, but even those couldn’t fully prepare me for what was to come. Listening to the audiobook, I found myself constantly wincing. Captured is disturbing and stomach-churning, far beyond dark romance and deeply entrenched in horror erotica. If you’re even slightly queasy, heed the trigger warnings seriously. This book challenges your sanity. It’s an erotic horror story where the horror element completely overshadows any notion of romance. There’s nothing sexy here, only darkness. Despite the relentless horror, I found myself compelled to finish it. There are no heroes, only varying degrees of villains. Alexzander, the “lesser evil,” is ...

Hitched / Ride or Die Romances

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  Blurb The game has just begun, rabbit. Are you ready to play? Lex:  Prison was my home for the rest of my life and my lives after that. But I escaped. I got out. Now I'm walking along the side of the road in the pouring rain. Suddenly, prison doesn't seem so bad. Headlights dance around me as a car pulls to a stop. When I knock on the window, she agrees to give me a ride. She's much younger than me and too naïve to know you shouldn't give a ride to strangers. Especially not strangers who are as dangerous as me. A rabbit's foot sways from the rearview mirror, a bad omen I choose to ignore when I take her and her car on a roadtrip to the border. But somehow, along the way, she stirs up feelings I've never been capable of. Will I make it to the border? Or will the little rabbit I've ensnared end up sending me back to prison where I belong? Tropes / Triggers Tropes : age gap, innocent FMC, UNHINGED MMC, FORCED PROXIMITY, ENEMIES TO LOVERS, PRIMAL PLAY, MORALLY...

Lovely Violent Things / Hollow’s Row #2

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Blurb He’s the devil. And she’s his wicked game.  Book two in the Hollow's Row series.  Halen :  The night I gave in to Kallum Locke, I sold my soul to the devil. Now that devil has returned for me, a daemon siphoning off what soul I have left. The Harbinger killer has descended on Hollow’s Row amid an active case, where I’ve been hired as a consultant to profile two killers. One offering gruesome sacrifices to obtain an ancient philosophy, and the other a bad omen from my past. A dark truth hovers at the edge of my memories—but is it real, or a trick by the chaos magician himself, meant to trap me in his web of lies and corruption. Kallum is too consuming, his clashing green-and-blue eyes staring into my depths, demanding I feel the frenzy he teased from my soul. I have to escape him.  Kallum :  I’ve tasted Halen St. James, my muse of heartbreak. I’ve sank my teeth into her tender flesh, lapped at her tears, marked her as mine… So I’ll be damned if I let her go...